Abstract: A state estimation method includes: capturing a thermal image of at least one imaging target, each of which is a person or an animal, using a thermal imaging camera; obtaining identification information for identifying the at least one imaging target in the thermal image captured in the capturing; and estimating a state of each of at least one estimation target included among the at least one imaging target, based on the thermal image captured in the capturing and the identification information obtained in the obtaining.

Abstract: An awakening inducing device induces a vibration device disposed in a seat at a position where the vibration device opposes at least one of a muscle belly portion or an insertion portion of a hamstring of a user sitting on the seat; and a control device that, by controlling the vibration device, causes the vibration device to given vibration stimulation to at least one of the muscle belly portion or the insertion portion.

Abstract: A thermal image processing device includes: an acquirer that acquires a thermal image from a thermal image sensor; a first processor that performs, on a high temperature pixel indicating a temperature higher than a first temperature among a plurality of pixels included in the thermal image acquired, image processing for decreasing the temperature indicated by the high temperature pixel; and a second processor that performs high frequency enhancement processing for enhancing a high frequency component included in a converted image serving as the thermal image on which the image processing has been performed.

Abstract: A thermal sensation estimation device includes an acquirer, a clothing amount estimator, a heat loss amount estimator and a thermal sensation estimator. The acquirer acquires information about a surface temperature of a surface region in a part of clothing of a user. The clothing amount estimator estimates a clothing amount at a clothed portion, the clothed portion being a part of a body of the user, covered with the surface region. The heat loss amount estimator estimates, based on at least the information about the surface temperature and the clothing amount, a heat loss amount lost from the user's body. The thermal sensation estimator estimates thermal sensation of the user based on the heat loss amount.

Abstract: A method of controlling a device includes: obtaining information related to a body surface temperature of a person by detecting the body surface temperature of the person by a thermal camera, estimating a deep body temperature of the person on the basis of the information related to the body surface temperature of the person, detecting the person's condition on the basis of the deep body temperature of the person, and controlling an operation of the device according to the detected person's condition.

Abstract: A thermal sensation estimation device includes a metabolic amount estimator, a released heat flux estimator, and a thermal sensation estimator. The metabolic amount estimator is configured to estimate a metabolic amount of a user. The released heat flux estimator is configured to estimate a released heat flux as a heat flux released outside from the user. The thermal sensation estimator is configured to estimate thermal sensation of the user based on the metabolic amount and the released heat flux. The metabolic amount estimator is configured to measure a height of the user to estimate the metabolic amount based on the height measured.

Abstract: An awakening inducing device induces a vibration device disposed in a seat at a position where the vibration device opposes at least one of a muscle belly portion or an insertion portion of a hamstring of a user sitting on the seat; and a control device that, by controlling the vibration device, causes the vibration device to given vibration stimulation to at least one of the muscle belly portion or the insertion portion.

Abstract: A thermal image processing device includes: an acquirer that acquires a thermal image from a thermal image sensor; a first processor that performs, on a high temperature pixel indicating a temperature higher than a first temperature among a plurality of pixels included in the thermal image acquired, image processing for decreasing the temperature indicated by the high temperature pixel; and a second processor that performs high frequency enhancement processing for enhancing a high frequency component included in a converted image serving as the thermal image on which the image processing has been performed.

Abstract: An autonomic nerve control device includes an obtainer that obtains a physiological quantity of a user before the user occupies a moving body, and a controller that controls the autonomic nerves of the user occupying the moving body based on the physiological quantity of the user obtained by the obtainer.

Abstract: A thermal image sensor including: a plurality of infrared detector elements that detect infrared light in a detection area; and rotors that scan the detection area in a scanning direction to detect, with the plurality of infrared detector elements, infrared light in an area to be captured as a single thermal image. The plurality of infrared detector elements include infrared detector elements arranged in mutually different positions in a rotational direction corresponding to the scanning direction of the plurality of infrared detector elements.

Abstract: A control method of a personal authentication apparatus and a personal authentication apparatus stores a piece of authentication information of a predetermined user. The method and apparatus estimates an emotion felt by a target user, based on a physical quantity acquired by a sensor, generates identification information that identifies an object that causes the target user to feel the estimated emotion, based on the physical quantity acquired by the sensor or presentation information presented by a presenter, and determines whether the target user is the predetermined user based on the estimated emotion and the generated identification information and the piece of authentication information of the predetermined user.

Abstract: A lens allows infrared light to pass therethrough. An infrared sensor includes infrared detection elements arranged in two or more columns. The infrared sensor is rotated around a scan rotation axis that passes through part of the lens to scan a detection range, and outputs an output signal indicating a thermal image of the detection range. At least two infrared detection elements in the infrared sensor are located at positions displaced from each other with respect to the scan rotation axis. Among the infrared detection elements, the number of first infrared detection elements having a smaller half-width of a point spread function in a scan direction than that in the direction of the scan rotation axis is larger than the number of second infrared detection elements having a larger half-width of a point spread function in the scan direction than that in the direction of the scan rotation axis.

Abstract: In a method for controlling an information display apparatus that displays information on a display seen by a plurality of users, a feeling of a first user among the plurality of users is estimated on the basis of a physical value obtained from a sensor, it is determined, using the obtained physical value or the estimated feeling, whether to display the estimated feeling, and the display is controlled in accordance with a result of the determination.

Abstract: A method of controlling a device includes: obtaining information related to a body surface temperature of a person by detecting the body surface temperature of the person by a thermal camera, estimating a deep body temperature of the person on the basis of the information related to the body surface temperature of the person, detecting the person's condition on the basis of the deep body temperature of the person, and controlling an operation of the device according to the detected person's condition.

Abstract: A method for estimating a physical condition used by a computer includes simultaneously measuring blood flow volumes of at least two body parts of a person and estimating the person's physical condition on the basis of the blood flow volumes of the at least two body parts measured in the simultaneously measuring.

Abstract: An information displaying method includes: obtaining, for each of users, usage history information items on one or more appliances used by the user; calculating a utilization characteristic based on a usage history information item on a predetermined appliance among the one or more appliances used by a predetermined user among the users, the utilization characteristic being of the predetermined user using the predetermined appliance, and the usage history information item on the obtained predetermined appliance; obtaining, for each of the user, a post information item posted by the user; and displaying, in association with each other, (i) a utilization characteristic information item on the utilization characteristic calculated in the calculating and (ii) the post information item posted by the predetermined user, the utilization characteristic being of the predetermined user using the predetermined appliance, and the post information item being obtained in the obtaining of a post information item.

Abstract: A radiation receiving sensor includes an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency.

Abstract: An emotion estimating method includes: acquiring first data and second data from the subject, the first data corresponding to physiology data, and the second data corresponding to one of physiology data different from the first data and non-physiology data; calculating a first value and a second value based on the acquired first data and second data, the first value indicating a degree of arousal of the subject and the second value indicating a degree of valence of the subject; estimating the emotion of the subject, by using the calculated first value and second value and based on a predetermined association of people's emotions with a degree of arousal and a degree of valence of the people, the predetermined association being pre-stored in a memory; and outputting information indicating the estimated emotion.

Abstract: An autonomic nerve control device includes an obtainer that obtains a physiological quantity of a user before the user occupies a moving body, and a controller that controls the autonomic nerves of the user occupying the moving body based on the physiological quantity of the user obtained by the obtainer.

Abstract: A vehicle including an air conditioner and a thermal sensation estimation apparatus is disclosed. The thermal sensation estimation apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores a program, which causes the processor to perform a set of operations. The operations include obtaining thermal environment information at least regarding a thermal environment of or around a person, and estimating first and second thermal sensations using first and second methods, respectively, on the basis of the thermal environment information. The operations further include selecting at least one of the first thermal sensation estimated using the first method and the second thermal sensation estimated using the second method, and outputting, to the air conditioner, instruction information using the selected at least one of the first thermal sensation and the second thermal sensation.