Abstract: A mobile television receiver includes a TV tuner demodulating an incoming TV signal into a first video signal. A first horizontal sync signal is separated from the first video signal. Detection is made as to a quality of an image represented by the first video signal. A second horizontal sync signal is generated. Detection is made as to a difference between a phase of the first horizontal sync signal and a phase of the second horizontal sync signal. The phase of the second horizontal sync signal is controlled in response to the detected phase difference between the first horizontal sync signal and the second horizontal sync signal so that the second horizontal sync signal will be locked in phase and frequency to the first horizontal sync signal. A memory unit stores the first video signal in response to a memory control signal, and outputs the stored first video signal as a second video signal. The memory control signal is generated in response to the detected image quality.

Abstract: A video surveillance system includes a central control station and a plurality of video cameras each mounted inside a dome housing unit. A video data buffer memory, storing compressed video data generated by the camera, is mounted with each camera in the respective dome unit. Data buffered at the dome units may be selectively protected from over-writing in response to alarm signals and then retrieved for display or tape-recording by the central control station. Both live and buffered video signals are transmitted in compressed form over a data network that is also used for command, alarm and status messaging.

Abstract: A data compression and display memory apparatus which is capable of obtaining a better compression efficiency by using a DPCM and a line interpolation technique and providing a simple hardware construction.

Abstract: To represent the motion of a pixel between successive image frames, this method utilizes the motion information for the transformation block containing the pixel, as well as the motion information for adjacent transformation blocks whenever the adjacent transformation blocks are associated with the same object with which the selected pixel is associated. As a result, transformation errors arising from transformation block discontinuities are decreased and the accuracy and integrity of motion representations of pixels within an object are maintained. Preferably, the motion representations for the transformation blocks are multi-dimensional or affine transformations that are capable of representing complex motions that include any or all of translation, rotation, magnification, and shear.

Abstract: A variable bit rate MPEG2 video decoder having a variable rate fast playback function includes a variable rate fast playback processor with a portion determining the fullness of a video buffer according to the amount of data input to and output from the video buffer; a fast playback rate controller for calculating a variable rate control parameter S representing the number of bi-directional predicted (B) pictures to be restored within one group of pictures (GOP) for the fast playback mode and a parameter D representing the sequence of B pictures to be restored during the fast playback mode according to the total number (T) of pictures and the number (N) of B pictures within one GOP and the buffer's fullness output from the portion for determining the fullness of the video buffer; and an effective data detector and transmitter for detecting a picture start code to detect data of a picture layer, classifying data of pictures and counting the number of B pictures to transmit effective data for the fast playback

Abstract: An image encoding method and apparatus, an image decoding method and apparatus, and an image recording medium are provided for suppress the diffusion of the quantizing noise components of the wavelet coefficient or the subband coefficient caused by the band division with the wavelet filter or the subband filter and the quantization, thereby narrowing the area where the ringing takes place.

Abstract: In an image pickup system, an image pickup unit is connected to a computer which has a display device. In order to make a display by matching the characteristic of the image pickup unit with that of the display device, the image pickup unit is provided with a control part which is arranged to measure a signal processing speed of the computer, to compare the signal processing speed with an image pickup speed or a picked-up image data output speed of the image pickup unit and to vary an image pickup action or a picked-up image data output action of the image pickup unit according to a result of the comparison or according to an operation performed by an operator of the image pickup system.

Abstract: A motion picture encoder employs a motion compensation predictive encoding method to provide video signals. The motion picture encoder uses a relatively small storage capacity for a frame memory. Specifically, the frame memory has a storage capacity for storing at least two original pictures and one local decoding picture. A noise reducer unit performs a noise reducing process with respect to a present picture signal and a preceding picture signal. For example, a difference value is calculated between the present picture signal and preceding picture signal and is multiplied by a prescribed coefficient, whereupon a result of the multiplication is added to the preceding picture signal. In addition, a motion estimation/compensation unit is provided to perform motion estimation and motion compensation with respect to an encoding picture and a reference picture. A memory control unit is provided to control a data transfer between the noise reducer unit, frame memory and motion estimation/compensation unit.

Abstract: In a stereoscopic system including a three-dimensional camera and an HMD, by setting the convergences of the three-dimensional camera and the HMD in accordance with the distance to the object to be shot, a stereoscopically viewable object distance range is increased and a natural stereoscopic image is provided. The three-dimensional camera is provided with a convergence setter which varies the directions of left and right cameras, and the HMD is provided with a convergence setter which varies the directions of left and right virtual image projectors. The distance to the object is detected based on the distance between the left and right images taken by the three-dimensional camera, and the convergence setters of the three-dimensional camera and the HMD are controlled in accordance with the detected distance. The convergence setter of the three-dimensional camera performs focusing, interlocking with the convergence setting.

Abstract: A circuit for achieving a special effect in a television set (TV) by means of digital convergence, which includes an operating circuit for operating a digital convergence and a memory for storing special effect data. The circuit includes a first memory for storing special effect data, a second memory for storing standard coincidence data and a CPU for operating on the standard coincidence data so as to produce special effect data in accordance with a user instruction.

Abstract: Infrared radiation from a light source such as a laser diode illuminates the field of view of a surveillance camera. The amount of illumination is varied in intervals, which may for example, be about 3/4 of a second, by varying the power applied to the light source. The radiation may emanate from optical fibers surrounding a camera lens, or through other ports. The power to the laser diode may be altered in response to background light sensed by a photo cell. A filter on the camera preferentially passes reflected illumination of the source while alternating background illumination.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus decodes symbols and header data obtained by variable length decoding. The decoding apparatus comprises a data distributor (10) for receiving the symbols and alternately outputting blocks of the symbols via two output terminals. A header analyzer (50) receives the header data, analyzes the received header data and outputs parameters relating to restoration of the symbols. DC component decoding unit (40) detects symbols relating to DC coefficients of an intra-macroblock among the symbols output from the data distributor (10), and restores the DC coefficients of the intra-macroblock using the detected symbols and the parameters supplied from the header analyzer (50).

Abstract: A method adaptively encodes a sequence of frames including video objects to provide a compressed video signal. The encoding is via a buffer having a ariable input rate and a constant output rate. The encoding uses a discrete cosine transform to produce coefficients that are quantized to generate image-representative code bits at a variable rate and texture, and motion and shape information for each video object stored in the buffer. The content of the buffer is restricted by adjusting quantization parameters with respect to a reference value and a quadratic rate distortion model to increase or decrease the number of bits stored in the buffer. Furthermore, the target number of bits for encoding each video object is estimated in accordance with a function of relative motion and size. The encoding bit rate is set to avoid buffer overflow.

Abstract: A surface mount component outer surface inspection system comprising a loader for assembling an inventory of surface mount components and feeding them outward in controlled rectilinear manner and in a timed sequence, a first transfer assembly including a first moving endless belt in racetrack pattern, the belt having a partially perforated outer surface and a vacuum pulled through the perforations from the outer surface along a portion of the belt, for receipt of and retaining the surface mount components from the loader in spaced-apart arrangement on the belt, a surface-mount component, upper-surface viewing device for bringing the exposed surfaces of the moving components into focus at an area for inspecting them for visual defects, a second transfer assembly including a second moving endless belt in racetrack pattern, the belt having a partially perforated outer surface and a vacuum pulled through the perforations from the outer surface along a portion of the belt, the second assembly adjacent the first en

Abstract: An image processing apparatus with interframe interpolation capabilities for reproducing a sequence of video frames by performing a frame interpolation between two given video frame images to compensate for dropped frames. The image processing system comprises an outline detection unit to detect the outline of each moving object contained in a frame image and an affine parameter calculation unit to calculate first affine parameters based on the geometrical relationship between one outline image at a first point in time and another outline image at a second point in time. Based on the first affine parameters, an affine parameter interpolation unit performs a linear interpolation to produce second affine parameters corresponding to a third point in time between the first and second points in time.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus of the present invention comprises an endoscope with a built-in solid state imaging device at a distal end portion of an insertion tube and a distal end optical adapter detachably connected to the distal end portion of the insertion tube of the endoscope. At least one objective optical system is provided in said distal end optical adapter and an optical image formed on said solid state imaging device through the distal end optical adapter is displayed on a TV monitor through a control device.

Abstract: A method and device for image coding, primarily intended to be applied in the transmission of video signals, convert a video signal to a bit stream by coding and quantising. The bit stream is stored in a buffer store before it is sent at a constant bit rate on a transmission line. The content in the buffer store is regulated by varying the step height in the quantiser. With the frame rate at the input being known and the frame rate and bit rate at the output being known, the ideal buffer store content can be determined. The actual buffer store content is sensed and compared with the ideal buffer store content and the difference between these two values is determined. The step height in the quantiser is adjusted as a function of the difference.

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-efficient coding.

Abstract: The automatic tracking/image sensing device includes a lens barrel for supporting an image sensing lens, a support mechanism for supporting the lens barrel in such a way that the lens barrel can be moved, driver for driving the lens barrel, an image sensor installed at a location in close proximity to an image created by the image sensing lens, a video signal processor for generating a video signal based on a signal output by the image sensor, an object position detector for computing a positional deviation from the current position of the object to the center of the screen in accordance with the video signal generated by the video signal processor, a deflection detecting sensor for detecting the deflection of the lens barrel and a lens barrel posture controller for adjusting the angle of the lens barrel by using a driver in accordance with the positional deviation and the deflection.

Abstract: In multiplexing a plurality of coded data, degrees of difficulty of coding of the data are measured, coding rate for each of the data is decided by allotting a certain target bit rate with a ratio of the each of the measured degrees of difficulty of coding so that the bit rate of the multiplexed data becomes equal to the target bit rate, the data is then coded in response to the decided coding rates, and the coded data is multiplexed before being outputted to a transmission line or recording medium. Thus, the bit rate of the outputted data is always kept at the target value to improve the usage rate of a transmission line.