Abstract: In accordance with input user ID, a personal template fetcher reads biometric feature data and biometric shape data from a template storage. A verification area finder determines a verification area that matches a detection area of a verification sensor within an area of biometric features. A guide information generator combines the verification area with a contour shape reconstructed from the biometric shape data, received from the personal template fetcher, to generate a guide pattern. A guide information presenter presents the generated guide pattern to the user. A verification sensor extracts biometric feature information from an input image of biometric features and converts it into numeric data to obtain biometric feature data. A biometric feature verifier then verifies the biometric feature data obtained by the verification sensor in comparison with the biometric feature data received from the personal template fetcher in the verification area received from the verification area finder.

Abstract: A biometric authentication device includes a photographing unit configured to photograph a biological body and acquire biological body information; an authentication unit configured to match registered biological body information that is registered in advance with the biological body information and perform authentication; a posture determination unit configured to determine steadiness of a posture of the biological body based on history of posture information relevant to the posture of the biological body when photographed; and an update determination unit configured to determine to update the registered biological body information when the posture determination unit determines that the posture of the biological body is steady.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first image acquisition section that acquires a first image of an object at illumination-off time, a second image acquisition section that acquires a second image of the object at illumination-on time, a difference image generation section that generates a difference image based on a difference between luminance of each of pixels constituting the first image and luminance of each of pixels constituting the second image, a high-luminance area extraction section that extracts an image area constituted by pixels having a luminance value which is equal to or more than a predetermined luminance value from the difference image, and a movement determination section that determines a movement amount of the object between image take timing of the first image and image take timing of the second image based on the image area.

Abstract: A biometric authentication device includes: a biometric information acquisition unit which generates a first input biometric image representing the biometric information of a user, a storage unit which stores data relating to registered biometric information of at least one registered user, and a processing unit. The processing unit realizes a quality judgment function which judges if the first input biometric image is suitable or not for use for comparison of the biometric information represented in the first input biometric image with the registered biometric information, a selection function which selects registered biometric information which is similar to biometric information represented in the first input biometric image among registered biometric information when the first input biometric image is judged unsuitable, and a matching process function which compares the user's biometric information represented in a second input biometric image with the selected registered biometric information.

Abstract: An image pickup unit that does not have a movable system and is fixed at one point picks up an image. A subject region extraction unit detects a subject in the image, extracts a region of the subject, and generates a region extraction image. A region extraction image storage unit holds a plurality of recent region extraction images. Then, a stain level calculation unit compares the held region extraction images for each pixel, and increases a value of the stain level of a pixel when it is highly probable that a stain is present on the pixel, and vise versa. The subject region extraction and the stain level calculation are performed each time an image is picked up, and the value is updated. A stain determination unit outputs whether or not a stain is present and the degree that the stain is present on the basis of the value.

Abstract: A biometric authentication device is provided with an input section for inputting identification information relative to a user, an imaging section which captures images of a hand of the user a plurality of times; a matching section which extracts vein information from each image of the hand captured by the imaging section and collates the vein information with prepared vein data corresponding to the identification information; a judgment data generation section which obtains data for judgment indicating whether the image of the hand is obtained by capturing the images of a living body, on the basis of the image of the hand; and a judgment section which authenticates the user when the result of the matching by the matching section relative to each image of the hand indicates normality and the data for judgment indicates that the image of the hand is obtained by imaging the living body, but which otherwise does not authentication the user.

Abstract: A disclosed capture device for biometrics authentication using an image of a person's palm includes an image sensor capturing the person's palm and acquiring an image of the person's palm and a guide member supporting the person's palm when the person's palm is captured by the image sensor. Further, the guide member has a V-shaped-type groove in which a finger of the person's palm is to be inserted.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus causes an illuminating unit and an imaging unit to equally split a predetermined exposure time into a plurality of split exposure times, and acquire an image with illumination and an image without illumination in each of the split exposure time. A luminance difference image for a particular split exposure time is calculated by subtracting the image without illumination from the image with illumination of the exposure time. The luminance difference images of all the split exposure times are integrated.

Abstract: A passage authorization system includes a plurality of gate management apparatuses that are individually provided with authentication sensors for acquiring biometric data from a presented hand and form paths, an authentication unit configured to output a result of authentication comparison performed with the biometric data acquired by each of the authentication sensors and a hand determination result of determining whether the biometric data is data of a left hand or a right hand, and a control unit configured to control opening/closing of a gate corresponding to the hand determination result on the basis of the result of authentication comparison.

Abstract: The image obtaining apparatus realizes a function of detecting the distance, tilt, and/or attitude of an object, irrespective of the distance between the image obtaining apparatus and the object, while reducing the size and the cost of the apparatus. The apparatus includes: an image obtaining camera which obtains an image of an object; a light projecting unit which projects each spotlight parallel or approximately parallel to the optical axis of the image obtaining camera onto the object; a detecting unit which detects the distance between the image obtaining camera and the object based on the position of the spotlight, projected by the light projecting unit, on the object image obtained by the image obtaining camera.

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 method of authenticating a user includes storing a reference biometric data of the user, performing initial authentication by obtaining biometric data of the user and comparing the obtained biometric data with the reference biometric data, storing the obtained biometric data upon successful initial authentication, performing second and subsequent authentication by obtaining biometric data of the user and comparing instantaneously obtained biometric data with the reference biometric data and the stored obtained biometric data, and updating the stored obtained biometric data each time the second or the subsequent authentication is successful.

Abstract: An apparatus for authenticating a user includes a detector for determining a state or a position of a bodily part placed by the user for biometric authentication, a unit capable of obtaining biometric data from different portion of the bodily part, a plurality of biometric authentication engines capable of authenticating the user by using one of a plurality of authentication algorisms by comparing the biometric data with reference data, respectively, and a controller for selecting one of the different portions of the bodily part so as to select associated biometric data, and determining one of the biometric authentication engines for authenticating the user on the basis of the state or the position of the bodily part placed.

Abstract: A photographing section photographs a photographing object, a light-projector projects a light spot parallel to or approximately parallel to an optical axis of the photographing section onto the photographing object, and a detector detects, from an image of the photographing object photographed by the photographing section, a light spot from the light-projector reflected by the photographing object on the basis of an arrangement position of the light-projector relative to the photographing section. A reflected light spot of light projected onto a detection object can be detected with certainty, and erroneous detection of the reflected light spot, in particular, erroneous detection due to disturbance light, can be prevented at a low cost, without an increase in size of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image taking device includes: a subject detection section that determines whether a biometric portion that can be used for biometric authentication of a subject is included in the image taking range of the camera; and a controller that handles the taken image as the authentication image when receiving an authentication image acquisition instruction and performs processing, in the case where there has not issued the authentication image acquisition instruction, such that when it is determined by the subject detection section that a biometric portion is not included in the image taking range of the camera, the controller uses the taken image as the monitoring image and when it is determined by the subject detection section that a biometric portion is included in the image taking range of the camera, the controller stops image taking operation of the camera.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first image acquisition section that acquires a first image of an object at illumination-off time, a second image acquisition section that acquires a second image of the object at illumination-on time, a difference image generation section that generates a difference image based on a difference between luminance of each of pixels constituting the first image and luminance of each of pixels constituting the second image, a high-luminance area extraction section that extracts an image area constituted by pixels having a luminance value which is equal to or more than a predetermined luminance value from the difference image, and a movement determination section that determines a movement amount of the object between image take timing of the first image and image take timing of the second image based on the image area.

Abstract: Disclosed is an authentication apparatus easily achieving convenience and high accuracy in authentication. The authentication apparatus has an authentication accuracy simulation section that simulates authentication accuracy and also has a registration information setting section that sets an ID and biometric information input as registration information. The authentication accuracy simulation section uses an ID and biometric information that has been input as registration information by a user at the time of registration and the registered registration information to simulate authentication accuracy with which the user is authenticated. When the authentication accuracy simulated by the authentication accuracy simulation section does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the registration information setting section rejects registration of the ID input as the registration information.

Abstract: In accordance with input user ID, a personal template fetcher reads biometric feature data and biometric shape data from a template storage. A verification area finder determines a verification area that matches a detection area of a verification sensor within an area of biometric features. A guide information generator combines the verification area with a contour shape reconstructed from the biometric shape data, received from the personal template fetcher, to generate a guide pattern. A guide information presenter presents the generated guide pattern to the user. A verification sensor extracts biometric feature information from an input image of biometric features and converts it into numeric data to obtain biometric feature data. A biometric feature verifier then verifies the biometric feature data obtained by the verification sensor in comparison with the biometric feature data received from the personal template fetcher in the verification area received from the verification area finder.

Abstract: A blood vessel imaging device obtains peak height information of a differential function F?(x) from an adjustment dial. The blood vessel imaging device, based on the peak height information and peak position information of the differential function F?(x), then defines the differential function F?(x). Subsequently, the blood vessel imaging device calculates an LUT function F(x) that indicates the shape of an LUT by integrating the defined differential function F?(x). The blood vessel imaging device generates an LUT based on the LUT function F(x). The blood vessel imaging device reads out a picked-up image stored in a picked-up image memory, converts a luminance value of the picked-up image being read using the LUT, and displays the image with the converted luminance value.

Abstract: A personal identification system includes a user database and a knowledge database. The user database stores personal data of a user. The knowledge database stores knowledge data relating to the personal data stored in the user database. The personal identification system generates a query on the basis of the knowledge data stored in the knowledge database, issues the generated query, and screens candidates for identification in accordance with an answer to the query.