Abstract: A method of converting two-dimensional images into three-dimensional images by producing from a two-dimensional image signal a first image signal which forms a basis and a second image signal delayed by a predetermined number of fields from the first image signal and taking one of the signals as a left eye image signal and the other as a right eye image signal. It is judged whether or not a scene represented by the two-dimensional image signal is changed. When it is judged that the scene is changed, delay indicating how many fields are there from a field corresponding to the first image signal to a field corresponding to the second image signal is set to a predetermined value, for example, zero.

Abstract: An arrival order judgment device is easy in operation to judge the arrival order for positively recording slit images before and after the finish line for the arrival order judgment only in a necessary minimum range. Slit signals picked up by a line image sensor camera are inputted into a video signal delay circuit. The video signal delay circuit outputs the slit video signals at a predetermined delay time period A. When competitors approaches the finish line and the moment the competitors interrupt a photoelectric device, ON signals are inputted into a memory device to start the record of the images delayed for a predetermined time period. When the competitors are not on the finish line, the photoelectric device outputs OFF signals to a record instruction delay circuit. The record on the memory device is interrupted after the delay period set at the record instruction delay circuit has lapsed. Thus, it is possible to record the images after the competitors have passed through the finish line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing multi-stage motion estimation on an input video sequence to be encoded. An original image in the video sequence, such as a CCIR601 image, is preprocessed to generate first, second and third reduced resolution images which may be a QQSIF image, a QSIF image and a SIF image, respectively, which are 1/64 size, 1/16 size and 1/4 size, respectively, relative to the original CCIR601 image. A first stage motion vector search is performed on the 1/64 size QQSIF image using a (0,0) motion vector starting point and a first search range suitable for detecting global motion. A second stage motion vector search is performed on the 1/16 size QSIF image using the (0,0) starting point and a second search range smaller than the first search range and suitable for detecting local motion.

Abstract: An enhanced video data compressor has a composite video signal decoder that changes the state of a field identification signal in response to a vertical interval indicator in composite video data which is in a digital video format. Thereafter a vertical timing pulse is generated to prepare a compression encoder to acquire data. By counting lines from the vertical timing pulse the decoder sets a horizontal timing signal at a one macroblock line interval prior to active video data so that the compression encoder acquires video data from the vertical interval as well as active video data. At the end of each field the acquired data is processed by the compression encoder to produce compressed video data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extending the height of an image to display a video signal having a 4:3 aspect ratio on a screen having a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Abstract: N lines of line-shaped light are projected onto the object by means of a measuring light projecting lens. The light carrying the image of the object is passed through the eyepiece lens 17 in an endoscope 6 and the auxiliary lens 30 in a measuring head 11 and split into two beamlets by a beam splitter 31, with one beamlet being focused at a position coinciding with the entrance end faces of measuring light's position detecting fibers 33(l) to 33(m). The line-shaped light images of the object thus formed in positions coinciding with the entrance end faces of measuring light's position detecting fibers 33(l) to 33(m) are scanned linearly by those linearly aligned fibers as they are oscillated and driven by a fiber scanner 36. The scanned line-shaped light images are then subjected to the necessary signal processing in a signal processor circuit 35 such as to measure the three-dimensional configuration of the object.

Abstract: An MPEG decoder system and method an MPEG decoder system and method for decoding frames of a video sequence. The MPEG decoder includes IDCT computation logic which computes the IDCT with improved performance. The IDCT logic performs the inverse DCT based on the Chen algorithm for IDCT computation. The system and method of the present invention efficiently utilizes properties of the coefficients in optimizing the matrix multiply functions, thus providing improved performance. Chen's algorithm is commonly used to perform the two-dimensional IDCT. According to the Chen algorithm, the transform matrix I is defined as:?I!=?Q!.times.?P!The Chen algorithm calculation can be written as:f=(Q.times.F.sup.T .times.Q.times.P).sup.T .times.PThe Q matrix is a diagonal matrix which has diagonal non-zero values, with the remainder of the values being 0. The P matrix includes a plurality of values which are the opposite sign of each other.

Abstract: A method for calculating the pixel values of a sub-pixel accuracy motion compensated block of video pixels from one or two reference blocks, as is required in typical digital video compression and decompression systems uses a minimal amount of temporary storage memory resulting in a compact architecture suited for inexpensive consumer applications. This method utilizes a pixel pipeline within a block line pipeline to calculate the half pel accurate reference blocks and to average two blocks to result in a prediction block of pixels. The lines from each reference block are input to the invention alternately resulting in reduced memory requirements.

Abstract: A method for encoding a 10-bit based picture using a circuitry or devices inherently designed for handing an 8-bit based picture. The 10-bit based input picture data is motion-compensated with 8 bits in a motion compensation circuit. From the motion-compensated picture data, representative value data and the quantization width are found by an in-bloc representative value calculation circuit and a block quantization width calculation circuit, respectively. A difference between the picture data and the representative value data is found by an adder. The difference is sent to a block quantizer where first 8-bit quantized data is generated on the basis of the quantization width so that the representative value is at a mid point of the quantization width. The first quantized data is transformed by a discrete cosine transform circuit of a difference signal encoder to generate transform coefficients which are quantized by a quantizer to generate second quantized data.

Abstract: A compact and light-weight video scope camera offering easy magnification changing operations. A hollow insert portion continuous to a grip to be held by an operator is provided with an imaging system at the leading end. Operating an operation switch on the grip allows operational movement of a selection mechanism in the insert portion to cyclically or selectively select, from plural preset distance values, a distance between a lens and an image pickup device in the imaging system, corresponding to which distance, the lens or the image pickup device is moved relative to each other by an imaging system component of mechanism to set any one of predetermined magnification modes. This results a compact, light-weight video scope camera offering easy magnification changing operations. The invention is applicable to various video scope cameras for diagnosis and/or treatment in dentistry and orthopedics and also for industrial or educational use.

Abstract: A start code detecting apparatus for detecting a start code which indicates the start position of each layer from the bit stream of a compressed image according to the MPEG-standard is provided. The start code detecting apparatus includes two registers, a barrel shifter, a start code detector, a state machine, a code length generator and an accumulator. The start code detecting apparatus adopts the barrel shifter and the start code detector, so that the start code designating the start position of each layer can be effectively detected from the compressed bit stream.

Abstract: A method and device for performing source transitions in a video system which performs entropy encoding such that a transition occurs only after the fields which define a frame picture have been received by the encoder. The method and device also provides arrangement for ensuring that initially after the switch to the second program source consecutive fields of information from the second program source which will be encoded as a frame picture are provided.

Abstract: A dynamic rate controller for a block-based video coding system. The rate controller is responsive to a scene cut flag generated by a scene cut detector. Once a scene cut flag is detected, the rate controller adjusts the bit budget for the frame following the scene cut before coding begins on that frame. Additionally, the rate controller establishes an optimal bit utilization profile that is compared to actual bit utilization, such that the bit allocation can be optimized as coding progresses.

Abstract: A bitstream for testing a video decoder that produces visual distortions in the output video images from the decoder whenever the decoder produces an error in decoding the bitstream. Specifically, the bitstream tests a predictive-type video decoder's capability to decode predicted images that do not propagate errors to other images or frames. For example, the bitstream is capable of demonstrating errant decoding of B-frames by an Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) video encoder. A method and apparatus for generating and using the test bitstream is also disclosed.

Abstract: To facilitate creating professional poses for a person to be photographed, a posing mask generating system is provided including a microprocessor having a video graphics board therein. The microprocessor also has a memory and a data input and output device. A video camera is interfaced with the video graphics board so that a video image of a model to be photographed can be viewed on a display terminal. Using the data input device, a professional photographer, experienced in posing subjects, enters graphics information into the system which is then overlaid with the video image and appropriately positioned to define a mask or template defining the location for prominent features of the subject within the frame of reference. This is repeated for a number of possible poses, with the graphics information being stored in the memory of the microprocessor.

Abstract: A video processing method and apparatus for processing video frames comprising animated images so as to blur movement of the animated images between successive frames, the method or apparatus comparing a first input frame with the following input frame; identifying moving areas in the first input frame by the comparison; calculating the velocity of the movement of the moving areas between the first and following input frame; summing, only for each input pixel site within the identified moving areas of the input frame, the pixel value of each input pixel site and adjacent pixel values determined according to the calculated velocities and a predetermined aperture type for the input frame; and providing an output frame from at least the summed pixel values and pixel values of areas of the input frame other than the moving area, the adjacent pixel values either being the pixel values of pixel sites in the input frame which are spatially adjacent in the direction of the velocity or predicted temporally adjacent pi

Abstract: Provision is made of a video signal editing apparatus wherein even if coded video signals subjected to inter-frame coding are connected and edited, no disturbance occurs in the video signal obtained as a result. Therefore, when connecting coded video signals in each of which one B-frame and I-frame constitute a GOP in that order, if the B-frame comes at the end of a coded video signal, the signal is divided adding to it up to the I-frame of the same or subsequent GOP. Further, if the B-frame comes at the start of a coded video signal, the signal is divided adding to it up to the B-frame or I-frame of the same or previous GOP, then these coded video signals are connected.

Abstract: A bit rate control mechanism for a digital image or video compression system estimates a complexity parameter for a current picture, or block of samples, of a video signal as a function of parameters for a prior picture of the video signal, which parameters include a bit rate. From the complexity parameter a quality factor for the current picture is determined and applied to a quantizer to compress the current picture. A complexity pre-processor may also be used to detect scene changes in the video signal prior to estimating the complexity parameter. If there is a scene change detected, then the rate control mechanism is reset prior to estimating the complexity parameter for the first picture in the new scene.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for making a composite image of a scene a large-aperture lens to form an image of the scene on a photographic film through a lenticular screen or a barrier strip. The recorded image on film is digitized into a digital image and conveyed to a computer workstation for processing. Assuming the image area in the recorded image under each lenticule is digitized into an image zone composed of N pixel rows in the digital image. To correct the pseudoscopic effect, the order of each group of N pixel rows in each image zone is electronically reversed. Also, the entire digital image is electronically reversed to become a normal composite image. The image reversal process (for the entire image) can also be effected optically by forming the scene image through a plane mirror. The composite image in digital form can be used to produce 3D display, video and hard-copies by presenting the composite image behind a lenticular screen or a barrier strip.

Abstract: A spatial compression and decompression system for color video data wherein a video stream is generated by a charge-coupled device with red, green and blue pixel elements. In a first compression stage, the 5-bit color data from each element is processed in turn. This step involves reading out from a lookup memory a 3-bit category (or compressed value) and 5-bit output value based on the 5-bit color data, a 5-bit previous value that represents same color data for a neighboring pixel and a 1-bit table select signal that determines in which of two similar tables the lookup is performed. The 3-bit category data for a pixel's three elements are combined and used as a 9-bit index into a Huffman table that performs the second stage of compression. Each Huffman table entry includes a variable-length Huffman code that represents more common categories with fewer bits, which provides additional compression over the first stage. The Huffman table reads out the code of the particular 9-bit category used for the lookup.