Abstract: An image recording apparatus which includes a time-serial image recording arrangement for recording time-serial images of an object. The apparatus also includes an outputting arrangement capable of outputting an image information data of at least a part of the time-serial images to be recorded or having been recorded by the time-serial image recording arrangement, which is used as a standard for observing variations in the time-serial images of the object which occur with lapse of time. The outputting arrangement includes an extracting arrangement for extracting a selected feature of at least one image among the time-serial images as the image information to be a standard of the position and a composing arrangement for composing and outputting image information of the selected feature extracted by the extracting arrangement and for composing and outputting the time-serial images.

Abstract: A data encoding system for encoding input color pixel data and outputting encoded data. The data encoding system includes a reference pixel generating device which outputs reference pixel data corresponding to the input color pixel data to be encoded; a predictor having a color order table which sets the color ranks of color codes for every reference pixel pattern, reads and outputs the color rank of the corresponding color code from the color order table on the basis of the color pixel data to be encoded and its reference pixel data; and an entropy encoding device which converts the color ranking data into encoded data and outputs the encoded data.

Abstract: An image data encoder and decoder system which divides native or uncompressed image data into a plurality of streams for subsequent arithmetic encoding and decoding operations. Once each stream has been encoded, it may be relayed in its present format to a corresponding decoder unit or combined with other encoded streams to produce a composite encoded stream representing a compressed version of the original image data suitable for external transfer or storage. When stored in composite form, the decoder may include a distributing preprocessor that breaks it back down into its constituent encoded streams to facilitate parallel decoding. After decoding operations have produced plural decoded image streams, a final stage reintegrates them back to the original image data. The matched parallel encoder and decoder architectures permit pipelined processing of image data without necessarily increasing overall processing speeds.

Abstract: A data encoding system for encoding input color pixel data and outputting encoded data. The data encoding system includes a reference pixel generating device which outputs reference pixel data corresponding to the input color pixel data to be encoded; a predictor having a color order table which sets the color ranks of color codes for every reference pixel pattern, reads and outputs the color rank of the corresponding color code from the color order table on the basis of the color pixel data to be encoded and its reference pixel data; and an entropy encoding device which converts the color ranking data into encoded data and outputs the encoded data.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus which includes a time-serial image recording arrangement for recording time-serial images of an object, and still image filling arrangements for recoding a still image. The apparatus also includes an outputting arrangement capable of outputting an image information data of at least a part of the time-serial images to be recorded or having been recorded by the time-serial image recording arrangement, which is used as a standard for observing variations in the time-serial images of the object which occur with lapse of time. The outputting arrangement includes an extracting arrangement for extracting a selected feature of at least one image among the time-serial images as the image information to be a standard of the position and a composing arrangement for composing and outputting image information of the selected feature extracted by the extracting arrangement and for composing and outputting the time-serial images.

Abstract: A medical instrument interfacing apparatus including a video instrument for outputting a video signal on which the pattern information of at least one of a character and device is superimposed, a video signal transmitting apparatus for transmitting the video signal of the video instrument, a pattern discriminating apparatus for extracting the pattern information from the video signal transmitted from the video signal transmitting apparatus and a controlled instrument in which the signal of the pattern discriminating apparatus is input.

Abstract: A movement amount detected by a movement detection circuit on the basis of an image signal corresponding to an object image is input to a minimum value detection circuit. This detection circuit sets an operation time for the detection of the minimum value by using fuzzy inference on the basis of the movement amount and the gradient amount of the movement. An image signal corresponding to the smallest movement amount in this operation time is retained in a freeze memory. In this case, the operation time is set by fuzzy inference by using the movement amount and the gradient amount as factors for fuzzy inference so that the operation time can be set automatically to a time suitable for obtaining static images possessing a small amount of movement.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of image signal generating apparatuses which each generate an image signal using an electronic endoscope, an ultrasonic scope or the like and which are connected to a common large capacity filing apparatus through an interface so that image data can be recorded together with image information with respect to the data in the unit of any number of images for a single examination and the image data recorded can be searched for in the unit of a single examination.

Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of image signal generating apparatuses which each generate an image signal using an electronic endoscope, an ultrasonic scope or the like and which are connected to a common large capacity filing apparatus through an interface so that image data can be recorded together with image information with respect to the data in the unit of any number of images for a single examination and the image data recorded can be searched for in the unit of a single examination.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which includes a first and a second optical guides inserted in an elongated insertion portion thereof, and which can transmit an optical image, and an optical system with a function of imaging at the end surface of the optical guide. By transmitting an illuminating light from the other end surface to the portion to be observed through one of the optical guides, the portion to be observed is illuminated. While, the optical image transmitted through the other optical guide is introduced into an ocular system or an imaging system. By changing the functions performed by these optical guides, the stereoscopic observation and stereoscopic imaging can be realized.