Abstract: A switch arrangement is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a number of switches arranged on a substrate, each switch having a resiliently deformable conductive dome for making an electrical connection with a corresponding contact on the substrate; and a number of signal lines for connection to a microprocessor for signalling an operation of a switch. The switches are arranged such that operation of any given switch creates a unique electrical connection between two of the signal lines and each of the signal lines is electrically connected to a conductive surface of a respective dome. Also disclosed is a cover for a portable electronic apparatus, having a number of user operable keys. The keys are connectable to a microprocessor in the apparatus via electrical connections made using the conductive domes.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus comprises a variable length decoder that decodes zero-run length and nonzero coefficient, an inverse quantizer that inverse-quantizes the nonzero coefficient, a zero-run reconstruction processor that reconstruct zero coefficients, a FIFO memory that store the zero-run length data and nonzero coefficients, an inverse discrete cosine transformer that subjects the coefficients to an inverse discrete cosine transformation, and a motion compensator that subjects the transformed result to a motion compensation.

Abstract: A predictive video coder performs gradient prediction based on previous blocks of image data. For a new block of image data, the prediction determines a horizontal gradient and a vertical gradient from a block diagonally above the new block (vertically above a previous horizontally adjacent block). Based on these gradients, the encoder predicts image information based on image information of either the horizontally adjacent block or a block vertically adjacent to the new block. The encoder determines a residual that is transmitted in an output bitstream. The decoder performs the identical gradient prediction and predicts image information without need for overhead information. The decoder computes the actual information based on the predicted information and the residual from the bitstream.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator, which is used in a belt latch mechanism of restraint systems in motor vehicles and which indicates the proper locking of the tongue of the safety belt when the tongue is inserted into the belt latch mechanism. The actuator is provided in the form of a double-contact actuator, whereby the contact steel plates are arranged inside a contact space that is closed at the top, and the contact can be actuated by a slide by moving this slide into a channel situated to the side of the inner space of the housing.

Abstract: In a bit counter 214, an amount of codes included in one transmission unit is counted; in a significance decision section 217, the amount of codes counted in the bit counter 214 is divided by the number of coded macroblocks included in the one transmission unit to calculate an average amount of codes per one coded macroblocks; and in a threshold comparing section 220, the significance of the pertinent transmission unit is decided by comparing the average amount of codes to the calculated threshold based on a frame rate and a bit rate.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a simple, economical, reliable secure operation mechanism that can be adapted to factory production, or for post-sale, on any electrical shutdown device in a cabinet, that is designed to enable the shutdown device to be switched, while the cabinet is open, only after an additional voluntary action is performed by the operator on a secondary handle provided inside said cabinet.

Abstract: A data acquisition and display system comprises: a data acquisition device, such as a camera, microscope, telescope, thermal imager, medical scanning device, radar etc, operable to acquire data in scans over a field of interest using each of at least a first and a second data acquisition method. A field data storage device stores the field data together with corresponding field location data that describes a location within the field of interest. A field data display device such as a screen is operable to display simultaneously data from matched locations in the field of interest acquired respectively by the different data acquisition methods. The data, generally image data, may be superimposed or displayed side by side as desired. Preferably, one of the images being displayed is live whilst the other is recalled from the field data storage device.

Abstract: A global motion vector coding scheme is used for coding or decoding an image. Global motion parameters are associated with a current image frame. Local motion vectors are derived from the global motion parameters for individual macroblocks in the current image frame. The local motion vectors are then used to identify reference blocks in a current reference frame. The reference blocks are then used to either encode or decode the macroblocks in the current image frame.

Abstract: A portion of the number of bits initially allocated for encoding some of the frames of a group of pictures (GOP) is accumulated in a bit bank and is subsequently used to encode other frames that may require a larger number of bits to encode than those initially allocated for these frames. Furthermore, when a scene change P frame is detected in a first GOP, a second GOP is formed. The second GOP includes the scene change P frame as well as the remaining unencoded frames of the original GOP. The P frame of the first GOP is changed to an I frame in the second GOP. Furthermore, the frame to be displayed after the I frame of the second GOP is also changed to a duplicate of the I frame of the second GOP.

Abstract: A video signal processor enhancing video information evaluates candidate vectors of enhancement algorithms utilizing an error function biased towards spatio-temporal consistency with a penalty function. The penalty function increases with the distance—both spatial and temporal—of the subject block from the block for which the candidate vector was optimal. Enhancements are therefore gradual across both space and time and the enhanced video information is intrinsically free of perceptible spatio-temporal varying artifacts.

Abstract: A method for concealing errors in texture partition of a video packet is described. The method includes determining a particular macroblock within the texture partition where error is detected, concealing the error starting at the particular macroblock, and evaluating image smoothness of concealed macroblocks. The concealing and evaluating are repeated with one more macroblock added prior to the previous particular macroblock. The concealing and evaluating are repeated until all macroblocks in the texture partition have been concealed. A set of macroblocks, including a combination of decoded and concealed macroblocks, that produces best image smoothness is then selected to replace the corrupted texture partition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes semi-rigid spiral wound driver means having a conical end coupled to be driven by the rocker paddle. When the rocker paddle is pushed in, the paddle urges the semi-rigid driver means to rotate a cam means in a first, clock wise direction, or a second, counter clock wise direction. Alternate rotation of the cam drives a slider member having a cam follower back and forth along a linear axis. A shaped leaf spring cooperates with the cam follower to assist in the movement of the slider and determines its rest positions. An indicator such as an LED is used to indicate the state of conduction of the switch. When the rocker paddle is released, it is biased by a spring to pivot back to its initial position.

Abstract: A narrowband video codec for generating an output stream of control, data, and error correction bits includes means for framing the outputs control and data bits into a series of sequential frames of bytes for transmission over an RF link of a controlled frequency. Each frame includes an identical sequence of bytes. Each frame of bytes includes, in sequence, two control bytes, a plurality of sequential sets of data bytes, and a plurality of error correction bytes. Each set of data bytes includes a sequence of at least one audio byte and a plurality of video bytes. At least one video byte is between each sequential audio byte. Each set of data bytes has its audio and video bytes in the same order as each other set of data bytes.

Abstract: A video decoder is connected with a block distortion detector for specifying the boundary of blocks where block boundary occurs, using decoded image data and information of motion vectors, which are supplied from the video decoder; and a block distortion remover for subjecting pixels in the vicinity of the block boundary of the decoded image to filtering on the basis of the result of detection from the block distortion detector, thereby removing the block distortion. Therefore, block distortion is accurately detected when a compressed and coded image is decoded, and the detected block distortion is removed while minimizing the blurriness of the image.

Abstract: A coded moving-picture signal is decoded by a resolution-converting motion compensation process and a resolution-converting inverse discrete cosine transform, both of which decrease the resolution of the picture, thereby reducing the amount of reference picture data that has to be stored and accessed. The reference picture data may also be stored in a compressed form. The resolution conversion and compression processes may also be used in the coding of the moving-picture signal. The resolution-converting inverse discrete cosine transform may be performed by output of intermediate results that have not been combined by addition and subtraction in a butterfly computation.

Abstract: A transmission method for transmitting coefficients representing image data is provided. The transmission method includes transmitting coded quantized coefficients obtained by coding quantized coefficients. The quantized coefficients are obtained by quantizing the coefficients using a complete quantization matrix having multiple quantization elements. The transmission method also includes transmitting a coded quantization matrix obtained by coding a truncated quantization matrix. The truncated quantization matrix is generated by truncating the complete quantization matrix. The coded quantization matrix has bits aligned in the order of bits obtained by coding the quantization elements included in the truncated quantization matrix and bits obtained by coding an end code.

Abstract: A method for predicting motion compensation of determining of an input image based on a motion vector of the input image from this input image to a reference image which has been sampled at a first set time, and the method includes calculating a motion vector of the input image based on a move, at a second set time, of a block unit which is a part of the input image and consists of a plurality of pixels, and calculating a motion vector of the reference image based on a move, at the first set time, of a block unit which is a part of the reference image and consists of a plurality of pixels. Move compensation of the input image is calculated both from the motion vector of the input image and from the motion vector of the reference image, to thereby realize a method for determining motion compensation with high precision.

Abstract: A method for predicting motion compensation for determining of an input image based on a motion vector of the input image from this input image to a reference image which has been sampled at a first set time, and the method includes calculating a motion vector of the input image based on a move, at a second set time, of a block unit which is a part of the input image and consists of a plurality of pixels, and calculating a motion vector of the reference image based on a move, at the first set time, of a block unit which is a part of the reference image and consists of a plurality of pixels. Move compensation of the input image is calculated both from the motion vector of the input image and from the motion vector of the reference image, to thereby realize a method for determining motion compensation with high precision.

Abstract: A method for predicting motion compensation for determining of an input image based on a motion vector of the input image from this input image to a reference image which has been sampled at a first set time, and the method includes calculating a motion vector of the input image based on a move, at a second set time, of a block unit which is a part of the input image and consists of a plurality of pixels, and calculating a motion vector of the reference image based on a move, at the first set time, of a block unit which is a part of the reference image and consists of a plurality of pixels. Move compensation of the input image is calculated both from the motion vector of the input image and from the motion vector of the reference image, to thereby realize a method for determining motion compensation with high precision.

Abstract: A method for predicting motion compensation for determining of an input image based on a motion vector of the input image from this input image to a reference image which has been sampled at a first set time, and the method includes calculating a motion vector of the input image based on a move, at a second set time, of a block unit which is a part of the input image and consists of a plurality of pixels, and calculating a motion vector of the reference image based on a move, at the first set time, of a block unit which is a part of the reference image and consists of a plurality of pixels. Move compensation of the input image is calculated both from the motion vector of the input image and from the motion vector of the reference image, to thereby realize a method for determining motion compensation with high precision.