Abstract: An element determining unit detects an element that should be excluded from an object of comparison, of an image. Using the image with the detected element removed, comparing process is performed. Specifically, a feature value calculating unit calculates, in correspondence to each of a plurality of partial images in the image, a feature value in accordance with a pattern of the corresponding portion. The element determining unit detects an area represented by a combination of partial images having a prescribed calculated feature value, as the element to be excluded from the object of comparison. Based on the ratio of the detected elements as non-eligible for comparison to the image as a whole and on the result of comparison, activation of an application is permitted/inhibited.

Abstract: A high voltage output device in accordance with the present invention, which comprises a transformer that amplifies a voltage being fed to a primary side coil thereof so as to be produced from a secondary side coil thereof, and in which an alternate current input voltage is fed from the primary side coil, and an output voltage is taken out from the secondary side coil, further comprises a feedback circuit that feeds back the output voltage, and a voltage amplifying circuit that amplifies the voltage being fed back so as to be fed to the primary side coil. As a result, it is possible to provide such a high voltage output device as can obtain an output voltage efficiently, although a load capacity on a secondary side of a transformer fluctuates.

Abstract: An element determining portion detects an element not to be used for image processing in an image. The image processing is performed using the image not including the detected element. More specifically, feature value calculator calculates a feature value according to a pattern of the partial image corresponding to each of the partial images in the image. The element determining portion detects, as the element not to be used, a region indicated by a combination of the partial images having predetermined calculated feature values.

Abstract: An element determining unit detects an element not to be used for comparison in an image. Comparison is performed using the image not including the detected element. Untargeted element determination is performed to calculate a feature value according to a pattern of the partial image corresponding to each of the partial images in the image. As the element not to be used, a region indicated by a combination of the partial images having predetermined calculated feature values is detected.

Abstract: A degree of security set for an application and a valid time corresponding to the degree of security are stored in a memory. When an authentication unit performs user authentication using a fingerprint image input through an authentication information input unit and authorizes use of the application by the user, a control unit monitors lapse of the valid time corresponding to the application. When the valid time expires, the control unit request the user to input authentication information, and authentication is repeated at the authentication unit.

Abstract: A sensing device includes first sensor elements allocated on a two-dimensional plane, and a second sensor element allocated on the same plane as the first sensor element and operating according to a manner different from that of the first sensor element. A signal processing unit generates a fingerprint image based on an output signal of the first sensor element after detecting placement of a finger based on an output signal of the second sensor element, and collates the generated fingerprint image with a previously registered fingerprint image. A capacitance type sensor element is used as the first sensor element, and a pressure sensitive sensor element is used as the second sensor element.

Abstract: An image collating apparatus includes a storage device and a processor. The storage device stores data representing a sensing image, data representing a template image, and a program. The processor detects exclusion areas in the sensing image to be excluded from the image collation operation based on classification of image patterns. The processor determines whether or not the sensing image and the template image are derived from the identical object by performing template-matching operations to evaluate similarity between the template image and partial images of the sensing image in different levels with increasing the size of area covered by the partial image to be matched with the template image level by level. At least in one level the processor performs the template-matching operation with respect to the partial image where the exclusion areas are excluded.

Abstract: An image comparison apparatus is assumed to receive fingerprint data in accordance with one of a sweep sensing method and an area sensing method. In operation when the image comparison apparatus receives an image the apparatus calculates a value of an accumulation of movement vectors obtained between such input images and in accordance with the calculated cumulative value determines a fingerprint inputting and comparing method (or a sensing method), and in accordance with one of the methods calculates similarity between an input fingerprint image and a read reference image and as based on a result of the calculation compares the fingerprint image with the reference image. In accordance with a result of determining a method and a result of comparing the images a symbol for information is generated.

Abstract: A key used in a locking device includes a fingerprint sensor that acquires fingerprint information of an operator, an authentication unit that authenticates the operator based on fingerprint information acquired by the sensor when the key is inserted into a lock, and a transmitting unit that transmits a result of the authentication performed by the authentication unit to the lock. The lock includes a receiving unit that receives the authentication result transmitted from the transmitting unit, and an unlocking unit that performs unlocking when both the authentication result received by the receiving unit is information showing that authentication of the operator was established, and the inserted key and the lock are the correct combination.

Abstract: An authentication device collates a first input image input to a sensor using a first method with a reference image, collates a second input image input to a sensor using a second method with the reference image, and outputs a result of authentication based on results of collations using the first and the second methods.

Abstract: An image comparing apparatus receives two images to be compared with each other. For each of the two images, respective feature values of partial images in the image are determined. With respect to each partial image in one of the images, the position of a partial image that is in the other image and that has the maximum score of matching with the partial image in that one image is searched for. The search range is limited to partial images selected according to three or five different feature values determined in advance. Then, the similarity score representing the degree of similarity between these two images is calculated, based on information about a movement vector indicating a relation between a reference position for locating the partial image in one image and the maximum matching score position that is searched for with respect to the partial image. Images to be searched belong to the same category as that of the partial image.

Abstract: A pointing device includes a sensor obtaining image information, and an image producing unit producing a comparison image at predetermined time intervals by lowering a spatial resolution of an image based on the image information obtained by the sensor and increasing a density resolution of the image based on the image information. The device arithmetically obtains a correlation value indicating a correlation between a predetermined region in a first comparison image among the plurality of comparison images produced by the image producing unit and a predetermined region in a second comparison image produced after the first comparison image.

Abstract: Rectangular partial areas “Ri” for use in template matching in a process of determining match/mismatch between fingerprint images are spread adjacently to each other in one of the images. A boundary-including partial area is set in a portion including a crossing point of cross-shaped boundaries defined by the four neighboring partial areas. The plurality of partial areas formed of the neighboring partial areas and the boundary-including partial area are used as a template so that the number of the partial areas can be increased while ensuring a certain size of the partial area. Further, the boundary-including partial area covers the boundary between the neighboring partial areas so that continuity of image data at the boundary between the neighboring partial areas can be reflected in the determination of the match/mismatch between the images.

Abstract: In collation determination of an input biometric data and a plurality of reference data stored in advance, when a biometric data collating apparatus according to the invention determines that the reference data matching with the biometric data is present, the biometric data collating apparatus updates a current reference order ordidx of the reference data determined as matching data to Order[0] representing a leading place in a collation order table.

Abstract: A pointing device that does not limit an operator by personal physical characteristics is structured as follows. An apparatus incorporating a pointing device includes a fingerprint sensor obtaining image information, a cover protecting a sensor surface, and a sensor presser arranged at a face of the cover on the sensor side so as to be in contact with the sensor surface. The shape of sensor presser obtained with sensor changes by the position on cover being pressed by a finger, and an input is performed based thereon.

Abstract: In a biometric data collating apparatus according to the invention, when a reference data matching with a biometric data is present, each of collation order determination values is multiplied by a FREQFIX value. One is further added to the collation order determination value corresponding to the reference data matching with the biometric data. A comparison is made between the updated data, and the reference data are sorted in a descending order of the collation order determination value.

Abstract: An image collation device capable of obtaining a high collating precision with a reduced amount of searches is constituted as follows. The image collation device includes an input unit which receives data representing an image A and data representing an image B, and a processing unit which determines whether or not a possibility that a center region of the image A which is a portion thereof matches with any portion of the image B is below a threshold value T(2) and determines whether or not the image A matches with the image B when it is determined the possibility that the center region matches with the any portion of the image B is equal to or more than the threshold value T(2).

Abstract: An image matching device capable of matching two images performs the following processes in order to shorten a processing time and reduce power consumption. Template matching is performed between a first image and a second image using a predetermined partial image of the first image, and the similarity between the two images is calculated. The similarity thus obtained is compared with a predetermined threshold. Only upon determination that the similarity obtained and the predetermined threshold neither coincide not fail to coincide with each other, the partial image used for template matching is gradually increased until the similarity and the predetermined threshold come to coincide or fail to coincide with each other. Then, template matching is performed again and the similarity between them is calculated.

Abstract: In an image collating apparatus, when images are input, a cumulative value of movement vectors obtained between input images is calculated, and fingerprint input and collating method (sensing method) are determined according to the cumulative value. According to a result of the determination, fingerprint data is obtained in either a sweep sensing method or an area sensing method. Calculation is performed to determine a similarity score between image data of the fingerprint obtained in one of the methods and a reference image data, and a result of the collation is provided. The result of the collation includes information relating to the employed collation method, and a target selected from a plurality of control targets is controlled according to the result of the collation.

Abstract: An image collating apparatus collating a set of snapshot images with another image different from the set of snapshot images is provided. The image collating apparatus includes a snapshot image relative positional relationship calculating part calculating relative positional relationship among the set of snapshot images Ak and similarity between the set of snapshot images Ak and an image B different from the set of snapshot images, and a collation determining part collating the set of snapshot images Ak with image B using the similarity to determine whether or not images Ak and image B match.