Abstract: Combination head-protective helmet and thermal imaging apparatus including an infrared camera for producing an infrared image of a scene or object and a display system which generates a visible image of the scene or object from the infrared image; various mounting apparatus for mounting the thermal imaging apparatus to the helmet.

Abstract: A detection system (10) utilising projected light (18, 20) viewed through an appropriately placed camera (22) detects variations in surface height (26). The system (10) is arranged to project light onto the surface (16) of interest. A camera with optical axis (24) oriented parallel to and offset from the direction of light projection is used to image the intersection (50, 66) of the projected light (18, 20) with the surface (16). The system (10) observes deflections (64) of this imaged intersection (66) and associates them with the movement of an object (26, 124) through the projected light. The object can range from a surface irregularity (124) to a person (26) walking along a corridor.

Abstract: A method describes motion activity in a video sequence. A motion activity matrix is determined for the video sequence. A threshold for the motion activity matrix is determined. Connected regions of motion vectors at least equal to the threshold are identified and measured for size. A histogram of the distribution of the sizes of the connected areas is constructed for the entire video sequence. The histogram is normalized to characterize the spatial distribution of the video sequence in a motion activity descriptor.

Abstract: In coding through adaptive quantization after transforming an image into frequency areas, such as JPEG, quantization step width control information and other information are efficiently coded. An input image is processed in a blocking circuit and a quantizer. A quantization step width is determined by multiplying a matrix of a basic quantization table by an SF value of a scaling factor calculating circuit. Quantized AC components are coded in an AC component coding circuit 51. Quantized DC components are converted into DC differences and further into group numbers and additional bits. SF values are also converted into SF value differences and further into group numbers and additional bits. The DC components and the group numbers of the SF values are converted into two-dimensional Huffman codes. The above described code elements are multiplexed and outputted.

Abstract: A rate control system suitable for use with a digital video transcoder, such as one conforming to the MPEG standard. The proposed rate control system starts coding with any reasonable set of assumed Group of Pictures (GOP) parameters, thereby avoiding a processing delay of about one GOP which would otherwise be incurred to extract the complete GOP structure information from a pre-compressed bit stream. In addition, the system avoids the need to store the data corresponding to the GOP, thereby reducing the memory required for transcoding. Encoding of a first picture in a sequence or GOP begins without a priori knowledge of the picture type of subsequent pictures. A reasonable set of GOP parameters is assumed to determine an encoding bit budget. The bit budget is gradually corrected as successive pictures are coded according to their picture types. Changes in the GOP structure of pre-compressed bitstreams can be addressed, for example, when switching channels, inserting commercials, and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image data expansion processor for digital still camera. Two blocks of 8-bit luminance data and one block of 8-bit color difference data are repeatedly output from a compressing/expanding unit in the above order and are supplied to a buffer memory. Two blocks of 16-bit data to be written are generated corresponding to the two blocks of 8-bit luminance data and one block of 8-bit color difference data, are sequentially supplied from the buffer memory to a frame memory in units of block and are written to the frame memory. Each of luminance data and color difference data is not written to the frame memory in units of block but 16-bit data to be written composed of these luminance data and color difference data is written to the frame memory in units of block. The number of blocks written to the frame memory can be reduced and total time required for switching an address in the direction of lines can be reduced.

Abstract: An entropy efficient video coder for wavelet pyramids approaches the entropy-limited coding rate of video wavelet pyramids, is fast in both hardware and software implementations, and has low complexity (no multiplies) for use in ASICs. It uses a modified Z-coder to code the zero/non-zero significance function and Huffman coding for the non-zero coefficients themselves. The encoding unit includes a significance function generator that receives coefficients and outputs a single significance bit. A zero coefficient eliminator receives coefficients in parallel with the significance function generator and outputs coefficients if non-zero. Output from the significance function generator is coded using the modified Z-coder. Output from the zero coefficient eliminator is coded using Huffman coding. Both outputs are combined to form the resulting compressed stream.

Abstract: In a motion detection circuit, a difference signal between the video and one-frame delayed video signals is generated. An Edge signal is generated from the video and delayed video signals. Motion in a target pixel is judged from the interframe difference signal according to the edge signal. A motion judging circuit further includes an LPF and a selector for supplying an output of the LPF or the difference signal. The motion judging circuit may further includes: a peripheral pixel comparing circuit (may be bypassed) for detecting motion at the pixel by checking polarities of the difference signal at an area around the target pixel; a majority detection circuit (may be bypassed) for detecting a majority of the results of the polarity deviation detection circuit to judge the motion with deviation to a side of stopping; and a polarity deviation detecting circuit for judging the motion as moving in the presence of agreement of the polarities of all pixels at any of peripheral areas around the target pixel.

Abstract: Variable length codes in a compressed data stream are identified by determining a leading position of a specified value in the compressed data stream. A length of a leading code in the compressed data stream is then determined based on the leading position of the specified value.

Abstract: A digital image segmentation method and device is provided. The method includes the steps of grouping an image stream into a plurality of continuous frame groups, setting one arbitrary frame as an I frame and the others as P frames in each group, segmenting the I frame into a plurality of regions, and segmenting the P frames by obtaining motion vectors, using motion prediction, of the segmented I frame regions, respectively, with respect to each of the P frames, by moving the segmented I frame regions by the respective motion vectors, and by setting the moved I frame regions as segmented P frame regions. Accordingly, the segmentation of the I frame is applied to the P frame segmentation, and a conventional segmentation process consuming excessive time with respect to all frames does not need to be performed. Thus, rapid segmentation can be performed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mapping images obtained using a multiple-viewpoint imaging system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for projecting an image using a panoramic imaging device which includes a first camera includes selecting a single viewpoint that is near a plurality of virtual viewpoints associated with the device. Once the single viewpoint is selected, an optical ray which intersects a surface of the device at a first angle is selected from the plurality of optical rays. The optical ray is then moved or otherwise displaced so that it intersects the single viewpoint while substantially maintaining the first angle. Once the optical ray is displaced, an image is formed using the displaced optical ray to create a reprojection from the single viewpoint. In one embodiment, the panoramic imaging device includes a spherical mirror, and the first camera includes a perspective lens.

Abstract: In video compression processing, such as MPEG-2 compression processing, the quantization (Q) matrix used to quantize discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients is updated from frame to frame based on a parameterized Q matrix adaptation algorithm. According to the algorithm, the Q matrix for the current frame is generated based on DCT coefficient data from the previously encoded frame of the same type (e.g., I, P, or B) as the current frame. In particular, the Q matrix is generated using a function based on shape parameters (e.g., the slope of the diagonal of the Q matrix and/or the convexity of the diagonal of the Q matrix), where the diagonal slope for the Q matrix of the current frame is generated based on the diagonal slope of a DCT map for the previously encoded frame. Before using the generated Q matrix to quantize the DCT coefficients for the current frame, the Q matrix is preferably adjusted for changes in the target mean from the previously encoded frame to the current frame.

Abstract: An invention is presented that expedites cause, fault and liability litigation of rail-highway crossing mishaps by providing a digital audio and video record of the events at the crossing as the locomotive or rail vehicle approaches and passes through the intersection. The electrical system components are located on and within the locomotive and can be powered exclusively by resources available from the locomotive. In addition, the invention may automatically and spontaneously inspect the operational status of the rail-highway crossing gate by capturing and processing the digital images of the gate by computational methods programmed in the locomotive's on-board computer. Alternatively, the images or video could be transmitted to a remote station for processing or inspection.

Abstract: To provide a motion detecting apparatus that judges whether each macro block shows a part of an object in motion using motion vectors calculated by a general-purpose MPEG video encoder during motion compensation. The motion detecting apparatus compares a motion vector of a present macro block with motion vectors of macro blocks surrounding the present macro block. If the motion vector of the present macro block and the motion vectors of the surrounding macro blocks are not random in direction and magnitude, the motion detecting apparatus judges that the present macro block shows a part of an object in motion. Otherwise, the motion detecting apparatus judges that the present macro block does not show a part of an object in motion.

Abstract: The video signal encoding device comprises an encoding frame pulse generating means for generating an encoding frame pulse on the basis of a video input frame pulse signal and a video input clock signal input thereto, as well as a video signal rearranging means for rearranging the frame order of video input signals, together with a video signal write control means and a read control means; wherein the encoding frame pulse generating means generates the encoding frame pulse first by setting a reference phase in accordance with the video input frame pulse, and thereafter dividing the frequency of the video input clock signal to a predetermined number of clock pulses. The video signal read control means controls the read operation of the video signals stored in the video signal rearranging means on the basis of the encoding pulse signal generated by said frame pulse generating means and the video input clock signal.

Abstract: This automatic system (1) detects printing faults on metallized strips (3) or any other printing support comprising a predominance of specular color surfaces. The said system, arranged in a blackout casing (2), comprises an arm (30) on which there can move automatically a lighting unit (10) provided with a video camera (55). The camera has a variable-focus lens (56) which, through a semi-transparent filter (57) disposed in an oblique position in front of the lens, continuously films a portion of the strip (3) of a format (7) of variable size. The illumination of this strip portion is provided by two direct-illumination flashlights (12, 14), provided primarily to illuminate the non-specular surfaces of the strip, and by two other indirect-illumination flashlights (11, 13), advantageously provided to illuminate the specular color surfaces.

Abstract: A device and a method for producing a stereoscopic image with horizontal parallax including diffracting electromagnetic rays emitted by an object to provide a first dispersion of dispersed electromagnetic rays in which a lateral deviation of the rays emitted by the object is obtained in a first deviation direction; collecting at least part of the dispersed electromagnetic rays by shooting the object with at least one lens to provide an image; projecting the image through at least one screen facility; and diffracting electromagnetic rays emitted during projection to provide a second dispersion and scattering the second dispersion by the at least one screen facility to form a stereoscopic image of the object in which a lateral deviation of the rays emitted during projection is obtained in a second deviation direction.

Abstract: An architecture for multi-format video processing of both high definition and standard definition television signals has a pair of processing paths. For HDTV one path processes the luminance component signal and the other path processes an interleaved color difference signal that is the combination of a pair of color difference component signals. For SDTV only a single path is used. The luminance and color difference component signals are interleaved together and optionally stuffed with filler bits to provide an interleaved signal at a high data rate, such as the HDTV data rate or one-half the HDTV data rate, for processing. After processing the SDTV components are deinterleaved from the processed interleaved signal. The color difference component signals may be upsampled prior to interleaving and subsampled after deinterleaving to simplify control signals. Thus the architecture provides a single processor for processing either an HDTV signal or two SDTV signals, one on each of the two HDTV paths.

Abstract: An apparatus for the generation of a full-spectrum stereoscopic display. The system uses a flat, masking screen comprised of a plurality of regularly spaced, vertical apertures arranged in front of, parallel, and in a geometric relation to a flat, image display screen. The image has two viewpoints (one right-eye and one left-eye) interlaced by alternate vertical rows of pixels. The system creates a full-spectrum stereoscopic display when the image is viewed with proper geometric alignment by a viewer through the vertical apertures of the masking screen, which effectively separates the alternating left-eye/right-eye viewpoint vertical rows of pixels in such a manner as to allow the right eye to only see the right-eye viewpoint and the left eye to only see the left-eye viewpoint. A holographic display can be achieved by using five cameras, which allow a viewer to “see” and image from different angles.

Abstract: High efficiency coding method and apparatus of a video data, in which even from video data in a fade-in or fade-out state, coded video data which does not cause a deterioration of a picture quality upon decoding of said video data can be obtained. When the image based on the video data is in the fade-in or fade-out state and many outline components are included in the image, a motion vector is detected from the luminance adjusted video data obtained by adjusting the luminance of the video data. When the number of outline components included in the image is small, the motion vector is directly detected from the video data and the video data is encoded by a motion compensation prediction according to the motion vector.