Abstract: In the case where an imaging apparatus is not able to detect the distance to an object placed over an imaging surface thereof, if the area of a bright region in an image of the object captured by an imaging unit with light emitted from a light emitting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined area, the imaging apparatus determines that the object is close to the imaging apparatus. Thus, it becomes possible to let the user know that the palm is too close to the imaging apparatus and to prompt the user to move the palm away from the imaging apparatus. Accordingly, it becomes possible to smoothly capture an image of the object.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication apparatus acquires biometric information by a biometric information acquisition section and acquires first registered information and second registered information by a registered information acquisition section. The biometrics authentication apparatus generates a comparison score from the first registered information and the biometric information, compares the comparison score and a threshold, and outputs an authentication result, by an authentication section. The biometrics authentication apparatus generates a comparison score for each of combinations of two of the biometric information by which success in authentication is obtained, the first registered information, and the second registered information, evaluates the comparison score, and generates an evaluation result, by a comparison evaluation section.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication apparatus acquires biometric information by a biometric information acquisition section and acquires first registered information and second registered information by a registered information acquisition section. The biometrics authentication apparatus generates a comparison score from the first registered information and the biometric information, compares the comparison score and a threshold, and outputs an authentication result, by an authentication section. The biometrics authentication apparatus generates a comparison score for each of combinations of two of the biometric information by which success in authentication is obtained, the first registered information, and the second registered information, evaluates the comparison score, and generates an evaluation result, by a comparison evaluation section.

Abstract: In the case where an imaging apparatus is not able to detect the distance to an object placed over an imaging surface thereof, if the area of a bright region in an image of the object captured by an imaging unit with light emitted from a light emitting unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined area, the imaging apparatus determines that the object is close to the imaging apparatus. Thus, it becomes possible to let the user know that the palm is too close to the imaging apparatus and to prompt the user to move the palm away from the imaging apparatus. Accordingly, it becomes possible to smoothly capture an image of the object.

Abstract: A biometric information acquisition apparatus acquires biometric information to be used for verification. The biometric information acquisition apparatus includes a blood flow increasing unit, a biometric information acquiring unit, a feature amount evaluating unit, and a reacquisition determining unit. The blood flow increasing unit increases blood flow of an object person. The biometric information acquiring unit acquires the biometric information from the object person. The feature amount evaluating unit evaluates the feature amount of the acquired biometric information. The reacquisition determining unit determines whether to cause the blood flow increasing unit to operate and then cause the biometric information acquiring unit to reacquire the biometric information when the evaluated feature amount does not reach a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication system utilizes information of the palm of the hand of a body to perform individual authentication. A processing unit obtains an image of the palm of the hand of the same body a plurality of times from an image capture unit, judges the degrees of similarity among the characteristic data sets of the plurality of images of the palm of the hand, and registers a plurality of characteristic data sets with a high degree of similarity in a storage unit. And the shape of the hand in the image is checked from the outlines in the image of the palm of the hand, so it is possible to rapidly judge whether image capture has been successful and extract characteristic data, and registration processing can be executed in a short length of time.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication system uses biometrics information to authenticate individuals. A processing unit acquires biometrics information for the same living body a plurality of times from a detection unit, judges the mutual degree of similarity between biometrics characteristic data sets extracted from the above biometrics information acquired a plurality of times, and registers a plurality of biometrics characteristic data sets with a high degree of similarity in a storage unit. As a result, verification can be performed which accommodates changes in the state of the living body, without lowering verification accuracy.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication system that performs individual authentication in use of biometrics information facilitates authentication operation and reduces authentication errors. A storage unit stores therein the shape of the body part of the user, of which is captured at the time of registration of biometrics data, and a display unit displays the body part shape from the time of registration when authenticating the user for directly identifying the state of image capture of the body part at the time of registration and for guiding into a state of image capture of the body part similar to the state at the time of registration. The body part can be guided effectively such that the circumstances of body part image capture at the time of authentication and at the time of registration are in agreement, for improved verification efficiency.

Abstract: An overall image obtained by successively imaging different imaging regions a plurality of times during an image period using an imaging device is separated into a plurality of partial images respectively corresponding to each of the plurality of imaging operations. In cases where the object of imaging consists only of a static object, all of the partial images show more or less the same data. However, in cases where the object of imaging includes a moving object in addition to a static object, differences are generated in the partial images, which have different imaging timing. Accordingly, a judgement as to whether or not a moving object is contained in the overall image produced by synthesizing the plurality of partial images can be made by comparing the partial images.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication system that performs individual authentication in use of biometrics information facilitates authentication operation and reduces authentication errors. A storage unit stores therein the shape of the body part of the user, of which is captured at the time of registration of biometrics data, and a display unit displays the body part shape from the time of registration when authenticating the user for directly identifying the state of image capture of the body part at the time of registration and for guiding into a state of image capture of the body part similar to the state at the time of registration. The body part can be guided effectively such that the circumstances of body part image capture at the time of authentication and at the time of registration are in agreement, for improved verification efficiency.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication system utilizes information of the palm of the hand of a body to perform individual authentication. A processing unit obtains an image of the palm of the hand of the same body a plurality of times from an image capture unit, judges the degrees of similarity among the characteristic data sets of the plurality of images of the palm of the hand, and registers a plurality of characteristic data sets with a high degree of similarity in a storage unit. And the shape of the hand in the image is checked from the outlines in the image of the palm of the hand, so it is possible to rapidly judge whether image capture has been successful and extract characteristic data, and registration processing can be executed in a short length of time.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication system uses biometrics information to authenticate individuals. A processing unit acquires biometrics information for the same living body a plurality of times from a detection unit, judges the mutual degree of similarity between biometrics characteristic data sets extracted from the above biometrics information acquired a plurality of times, and registers a plurality of biometrics characteristic data sets with a high degree of similarity in a storage unit. As a result, verification can be performed which accommodates changes in the state of the living body, without lowering verification accuracy.

Abstract: An overall image obtained by successively imaging different imaging regions a plurality of times during an image period using an imaging device is separated into a plurality of partial images respectively corresponding to each of the plurality of imaging operations. In cases where the object of imaging consists only of a static object, all of the partial images show more or less the same data. However, in cases where the object of imaging includes a moving object in addition to a static object, differences are generated in the partial images, which have different imaging timing. Accordingly, a judgement as to whether or not a moving object is contained in the overall image produced by synthesizing the plurality of partial images can be made by comparing the partial images.

Abstract: A data medium handling apparatus and a data medium handling method suitable for use for handling of documents, for example, in a financial organ. The data medium handling apparatus (30) for recognizing, based on an image (19) read from a data medium on which information is described in an arbitrary format, the information, is constructed such that it comprises means (2) for extracting characteristics unique to the data medium including the format from the read image data (19) and specifying, from the characteristics, a position at which information to be recognized is present, and image recognition means (3) for recognizing the image (19) at the position specified by the is preceding means (2) to discriminate the information, so that the data medium handling apparatus (30) can handle documents having various formats such as private slips.

Abstract: A data medium handling apparatus and a data medium handling method suitable for use for handling of documents, for example, in a financial organ. The data medium handling apparatus (30) for recognizing, based on an image (19) read from a data medium on which information is described in an arbitrary format, the information, is constructed such that it comprises means (2) for extracting characteristics unique to the data medium including the format from the read image data (19) and specifying, from the characteristics, a position at which information to be recognized is present, and image recognition means (3) for recognizing the image (19) at the position specified by the preceding means (2) to discriminate the information, so that the data medium handling apparatus (30) can handle documents having various formats such as private slips.

Abstract: A wood processing composition comprising a dimensional stabilizer which penetrates wood and restrains its swelling and shrinkage to prevent cracking and to give it dimensional stability, and a hardening filler composed of synthetic resins which hardens after penetrating wood to prevent the dimensional stabilizer from flowing away from said wood, fills the cavity of the wood to restrain its shrinkage, and protects the wood against decay and damage by termites. It preferably further contains a flame retardant consisting of at least one of a phosphoric acid compound and dicyandiamide, and a water-soluble flame-retardant solution containing urea and a 37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde by weight. Wood is impregnated with the composition by appropriate means and, after drying, it may be impregnated with a surface reinforcing synthetic resin. The wood as processed is free of any unnatural color, is harmless, and retains a durable surface which is characteristic of wood.

Abstract: A terminal banking apparatus for processing bills and checks includes an input apparatus for inputting the number of each account and the amount of bills or checks at a front counter of a bank, a tentative paying file for storing the number of each account and the corresponding amount input from the input apparatus, a magnetic ink character reader for reading the number of the account described by magnetic ink characters on each of the bills or checks carried, and an amount reader for reading the amount described on the bills or checks stored in the tentative paying file depending on the number of the account read by the character reader.

Abstract: In a magnetic ink character recognition system provided in a magnetic ink character reader, the system includes; a read unit for detecting magnetic flux generated from each magnetic ink character separately printed in every field in a check or bill, and outputting a digital signal read therefrom; a storage unit operatively connected to the read unit for storing the digital signals output from the read unit; a field sort unit operatively connected to the storage unit for receiving the digital signals from the storage unit in every field and sorting the digital read signals for each field; a decision unit operatively connected to the field sort unit for receiving the digital read signal sorted by the field sort unit, judging the thickness of the magnetic ink character in every field, and determining a representative thickness value in every field; a correction unit operatively connected to the storage unit and the decision unit for receiving the digital signals from the storage unit and correcting the digital s