Abstract: In a personal identification device using blood vessel patterns, means capable of downsizing the device is especially provided. The personal identification device comprises an infrared ray source and a light receiving element row containing a plurality of light receiving elements. In personal identification, a finger is passed over the light receiving element row. An image containing a two-dimensional blood vessel pattern of the finger is created from an output of the light receiving element row and displacement information of the passing finger. The blood vessel pattern thus obtained is checked for a match with a previously registered pattern to perform the personal identification. The device can be downsized and can be easily mounted in a place having a limited mounting space, such as in cars and cell phones.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted stereo camera apparatus including a plurality of imaging units for generating image data sequentially based on optical information from an object, and an image processing unit for importing the image data generated by the plurality of imaging units respectively, processing the imported image data individually, and then performing a stereo image process operation. The image data input into the image processing unit are synchronized with clock signals for importing and processing the image data respectively. Thus, the stereo image process operation is performed without horizontal pixel misalignment between image data A and B from the plurality of imaging units, so as to attain a stereo matching process with a high accuracy.

Abstract: A power-feed control apparatus for a vehicle in which electrical loads are arranged in the vehicle includes a power source provided in a vehicle; at least one power semiconductor element, the power semiconductors controlling power-feed to the electrical load; a control unit for controlling the power semiconductor element; an anomaly detection circuit for monitoring operations of the power semiconductor element and determining whether or not an anomaly is occurring in a circuit including the power semiconductor element and the electrical load; and a switching circuit for switching a threshold level between a level for an anomaly detection in a starting period of the load and that in a steady state of the load connected to the power semiconductor element; wherein if an anomaly is detected in the circuit by the anomaly detection circuit, the control unit turns off the power semiconductor so as to interrupt power-feed to the electrical load.