PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope apparatus, and an operation method, a program, etc. of an endoscope apparatus that achieve appropriate exposure in taking an in-vivo image by determining a light distribution pattern of illumination light on the basis of distance information so as to radiate the illumination light according to the light distribution pattern, and performing gradation correction processing to the image taken.SOLUTION: An endoscope apparatus includes: an endoscope scope 1 in which an image taking part 11 for taking an image of a subject, and an illumination part 14 having an irradiation port 12 for illuminating the subject are disposed at the leading end a distance information acquisition part 21 for performing acquisition processing for the distance information from the leading end of the endoscope scope 1 to the subject a light distribution pattern determination part 22 for determining a light distribution pattern of the illumination light radiated from the illumination part 14 on the basis of the acquired distance information and a gradation correction part 23 for performing gradation correction processing to the image acquired by the image taking part 11.COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT【課題】 距離情報に基づいて照明光の配光パターンを決定し、当該配光パターンに従った照明光を照射するとともに、撮像画像に対して階調補正処理を施すことで、生体内画像の撮像において適正露光を実現する内視鏡装置、内視鏡装置の作動方法及びプログラム等を提供すること。【解決手段】 内視鏡装置は、被写体を撮影する撮像部11と、被写体を照明する照射口12を有する照明部14とが先端部に設けられる内視鏡スコープ1と、内視鏡スコープ1の先端部から、被写体までの距離情報の取得処理を行う距離情報取得部21と、取得した距離情報に基づいて、照明部14から照射する照明光の配光パターンを決定する配光パターン決定部22と、撮像部11が取得した撮像画像に対して、階調補正処理を施す階調補正部23を含む。【選択図】 図1
