Abstract: Provided is a rice-derived sweetener in which crystallization is inhibited. A rice-derived sweetener contains: a rice-derived component; glucose; and at least one saccharide selected from the group consisting of panose, maltotriose, and isomaltotriose, the glucose being contained in an amount of not less than 4.0% by mass and less than 47.2% by mass relative to a total mass of the rice-derived sweetener, and the panose, the maltotriose, and the isomaltotriose being contained in a total amount of more than 1.96% by mass and not more than 16.00% by mass relative to the total mass of the rice-derived sweetener.

Abstract: An optical element includes: a first transmissive section 3 that causes light emitted from a light source to be incident on the optical element; a first reflection section 4 which is located at a facing section facing the first transmissive section and from which light incident from the first transmissive section is reflected; a second reflection section 5 which is located around the first transmissive section and from which the light reflected from the first reflection section is reflected; and a second transmissive section 6 that causes the light reflected from the second reflection section to be emitted out of the optical element in an optical axis direction of the light source.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: an image sensor that images an object to be imaged through polarizing plates arranged to have a different polarization direction for each pixel in a pixel group that includes a plurality of pixels corresponding to each of points of the object to be imaged; a pixel selecting unit that selects a pixel having a lowest brightness for each of the pixel group corresponding to each of the points; and an image output unit that outputs a captured image of the object to be imaged that is generated from pixels selected by the pixel selecting unit.

Abstract: A a body-site image obtained by capturing an image of a body site of a user is acquired. On the basis of the acquired body-site image, the orientation of the body site within the body-site image is detected. A template pattern conforming with the detected orientation is extracted from a template-pattern storage unit storing a plurality of template patterns. The acquired body-site image is converted into a body-site pattern obtained by extracting characteristic information from the body-site image. Authentication of the user is performed by comparing the body-site pattern obtained as a result of the converting and the extracted template pattern, thereby allowing appropriate personal authentication to be performed even when the orientation of a hand held over an imaging apparatus and the orientation of the imaging apparatus in registering vein data are different from those in performing authentication.

Abstract: An optical element includes: a first transmissive section 3 that causes light emitted from a light source to be incident on the optical element; a first reflection section 4 which is located at a facing section facing the first transmissive section and from which light incident from the first transmissive section is reflected; a second reflection section 5 which is located around the first transmissive section and from which the light reflected from the first reflection section is reflected; and a second transmissive section 6 that causes the light reflected from the second reflection section to be emitted out of the optical element in an optical axis direction of the light source.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: an image sensor that images an object to be imaged through polarizing plates arranged to have a different polarization direction for each pixel in a pixel group that includes a plurality of pixels corresponding to each of points of the object to be imaged; a pixel selecting unit that selects a pixel having a lowest brightness for each of the pixel group corresponding to each of the points; and an image output unit that outputs a captured image of the object to be imaged that is generated from pixels selected by the pixel selecting unit.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes an imaging device, a board on which the imaging device is mounted, an optical unit that forms an image of a target object onto the imaging device, and mounting units that is used to mount the optical unit on the board. The mounting units include a first mounting unit and a second mounting unit and the board includes an attachment portion having a smooth surface. The first mounting unit is attached to the attachment portion by mechanical joining and the second mounting unit is bonded to the first mounting unit while the optical unit is attached to the second mounting unit.

Abstract: A server includes a database that stores template pairs for a plurality of persons, the template pairs each pairing a first template and a second template that are acquired by using first and second polarization methods different from each other, respectively, from a same person, and a collating unit that collates a third template by the first polarization method, the third template being transmitted from a terminal device, with the template pairs for the persons, collates a fourth template by the second polarization method, the fourth template being transmitted from another server, with the template pairs for the persons, and performs personal authentication according to whether a first template pair and a second template pair are an identical template pair, the first template pair including the first template that coincides with the third template, and the second template pair including the second template that coincides with the fourth template.

Abstract: In order to capture an image of a living body with reduced noise, an image capturing apparatus includes a main body that captures a living body image, and a support attachable to and detachable from the main body. The image capturing apparatus supports the living body with a finger guide and a wrist guide of the support, and guides light emitted from the main body through the support toward its top face side from its bottom face side where the main body contacts with the support, and radiates the guided light toward the living body from a light radiating section provided at a predetermined position of an inner wall and an end portion of the top face side of the support, so that the main body captures a living body image.

Abstract: A sheet container, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a container body having a loading face to load a sheet thereon, an extension unit disposed extendable in a sheet feeding direction with respect to the container body to extend the loading face, a length regulator disposed movable in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the extension unit to regulate a sheet trailing end position in the sheet feeding direction, and a sheet size indicator having a strip-shape provided on the container body along with a moving direction of the extension unit as a reference of a position of the length regulator, having at least one sheet size mark to indicate a size of the sheet, and being variable in length in a longitudinal direction with respect to the container body along with movement of the extension unit.

Abstract: A sheet feed tray to stack a sheet to be conveyed to an image forming apparatus includes a platen on which a first portion of the sheet is placed; a pair of first support portions to support a second portion of the sheet folded back upward at a trailing end of the first portion; and a pair of second support portions to support a third portion of the sheet folded back upward at a trailing end of the second portion. In the sheet feed tray, the first support portions and the second support portions are reciprocally movable toward each other, and a distance between the second support portions is wider than a distance between the first support portions.

Abstract: A palm vein imaging apparatus includes: a tubular-frame-shaped housing; a printed circuit board horizontally held within the housing; an imaging system consisting of an image sensor and imaging lens module mounted on a top surface of the printed circuit board; and a top cover that covers a top opening of the housing so as to protect the imaging lens module of the imaging system, wherein the top cover includes a recess at a portion of an inner top surface of the top cover that faces the imaging lens module, the recess being thinner than a portion therearound, and the imaging lens module is located in a manner such that an upper portion thereof is in the recess.

Abstract: A power supply device to electroconductively connect a power-fed terminal included in a power-fed unit and a power supply terminal of a power supply board. The power supply device includes a unit contact portion to contact the power-fed terminal; a board contact portion to contact the power supply board; a connector to connect the unit contact portion and the board contact portion; and a support member to support the unit contact portion, the board contact portion, and the connector. The unit contact portion is held on an inner face of the support member opposed to the power-fed unit; the board contact portion is held on an outer face of the support member opposed to the power supply board; and the connector connects the unit contact portion and the board contact portion through the support member.

Abstract: A moving device assembly includes a moving device and a shield. The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a detector including a detection surface relative to an opposing member disposed opposite the detector. The shield shields the detection surface of the detector. As the moving device is at the first position, the detector is at a proximal position at which the detector is near the opposing member, and as the moving device is at the second position, the detector is at a shield position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and the detection surface of the detector is shielded by the shield.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pair of side walls disposed opposite each other; a driven unit supported between the side walls; a drive unit with drive transmission gears attached to one of the side walls and drives the driven unit; and a reinforcing member connecting the pair of side walls. One end of the reinforcing member is attached to the side wall opposite the other side wall to which the drive unit is attached and the other end is attached to the drive unit. The driven unit is an image forming unit including at least an image carrier. The image carrier includes a rotary shaft, both lateral ends of which are supported by the pair of side walls. A gear portion engaging the drive transmission gears of the drive unit is disposed on one end of the rotary shaft of the image carrier.

Abstract: A moving device assembly includes a moving device and a shield. The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a detector including a detection surface relative to an opposing member disposed opposite the detector. The shield shields the detection surface of the detector. As the moving device is at the first position, the detector is at a proximal position at which the detector is near the opposing member, and as the moving device is at the second position, the detector is at a shield position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and the detection surface of the detector is shielded by the shield.

Abstract: An illumination optical system for an image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of light sources arranged in a circular loop pattern and a prism plate shaped like a circular loop. the prism plate includes a prism surface at which illumination light from the light sources enters and on which a plurality of prism columns arranged in a circular loop pattern in a circumference direction of the prism plate are formed and an outgoing surface from which the illumination light is emitted. the prism surface includes a flat portion on at least one of a peak formed by each of the plurality of prism columns and a trough formed between the plurality of prism columns. the flat portion is substantially parallel to a tangential direction of the prism plate.

Abstract: A sheet feed tray to stack a sheet to be conveyed to an image forming apparatus includes a platen on which a first portion of the sheet is placed; a pair of first support portions to support a second portion of the sheet folded back upward at a trailing end of the first portion; and a pair of second support portions to support a third portion of the sheet folded back upward at a trailing end of the second portion. In the sheet feed tray, the first support portions and the second support portions are reciprocally movable toward each other, and a distance between the second support portions is wider than a distance between the first support portions.

Abstract: A moving device assembly includes a moving device and a shield. The moving device is movable between a first position and a second position, to move a detector including a detection surface relative to an opposing member disposed opposite the detector. The shield shields the detection surface of the detector. As the moving device is at the first position, the detector is at a proximal position at which the detector is near the opposing member, and as the moving device is at the second position, the detector is at a shield position at which the detector is separated from the opposing member and the detection surface of the detector is shielded by the shield.

Abstract: A sheet container, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a container body having a loading face to load a sheet thereon, an extension unit disposed extendable in a sheet feeding direction with respect to the container body to extend the loading face, a length regulator disposed movable in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the extension unit to regulate a sheet trailing end position in the sheet feeding direction, and a sheet size indicator having a strip-shape provided on the container body along with a moving direction of the extension unit as a reference of a position of the length regulator, having at least one sheet size mark to indicate a size of the sheet, and being variable in length in a longitudinal direction with respect to the container body along with movement of the extension unit.