Abstract: An image input device 1 includes a rotating roller 4 supported so as to be freely rotatable around a rotational axis thereof, wherein the roller 4 includes a line image sensor 3 and a Selfoc lens array 6 which are mounted not to rotate in the rotating roller 4 by a holder 51. The holder 51 functions as a light guide to introduce the light emitted from light emitting elements 52 to a finger 200 which is pressed against the peripheral surface of the rotating roller 4. Selfoc lens array 6 forms a one-dimensional optical image of the portion of the finger 200 which is in contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating roller 4, on the line image sensor 3, so that the line image sensor 3 obtains the one-dimensional optical image. Then, the one-dimensional optical images are combined by a composite buffer 15 in order, to create a two-dimensional optical image of the finger 200.

Abstract: In a database, a frequently retrieved column is encrypted using a common key, and other columns are encrypted using a specific row key. Thus, a retrieving process can be performed at a high speed, and the security can be improved. Then, the row and column of the database are encrypted by assuming the plaintext to be encrypted as a bit string, and performing a binary operation with a random bit string. A random bit string is obtained by sequentially generating multidimensional vectors using a nonlinear function by defining a predetermined bit length as 1 word and a plurality of words as components of the multidimensional vector.

Abstract: A speech of a registered speaker input from an input unit is converted by a converting unit to a sound spectrogram “A” and stored. As a speech of a speaker to be identified is input from the input unit and converted to a sound spectrogram “B” by the converting unit, a detecting unit detects a partial image including a plurality of templates placed in the registered speech image A by a placing unit, and each of areas on the unknown speech image B in which maximum correlation coefficients are calculated. Then, a determining unit compares a mutual positional relationship of the plurality of templates with a mutual positional relationship of the respective areas in which the maximum correlation coefficients are detected to determine from the degree of difference therebetween the identity between the registered speech and the unknown speech.

Abstract: An image collation apparatus has stored therein first image (registered fingerprint) beforehand. Regarding second image (fingerprint to be collated) that is input when collation is performed, the apparatus thereby determines the identicalness between this second image and the first image. At this time, the apparatus defines with respect to the first image a plurality of regions each having a predetermined positional relationship with respect thereto. The apparatus searches from the second image an image region having a maximum correlation with the image of each of the respective defined regions. The identicalness between the first image and the second image is determined according to the difference between the positional relationship of each of the respective image regions defined on the first image and the positional relationship of the maximum correlation region that comprises been searched out on the second image.

Abstract: An image input device 1 includes a rotating roller 4 supported so as to be freely rotatable around a rotational axis thereof, wherein the roller 4 includes a line image sensor 3 and a Selfoc lens array 6 which are mounted not to rotate in the rotating roller 4 by a holder 51. The holder 51 functions as a light guide to introduce the light emitted from light emitting elements 52 to a finger 200 which is pressed against the peripheral surface of the rotating roller 4. Selfoc lens array 6 forms a one-dimensional optical image of the portion of the finger 200 which is in contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating roller 4, on the line image sensor 3, so that the line image sensor 3 obtains the one-dimensional optical image. Then, the one-dimensional optical images are combined by a composite buffer 15 in order, to create a two-dimensional optical image of the finger 200.

Abstract: Ciphering apparatus in which plaintext is divided into blocks, and a ciphering attribute for use in ciphering is set to each block. Each block is ciphered in accordance with the ciphering attribute set for each block, the ciphered blocks are collected, and ciphertext is formed. For deciphering, the ciphering attribute for each block is referred to, each block is deciphered, deciphered results are collected, and the original plaintext is obtained.

Abstract: Gd and Bi are used as sputter sources and are simultaneously sputtered, or sputtered alternately, each time in an amount for forming a layer having a thickness of 10 atoms or less, thereby forming a thin film on a substrate, in which Gd and Bi are mixed at a ratio of 4:3. The thin film is heat-treated to form a crystalline thin film having a phase represented by Gd.sub.4 Bi.sub.3.

Abstract: A magnetic apparatus includes a magnetic semiconductor thin film, a power source for generating an electric field, an electrode for supplying charge from the power source to the magnetic thin film, a polarizer for linearly polarizing light emitted on the magnetic semiconductor thin film in a specific direction, and an analyzer for transmitting polarized light when the polarized light upon transmission through the magnetic semiconductor thin film has a specific Faraday rotational angle. When the electric field is applied to the magnetic semiconductor thin film, the magnetic order-disorder transition temperature of the film is changed to change a Faraday rotational angle. The light is transmitted through or shielded by the analyzer in correspondence with the Faraday rotational angle.