Abstract: A conductive C-plane GaN substrate has a resistivity of 2×10?2 ?·cm or less or an n-type carrier concentration of 1×1018 cm?3 or more at room temperature. At least one virtual line segment with a length of 40 mm can be drawn at least on one main surface of the substrate. The line segment satisfies at least one of the following conditions (A1) and (B1): (A1) when an XRC of (004) reflection is measured at 1 mm intervals on the line segment, a maximum value of XRC-FWHMs across all measurement points is less than 30 arcsec; and (B1) when an XRC of the (004) reflection is measured at 1 mm intervals on the line segment, a difference between maximum and minimum values of XRC peak angles across all the measurement points is less than 0.2°.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; a distal end portion that is arranged on a distal end side of the insertion portion, the distal end portion including as imager and an actuator; an operating portion that is arranged on a proximal end side of the insertion portion, the operating portion including a relay substrate that is electrically connected to the imager and the actuator via a first cable; a connector substrate that is electrically connected to the relay substrate via a second cable; and a proximal end portion including a connector. The first cable includes a first actuator signal line. The second cable includes a second actuator signal line. The second actuator signal line has a larger outer diameter than an outer diameter of the first actuator signal line.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an insertion portion to be inserted into a subject; a distal end portion that is arranged on a distal end side of the insertion portion, the distal end portion including as imager and an actuator; an operating portion that is arranged on a proximal end side of the insertion portion, the operating portion including a relay substrate that is electrically connected to the imager and the actuator via a first cable; a connector substrate that is electrically connected to the relay substrate via a second cable; and a proximal end portion including a connector. The first cable includes a first actuator signal line. The second cable includes a second actuator signal line. The second actuator signal line has a larger outer diameter than an outer diameter of the first actuator signal line.

Abstract: An endoscope power supply system includes an endoscope including an imaging unit that images an object, a housing apparatus to which the endoscope is detachably connected, a plurality of power source units that are provided in the housing apparatus and configured to output electric power different from one another, switches each provided in an output stage of each of the power source units of the housing apparatus and formed of two FETs that are back-to-back connected, and a controller that is provided in the housing apparatus, selects a power source unit necessary to operate the endoscope from the power source units, and controls the switches to output electric power generated by the selected power source unit to the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope power supply system includes an endoscope including an imaging unit that images an object, a housing apparatus to which the endoscope is detachably connected, a plurality of power source units that are provided in the housing apparatus and configured to output electric power different from one another, switches each provided in an output stage of each of the power source units of the housing apparatus and formed of two FETs that are back-to-back connected, and a controller that is provided in the housing apparatus, selects a power source unit necessary to operate the endoscope from the power source units, and controls the switches to output electric power generated by the selected power source unit to the endoscope

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that images a subject to generate a plurality of pieces of image data having information corresponding to different types of color components at same pixel positions, an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode of the imaging unit, a thinning rate setting unit that sets a thinning rate relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components in accordance with the operation mode, a thinning processor that performs thinning processing relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components generated by the imaging unit in accordance with the thinning rate, and a transmission unit that transmits the plurality of pieces of image data of different types of color components subjected to the thinning processing.

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus, includes: a soft iron; a magnet; a driver circuit; and a timing generation circuit, wherein when a first instruction is provided, the timing generation circuit generates the first drive signal, and controls the driver circuit to continuously generate the first drive signal with a period not allowing overheat caused by energization of the electromagnetic actuator even after the soft iron comes into contact with the end part until the second instruction is provided, and when a second instruction is provided, the timing generation circuit generates a second drive signal, and controls the driver circuit to continuously generate the second drive signal with a period not allowing overheat caused by energization of the electromagnetic actuator even after the soft iron comes into contact with the other end part until the first instruction is provided.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup system for endoscope including: a light source; an image forming optical system; a focus lens driving section; an image pickup section outputting an image signal; an image signal amplifying section; an image brightness detecting section; a brightness adjusting section adjusting a brightness control condition such as a light quantity of the light source, an image pickup condition of the image pickup section and an amplification factor of the amplifying section so that brightness of an image becomes a predetermined brightness; an auxiliary AF section estimating a temporary focus position based on the brightness control condition; a control section setting a small scanning range including the temporary focus position; and a contrast AF section causing contrast AF to be performed in the scanning range.

Abstract: An actuator control apparatus includes: a drive circuit configured to apply a current for causing an actuator to drive a driven body; a constant current circuit and configured to control a current value of the current applied to the actuator by the drive circuit; a sense resistance connectable to the drive circuit and in which the current passing through the actuator flows; a change-over switch configured to switch a connection destination of the drive circuit from the constant current circuit to the sense resistance in a predetermined period in a current application period in which the current is applied to the actuator by the drive circuit; and an FPGA configured to detect a resistance value of predetermined circuits including the actuator through which the current passes, based on the current flowing in the sense resistance, and configured to detect an abnormality of the actuator based on the detection result.

Abstract: An actuator control apparatus includes: a drive circuit configured to apply a current for causing an actuator to drive a driven body; a constant current circuit and configured to control a current value of the current applied to the actuator by the drive circuit; a sense resistance connectable to the drive circuit and in which the current passing through the actuator flows; a change-over switch configured to switch a connection destination of the drive circuit from the constant current circuit to the sense resistance in a predetermined period in a current application period in which the current is applied to the actuator by the drive circuit; and an FPGA configured to detect a resistance value of predetermined circuits including the actuator through which the current passes, based on the current flowing in the sense resistance, and configured to detect an abnormality of the actuator based on the detection result.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that images a subject to generate a plurality of pieces of image data having information corresponding to different types of color components at same pixel positions, an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode of the imaging unit, a thinning rate setting unit that sets a thinning rate relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components in accordance with the operation mode, a thinning processor that performs thinning processing relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components generated by the imaging unit in accordance with the thinning rate, and a transmission unit that transmits the plurality of pieces of image data of different types of color components subjected to the thinning processing.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided with: an objective optical system; an image pickup device; a contrast AF section adjusting a focus so that a peak value of a contrast evaluation value of an image is taken; an amount-of-motion detecting section detecting, from a plurality of time-series images, amounts of motion of the subject; and a control section controlling the contrast AF section so as to calculate another contrast evaluation value in a region where a region to be excluded where an amount of motion is equal to or larger than a threshold is excluded from a calculation target region, and the contrast AF section corrects the other contrast evaluation value based on an area of the calculation target region and an area of the region where the region to be excluded is excluded from the calculation target region.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup system for endoscope including: a light source; an image forming optical system; a focus lens driving section; an image pickup section outputting an image signal; an image signal amplifying section; an image brightness detecting section; a brightness adjusting section adjusting a brightness control condition such as a light quantity of the light source, an image pickup condition of the image pickup section and an amplification factor of the amplifying section so that brightness of an image becomes a predetermined brightness; an auxiliary AF section estimating a temporary focus position based on the brightness control condition; a control section setting a small scanning range including the temporary focus position; and a contrast AF section causing contrast AF to be performed in the scanning range.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided with: an objective optical system; an image pickup device; a contrast AF section adjusting a focus so that a peak value of a contrast evaluation value of an image is taken; an amount-of-motion detecting section detecting, from a plurality of time-series images, amounts of motion of the subject; and a control section controlling the contrast AF section so as to calculate another contrast evaluation value in a region where a region to be excluded where an amount of motion is equal to or larger than a threshold is excluded from a calculation target region, and the contrast AF section corrects the other contrast evaluation value based on an area of the calculation target region and an area of the region where the region to be excluded is excluded from the calculation target region.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an actuator having an SMA wire and driving a moving member for moving a lens; an output control circuit; a detection circuit; and a CPU. The CPU outputs a driving signal to the output control circuit, on a basis of an instruction to move the lens, and on the basis of a position of the moving member corresponding to a resistance value detected by the detection circuit. In response to a moving instruction to move the lens from a far-point position to a near-point position, the CPU outputs the driving signal so that a current for moving the moving member from the far-point position to a position beyond the near-point position is passed through the SMA wire to heat the SMA wire. The CPU then performs preheating control, holding constant current transition control, and reheating control.

Abstract: An SSG circuit section is composed of: a memory storing correction information for correcting a transmission characteristic of an image pickup signal in a transmission path; a readout circuit for reading out the correction information stored in the memory; and an SSG for generating a drive signal to be outputted from a driving circuit and a sampling pulse to be used in a CDS circuit, and for specifying an amplification factor of an amplifier circuit.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an actuator having an SMA wire and driving a moving member for moving a lens; an output control circuit; a detection circuit; and a CPU. The CPU outputs a driving signal to the output control circuit, on a basis of an instruction to move the lens, and on the basis of a position of the moving member corresponding to a resistance value detected by the detection circuit. In response to a moving instruction to move the lens from a far-point position to a near-point position, the CPU outputs the driving signal so that a current for moving the moving member from the far-point position to a position beyond the near-point position is passed through the SMA wire to heat the SMA wire. The CPU then performs preheating control, holding constant current transition control, and reheating control.

Abstract: An endoscope device is proposed for dealing with an erroneous operation of a surgeon. An endoscope device has an endoscope and a processor, wherein the endoscope has a switch unit and the processor has a CPU and an operating panel. In the event that the CPU of the processor detects that, of a first instruction signal transmitted from the switch unit and a second instruction signal transmitted from the operating panel, the instructions for performing the predetermined operation are not performed normally with one of the instruction signals, and instructions for performing an operation other than the predetermined operation is performed normally with the other instruction signal, the CPU stops the transmission of one of the instruction signals, and validates the operation content instructed by the other instruction signal.

Abstract: An SSG circuit section is composed of: a memory storing correction information for correcting a transmission characteristic of an image pickup signal in a transmission path; a readout circuit for reading out the correction information stored in the memory; and an SSG for generating a drive signal to be outputted from a driving circuit and a sampling pulse to be used in a CDS circuit, and for specifying an amplification factor of an amplifier circuit.

Abstract: An endoscope device is proposed for dealing with an erroneous operation of a surgeon. An endoscope device has an endoscope and a processor, wherein the endoscope has a switch unit and the processor has a CPU and an operating panel. In the event that the CPU of the processor detects that, of a first instruction signal transmitted from the switch unit and a second instruction signal transmitted from the operating panel, the instructions for performing the predetermined operation are not performed normally with one of the instruction signals, and instructions for performing an operation other than the predetermined operation is performed normally with the other instruction signal, the CPU stops the transmission of one of the instruction signals, and validates the operation content instructed by the other instruction signal.