Abstract: The face recognition apparatus of the present invention comprises: a face recognizer; an image input section for receiving image data of a human face; a driver for changing at least one of a position and an angle of the image input section; a face direction detector for detecting the direction of the face in the image data; and a movement controller for controlling the driver based on the direction of the face detected by the face direction detector.

Abstract: A navigation device provided with an Internet communication means, a browser means for connecting to a specified home page according to a uniform resource locator (URL) and a memory for storing a data table of URLs of home pages established for respective objects existing in the area of a map displayed by the navigation device, which device reads a URL of a specified home-page from the memory and presents a content of the home page obtained by using the URL when the user directly designates the object or the position on a map shown on the display screen.

Abstract: There is provided an EEPROM semiconductor device including (a) a plurality of field insulating films each extending perpendicularly to word lines, (b) a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each memory cell having a floating gate, a control gate formed on the floating gate and doubling as a word line, and source and drain regions located at either sides of the control gate, (c) a common source line extending in parallel with the word lines and connecting source regions of the memory cells with each other, and (d) a first bit line extending perpendicularly to the word lines and connecting drain regions of the memory cells with each other. The above-mentioned EEPROM semiconductor device makes it possible to form CMOS logic circuit together with a non-volatile memory on a common semiconductor substrate without increasing fabrication steps, and also makes it possible for the non-volatile memory to write data thereinto and read data therefrom at a higher rate without an increase in a cell size.

Abstract: A road for guiding an automatically driven vehicle comprises a train of N-polarity magnetic nails arranged along a main path, and a train of S-polarity magnetic nails arranged on a branching path. An automatically driven motor vehicle, including magnetic sensors, runs and is automatically steered by detecting the magnetic nails. The vehicle can be precisely controlled to follow a desired running direction by detecting the presence of magnetic nails with the magnetic sensors. More specifically, at an upstream side of a branch point, when the desired direction is along a main path direction, a driving (steering control) mode of the vehicle is selected in which the magnetic sensors detect N-polarity magnetic nails. Similarly, when the desired direction of travel is along a path which branches off from the main path, a driving (steering control) mode is selected in which the magnetic sensors detect S-polarity magnetic nails.

Abstract: An automated vehicle for performing automated driving control while successively detecting magnetic fluxes caused by magnetic nails embedded in a cruising lane at predetermined intervals comprises a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetic fluxes caused by the magnetic nails, and sensor moving means for vertically moving the magnetic sensor in response to a change in a road clearance of the vehicle so as to keep a constant clearance between the magnetic sensor and each of the magnetic nails.This automated vehicle drives itself on a road in which magnetic nails are embedded, while detecting the magnetism (magnetic flux) of the magnetic nails.

Abstract: A motor vehicle is automatically steered to run along a running path on a road while detecting magnetic nails that are arranged on the road at spaced intervals along the running path. The motor vehicle has a pair of magnetic nail sensors on respective front and rear portions thereof for detecting lateral deviations of magnetic nails with respect to the motor vehicle at the respective front and rear portions thereof. The magnetic nail sensors are spaced from each other by a distance which is substantially an integral multiple of the interval between adjacent two of the magnetic nails. An azimuth deviation or a lateral deviation of the motor vehicle with respect to the running path is calculated based on lateral deviations of the magnetic nails which are detected substantially simultaneously by the magnetic nail sensors, respectively.

Abstract: An automatically driven motor vehicle is controlled to travel automatically along a predetermined running path on a road while successively detecting magnetic sources positioned along the running path with a sensor on the motor vehicle. A position of the motor vehicle on the running path is recognized based on detection of the magnetic sources with the magnetic sensor while the motor vehicle is running along the running path. A present position of the motor vehicle on the running path is estimated based on map information of the running path, which is stored on the motor vehicle, and positional information of the motor vehicle produced upon the detection of the magnetic sources before the sensor becomes unable to detect the magnetic sources, when the motor vehicle deviates from the running path and the sensor is unable to detect the magnetic sources.

Abstract: A vehicle current-position displaying device which is capable of stereoscopically displaying a road map for indicating thereon a current location of the vehicle with an increased reality of the mapped situations. The device searches and indicates a current position of the vehicle on a road map which is stereoscopically displayed on a stereo-display screen by projecting the map image consisting of a right-viewpoint image and a left-viewpoint image.

Abstract: A pressurized air supply apparatus includes an air intake section for sucking air from outside, a compressor which pressurizes and discharges the air sucked by the air intake section, a removing section for removing unnecessary components contained in the pressurized air discharged from the compressor, and a pressure adjusting section with a relief valve for discharging a part of the pressurized air free of unnecessary components for the removing section when the pressure of the pressurized air reaches a value higher than a predetermined value. An output section supplies the pressurized air pressure-adjusted by the pressure adjusting section to a load. An air recycling flow path mixes the pressurized air free of unnecessary components with air from outside. Thus, the apparatus receives the air free of the unnecessary components by air recycling to supply pressurized air of a high degree of cleanliness to the load and, at the same time, to eliminate the air discharge sound from the relief valve.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a CD-ROM for storing operational schedule data of transportation means operating along railroad, road and air routes contained in a map to be displayed on a screen of the system, and a display for reading the operational schedule data from the CD-ROM and displaying the read operational schedule data on the screen. By the addition of a few elements to a conventional navigation system, a navigation system with new functions and improved cost performance is obtained.

Abstract: A liquid sampling valve includes a fixed element having a contact surface and a movable element having a contact surface for contacting the contact surface of the fixed element; the fixed element or the movable element having measuring passageways extending to the contact surfaces, the measuring passageways having an opening for receiving and measuring a liquid sample incorporated into the opening; both the fixed element and the movable element being provided with a plurality of cleaning passageways, each having an opening at a location spaced apart from the central part of the contact surface, the location being different from the locations where the openings for the measuring passageways are provided. Movement of the movable element relative to the fixed element into a first state allows for a liquid sample to be filled into the measuring passageway, and movement into the second state allows for the liquid sample filled in the measuring passageway to be conveyed to out of the element.

Abstract: A multichannel radar system for use on a motor vehicle has a plurality of transmission and reception channels each composed of an AM or FM signal generator for generating an AM or FM signal including a carrier which is amplitude- or frequency-modulated by a modulation signal, transmission and reception antennas for radiating the generated AM signal and receiving a return signal reflected by an obstacle, an amplifier for amplifying the received return signal, and either a detector for detecting the amplified return signal or a mixer for mixing the amplified return signal with the FM signal generated by the FM signal generator thereby to generate a beat signal. A power supply circuit supplies DC voltages respectively to the AM or FM signal generators and the amplifiers of the respective transmission and reception channels in a time-division multiplex manner at successive times.

Abstract: A washing apparatus includes a pipet-outer-wall washing member embedding a through-hole in which a pipet is loosely inserted, a supply path for supplying washing solution to the through-hole, and a discharge path for discharging waste liquid from the through-hole. It further includes a pipet-interior washing device which connects to the pipet. A washing solution storage chamber is connected to the supply path in the pipet-outer-wall washing member and to the pipet-interior washing device and a suction device is connected to the discharge path of the washing member. The sucking device is used for sucking-up waste liquid which exits the through-hole at a side wall thereof. A waste liquid storage chamber is connected to the discharge path. Finally, a drive device causes at least one of the washing member and the pipet to move relative to the other to vary the relative position of the washing member versus the pipet to thereby allow for washing of the entire pipet.

Abstract: A liquid sampling valve includes a fixed element having a contact surface and a movable element having a contact surface for contacting the contact surface of the fixed element; the fixed element or the movable element having measuring passageways extending to the contact surfaces, the measuring passageways having an opening for receiving and measuring a liquid sample incorporated into the opening; both the fixed element and the movable element being provided with a plurality of cleaning passageways, each having an opening at a location spaced apart from the central part of the contact surface, the location being different from the locations where the openings for the measuring passageways are provided. Movement of the movable element relative to the fixed element into a first state allows for a liquid sample to be filled into the measuring passageway, and movement into the second state allows for the liquid sample filled in the measuring passageway to be conveyed to out of the element.