Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a printer apparatus may include a chuck configured to support a substrate thereon, a rail spaced apart from the chuck, a printhead carriage frame coupled to the rail, and a printhead carriage coupled to the printhead carriage frame. The printhead carriage may include a printhead and an actuation mechanism. The actuation assembly may be coupled to the printhead carriage and may be selectively engagable with the printhead for selective displacement of the printhead relative to the printhead carriage.

Abstract: A liquid jetting device includes a plurality of nozzles provided in a liquid jetting head, a charge-discharge actuator provided in correspondence with each nozzle, and a driving section for applying a driving signal to the charge-discharge actuator to jet liquid from the corresponding nozzle, the liquid jetting device comprising: a driving wave-form signal generating section configured to generate a driving wave-form signal as a basis of a signal for controlling a drive state of the actuator; a driving signal generating section configured to amplify the driving wave-form signal generated by the driving wave-form signal generating section using a charge-use transistor and a discharge-use transistor connected in a push-pull configuration, and output a driving signal; a charging source potential preliminary adjusted wave-form signal generating section configured to generate a charging source potential preliminary adjusted wave-form signal for making a preliminary adjustment to a potential of a charging source fo

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a passage unit; an actuator unit including a plurality of individual electrodes; a plurality of waveform output circuits which output pulse signals to be supplied to the plurality of individual electrodes; one or more variable resistance elements connected to the actuator unit; a temperature sensor which detects environmental temperature; and a controller which controls the one or more variable resistance elements so that the one or more variable resistance elements decrease in their resistance values with a decrease in the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A pattern forming method includes: disposing a portion of a first nozzle group composed of a plurality of first nozzles arranged in a first direction and a portion of a second nozzle group composed of a plurality of second nozzles arranged in the first direction so as to overlap each other as viewed in a second direction; and ejecting a droplet from each of a plurality of selected nozzles of the first nozzles and a plurality of selected nozzles of the second nozzles to a substrate that moves in the second direction relative to the first nozzles and the second nozzles to form a pattern on the substrate. A droplet is ejected from each of a plurality of the first nozzles selected in an area of the first nozzle group overlapped with the second nozzle group as viewed in the second direction and each of the plurality of second nozzles located between each adjacent pair of the selected first nozzles as viewed in the second direction is selected to eject a droplet.

Abstract: A printhead controller is provided for supplying print data to a plurality of printhead integrated circuits of different lengths. The printhead integrated circuits is arranged to define a pagewidth printhead having rows of nozzles formed by adjacent nozzle rows of the adjacent printhead integrated circuits. The nozzle rows of the printhead are configured so that there is at least one row for printing each ink color of a plurality of ink colors. The printhead controller is configured to supply the print data to the printhead integrated circuits in accordance with their respective lengths, such that the difference in the lengths is at least partially compensated for in printing across the pagewidth.

Abstract: A printer controller for supplying data to a printhead integrated circuit is provided. The printhead integrated circuit has a row of aligned printhead nozzles. A sequential group of the nozzles at only one end of the printhead integrated circuit is offset from the other nozzles of the row. The printer controller is configured to control order and timing of the supplied data to compensate for the offset nozzles during printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of head chips which comprise a plurality of nozzles to jet ink to a print medium according to print data, and a controller which compares jetting gaps of the head chips to the print medium with a reference jetting gap and determines jetting times of the head chips.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection ports which eject droplets of liquid; a light emitting device which emits a determination light beam intersecting with flight paths of the droplets ejected from at least two of the ejection ports to be examined; a light receiving device which receives the determination light beam having passed through the flight paths of the droplets and outputs a determination signal corresponding to an amount of received light; an ejection port selection device which selects the at least two of the ejection ports to be examined so that the at least two of the ejection ports are disposed on a line parallel to an optical axis of the determination light beam, and that a distance between the at least two of the ejection ports along the optical axis of the determination light beam is smaller than a prescribed specific distance; an ejection control device which performs ejection driving to eject the droplets at substantially same time f

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of estimating the alignment in the printing medium direction between a first and a second pen of a printing system having a scan axis, whereby: the first, respectively second pen prints a first, respectively second pattern element; the first and second pattern elements are substantially aligned and separated by a space along the scan axis; each of the first and second pattern elements comprises a first and an associated second mark separated by a blank along the scan axis, the first and the second marks being staggered in the printing medium direction; an optical sensor scans along the scan axis over the first and second pattern elements, an analysis of the sensor output leading to estimating the alignment.

Abstract: The liquid ejection apparatus includes: a recording head which includes a nozzle and an ejection device, the ejection device ejecting an ejection liquid through the nozzle by applying pressure to the ejection liquid in the recording head; a liquid accommodation unit which is in connection with the recording head and which accommodates a gas, the ejection liquid to be supplied to the recording head, and a non-volatile liquid having a permeability to the gas lower than the ejection liquid, the ejection liquid being separated from the gas by the non-volatile liquid; and a pressure control unit which controls pressure of the ejection liquid in the liquid accommodation unit by moving the gas into and out of the liquid accommodation unit.

Abstract: An inkjet image forming apparatus capable of circulating ink provided from an ink cartridge includes at least one pump disposed at an ink cartridge that is detachably disposed to a main body frame, at least one pump driving unit to drive the at least one pump, and a driving motor to drive the at least one pump driving unit if rotating in a first direction. The driving motor drives another part of the image forming apparatus if rotating in a second direction.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus for ejecting a liquid onto a target is provided. The liquid ejection apparatus is provided with a liquid ejection head, a conveying mechanism, a moving device and a wiping device. The conveying mechanism conveys a target along the nozzle forming surface toward a facing location which faces the nozzle forming surface provided on the liquid ejection head from a side of the facing location. The moving device makes at least one of the liquid ejection head and the conveying mechanism approach and move away from the other in a predetermined direction while maintaining a state where the nozzle forming surface and the conveying mechanism face each other. The wiping device has wiping members for wiping the nozzle forming surface. The wiping members are arranged on a side of the conveying mechanism corresponding to the liquid ejection head in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead and a method of manufacturing the printhead. The inkjet printhead includes a substrate through which an ink supply passage is formed, a chamber plate stacked on the substrate having an ink chamber filled with ink supplied through the ink supply passage and heating resistors to heat the ink formed in the ink chamber, a nozzle plate formed on the chamber plate and through which a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected are formed, and a water repellent layer formed on the nozzle plate, wherein portions of a covalent bond formed by reaction between the material forming the nozzle plate and a hydrolysis material used to form the water repellent layer are discontinuously formed.

Abstract: An inkjet print head chip capable of preventing an adhesive from flowing over a nozzle part during a connection work of a flexible printed circuit board thereto is provided with a nozzle part to have a plurality of nozzles formed therein; a plurality of connecting pads disposed at a side of the nozzle part and electrically connected to a plurality of ink firing portions formed under the nozzle part; and an overflow prevention dam disposed between the nozzle part and the plurality of connecting pads and to have a height higher than the plurality of connecting pads.

Abstract: The invention provides for an elongate bi-lithic printhead unit for a pagewidth printer. The unit includes two integrated circuits laid end-to-end, each having a multitude of microelectromechanical nozzles for operatively ejecting printing fluid. The unit also includes an ink distribution plate for feeding printing fluid into apertures defined in the integrated circuits, and an ink distribution molding defining a plurality of elongate conduits for distributing printing fluid to the plate along a length of the printhead. The unit further includes a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to relay data signals from a printer controller to respective ends of the integrated circuits, as well as a support member for holding the integrated circuits, plate, molding and PCB in appropriate alignment.

Abstract: An ink jet head (15) of an ink jet printer comprises an ink jet nozzle (24) outputting ultraviolet curing ink, a pair of ultraviolet LEDs 25a and 25b provided on both sides of the ink jet nozzle in the moving direction for emitting ultraviolet in order to cure the ultraviolet curing ink.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting device suitable for ejecting a droplet from a substrate onto a support at a distance greater than usual. A liquid droplet ejecting head that includes a plurality of actuating chambers is linked to a single common ejection nozzle through which a droplet is to be ejected from the head.

Abstract: A heating structure of an inkjet printhead and an inkjet printhead including the heating structure. The heating structure includes a substrate, a heater formed on the substrate, an electrode formed on the heater, a passivation layer formed to cover the heaters and the electrodes, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) formed in the passivation layer.

Abstract: An actuator device includes a piezoelectric element including a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and an upper electrode that are displaceably provided in sequence on a substrate. The lower electrode includes a flat center portion and an inclined end portion that descends toward the substrate. The piezoelectric layer is disposed above the lower electrode and the substrate, and includes a first, second, and third piezoelectric layer portion constituted by a plurality of columnar crystals. The columnar crystals of the first and second piezoelectric layer portions are orthogonal to the flat portion of the lower electrode and surface of the substrate, while the columnar crystals of the third piezoelectric layer portion extend orthogonally from a surface of the inclined portion and bend to be orthogonal to the surface of the upper electrode, giving the grains of the columnar crystals of the third piezoelectric layer portion larger widths and increased stress resistance.

Abstract: An ink tank of an inkjet printer includes a housing that stores ink; an ink intake unit formed through a lateral wall of the housing and that is openable and closeable to intake ink from the outside; an ink discharge unit formed through a lateral wall of the housing and that is openable and closeable to discharge ink to the outside; and a filter unit that is connected to the ink discharge unit and is installed closer to the bottom of the housing than the ink discharge unit, the filter unit including a filter that filters dust included in the ink that flows to the ink discharge unit.

Abstract: A printhead assembly, an image forming apparatus and an ink supply unit supply color inks to a plurality of printheads which are arranged in a direction transverse to an advancing direction of a printing medium. The ink supply unit may include a first channel member to receive different color inks, a second channel member engaged with the first channel member to divide each of the supplied color inks to a plurality of sets of first unit channels corresponding in number to the plurality of printheads, and a third channel member engaged with the second channel member. A plurality of second unit channels of the third channel member may supply each of the color inks being supplied from the first unit channels to each of the printheads. A support plate may be used to support the first, second, and third channel members in a stack structure.

Abstract: A circuit board, a cartridge with the circuit board, and methods of manufacturing the circuit board and cartridge are provided. A circuit board has a storage device and a plurality of terminals arranged thereon along one axis thereof. A first set of the terminals are for read/write operations of the storage device to modify data contained in the storage device. A second set of the terminals are for communicating electrical power to the storage device. At least two of the second set of terminals are arranged on the circuit board at two edges thereof. The circuit board may be applied to a housing holding marking material. The method of manufacturing the circuit board includes defining first and second circuits having first and second terminals, respectively. A substrate is provided and the first and second circuits are formed on the substrate with the first and second terminals thereof being conjoined at a conjoined area.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet printer including: a plurality of rollers; a transporting belt wound on the plurality of rollers; ink jet heads which discharge ink droplets onto a printing medium transported by the transporting belt; a calibrator which matches eccentric phases of the plurality of roller to each other; and a calibration control unit which matches the eccentric phases of the rollers to each other by the calibrator if the numbers of rotations of the rollers become a predetermined calibration rotation number.

Abstract: A solid imaging apparatus is provided that includes a replaceable cartridge containing a source of build material and an extendable and retractable flexible transport film for transporting the build material layer-by-layer from the cartridge to the surface of a build in an image plane. An operator using the device needs merely to remove a spent cartridge and replace it with a fresh cartridge to continue solid imaging virtually uninterrupted. The apparatus also includes the capability of withdrawing and inserting an imager without the operator having to perform a separate alignment step. A brush attached to the transport film and forming part of the cartridge provides for intra-layer removal of excess uncured build material. If desired, the apparatus can produce a fully reacted build. A high intensity UV source cures the build between layers. An injection molded build pad is designed to hold a build in an inverted position for improving the build.

Abstract: An illuminating light source, and a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus including the same. The illuminating light source includes: a vacuum tube have a cylindrical shape, is filled with a discharging gas, and has a light emitting portion disposed in a lengthwise direction thereof; a discharging electrode disposed upon the vacuum tube, and having a width that increases from a center portion to end portions thereof; and a fluorescent body disposed within the vacuum tube, to absorb first light beams emitted by the discharging gas and to emit second light beams having a longer wavelength than the first light beams, with the second light beams being illuminated through the light emitting portion.

Abstract: An f-? lens is joined to a mount through a light curable bond, forms an incident deflected beam onto a photosensitive body, and includes a lens part which has an incident side on which the deflected beam is incident, and an exiting side which is disposed near the photosensitive body and on which the entered deflected beam is exited, an joining part which has a joining side which is extended from the incident face and is joined to the mount, and an emitting side which is extended from the exiting face and disposed to face the joining side, and which a light beam for curing the light curable bond is scanned, and an emitting part which is formed on the emitting side in a non-planar shape and provided to decrease loss of light quantity of the light beam scanned on the emitting face, so that the f-? lens provides an improved joining force in a joining process by a light cure joining type.

Abstract: A laser light source has a plurality of semiconductor lasers arranged in a direction intersecting a primary scanning direction X. The semiconductor lasers are arranged in such a positional relationship that each semiconductor laser is located upstream, in the primary scanning direction X, of a different semiconductor laser located adjacent thereto and downstream thereof in a direction in which air is blown from an air blowoff pipe.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus includes: an image generating unit configured to generate and update an image to be displayed by a remote display terminal, the remote display terminal including a radio communication unit whose power state is switchable; an update detection unit configured to detect an update of the image by the image generating unit; a first transmission control unit configured to control transmission of the image,whose update is detected by the update detection unit, toward the radio communication unit of the remote display terminal; a switching decision unit configured to decide switching of the power state of the radio communication unit if the update detection unit does not detect the update of the image for a predetermined period; a message generating unit configured to generate a message to order switching of the power state of the radio communication unit of the remote display terminal based on a decision by the switching decision unit; and a second transmission control unit configured t

Abstract: A system for carrying out voice interception for Video Phone (VP) services in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) network. The system receives an interception request to perform interception on a target and interception related information from a Law Enforcement Agency (LEA), processes communication traffic of the intercept target to obtain audio data from the communication traffic, converts the audio data into a format that is supported by the LEA, and delivers the audio data to the LEA.

Abstract: An object-enabled navigation system assists a vision-impaired user in navigating an environment. The system captures 3D movement of a moving object within the environment, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined using at least one image capture device aimed at the moving object. The system predicts a mobile path of the visually-impaired user. The system determines whether the movement of the moving object will intersect with the mobile path of the vision-impaired user and informs the vision-impaired user whether the movement of the moving object will intersect the mobile path of the vision-impaired user.

Abstract: A vision enhancement system providing an enhanced image of the user's field of view. The enhanced image is projected in the user's line of sight using a CMOS camera to image the field of view, a small programmable image processor chip and a high resolution display. The invention provides a small, efficient, lightweight sensor that offers high resolution, wide field-of-view, and broad spectral coverage. In preferred embodiments the system is installed on aircraft pilot helmets to allow pilots enhanced visibility with minimal impact to normal operations.

Abstract: A system and method for presentation of surveillance data includes a first environment including one or more sensors configured to monitor the first environment wherein data is collected by the one or more sensors. A second environment includes one or more information presentation devices configured to convey an event or state occurring in the first environment by altering an ambient sensory condition in the second environment, such that the ambient sensory condition is modified in accordance with a type and/or level of the event or state.

Abstract: A vandal-proof rack structure for a surveillance monitor is disclosed, which comprises: a frame, having a first gear positioned at a specific location thereof and being used for receiving the surveillance monitor; a first axial seat, having a second gear and a third gear arranged thereat while enabling the second gear to mesh with the first gear and thus enabling the frame to pitch vertically with respect to the first axial seat; and a second axial seat, having a fourth gear arranged thereon while enabling the fourth gear to mesh with the third gear and thus enabling the first axial seat to yaw horizontally with respect to the second axial seat.

Abstract: A driving assistance system that projects images imaged by multiple vehicle cameras onto a plane, and synthesizes projection images from images obtained at different times to accurately determine whether the vehicle cameras have moved out of their proper positions or imaging directions. The system includes: first and second in-vehicle cameras that capture first and second images, respectively. The cameras capture overlapping regions respectively in different directions. An image converter converts the first and second images into first and second projection images projected onto a plane. A solid object detection unit determines whether a solid object exists in the overlapping region. When no solid object exists, the images of the overlapping regions within the first and second projection images are compared to generate a comparison value. The comparison value is in turn compared with a threshold value for the determination of vehicle camera movement out of its proper position.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and program product includes a movement processing system for capturing a first three-dimensional movement of a user and capturing at least another three-dimensional movement of the user, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined using at the at least one image capture device aimed at the body of the user. A projected movement system predicts a movement baseline based on the first three-dimensional movement of the user and predicts at least one subsequent movement range based on the at least another three-dimensional movement of the user. Based on a comparison of the movement baseline with the at least one subsequent movement, the projected movement systems predicts a projected movement of a user for tracking changes in a range of body movement of a user.

Abstract: A blur detection apparatus that detects blur contained in a first image acquired by shooting by an image sensor based on the output of the image sensor has a blur information creator adapted to create blur information reflecting the blur based on the first image and a second image shot with an exposure time shorter than the exposure time of the first image.

Abstract: A method for calculating an estimated hand motion vector of a plurality of images includes selecting a current video frame and a previous video frame from a video stream, dividing the current video frame into a plurality of macroblocks, selecting a subset of macroblocks from the current video frame, comparing the subset of macroblocks to the previous video frame within a two dimensional comparison range to generate a set of motion vectors, calculating a frame motion vector for the current video frame, estimating a steady motion vector for the current video frame by a first-order autoregression, and calculating a hand motion vector for the current video frame by taking a difference between the steady motion vector and the frame motion vector of the current video frame.

Abstract: A method of improving image quality of a digital image is provided. In particular, the motion blur in an image taken in a long exposure time is reduced by dividing the exposure time into several shorter periods and capturing a series of images in those shorter periods. Among the images, one reference image is selected and the remaining images are registered in reference to the reference image by image warping, for example. After identifying the pixels in each of the remaining images and the corresponding pixels in the reference image, a weighting factor is assigned to each of the pixels in the remaining images based on the similarity in the pixel values between the remaining images and reference image. A weight average operation is carried out to sum the corresponding pixels in the reference and the remaining images to generate the final image.

Abstract: A blur correction mechanism includes: a first guide shaft extending in a first direction, the direction being a predetermined direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens groups; a base frame supporting the first guide shaft; a first correcting moving frame supported by the base frame so as to be movable in the first direction via the first guide shaft; a second guide shaft extending in a second direction orthogonal to both the optical axis and the first direction, and being supported by the first correcting moving frame; and a second correcting moving frame supported by the first correcting moving frame so as to be movable in the second direction via the second guide shaft, and holding the lens groups therein. The first guide shaft and the second guide shaft are positioned so as to be substantially coplanar in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of preventing image degradation due to shaking of an image photographing device. An apparatus for preventing image degradation due to shaking of an image photographing device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an image acquiring unit to acquire a plurality of images of a predetermined subject using a second exposure time shorter than a first exposure time, a scale adjusting unit to adjust scales of the plurality of acquired images, and an image restoring unit to restore images of the subject using the plurality of images whose scales are adjusted.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus capable of precisely and immediately performing autofocusing on a person being photographed, and a method of controlling the same are provided. The digital photographing apparatus comprises a face detecting unit that detects a face, a body detecting unit that detects a body, which may or may not exclude the face, an autofocus information obtaining unit, and an autofocus object determining unit. The autofocus object determining unit analyzes face autofocus information obtained from the face by the autofocus information obtaining unit and body autofocus information obtained from the body, and then selects the face part and/or the body as an object of autofocusing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a point of view video system comprising: a camera for receiving an image and for generating a video signal; a portable video image recording module including: a display; one or more user activators; a communication interface for signally communicating with the camera that is remote from the recording module; a power source; a speaker; a processing device in signaling communication with the display, the one or more user activators, the speaker, and the communication interface for processing data; and a sealed housing for containing the recording module, the sealed housing being separable from the camera.

Abstract: A display apparatus, includes: a receiving unit which receives a video signal; a video processing unit which performs video processing on the video signal and generates a processed video signal; a display unit which displays a video based on the processed video signal; an image taking unit which takes an image of a subject to generate an image information; and a control unit which controls the video processing unit to change at least one property of the video being displayed in the display unit depending on the image information.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus which automatically determines a face, as chosen by a user, on which autofocusing is to be performed while not imposing an excessive computational load on the digital photographing apparatus. Also provided is a control method for the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the control method. The digital photographing apparatus includes an image division unit dividing an image into a plurality of regions, a first score assignment unit assigning a first score to each face part included in the image according to a region to which the face part belongs, and a face part determination unit determining a face part on which autofocusing is to be performed, based on the first score assigned to each face part.

Abstract: A video processing system for a virtual camera is disclosed. A processing unit obtains a frame of a video source from a image capture device, determines the maximum frame size of the video stream and a first size and a second size of frames needed by a first application program and a second application program, transfers a first frame whose size conforms to the first size to the first buffer according to the frame size of the video stream, and simultaneously copies and transfers a second frame whose size conforms to the second size from the first buffer to the second buffer. A first virtual camera obtains the first frame from the first buffer and transfers the first frame to the first application program to display. A second virtual camera obtains the second frame from the second buffer and transfers the second frame to the second application program to display.

Abstract: When an acquired image file GF includes image processing control information GI, a CPU executes image quality adjustment of image data GD in an image processing mode GM specified by the image processing control information GI. When the acquired image file GF does not include the image processing control information GI, on the other hand, the CPU retrieves Exif information and in the case of successful retrieval of the Exif information, selects the image processing mode GM based on the Exif information and executes image quality adjustment of the image data GD in the selected image processing mode GM. In the case where a selected shooting mode is described in the Exif information, the selected shooting mode is used for the selection of the image processing mode GM. In the case where no selected shooting mode is described in the Exif information, on the other hand, another shooting condition is used for the selection of the image processing mode GM.

Abstract: An image-recording system having at least one camera, having a receiving device and having a signal connection between the camera and the receiving device. The receiving device generates a PWM-coded signal which is transmitted to the camera. A clock signal is obtained in the camera from the PWM-coded signal.

Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed comprising a plurality of pixels; a pixel readout means for producing a plurality of first image frames; a image output means for producing a plurality of second image frames and operable to produce a second image frame from more than one of the first image frames, wherein the pixel readout means is enabled to produce the first images frames at a rate faster than the image output means produces the second image frames. Through combining first image frames, by averaging or other statistical combinations, the photon shot noise of second image frames can be reduced. Photon shot noise affects images with high light levels more than those with low light levels and, as such, the invention also discloses altering the rate of first image frames dependent on the current light levels.

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device, which includes: a comparator for sequentially comparing a predetermined level of an analog pixel signal obtained from a plurality of pixels with a reference signal which is gradually changed and used for converting the predetermined level into digital data; a counter for performing a count processing in parallel with a comparison processing for the predetermined level in the comparator, and holding a count value at a time of completing the comparison processing to obtain digital data indicative of a value obtained by adding the plurality of pixel signals; and an addition spatial position adjusting unit for controlling a selection operation for selecting spatial positions of the plurality of pixels to be processed in the comparator and a ratio of a weight value during the addition to adjust spatial positions of pixels after addition.

Abstract: An image pickup device having an electron multiplying-charge coupled device includes a control unit for controlling an electron multiplication factor of the electron multiplying-charge coupled device; an obtaining unit for obtaining signals output from predetermined pixels of the electron multiplying-charge coupled device; and an averaging unit for performing an inter-line averaging process of the signals obtained by the obtaining unit. The device further includes a suppression unit for performing low-level and high-level suppressions on the signal averaged by the averaging unit based on the electron multiplication factor of the electron multiplication factor control unit; an acquisition unit for acquiring image signals output from the pixels other than the predetermined pixels of the electron multiplying-charge coupled device; and a subtractor for subtracting the signal suppressed by the suppression unit from the image signals acquired by the acquisition unit.