Abstract: In order to transfer at a high speed a large amount of data, such as data of a moving image, an image pickup system having an image pickup apparatus is arranged to convert an object image inputted through an optical system into an electrical signal, to convert the electrical signal into a digital signal by an A/D conversion part, to obtain from the digital signal a video signal in a predetermined form by a video signal generating part, to convert a color space of the video signal by a color space converting part in such a way as to compress the video signal according to a look-up table held within the color space converting part, and to transfer the compressed video signal to an external personal computer through an interface part.

Abstract: A moving picture transmission system includes a transmission apparatus and a reception apparatus. The transmission apparatus transmits a maximum number of pieces of information obtained by hierarchically coding moving picture information in accordance with degrees of importance in terms of image quality within a moving picture frame period in the order of decreasing degrees of importance. The reception apparatus reproduces a moving picture frame in accordance with only hierarchically coded information received at a moving picture frame period. A moving picture transmission apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of compressing and expanding a video signal. The apparatus includes a variable length coder controller and a quantizer. The coder controller compares a bit amount generated in the use of an optimum symbol with that in the use of an existing symbol upon detection of a scene change and outputs a new symbol upon the presence of a gain in accordance with the compared result. A frame delay delays input image data in a unit frame, a subtracter for subtracting an output signal of the frame delay from the input image data, and a scene change detector for detecting a scene change of the input image data. A motion detector detects a motion in the input image data, a main codebook for forming variable sub-codebooks for a still picture, a codebook controller for selecting a specified portion of the main codebook and variable sub-codebooks, and a vector formation unit for forming the input image data into a vector.

Abstract: A video decoding and display system uses temporal post-processing to smooth motion in a displayed moving image. The temporal post-processing uses motion vectors each of which indicates visually similar areas in first and second frames to generate interpolated motion vectors which match areas in an interpolated frame to visually similar areas in the first and second frames. In one embodiment, each component of each motion vector is divided by two and used to generate an interpolated frame half way between the first and second frames. Display of the first and second frames are delayed so that the interpolated frame is displayed at a time half way between the display times of the first and second frames.

Abstract: In a CRT display and a television set having the same, horizontal/vertical synchronizing signals are separated from a video synchronizing signal in a synchronizing separation circuit, and position information S of a vertical frame is generated on the basis of the horizontal/vertical synchronizing signals in a count-down processor and then converted to corrected vertical frame information W in a function circuit to output a vertical deflection waveform signal and a horizontal deflection correcting waveform signal. Further, the corrected vertical frame information W is compared with predetermined voltages in comparators to detect an effective frame range in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A door mountable security system including a first fiber optic image conduit, a video camera having a lens visually coupled to one end of the fiber optic image conduit and a first video output; a miniature video recorder operable from a battery power source, the miniature video recorder having a video input in connection with the video output of the video camera and an electrically activated record control input; a battery pack in power supply connection with the miniature video recorder and having sufficient power output to power the miniature video recorder; a motion detecting device including a pendulum switch having an electrically conductive plumb-bob pendulum contact and an electrically conductive metal ring contact; and a timer output device having a timed control output in electrical connection with the electrically activated record control input of the miniature video recorder and an electrical control input in electrical connection with the pendulum switch in a manner such that electrical contact be

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, a method and apparatus for allocating channels makes signal quality measurements for channels that are in use or available for use and for channels that may become available for use. Already selected channels (i.e., channels in use or available for use) that exhibit poor signal quality characteristics are exchanged with candidate channels (i.e., channels that may become available for use) that exhibit better signal quality characteristics to thereby improve the overall signal quality of the network.

Abstract: A communication system (100) employs a method and apparatus for providing communication service to communication units (207-213) located within a common carrier transportation device (115). A stationary system controller (101) allocates a first set of communication resources (e.g., 140-149) to a mobile system controller (200) located at the common carrier transportation device (115). The first set of communication resources (140-149) are a subset of the communication resources assigned to a first stationary base site (109) of multiple stationary base sites (102-112) controlled by the stationary controller (101). The mobile controller (200) maps the first set (140-149) to a second set of communication resources (220-229) for use within the common carrier transportation device (115). The second set (220-229) is distinct from the first set (140-149) and is preferably selected to not interfere substantially with communication resources assigned to the stationary base sites (102-112).

Abstract: A control status monitor/decision unit is added to a transmission power control apparatus which determines a transmission power level of a transmission signal to be output from an antenna via a transmission system and controls the same by referring to a received signal from the antenna obtained via a reception system. The unit monitors the control status in the control apparatus and performs the control of the optimum transmission power level according to this control status. By this, a further higher channel quality than that of the conventional apparatus can be maintained.

Abstract: A video endoscope system including a light guide for transmitting light emitted from a light source to illuminate an observation field of an endoscope, and a device for controlling the luminous flux of light supplied to the light guide from the light source. A solid-state imaging device forms an image of the observation field, and a processor processes an image signal output from the solid-state imaging device. In addition, a color tone correcting device divides the image to be processed by the processor into a plurality of regions and makes color tone correction with respect to each of the regions according to the control condition of the luminous flux control device.

Abstract: A moving picture coding and/or decoding system includes a encoder for coding input image data, a divider for dividing a code string supplied from the encoder, into a plurality of code string, a reorderer for arranging at least one of the plurality of code string in the forward direction from the head to the end, and at least one of the other code string in the backward direction from the head to the end. A variable-length coding system includes a code-word table for storing a plurality of code words so that the code words correspond to source symbols, and an encoder for selecting a code word corresponding to the source symbol inputted from the code-word table and for outputting the selected code word as coded data. The plurality of code words can be decoded in either of the forward and backward directions.

Abstract: A pair of cameras are mounted on a base member for monitoring an electronic equipment on a printed circuit board. A pair of first mirrors are provided for reflecting light from the electronic equipment in a first reflection direction which corresponds to an X-axis on the electronic equipment, and a pair of second mirrors are mounted for reflecting the light reflected on the first mirrors in a second reflection direction which is different from the first reflection direction and corresponds to a Y-axis. The base member is moved in two directions corresponding to the X- and Y-axis.

Abstract: An interphone with television includes a terminal device having a wide-angle image input camera, an image output circuit, and a master device for receiving an image signal from the image output circuit. The master device converts the image to a digital format and stores the image signal in an image memory. The image may be panned, magnified, and corrected using digital processing techniques. The contents of the image memory are converted to an analogue signal for reproduction on a monitor.

Abstract: A machine vision system and method of enhancing the imaging of an article which is comprised of optically translucent or semi-transparent material. Generally, the system includes a vision processor, a video camera, a computer, and an illuminator. The illuminator directs light, in a three dimensional space, at a surface of the material other than a surface to be imaged. The light which enters the translucent material is scattered isotropically within the material and emerges from the surface to be imaged, in effect illuminating the material. The illumination enhances contrast, that can be typically achieved with conventional lighting, between the material and its background or adjoining components permitting the machine vision system to clearly image and detect features of the article.

Abstract: Back-vision system for vehicles which comprises a microcamera (6) with its corresponding control unit (13) and power-supply source, a housing for the microcamera (6), formed by an external casing (1) and an internal box (2) joined to the external casing (1) and in communication with it, into which the microcamera (6) is introduced, the objective of which microcamera is focused towards the outside through an opening in the external casing (1), and a monitor (21) on which the images picked up by the microcamera (6) can be seen. By placing a microcamera (6) in its corresponding housing in a suitable manner on one of the sides of the vehicle and, optionally one microcamera and its housing on each side, improved back-vision is obtained.

Abstract: Detailed images of problem areas occurring in the surface of a structure, such as a multiple story building, are obtained by infrared and visual spectrum cameras positioned proximate to the problem area. A remote camera records a reference field of view that includes the local cameras and their operator, such that the area of interest may be positioned on the surface of the building. A helmet camera worn by the operator records the detailed images and transmits them to a base location.

Abstract: Three-dimensional color images are produced by combining the red image plane from a left color camera and the blue and green image planes from a right color camera. Techniques for compensating for over or underexposure in a particular image plane are deployed as well as techniques for minimizing subjective disturbance when viewing relatively pure color regions of a 3-dimensional image and for transmission of 3-dimensional color television images to users.

Abstract: A motion detector and a motion area detector detect shifts of areas at which motions exist by using signals of fields before and after the field to be detected. According to shifts of the detected areas, an initial vector closest to the true motion is selected among prospective initial vectors produced at an initial vector selector or an initial vector detector by a block matching method, thereby reducing detection errors in motion vectors occurring at a time of the detection of motion vectors, and thereby improving accuracy of motion vectors, so that image distortions would be reduced in an interpolating process.

Abstract: A random access memory of a digital video decompression processor is mapped to enable the reconstruction of successive video frames of pixel data represented by a compressed video bitstream. A FIFO buffer is provided in the RAM for the compressed video bitstream. A first luminance anchor frame buffer and a first chrominance anchor frame buffer are provided for storing a full frame of luminance data and a full frame of chrominance data for a first anchor frame used to predict B-frames. A second luminance anchor frame buffer and second chrominance anchor frame buffer are provided for storing a full frame of luminance data and a full frame of chrominance data for a second anchor frame used to predict the B-frames. A first B-frame luminance buffer is provided in the RAM and sized to store less than 100% of the amount of luminance data in a first B-frame field. A second B-frame luminance buffer is provided in the RAM and sized to store at least 100% of the amount of luminance data in a second B-frame field.

Abstract: A hierarchial search for moving image encoding determines a motion vector by comparing a target block to sets of blocks selected according to the results of previous comparisons. Typically, each set of blocks includes a central block and four blocks offset on x and y axes. Blocks most similar to the target block provide co-ordinates of a center block in a next stage of the search. The hierarchial search searches regions indicated by previous comparisons to be similar to the target block and thereby reduces the number of comparisons and the search time required to find a motion vector. A motion estimation circuit for the hierarchial search includes: five processing elements which compare the target block to five blocks; a first memory that asserts a target block pixel value to the processing elements; a second memory that asserts five search window pixel values to the processing elements.