Abstract: A method of converting two-dimensional images into three-dimensional images. When the movement of a main image is fast, a main image signal is written into field memories for each field. When the movement of the main image is slow, the main image signal is written into the field memories at intervals of a predetermined number of fields. An image to be read out as a sub-image from the field memories is determined on the basis of the speed of the movement of the main image.

Abstract: Apparatus for judging the order of arrival of racers at a goal in a race and the time taken for the race, capable of storing, in a memory unit, video signals of a plurality of line sensor cameras disposed so as to be able to pick up images of moving objects from both directions with a judging criterion line between or from such angles that moving objects do not overlap, effecting scan conversion on the stored video signals of the plurality of line sensor cameras, reading resultant video signals, and displaying video signals thus read out respectively singly or simultaneously plurally on a single video monitor.

Abstract: A closed circuit television (CCTV) system with an improved detection function and a detecting method wherein, a number of camera signals, generated by multiple monitoring cameras, are recorded on a single recording medium such as a magnetic tape, corresponding ID codes are generated in accordance with predetermined physical event and time-of-day conditions. Such physical conditions include events such as video loss, fire alarms, break-ins, and so forth. The ID codes are recorded during vertical blanking periods of the camera signals, and are detected during reproduction of previously recorded video signals. The ID codes detected are compared with a user-designated value indicative of a physical event and time-of-day condition to be detected, so that an ensuing comparison match facilitates non-sequential reproduction of the camera signals corresponding to the ID codes and effectively reduces the amount of time to detect an event recorded on a recording medium, and increases detection efficiency.

Abstract: A system and methods for implementing a video encoder which for each picture guarantees that the number of bits produced will not exceed a limit. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes two cooperating components or subsystems that together with other components of a video encoder operate to encode the input video, detect when the limit on the number of bits produced so far is close to exceeding the limit on the number of bits that may be produced and reduce the bit rate when such a condition is detected. One aspect of the current invention embodies a macroblock (MB) bit stream generator that can operate in a "low bit rate mode" Another aspect embodies a subsystem for detecting when the number of bits in the picture is close to exceeding the limit.

Abstract: A motion detector and improved key signal interpolator using the same inputs a video signal to both a frame and a field based interpolator to produce both frame and field interpolated signals. The frame and field interpolated signals are input to a mixer. The frame interpolated signal also is input to a frame delay circuit, the output of which is subtracted from input to produce a motion signal. The motion signal is converted by an absolute value/lookup table into a mix signal that is also input to the mixer. The mix signal determines which interpolated signal at the input is passed to the output, the field interpolated signal being passed when motion is detected and the frame interpolation signal being passed when motion is not detected.

Abstract: Disparity estimation between the right and left view pixel luminance values in a stereoscopic video signal is optimized by determining the minimum least-square-error between macroblocks of the right and left view pictures. Affine transform coefficients and disparity vectors which correspond to the minimum error are also determined and transmitted in the data stream for use by a decoder in reconstructing the right view picture. The scheme can be implemented either locally, at the macroblock level, or globally, at the picture level. At the macroblock level, least-square-error optimization may occur for each individual macroblock in the right view picture. In this case, affine transform coefficients are provided for each macroblock. At the picture level, the sum of the least-square-errors is minimized after the blocks of the right view picture are matched to the left view picture. In this case, only one set of affine transform coefficients are required for the entire right view picture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a bidirectionally coded picture, i.e., a B frame, from two reference pictures, e.g. I or P frame pictures. The method utilizes a single memory fetch of each reference picture, and interpolation of the estimated motion of each picture. This is accomplished by identifying a full pixel closest match from three full pixel boundary searches, calculating half pixel reference picture data therefrom, interpolating the half pixels to form bidirectionally coded pictures, and finding the closest match at the half pixel boundary. The intermediate results are stored in an 18.times.18.times.11 bit buffer holding a 7 bit partial sum for each pixel, said partial sum formed by adding the six most significant bits of corresponding I and P frame pixels. In this buffer four bits of each word in the buffer are the two Least Significant Bits of the corresponding I and P frame pixels.

Abstract: Representative points vicinal to a detected contour line of an image-segmented input picture are corrected in position so that lattice links connecting the representative points extend along the detected contour line, and motion vectors are detected at the corrected representative points, before a motion vector at each pixel in the picture is interpolated from the detected motion vectors at representative points near thereto, for a motion-compensated inter-frame prediction small of a deformed distortion.

Abstract: A motion estimation method and a motion estimation apparatus for calculating a motion vector to estimate a current picture partially forming a video sequence on the basis of first and second reference pictures partially forming the video sequence. In the method and apparatus, a reference block included in the first reference picture similar to a current block included in the current picture is specified and multiplied by a first coefficient. By performing a subtraction between the multiplied reference block and the current block, a template block indicative of a difference between the multiplied reference block and the current block is obtained. On the other hand, candidate blocks are calculated by multiplying, by a second coefficient, each reference blocks included in a search window partly forming the second reference picture. Based on the candidate blocks and template block are calculated distortion values each indicative of a difference between the following interpolated blocks and current block.

Abstract: For an image data such as a motion picture image data composed of three hierarchical layers formed of slices, each of which having a plurality of macroblocks and one picture having a plurality of the slices, a synchronous word is adaptively inserted to each header of the slices and the picture according to a characteristic of the image data. It is possible to effectively perform the localization of errors. A synchronous word multiplexing system for coded image data inputs and codes image data, converts the coded data to a variable-length coded data, divides the image coded data into a plurality of data signals, and multiplies a synchronous word per a predetermined divided unit. Further, a timing signal for multiplexing synchronous words to the image coded data is generated based on a characteristic data, and the timing of multiplexing synchronous words is controlled based on characteristics of the image data.

Abstract: An airborne direct digital panoramic camera system and method in which an in-line electro-optical sensor eliminates the need for photographic film and film transport apparatus normally associated with prior art airborne reconnaissance cameras and yet still retains the very high image resolution quality which is so important in intelligence operations and commercial geographic information systems (GIS), mapping and other remote sensing applications. The system provides a simpler, more efficient and less costly panoramic camera by utilizing a lens in conjunction with the electro-optical line array sensor wherein the lens can be simpler and less expensive than a framing camera because it essentially requires quality focus in only one dimension and by eliminating the burden and delay necessitated in film processing and development.

Abstract: An improved motion vector extractor comprising a first pixel delay element for delaying pixel data of the previous frame by a one pixel interval, a second pixel delay element for delaying the pixel data of the previous frame by a horizontal line interval of a seek block, a third pixel delay element for delaying the pixel data of the previous frame by a seek block horizontal line and one pixel interval, an interpolation circuit for combining the pixel data of the previous frame and the delayed pixel data of the previous frame from the first to third pixel delay elements to produce at least one interpolation pixel data positioned between adjacent ones thereof, a fourth pixel delay element for delaying pixel data of the present frame to produce rectangularly arranged pixel data of the present frame, a plurality of MAD detectors, each of the plurality of MAD detectors subtracting a corresponding one of the interpolation pixel data from the interpolation circuit from a corresponding one of the rectangularly arrang

Abstract: A moving picture encoder which is able to improve the encoding efficiency wherein a controller controls an inter/intra mode switch for generating intra and inter signals Y2 and Y4, these signals being stored in a memory. A combining unit generates a combination pattern from the intra and inter signals Y2 and Y4 stored in the memory. An information amount estimator estimates the information amounts concerning the signals Y2 and Y4 and combination pattern. A minimum information amount determining unit determines the minimum one of the estimated information amounts. The controller causes a selector to select the signal or combination pattern that corresponds to the minimum information amount for quantizing and transmitting the result to a succeeding stage.

Abstract: A subject tracking apparatus in which the target is tracked further stably by effectively eliminating the erroneous judgment due to the effects from the object which resembles the target, the luminance change, and objects having different shapes. Each of the R-Y signal and the B-Y signal at setting the feature of target is modeled by the luminance, so as to detect the features without concerning the hue to the luminance change. Also, the R-Y signal and the B-Y signal are directly modeled, so as to detect the features in the same way regarding the subject with colorless since hue has no effect on it. Since it becomes unnecessary to adjust the parameter strictly by modeling in regard to the permissible error, the target can be tracked stably even the luminance changes.