Abstract: This invention corrects chrominance misalignment that occurs during chrominance down-sampling and up-sampling. The invention extracts a binary index from the corresponding luminance signal. The binary index enables generation of a filter window. On down-sampling the filter window is applied to a block of source chrominance pixels which are filtered or not based upon the binary index. On up-sampling the binary index of the filter window for the target chrominance pixels determines which are filtered or not.

Abstract: Motion compensation as for video compression with motion estimation with either frame mode or field mode by initial prediction of motion mode and when prediction error is small enough truncate motion estimation search.

Abstract: A small-sized semiconductor light-emitting device of high emission directivity and high output is provided. A portion of a light extraction section of a semiconductor light-emitting device including a pn-junction portion is covered with a light-shielding substance of low conductivity. The electrical resistance of the light-shielding substance is 106 ?m or higher, and the substance contains powder of at least one species selected from metals and pigments. The powder of metal contains at least one species selected from among Al, Cu, Ag, Au, Pt, Ti, Ni, Sn, Pb, Mg, Zn, Fe, Co, and Cr. The powder is a plate-like powder having a thickness falling within a range of 0.001-10 ?m and a length falling within a range of 0.01-100 ?m.

Abstract: The exhaust heat recovery system of the invention includes: a thermoelectric conversion element that generates electric energy by thermoelectric conversion using heat of exhaust gas discharged from an engine; and a heat pump including a heat recovery unit that absorbs the heat contained in the exhaust gas through an endothermic reaction using a heating medium, and a heat generation unit which generates heat through an exothermic reaction of the heating medium and which supplies the heat to the thermoelectric conversion element. With this configuration, the thermoelectric conversion element and the heat generation unit are movably attached to each other such that they can be placed in contact with and separated from each other, and the heat recovery unit is positioned in an exhaust gas passage in an exhaust gas downstream flow direction from the heat generation unit.

Abstract: When electric power is obtained from a thermoelectric element, a value of electric current is changed, and two combinations of the electric current value and a voltage value (i1, V1) and (i2 and V2) are obtained. An electric current value it at which the maximum electric power Wmax can be obtained is obtained using an electric current-voltage characteristic estimated based on the obtained two combinations of the electric current value and the voltage value. The electric current is controlled such that the value of the electric current becomes equal to the obtained value it when the electric power is obtained from the thermoelectric element. The value it is represented by an equation, it=(i2V1?i1V2)/2(V1?V2).

Abstract: This invention corrects chrominance misalignment that occurs during chrominance down-sampling and up-sampling. The invention extracts a binary index from the corresponding luminance signal. The binary index enables generation of a filter window. On down-sampling the filter window is applied to a block of source chrominance pixels which are filtered or not based upon the binary index. On up-sampling the binary index of the filter window for the target chrominance pixels determines which are filtered or not.

Abstract: This invention is a method for speeding up block matching based motion estimation for video encoder. The invention 1) calculates statistics for a candidate motion vector for a predetermined fraction of the pixels of a macroblock, 2) makes an early decision based on this preliminary cost function, and 3) terminates the block matching process without calculating the cost function for other pixels if the preliminary cost function is not less than a predetermined threshold. This early decision for goodness estimation provides an economy of processing load when a large portion of data is left untouched (i.e. unprocessed). The present invention employs feedback control to reduce the predetermined threshold for quick convergence upon each detection of a better match.

Abstract: A quantizer employs a scaled integral inverse ratio division for quantization of an input T by a quantization step Q. The quantizer forms an integral approximation q of 2r/Q by either trunc(2r/Q) or round(2r/Q). A multiplier multiplies the absolute value of T by the q. An adjustment factor is added alternatively to the absolute value of T prior to multiplication or to the product after multiplication. This adjustment factor minimizes errors near transition points in the quantization. This invention is applicable to both trunc(T/Q) and round(T/Q).

Abstract: Motion compensation as for video compression with motion estimation with either frame mode or field mode by initial prediction of motion mode and when prediction error is small enough truncate motion estimation search.

Abstract: A method of variable length coding classifies each received symbol into one of a plurality of classifications having a corresponding variable length code table selected based upon a probability distribution of received symbols within the classification. The variable length codeword output corresponds to the received symbol according to the variable length code table corresponding to the classification of that received symbol. The plurality of classifications and the corresponding variable length code tables may be predetermined and fixed. Alternatively, the variable length code table may be dynamically determined with data transmitted from encoder to decoder specifying the variable length code tables and their configurations. Universal variable length code (UVLC) is used to code the symbols. Universal variable length code can instantiate to different variable length code tables with different parameters.

Abstract: The objective of the invention is to make high-efficiency compressed coding for images. In coding of video signals in this application example, the edge is extracted in a frame of the input image in block 10. In block 11, classification is made into blocks where edge is present and blocks free of edge. In block 12, for the block where edge is present, based on the correlation between the edge direction and the distribution of the DCT coefficients, the optimum scanning order is determined and coding is performed by the scanning order.

Abstract: This invention is a method to automatically configure the universal variable length coding (UVLC). The method is applicable to code the syntax elements with a lot of symbols like the transform coefficients and motion vectors. The configuration problem includes a configuration method based on a genetic algorithm (GA). The method can be applied to on-the-fly configuration of codewords during video encoding, or to off-line training of code tables. This invention also includes several techniques to reduce the required operations for applications which have only limited processing power.

Abstract: By forming a detection-membrane with a light reflective layer in which the detection-membrane is a multilayer construction with a protective layer, a detection-membrane can be provided which is able to be used favorably within an optical sensor, will suffer no reduction in mechanical strength as a result of external factors such as physical pressure, high temperature, high humidity or the like, and will cause no deterioration in the characteristics of an optical sensor, and an optical sensor which utilizes such a detection-membrane can also be provided.

Abstract: This invention is a method to automatically configure the universal variable length coding (UVLC). The method is applicable to code the syntax elements with a lot of symbols like the transform coefficients and motion vectors. The configuration problem includes a configuration method based on a genetic algorithm (GA). The method can be applied to on-the-fly configuration of codewords during video encoding, or to off-line training of code tables. This invention also includes several techniques to reduce the required operations for applications which have only limited processing power.

Abstract: A small-sized semiconductor light-emitting device of high emission directivity and high output is provided. A portion of a light extraction section of a semiconductor light-emitting device including a pn-junction portion is covered with a light-shielding substance of low conductivity. The electrical resistance of the light-shielding substance is 106 &OHgr;m or higher, and the substance contains powder of at least one species selected from metals and pigments. The powder of metal contains at least one species selected from among Al, Cu, Ag, Au, Pt, Ti, Ni, Sn, Pb, Mg, Zn, Fe, Co, and Cr. The powder is a plate-like powder having a thickness falling within a range of 0.001-10 &mgr;m and a length falling within a range of 0.01-100 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An additive for inkjet printing, comprising a stabilized ascorbic acid derivative. Also disclosed are a recording solution, a method for preventing discoloration and fading of an image, and a recording sheet, each using the additive. The color change of an image can be prevented by incorporating the stabilized ascorbic acid derivative into an inkjet-printed image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cleaning heavy hydrocarbon scale from a shell and tube heat exchanger or other such equipment incorporated in a device in a petroleum refining plant or the like that processes petroleum hydrocarbons as a raw material. A mixture of petroleum-derived hydrocarbon A which can dissolve the oil component of the heavy hydrocarbon scale and an oxygen-containing polar organic compound B that promotes dissolution and dispersion is employed as the organic cleaning solvent. As a result, the heavy hydrocarbon scale can be removed with surety within a short period of time at low cost.

Abstract: A device and method for filtering out the noise generated due to coding of image data signals. The device has a threshold determining unit, a binary index unit, a filter selecting unit, and an adaptive filtering unit. The threshold determining unit 4 divides each pixel of the input image data into two gray levels. The binary indexes defined by the gray level are checked by a window with a prescribed size. If the region in the window is determined to be a homogeneous region, a heterogeneous region, or an impulse noise region (block 5), the filter selecting unit selects a filter corresponding to the determined region, and the image data is processed by the selected filter.

Abstract: A level of received light detected by a light-receiving means (R) is given to both an indication controller (11) and a transmitter (13). The indication controller (11) obtains a flashing frequency corresponding to the given received light level, and flashes an LED (12) at the frequency obtained. The received light level transmitted from a transmitter (13) is demodulated and decoded in a receiver (4) and then given to an indication controller (3). The indication controller (3) obtains a flashing frequency corresponding to the given received light level, and flashes an LED (2) at the frequency obtained. Thus, the operator can recognize the received light level readily and reliably.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polyorganosiloxane comprising a polymethylsilsesquioxane structure as a main structural unit and having a methyl group and a reactive group at the side chains thereof, which is suitable as a polymer modifier; a process for producing the same; a copolymer resin obtained by polymerizing the polyorganosiloxane with a polymerizable monomer or by reacting the polyorganosiloxane with a polymer; a method for crosslinking the copolymer resin; and a coating composition containing the copolymer resin.