Abstract: A nonlinear coupling oscillator array is configured in such a manner that, for example, two layers in each of which a number of quantum dots as oscillators are arranged two-dimensionally are laid one on another. Adjacent quantum dots in the upper layer have tunnel coupling that exhibits a nonlinear current-voltage characteristic. The quantum dots in the upper layer receive an input of initial data/bias current, and each quantum dot in the upper layer is coupled with one quantum dot in the lower layer via a gate function having a time constant. Adjacent quantum dots in the lower layer do not interact with each other and the quantum dots in the lower layer are connected to the ground. For example, initial data are input by generating electron-hole pairs by applying light having an intensity profile corresponding to data, and injecting resulting electrons into the quantum dots of the upper layer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of extracting widely viewed features of an entire image and speedily performing image processing, and a method and an information recording medium for such processing. Image data of an original image is obtained by imaging the entire original image with an image pickup unit at a time. An amplitude distribution of a signal is obtained from the image data by fast Fourier transform performed by a fast Fourier transform section of a signal processing unit. An amplitude replacement section replaces the amplitude distribution with a predetermined function using the distance from a center of a frequency plane as a parameter. An inverse fast Fourier transform section forms an image corresponding to the original image by inverse fast Fourier transform from a phase distribution of points obtained by the fast Fourier transform and from an amplitude distribution obtained by the above-described replacement.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of extracting widely viewed features of an entire image and speedily performing image processing, and a method and an information recording medium for such processing. Image data of an original image is obtained by imaging the entire original image with an image pickup unit at a time. An amplitude distribution of a signal is obtained from the image data by fast Fourier transform performed by a fast Fourier transform section of a signal processing unit. An amplitude replacement section replaces the amplitude distribution with a predetermined function using the distance from a center of a frequency plane as a parameter. An inverse fast Fourier transform section forms an image corresponding to the original image by inverse fast Fourier transform from a phase distribution of points obtained by the fast Fourier transform and from an amplitude distribution obtained by the above-described replacement.