The invnetion provides an image recognition method, an image recognition apparatus and an image input/output apparatus. This method can ensure proper contact of a detection target with the display surface or determination of proximity of a detection target thereof without being influenced by the use environment and/or the internal configuration. An image recognition method includes: a first step of acquiring n-th received light data at light receiving elements arranged in a matrix form on a light receiving surface; a second step of acquiring (n+1)-th received light data at the light receivingelements; a third step of calculating differential data resulting from subtraction of the n-th received light data acquired from the (n+1)-th received light data acquired; and a fourth step of carrying out image recognition based on the differential data.