Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which suppresses appearance of a color moire of a color image signal of a wide dynamic range which is produced using an image signal acquired using, for example, a CCD image sensor of the single plate type or the like. A gradation conversion section 71 performs a gradation conversion process for a color mosaic image M to produce a modulated color mosaic image Mg. Color difference image production sections 72 and 3 use the modulated color mosaic image Mg to produce color difference images C and D, respectively. A luminance image production section 74 uses the modulated color mosaic image Mg and the color difference signals C and D to produce a luminance image L. A color space conversion section 75 performs a color space conversion process for the color difference images C and D and the luminance image L to produce modulated images.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a pixel selecting unit that selects pixel values which are provided at each of pixel positions in input images that are arranged in chronological sequence, each of the pixel values being included in a corresponding one of the input images, on the basis of an input image to be processed which is set in the middle of the sequence; a moving-object detecting unit that detects a moving object using the selected pixel values, and that produces information items concerning the moving object as moving-object information items; and an output-image generating unit that generates pixel values of an output image, each of the pixel values being generated for a corresponding one of the pixel positions by using, in accordance with a corresponding one of the moving-object information items, a corresponding one of pixel values of the input image to be processed.

Abstract: An engine rotational speed determining device is disclosed which includes a signal inputting means and a rotational speed determining means. The signal inputting means inputs a signal that indicates current supplied to an electric motor, which starts an internal combustion engine, during a starting operation of the engine by the motor. The rotational speed determining means determines a rotational speed of the engine in the starting operation based on a change in the current indicated by the signal input by the signal inputting means.

Abstract: A smoothing calculator determines a smoothed mean luminance value C1×?(t)+(1?C1)??(t?1) based on a mean luminance value ?(t) input at time t and a smoothed mean luminance value ??(t?1) read at time (t?1) from a buffer, and outputs the smoothed mean luminance value C1×?(t)+(1?C1)??(t?1) as the smoothed mean luminance value ?(t) of the mean luminance value ?(t). Coefficient C1 is greater than 0 but smaller than 1. Gradation conversion responsive to luminance variation from frame to frame in a moving image is thus achieved.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a feature extracting unit configured to extract a feature in each local area from an image including a plurality of colors in bands of visible radiation and non-visible radiation, the feature having elements representing ratios between a reference color and individual colors; and a discriminating unit configured to discriminate an object in each local area by using the feature extracted for the local area by the feature extracting unit.

Abstract: In a proposed apparatus and method, constant-voltage charge is performed with an in-vehicle secondary battery immediately after start of a vehicle or during running of the vehicle. A quantity relevant to polarization caused in the battery immediately after start of the constant-voltage charge is calculated using data of the charge current. It is determined whether or not a change rate of the calculated polarization-relevant quantity is less than a given threshold. When the change rate is less than the given threshold, a plurality of data of the charge current sampled and held during a predetermined period of time are acquired. A value of the charge current to be accumulated until the charge current reaches a given final value is calculated using the plurality of data of the charge current. The internal electric state of the battery is estimated based on the accumulated value of the charge current.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a power generator that generates electric power using power from an internal combustion engine; a motor that outputs power for travel of the hybrid vehicle; a first inverter connected to an electric power storage device and the motor to drive the motor; a second inverter connected to the electric power storage device; and a large drive power determination portion that determines whether the hybrid vehicle is in a large-drive-power required state in which drive power equal to or larger than a predetermined value is required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle. When it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is not in the large-drive-force required state, the second inverter is connected to the power generator. When it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-force required state, the second inverter is connected to the motor.

Abstract: A product identification apparatus for determining whether an inspection target product to be identified is the same as a predetermined verification product includes: an extraction unit configured to extract an input pattern formed of asperities on the surface of a predetermined part of the inspection target product from a captured image obtained by capturing the image of the predetermined part of the inspection target product; and a comparison unit configured to compare the input pattern with an identification pattern extracted from a captured image obtained by capturing in advance the image of a part of the verification product so as to determine whether the input pattern is the same as the identification pattern or the input pattern includes the identification pattern.

Abstract: The apparatus is for estimating a state of charge of a rechargeable battery charged by a vehicle-mounted power generation apparatus capable of generating a variable output voltage. The estimating apparatus includes a detecting function of detecting a charging/discharging current of the rechargeable battery, and an estimating function of making an estimation of the state of charge on the basis of relationship data defining the relationship among the output voltage, the state of charge, and a convergence value to which the charging/discharging current converges through transient behavior thereof in a state where variation of the output voltage is below a predetermined value after the output voltage is changed.

Abstract: The apparatus, which is for estimating a state of charge of a rechargeable battery charged by a vehicle-mounted power generation apparatus capable of generating a variable output voltage, includes a first function of quantifying charging/discharging history of the rechargeable battery, and a second function of performing estimation of a state of charge of the rechargeable battery on the basis of a parameter which indicates a charging/discharging current of the rechargeable battery when variation of the output voltage of the vehicle-mounted power generation apparatus is below a predetermined value, and the quantified charging/discharging history, while eliminating an effect which polarization of the rechargeable battery due to the charging/discharging history has on the charging/discharging current before the variation of the output voltage becomes below the predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention related to an image pickup apparatus which can produce a color and sensitivity mosaic image which can be converted into a color image signal having a wide dynamic range by performing a predetermined image process. Light receiving elements of a CCD image sensor are arranged in a lattice arrangements where attention is paid to the color Green irrespective of the sensitivities. Where attention is paid to the color Red irrespective of the sensitivities, the light receiving elements are arranged on every other line. Also where attention is paid to the color Blue irrespective of the sensitivities, the light receiving elements are arranged on every other line similarly. Consequently, where attention is paid only to the colors of the pixels, the pattern P2 has a Bayer arrangement. A mosaic arrangement of a color is realized by disposing an on-chip color filter on an upper face of the light receiving elements of the CCD image sensor.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus such as an optical disc that can avoid an unrecordable condition between a power-on operation and an available state for recording thereby to solve a problem that an image taking chance is missed in a recording step, wherein its constitution is such that: receiving a command to turn on the apparatus after switching, a system controller drives a power-supply circuit to activate a drive controller and a memory controller; if the optical disc is not replaced while in power-off operation by a sub-battery, the system controller issues a request for high-speed activation, based on information stored in an EEPROM, to the drive controller, and drives plural drive control units one after another thereby to establish an activation period confirmedly, allowing the memory controller to accept a request for a recording start from the system controller without waiting for a report of activation completion to be issued by the drive controller.

Abstract: Provided is a finger vein authentication apparatus including a light source for emitting light toward a finger, an image sensor for taking an image of the transmitted light from the finger, a lens apparatus for imaging the transmitted light to the image sensor, and an image processor for processing the taken image. The lens apparatus includes a lens unit, and the image processor extracts a vein pattern of the finger upon correcting the strain of the taken image.

Abstract: A printer apparatus is disclosed. The printer includes a medium feeding passage for conveying a medium; print head for performing a spacing and for performing a printing processing on the medium; a detector for detecting a first end position in a widthwise direction of the medium at a first position in a medium conveyance direction and for detecting a second end position in the widthwise direction of the medium at a second position in the medium conveyance direction; and a comparator for comparing the first end position with the second end position detected with the detector. The control of the print head is performed according to the compared result from the comparator.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image pickup unit including an image pickup element that captures a plurality of colors in ranges of visible and invisible light incoming through an image capturing lens, a pixel value calculating unit that calculates a pixel value of each pixel regarding at least one of the captured colors, a contrast value calculating unit that calculates a contrast value for each color based on the calculated pixel values, a correction value calculating unit that calculates a focus correction value for a distance from a current position of the image capturing lens to a focus position based on a temporal change in the calculated contrast values of the at least one color, and an image capturing lens driving unit that drives the image capturing lens based on the calculated focus correction value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which can restore, from a color and sensitivity mosaic image acquired using a CCD image sensor of the single plate type or the like, a color image signal of a wide dynamic range wherein the sensitivity characteristics of pixels are uniformized and each of the pixels has all of a plurality of color components. A sensitivity uniformization section uniformizes the sensitivities of pixels of a color and sensitivity mosaic image to produce a color mosaic image, and a color interpolation section interpolates color components of the pixels of the color mosaic image M to produce output images R, G and B. The present invention can be applied to a digital camera which converts a picked up optical image into a color image signal of a wide dynamic range.

Abstract: A light source estimating device includes a light receiving section for receiving visible light and invisible light radiated from a light source, and a light source estimating section for estimating a type of the light source on the basis of an intensity of the received visible light and an intensity of the received invisible light.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating state variables of a secondary battery as an estimation target performs so that a neural network unit studies a true value of a battery temperature, a temperature large value which is larger than the true value of the battery temperature by an approximating temperature sensor detection error, and a temperature small value which is smaller than the true value of the battery temperature by the approximating temperature sensor detection error. After completion of the learning of those values, the neural network unit inputs a battery temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and performs a neural network based calculation to calculate a SOC (state of charge) of the secondary battery. This can drastically increase the calculation accuracy of the SOC of the secondary battery.

Abstract: The vehicle-use power supply apparatus includes an alternator driven by an engine mounted on a vehicle to generate electric power in accordance with a command value, a battery electrically connected to the alternator to be charged by the alternator, and connected to electrical loads mounted on the vehicle to apply a power supply voltage to the electrical loads. The vehicle-use power supply apparatus further includes a first function of determining, as a power generation cost, an increase amount of fuel which the engine consumes for the alternator to generate electric power, and a second function of transmitting the command value to the alternator, the second function being configured to determine the command value on the basis of the power generation cost determined by the first function such that a change rate of the power supply voltage does not exceed a predetermined limit value.

Abstract: In a state where an abnormality of a boosting circuit is detected by monitoring a boosted voltage outputted from the boosting circuit, motor relays are turned to an off state when the boosted voltage outputted from the boosting circuit becomes less than a predetermined threshold value due to an action, such as the stopping of a supply of power source voltage to the boosting circuit. Therefore, there can be limited welding of the motor relays caused by an electric arc, which is generated when contacts of the motor relays, are separated.