Abstract: A sample and hold circuit includes a plurality of capacitors, a network of switches and a control circuit. The control circuit is operable to control the network of switches so as to sample an incoming signal onto at least some of the plurality of capacitors. In such an operation, each capacitor takes a sample of the incoming signal at a different time. The sample and hold circuit outputs a signal corresponding to an average of the samples.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a special light image acquisition section that acquires an image including an object image that includes information in a specific wavelength band as a special light image, an attention area detection section that detects an attention area based on a feature quantity of each pixel of the special light image, a disappearance determination section that determines whether or not the attention area has disappeared from a display target area based on a detection result for the attention area, the display target area being an area displayed on an output section, a guide information generation section that generates guide information about the attention area that has disappeared based on a determination result of the disappearance determination section, and an output control section that controls output of information including the guide information generated by the guide information generation section.

Abstract: In an endoscope apparatus, a first color separation section separates an image picked up by an image pickup section into a first luminance signal and a first color difference signal, then a first color conversion section and a second color separation section convert the first luminance signal and the first color difference signal to first three primary color signals and second three primary color signals respectively, a signal intensity ratio calculation circuit calculates a signal intensity ratio among the first three primary color signals, matrix coefficients of the second color separation section are changed based on the calculated signal intensity ratio and the second color separation section converts the first luminance signal and the second color difference signal to the second three primary color signals.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus capable of setting the brightness of a displayed spectroscopic image within a desirable range. The apparatus includes: a light source for irradiating white light on an observation target body; a color imaging device for imaging the observation target image; a first color conversion circuit for converting Y/C signals to RGB three color image signals; a spectroscopic image generation circuit for generating a spectroscopic image from the RGB three color image signals; a second color conversion circuit for converting the RGB three color image signals to Y/C signals; a light amount regulation means for regulating the amount of white light irradiated on the observation target body; and a light amount control circuit for controlling the light amount regulation means based on the luminance information provided by the Y/C signals outputted from the second color conversion circuit.

Abstract: This is an endoscope apparatus which has an endoscope which picks up an image of a sample using a solid state image pickup element and outputs an image pickup signal, and a processor which processes the above-mentioned image pickup signal, generates HDTV and SDTV serial digital video signals, switches one side of those selectively, and performs a serial output, in which the serial digital video signal switched selectively by the above-mentioned processor is output through a first connector, the above-mentioned processor is equipped with a discrimination signal generating section which is linked with selection switching of the above-mentioned HDTV or SDTV serial digital video signal to generate an HDTV/SDTV discrimination signal which can discriminate the above-mentioned HDTV or SDTV serial digital video signal, and the discrimination signal is output through a second connector different from the above-mentioned first connector.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes a light source device, an image pickup device, and an observation monitor. The video processor applies, on the basis of a difference between a first image signal having a peak wavelength of a spectral characteristic and a second image signal having a peak wavelength of the spectral characteristic that a value in the absorption characteristic is lower than the value in the absorption characteristic of the first image signal and a scattering characteristic of the living tissue is suppressed more than the scattering characteristic of the first image signal between a wavelength band including a maximum value and a wavelength band at a minimum value in an absorption characteristic of a living tissue, processing for enhancing the first image signal and generates an enhanced and corrected image signal.

Abstract: An endoscopic video system and method using a camera with a single color image sensor, for example a CCD color image sensor, for fluorescence and color imaging and for simultaneously displaying the images acquired in these imaging modes at video rates in real time is disclosed. The tissue under investigation is illuminated continuously with fluorescence excitation light and is further illuminated periodically using visible light outside of the fluorescence excitation wavelength range. The illumination sources may be conventional lamps using filters and shutters, or may include light-emitting diodes mounted at the distal tip of the endoscope.

Abstract: An endoscope image is obtained by imaging a subject with a scope. Then, an edge portion of the endoscope image is extracted and a complexity degree of the edge portion is detected. Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether the endoscope image is an image obtained through near view imaging or distant view imaging according to the complexity degree and an imaging condition is changed according to the determined near view imaging or distant view imaging.

Abstract: A monitor device for use with an endoscope apparatus, which has first and second display modes. In the first display mode, the monitor device displays, in real time, any image transmitted in a normal radio communication state. In the second display mode, the monitor device displays a noise-free image in real time, if a radio communication error occurs. If one-frame (or one-field) image data is not received within the frame (or field) time due to a communication error, the monitor device displays, in the second display mode, the image data received in a normal state immediately before the one-frame (or one-field) image data, and informs the operator of the communication error.

Abstract: In an endoscope apparatus of the present invention, while observing a body cavity tissue under narrowband light via a second filter group of a rotating filter, a G2 filter section, B2 filter section, and shading filter section change illumination light to narrowband surface-sequential light of two bands of discrete spectral characteristics, and an image-capturing signal captured by a CCD via the B filter section constitutes a band image having superficial layer tissue information, and an image-capturing signal captured by a CCD via the G filter section constitutes a band image having intermediate layer tissue information. This produces tissue information of a desired depth in the vicinity of a superficial portion of a mucous membrane using an inexpensive and simple configuration.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system includes a light source that emits light including at least a visible light band; an optical filter that has a transmittance peak at a particular wavelength within a continuous wavelength band including at least the visible light band and that has a transmittance distribution which is larger than zero and is smaller than a half of the transmittance peak within an entire of the continuous wavelength band excepting the transmittance peak; an optical filter switching means that inserts the optical filter into an illumination optical path of the light source or retracts the optical filter from the illumination optical path; a color solid state image pick-up device that receives reflected light from a subject illuminated with illumination light which has passed through the optical filter or has not passed through the optical filter; and an image generating means that generates a color image which can be displayed on a monitor by processing an imaging signal output by the solid state

Abstract: An endoscope system comprising an imaging device, an input block, and a signal processing block, is provided. The imaging device has first, second, third, and fourth pixels. The first, second, third, and fourth pixels are covered with first, second, third, and fourth color filters, respectively. The first, second, third, and fourth color filters can be penetrated by first, second, third, and fourth light components, respectively. The first light component reaches a depth, predetermined according to the location of an object, under an organ. The second light component belongs to an identified color of the first light component. Further, a band of the second light component is different from that of the first light component. The input block detects a user's input for selecting one of a number of predetermined display modes. The signal processing block carries out edge enhancement processing for a pixel signal generated by the first pixel.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing device including an illuminating portion that irradiates a subject with illumination light and excitation light; a fluorescence image-acquisition portion that acquires a fluorescence image by capturing fluorescence generated at the subject; a return-light image-acquisition portion that acquires a return-light image by capturing return light returning from the subject; a color-image generating portion that generates a plurality of color images by adding different types of color information that constitute a color space to the acquired fluorescence image and return-light image; and an image combining portion that combines the plurality of color images that have been generated, wherein at least one of the fluorescence image and the return-light image is subjected to, by the color-image generating portion), correction processing in which exponents for distance characteristics, which are approximated to exponential functions, for the fluorescence image and the return-light image are

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus is provided. The endoscope apparatus includes an illumination unit configured to selectively provide light of different wavelength bands and white light, a sensing unit configured to generate an image signal by receiving light of a near infrared wavelength band and light of a visible light band, and an image processing unit configured to generate a color image and a plurality of narrow band images from image signals of different wavelength bands generated by the sensing unit. The sensing unit includes a plurality of photodetection pixels, each photodetection pixel comprising an infrared sub-pixel for sensing near infrared light, a red sub-pixel for sensing red light, a blue sub-pixel for sensing blue light, and a green sub-pixel for sensing green light.

Abstract: A measuring endoscope apparatus includes: an endoscope that performs photoelectric conversion of a subject image to generate an imaging signal; an imaging signal processing unit that processes the imaging signal to generate image data; a measurement unit that executes measurement based on a principle of triangulation using the image data; a display signal generating unit that generates a display signal for displaying a measurement result; a determination unit that determines the reliability of the measurement result on the basis of the image data; and a control unit that executes a control according to a determination result.

Abstract: An endoscope signal processor to which an endoscope having an image pickup device is detachably connected has a phase-locked loop circuit in which a phase comparator compares a phase of a variable clock with that of a reference clock output from the image pickup device to generate a variable clock phase-synchronized with the reference clock. The processor includes a gate section opened or closed to input of the reference clock to the phase comparator, an operation control signal generation section which generates an operation control signal for setting the phase-locked loop circuit in a closed loop operable state during intermittent periods, and a sync timing setting section which synchronizes a timing of starting the generation of the operation control signal with a timing of input of the variable clock to the phase comparator at least within a predetermined time period shorter than the cycle of the variable clock.

Abstract: An image processing device for an endoscope includes an image processing section which performs signal processing for generating an image signal to be observed as an endoscope image, for a signal picked up with an image pickup device equipped in the endoscope, a tone correcting circuit section which corrects a tone for the image signal, and a switching section which switches an observation mode or a type for observing as an endoscope image, and changes a correction characteristic of a tone by the tone correcting circuit section in accordance with switching of the observation mode or the type.

Abstract: An optical imaging device of the present invention comprises: a light source device; a light guide and illumination lens, provided in an insertion section that can be inserted into a body cavity, for constituting an illumination light path for guiding an illumination light from the light source device to a subject; an objective lens for receiving return lights from the subject; an image capturing section for acquiring a visible light band image from the return light; an excitation light cut filter and image capturing section for acquiring a fluorescent image from the return lights; and an illumination light filter, provided on the illumination light path, for decreasing light in a band overlapping with the band of light of which image is captured by the image capturing section from the illumination light incident on.

Abstract: Provided is an image capturing system including an image capturing section that includes a plurality of first light receiving elements for receiving light of a first wavelength region and a plurality of second light receiving elements for receiving light of a second wavelength region, a control section that causes to be generated, from a subject, light of a different spectrum at a different timing for each of the first wavelength region and the second wavelength region, and an image generating section that generates an image from light of a first spectrum from the subject received by the first light receiving elements at a predetermined timing, and light of a second spectrum from the subject received by the second light receiving elements at a timing other than the predetermined timing.

Abstract: Decoding a multiview video signal comprises: receiving a bitstream comprising encodings of multiple views of the multiview video signal. Each view comprises multiple pictures segmented into multiple segments. The decoding also comprises extracting flag information associated with a portion of the multiview video signal from the bitstream indicating whether illumination compensation of segments within said portion of the multiview video signal is enabled. For a portion in which illumination compensation is enabled according to the extracted flag information, a value associated with a segment within the portion is extracted from the bitstream and it is determined from said extracted value whether illumination compensation of the segment is to be performed.

Abstract: A high tone image is saved in a versatile image file format to enhance usability. There are provided an imaging unit that images an original image having a predetermined dynamic range, which is a ratio between minimum luminance and maximum luminance; a synthesized image generating part that generates a synthesized image data that is higher in tone than a tone width of the original image by synthesizing a plurality of original images imaged under different imaging conditions at the same observation position; a display unit that displays the images imaged by the imaging unit; a tone conversion part that converts the synthesized image data generated by the synthesized image generating part to low tone image data having a tone width capable of being displayed on the display unit; and a tone data saving part that generates a high tone data-attached display file including a high tone image region for saving the synthesized image data serving as a basis as an image file for saving the low tone image data.

Abstract: A microscope system having a selectively mountable optical element, comprises: a first noncontact type storage medium, being equipped in the optical element, for enabling a noncontact readout of information externally; and a first readout unit for reading information non-contactingly from the first noncontact type storage medium, wherein the first noncontact type storage medium stores information related to the optical element.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a color image data generation section 54 that generates color image data from an image pickup signal of a red component, an image pickup signal of a green component, and an image pickup signal of a blue component which are output from an image pickup device 100; an infrared image data generation section 53 that generates infrared image data from an image pickup signal of an infrared component output from the image pickup device 100; and a high-contrast infrared image data generation section 55 that generates high-contrast infrared image data using the color image data and the infrared image data. Contrast of the high-contrast infrared image data is more enhanced than that of the infrared image data.

Abstract: A display system 100 includes a light source 110 and a color wheel 114. An optical section 112 is arranged to receive light from the light source 110 and to direct the light toward a color wheel 114. A digital micromirror device 122 is arranged to receive the light from the color wheel 114 and to direct image data toward a display. The image data includes an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. The array of pixels is arranged as curved color bands during a first time period and rectangular color bands during a second time period. The second time period being concurrent with but of a shorter duration than the first time period.

Abstract: An image-signal generating apparatus comprises a solid-state image pickup device-equivalent load circuit unit including a load approximately equivalent to a solid-state image pickup device such as a charge coupled device, etc. The image-signal generating apparatus further comprises an image-signal generating circuit for generating an image signal corresponding to an output signal output from the solid-state image pickup device through the solid-state image pickup device-equivalent load circuit unit, which is a load to which a driving signal for driving the solid-state image pickup device is applied.

Abstract: An endoscope device obtains tissue information of a desired depth near the tissue surface. A xenon lamp (11) in a light source (4) emits illumination light. A diaphragm (13) controls a quantity of the light that reaches a rotating filter. The rotating filter has an outer sector with a first filter set, and an inner sector with a second filter set. The first filter set outputs frame sequence light having overlapping spectral properties suitable for color reproduction, while the second filter set outputs narrow-band frame sequence light having discrete spectral properties enabling extraction of desired deep tissue information. A condenser lens (16) collects the frame sequence light coming through the rotating filter onto the incident face of a light guide (15). The diaphragm controls the amount of the light reaching the filter depending on which filter set is selected.

Abstract: A body-insertable apparatus is inserted into a subject and obtains information of an inside of the subject. The body-insertable apparatus includes an illuminating unit that outputs an illumination light to illuminate the inside of the subject; an imaging unit that obtains image information of the inside of the subject which is illuminated by the illuminating unit; a radio transmitting unit that transmits information of the inside of the subject by radio; a clock generating unit that generates a clock for obtainment of the image information by the imaging unit; and a correcting unit that corrects a clock for radio transmission by the radio transmitting unit based on the clock generated by the clock generating unit.

Abstract: An endoscope light source unit includes an aperture device having aperture openings of different opening ratios, for selectively positioning one of the aperture openings between the incident end of a light guide and a light source; a driving device for moving the aperture device; an index detection device for detecting whether a specific aperture opening of the aperture device is positioned between the incident end face and the light source; an aperture opening position detection device for detecting whether any one of the aperture openings lies between the incident end face and the light source; a measuring device for measuring a driving amount of the driving device with respect to a position of the specific one of the aperture openings; and a controller for driving the driving device based on measurements from the index detection device, the aperture position detection device, and the measuring device.

Abstract: An endoscope processor comprising a signal receiver and a standard value calculator is provided. The signal receiver receives an image signal generated based on an optical image captured at a light receiving surface on an imaging device. The image signal comprises a plurality of pixel signals generated by a plurality of pixels according to amounts of received light. A plurality of the pixels are arranged on the light receiving surface. The standard value calculator calculates a standard value using a focused pixel signal and surrounding pixel signals. The surrounding pixel signals are the pixel signals of surrounding pixels. The surrounding pixels surround the focused pixel. The standard value is used for carrying out signal processing on the focused pixel signal.

Abstract: An endoscope processor comprising a signal receiver, an average calculator, a difference calculator, an emphasizer, a synthesizer, and an output block is provided. The signal receiver receives an image signal generated by an imaging device. The image signal comprises a plurality of pixel signals. The average calculator calculates a signal average value. The difference calculator calculates a signal difference value. The emphasizer calculates an emphasized value by multiplying the signal difference value by a predetermined gain. The synthesizer generates an emphasized image signal, in which the pixel signal for each pixel is replaced with the sum of the emphasized value for each pixel and the signal average value.

Abstract: In a system and a method for profiling a digital-image input device, profiling of the digital-image input device is performed based at least on an image of a color chart and an estimated illumination of the color chart generated by comparing illumination of device-dependent coordinate values for the image of the color chart with illumination of device-independent coordinate values of the color chart. Because the estimated illumination of the color chart is performed on data pertaining to the color chart, the present invention may generate a profile without reference to data pertaining to scenery in the image outside of the color chart. Consequently, the present invention may generate a profile irrespective of the relative exposure of the color chart with respect to other scenery in the image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects whether image data for each of the lines in generated image information is chromatic or achromatic; and a determining unit that determines whether the original is chromatic or achromatic based on a detection result of the detecting unit for a first area of the image information, excluding a detection result for a predetermined second area of the image information, the predetermined second area including an end line among the lines in a scanning direction of the original.

Abstract: An endoscope is disclosed that provide selection of each illumination mode of four different illumination modes, with one of the four different illumination modes being a mode which sequentially transmits very narrow wavelength ranges at three different wavelength regions within the visible spectrum.

Abstract: The electronic endoscope device in accordance with the present invention comprises an image pick-up unit capable of acquiring an object image with respect to illumination light employed for illuminating the object for each prescribed wavelength band, an exposure period setting circuit for setting the exposure period of the image pick-up unit corresponding to the each wavelength band, an amplification circuit for amplifying picked-up image signals of the object image obtained with the image pick-up unit corresponding to the each wavelength band, and a control circuit for controlling the amplification circuit such that the picked-up image signals corresponded to the each wavelength band of the object image that are acquired with the image pick-up unit at the exposure period set corresponding to the each wavelength band set by the exposure period setting circuit are amplified at amplification factors computed corresponding to the exposure period that is set corresponding to the each wavelength band.

Abstract: A diagnosis supporting system acquires a reference image signal of a subject illuminated with visible light and a fluorescent image signal of the subject excited by irradiation with excitation light. The diagnosis supporting system calculates a difference between a brightness level of a pixel in the reference image signal and a brightness level of a pixel in the fluorescent image signal at the corresponding position for target pixels. An observation image signal is generated by converting the pixels in the reference image signal with differences larger than a predetermined value into red pixels. In the case a ratio of the red pixels in the observation image signal is higher than a predetermined level, more pixels become the target pixels to be processed than in the other case.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup element is mounted on a digital camera. The solid-state image pickup element has: first color pixels which detect an amount of incident light of a first color of the three primary colors; second color pixels which detect an amount of incident light of a second color; third color pixels which detect an amount of incident light of a third color; and luminance detection pixels which are adjacent to the color pixels, respectively, and which detect luminance information. In the digital camera, when data of a reduced image in which the resolution is more reduced than the resolution of all the pixels of the solid-state image pickup element are to be produced, data of each of the color pixels (R, G, B), and data of one or more of the luminance detection pixels (Y) which are adjacent to the color pixel are added together. A signal processing is applied to the added data to reproduce a photographed image.

Abstract: A band-limiting filter of the invention exhibits a trimodal filter characteristic, and includes, for example, band-limiting transmittance filter characteristic portions Rb, Gb, and Bb for wavelength regions of red, green, and blue, respectively. More specifically, the band-limiting transmittance filter characteristic portions Rb, Gb, and Bb, for example, have bandpass characteristics in which the respective center wavelengths are 630 nm (full width at half maximum ?1=30 to 90 nm), 540 nm (full width at half maximum ?2=20 to 60 nm), and 440 nm (full width at half maximum ?3=50 to 80 nm). This makes it possible to obtain an image of a predetermined color tone by restraining an influence of spectral sensitivity characteristic of an image pickup device when the band-limiting filter is applied to a synchronous type endoscope for performing color image pickup to perform observation under normal illumination light.

Abstract: A TV observation system for an endoscope including an endoscope and a small-sized light source unit. The endoscope can be structurally separated into an insertion part and a proximal holding part continuously extending from the insertion part. The endoscope can include a light guide arranged from a distal end of the insertion part through the proximal holding part. The proximal holding part can be provided with a light guide joint section where an entrance end face of the light guide is fixed. The small-sized light source unit can be constructed and arranged to be removably connected with the light guide joint section. The small-sized light source unit can include a plurality of small-sized LEDs, a batter configured to power the plurality of LEDs, and a compounding optical system configured to compound light emitted by the plurality of small-sized LEDs.

Abstract: An image processing device for an endoscope includes an image processing section which performs signal processing for generating an image signal to be observed as an endoscope image, for a signal picked up with an image pickup device equipped in the endoscope, a tone correcting circuit section which corrects a tone for the image signal, and a switching section which switches an observation mode or a type for observing as an endoscope image, and changes a correction characteristic of a tone by the tone correcting circuit section in accordance with switching of the observation mode or the type.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope that has a solid-state image-pickup device in which charges are accumulated in order to pick up an object image. The endoscope apparatus further comprises a memory in which a plurality of pieces of information on the accumulation period during which charges are accumulated in the solid-state image-pickup device is stored, and a drive unit that controls the accumulation period, during which charges are accumulated in the solid-state image-pickup device, on the basis of the pieces of information on the accumulation period stored in the memory. The endoscope further includes an optical member whose surface is shaped rotationally asymmetric. Correction information stored in a memory and associated with the optical element is used to correct an output signal of the solid-state image-pickup device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a color image data generation section 54 that generates color image data from an image pickup signal of a red component, an image pickup signal of a green component, and an image pickup signal of a blue component which are output from an image pickup device 100; an infrared image data generation section 53 that generates infrared image data from an image pickup signal of an infrared component output from the image pickup device 100; and a high-contrast infrared image data generation section 55 that generates high-contrast infrared image data using the color image data and the infrared image data. Contrast of the high-contrast infrared image data is more enhanced than that of the infrared image data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a diagnosis supporting system that acquires a reference image signal of a subject that is illuminated with visible light and a fluorescent image signal of the subject that is excited by irradiation with excitation light, calculates a difference between brightness level of a pixel in the reference image signal and brightness level of a pixel in the fluorescent image signal at the corresponding position for all of target pixels and generates an observation image signal by converting the pixels in the reference image signal whose differences are larger than a predetermined value into red pixels. In the case of high contrast, all of the pixels become target pixels to be processed. In the case of low contrast, the number of the target pixels is reduced to ¼ of all the pixels.

Abstract: An adjusting method for endoscope systems comprises a first adjusting step, a second light adjusting step and a storing step. The first adjusting step compares video signals, which are produced from illumination light rays that are reflected from an object and whose wavelengths fall within first, second, and third ranges, with one another, and regulates a lamp current that flows into a light source lamp. The second light adjusting step adjusts a diaphragm that controls an amount of light which is emitted from the light source lamp and which is irradiated to the object. The storing step stores the lamp current regulated at the first adjusting step and a light limiting level adjusted at the second adjusting step.

Abstract: This invention relates to an endoscope image sensing apparatus which can switch suitable color matrixes in accordance with the type of observation region, the type of light source used, or the like, and obtain good color reproduction corresponding to the type of observation region or the type of light source used. This apparatus uses a one-chip color CCD as an image sensing means. A CPU reads out corresponding color matrix coefficients from a ROM, and outputs the coefficients to a color separation circuit. The color separation circuit executes a matrix computation based on the color matrix to convert luminance and color difference signals into primary color signals.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator including two or more piezoelectric layers each of which is formed of a piezoelectric material and which are stacked on each other; three or more electrode layers which are stacked alternately with the piezoelectric layers; and one or more active portions each of which includes respective portions of the piezoelectric layers that are sandwiched by the electrode layers in a direction of stacking of the piezoelectric layers. Each active portion is expanded and contracted when an electric voltage is applied to the electrode layers. The piezoelectric layers include one or more first piezoelectric layers each having a first thickness, and one or more second piezoelectric layers each having a second thickness greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: System for producing a stereoscopic image of an object, and displaying the stereoscopic image, the system including a capsule and a control unit, the capsule including a sensor assembly, a processor connected to the sensor assembly, a capsule transceiver connected to the processor, a light source, and a power supply for supplying electrical power to the capsule transceiver, the processor, the light source and to the sensor assembly, the control unit including a control unit transceiver, and an image processing system connected to the control unit transceiver, wherein, the sensor assembly detects the stereoscopic image, the processor captures the stereoscopic image, the capsule transceiver transmits the stereoscopic image to the control unit transceiver and the image processing system processes the stereoscopic image.

Abstract: An endoscope surgery system is provided, as a medical system, to be easily used by a user who is not used to the operation. An endoscope operation system includes a trolley and a remote controller. The trolley includes a plurality of medical devices (having a TV camera for an endoscope, a light source device, pneumoperitoneum equipment, an electric knife, and a VTR). Further, the trolley includes a system controller for radio communication with the medical devices, and an operation panel and a display panel for operating the system controller. The system controller detects operation states of the plurality of medical devices, determines the medical device to be operated next based on the detection result, and displays, on the operation panel or the display panel, an operation screen of the medical device or a screen for information on the operation state based on the determination result.

Abstract: An optical imaging system and method for achieving a large depth of field without decreasing the relative aperture of an imaging lens. The imaging system has a light source for sequentially illuminating an object to be imaged with light of different ones of a plurality of wavelengths, and an imaging lens that has a focal length that varies with the wavelength of the light that illuminates the object. For each wavelength of light by which the object is illuminated, the imaging lens will image a different object plane onto an image receiving unit, and the image receiving unit will capture one well-focused, high resolution image of the object.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus senses an image by illuminating a document by a light source including three light emitting diodes which emit light of red, green, and blue so that the light reflected from the document is incident on a sensor array which in turn generates an electric signal corresponding to the incident light, wherein a predetermined light emitting diode is also turned on during a period in which no image sensing operation is performed thereby making it possible to stabilize the intensity of light illuminating an image. Thus, the invention provides a high-performance and small-sized image sensing apparatus at a low cost.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope system including a video scope having a solid-state image sensor that successively produces a frame of red, green, and blue image-pixel signals, a difference value is calculated between a value of each of corresponding central red, green, and blue image-pixel signals and an average of values of circumferential image-pixel signals surrounding the central image-pixel signal. When the respective values of the central red and green image-pixel signals are smaller than the corresponding averages of values, they are decreased in proportion to the absolute values of the corresponding difference values. When the value of the central blue image-pixel signal is smaller than the corresponding average of values, it is increased in proportion to the absolute value of the corresponding difference value.