Abstract: A biometric authentication apparatus for performing user authentication based on finger/palm print information representing a biological characteristic of fingerprint or palm print and vein information representing a biological characteristic of vein, comprises: a finger/palm print information acquirer arranged and adapted to obtain finger/palm print information from a selected portion of a person; a vein information acquirer arranged and adapted to obtain vein information from the selected portion of the person; a sensor arranged and adapted to come in contact with the selected portion of the person and to output a signal corresponding to a pressing degree of the selected portion of the person against the sensor; a controller arranged and adapted to identify, responsive to the signal output from the sensor, whether a state of the selected portion of the person is suitable for obtaining the finger/palm print information and the vein information and to control the finger/palm print information acquirer and

Abstract: A biometric authentication apparatus for performing user authentication based on finger/palm print information representing a biological characteristic of fingerprint or palm print and vein information representing a biological characteristic of vein, comprises: a finger/palm print information acquirer arranged and adapted to obtain finger/palm print information from a selected portion of a person; a vein information acquirer arranged and adapted to obtain vein information from the selected portion of the person; a sensor arranged and adapted to come in contact with the selected portion of the person and to output a signal corresponding to a pressing degree of the selected portion of the person against the sensor; a controller arranged and adapted to identify, responsive to the signal output from the sensor, whether a state of the selected portion of the person is suitable for obtaining the finger/palm print information and the vein information and to control the finger/palm print information acquirer and

Abstract: In a state where a rotary member has stopped at a position other than a neutral position, an actuating lever can be returned to the neutral position by an urging device, and retained in the neutral position, by shifting a switching member from a connecting state to a disconnecting state. When the rotary member which has been at the position other than the neutral position is returned to the neutral position, the switching member staying in the disconnecting state is shifted to the connecting state to establish a coupling between the rotary member and the actuating lever.

Abstract: A door lock apparatus has a handle switch (31), which is placed in the on condition when an actuator member for opening and closing a back door is operated, an open switch (16), which is placed in the on condition when the door is closed to within a prescribed closure range, a drive circuit, which is formed so as to drive a door lock disengaging motor (25) when both the handle switch (31) and the open switch (16) are in the on condition, and a self-holding circuit holding a condition in which the drive circuit is formed and, in response to the open switch going into to off condition, releasing the condition in which the drive circuit is formed.

Abstract: An output mechanism includes a closing lever adapted to rotate from a neutral position in two opening and closing directions when a motor is allowed to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise and to rotate a latch from a half-latched position to a full-latched position when rotating in the closing direction and having an engagement portion at a free end portion thereof, and an opening lever having an engagement arm adapted to rotate from a waiting position to an open position by the engagement portion when the closing lever rotates from the neutral position thereof in the opening direction and to allow the engagement portion to move idly after having reached the open position and an opening portion adapted to release the engagement of a locking plate with the latch by virtue of the rotation of the engagement arm. The motor, the opening lever and the closing lever are fixed to and secured pivotally to a base plate secured to a lock main body, respectively.

Abstract: In a state where a rotary member has stopped at a position other than a neutral position, an actuating lever can be returned to the neutral position by an urging device, and retained in the neutral position, by shifting a switching member from a connecting state to a disconnecting state. When the rotary member which has been at the position other than the neutral position is returned to the neutral position, the switching member staying in the disconnecting state is shifted to the connecting state to establish a coupling between the rotary member and the actuating lever.

Abstract: An output mechanism includes a closing lever adapted to rotate from a neutral position in two opening and closing directions when a motor is allowed to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise and to rotate a latch from a half-latched position to a full-latched position when rotating in the closing direction and having an engagement portion at a free end portion thereof, and an opening lever having an engagement arm adapted to rotate from a waiting position to an open position by the engagement portion when the closing lever rotates from the neutral position thereof in the opening direction and to allow the engagement portion to move idly after having reached the open position and an opening portion adapted to release the engagement of a locking plate with the latch by virtue of the rotation of the engagement arm. The motor, the opening lever and the closing lever are fixed to and secured pivotally to a base plate secured to a lock main body, respectively.

Abstract: A door lock apparatus has a handle switch (31), which is placed in the on condition when an actuator member for opening and closing a back door is operated, an open switch (16), which is placed in the on condition when the door is closed to within a prescribed closure range, a drive circuit, which is formed so as to drive a door lock disengaging motor (25) when both the handle switch (31) and the open switch (16) are in the on condition, and a self-holding circuit holding a condition in which the drive circuit is formed and, in response to the open switch going into to off condition, releasing the condition in which the drive circuit is formed.

Abstract: A locking device is constituted by: a casing; a cover fastened to the casing into a unit construction; a latch plate for latching a striker, the latch plate being rotatably supported by the casing and the cover; a locking plate being rotatably supported by the casing and the cover, the locking plate locking the latch plate in its turn, thereby to ensure the latching of the striker by the latch plate; locking-state removal means for removing the locking of the striker by the latch plate by turning the locking plate; and a striker pressing plate, rotatably supported by the cover, for pressing the striker against the latch plate in a state that the latch plate 16 is locked in its turn.

Abstract: A biasing structure for biasing a locking pawl-equipped operation rod in a given direction is described. A slit is formed in a rear end of the operation rod. A spring retainer is integrally provided by a bracket through which the operation rod is rotatably connected to a movable rail. The spring retainer includes a rearwardly projected portion whose one surface faces toward a rear end portion of the operation rod and a recess which is formed in a base part of the projected portion and faces toward the rear end portion of the operation rod. A coil spring includes a multi-turned major portion, a front straight portion tangentially extending from a front end of the major portion and a rear straight portion extending radially inward from a rear end of the major portion.

Abstract: A rail unit comprises a fixed rail, a movable rail slidably engaged with the fixed rail and a locking mechanism for locking the movable rail relative to the fixed rail. In order to increase a mechanical strength of a given part of lower flanges of the movable rail where locking openings for the locking mechanism are formed, the given part is integrally formed at an upper end thereof with a raised portion, or the lower flanges of the movable rail are formed at mutually mating portions with depressed portions. When the movable rail and the fixed rail are subjected to a mutually pulled apart movement upon a vehicle collision of the like, the raised portion or the depression portions are brought into abutment with an inner surface of the fixed rail to suppress or at least minimize deformation of the rail unit.

Abstract: A lock device has a striker and a lock proper. The lock proper includes a base member having a striker receiving slot into which the striker can be led. A latch plate is pivotally connected to the base member. A locking plate is pivotally connected to the base member. A striker restraining member is pivotally connected through a pivot shaft to the base member. The striker restraining member is pivotal between a restraining position, where a contact edge thereof abuts against the striker, and a releasing position, where the contact edge disengages from the striker. Springs are employed for biasing the latch plate to pivot toward a stand-by position, biasing the locking plate to pivot toward a lock position, and biasing the striker restraining member to pivot toward the restraining position. A link mechanism is employed for causing the striker restraining member to take the restraining position when the latch plate and the locking plate take latching and lock positions respectively.