Abstract: A data transmission system, permits data transmission without failure while ensuring a substantially constant picture quality or audio quality irrespective of the source of data. The data transmission system transmits data after conversion thereof into digital data and compression of the same. In the system, the distortion in data to be transmitted is measured, and the quantization step size is controlled according to the measured distortion to hold the distortion constant, thus permitting data transmission while maintaining constant quality of the transmitted data irrespective of the data source kind.

Abstract: A video signal is coded by intraframe coding. The coded video signal is then decoded by intraframe/field decoding. A decoded local video signal is generated which corresponds to a specific region in one frame of a video signal coded one frame prior to the video signal. A first motion signal is generated which indicates motion of pictures in both the decoded video signal and the decoded local video signal. The motion signal is then subtracted from the video signal to generate a predictive error signal which is then coded by intraframe coding. The coded video signal and the coded predictive error signal are decoded by intraframe/field-decoding. A second motion signal is generated which indicates motion of pictures in both the decoded video signal and a video signal decoded one frame prior to a video signal to be reproduced. The decoded predictive error signal and the second motion signal are added to each other to reproduce the video signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing optical information to virtualize an environment includes a platform, an essentially vertical positioning shaft mounted on the platform, a range finding mechanism for detecting the range of locations in real space in the environment, a camera, structurally connected to the shaft, a mechanism for rotating the camera relative to the platform, a mechanism for translationally moving the camera along the shaft and relative to the platform. The range finding mechanism measures the distance between the camera and an object in the environment, for focusing the camera. The range finding mechanism includes a laser generating device.

Abstract: A sterilizable video microscope holder for supporting and positioning a video microscope unit in an operating room is provided which has a sterilizable flexible tubular arm, a bundle of optical fibers running through the arm, a support attached to one end of the arm for supporting it in the operating room and a connector at the same end of the arm for holding an end of the fiber optic bundle in aligned positioned for connection to a light source. The arm includes an inner articulated member which is bendable in all directions and will remain in any position to which it is bent and an outer covering over the inner articulated member to protect it from moisture, body oils and chemicals. The connector includes a tubular member for receiving and supporting the first end of the bundle of optical fibers in aligned position and an adaptor at a distal end of the tubular member connected to the first end of the bundle and being connectable to a light source.

Abstract: A video coding scheme based on wavelet representation performs motion compensation in the wavelet domain rather than spatial domain. This inter-frame wavelet transform coding scheme preferably uses a variable-size multi-resolution motion compensation (MRMC) prediction scheme. The MRMC scheme produces displaced residual wavelets (DRWs). An optimal bit allocation algorithm produces a bit map for each DRW, and each DRW is then adaptively quantized with its respective bit map. Each quantized DRW is then coded into a bit stream.

Abstract: A method of coding a set of multi- level signals, such as video signals comprises filtering the set of multi-level signals into one or more sets of multi-level sub-band signals; allocating a first quantity of bits for use in coding a first set of sub-band signals; coding the first set of multi-level sub-band signals using zero or more of the first quantity of allocated bits; allocating a second quantity of bits for use in coding a second set of sub-band signals, the second quantity of bits comprising zero or more of the first quantity of bits not used in coding the first set of multi-level sub-band signals; and coding the second set of multi-level sub-band signals using zero or more of the second quantity of allocated bits. Three examples of the method am provided. A hardware implementation involving the use of digital signal processors operating in parallel is also provided.

Abstract: A novel variable-size block multi-resolution motion estimation (MRME) scheme is presented. The motion estimation scheme can be used to estimate motion vectors in subband coding, wavelet coding and other pyramid coding systems for video compression. In the MRME scheme, the motion vectors in the highest layer of the pyramid are first estimated, then these motion vectors are used as the initial estimate for the next layer and gradually refined. A variable block size is used to adapt to its level in the pyramid. This scheme not only considerably reduces the searching and matching time but also provides a meaningful characterization of the intrinsic motion structure. In addition, the variable-MRME approach avoids the drawback of the constant-size MRME in describing small object motion activities. The proposed variable-block size MRME scheme can be used in estimating motion vectors for different video source formats and resolutions including video telephone, NTSC/PAL/SECAM, and HDTV applications.

Abstract: A video image frame consisting of a two-dimensional array of picture elements (pixels) is decomposed into a set of rectangular image portions (tiles). Within each tile, variance between pixel intensity values is less than a predetermined value. A tile is encoded by a value set identifying the tile and including a single intensity value for all pixels in the tile. Frame-to-frame variation of the video image is encoded by inter-frame tile comparison and encoding of sub-tiles representative of change from a previous frame to a current frame.

Abstract: An imaging system for detecting the contents of a turbid medium, such as water or air, which is at least partially transmissive of light. The system includes a light source for producing a series of discrete fan-shaped pulse beams which are substantially uniform in intensity or have been peaked at the edges of the fan to illuminate sections of the medium, a streak tube with a large photocathode for collecting the maximum amount of light from weak returns, a field-limiting slit disposed in front of the photocathode for removing multiply scattered light, a large aperture optical element for collecting and focusing the reflected portions of the pulse beam on the field-limiting slit and the photocathode, and an array of detectors. A volume display of the medium is generated by translating the transmitter and receiver normal to the longitudinal axis of the pulse beam to illuminate adjacent sections of the medium, and combining the sections to provide a volume display.

Abstract: In a system and a method for observing a biological sample, a drive unit is connected to a solid state image sensor located to directly observe a biological sample. A record and display unit is connected to the drive unit for receiving, through the drive unit, observed image information picked up by the solid state image sensor. A control unit is connected to the drive unit and the record and display unit for intermittently or periodically putting the solid state image sensor into an operating condition. Thus, it is possible to effectively suppress or prevent the temperature elevation of the biological sample, which would otherwise be caused by the heat generated from the solid state image sensor. Accordingly, it is possible to continuously observe the growth or reproduction of a biological sample for a long time while giving no adverse influence to the growth or reproduction of the biological sample.

Abstract: Derived from a picture input signal and a motion vector signal in a block matching type motion compensation encoding device, a prediction error signal is quantized by a controllable quantizer into a quantized signal for encoding together with the motion vector signal. Supplied with frame pulses, a controller produces a control signal with a predetermined value for making the quantizer quantize a zero signal instead of the error signal and with a different value for operating the quantizer merely as a forward quantizer. An amount of encoded information is reduced when the predetermined value appears once in two or three frame periods. For smoother movement of a movable part in reproduced pictures, the zero signal is not substituted in each duration in which motion vectors are either greater in magnitude, not identical with a representative vector, or less correlated with corresponding motion vectors in a previous picture for which the zero signal is not substituted.

Abstract: A system for generating motion vectors from image data calculates correlation surface values representing image correlation between temporally adjacent images. The system provides a stream of correlation surface values comprising interleaved subsets of correlation surface values from differing correlation surfaces, each subset being a portion of a correlation surface. The system also provides a correlation surface analyzer for receiving the stream of correlation surface values and determining partial result values for motion vectors, a buffer memory for storing the partial result values, and an apparatus for reading out final result values of motion vectors for a given correlation surface.

Abstract: A method for partially encoding an image. The image is divided into a plurality of blocks and one block is selected for processing. A determination is made whether the selected block is an exterior block. The selected block is encoded only if it is determined to be an exterior block, otherwise, the selected block is ignored for purposes of encoding.

Abstract: When a digital video signal is compressed, the amount of resulting data is predicted and the quantization level is controlled so as to obtain a constant bit rate. The prediction is made by computing a linear combination of a standard deviation and a number of non-zero coefficients, or by computing a sum of absolute differences between adjacent pixel values, or by computing a dynamic range of pixel values. The bit rate can also be controlled by deleting high-frequency coefficients. To avoid image degradation, the quantization level can also be controlled according to the sensitivity of small image areas to quantization noise. Sensitivity is determined by dividing an area into subblocks, which may overlap, and calculating statistics in each subblock. To reduce the amount of computation required in motion estimation, chrominance motion vectors are derived from luminance motion vectors.

Abstract: A military weapon system consists of six major components; a weapon that impacts a target from the air, a video sensor/transmitter attached to the weapon, a tow line that connects the weapon and the video sensor/transmitter, a brake assembly, a remote receiver/recorder, and a transmission activation device. Following launch of the weapon by its air or ground based launch apparatus, the video sensor/transmitter is released from the weapon into the air stream surrounding the weapon and immediately moves aft due to aerodynamic drag forces. The tow line and brake assembly restrain the aft movement of the video sensor/transmitter causing it to achieve a position that is aft of and in trail behind the weapon. Immediately following weapon impact, a signal containing video imagery is transmitted to the remote receiver/recorder to enable post strike analysis of the weapon point-of-impact, weapon detonation, and initial target damage.

Abstract: An improved image signal encoding apparatus for processing a digitized image signal for transmission thereof in a compressed form, comprising a horizontal one-dimensional compression path for compressing the digitized image signal utilizing a horizontal correlation therein to provide a first compression signal, a vertical one-dimensional compression path for compressing the digitized image signal utilizing a vertical correlation therein to provide a second compression signal, a two-dimensional compression path for compressing the digitized image signal utilizing the horizontal and the vertical correlations to provide a third compression signal; and a comparator for comparing a first compression error contained in the first compression signal, a second compression error contained in the second compression signal and a third compression error contained in the third compression signal so as to enable the selection of the compression signal having the least error.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting the color of objects such as bottles to be recycled so as to enable the bottles to be separated by color. The method which is particularly concerned with determining the color of an object (bottle) with a label attached thereto, begins with the storing of a reference image. Next, a determination is made of whether a bottle is present or absent. If a bottle is present, the image of the bottle is then separated into an intensity image representation of the bottle image, a saturation image representation of the bottle image, and a hue image representation of the bottle image. Then, the reference image is subtracted from the intensity image so that a resultant image is produced with the background contribution removed. Next, a logical "AND" operation is performed on the resultant image and the hue image to create a further image which has no background components. A histogram is then performed on the further image to determine the hue with the maximum number of occurrences.

Abstract: A device has a light source apparatus, which, as required, feeds white continuous light or sequential colored light by means of a filter device having several color surface regions and two filter discs which can be rotary driven, into a particular endoscope. One filter disc is provided with the color segments red, green and white and the other filter disc is provided with the color segments blue and white to achieve a simplified and structurally compact light source apparatus, both filter discs being arranged to be rotatable on a common rotary axis and adjustable relative to one another and fixable such that the white color segment of one filter disc covers the blue color segment of the other filter disc in a first operating position of the filter discs, and the white color segment of one filter disc is aligned to be axis-parallel with the white color segment of the other filter disc in a second operating position of the filter discs.

Abstract: A video coding apparatus comprises a memory for storing a coded picture signal used as a reference picture signal, a vector detecting circuit for detecting, from plural field picture signals or plural frame picture signals which are read out from the memory and the reference picture signals, an optimum motion vector regarding a picture to be coded, a prediction signal producing circuit for subjecting a spatial-temporal filtering to a reference picture designated by the optimum motion vector to produce a prediction signal, and a coding circuit for coding the to-be-coded picture signal on the basis of the prediction signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scalably decoding a sequence of encoded digital video frames with a digital processor. A frame discard interval is determined in accordance with the processing power of the digital processor and a counter is initialized. A frame is selected from the sequence for decoding. The selected frame is decoded and the counter is incremented. If the counter is less than the discard interval then the process is repeated; otherwise, at least one subsequent frame from the sequence is replaced with a sync frame which is thereafter decoded.