Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a quantization step size for use in an encoder which divides one image frame into first blocks and encodes the divided first blocks and transmits the encoded data at a constant transmission rate.

Abstract: An adaptive blocking coding system selects an effective blocking of an input image signal to be encoded in accordance with the correlation between fields, even if motion is detected between the fields. The blocking patterns include an individual field blocking, a non-interlace blocking, a split blocking and an inverted split blocking. Further, the coding system searches for motion from both odd and even fields of a frame for producing a motion compensated prediction signal in order to provide high-efficiency coding.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for an endoscope including a smearing component extraction device for extracting a smearing component caused by a high luminance light beam from an original image composed of an image signal of a subject to be imaged. The image processing apparatus also includes a device for correcting the original image composed of the image signal by use of the signal of the smearing component extracted by the smearing component extraction device and reduces or eliminates smearing when a laser treatment is carried out to thereby improve the quality of an image to be observed.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image processing apparatus for processing a stereoscopic image signal for a stereoscopic image which is composed of a plurality of images is arranged to receive a plurality of image signals for the plurality of images, to time-base-compress the image signals received, to form a composite image signal by combining the time-base-compressed image signals, to multiplex an information signal for information which is other than images but corresponds to the contents of the plurality of images, and to output the composite image signal to a transmission route. The arrangement enables the apparatus to combine the plurality of image signals for the images forming the stereoscopic image and to transmit the composite image signal together with the information signal for information which is other than images but corresponds to the content of the plurality of images.

Abstract: A cable-saving type CCTV system for transmitting a multiplexed video signal over a single coaxial cable connecting a camera site and a control site by frequency-modulating a bi-directional audio signal and producing a digital control signal and a digital alarm signal and multiplexing the resultant signals and an external synchronizing signal in a blanking period of the video signal.

Abstract: A motion vector detecting apparatus adapted for detecting motion vectors in motion prediction of an interlaced moving picture comprised of sets of picture blocks consisting of a plurality of pixels. In the case of carrying out five motion predictive error calculations of motion vector from current frame to frame to which reference is made, motion vector from odd field of current frame to odd field of frame to which reference is made, motion vector from odd field of current frame to even field of frame to which reference is made, motion vector from even field of current frame to odd field of frame to which reference is made, and motion vector from even field of current frame to even field of frame to which reference is made, output results of accumulators for carrying out calculation of motion vectors for field are used as they are, thus to carry out calculation of motion vectors for frame at the same time.

Abstract: A very low bit rate video and audio coding system that performs allocation for distributing the bit rate based on the needs for the video and audio signals is disclosed. The audio time bands are set to frames as determined by the video signal. The audio is encoded first to determine the number of bits that will be saved based on the energy distribution of the audio signal. Audio signal information is stored in a FIFO buffer to await the arrival of the accompanying video signal. The video signal is then coded as an I picture, a P picture or an extra P picture based on the number of bits available in the buffer, the number of bits saved by the audio encoding, and the minimum number of bits required for video coding. After encoding, the video signal is sent to the FIFO buffer to be matched with the audio signal and outputted as one bit stream by a multiplexer.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises an endoscope control unit provided with an image signal generating circuit for signal processing an image pickup signal from an endoscope to generate an image signal, and a drive-signal generating circuit for generating a drive signal for driving an image pickup element provided on the endoscope; a first endoscope capable of being connected to the endoscope control unit and provided with a first image pickup element for image pickup of a subject image; a second endoscope capable of being connected to the endoscope control unit and provided with a second image pickup element different from the first image pickup element, for picking up the subject image; and a signal rationalizing circuit for rationalizing a form of a signal exchanged between at least one of the first endoscope and the second endoscope, and the endoscope control unit.

Abstract: In the case where a wide-band color picture signal provided for a high-definition television broadcasting is sub-sampled for narrow-band transmission, in comparison with a stationary picture signal which is applied with sub-sampling according to a sampling pattern circulated at every two frames, the color picture signal in motional picture regions, which is conventionally applied with line-offset sub-sampling at every field, has a lowered resolution. To improve the resolution concerned, color difference signals in motional picture regions are applied with inter-field offset sub-sampling together with band-limitation for preventing aliasing distortion accompanied with subsampling and signal processing including interpolation for reproduction, which are effected in a form completed at every frame. As for motional picture regions having small motion, a luminance signal is applied also with similar sub-sampling and similar signal processing.

Abstract: Block matching for picture motion estimation uses offset quantized pixel values. The pixels of a reference block from a first frame of a video picture sequence are offset quantized to produce a pair of offset quantized reference pixel signals. The pixels of a search area from a next frame of the video picture sequence, corresponding to a current position of the reference block relative to the search area, the search area being larger than the reference block, are quantized to produce a quantized search pixel signal. The quantized search pixel signal is compared with each of the offset quantized reference pixel signals on a pixel by pixel basis to determine whether absolute equality exists between the respective pairs of pixel signals. The comparison results are combined so that for each quantized pixel of the search block that has absolute equality with either offset quantized reference pixel signal, a tally count is incremented.

Abstract: An amount-of-movement detection device which is capable of detecting the amount of movement with a high degree of accuracy when the amount of movement of an image is detected by hierarchical block matching method. An amount-of-movement detection device 1 forms image data S2.sub.n and S3.sub.n of plural hierarchies having different resolutions from each other, by input image S1.sub.n input at a first point in time, and forms multiplexed image data S2.sub.n-1 and S3.sub.n-1 of a higher hierarchy of low resolution, based on an input image S1.sub.n-1 input at a second point in time, by selecting pixels overlapping with each other from the image data of the lower hierarchy having higher resolution and reducing them in size, in order to detect a motion vector by block matching at a predetermined block unit for each of the hierarchies corresponding to the hierarchized image data S2.sub.n and S3.sub.n and the multiplexed and hierarchized image data S2.sub.n-1 and S3.sub.n-1.

Abstract: An adaptive system and method for data storage and communication which is primarily used for the storage and transmission of large volumes of data, especially video data, over band-limited communication channels. The video coder of the system uses a prediction video signal which is subtracted from the input image to define a processing region in which image blocks of predetermined dimensions have large prediction error. The prediction image is successively improved by iteratively processing large error image blocks until the error is reduced below a predetermined threshold. At different processing iterations and image blocks, different compression techniques can be used to improve the overall system efficiency.

Abstract: A video data processing system (10) has a first substrate (12) and a second substrate (14). A system decoder (16), input buffer (18) and parser (20) are formed on first substrate (12). The parser (20) retrieves video data information from an input data stream and feeds coefficients through a dequantization unit (22) and a transformation unit (24). In addition, motion vector information is output from the parser (20). The second substrate (14) comprises a plurality of picture frame buffers 38, 40 and 44. The frame buffers 38, 40 and 44 are used to store decoded video information. Motion compensation modules 26a and 26b are used to perform predicted calculations on the information received from the video data stream as well as other images that have already been decoded. A raster scan output buffer (46) is used to output the decoded video information.

Abstract: An eyewinder system 10 has stations 100-108 for straightening, bending, measuring and transporting a wire 11 to form an eyewire 109. A controller 120 controls each station. Using information from tension and length measuring stations 104, 105, the controller 120 can accurately operate the second bending station 107. The eyewire 109 is inspected for accurate bends by an inspection system 140 that compares the bends in the eyewire 109 to predetermined radii of curvature.

Abstract: A device for encoding a video signal comprises a picture transformer (22), a quantizer (23) and a variable-length encoder (24), as well as distribution device (6) for distributing a global target value (T) for the number of bits per picture or group of pictures in local target values (T.sub.n) for separate macroblocks of each picture. The device for encoding is provided with proportionally integrating control device for for controlling the quantization step size (Q.sub.1) in such a way that the buffer contents (b) of an output buffer (4) are in conformity with the target value. Since the PI control circuit does not introduce any residual errors, the desired number of bits per picture or group of pictures is achieved within narrow limits. The output signal is eminently suitable for recording and subsequent editing.

Abstract: A method for imaging, broadcasting and viewing images, simultaneously three-dimensional and two-dimensional, of object space. The invention comprises a camera device, a remote viewing device, a drive signal generator, a transmitter, and a pair of viewing glasses. The camera device includes a single imaging lens having a bifurcated, dual-aperture light valve, and a single image space for receiving and overlaying a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images at a field rate driven by the drive signal. The transmitter transmits the images, as an image signal, and the drive signal. The remote viewing device receives the image signal and reconverts the image signal to the plurality of left-eye images and the plurality of right-eye images. The pair of viewing glasses receives the drive signal and in response thereto, opens and closes the left and right viewing-light valves, synchronized with the field rate, for viewing the left and right eye images, respectively.

Abstract: A moving image transmission method encodes and decodes information to obtain a high transmission efficiency. The coding method calculates motion parameters of each segment of an image and segment prediction is conducted between frames. The encoder of the sending end and the decoder of the receiving end independently determine each respective segment for n frames (n is a natural number) in which encoding has been completed. To predict the corresponding portion of the present frame, the encoder calculates the required motion parameters, and then sends these motion parameters with the coded information to the decoder. In the decoder, prediction between frames is performed using the segment information independently determined with regard to the image of the previous frame in addition to the coded information and motion parameters received from the encoder.

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for stereoscopically viewing images from a single screen, comprising a housing (6), at least one mirror (8,10) which just reflects light, a mirror (12) which both reflects light and transmits light, and a polarizing device (14, 16). The mirrors (8, 10, 12) are mounted at an angle and are optically in communication with each other whereby a pair of landscape stereoscopic images are optically manipulated between an orientation required suitable for visual image recording or reproduction.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a motion vector representing a displacement between a current frame and a previous frame of video signals comprises an error detector for comparing the error functions calculated from block matching sections to each other and selecting M number error functions in the order of their magnitude beginning from a smallest, a displacement vector selector for selecting M number of displacement vectors from displacement vectors generated from candidate block formation sections, a candidate block selector for selecting M number of candidate blocks, M number of boundary matching sections for generating M sets of boundary differences, M number of comparison and counting sections for comparing boundary differences in one of the M sets of boundary differences with a predetermined value, to count the number of the boundary differences having a value larger than the predetermined value; and an optimum motion vector selector for selecting a counted number having a minimum value to determine one o

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for prediction coding with motion estimation uses a hierarchical approach in which a motion vector updating routine is performed with respect to multiple levels of smaller and smaller regions of a frame. The motion vector updating routine updates the motion vector of a smaller region by assigning to it a best motion vector selected from among an initial motion vector assigned to the smaller region, motion vectors of neighboring regions, and a matched motion vector obtained by performing a block matching technique for the smaller region. The best motion vector for each region is selected according to a priority scheme and a predetermined threshold value. Adjacent regions having the same motion vector are then merged together, and a region shape representation routine is used to specify contour pixels that will allow the merged regions to be recovered by a decoder. A contour coding routine is then used to encode the contour pixels for transmission to the decoder.