Abstract: An optical sensor includes a light-emitting element configured to project light that changes with time; a light-receiving element including a pn junction and configured to directly or indirectly receive the light projected by the light-emitting element; a measuring section configured to measure an electric current generated based on an amount of the light received by the light-receiving element; and a bias application section configured to apply a bias to the light-receiving element, wherein the bias application section, before measuring the electric current generated based on the amount of the light received, applies the bias to the light-receiving element to cause either a forward current that flows when the light-receiving element is turned ON or a breakdown current that flows when the pn junction breaks down to flow through the pn junction.

Abstract: An information terminal device (terminal) has a first radio communication unit capable of performing radio communication with low power consumption and a second radio communication unit performing data communication using a wireless LAN. In an ad-hoc mode in which data communication is performed between the terminals, as a rule, the second radio communication unit is set in a sleep mode. However, when actual data communication is necessary, an activation signal is transmitted to a terminal as a communication party by using the first radio communication unit to activate the second radio communication unit. After completion of data communication, a stop signal is transmitted to the terminal as the communication party by using the first radio communication unit to stop the second radio communication unit on the transmission side. In such a manner, transmission of a beacon signal from the second radio communication unit is suppressed, and proper power saving is realized.

Abstract: An information terminal device (terminal) has a first radio communication unit capable of performing radio communication with low power consumption and a second radio communication unit performing data communication using a wireless LAN. In an ad-hoc mode in which data communication is performed between the terminals, as a rule, the second radio communication unit is set in a sleep mode. However, when actual data communication is necessary, an activation signal is transmitted to a terminal as a communication party by using the first radio communication unit to activate the second radio communication unit. After completion of data communication, a stop signal is transmitted to the terminal as the communication party by using the first radio communication unit to stop the second radio communication unit on the transmission side. In such a manner, transmission of a beacon signal from the second radio communication unit is suppressed, and proper power saving is realized.

Abstract: A three-dimensional data generating apparatus of the present invention comprises an obtaining portion for obtaining plural image data representing images obtained by photographing an object from different viewpoints, the plural image data each representing respective one of the images; a first detector for detecting corresponding points of the images by a gradient method; a second detector for detecting corresponding points of the images by a correlation method; a selector for selecting either one of the first detector or the second detector; and a generator for generating three-dimensional image of the object based on the corresponding points detect by the selected detector. The present invention is capable of generating highly reliable three-dimensional data irrelevant to a type of an object.

Abstract: A data input apparatus having a multiple lens unit comprising an image input device for inputting two-dimensional images of a photographic subject from a plurality of mutually different viewpoint positions, a display device, and a display controller for displaying on the display device an overlay image formed by mutually superimposing a plurality of input two-dimensional images.

Abstract: A three-dimensional data generating apparatus of the present invention comprises an obtaining portion for obtaining plural image data representing images obtained by photographing an object from different viewpoints, the plural image data each representing respective one of the images; a first detector for detecting corresponding points of the images by a gradient method; a second detector for detecting corresponding points of the images by a correlation method; a selector for selecting either one of the first detector or the second detector; and a generator for generating three-dimensional image of the object based on the corresponding points detect by the selected detector. The present invention is capable of generating highly reliable three-dimensional data irrelevant to a type of an object.

Abstract: A first light receiving portion and a second light receiving portion are provided on the upper surface of a moving body having driving wheels at an interval of a prescribed distance in a plane. The first light receiving portion and the second light receiving portion rotate around the axis in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a first light emitting portion and a second light emitting portion are provided on the side face of a station serving as a reference station at an interval of a prescribed distance in a plane. The first and second light receiving portions carry out sampling while rotating, so that the quantity of light reception is changed according to the directivities of the first and second light receiving portions. When the peaks of the directivities of the first and second light receiving portions match the direction of the first light emitting portion or the second light emitting portion, the quantity of light reception is maximized.

Abstract: A cleaner comprises a driving unit which moves the cleaner, a cleaner unit which cleans an object to be cleaned, a sensor by which a degree of dirt on the object is detected, and a driving controller which controls the driving unit on the basis of the detected degree of dirt. The cleaner unit further comprises a controller which compares the degrees of dirt detected by the sensor before and after a cleaning operation.