Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel with a dual-view function to display two different first and second screen-sized images that are visible in a driver-seat direction and a passenger-seat direction, respectively. The first screen-sized image in the driver-seat direction contains a guidance image and a guidance manipulation image; the second screen-sized image in the passenger-seat direction contains a video image and a video manipulation image. When an occupant in the driver seat manipulates an icon within the guidance manipulation image on the liquid crystal display panel, the same guidance manipulation image is also displayed in the passenger-seat direction by replacing the video manipulation image.

Abstract: A wearable control terminal for allowing a user to control a target object includes a contact detector, an impact detector, a motion detector, and a transmitter. The contact detector is mounted on a surface of a first portion of a user's body to detect whether the first portion is in contact with or separated from a second portion of the body based on whether a closed loop conducting path is formed with the first portion and the second portion. The impact detector detects an impact on the control terminal. The motion detector detects a motion of the user based on the results of detection by the contact detector and the impact detector. The transmitter transmits a control signal to the target object according to the detected motion.

Abstract: An instrument operation apparatus includes a tag reader and a manipulating device. According to a user's manipulation to the manipulating device, the instrument operation apparatus transmits a command signal to one of instruments to operate. The manipulating device includes a detection portion to detect the user's manipulation, and a device information transmission portion to transmit device information according to the manipulation detected by the detection portion using a wireless communications technology. The tag reader includes a reception portion to receive the device information a control circuit to determine a command signal according to the device information received via the reception portion, and a command signal transmission portion to transmit the command signal to the one of the instruments. The instrument operating apparatus is characterized in that an arrangement position at which the manipulating device is arranged or attached is enabled to be changed.

Abstract: An information input device includes: an applying element having a ring shape so that an finger of a user is inserted into the applying element; a receiving element having a ring shape so that an finger of a user is inserted into the receiving element and disposed adjacent to the applying element in an extending direction of a center line of the applying element; a signal generating element generating and transmitting a waveform signal to the apply element so that the applying element outputs a measurement signal; and a signal extracting element extracting a signal relating to a posture of the finger from a reception signal, which is output from the receiving element based on the measurement signal received by the receiving element.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel with a dual-view function to display two different first and second screen-sized images that are visible in a driver-seat direction and a passenger-seat direction, respectively. The first screen-sized image in the driver-seat direction contains a guidance image and a guidance manipulation image; the second screen-sized image in the passenger-seat direction contains a video image and a video manipulation image. When an occupant in the driver seat manipulates an icon within the guidance manipulation image on the liquid crystal display panel, the same guidance manipulation image is also displayed in the passenger-seat direction by replacing the video manipulation image.

Abstract: An electrical device wearable on a body of a user includes a first detector, a second detector, and a mode switch. The first detector detects whether the electrical device is worn on the body. The second detector is mountable on a surface of a first portion of the body and detects whether the first portion is in contact with or separated from a second portion of the body based on whether a closed loop conducting path is formed with the first portion and the second portion. The mode switch switches an operation mode of the electrical device to a lower power consumption mode when the first detector detects that the electrical device is not worn on the body.

Abstract: A wearable control terminal for allowing a user to control a target object includes a contact detector, an impact detector, a motion detector, and a transmitter. The contact detector is mounted on a surface of a first portion of a user's body to detect whether the first portion is in contact with or separated from a second portion of the body based on whether a closed loop conducting path is formed with the first portion and the second portion. The impact detector detects an impact on the control terminal. The motion detector detects a motion of the user based on the results of detection by the contact detector and the impact detector. The transmitter transmits a control signal to the target object according to the detected motion.

Abstract: An operating object extraction apparatus uses a camera, a light, a memory, an operation panel, a hand detector, a capture controller, and an image controller for displaying an operating object such as an operating finger of an operator's hand, when the operating object extraction apparatus is used in combination with a navigation apparatus in a vehicle for remotely controlling the navigation apparatus by an input from the operation panel that that is disposed separately from the navigation apparatus. The operating finger of the operator's hand is displayed as a finger image on the display unit under control of the capture controller and the image controller in a manner that a finger tip of the operating finger occupies only a small portion relative to the size of the operation panel.

Abstract: An information input device includes: an applying element having a ring shape so that an finger of a user is inserted into the applying element; a receiving element having a ring shape so that an finger of a user is inserted into the receiving element and disposed adjacent to the applying element in an extending direction of a center line of the applying element; a signal generating element generating and transmitting a waveform signal to the apply element so that the applying element outputs a measurement signal; and a signal extracting element extracting a signal relating to a posture of the finger from a reception signal, which is output from the receiving element based on the measurement signal received by the receiving element.

Abstract: An instrument operation apparatus includes a tag reader and a manipulating device. According to a user's manipulation to the manipulating device, the instrument operation apparatus transmits a command signal to one of instruments to operate. The manipulating device includes a detection portion to detect the user's manipulation, and a device information transmission portion to transmit device information according to the manipulation detected by the detection portion using a wireless communications technology. The tag reader includes a reception portion to receive the device information a control circuit to determine a command signal according to the device information received via the reception portion, and a command signal transmission portion to transmit the command signal to the one of the instruments. The instrument operating apparatus is characterized in that an arrangement position at which the manipulating device is arranged or attached is enabled to be changed.

Abstract: An object-detecting device detects an operation object for operating an operating apparatus. The object-detecting device includes an imaging portion for imaging the operation object and an image processor for extracting the operation object. The operation object has a first face, on which outside light falls from outside into the operating apparatus, and a second face opposite to the first face. The imaging portion images the second face of the operation object. The object-detecting device can stably detect the operation object, even when an illuminance variation of outside light is large.

Abstract: An operating object extraction apparatus uses a camera, a light, a memory, an operation panel, a hand detector, a capture controller, and an image controller for displaying an operating object such as an operating finger of an operator's hand, when the operating object extraction apparatus is used in combination with a navigation apparatus in a vehicle for remotely controlling the navigation apparatus by an input from the operation panel that that is disposed separately from the navigation apparatus. The operating finger of the operator's hand is displayed as a finger image on the display unit under control of the capture controller and the image controller in a manner that a finger tip of the operating finger occupies only a small portion relative to the size of the operation panel.

Abstract: Based on an input image from an imaging device and a preset background image, a digitized image is generated for each frame. The digitized images are compared. Then, an increased region, a decreased region, and an overlap region, which are adjacent to each other, are extracted as a single integrated region. Region parameters, which are a region area, a sum of X-coordinates and a sum of Y-coordinates, are obtained for each of the extracted integrated region, the increased region and the decreased region. Based on the region parameters, a motion of the object displayed on the integrated region is obtained for each of the integrated regions.

Abstract: An object-detecting device detects an operation object for operating an operating apparatus. The object-detecting device includes an imaging portion for imaging the operation object and an image processor for extracting the operation object. The operation object has a first face, on which outside light falls from outside into the operating apparatus, and a second face opposite to the first face. The imaging portion images the second face of the operation object. The object-detecting device can stably detect the operation object, even when an illuminance variation of outside light is large.

Abstract: An output section, consisting of a pair of loudspeakers disposed adjacently to each other, is installed inside a seatback of a designated seat. Sound output surfaces of respective loudspeakers face a designated person sitting on the designated seat. It is hence easy to secure a required distance for obtaining clear acoustic image localization in accordance with the size of loudspeakers cooperatively constituting the output section.

Abstract: Based on an input image from an imaging device and a preset background image, a digitized image is generated for each frame. The digitized images are compared. Then, an increased region, a decreased region, and an overlap region, which are adjacent to each other, are extracted as a single integrated region. Region parameters, which are a region area, a sum of X-coordinates and a sum of Y-coordinates, are obtained for each of the extracted integrated region, the increased region and the decreased region. Based on the region parameters, a motion of the object displayed on the integrated region is obtained for each of the integrated regions.

Abstract: An alarm system is provided which may be employed as an automotive anti-collision, a door safety system, etc. The alarm system works to detect a preselcted warning event associated with an automotive vehicle, determine a warning location where the warning event has occurred, and control outputs of speakers installed at different portions of the vehicle to produce a virtual sound source at the warning location so that a vehicle operator may perceive an alarm sound as being outputted from the virtual sound source and know the warning location correctly.

Abstract: An output section, consisting of a pair of loudspeakers disposed adjacently to each other, is installed inside a seatback of a designated seat. Sound output surfaces of respective loudspeakers face a designated person sitting on the designated seat. It is hence easy to secure a required distance for obtaining clear acoustic image localization in accordance with the size of loudspeakers cooperatively constituting the output section.