Abstract: A fingerprint input apparatus includes a prism, a light source, a pinhole, and an imaging plane. The prism is placed such that a surface in one direction serves as a fingerprint collection surface. The light source irradiates light on the fingerprint collection surface through the prism. The pinhole is set in the path of light which is reflected by the pattern surface of a finger placed on the fingerprint collection surface and emerges from the prism. The light emerging from the prism and passing through the pinhole is formed into an image on the imaging plane. When the prism is substituted by air, an optical fingerprint collection surface equivalent to the fingerprint collection surface is set to be substantially parallel to the imaging plane.

Abstract: A hydrophilic polymer material such as polyvinyl alcohol is formed into a porous film (301). A film (holding film) (303) made from a hydrophobic polymer material such as polyvinyl acetate is formed on the inner walls of a large number of pores (302) formed in the porous film (301). Lithium chloride (304) is held in these pores (302).

Abstract: In a redundancy method for Ethernet communication between a plurality of nodes constituting a distributed control system, the nodes are connected to each other in a duplex state through first and second Ethernet communication lines which are independent of each other. A node on the transmission side transmits identical data to both the first and second Ethernet communication lines. A node on the reception side determines one of the identical data received from the node on the transmission side through the first and second Ethernet communication lines which has arrived first as reception data.

Abstract: A fingerprint input apparatus includes a prism, a light source, a pinhole, and an imaging plane. The prism is placed such that a surface in one direction serves as a fingerprint collection surface. The light source irradiates light on the fingerprint collection surface through the prism. The pinhole is set in the path of light which is reflected by the pattern surface of a finger placed on the fingerprint collection surface and emerges from the prism. The light emerging from the prism and passing through the pinhole is formed into an image on the imaging plane. When the prism is substituted by air, an optical fingerprint collection surface equivalent to the fingerprint collection surface is set to be substantially parallel to the imaging plane.

Abstract: A brake mechanism includes a reduction gear train, a motor structure, and a braking means. The reduction gear train transmits at least a rotation force in a first rotational direction supplied from a drive source. The reduction gear train is imparted with a returning tendency in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction. The motor structure has an output shaft rotatably connected to the reduction gear train. The braking means has field magnets, an armature coil, a braking circuit, and either one of a fixed resistor, a variable resistor, a rectifying diode, a Zener diode, a varister, a constant-current diode, a light-emitting diode, and a lamp bulb.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes first and second cameras, first and second Fourier pattern data generating sections, a pattern processing section, and a distance measuring section. The two cameras are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The first Fourier pattern data generating section generates first two-dimensional Fourier pattern data by performing two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform for image data picked up by the first camera as first pattern data. The second Fourier pattern data generating section generates second Fourier two-dimensional pattern data by performing two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform for image data picked up by the second camera as second pattern data. The pattern processing section synthesizes the first and second Fourier two-dimensional pattern data, and performs either two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform or two-dimensional discrete inverse Fourier transform for the synthesized data.

Abstract: A moisture sensitive element in which a functional film is formed in contact with opposing electrodes arranged on a substrate. The element includes a mechanism for measuring the temperature of the functional film. The functional film has a porous structure made from a polymer material with hydrophilic properties and includes fine pores. A holding film is formed on inner walls of the pores and made from another polymer material having hydrophobic properties. An electrolytic salt is held within the pores.

Abstract: A pattern collation apparatus is designed to identify a registration pattern and a collation pattern as identical patterns or not even with a rotation offset between the registration pattern and the collation pattern. The image data of a registration fingerprint is rotated through m.multidot.a degrees, and two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform is performed for the resultant image data to obtain registration Fourier image data. The registration Fourier image data with m=-90 to +90 are filed as registration Fourier image data. In collation processing, registration Fourier image data are read out from the registration Fourier image data in units of patterns, and each registration Fourier image data is synthesized with the collation Fourier image data, thereby performing collation between the registration fingerprint and the collation fingerprint.

Abstract: A moving direction measuring device includes a collation Fourier pattern data generating section, a registration Fourier pattern data generating section, a pattern processing section, and a moving direction measuring section. The collation Fourier pattern data generating section generates collation Fourier two-dimensional pattern data by performing two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform for two-dimensional pattern data input at time T.sub.n. The registration Fourier pattern data generating section generates registration Fourier two-dimensional pattern data by performing two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform for two-dimensional pattern data input at time T.sub.n+1. The pattern processing section synthesizes these Fourier two-dimensional pattern data, and performs either two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform or two-dimensional discrete inverse Fourier transform for the resultant data.

Abstract: A method for the display of functional objects in a visual program that graphically defines the flow of data between functional objects serving as functional components on the computer screen is so arranged that icons (views) of functional objects are made out/edited via a view edit section and these view data are stored in the internal memory, while on the other hand the functional objects included in the design data are displayed on a computer screen by the above view data at the time of visual programming. At this time, all functional objects of the same type may be displayed using the above view data, or else specific functional objects alone may be displayed using the above view data. Besides, the above view data are employed also in the case of displaying individual functional objects in the object bar on the computer screen.

Abstract: In a state estimating apparatus, an input space quantization section quantizes an input space according to a required precision of output data. A storage section calculates and stores the number of times of occurrence of output data corresponding to each input event in the quantized input space, the mean values of the output data, and the change amounts of the output data. A neighborhood definition section calculates an input space neighborhood satisfying the required precision of the output. A similar case extraction section zooms up the predetermined neighborhood of the input space to the predetermined degree and extracts input case similar to the neighborhood from input case in the input space. A similarity determination section determines the similarity between the new input event and the extracted similar input cases on the basis of the degree of zooming.

Abstract: In a pattern processing apparatus, a registration data preparation unit performs two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform of image data of a registration pattern to prepare registration Fourier image data. A collation data preparation unit performs two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform of image data of a collation pattern to prepare collation Fourier image data. A data synthesizing unit synthesizes the registration Fourier image data with the collation Fourier image data, both of which consist of phase and amplitude information, to output first synthesized Fourier image data. An image processing unit performs Fourier transform of the first synthesized Fourier image data to output second synthesized Fourier image data representing intensities of correlation components.

Abstract: In a design part reusing method in a configuration tool, a reference link defining an alias relationship between one functional object and another functional object is set. The reference link is explicitly displayed on a display between icons respectively representing one functional object and another functional object. One functional object and another functional object are set as aliases on the basis of the reference link. The reference link is explicitly disconnected to cancel the alias relationship on the display.

Abstract: According to a data conversion method and apparatus, an original signal is wavelet-transformed with a desired expansion count to generate transformed data. The transformed data is corrected such that a difference between the original signal and a value obtained by inversely wavelet-transforming the transformed data falls within a desired tolerance range, thereby generating the corrected transformed data as compressed data in which the original signal is compressed.

Abstract: A contactless output section makes a circuit including a fan motor and an ac power source when a receive portion receives a command signal. A diode bridge and a direct current regulated circuit smooth and regulate dc current. An operation part is provided with power from the direct current regulated circuit, compares a measured temperature with a set temperature, and generates and provides a command signal for the receive portion of the contactless output section.