Abstract: A plug-in module for a video probe has a housing which contains video processing circuitry to receive a video output from a miniature video imager and produces a video signal suitable to apply, without further processing, to a video monitor. The module plugs into a mating socket of a power and illumination unit. A fiber optic bundle extends into a sleeve protruding from a proximal face of the module, and is positioned at the focus of a small, high efficacy lamp assembly. The housing of the plug-in module environmentally seals the electronic circuitry.

Abstract: A digital picture manipulator processes a video image signal according to a transform function and outputs both a transformed vide image signal and a transform function information signal. A compressed video encoder uses the transform function information signal in simplifying its search algorithms to generate motion vectors to compress the transformed video image signal to produce a compressed video image signal which includes the generated motion vectors. The compressed video image signal may be transmitted to a receiver, where it is decoded using the motion vectors and displayed. The compressed video image signal also may be subsequently decoded for processing by a subsequent digital picture manipulator. The motion vectors used by the decoder together with the transform function information signal from the subsequent digital picture manipulator are combined in a buffer/motion estimator to produce a modified transform function information signal for a subsequent compressed video encoder.

Abstract: Image data of four frames are stored in four memories and the image data from the four memories are sequentially transmitted, whereby still picture image data having a resolution twice the resolution of a common intermediate format (CIF) image based on the video CODEC recommendation H.261 can be transmitted.

Abstract: A contour encoding apparatus determines vertex points on the previous contour of the previous frame based on a polygonal approximation. A set of first approximation errors is calculated at a predetermined number of sample points on each first line segment between two vertex points, and a first set of discrete sine transform coefficients is obtained by discrete sine transforming the set of first approximation errors for each first line segment. Predicted vertex points are detected based on the vertex information and current contour of the current frame. A set of second approximation errors is calculated at the predetermined number of sample points on each second line segment between two predicted vertex points, and a second set of discrete sine transform coefficients is obtained by discrete sine transforming the set of second approximation errors for each second line segment.

Abstract: A crossing network that matches buy and sell orders based upon a satisfaction and quantity profile is disclosed. The crossing network includes a number of trader terminals that can be used for entering orders. The orders are entered in the form of a satisfaction density profile that represents a degree of satisfaction to trade a particular instrument at various (price, quantity) combinations. Typically, each order is either a buy order or a sell order. The trader terminals are coupled to a matching controller computer. The matching controller computer can receive as input the satisfaction density profiles entered at each one of the trading terminals. The matching controller computer matches orders (as represented by each trader's satisfaction density profile) so that each trader is assured that the overall outcome of the process (in terms of average price and size of fill) has maximized the mutual satisfaction of all traders. Typically, the matching process is anonymous.

Abstract: In a video coding/decoding system, a high-resolution reference image having pixels in closer relation is produced by applying the interpolating operation of a luminance value to a reference image. In the matching process for motion estimation, when the luminance value of a point lacking a pixel in the reference image becomes required, the luminance value of a pixel at a point nearest to the high-resolution reference image is approximated without computing the interpolation. As a result, the number of times the interpolation of the luminance value is computed can be reduced, thereby reducing the circuit scale or the processing time. Also, the horizontal and vertical components of the motion vector of each pixel used for synthesizing a predicted image are defined to assume only a value equal to an integer multiple of 1/d1 and 1/d2 (d1 and d2 being positive integers) of the distance between adjacent pixels.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image displaying apparatus includes: field switching signal generating unit for generating a field switching signal alternately indicating odd field periods and even field periods from an original picture signal; delaying unit for delaying the original picture signal and producing a delayed picture signal; stereoscopic image signal generating unit for alternately selecting one of the original picture signal and the delayed picture signal in accordance with the field switching signal to generate a stereoscopic image signal; and display unit for displaying the stereoscopic image signal by alternately supplying pictures of the original picture signal to one eye of a user and pictures of the delayed picture signal to the other eye of the user on the basis of the field switching signal.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and transmitting audio and/or video data, a high efficiency coding apparatus digitalizes input signals on the basis of a lesser amount of data by use of transform coding. In the transform coding of audio and/or video signals, a plurality of quantizers slightly different from each other for transform coefficients are provided. The quantized results are inversely transformed by IDCTs to obtain respective reproduced signals. The obtained reproduced signals are compared with input signals by subtracters for error evaluation. The optimum quantization results are selected by a code selector. It is thus possible to execute accurate quantization.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging and viewing, by a viewer, color and monochrome three-dimensional and two-dimensional. images for broadcasting in accordance with NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and other world-wide electronic viewing formats. The invention comprises a camera device, a viewing device, a transmitter for transmitting a drive signal, and at least one pair of viewing glasses. The camera device includes a single imaging lens having a multi-aperture light value, and a single image space for receiving and overlaying a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images at a field rate driven by the drive signal. The pair of viewing glasses includes a left-viewing light valve and a right-viewing-light valve. In response to receiving the drive signal, the left-viewing-light valve opens and closes, synchronized with the field rate, for viewing the plurality of left-eye images.

Abstract: Motion vector decoding apparatus and method for converting a variable length of a motion vector into an original one using a difference component of the motion vector. The motion vector decoding apparatus comprises an X-axis motion vector component decoder for decoding an X-axis component of the motion vector in response to first and second X-axis motion vector difference components, and a Y-axis motion vector component decoder for decoding a Y-axis component of the motion vector in response to first and second Y-axis motion vector difference components. According to the present invention, a compressed video signal can be restored rapidly and accurately in a variable length decoder.

Abstract: An instrument probe contains an improved camera and light source arrangement which; and is positioned behind the camera for providing indirect illumination of the passage being inspected by the camera such as the contents of the bore hole or its casings. The light source is physically separated from the camera thus providing insulation to the camera from heat produced by the light source. The camera housing comprises a quick connect and disconnect latch which allows for the swift changeover of camera components at the distal end of the instrument probe. A parabolic reflector at the light source directs light distally to the instrument body. A second reflector is located on the camera body to further reflect light towards the walls of the passageways, thereby enhancing the indirect light funneled to the area being inspected by the camera.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for calculating motion vectors. The method and apparatus calculate a motion trajectory value and initial base weights such that when x is the horizontal offset of the current macroblock from the left edge of the search window, and y is the vertical offset of the current macroblock from the top edge of the search window, and this pair of x and y values are used as the initial base weights, the motion estimation provides the best matched macroblock that has the shortest distance from the current macroblock. When the initial base weights are set to 0's, then the motion estimation will produce the first best matched macroblock encountered by the search circuitry. A scheme is also provided to set the initial base weights so that the best matched macroblock closest to the motion trajectory is selected for the motion estimation.

Abstract: A film player includes an A-D conversion part for receiving a music signal from an external audio unit, a RAM write part for writing A-D converted music data in an integrated RAM, a RAM contained in a music card or a RAM contained in a film cartridge, and a RAM play part for playing music recorded in each RAM. The user externally inputs desired music and records the same in the RAM by an external switch through a control part, to play the music with reproduction of a picture.

Abstract: An imaging system for the production of panoramic or panospheric output images in still or video formats, by seamlessly merging an arbitrary number of simultaneous, overlapping input images which collectively encompass an entire field of view. The system includes a plurality of cameras which direct multiple simultaneous streams of analog or digital input into an image transformation engine, to process those streams to remove distortion and redundant information, creating a single output image in a cylindrical or spherical perspective. The output image signal is directed through an image clipping system, which acts under the control of a pan-flit-rotation-zoom controller to select a portion of the panoramic or panospheric image for display on a monitor, screen or headset.

Abstract: In a temporal sequence of digitized image frames of video signals, the spatial and temporal image gradients and the pixel-to-pixel motion vectors (dense motion vectors) are obtained between two consecutive image frames. A shape-adaptive triangular patch mesh model overlay is provided on the first image frame such that the location of node points of each patch is determined by the spatial image gradients of the first frame and the pixel-to-pixel motion vectors. A priority ranking of patches is established before determining the node point motion vectors. The node point motion vectors, representing the motion of each of the node points of the triangular mesh patches, are estimated by a linear least-squares solution to an affine transformation of the mesh overlay on the first frame into the second frame. Failure regions are identified and are revised in accordance with a data bit budget. All data are coded prior to transmission at a constant data bit rate by a sending unit to a receiving unit over a data link.

Abstract: An apparatus for implementing motion estimation block matching for video image processing. The apparatus receives pixel data of original and compared image blocks for comparison, to obtain an image motion vector. The apparatus has a multi-stage pipelined tree-architecture that includes a computation stage, a summation section, an accumulation stage, and a minimum value evaluation stage. The computation stage includes 2.sup.n computation members for producing a difference error value and a sign bit of the compared image blocks. The summation section coupled at the pipelined stage next to the computation stage, includes a series of summation stages for producing an absolute error value of the compared image blocks. A following accumulation stage adds an output of the single adder means of the last summation stage and a last un-added sign bit, for producing a sum.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of the present invention for coding input picture data are so contrived as to adaptively change the number (N) of unitary frames, which constitute a group of pictures (GOP), in conformity with the frame rate of the input picture data, thereby forming picture data of a predetermined unitary time in a predetermined unit of GOPs.

Abstract: Film unsteadiness in a flying spot film scanner (10) is measured by reference to film image movement based on a measure of the direction of movement acquired by examination by a movement compensator 30 of spatial and temporal differences around a given pixel. A correction signal is generated and applied as a feedback signal to the X and Y circuits of the scan generator (20).

Abstract: Method and corresponding circuit for estimating motion between pictures composed of interlaced fields. Conventionally, such a circuit comprises a channel for searching for the optimum frame vector, which channel is autonomous with respect to that for searching for the optimum field vectors. In accordance with the invention, the channel for searching for the optimum field vectors is unchanged, but for searching for the optimum frame vector the channel comprises two branches which are no longer autonomous but are arranged at the respective output of each sub-stage for searching for the field vector of the channel with a view to determining an approximation of the motion vector which is sufficient for the searched estimation.

Abstract: A video data processing system (10) has a first substrate (12) and a second substrate (14). A system decoder (16), input buffer (18) and parser (20) are formed on first substrate (12). The parser (20) retrieves video data information from an input data stream and feeds coefficients through a dequantization unit (22) and a transformation unit (24). In addition, motion vector information is output from the parser (20). The second substrate (14) comprises a plurality of picture frame buffers 38, 40 and 44. The frame buffers 38, 40 and 44 are used to store decoded video information. Motion compensation modules 26a and 26b are used to perform predicted calculations on the information received from the video data stream as well as other images that have already been decoded. A raster scan output buffer (46) is used to output the decoded video information.