Abstract: An autonomous mobile apparatus moves based on a predetermined map. The autonomous mobile apparatus comprise a driving unit that is configured to move the autonomous mobile apparatus, and a processor. The processor is configured to acquire presence indices that are indices indicating a possibility of presence of an object at each of different points on the map, select a point for a destination from the points based on the acquired presence indices, set the selected point as the destination, and control the driving unit to cause the autonomous mobile apparatus to move to the set destination.

Abstract: A voice recognition device including: a recognizer which recognizes a movement of a mouth of an utterer; a detector which detects a noise among a sound around the device; and a controller which controls a voice recognition timing based on the movement of the mouth of the utterer recognized by the recognizer and the noise among the sound around the device detected by the detector.

Abstract: A printing amount management apparatus according to an embodiment communicates with an image processing apparatus which prints an image on a sheet and a decoloring apparatus which decolors an image formed on the sheet with a decolorable toner. A storage unit stores, in correspondence with each of a plurality of user records, a printing amount that sets a maximum number of times of printing in the image processing apparatus in association with the corresponding user record. A processor receives, from the decoloring apparatus via the communication interface, a number of sheets decolored by the decoloring apparatus according to an operation of a user corresponding to one of the plurality of user record. The processor increases, based on the received number of decolored sheets, the printing amount stored in the storage unit in correspondence with the one of the plurality of user record.

Abstract: A case includes first and second opposed main surfaces and a side surface extending between the first and second main surfaces. An electrode body is housed in the case and including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator disposed between the first and second electrodes. First and second terminals are located on the side wall of the case. A first lead is electrically connected with the first electrode and extends from a side surface of the electrode body. A second lead is electrically connected with the second electrode and extends from the side surface of the electrode body. First and second connection members electrically connect the first and second leads to the first and second terminals, respectively. Each of the connection members includes a first part extending along the side surface of the case and a second part extending along the second main surface of the case.

Abstract: A more endearing robot includes an operation unit that causes the robot to operate, a viewing direction determiner that determines whether a viewing direction of a predetermined target is toward the robot or not, and an operation controller that controls the operation unit based on a result of determination by the viewing direction determiner.

Abstract: A determination result is easily obtained even in expression determination on a face image that is not a front view. A Robot includes a camera, a face detector, a face angle estimator, and an expression determiner. The camera acquires image data. The face detector detects a face of a person from the image data acquired by the camera. The face angle estimator estimates an angle of the face detected by the face detector. The expression determiner determines an expression of the face based on the angle estimated by the face angle estimator.

Abstract: A robot determines whether a voice is a voice emanated directly from an actual person or is a voice output from a speaker of an electronic device. A controller of a robot detects a voice by means of microphones, determines whether or not a voice generating source of the detected voice is a specific voice generating source, and controls, based on a result of the determination, the robot by means of a neck joint and a chassis.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a voice input unit configured to detect a signal from a user. In a case where the voice input unit detects a signal from the user and as a detection result of the signal from the user, it is determined that there is a signal from the user, the mobile apparatus performs sound source localization and specifies a location or direction in which the detected signal from the user is given. In a case where it is determined that the mobile apparatus is not able to move to the location where the signal from the user is given, a voice output unit configured to output a voice signal, a driving unit configured to move the mobile apparatus, and a light emitting unit configured to emit light performs predetermined control.

Abstract: The present invention is to reduce the time required to detect an object after completion of the rotation of a head or a body of a robot. A robot 100 includes a camera 111, and a control unit 127 which determines an overlapping area between a first image captured with the camera 111 at first timing and a second image captured with the camera 111 at second timing later than the first timing to detect an object included in an area of the second image other than the determined overlapping area.

Abstract: A feature extractor extracts feature quantities from a digitized speech signal and outputs the feature quantities to a likelihood calculator. A distance determiner determines the distance between a user providing speech and a speech input unit. The likelihood calculator selects registered expressions for speech recognition from a recognition target table based on the determined distance, to be used in calculation of likelihoods at the likelihood calculator. The likelihood calculator calculates likelihoods for the selected registered expressions based on the feature quantities extracted by the feature extractor, and outputs one of the registered expressions having the maximum likelihood as a result of speech recognition.

Abstract: A printing amount management apparatus according to an embodiment communicates with an image processing apparatus which prints an image on a sheet and a decoloring apparatus which decolors an image formed on the sheet with a decolorable toner. A storage unit stores, in correspondence with each of a plurality of user records, a printing amount that sets a maximum number of times of printing in the image processing apparatus in association with the corresponding user record. A processor receives, from the decoloring apparatus via the communication interface, a number of sheets decolored by the decoloring apparatus according to an operation of a user corresponding to one of the plurality of user record. The processor increases, based on the received number of decolored sheets, the printing amount stored in the storage unit in correspondence with the one of the plurality of user record.

Abstract: An image creating device includes: an acquiring unit, a component creation unit, an extraction unit, a specifying unit, and an image creation unit. The acquiring unit acquires an image. The component creation unit creates a face component image related to main components of a face included in the image acquired by the acquiring unit. The extraction unit extracts feature information from the face included in the image acquired by the acquiring unit. The specifying unit specifies a hair style image, which corresponds to the feature information extracted by the extraction unit, from hair style images which show outlines of hair and are associated with feature information of faces, the feature information being recorded in a recording section. The image creation unit creates a portrait image by using the hair style image specified by the specifying unit and the face component image created by the component creation unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a face component extraction apparatus including an eye detection unit which detects a plurality of combinations of eye regions, each combination forming a pair, a first calculation unit which calculates a first evaluation value for each pair of eye regions, a fitting unit which fits a plurality of extraction models for extracting a plurality of face components in the image based on a number of pairs of eye regions whose first evaluation values are equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a second calculation unit which calculates a second evaluation value for each of a number of pairs of eye regions, and a deciding unit which decides a fitting mode of the plurality of extraction models to be fitted by the fitting unit based on calculation results of a number of second evaluation values by the second calculation unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a threshold setting apparatus including a creating unit which creates a plurality of images of tones by performing a tone conversion process on an original image including a subject by using a plurality of temporary thresholds which are different from each other, a subject detection unit which detects the subject in each of the plurality of images of tones which are created by the creating unit, an evaluation value calculating unit which calculates evaluation values relating to likeness to the subject from the plurality of subjects detected by the subject detection unit and associates the evaluation values with the temporary thresholds, and a setting unit which sets a threshold suited for the tone conversion of the original image based on the plurality of evaluation values calculated by the evaluation value calculating unit.

Abstract: A subject determination apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit, first and second similarity degree determination units, an information obtaining unit, and a subject determination unit. The second similarity degree determination unit determines whether a similarity degree between a reference image and an image of a candidate region of a specific subject image in one of frame images sequentially obtained by the image obtaining unit is equal to or more than a second threshold value smaller than a first threshold value if the similarity degree is determined by the first similarity degree determination unit to be less than the first threshold value. The information obtaining unit obtains information indicating a similarity degree between the reference image and an image of a region corresponding to the candidate region in another frame image obtained a predetermined number of frames before the one frame image.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image creating device including a first obtaining unit which obtains an image including a face, a first extraction unit which extracts a face component image relating to main components of the face in the image and a direction of the face, a second obtaining unit which obtains a face contour image associated to the face in the image and a second extraction unit which extracts a direction of a face contour in the face contour image. The image creating device further includes a converting unit which converts at least one of the face component image and the face contour image based on the both directions of the face and the face contour and a creating unit which creates a portrait image by using at least one of the face component image and the face contour image being converted by the converting unit.

Abstract: A subject tracking apparatus, including: a storage section that stores image data of a subject; a division section that divides the image data of the subject into a plurality of first areas; an imaging section that sequentially generates image frames; a specification section that specifies a second area similar to one of the first areas, the second area being included in each of the image frames sequentially generated, based on a characteristic value of one of the first areas into which the image data of the subject is divided by the division section; and a tracking section that tracks an image area as the subject in each of the image frames sequentially generated, wherein the image area is determined based on the second area specified by the specification section.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image creating device including an extraction section which extracts a plurality of feature parts of a face in an image and a creating section which creates a portrait image of the face on a basis of the feature parts extracted by the extraction section. The device further includes a specifying section which specifies, among the plurality of feature parts extracted by the extraction section, a feature part to be used as a feature in the portrait image by setting any one of a usage of the portrait image created by the creating section, a characteristic of the face and a relation between a person corresponding to the face and a user as a reference and a creation control section which control creation of the portrait image by the creating section on a basis of the feature part specified by the specifying section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a face component extraction apparatus including an eye detection unit which detects a plurality of combinations of eye regions, each combination forming a pair, a first calculation unit which calculates a first evaluation value for each pair of eye regions, a fitting unit which fits a plurality of extraction models for extracting a plurality of face components in the image based on a number of pairs of eye regions whose first evaluation values are equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a second calculation unit which calculates a second evaluation value for each of a number of pairs of eye regions, and a deciding unit which decides a fitting mode of the plurality of extraction models to be fitted by the fitting unit based on calculation results of a number of second evaluation values by the second calculation unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a threshold setting apparatus including a creating unit which creates a plurality of images of tones by performing a tone conversion process on an original image including a subject by using a plurality of temporary thresholds which are different from each other, a subject detection unit which detects the subject in each of the plurality of images of tones which are created by the creating unit, an evaluation value calculating unit which calculates evaluation values relating to likeness to the subject from the plurality of subjects detected by the subject detection unit and associates the evaluation values with the temporary thresholds, and a setting unit which sets a threshold suited for the tone conversion of the original image based on the plurality of evaluation values calculated by the evaluation value calculating unit.