Abstract: The apparatus enhances the degree of freedom in communication using a quasi-electrostatic field. A card device 3 (a ticket checking and collecting machine 2) side in a communication system 1, a quasi-electrostatic field according to an identification signal S5 (a notification signal S9) modulated according to identification information S4 (notification information S8) is generated from an internal electrode 8 (a side-surface electrode 7) to electrify a human body. At the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 (the card device 3), displacement of the strength of a information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD which is isotropically formed in the neighborhood of the human body is detected via the side-surface electrode 7 (the internal electrode 8) and a FET 28 (a FET 37) sequentially, and based on the detection result, the identification information S4 (the notification information S8) is demodulated.

Abstract: The present invention enables permanent biometric authentication without the risk of forgery or the like. The present invention enables living-tissue discrimination as well as biometric authentication. The roughness distribution pattern of deep-layer tissue of the skin covered with epidermal tissue is detected, thereby extracting a unique pattern of the living tissue. Then, biometric authentication is performed based upon the detected pattern. The roughness distribution pattern of the deep-layer tissue of the skin is optically detected using difference in optical properties between the epidermal tissue and the deep-layer tissue of the skin. In this case, long-wavelength light, e.g., near-infrared light is used as illumination light cast onto the skin tissue. A fork structure of a subcutaneous blood vessel is used as the portion which is to be detected, for example. The portion which is to be detected is determined based upon the structure of the fork structure.

Abstract: The present invention enables permanent biometric authentication without the risk of forgery or the like. The present invention enables living-tissue discrimination as well as biometric authentication. The roughness distribution pattern of deep-layer tissue of the skin covered with epidermal tissue is detected, thereby extracting a unique pattern of the living tissue. Then, biometric authentication is performed based upon the detected pattern. The roughness distribution pattern of the deep-layer tissue of the skin is optically detected using difference in optical properties between the epidermal tissue and the deep-layer tissue of the skin. In this case, long-wavelength light, e.g., near-infrared light is used as illumination light cast onto the skin tissue. A fork structure of a subcutaneous blood vessel is used as the portion which is to be detected, for example. The portion which is to be detected is determined based upon the structure of the fork structure.

Abstract: A marker detection apparatus detects a marker attached to a target sample from samples flowing in a sample flow, wherein the sample flow carries a low ionization-tendency metal fine particle selected from a group of Au to Ag and the target sample labeled by the marker that is a particle of a unique vibration frequency, the marker detection apparatus including: an electromagnetic wave applying section that applies an electromagnetic wave to a path of the sample flow under a condition that the radius of the metal fine particle is smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave; and a detection section that detects vibration of the particle attached to the target sample, the vibration arising from a quasi-electrostatic field generated on the surface of the metal fine particle when the electromagnetic wave is applied to the metal fine particle around the target sample in the sample flow.

Abstract: A gait waveform feature extracting method and an individual identification system extract features of the gait waveform. A one-step waveform corresponding to one step of a walking movement is specified using, as an index, a peak amplitude corresponding to a state where substantially a whole bottom surface of one foot is in contact with the ground and a toe of the other foot is just after leaving the ground among the electric field displacement formed on the human body in accordance with the human body's walking movements. Based on the specified one-step waveform, the features of the one-step waveform are extracted, so that the peak amplitude appears without influence from electric-charge interference between the right and left legs. Accordingly, the one-step waveform reflects the actual one step of the walking movement, and therefore, the features of the one-step waveform can be precisely extracted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric field control device that can transmit a quasi-electrostatic field more efficiently. There is provided an electric field control device that applies electric fields to an electric field application subject, which includes a first electrode and a second electrode that generate the electric fields, a frame that is arranged around the first electrode and second electrode, and is connected to the first electrode and second electrode, an opening that is formed at one end of the frame, and an output unit that outputs a first signal to the first electrode, and outputs a second signal to the second electrode, wherein, when the electric fields are generated from the first electrode and second electrode, the output unit outputs the second signal to the second electrode so that the potential of the frame is not changed temporally and made constant.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a communication device which includes: a piezoelectric element having a structure formed by laminating piezoelectric substances and electrodes; obtaining means for obtaining acoustic data superimposed on a quasi-electrostatic field formed on a living body from the electrode of the piezoelectric element; and driving means for driving the piezoelectric element as a speaker by outputting the acoustic data to the electrodes of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a detection apparatus, including: signal outputting means configured to output signals of a frequency band within which the difference in electric characteristic between different tissues of a living organism is higher than a predetermined level individually to two or more electrodes; impedance detection means configured to detect, from each of the electrodes, an impedance of the living organism disposed in quasi-electrostatic fields generated individually from the electrodes in response to the outputs; and colloid detection means configured to detect presence or absence of colloid in the inside of the living organism in response to the differences between the detected impedances.

Abstract: The present invention enables permanent biometric authentication without the risk of forgery or the like. The present invention enables living-tissue discrimination as well as biometric authentication. The roughness distribution pattern of deep-layer tissue of the skin covered with epidermal tissue is detected, thereby extracting a unique pattern of the living tissue. Then, biometric authentication is performed based upon the detected pattern. The roughness distribution pattern of the deep-layer tissue of the skin is optically detected using difference in optical properties between the epidermal tissue and the deep-layer tissue of the skin. In this case, long-wavelength light, e.g., near-infrared light is used as illumination light cast onto the skin tissue. A fork structure of a subcutaneous blood vessel is used as the portion which is to be detected, for example. The portion which is to be detected is determined based upon the structure of the fork structure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible to accurately grasp the state inside an object to be measured. According to the present invention there is provided a measuring apparatus comprising: quasi-electrostatic field generating means generating a quasi-electrostatic field of higher strength as compared with a radiated electric field and an induced electromagnetic field; quasi-electrostatic field detecting means detecting a result of interaction between the quasi-electrostatic field generated by the quasi-electrostatic field generating means and applied to a human body, and an electric field corresponding to a potential change caused by a biological reaction inside the human body; and extracting means extracting the potential change from the result of interaction.

Abstract: There proposed are a distance detection system that can enhance with a simple configuration the accuracy of distance detection, an electric-field forming apparatus, and an electric-field forming method. A quasi-electrostatic field is formed in such a way that a predetermined intensity is obtained at the respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies. Accordingly, quasi-electrostatic fields in which a distance is extremely clearly reflected in intensity are formed in such a way that a predetermined intensity can be obtained at the positions having respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies; therefore, it is possible to enhance, without requiring complicated control and a special apparatus, the accuracy of distance detection based on the intensity, whereby it is possible to enhance with a simple configuration the accuracy of distance detection.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for personal identification include an image pickup section for picking up an image of a blood vessel pattern of a wrist, a storage unit for storing in advance an image of a blood vessel pattern of a certain person as a registered image, and a control section (CPU) for the computation of degrees of similarity according to data differences between the image of the blood vessel pattern picked up by the image pickup section and the registered image to determine identification according to the relationship between the computed degrees of similarity and a threshold, thereby eliminating the need to carry out processing by a characteristic extraction section or the like.

Abstract: A walking gait detection apparatus includes a microphone for picking up low-frequency-band sounds that are transmitted through the body of a pedestrian while walking and an analyzer for performing analysis. Accordingly, the gait of the pedestrian is detected. It is also possible to distinguish the gait pattern on the basis of the stance-phase time of a foot sole and the signal intensity, for example. The gait detection apparatus can accurately estimate the stride length on the basis of a detected gait cycle, the height of the pedestrian, and signals detected during walking. On the basis of low-frequency sounds picked up by the microphone while the pedestrian is walking, the pedestrian can be identified.

Abstract: A steering device, a method for authenticating a driver, and a vehicle are disclosed. The steering device is equipped with an identification information acquisition unit. When a driver takes a position for operating the steering device, namely, a home position to the steering device, the identification information acquisition unit acquires a venous pattern of the driver as identification information. The steering device then outputs the identification information.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to enhance the degree of freedom in communication using a quasi-electrostatic field. According to the present invention, by causing a human body to act as an antenna to send and receive ID information D5 while avoiding 8 Hz peaks Px that appear with a high strength, in a walking quasi-electrostatic field HSE formed in the neighborhood of the human body in response to a walking motion of the human body, the ID information D5 can be sent and received via a quasi-electrostatic field DSE formed isotropically around the human body with the human body as an antenna while destruction of the information by the 8 Hz peaks PX is prevented. Thus the degree of freedom in communication using a quasi-electrostatic field can be enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention enables the degree of freedom in communication to be enhanced. According to the present invention, in an authentication system 1, during a walking motion of a user which is essentially required for the user to pass through an entrance/exit passage portion 4 (FIG. 6), tissue information D5 and walking information D7 as living organism identification information, a pattern specific to a user, is detected from an detection electrode 52 via an FET 11, based on a walking quasi-electrostatic field HSE formed in the neighborhood of the user. Thereby, information with high identifiability specific to the user can be obtained without controlling movements of the user and without performing special processing such as encryption. Thus, the degree of freedom in communication can be enhanced.

Abstract: A gait waveform feature extracting method and an individual identification system extract features of the gait waveform. A one-step waveform corresponding to one step of a walking movement is specified using, as an index, a peak amplitude corresponding to a state where substantially a whole bottom surface of one foot is in contact with the ground and a toe of the other foot is just after leaving the ground among the electric field displacement formed on the human body in accordance with the human body's walking movements. Based on the specified one-step waveform, the features of the one-step waveform are extracted, so that the peak amplitude appears without influence from electric-charge interference between the right and left legs. Accordingly, the one-step waveform reflects the actual one step of the walking movement, and therefore, the features of the one-step waveform can be precisely extracted.

Abstract: The present invention enhances the degree of freedom in communication using a quasi-electrostatic field. According to the present invention, on the card device 3 (a ticket checking and collecting machine 2) side in a communication system 1, a quasi-electrostatic field according to an identification signal S5 (a notification signal S9) modulated according to identification information S4 (notification information S8) is generated from an internal electrode 8 (a side-surface electrode 7) to electrify a human body. At the ticket checking and collecting machine 2 (the card device 3), displacement of the strength of a information-transmission quasi-electrostatic field DTD which is isotropically formed in the neighborhood of the human body is detected via the side-surface electrode 7 (the internal electrode 8) and a FET 28 (a FET 37) sequentially, and based on the detection result, the identification information S4 (the notification information S8) is demodulated.

Abstract: A gait detection apparatus includes a microphone for picking up low-frequency-band sounds which are transmitted through the body of a pedestrian while walking and an analyzer for performing analysis. Accordingly, the gait of the pedestrian is detected. It is also possible to distinguish the gait pattern on the basis of the stance-phase time of a foot sole, the signal intensity, etc. The gait detection apparatus can accurately estimate the step length on the basis of a detected gait cycle, the height of the pedestrian, and signals detected during walking. On the basis of low-frequency-region sounds picked up by the microphone while the pedestrian is walking, the pedestrian can be identified.

Abstract: A walking gait detection apparatus includes a microphone for picking up low-frequency-band sounds that are transmitted through the body of a pedestrian while walking and an analyzer for performing analysis. Accordingly, the gait of the pedestrian is detected. It is also possible to distinguish the gait pattern on the basis of the stance-phase time of a foot sole and the signal intensity, for example. The gait detection apparatus can accurately estimate the stride length on the basis of a detected gait cycle, the height of the pedestrian, and signals detected during walking. On the basis of low-frequency sounds picked up by the microphone while the pedestrian is walking, the pedestrian can be identified.