Abstract: An aerial reconnaissance camera and method provides for generating a first image of the terrain of interest with the camera pointing angle oriented or rotated about an azimuthal axis some angular amount (&thgr;1) to a first, typically forward orientation, i.e., forward of a cross-line of flight direction. An image is obtained of the ground at this orientation. Then the camera is rotated about the azimuthal axis to new angular value (&thgr;2), which will typically be aft of the cross line of flight direction. An image is generated at this value. The camera is then rotated back to the value of &thgr;1, and a second image in the forward orientation is generated. The camera is then rotated again to the value of &thgr;2 and another image in the aft orientation is generated. This process of rotating the camera about the azimuthal axis and generating images in forward and aft orientations continues over and over.

Abstract: A decoder for motion-picture-experts group (MPEG-4) video detects start codes at the beginning of video object planes (VOP) and resync markers at the start of each video packet (VP) in the VOP. When an error occurs in the bitstream, a parser searched for a next start code or resync marker to find the start of the next video packet. A partial match of the unique start-code bit sequence signals a fuzzy match, allowing the VOP header and data to be decoded even when bit errors occur in the VOP start code. A fuzzy match of the shorter resync marker can also be enabled. Fuzzy matching of VOP start codes and resync markers allows for faster recovery from corrupted bitstreams such as those transmitted over wireless networks.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stereo imaging system for use in telerobotic systems. A method of imaging a target site in a stereo imaging system is provided. The method typically includes capturing a right and a left optical image of the target site and transforming the right and the left optical images preferably into digital information. The method further includes converting the digital information into opposed images of the target site displayed on a stereo display of the stereo imaging system, one of the opposed images being associated with the right optical image and the other of the opposed images being associated with the left optical image. The method further includes regulating the digital information to cause the positions of the target site displayed on the opposed images to change relative to each other.

Abstract: A wide-angle image capture system for providing a wide-angle field of view of an area immediately exteriorly of a vehicle. The system includes a convex aspheric, asymmetric reflective surface which reflects an image toward an image capture device, via a substantially flat mirrored surface, both of which are compactly packaged within a panel of the vehicle. The shape of the convex reflector provides a reflected image that has a minimal amount of distortion in critical areas of the image immediately adjacent to the vehicle, so that additional processing of the image prior to it being displayed to a vehicle operator is minimized.

Abstract: A method for estimating the motion between a first image and a second image in a system for creating a panoramic image from a plurality of images taken by a camera, the method comprising the steps of: downsampling a first image in a first direction and in a second direction; downsampling a second image in a first direction and in a second direction; filtering the first and the second image so as to filter out any global illumination changes between the first image and the second image; calculating a first displacement along the first direction between the first downsampled image along the first direction and the second downsampled image along the first direction; and calculating a second displacement along the second direction between the first downsampled image along the second direction and the second downsampled image along the second direction. In an alternate embodiment, a device and computer readable medium corresponding to the above method is described.

Abstract: A video encoding scheme employs progressive fine-granularity layered coding to encode video data frames into multiple layers, including a base layer of comparatively low quality video and multiple enhancement layers of increasingly higher quality video. Some of the enhancement layers in a current frame are predicted from at least one same or lower quality layer in a reference frame, whereby the lower quality layer is not necessarily the base layer. Use of multiple reference layers of different quality results in occasional fluctuations in the encoded image data. The video encoding scheme efficiently eliminates such fluctuations by predicting higher quality data from the lower quality data encoded in the base layer and a low quality enhancement layer.

Abstract: A video based system and method for detecting and counting persons traversing an area being monitored is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transcoding method and device for converting input coded signals previously quantized with a first quantization scale Q1 into output coded signals quantized with a second quantization scale Q2. The transcoding device comprises a variable length decoder, a quantization step modifying stage, and a variable length encoder, said modifying stage itself comprising: (i) means of selection of one out of two parallel requantizing devices; (ii) a first requantizing device provided to be selected when the coding type corresponds to pictures used as references; (iii) a second requantizing device provided to be selected when said coding type does not correspond to reference pictures.

Abstract: A digital information embedding apparatus comprises a band divider, a block divider, a key generator, an information embedder and a band synthesizer. The band divider divides the digital image signal into a plurality of frequency bands to obtain wavelet coefficients. The block divider divides the frequency band in which the digital information is to be embedded into a plurality of blocks in a predetermined block size. The key generator respectively generates secondary keys having different values from a key having a predetermined value using a predetermined function. The information embedder specifies the block in the embedding object region based on each of the generated secondary keys, and respectively embeds the corresponding information composing the digital information in the wavelet coefficients in the specified block in the embedding object region. The band synthesizer reconstructs a digital image signal.

Abstract: Relationship information is previously generated and stored by learning based on camera motion estimation information expressing motion of a video camera, which is detected by a desired image signal picked up by the video camera, and camera motion information expressing physical motion of the video camera, which was obtained by a sensor for detecting physical motion at the same time when the desired image signal was picked up by the video camera. Camera motion estimation information with respect to an inputted image signal is detected from the inputted image signal. Camera motion prediction information with respect to the inputted image signal is generated, based on the camera motion estimation information detected and the relationship information. Based on the camera motion prediction information, a vibration signal for vibrating an object is generated. As a result, vibration data can be easily generated at low costs, based on existing video assets.

Abstract: Methods and systems for obtaining a motion vector between two frames of video image data are disclosed. Specifically, methods and systems of the present invention may be used to estimate a motion vector for each macroblock of a current frame with respect to a reference frame in a multi-stage operation. In a transcoder, motion estimation may be performed in the compressed domain eliminating the need to fully decode the compressed data in the first format before reencoding in a second format. In a first stage, an application implementing the process of the present invention obtains a motion vector between first and second pictures of video image data in a video sequence. Each picture includes a plurality of supermacroblocks, each having a plurality of macroblocks. For each supermacroblock of the first picture, a match supermacroblock in the second picture is determined that best matches the supermacroblock of the first picture.

Abstract: A degaussing coil is retained on the conical portion of a cathode ray tube by a resilient clip which snaps over a lug which is used to mount the cathode ray tube in its associated cabinet. The clip can be snapped over its respective mounting lug after the cathode ray tube has been mounted in its associated cabinet.

Abstract: A moving picture encoding/decoding system includes a moving picture encoding apparatus and moving picture decoding apparatus. The moving picture encoding apparatus has an input image encoding unit, first storage unit, shape information encoding unit, second storage unit, and padding unit. The moving picture decoding apparatus has an image decoding unit, first storage unit, shape information decoding unit, second storage unit, and padding unit. The input image encoding unit encodes an input image signal including an image object. The shape information encoding unit encodes shape information to generate encoded shape information, and generates boundary information. The padding unit identifies the outer region of the image object, calculates a pixel value, and substitutes the pixel value into the outer region. The image decoding unit refers to a reference image, and decodes encoded image data including an image object to generate an image signal.

Abstract: A given visual field is divided into a plurality of areas, and brightness information in the areas is detected at predetermined time intervals and stored as information of a mobile body in a memory of a motor vehicle monitoring apparatus on a motor vehicle. The bright information detected in the areas at different times is then read from the memory, and a motion of the brightness information between adjacent ones of the areas is detected as a one-dimensional optical flow. The detected one-dimensional optical flow is compared with a one-dimensional optical flow generated from a road due to the speed of the motor vehicle, for thereby detecting another motor vehicle which is moving toward the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A personal computer scanner for scanning the three-dimensional (3D) objects has a frame with an axis, and a front plate. The front plate has a large array of axial pinholes that each contain a slidably movable pin to form a bed of pins. A detection device is slidably mounted near the rear of the frame. A stepper motor is used to move the detection device relative to frame. The detection device has a sensor plate on its front surface with an array of sensors that correspond one-to-one with the pins. The user selects an object to be scanned and inserts it into the bed of pins to form an impression. The pins readily move and comply to the contours of the object. After the impression is made, the detection device is slowly incremented by the stepper motor toward the pins. The individual sensors are monitored by a host computer until they have been contacted by their respective pins. When a sensor has been touched by its pin, the sensor is scanned by the computer to record the displacement of the pin.

Abstract: The process for storing, in pages of a memory, image blocks (h, v) consisting of v lines of h pixels, for the reading of image blocks (H, V) consisting of V lines of H pixels, is characterized in that the horizontal shift DI, I+a, in terms of number of blocks (h, v), of the boundary of a page corresponding to any row I of the image with respect to the boundary of a page corresponding to a row I+a is equal to: DI, I+a=a D, ∀ positive integer a less than RM=INT [(V−2)/v]+2, (INT corresponding to the integer part of the division) the value D, which corresponds to the shift between two successive rows being chosen such that: D≧(BM−1), with BM=INT [(H−2)/h]+2. Applications relate, for example to motion estimation and motion compression.

Abstract: A picture decoding section starts to decode a bit-stream for one picture when a decoding start command is supplied from a decoding start command generating section, and outputs a decoding completion command when the decoding is completed. Decoded picture data is stored in a decoding frame buffer. The decoding frame buffer outputs a bufferfull notification when a certain quantity of picture data is stored. The decoding start command generating section outputs the decoding start command to the picture decoding section when a decoding completion command is outputted from the picture decoding section and the bufferfull notification is not outputted from the decoding frame buffer.

Abstract: A positioning device for a measuring machine wherein a measuring head is movable in a three-dimensional space with respect to a first reference system, and supports a visual sensor having a television camera and a source of a laser beam. The device displays on a monitor the two-dimensional image picked up by the camera and on which is positionable a pointer movable by manual control to select a point of interest in the displayed two-dimensional image. The device moves the measuring head automatically into a position in which the origin of a second reference system, proper to the visual sensor and having two coordinate axes in the two-dimensional image plane, is located at a point, in the three-dimensional space, corresponding to the point of interest selected on the two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A viewing and imaging system is provided for use in a screen printer. Light is supplied to the screen and/or the board from a number of independently controller light sources. According to one aspect of the invention, one light source provides substantially collimated light and another light source provides diffuse light. The light sources are controlled by a controller that pulses the light sources in order to provide a stroboscopic image of the board and screen. The duration of the pulses is adjusted to adjust the effective brightness of the light sources. The timing of the pulses are adjusted so that the temporal midpoints of pulses from each of the light sources are coincident.

Abstract: A motion vector between a current block and a reference block of a reference frame is determined by calculating the exact linear cross-correlation between the current block and the potential reference blocks of the reference picture. The current block is orthogonally transformed using DCT/DST transforms of a first type without prior zero padding of the current block to generate a current quadruple of transform coefficient blocks. The current quadruple is processed together with a reference quadruple of transform coefficient blocks generated from four of the search region blocks to generate a quadruple of processed transform coefficient blocks. The quadruple of processed transform coefficient blocks is inversely transformed using inverse DCT/DST transforms of a second type to generate a block of exact cross-correlations between the current block and the search region. The motion vector is determined from the block of exact cross-correlations.