An image altering apparatus which provides confidential viewing of a video display by means of time multiplexing the fundamental display image with a color-inverted image thereof on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The embedding method comprises segmenting the media signal into regions, determining statistics for the regions, and adapting quantization bins for each region based on the statistics calculated for the region. A method of producing the solid-state imaging device and an electronic device provided with the solid-state imaging devices are also disclosed. Also, a maximum gate voltage applied between a well terminal and a gate terminal of the MOS type varactor element is lower than a maximum gate voltage applied to the N-channel MOS transistor and the P-channel MOS transistor. The inflow and outflow areas which are adjacent to the beginning area of the valve on the inflow and outflow side spread outwards in a conical manner.