Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a binary image into a gray scale image includes a pipeline having a number of nearly identical stages. At each stage, modifications occur to provide the gray scale image by following a sequence of steps including: (1) determining a sample mean value representing an averaging of pixel values within a neighborhood containing a selected pixel; (2) determining a weighted variation value representing pixel value variations within the neighborhood; and (3) adjusting the pixel value of the selected pixel toward the sample mean value if the difference between the pixel value and the sample mean value exceeds the weighted variation value. The adjustment to the pixel value is in the direction of the sample mean value. Preferably, the weighting of the variation value is different at each stage. At each stage along the pipeline, low pass filtering is provided to remove high frequency noise generated by the process.

Abstract: A television receiving apparatus having a video tape recorder unit therein with a function for preventing an electric shock, for preventing a user from inserting his fingers into a cabinet when the video tape recorder unit is removed from the cabinet for repair or the like, includes a locking mechanism for locking a controller door panel at a position where it is closed. The controller door panel is used for operating the video tape recorder unit contained in the apparatus. In order to surely obtain security of the user even when the locking operation is forgotten, the apparatus further includes a mechanism for interrupting supply of electric power to a television receiver when the absence of the video tape recorder unit in the cabinet is detected and when the controller door panel is detected to be opened at and more than a predetermined angle. A possibility that the user will receive an electric shock can thus be eliminated.

Abstract: A television receiver radiation exposure limiting apparatus including a power supply, a proximity sensor, a rf switch, and a housing wherein the apparatus may be located within a small housing emplaced on the television receiver. The preferred proximity sensor comprises a monostatic infrared type sensor and responds to the comparative infrared signature of a human referenced to the ambient background. The sensor generates an electrical output signal which either stimulates or terminates conduction of electric current in an rf relay or solid state switch whenever a human form is within a preset detection range. A system in which the sensor signal terminates current flow is preferred. The rf relay or solid state switch connects the incoming rf signals representing unprocessed video and audio information to the VHF/UHF input of the television receiver only when no human signature is detected by the proximity sensor.

Abstract: A device for synchronizing the phase of each packet of a phase modulated digital signal comprises a correction module controlled by information supplied successively by two separate calculator circuits. The phase synchronization device can be integrated into the demodulator stage of a receiver for digital signals phase modulated with at least two phase states, this signal being transmitted by successive packets. The device comprises a corrector module for rotating the constellation of phase states of the received signal according to an indication representative of the angular offset of this constellation.

Abstract: In a receiver, a channel quality metric (220) is determined by demodulating a received second stream of discrete data elements (205) using a received first stream of discrete data elements (203) to produce a demodulated second stream of discrete data elements (212). The demodulated second stream is decoded, leading to an estimate of the second stream of discrete data elements (214). The estimate of the second stream is then re-encoded and the resulting re-encoded stream of discrete data elements (216) is compared with the demodulated second stream to produce the channel quality metric. Derived in this manner, the channel quality metric provides a method for detecting decoding errors in a stream of critical data elements.

Abstract: A node circuit is operative to couple Manchester encoded data between a transmission medium and an associated electrical device. A first mechanism detects a message frame preamble having a pattern of alternating signal level of substantially identical duration, and a second mechanism that detects a start delimiter in the message frame. The start delimiter has a plurality of binary signal levels in a unique pattern that satisfies a defined set of criteria to optimize the probability that the pattern will be detected while minimizing the likelihood that random valid data will alias into the start delimiter pattern. A data decoder is provided to convert the Manchester encoded data into binary data which then is sent via a signal path to the associated electrical device. Another mechanism is included to detect a unique end delimiter that signals the termination of the message frame.

Abstract: A source facsimile apparatus includes a modem having a variable transmission rate and is connected by a radio link to a destination facsimile apparatus which is located in a mobile subscriber station within a radio network. Facsimile data is transmitted at a selected data transmission rate from the source facsimile apparatus to a modem within an interworking function located in the radio network. A buffer memory stores the facsimile data received by the modem of the interworking function. The facsimile data is then transmitted from the buffer memory via the radio link to the destination facsimile apparatus within the mobile station. If the radio link does not allow facsimile data to be sent to the mobile station at about the same rate it is being received by the modem of the interworking function, the latter is changed to bring the two into closer conformity.

Abstract: A digital cellular communications system has a bidirectional pulse code modulation (PCM) link for conveying encoded speech and control data in the form of blocks, a switching unit coupled to a first end of the PCM link, and a base station coupled to a second end of the PCM link. The switching unit includes a speech encoder for encoding speech signals, an error detection code generator for generating an error detection code from the encoded speech signal, and a formatter, coupled to the error detection code generator, for producing a formatted block to be transmitted on the PCM link, the formatted block having a header, the encoded speech dam, and the error detection code. The base station has a PCM link error detector for signalling the existence of an error in a received block in response to the received block containing an error.

Abstract: A digital color reproduction apparatus of the type having a scanner for scanning a color image to produce scanner color signals representing the color image, a digital image processor for processing the scanner color signals to produce printer color signals, and a printer responsive to the printer color signals for reproducing the color image is said to be "closed" when the original color image and the reproduced color image are on the same medium. For a closed color reproduction system, the color transform from scanner color signals to printer color signals can be implemented using the tri-linear interpolation based on a 3D calibration lookup table.

Abstract: Activity on a digital communication network is divided into periodic intervals, that are further subdivided into first and second phases during which different classes of data are transmitted. A media access controller for a station on the network has an interface that connects to an external device which supplies first and second classes of data for transmission over the network. A first memory stores the first class of data and a second memory stores the second class of data. The external device supplies a third class of data that may be transmitted over the network during either the first or second phases. The third class of data is held in a third memory. A transmitter connects the three memories to the interface in order to send data over the network. A control circuit regulates the transfer of data from the memories to the transmitter, with data being transferred from the first memory when the media access controller has access to the network during one of the first phases.

Abstract: A contact image sensor has in an upper portion of a housing a rod-like continuous light source for emitting light directly to an object. The continuous light source is coated, over its entire outer glass surface, except at an irradiating portion, with a black paint to eliminate irradiation of unnecessary light. Inside the housing, there are accommodated a condenser lens for concentrating the reflected light from the object, and a sensor board on which sensor chips and various electronic components such as logic ICs are arranged, each sensor chip being composed of a light-receiving portion for receiving the light concentrated by the condenser lens and a driver circuit. The passageway of the reflected light from the object is occupied by a transparent resin to prevent any foreign matter from entering from the surroundings.

Abstract: Variable length-adaptive image data compression method and apparatus. The statistical characteristic of a frame containing a number of blocks is extracted by blocks and then encoded, so as to achieve a bit distribution for each block. An optimum quantizer is selected which can compress data to a quantity most approximating to the quantity of bits allocated to the AC coefficient of each block. The present invention adopts a variable length coding for providing a high picture quality, but limits the number of classes containing the same number of blocks to a number (for example, 4) predetermined based on the statistical characteristic of input image data. Accordingly, it is possible to easily control the quantity of data and to converge errors into blocks.

Abstract: A selection diversity system using a decision feedback equalizer which has excellent tracking ability performance and equalization ability performance for frequency selective fading and a diversity effect against Rayleight fading. In a selection diversity system using a decision feedback equalizer, a decision data symbol of the equalizer output of a branch in which an average estimation error over a plurality of symbols is minimum is selected and combined, and the selected decision data symbol is used to recalculate the estimation error of every decision feedback equalizer and the tap gain coefficient of the decision feedback equalizer is updated using the recalculated estimation error, thereby overcoming the step out by the integration of the estimation error and the random selection error which is caused by the selective combined diversity system.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a matrix register part for reading an original image for each area containing a predetermined number of pixels of the original image, and for extracting multilevel image data corresponding to the pixels of the read area, the pixels including a target pixel and neighboring pixels surrounding the target pixel, an averaging part for providing the average of multilevel image data based on the data of the pixels extracted by the matrix register part, and a binarization part for providing a bilevel image signal corresponding to the multilevel image data of the target pixel by using the average of the multilevel image data from the averaging part as a threshold value of binarization.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming color images on paper using a sublimation type thermal transfer full-color printer using three color inks of yellow, magenta, and cyan. A color input signal to be printed is subjected to a first color correction process. The first color correction process performs a color correction using linear and non-linear masking operations and produces first ink-density signals. The first ink-density signals are judged for reproducibility by the printer by determining whether the signals fit within a gamut of colors. If judged to be reproducible, the first ink-density signals are passed on to the printer. However, if the first ink-density signals are judged to be outside the gamut of colors, the signals are subjected to a second correction process. The second color correction process first obtains a target color for color reproduction by the printer.

Abstract: A film image editor for editing plural photographic film images. The editor includes: a scanner for reading images in any one of a plurality of different picture sizes from a developed photographic film; a picture size detecting circuit for detecting a picture size of each of the images based on a density variation information of each of the images; an editing interface for editing the image in the detected picture size according to an input operation by an operator; and an output device for outputting the image which is edited by the editing interface.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus selectively uses a cut recording sheet or a roll-like recording sheet. The facsimile apparatus has a housing, constituting the outer surface of the apparatus. An original reading section is provided for conveying an original between a first opening portion, formed in a front portion of the upper surface of the housing, and a front surface opening portion, formed in a front surface of the housing. A recording section is provided for inserting a recording sheet through a second opening portion, formed in the upper surface of the housing at a position closer to the rear side than the first opening portion and for discharging the recording sheet through the first opening portion. A roll-like sheet holder supplies a roll-like recording sheet from a rear portion of the housing.

Abstract: A BPSK-MPP-DS-CDMA system is devised using a pulse position modulated direct sequence technique. Under the same bandwidth, same energy used for one decision, and same bit error rate conditions, if the number of users is less than the period N.sub.cp of the pseudorandom sequence signal PN.sub.p.sup.i (t) used in the BPSK-MPP-DS-CDMA system, the multiple access capacities of the binary (M=2), ternary (M=3), quaternary (M=4), and pentary (M=5) BPSK-MPP-DS-CDMA systems according to the present invention are respectively at least 2, 5.34, 13.28, and 26.4 times greater than that of the conventional BPSK-DS-CDMA systems. On the other hand, if the number of users attains N.sub.cp, the multiple access capacity can not increase any more, however, the bit error rate of the system will be reduced. Furthermore, (M-1)/M transmitting energy is saved.

Abstract: The present invention allows for a communication device (136) which roams within a communication system (100), the ability of maintaining in contact with other communication units, even while the unit is away from its home sub-system. Communication system (100) comprises a wide area paging system which includes a wide area paging controller (184) which controls at least one local area paging controller (108, 182 and 156). When a communication unit is away from its home system, the home system sends out a page via the wide area paging system in order to locate the communication unit and direct the unit to a local sub-system which the unit can use to communicate with the calling unit.

Abstract: In one of aspects of the invention, an automatic sheet conveying mechanism comprises upper and lower casings mutually coupling sheet conveying paths in a releasable state, and a sheet guide plate for partitioning the sheet conveying paths together with the lower casing, guiding the lower surface of the sheet being conveyed, and defining the projecting extent of the functional parts supported by the lower casing into the sheet conveying path, in which the sheet guide plate is formed integrally with the lower casing.