Abstract: When a human hand (100) holds a transceiver (3a), the hand holds a bottom of an external wall surface and a side of the external wall surface of an insulating case (33). Therefore, a transmitting and receiving electrode (105) and an insulating film (107) cover not only the bottom of the external wall surface but also the side of the external wall surface of the insulating case (33). A first ground electrode (131), a second ground electrode (161), and a third ground electrode (163) are attached to upper portions of the internal wall surface of the insulating case (33) apart from the transmitting and receiving electrode (105). An insulating foam member (7a) is interposed between the insulating case (33) and a transceiver main body (30), and an insulating foam member (7b) is interposed between the transceiver main body (30) and a battery (6).

Abstract: When a human hand (100) holds a transceiver (3a), the hand holds a bottom of an external wall surface and a side of the external wall surface of an insulating case (33). Therefore, a transmitting and receiving electrode (105) and an insulating film (107) cover not only the bottom of the external wall surface but also the side of the external wall surface of the insulating case (33). A first ground electrode (131), a second ground electrode (161), and a third ground electrode (163) are attached to upper portions of the internal wall surface of the insulating case (33) apart from the transmitting and receiving electrode (105). An insulating foam member (7a) is interposed between the insulating case (33) and a transceiver main body (30), and an insulating foam member (7b) is interposed between the transceiver main body (30) and a battery (6).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surface shape recognition sensor. A sacrificial film is formed on an interlevel dielectric to cover a lower electrode while keeping an upper portion of a support electrode exposed. An upper electrode is formed on the sacrificial film and support electrode. The sacrificial film is selectively removed and a protective film is formed on the upper electrode. A photosensitive resin film having photosensitivity is formed on the protective film. A plurality of projections are formed in a region of the protective film above a capacitive detection element. In this manner a plurality of capacitive detection elements each having the lower electrode and upper electrode are formed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image correcting section. When an image of an object is input, the image correcting section performs correction processing for the input image including the object image and outputs the corrected image as an image required for authentication of the object. An image processing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surface shape recognition sensor includes capacitive detection elements, support electrode, protective film, and projections. The detection elements are formed from lower electrodes and a deformable plate-like upper electrode made of a metal. The lower electrodes are insulated and isolated from each other and stationarily laid out on a single plane of an interlevel dielectric formed on a semiconductor substrate. The upper electrode is laid out above the lower electrodes at a predetermined interval and has opening portions. The support electrode is laid out around the lower electrodes while being insulated and isolated from the lower electrodes, and formed to be higher than the lower electrodes to support the upper electrode. The protective film is formed on the upper electrode to close the opening portions. The projections per one pixel are laid out in a region of the protective film above the capacitive detection element.

Abstract: A calibration mode signal line to which sensor cells are commonly connected is arranged. In a calibration mode, a calibration mode signal is supplied to the sensor cells through the calibration mode signal line to designate calibration. In each sensor cell, when the calibration mode signal is being supplied from the calibration mode signal line, and the sensor cell is selected by the decoder, calibration operation of adjusting the detection sensitivity of a sensor circuit is executed using a calibration circuit.

Abstract: Prior to the start of transfer of an insulation film to a substrate, the degree of opening of a butterfly valve is set small so that evaporation of a solvent component contained in the insulation film is suppressed and the fluidity of the insulation film is ensured at the start of the transfer. On the other hand, the butterfly valve is totally opened at the start of the transfer, so that the pressure inside a thin film forming chamber rapidly decreases and transfer of the insulation film to the substrate is performed always in a low-pressure state (high-degree of vacuum).

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a surface shape recognition sensor, first and second interconnections are formed on a semiconductor substrate. An interlayer dielectric film on the semiconductor substrate covers the interconnections. A first metal film is electrically connected to the interconnections through first and second through holes in the interlayer dielectric film. A first mask pattern on the first metal film covers predetermined first and second regions corresponding to the through holes, respectively. The exposed first metal film is selectively removed to form a sensor electrode and connection electrode film, formed of the first metal film, in the first and second regions, respectively. An insulating passivation film on the interlayer dielectric film covers the sensor electrode and connection electrode film. A third through hole in the passivation film reaches the connection electrode film. A second metal film on the passivation film is in contact with the exposed connection electrode film.

Abstract: Prior to the start of transfer of an insulation film to a substrate, the degree of opening of a butterfly valve is set small so that evaporation of a solvent component contained in the insulation film is suppressed and the fluidity of the insulation film is ensured at the start of the transfer. On the other hand, the butterfly valve is totally opened at the start of the transfer, so that the pressure inside a thin film forming chamber rapidly decreases and transfer of the insulation film to the substrate is performed always in a low-pressure state (high-degree of vacuum).

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing section and capture control section. The image capturing section converts the shape of an object into an electrical quantity in accordance with the parameter value set in a parameter setting section, and outputs image data representing an image corresponding to the shape of the object. The capture control section receives the image data output from the image capturing section, calculates an evaluation index for evaluating the image quality of the image from the image data. If the evaluation index falls outside the range of a preset reference value, the capture control section changes the parameter value set in the parameter setting section so as to make the evaluation index fall within the range of the reference value to output the image data which is received from the image capturing section and the evaluation index of which falls within the range of the reference value.

Abstract: When a human hand (100) holds a transceiver (3a), the hand holds a bottom of an external wall surface and a side of the external wall surface of an insulating case (33). Therefore, a transmitting and receiving electrode (105) and an insulating film (107) cover not only the bottom of the external wall surface but also the side of the external wall surface of the insulating case (33). A first ground electrode (131), a second ground electrode (161), and a third ground electrode (163) are attached to upper portions of the internal wall surface of the insulating case (33) apart from the transmitting and receiving electrode (105). An insulating foam member (7a) is interposed between the insulating case (33) and a transceiver main body (30), and an insulating foam member (7b) is interposed between the transceiver main body (30) and a battery (6).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surface shape recognition sensor. A sacrificial film is formed on an interlevel dielectric to cover a lower electrode while keeping an upper portion of a support electrode exposed. An upper electrode is formed on the sacrificial film and support electrode. The sacrificial film is selectively removed and a protective film is formed on the upper electrode. A photosensitive resin film having photosensitivity is formed on the protective film. A plurality of projections are formed in a region of the protective film above a capacitive detection element. In this manner a plurality of capacitive detection elements each having the lower electrode and upper electrode are formed.

Abstract: A surface shape recognition apparatus includes detection circuit, comparison circuit, storage circuit, and control circuit. The detection circuit electrically detects a surface shape pattern in a partial region of the target collation surface of an object using a plurality of sensor elements and outputs detection data representing the surface shape pattern. The comparison circuit compares the detection data from the detection circuit with predetermined collation data and outputs a comparison result. The storage circuit stores template data representing the surface shape pattern of the entire target collation surface, the template data being obtained from the object in advance.

Abstract: A surface shape recognition sensor of this invention has a surface protective film having a hydrophobic property on an insulating protective film which is made of an insulator and formed to cover a sensor electrode, and includes at least a ground electrode which is formed on the substrate such that the ground electrode is partly exposed on the surfaces of the insulating protective film and surface protective film so as to be insulated/isolated from the sensor electrode and come into contact with the surface of a detection target. This sensor prevents fingerprint residues from easily remaining and improves tamper resistance.

Abstract: A surface shape recognition sensor includes a plurality of capacitive detection elements, a support electrode, and a protective film. The capacitive detection elements are formed from lower electrodes and a deformable plate-like upper electrode made of a metal. The lower electrodes are insulated and isolated from each other and stationarily laid out on a single plane of an interlevel dielectric formed on a semiconductor substrate. The upper electrode is laid out above the lower electrodes at a predetermined interval and has a plurality of opening portions. The support electrode is laid out around the lower electrodes while being insulated and isolated from the lower electrodes, and formed to be higher than the lower electrodes to support the upper electrode. The protective film is formed on the upper electrode to close the opening portions. The opening portions of the upper electrode are laid out in a region other than regions on a main part of the lower electrode and on the support electrode.

Abstract: A surface shape recognition apparatus includes a plurality of sensor electrodes, passivation film, capacitance detection circuit, and ground electrode. The sensor electrodes are formed on an interlevel insulator on a substrate and insulated from each other. The passivation film is formed on the interlevel insulator to cover the upper and side surfaces of each sensor electrode. The passivation film is formed from a dielectric material. When a target recognition object comes into contact with the surface of the passivation film, the capacitance detection circuit detects an electrostatic capacitance formed between the sensor electrode and the surface of the target recognition object opposing the sensor electrode. The ground electrode passes static electricity on the surface of the passivation film.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image correcting section. When an image of an object is input, the image correcting section performs correction processing for the input image including the object image and outputs the corrected image as an image required for authentication of the object. An image processing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a surface shape recognition sensor, first and second interconnections are formed on a semiconductor substrate. An interlayer dielectric film on the semiconductor substrate covers the interconnections. A first metal film is electrically connected to the interconnections through first and second through holes in the interlayer dielectric film. A first mask pattern on the first metal film covers predetermined first and second regions corresponding to the through holes, respectively. The exposed first metal film is selectively removed to form a sensor electrode and connection electrode film, formed of the first metal film, in the first and second regions, respectively. An insulating passivation film on the interlayer dielectric film covers the sensor electrode and connection electrode film. A third through hole in the passivation film reaches the connection electrode film. A second metal film on the passivation film is in contact with the exposed connection electrode film.

Abstract: An electro-optic probe has a laser diode for emitting a laser beam in accordance with a control signal from a measuring instrument main body, an electro-optic or magneto-optic element provided with a reflection film on an end surface thereof, a separator provided between the laser diode and electro-optic or magneto-optic element which is pervious the laser beam emitted from the laser diode and separates a beam reflected from the reflection film and two photodiodes which transform the beam reflected by the separator. A member of weak dielectric material, such as a glass plate, overlies the electro-optic or magneto-optic element at the end of the probe to protect the element, or the element is at the end of the probe and is exposed.

Abstract: A surface shape recognition sensor of this invention has a surface protective film having a hydrophobic property on an insulating protective film which is made of an insulator and formed to cover a sensor electrode, and includes at least a ground electrode which is formed on the substrate such that the ground electrode is partly exposed on the surfaces of the insulating protective film and surface protective film so as to be insulated/isolated from the sensor electrode and come into contact with the surface of a detection target. This sensor prevents fingerprint residues from easily remaining and improves tamper resistance.