Abstract: A wakefulness inducing device includes: a heat dissipation intensity obtainer obtaining a user's heat dissipation intensity from a heat dissipation intensity sensor; and a controller controlling an air conditioner to alternate the user's heat dissipation intensity between a first heat dissipation intensity and a second heat dissipation intensity lower than the first heat dissipation intensity. The controller alternates the user's heat dissipation intensity by controlling the air conditioner based on the user's heat dissipation intensity to set a first time period longer than a second time period. In the first time period, the user's heat dissipation intensity increases from the second heat dissipation intensity to the first heat dissipation intensity, or remains at the first heat dissipation intensity.

Abstract: A method for predicting an arousal level used by a computer of an arousal level prediction apparatus that predicts an arousal level of a user includes obtaining current biological information regarding the user detected by a first sensor, calculating a current arousal level of the user on the basis of the current biological information, obtaining current environment information indicating a current environment around the user detected by a second sensor, predicting a future arousal level, which is an arousal level a certain period of time later, on the basis of the current arousal level and the current environment information, and (i) issuing a notification to the user or (ii) controlling another device, on the basis of the future arousal level.

Abstract: An infrared detecting device includes: an infrared sensor that has one or more infrared detection elements arranged in one or more columns; and an IC chip that performs signal processing on a signal output from the infrared sensor. The infrared sensor and the IC chip are generally juxtaposed in a direction along a scan rotation axis of the infrared sensor.

Abstract: A sensor control method that is executed by an air-conditioning apparatus includes: acquiring a first thermal image by scanning an air-conditioned space using the infrared sensor in accordance with a first scanning scheme, the air-conditioning apparatus being placed in the air-conditioned space; extracting a subject thermal image from the first thermal image, based on a difference between a background thermal image of the air-conditioned space when no subject is present therein and the first thermal image; determining a second scanning scheme different from the first scanning scheme, when the subject thermal image has a size smaller than a threshold size; and acquiring a second thermal image by scanning an area corresponding to the subject thermal image of the air-conditioned space using the infrared sensor in accordance with the determined second scanning scheme.

Abstract: An information providing method for providing a user who uses a device with information via a mobile owned by the user, the method generating the information to be provided to the user, in accordance with: lifestyle information obtained by a lifestyle information obtaining unit receiving the lifestyle information from the device used by the user, the lifestyle information being information on a state of operation of the device; and location information obtained by a location information obtaining unit receiving the location information indicating a location to which the user traveled.

Abstract: A sensor mounting device (100) of the present disclosure includes: a power supply unit (110) configured to generate power that is to be supplied to the device; a sensor (120) configured to acquire information of the environment around of the device; a first control unit (130) configured to give an instruction based on the information acquired by the sensor (120); and a second control unit (150) configured to control the device in accordance with the instruction of the first control unit (130). Power to the sensor (120) and the first control unit (130) is directly supplied from the power supply unit (110). Power to the second control unit (150) is supplied from the power supply unit (110) via a switching unit (140) whose ON/OFF state is controlled by the first control unit (130).

Abstract: A method for predicting an arousal level used by a computer of an arousal level prediction apparatus that predicts an arousal level of a user includes obtaining current biological information regarding the user detected by a first sensor, calculating a current arousal level of the user on the basis of the current biological information, obtaining current environment information indicating a current environment around the user detected by a second sensor, predicting a future arousal level, which is an arousal level a certain period of time later, on the basis of the current arousal level and the current environment information, and (i) issuing a notification to the user or (ii) controlling another device, on the basis of the future arousal level.

Abstract: A detection device includes: a light source that emits, toward an object, light of a first wavelength band, and light of a second wavelength band that is less readily absorbed by water than the light of the first wavelength band; a polarization splitter that splits at least one of S-polarized light and P-polarized light from light that has been reflected or scattered at the object; a photoreceptor that receives light reflected or scattered at the object via the polarization splitter; and a control unit that determines a state of the object from information based on light received by the photoreceptor. The light emitted by the light source is random polarized light where the ratio of P-polarized light and S-polarized light is generally uniform.

Abstract: An infrared detecting device includes: an infrared sensor that has one or more infrared detection elements arranged in one or more columns; and an IC chip that performs signal processing on a signal output from the infrared sensor. The infrared sensor and the IC chip are generally juxtaposed in a direction along a scan rotation axis of the infrared sensor.

Abstract: A road surface condition prediction system includes a collector which collects pieces of moisture information on moisture on a road surface obtained by detecting the moisture on the road surface of a road on which moving bodies travel, and pieces of position information each indicating a position on the road surface at which the moisture is detected, one or more of the pieces of moisture information and one or more of the pieces of position information being collected from each of the moving bodies; and a predictor which predicts a moisture condition of a target road surface at a time after a time at which moisture on the target road surface is detected, based on moisture information obtained by detecting the moisture on the target road surface, the target road surface being a road surface at a position indicated by at least one of the pieces of position information.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine includes a wash tub that allows laundry and water to be loaded therein, a holding unit that separates some of the water in the wash tub and holds the some of the water, where the water contains a substance that was attached to the laundry and that is dissolved therein, a detection unit that detects a predetermined substance contained in the some of the water held by the holding unit and outputs information indicating a result of detection, and a laundry detergent dispenser that dispenses a laundry detergent into the wash tub or instructs a user to add the laundry detergent to the wash tub after the some of the water is separated.

Abstract: A processing method for a processing apparatus is disclosed. The processing method causes a computer of the processing apparatus to perform a process. The process includes detecting a position and a sleep state of a passenger inside a vehicle on a basis of information indicating a state of space including seats of the vehicle. The information is obtained from a sensor provided inside the vehicle. The process also includes notifying an operator of the vehicle of the detected position and the detected sleep state of the passenger. Further, the process also includes transmitting, upon detecting an operation, the operation being performed by the operator of the vehicle in response to the notifying, for controlling a device near the detected position of the passenger, a control command corresponding to the operation to the device.

Abstract: A radiation receiving sensor includes an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency.

Abstract: A vehicle including an air conditioner and a thermal sensation estimation apparatus is disclosed. The thermal sensation estimation apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores a program, which causes the processor to perform a set of operations. The operations include obtaining thermal environment information at least regarding a thermal environment of or around a person, and estimating first and second thermal sensations using first and second methods, respectively, on the basis of the thermal environment information. The operations further include selecting at least one of the first thermal sensation estimated using the first method and the second thermal sensation estimated using the second method, and outputting, to the air conditioner, instruction information using the selected at least one of the first thermal sensation and the second thermal sensation.

Abstract: Provided is an information providing method for generating and providing information, in accordance with: lifestyle information obtained by a lifestyle information obtaining unit receiving, from each of plural devices used by plural users, information on a state of operation of the device; and location information of each user traveled, which is obtained by a location information obtaining unit receiving the location information.

Abstract: A radiation receiving sensor includes an infrared receiver including a plurality of infrared receiving devices that receive infrared radiation, a lens that allows infrared radiation to enter the infrared receiver, a rotator that rotates the infrared receiver and the lens about a part of the lens, and a cover member that faces the infrared receiver through the lens and that has translucency.

Abstract: An infrared detecting device includes: an infrared sensor that has one or more infrared detection elements arranged in one or more columns; and an IC chip that performs signal processing on a signal output from the infrared sensor. The infrared sensor and the IC chip are generally juxtaposed in a direction along a scan rotation axis of the infrared sensor.

Abstract: In order to enhance security of a parked vehicle, an image transmitting device to be mounted on a vehicle includes: a checking unit that checks, at a parking place of the vehicle, communicability with an external device outside of the vehicle, that is, whether an image can be transmitted from the parking place to the external device; a providing unit that provides notification information based on a result of the checking by the checking unit; a capturing unit that captures an image while the vehicle is parked; and a transmitting unit that transmits the image captured by the capturing unit to the external device.

Abstract: A processing method for a processing apparatus, the processing method causing a computer of the processing apparatus to execute steps comprising: detecting a position and a state of a passenger inside a vehicle on the basis of information indicating a state of space including seats of the vehicle, the information obtained from a sensor provided inside the vehicle, notifying an operator of the vehicle of the detected position and state of the passenger, and transmitting, upon detecting an operation, which is performed by the operator of the vehicle, for controlling a device near the detected position of the passenger, a control command corresponding to the operation to the device.

Abstract: In a method for estimating thermal sensation, thermal environment information at least regarding a thermal environment of or around a person is obtained, (1) a method for estimating a first thermal sensation, (2) a method for estimating a second thermal sensation, or (3) both the method for estimating the first thermal sensation and the method for estimating the second thermal sensation is selected as a method for estimating thermal sensation, which indicates a degree of warmth or coldness of the person, on the basis of the thermal environment information, and the thermal sensation is estimated using the selected method.