Abstract: An apparatus for extracting image data of an object in an input image data. The apparatus includes a display device having a display screen for displaying a plurality of predetermined images; a display controller for controlling the display device to display one of the predetermined images; an imaging device for taking an image of an object placed before the display screen in order to generate an input image data; a controller for controlling the imaging device to take an image of the object and the display screen when the display device displays one of the predetermined images in cooperation with the display controller; and an extractor for extracting image data of the object by comparing the input image data generated by imaging device with data of the one of the plurality of the predetermined images.

Abstract: An authentication apparatus includes a registration unit that registers authentication information representing a check target, a first authentication unit that authenticates the check target at the entrance of the check target to a first area, a second authentication unit that authenticates the check target at the entrance of the check target to a second area after being authenticated by the first authentication unit, and a detector that detects a check target present in a detection area and expected to be authenticated by the second authentication unit. The second authentication unit retrieves, from the registration unit, registration information of the check target detected by the detector, and authenticates the check target authenticated by the first authentication unit using the registration information.

Abstract: A sensor diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing a sensor includes a moving object counter, a reference value storage, and a comparator. The moving object counter counts, in accordance with identification data acquired by a plurality of sensors in a predefined time period, a local number of moving objects moving between a sensing area of a first sensor and a sensing area of a second sensor near the first sensor. The reference value storage stores a preset reference value for the first sensor and the second sensor. The comparator compares a value derived from the local number of moving objects counted by the moving object counter with the preset reference value stored in the reference value storage to determine the first sensor to be in trouble when a difference between the value derived from the local number of moving objects and the preset reference value exceeds a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A focus adjusting apparatus adjusts a focus of a camera imaging a moving object. The apparatus includes a calculating unit that calculates a first out-of-focus level of a portion corresponding to the moving object within a first region of an image picked up by the camera, and calculates a second out-of-focus level of a portion corresponding to the moving object within a second region of an image; and a focus adjusting unit that shifts the focus of the camera in a direction in which the camera is focused onto the portion corresponding to the moving object within the first region when the first out-of-focus level is larger than the second out-of-focus level, and that shifts the focus in a direction in which the camera is focused onto the portion corresponding to the moving object within the second region when the second out-of-focus level is larger than the first out-of-focus level.

Abstract: An illumination controller for controlling an illumination device that irradiates an object to be photographed with illumination light. The illumination controller includes an introducing unit that introduces ambient light emitted to the object from a light source other than the illumination device; a processing unit that processes the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to have a same characteristic as that of the illumination light; and an irradiation controlling unit that controls the ambient light processed by the processing unit so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination, from a same path as the irradiation path of the illumination light.

Abstract: An authentication apparatus includes a registration unit that registers authentication information representing a check target, a first authentication unit that authenticates the check target at the entrance of the check target to a first area, a second authentication unit that authenticates the check target at the entrance of the check target to a second area after being authenticated by the first authentication unit, and a detector that detects a check target present in a detection area and expected to be authenticated by the second authentication unit. The second authentication unit retrieves, from the registration unit, registration information of the check target detected by the detector, and authenticates the check target authenticated by the first authentication unit using the registration information.

Abstract: An image monitor apparatus includes a recognition process section that recognizes a process area in an original image which is inputted, a display image process section that generates and outputs an image for display by subjecting a process for display according to a user to the process area recognized by the recognition process section in the original image, a cut image record section that records an image of a partial area of the original image, the image cut from the original image, and further includes a record image process section that cuts the process area recognized by the recognition process section from the original image and causes the cut image record section to record an image in the process area of the original image, and generates and outputs an image for record by subjecting a process for record to the process area recognized by the recognition process section.

Abstract: A security system to give a user in a specific area use authority based on authentication, and to permit use of the specific area by the use authority. The security system includes an authentication unit to authenticate a user, a position detection unit to detect at least one of a position and move of a user, and a use authority control unit to monitor at least one of a position and move of a user to whom the use authority is given based on the authentication of the authentication unit by a detection output of the position detection unit, and, if a distance between users is equal to or below a predetermined value, to change the use authority which is given to each user.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting image data of an object in an input image data. The apparatus includes a display device having a display screen for displaying a plurality of predetermined images; a display controller for controlling the display device to display one of the predetermined images; an imaging device for taking an image of an object placed before the display screen in order to generate an input image data; a controller for controlling the imaging device to take an image of the object and the display screen when the display device displays one of the predetermined images in cooperation with the display controller; and an extractor for extracting image data of the object by comparing the input image data generated by imaging device with data of the one of the plurality of the predetermined images.

Abstract: A focus adjusting apparatus adjusts a focus of a camera imaging a moving object. The apparatus includes a calculating unit that calculates a first out-of-focus level of a portion corresponding to the moving object within a first region of an image picked up by the camera, and calculates a second out-of-focus level of a portion corresponding to the moving object within a second region of an image; and a focus adjusting unit that shifts the focus of the camera in a direction in which the camera is focused onto the portion corresponding to the moving object within the first region when the first out-of-focus level is larger than the second out-of-focus level, and that shifts the focus in a direction in which the camera is focused onto the portion corresponding to the moving object within the second region when the second out-of-focus level is larger than the first out-of-focus level.

Abstract: An illumination controller for controlling an illumination device that irradiates an object to be photographed with illumination light. The illumination controller includes an introducing unit that introduces ambient light emitted to the object from a light source other than the illumination device; a processing unit that processes the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to have a same characteristic as that of the illumination light; and an irradiation controlling unit that controls the ambient light processed by the processing unit so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination, from a same path as the irradiation path of the illumination light.

Abstract: A sensor diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing a sensor includes a moving object counter, a reference value storage, and a comparator. The moving object counter counts, in accordance with identification data acquired by a plurality of sensors in a predefined time period, a local number of moving objects moving between a sensing area of a first sensor and a sensing area of a second sensor near the first sensor. The reference value storage stores a preset reference value for the first sensor and the second sensor. The comparator compares a value derived from the local number of moving objects counted by the moving object counter with the preset reference value stored in the reference value storage to determine the first sensor to be in trouble when a difference between the value derived from the local number of moving objects and the preset reference value exceeds a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device has a high-resolution pixel array consisting of a plurality of photo-receptive elements disposed at a high density. A low-resolution whole picture scanning unit outputs low-resolution whole picture data by reading out and scanning the wholeness with the resolution of the pixel array lowered. A high-resolution partial picture scanning unit outputs high-resolution partial picture data by partial readout and scanning with high-resolution of the pixel array kept. A switching unit provides a switching between the low-resolution whole picture scanning unit and the high-resolution partial picture scanning unit within a frame period to thereby output in sequence the low-resolution whole picture data and the high-resolution partial image data at a speed equal to or greater than the video rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for delivering images, a program for delivering images, and a method for delivering images, which can deliver images according to the monitoring state for the images. There is provided a system for delivering images to at least one monitor, which includes an image receiving unit that takes in at least one image to be displayed on the monitors, a state receiving unit that takes in the monitoring state of the respective monitors, and a delivery unit that selects destination monitors from among the monitors based on the monitoring state taken in by the state receiving unit, and selects delivery images which are images to be delivered to the respective destination monitors from among images taken in by the image receiving unit, and delivers the delivery images to the corresponding destination monitors.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method allow the viewer to recognize the colors and the reflection characteristics of the picked up image and makes the picked up image satisfactory for monitoring purposes. Visible light is emitted to illuminate a shooting range and, when picking up an image of the range, visible light is made to flicker at a predetermined intensity of light and a frequency higher than a predetermined frequency level in order to pick up an image of the range illuminated by visible light.

Abstract: Light from an object to be picked up as condensed by a condensing lens system is made incident to be separated into two directions by a spectroscope, wherein an overall image of the object to be picked up, obtained by forming one of the separated light on a primary area pickup element through a primary image-forming lens system of an overall image pickup unit, is picked up for outputting an overall image signal. Simultaneously therewith, a part of the object to be picked up obtained by forming the other light as separated by the spectroscope on a secondary area pickup element, which is of similarly low resolution as the primary area pickup element, through a secondary image-forming lens system of a detailed image pickup unit is picked up for outputting a detailed image signal of high resolution.

Abstract: For automatically detecting a moving object in an input image taken using a monitor camera or the like, an apparatus includes an input image extracting section, an input image retaining section, a background image retaining section, a background difference calculating section, a moving direction recognizing section, and a united judging section. A movement of an object is detected with precision even in an environment where illumination varies, irrespective of the relative position of a ridge line of the object and a border of unit blocks. And only the moving object can be detected stably even when the camera encounters swing, vibration, etc.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device has a high-resolution pixel array consisting of a plurality of photo-receptive elements disposed at a high density. A low-resolution whole picture scanning unit outputs low-resolution whole picture data by reading out and scanning the wholeness with the resolution of the pixel array lowered. A high-resolution partial picture scanning unit outputs high-resolution partial picture data by partial readout and scanning with high-resolution of the pixel array kept. A switching unit provides a switching between the low-resolution whole picture scanning unit and the high-resolution partial picture scanning unit within a frame period to thereby output in sequence the low-resolution whole picture data and the high-resolution partial image data at a speed equal to or greater than the video rate.

Abstract: An image extraction method picks up an image of an object positioned in front of a background using wavelengths in a visible light region, picks up an image of the object positioned in front of the background using wavelengths in an infrared region, and extracts only the object based on the picked up images. At least a surface of the background is formed by an organic dye.

Abstract: A fire detection device luminance data over a time period longer than a repetition period of movement of a flame, to generate resampled data, and a device that calculates an average value of N (natural number equal to or larger than 2) items of the resampled data, and determines that the input image is an image of a flame, by comparing a count of sampled data items larger than the average value, or a count of sampled data items smaller than the average value, with a predetermined value.