Abstract: An obtaining unit obtains a plurality of first pixel values and a plurality of second pixel values generated by an image sensor and corresponding to a plurality of pixels. A first gain is applied to each of the plurality of first pixel values and a second gain greater than the first gain is applied to each of the plurality of second pixel values. An encoding unit encodes each of a plurality of target pixel values on the basis of a correlation with a reference pixel value corresponding to a same pixel among a plurality of reference pixel values. The plurality of target pixel is one of the plurality of first pixel values and the plurality of second pixel values, and the plurality of reference pixel values is the other of the plurality of first pixel values and the plurality of second pixel values.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an exposure time control unit, a gain control unit, and a synchronization control unit. The exposure time control unit is configured to control exposure time of each of divided areas of an imaging area of an image sensor that is configured to convert light into an electric charge and to store the electric charge. The gain control unit is configured to control an analog gain of an output of each of the areas of the image sensor when an analog-to-digital conversion is executed on the output of each of the areas of the image sensor. The synchronization control unit is configured to synchronize and control the exposure time control unit and the gain control unit.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus which codes an image using intra prediction determines a size of a prediction block to be a unit of processing for performing intra prediction. The image coding apparatus derives a prediction error by performing intra prediction on the prediction block, derives a coding cost of a prediction mode when performing the intra prediction using a reference according to the determined size, and determines the coding cost of the prediction mode based on the coding cost of the prediction mode and the prediction error. The image coding apparatus determines a prediction mode of the prediction block from among a plurality of prediction modes based on the coding cost.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus which codes an image using intra prediction determines a size of a prediction block to be a unit of processing for performing intra prediction. The image coding apparatus derives a prediction error by performing intra prediction on the prediction block, derives a coding cost of a prediction mode when performing the intra prediction using a reference according to the determined size, and determines the coding cost of the prediction mode based on the coding cost of the prediction mode and the prediction error. The image coding apparatus determines a prediction mode of the prediction block from among a plurality of prediction modes based on the coding cost.

Abstract: To use both intraframe prediction coding and interframe prediction coding, and at the same time restrict a transfer volume of reference data used in motion detection in interframe prediction coding. In a coding apparatus that compression-codes moving images, both intraframe prediction coding and interframe prediction coding are applied and prediction coding is carried out using a prediction image produced by the coding system deemed to have the higher coding efficiency.

Abstract: An area where a specific object is captured is extracted as a specific area from the image of a frame of interest, and the evaluation value of the specific area is obtained using a predetermined evaluation formula. It is determined whether the evaluation value of the specific area in a frame preceding the frame of interest has exceeded a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that the evaluation value of the specific area has exceeded the predetermined threshold, the frame of interest is encoded to set the code amount of the specific area in the image of the frame of interest to be smaller than that of the specific area in the image of the frame preceding the frame of interest.

Abstract: To use both intraframe prediction coding and interframe prediction coding, and at the same time restrict a transfer volume of reference data used in motion detection in interframe prediction coding. In a coding apparatus that compression-codes moving images, both intraframe prediction coding and interframe prediction coding are applied and prediction coding is carried out using a prediction image produced by the coding system deemed to have the higher coding efficiency.

Abstract: To use both intraframe prediction coding and interframe prediction coding, and at the same time restrict a transfer volume of reference data used in motion detection in interframe prediction coding. In a coding apparatus that compression-codes moving images, both intraframe prediction coding and interframe prediction coding are applied and prediction coding is carried out using a prediction image produced by the coding system deemed to have the higher coding efficiency.

Abstract: In this invention, scan conversion processing of changing the scan order for each block is used. Parallel scan conversion processing is executed if possible, thereby making the number of scan conversion target blocks per unit time larger than before. To do this, a scan status holding unit holds statistical information based on the appearance frequency values of coefficients in a block. A scan order holding unit holds coefficient position information in which the coefficient positions in a block are arranged based on the scan order. A parallel number determination unit determines the number of blocks processable in parallel based on the statistical information held in the scan status holding unit and supplies the result to a scan conversion unit as a control signal. If the control signal from the parallel number determination unit indicates parallel processing, the scan conversion unit executes scan conversion of two input blocks in parallel.

Abstract: An area where a specific object is captured is extracted as a specific area from the image of a frame of interest, and the evaluation value of the specific area is obtained using a predetermined evaluation formula. It is determined whether the evaluation value of the specific area in a frame preceding the frame of interest has exceeded a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that the evaluation value of the specific area has exceeded the predetermined threshold, the frame of interest is encoded to set the code amount of the specific area in the image of the frame of interest to be smaller than that of the specific area in the image of the frame preceding the frame of interest.

Abstract: In this invention, scan conversion processing of changing the scan order for each block is used. Parallel scan conversion processing is executed if possible, thereby making the number of scan conversion target blocks per unit time larger than before. To do this, a scan status holding unit holds statistical information based on the appearance frequency values of coefficients in a block. A scan order holding unit holds coefficient position information in which the coefficient positions in a block are arranged based on the scan order. A parallel number determination unit determines the number of blocks processable in parallel based on the statistical information held in the scan status holding unit and supplies the result to a scan conversion unit as a control signal. If the control signal from the parallel number determination unit indicates parallel processing, the scan conversion unit executes scan conversion of two input blocks in parallel.

Abstract: A moving image reproducing apparatus of the present invention transfers moving image data stored in a built-in memory to an external storage device in order starting from moving image data corresponding to a sequence having a short total reproduction time, the sequence being reproduced by a reproduction control unit.

Abstract: To use both intraframe prediction coding and interframe prediction coding, and at the same time restrict a transfer volume of reference data used in motion detection in interframe prediction coding. In a coding apparatus that compression-codes moving images, both intraframe prediction coding and interframe prediction coding are applied and prediction coding is carried out using a prediction image produced by the coding system deemed to have the higher coding efficiency.

Abstract: In image data coding and decoding processing, in order to improve efficiency by processing a plurality of factors in one cycle as long as possible, the factors are rearranged, in coding or decoding processing, in a predetermined scan sequence such that significant factors and 0s are paired. In addition, an appropriate scan sequence is selected in accordance with the distribution state of frequencies to further improve the efficiency.

Abstract: As a result of an effort made by us for the purpose of developing a therapeutic agent having a bone formation-stimulating effect by promoting the functions of osteoblasts, the present inventors discovered that a certain nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound exhibits a potent bone formation-stimulating effect on the osteoblast and thus can serve as an excellent prophylactic or therapeutic agent against a metabolic bone disease, whereby establishing the present invention. Thus, the present invention provides a 3,6-disubstituted 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising such a compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, especially a bone-forming agent.

Abstract: An apparatus has a one-dimensional DCT transformer for applying the one-dimensional orthogonal transforms to n inputs and outputting n coefficients, a transposition converter for transposing n×n coefficients output from the one-dimensional DCT transformer and outputting every n outputs, and a multiplexer for selecting one output of the n outputs from the transposition converter or one output of the n outputs from the one-dimensional DCT transformer. The apparatus further includes a selector for selecting data as a combination of one output selected by the multiplexer and remaining (n?1) outputs, which are not input to the multiplexer, of the n outputs from the transposition converter, or the input image data, and supplying the selected data as n data to the one-dimensional DCT transformer.

Abstract: Osteoporosis and the like metabolic bone diseases have a high frequency of causing lumbago and the like pains and bone fracture, due to lowering of the bone strength caused by the reduction of bone mass. Accordingly, great concern has been directed toward the creation of a drug which can increase the bone mass and bone strength by controlling the whole bone metabolism. The pharmaceutical composition or combination product of the invention comprising a non-living body-derived non-peptide osteoblast differentiation promoting compound and a bisphosphonate having a bone resorption inhibitory action is useful as a bone mass increasing inducer which can increase the bone mass and/or bone strength by controlling the bone metabolism.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus has: M tables for storing, in correspondence with M types of variable-length code tables, minimum code words or maximum code words of classes of variable-length code words constructing a variable-length code table; a table selector which selects one table from the M tables; N comparators which compare input coded data with the minimum code words or maximum code words outputted from the table selected by the table selector; a switch circuit and a priority encoder which obtain a class number corresponding to an initial code word of the input coded data based on results of comparison by the N comparators; a code length converter which converts the class number into a code length; and an address generator which generates an address to access a memory holding decoded data from the class number and the code length outputted said code length converter. The data outputted from the memory based on the address becomes decoded data of the input coded data.

Abstract: As a result of an effort made by us for the purpose of developing a therapeutic agent having a bone formation-stimulating effect by promoting the functions of osteoblasts, the present inventors discovered that a certain nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound exhibits a potent bone formation-stimulating effect on the osteoblast and thus can serve as an excellent prophylactic or therapeutic agent against a metabolic bone disease, whereby establishing the present invention. Thus, the present invention provides a 3,6-disubstituted 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as well as a pharmaceutical composition comprising such a compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, especially a bone-forming agent.

Abstract: Whether a header information processor quickly enters a program inactive state at the timing when it issues an operation start command of an encoding process for a predetermined processing unit to a variable-length code encoder, or the header information processor enters the program inactive state upon completion of execution steps to be processed is adaptively selected in accordance with the number of execution steps. One memory is shared by the header information processor and variable-length code encoder, and address input permission means for controlling to grant permission of an address input to the memory to one of the header information processor and the variable-length code encoder is provided. The memory is used as a work area of the header information processor, and as a storage area of a variable-length code table which is looked up by the variable-length code encoder.