Abstract: An apparatus for supporting objects to identify is manufacturable at low cost and is capable of providing correct images of the objects. The apparatus has belts (19, 21) to transport the objects (M) through a photographing section (13). The apparatus also has strings (27, 29) stretched across the photographing section in the object transporting direction. Each of the objects transported by the belts to the photographing section is supported between the belts and the strings and is photographed from the string side.

Abstract: A wireless call system enables even a bedridden person to easily answer a visitor. The wireless call system has an outdoor unit (3) installed on the outside of an entrance of a structure having a door (13) lockable with an electronic lock (15), for calling a resident in the structure, and an indoor unit (9) connected to the outdoor unit (3) by radio, for informing the resident of the presence of a visitor upon receiving a signal from the outdoor unit (3) and allowing the resident to answer the visitor through the outdoor unit (3). The outdoor unit (3) has an image pickup unit (23) for picking up an image of the visitor making a call with the outdoor unit (3). The indoor unit (9) is portable and has a display (53) for displaying the visitor's image picked up by the image pickup unit (23) and control buttons (55) for unlocking the electronic lock (15) if necessary.

Abstract: A game system using tokens allows a user to play a game on a mobile communication terminal at a location remote from a game hall. The game system includes a game hall (1) to lend tokens to a player so that the player may play game machines (3) installed in the game hall with the tokens, keep tokens deposited by the player after the play, and return the kept tokens to the player so that the player may play the game machines with the tokens, a management unit (7) provided for the game hall, connectable to the Internet and having a database (9) to store and update data on the kept tokens, a mobile communication terminal (13) connectable to the Internet to receive game content and allow the player to play a game on the mobile communication terminal, and a game content provider (11) to provide the game content to the Internet.

Abstract: A game system correlates games played on cellular phones with games played on arcade game machines. The game system includes a game machine installed in an amusement arcade, to run a game based on at least points, a floor management unit installed in the amusement arcade, to manage the game machine and be connectable to the Internet, a game content providing unit to provide game content via the Internet, a mobile communication terminal to receive the game content via the Internet and run a game based on the received game content, and a point data management unit to store and update data on points to be won or lost by playing the game on the mobile communication terminal. The floor management unit receives points related to an authenticated person from the point data management unit and enables the game machine for the authenticated person.

Abstract: A locking apparatus has a biometric information input unit, a biometric information register for biometric information input, an ID code input unit, an ID code register, an indexer to provide an index that relates registered biometric information and ID code to each other and indicates locations where the registered biometric information and ID code are stored, an index memory, a retriever to retrieve registered biometric information from the biometric information register according to an index corresponding to an ID code input by a user into the ID code input unit, an authentication unit to authenticate the user by comparing the retrieved biometric information with biometric information input by the user, a lock driver to lock and unlock a door, and a controller to make the lock driver unlock the door when the authentication unit authenticates a person.

Abstract: This invention enables a play without using coins and easy collection of fee. An control apparatus of this invention comprises a play portion which stores play information and enables a play by inputting personal information, an input portion to which a mobile communication terminal is connected detachably in order to input personal information and a control portion which reads a subscriber number as the personal information from the mobile communication terminal connected to the input portion, makes a call to the information service center and enables a play by the play portion. The information service center bill corresponding to the play through mobile communication network or stationary communication network.

Abstract: An apparatus for reliably and easily controlling articles in custody, for example articles in a safe, has a storage unit lockable to keep the articles therein and unlockable to allow the articles to be taken out therefrom, an input unit to input biometric information for unlocking the storage unit, a registration unit to register biometric information in advance, a collator to collate the input biometric information with the registered biometric information, a controller to unlock the storage unit if the collation by the collator authenticates the input biometric information, and a recorder to record at least a person related to the authenticated biometric information in response to the unlocking of the storage unit.

Abstract: There is provided a prize management system of a game machine in which a plurality of kinds of prizes (3, 5, . . . ) are accommodated in a case (1), a player operates from the outside of the case to select and catch his/her favorite prize, and the selected prize is discharged to a taking-out port, comprising a non-contact detection section (41) provided with each one of the prizes for specifying a kind of each prize, chute sections (25) and (27) for passing the prize in a path leading to the taking-out port of the prizes, reading sections (29, 31) for reading with non-contact the detection section of the prizes passing through the chute section. The prizes are managed on the basis of a result read by the reading section.

Abstract: A locking apparatus has improved operability and is manufacturable at low cost. The locking apparatus has a fingerprint reader (23), a fingerprint verifier (11), and a power supply circuit. The fingerprint reader reads a fingerprint. The fingerprint verifier verifies the read fingerprint based on registered fingerprint data, and according to a result of the verification, authenticates a person who entered the fingerprint. If the person is authenticated, the locking apparatus unlocks a door locked with the locking apparatus. The locking apparatus comprises a chamber (19) configured to contain the fingerprint reader, a lid (25) configured to open and close the opening of the chamber, and a switch (41) provided for the power supply circuit and configured to interlock with the lid so as to turn on and off the power supply circuit in response to the opening and closing of the lid.

Abstract: A worker management device comprises time clocks (CL1) provided in a plurality of work places for having worker's entrance and exit times recorded therein and managing means (CL2) for inputting time recording information from the respective time clocks and managing the work place where the worker entered and exited and how long he/she has engaged therein. The time clocks each comprise fingerprint inputting means (CL11) for inputting a fingerprint of each worker, worker specifying means for having personal information and fingerprint information of each worker stored therein in advance, conducting collation of the input fingerprint with the fingerprint inputting means to specify the worker, and time recording means (CL13) for having worker's entrance and exit times recorded therein on the basis of the specification of the worker by the worker specifying means.

Abstract: A chip collecting machine includes an electric fan for sucking air; a suction chamber formed in a substantially cylindrical suction drum for air suction by the electric fan; a suction hose externally connected to and in communication with the suction chamber; and a dust separating filter supported at the upper end of the suction drum to hang downward in the suction chamber. The dust separating filter is interposed between a discharge opening of the suction hose and the electric fan. A substantially cylindrical collecting case is removably arranged outside the dust separating filter in the suction chamber. The inside of the case communicates with the discharge opening of the suction hose.

Abstract: An underground buried object detecting apparatus has a capacitance sensor attached to a base plate to be faced to the ground, to detect an underground capacitance change, a stored value of a reference capacitance corresponding to the absence of a buried object, a comparing operation device for comparing detected capacitance with the stored capacitance value, and a buzzer for receiving a signal from the operation device and indicating presence of a buried object.

Abstract: To detect a variation of capacitance in a path of a piping and enable to decide a fluid state of a fluid substance flowing through the path in the piping, a capacitance sensor (15) includes a measuring electrode (33) and a grounding electrode (35) made of a conductive metallic film and wound around a path in the piping (1), with an insulator (17) in between. A shield member (23) covers the measuring electrode and grounding electrode, with an insulator in between. The grounding electrode is narrower than the measuring electrode, and the measuring electrode and the grounding electrode are alternately disposed and are wound to be spiral along a flow direction.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus correctly measures the purity, mixing ratio, and the like of an insulative (nonconductive) fluid such as ultrapure water flowing through a passage. The apparatus includes first to third sensors (19, 21, 23) to detect capacitance changes on the passage (1a) covered with an insulating resin pipe, a memory (41) to store reference capacitance changes, and a controller (35) to compare the detected capacitance changes with the stored reference capacitance changes, measure a purity of the insulative fluid flowing through the passage, and control the purity of the insulative fluid.

Abstract: A locking apparatus has a lock driver to electrically lock and unlock a door, a fingerprint read/verify unit to receive a fingerprint from a user, verify the received fingerprint by comparing it with registered fingerprint data) and if the fingerprint verification authenticates the user, enable the lock driver to electrically operate, a key cylinder attached to the door, an interlink linking the key cylinder with the lock driver, and a key to manually operate the lock driver in cooperation with the key cylinder and the interlink.

Abstract: A fermentation controller correctly controls fermentation and produces a required material by fermentation. The fermentation controller (3) controls fermentation in a material production unit (1) that produces a material by fermentation. The controller (3) includes a capacitance sensor (63) to detect a capacitance change representative of a fermenting state in the material production unit and a memory (77) to store a reference capacitance change representative of a reference fermenting state. The controller compares the detected capacitance change with the reference capacitance change and controls fermentation in the material production unit according to the comparison result.

Abstract: A game system correlates games played on cellular phones with games played on arcade game machines.

Abstract: To detect a variation of capacitance in a path of a piping and enable to decide a fluid state of a fluid substance flowing through the path in the piping, a capacitance sensor (15) includes a measuring electrode (33) and a grounding electrode (35) made of a conductive metallic film and wound around a path in the piping (1), with an insulator (17) in between. A shield member (23) covers the measuring electrode and grounding electrode, with an insulator in between. The grounding electrode is narrower than the measuring electrode, and the measuring electrode and the grounding electrode are alternately disposed and are wound to be spiral along a flow direction.

Abstract: An accident notification system for a vehicle includes a damage predicting system which detects that a vehicle occupant has been injured in an accident involving the vehicle, a vehicle position detecting system which detects the position of the vehicle, and a mobile communication terminal which receives a signal predicting injury to the vehicle occupant from the damage predicting system to generate a calling from the vehicle to a call center. The call center performs a notification to an accident response facility on the basis of the calling and obtains prediction information that the vehicle occupant has been injured from the damage predicting system and vehicle position information detected by the vehicle position detecting system. Accordingly, even when there is no one who notifies an accident response facility of an accident, emergency cleaning-up after an accident and treatment for an injured vehicle occupant can be made.

Abstract: A game system using tokens allows a user to play a game on a mobile communication terminal at a location remote from a game hall. The game system includes a game hall (1) to lend tokens to a player so that the player may play game machines (3) installed in the game hall with the tokens, keep tokens deposited by the player after the play, and return the kept tokens to the player so that the player may play the game machines with the tokens, a management unit (7) provided for the game hall, connectable to the Internet and having a database (9) to store and update data on the kept tokens, a mobile communication terminal (13) connectable to the Internet to receive game content and allow the player to play a game on the mobile communication terminal, and a game content provider (11) to provide the game content to the Internet.