Abstract: A scene-change detector is disclosed which detects a scene-change of a moving image composed of a plurality of frames. In the apparatus, a moving image is encoded based on the correlation between frames or inside a frame. The energy of an estimation error between frames in the case of encoding is operated by image elements. The energy is totaled by frames, and when the totaled value is larger than a specified value, a signal expressing a scene-change is output.

Abstract: A method for deploying a PCS system wherein radio transceivers are deployed at spacings which correspond to a diameter of a first Fresnel zone and set output powers of the transceivers to define cells which correspond to the first Fresnel zone of the transceivers. A PCS system having radio transceivers deployed at spacings corresponding to a diameter of a first Fresnel zone and operating at output powers which define cells corresponding to the first Fresnel zones of the transceivers. A handoff area surrounds the first Fresnel zone breakpoint.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning an image using a moving lens scanning system is described. The present invention moves film through a pin registered film gate, creating a projected image. A light source exposes images on the film in the film gate. The projected image passes through a lens and exposes a sensor, for example, a CCD camera. The sensor converts the section of the projected image exposed to it into electronic signals, and transfers that data out of the sensor. In one embodiment, the position of the film gate relative to the lens and sensor is adjustable to accommodate different size film formats. A rectangular sensor is used having a width narrower than the projected image width, and a height corresponding to the height of the projected image.

Abstract: An MPEG based video signal compression system reduces picture degradation caused by sub-optimal selection of a prediction mode. A disclosed method produces a compressed video output signal from a video input signal. The video input signal is converted (57) into pixel blocks. Then, a plurality of predicted blocks are formed (60) as representations of an input block. Each predicted block is produced by a different prediction function and has an associated Correlation Factor CF which indicates the degree of correlation between the input block and a predicted block. This factor is obtained (35) by subtracting a measure of a low frequency varying correlation component from an index of correlation. The Correlation Factors are compared (45), and a compressed block associated with the predicted block with the lowest CF value is selected as an output block. This process is repeated for the other input blocks, and the selected compressed output blocks are combined to form the output signal.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus is of a field-sequential imaging type, comprising an illuminating unit for illuminating an object by sequentially emitting color illumination rays with a plurality of different wavelengths and an imaging device for photoelectrically transforming the object image formed with the color illumination rays emanating from the illuminating unit. The electronic endoscope includes a drive circuit for driving the imaging device so as to read the locations in the imaging device associated with only one of two fields, image memories for storing video signals representing the object image formed with the color illumination rays and having been read from the imaging device, and memory control units for reading color video signals from the image memories in synchronization with a vertical-synchronizing signal.

Abstract: An index image which shows plural frames on a film strip within a film cartridge and/or a film image in one frame are displayed on a display. Information relating to automatic regeneration or automatic printing for regenerating plural film images on the film sequentially and automatically is entered by an user who is looking at the display. The entered automatic regeneration information or automatic printing information are recorded in a record medium which corresponds to the film cartridge. When the automatic regeneration or automatic printing is performed, the film player reads out the automatic regeneration information or the automatic printing information from the record medium, and automatically regenerates or prints the plural film images on the film strip in accordance with the readout automatic regeneration information or automatic printing information.

Abstract: A film image input system is disclosed which provides an increased degree of freedom of design thereof, can be reduce the size and costs thereof, and can execute a trimming operation with ease. The film image input system forms an image of a developed still photo film 134 on a light receiving surface of an image pickup element 140 through a zoomable taking lens 138 and outputs to a monitor TV an image signal photo-electrically converted by the image pickup element 140 to thereby reproduce the film image on the screen of the monitor TV. The film image input system comprises at least one mirror 137 interposed between the photo film 134 and taking lens 138 for bending the optical axis of the taking lens 138, a mirror drive mechanism 168 for inclining the mirror 137 in all directions, and an operation part 170 for driving the mirror drive mechanism 168 in order to execute a desired scanning. This allows the system to be made compact and increases the freedom of design of the system.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus for encoding input image data using both of an intrapicture encoding mode and a motion compensation interpicture encoding mode has a refresh area setting section for setting a refresh area to allow an intraimage encoding to be forcibly performed in a picture plane so as to overlap between picture planes in a motion compensation range or more, a refresh control section for forcibly setting an encoding mode of the input image data to the intrapicture encoding mode in the refresh area set by the refresh area setting section, and a cancel section for cancelling a refresh when an image portion as a prediction image of an interpicture encoding has been intrapicture encoded even in the refresh area set by the refresh area setting section.

Abstract: A method for encoding a block of video signal which includes a plurality of frames, each of the frames is divided into a multiplicity of nonoverlapping blocks and each of the blocks contains K.times.K pixels, K being a positive integer. The method determines two reconstruction values and a bit plane for the block, scans K.times.K binary pixels included in the bit plane in a zigzag order for providing run-length and level values, encodes the run-length and the level values by using a predetermined variable length coding table, thereby providing a coded bit plane, determines a selection signal denoting either the bit plane or the coded bit plane which is represented with a fewer number of bits; choosing either the bit plane or the coded bit plane in response to the selection signal, and combines the two reconstruction values, and either of the bit plane and the coded bit plane which was selected.

Abstract: A rate control algorithm for an MPEG-2 compliant encoder is described. The rate control algorithm has embodiments useful for constant bit rate and variable bit rate encoding. In particular, the invention relates to rate control with panic mode.

Abstract: A personal surveillance system having a video camera and an audio microphone in a single package sufficiently small to be worn as a badge, lapel pin, or similarly small accessory. The audio/video package is coupled to a transmitter for transmitting an audio and video signal to a remote station. The remote station comprises a video cassette recorder responsive to a signal for recording that is generated on a continuous basis by the audio/video package in a signal band that is filtered before recording.

Abstract: A method for spatial compression of a digital video picture to obtain the quantizer step size so as to avoid over "lossy" reconstruction and loss of detail. The first step is dividing the picture into a plurality of macroblocks, for example, 16.times.16 macroblocks, each macroblock having luminance or chrominance pixel blocks, for example four 8.times.8 pixel blocks. This is followed by multiplying each luminance pixel block by a modified frequency ordered Hadamard matrix to yield a first dimension of each luminance pixel block. The first dimension of each pixel block is then multiplied by the inverse of the modified frequency ordered Hadamard matrix to yield a second dimension of each luminance pixel block. The second dimension of the pixel luminance block is then weighted against a weight matrix, and the individual weighted terms are summed for each pixel block. The minimum of the weighted terms is selected. This minimum is used to detect the edge or texture of the macroblock, e.g.

Abstract: A video reproducing apparatus includes a video data memory for storing video data and a video data table for storing information about whether or not given items of the video data in the video data memory have been reproduced. A backup power supply unit backs up the information in the video data table when power is removed. A song category designation input unit is provided for inputting the song category designated, a video reproducing unit is provided for reproducing video data, and a background video control unit is provided for controlling the component units configured. On the basis of the information held in the video data table, the background video control unit determines whether or not any unreproduced video data remains in the video data belonging to the song category designated by the song category designation input unit. If unreproduced video data is found to exist, the control unit instructs the video reproducing unit to reproduce that unreproduced video data.

Abstract: A method of extracting a color difference signal, a motion vector and motion compensator in HDTV, wherein motion vectors are multiplexed to one serial motion vector in a 4 step parallel process when compressing data, and in a motion compensation device for a memory address controller of HDTV, the first and second multiplexers are connected to data bus for horizontal address between a Raster format write and a memory of the address controller, and the third multiplexer is connected to a data bus for vertical address, and above the first to the third multiplexers selects addresses of color difference vertical/horizontal motion vector generator and luminance vertical/horizontal motion vector generator, and a motion compensator is structured to control motion compensation of the memory, and the output pixel from the memory is selected in the motion compensator by the motion pixel selector; motion vector, which is processed in 4 step parallel, is multiplexed to one serial motion vector, and the circuit is simply s

Abstract: A device comprising an MPEG encoder (2) is provided with a preanalyser (8) which encodes each picture with a fixed step size (Q.sub.2). The preanalyser is coupled to a computing circuit (9) which computes, for each type of (I, P, B) picture, a target value (T) for the number of bits for encoding said picture, as well as a suitable distribution of the target value among the macroblocks of the picture. A proportionally integrating control circuit (7) controls the quantization step size (Q.sub.1). Since the PI control circuit does not introduce any residual errors, the desired number of bits per picture or per group of pictures is achieved within narrow limits. The output signal is eminently suitable for recording and subsequent editing.

Abstract: An improved method for inspecting assembled circuit boards utilizes an existing programmable placement machine having an associated downward looking camera, illumination source, and monitor. After assembling a first circuit board of a series with electrical components according to a program which is particular to that series, and prior to removing the assembled board from the machine, an inspection is performed by: (i) automatically repositioning the relative position of the camera and the assembled circuit board, according to a portion of that same particular program, in order to address each placement position in turn; (ii) automatically acquiring an image of each placement position when it is addressed, and furnishing the image to the monitor in order to provide a magnified image on the monitor screen; (iii) visually inspecting the magnified image on the monitor screen in order to ascertain the presence or absence of the component at each placement position, the deviation in X, Y, and .theta.

Abstract: In a projector, green CRT projection tubes for displaying pictures for the right and left eyes are arranged on the right and left sides with respect to a screen respectively, while a red CRT projection tube for convergence adjustment is arranged at the center. Further, the projector includes polarizing filters which are provided on respective front surfaces of the CRT projection tubes, a triple two-input one-output type selector switch, and a convergence adjusting picture signal source. In general, a right eye picture signal from a right eye picture signal source is supplied to the CRT projection tube through the selector switch, while a left eye picture signal from a left eye picture signal source is supplied to the CRT projection tube through the selector switch. At this time, the observer can visually recognize a stereoscopic monochromatic picture through polarizing glasses.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus wherein the amount of operation for calculation of an quantization step size to be used for coding of a picture signal by a coding section is reduced includes a bit amount estimation section estimates an amount of bits to be generated for a currently inputted frame using a predetermined estimated quantization step size. A coding section encodes the currently inputted frame using a quantization step size.

Abstract: In the motion prediction processor outputting the encoding type designating the inter-frame or intra-frame prediction coding and the motion vector in case of performing the inter-frame prediction coding, the coordinate values of the currently processed block are outputted and an offset is supplied to the address for reading out the reference region from the reference frame memory. The evaluation data for estimating the coding quantity in case of performing the inter-frame prediction coding is also outputted. An n number of the motion prediction processors are arranged and respectively associated with reference frame memories. The reference regions different from the same block are supplied to the n motion prediction processors and the motion prediction processor with the least evaluation data is selected from among the motion prediction processors whose reference regions are comprised within the picture. The motion vector outputted by the thus selected processor is corrected and outputted.

Abstract: In a signal processing apparatus having a plurality of signal processing circuits where predetermined data is to be output sequentially through the plurality of signal processing circuits, when signal processing is performed at each signal processing circuit, timing necessary for respective signal processing is added to the data to be transmitted, as a header information, so that a complicated construction, such that a circuit for obtaining timing necessary for signal processing is added at each signal processing circuit, can be avoided, and the data can be securely processed and delivered at each signal processing circuit.