Abstract: An automatic tilting vehicle including a pair of wheels rotatably supported by wheel carriers and laterally spaced apart and a vehicle tilting device that tilts the vehicle to the inside of a turn when turning. The vehicle tilting device includes a swing member, an actuator that swings the swing member about a swing axis, and a pair of connecting rods pivotally attached to the swing member and the wheel carriers on both lateral sides of the vehicle. Each connecting rod has a preset weakest portion that is buckled to be deformed in a preset direction in a preset area when a buckling load equal to or larger than a preset value is applied.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes: a cell array which includes a plurality of cells disposed in rows and columns; a read-out circuit which reads out signals from the plurality of cells; and a signal processor which processes the signals read out. Each of the plurality of cells includes: a gas molecule detector which is electrically isolated between adjacent ones of the plurality of cells; and an amplifier circuit which is electrically connected to the gas molecule detector.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate of P type and a wiring layer. The substrate includes: a first semiconductor region disposed on a first principle surface and extending in a direction from the first principal surface toward the second principal surface; a second semiconductor region disposed between the second principal surface and the first semiconductor region and connected to the first semiconductor region; a P type semiconductor region disposed between the second principal surface and the second semiconductor regions of two pixels; and a pixel isolation region disposed inside the substrate, between the first semiconductor regions of the two pixels. The second semiconductor region and the P type semiconductor region form an avalanche multiplication region.

Abstract: A socket includes a first base member that includes a module mount unit allowing a module including an imaging device and an object to be placed thereon and an electric connector that electrically connects the imaging device to an external apparatus, a second base member having an opening, and an engagement unit that causes the first base member to be engaged with the second base member under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first and second base members. When the first base member is engaged with the second base member by the engagement unit under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first base member and the second base member, the electric connector is electrically connected to the imaging device, and the object receives illumination light from a light source through the opening.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a pixel including: a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge corresponding to incident light; a charge storage section that is connected to the photoelectric converter and accumulates signal charge; a reset transistor; an amplifying transistor; and a cutoff transistor, wherein the amplifying transistor and the cutoff transistor form a negative feedback amplifying circuit.

Abstract: A socket includes a first base member that includes a module mount unit allowing a module including an imaging device and an object to be placed thereon and an electric connector that electrically connects the imaging device to an external apparatus, a second base member having an opening, and an engagement unit that causes the first base member to be engaged with the second base member under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first and second base members. When the first base member is engaged with the second base member by the engagement unit under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first base member and the second base member, the electric connector is electrically connected to the imaging device, and the object receives illumination light from a light source through the opening.

Abstract: A preparation element set including an image sensor including a sensor surface, a sensor back surface, and a board; a package including a front surface, a back surface, and terminals on the back surface, the front surface touching or facing the sensor back surface; and a transparent plate facing the sensor surface with a subject placed therebetween, wherein the board includes a board surface and a board back surface, a distance between the board surface and the sensor surface is less than a distance between the board back surface and the sensor surface, a distance between the board surface and the sensor back surface is more than a distance between the board back surface and the sensor back surface, conductive holes pierce the board from the board surface to the board back surface, and conductors on the board surface are electrically connected to terminals by using the conductive holes.

Abstract: An electronic prepared slide includes: an image sensor that has a light receiving surface and receives, on the light receiving surface, light that has passed through a specimen disposed above the light receiving surface; and a removable nonvolatile transparent film that is disposed on the light receiving surface and seals the light receiving surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor photodetector has at least one unit pixel having a photoelectric conversion part, a charge storage part, and a detection circuit. The photoelectric conversion part includes a charge multiplication region in which incident light is converted into a charge, and the charge is multiplied by avalanche multiplication. The charge storage part is connected to the photoelectric conversion part and stores a signal charge from the photoelectric conversion part. The detection circuit is connected to the charge storage part, converts the signal charge stored in the charge storage part into a voltage, passes the voltage through an amplifier to amplify the voltage, and outputs the amplified voltage.

Abstract: A photodiode that multiplies a charge generated by photoelectric conversion in an avalanche region includes: a p? type semiconductor layer having interfaces; an n+ type semiconductor region located inside the p? type semiconductor layer and in contact with the interface; an n+ type semiconductor region located inside the p? type semiconductor layer and connected to the n+ type semiconductor region; and a p type semiconductor region located between the n+ type semiconductor region and the interface, wherein the n+ type semiconductor region, the n+ type semiconductor region, and the p type semiconductor region each have a higher impurity concentration than the p? type semiconductor layer, the avalanche region is a region between the n+ type semiconductor region and the p type semiconductor region inside the p? type semiconductor layer, and the n+ type semiconductor region has a smaller area than the n+ type semiconductor region in planar view.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a detector, a count value storage, and a reader. The detector includes an avalanche amplification type light receiving element that detects a photon, and a resetter that resets an output potential of the light receiving element, and outputs a digital signal that indicates the presence or absence of incidence of a photon on the light receiving element. The count value storage performs counting by converting the digital signal output from the detector to an analog voltage, and stores the result of counting as a count value. The reader outputs an analog signal indicating the count value.

Abstract: An image acquisition device includes an optical system, an illumination angle adjustment mechanism, and a stage. The optical system has a lens and a light source disposed in the focal plane of the lens, and generates a collimated illumination light. The illumination angle adjustment mechanism is configured so as to be able to change the irradiation direction of the illumination light with respect to an object. A module is detachably loaded on a stage. The module includes the object and an image sensor which are integrated such that the illumination light transmitted through the object is incident on the image sensor. The stage has a circuit for receiving an output of the image sensor in a state where the module is loaded on the stage.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a pixel including: a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge corresponding to incident light; a charge storage section that is connected to the photoelectric converter and accumulates signal charge; a reset transistor; an amplifying transistor; and a cutoff transistor, wherein the amplifying transistor and the cutoff transistor form a negative feedback amplifying circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid-state imaging apparatus that can significantly reduce kTC noise by using a negative feedback amplifying circuit. A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels arranged on a semiconductor substrate in a matrix, the pixel unit including, for each column, a source line and a column signal line, each of the plurality of pixels including: a photoelectric conversion unit that generates a signal charge corresponding to incident light; a storage unit storing the signal charge; a reset transistor; an amplifying transistor; and a cutoff transistor, wherein the amplifying transistor and the cutoff transistor form a negative feedback amplifying circuit. With this configuration, kTC noise can significantly be reduced.

Abstract: A control apparatus capable of updating a user program while processing is being performed in a multitasking manner is provided. A processor includes a memory that stores a user program containing a program organization unit as well as a central processing unit executing a task containing the user program and also updating the program organization unit stored in the memory. The central processing unit is configured to execute a plurality of tasks concurrently and to execute each task with a period corresponding to the task. Moreover, the central processing unit is configured to update the program organization unit stored in the memory during the period of time from when a plurality of tasks to be executed have been finished until when the plurality of tasks are executed again.

Abstract: Provided is a method for driving a solid-state imaging device. The solid-state imaging device including pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array of m columns in a horizontal scanning direction and n rows in a vertical scanning direction (n is an integer no less than 2 and m is a natural number). The method including ending a reset operation on pixels in an i-th row among the pixels when (i) a reset operation on pixels in an (i+1)-th row among the pixels is in progress or (ii) time elapsed from when the reset operation on the pixels in the (i+1)-th row is ended is less than one-frame capturing time, where i is an integer no less than 1 and no greater than (n?1).

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: pixels arranged in a matrix, a semiconductor substrate; a first electrode formed above the semiconductor substrate for each of the pixels; a photoelectric conversion film formed on the first electrode, for photoelectric conversion of light into signal charge; a charge accumulation region formed in the semiconductor substrate for accumulating the signal charge generated through the photoelectric conversion in the photoelectric conversion film; a contact plug for electrically connecting the first electrode and the charge accumulation region in a corresponding pixel; a high-concentration impurity region formed on a surface of the charge accumulation region, in a region in contact with the contact plug; a surface impurity region formed on the surface of the charge accumulation region, in a region not in contact with the contact plug; and a low-concentration impurity region formed between the high-concentration impurity region and the surface impurity region.

Abstract: A socket includes a first base member that includes a module mount unit allowing a module including an imaging device and an object to be placed thereon and an electric connector that electrically connects the imaging device to an external apparatus, a second base member having an opening, and an engagement unit that causes the first base member to be engaged with the second base member under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first and second base members. When the first base member is engaged with the second base member by the engagement unit under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first base member and the second base member, the electric connector is electrically connected to the imaging device, and the object receives illumination light from a light source through the opening.

Abstract: A preparation element set including an image sensor including a sensor surface, a sensor back surface, and a board; a package including a front surface, a back surface, and terminals on the back surface, the front surface touching or facing the sensor back surface; and a transparent plate facing the sensor surface with a subject placed therebetween, wherein the board includes a board surface and a board back surface, a distance between the board surface and the sensor surface is less than a distance between the board back surface and the sensor surface, a distance between the board surface and the sensor back surface is more than a distance between the board back surface and the sensor back surface, conductive holes pierce the board from the board surface to the board back surface, and conductors on the board surface are electrically connected to terminals by using the conductive holes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an imager that is electrically connected to an image sensor disposed at a position where light that has passed through a sample slice is incident on the image sensor, and an illumination system that emits illumination light successively in different illumination directions relative to a sample slice to illuminate the sample slice with the illumination light and that emits a first light having a peak in a first wavelength range and a second light having a peak in a second wavelength range. The image forming apparatus obtains a plurality of first-color images with the image sensor while the sample slice is being illuminated with the first light serving as the illumination light successively in the different illumination directions. The image forming apparatus obtains at least one second-color image with the image sensor while the sample slice is being illuminated with the second light in at least one of the different illumination directions.