Abstract: An apparatus for intermittently recording or reproducing a time-varying image includes a buffer interposed between a compression-encoder unit and a recording processor or between a decoder and a reproducing processor, a buffer controller for monitoring the quantity of effective information stored in the buffer, and a system controller for interrupting and restarting the operation of the recording processor or the reproducing processor according to the quantity of the effective information stored in the buffer. During recording, a plurality of consecutive image frames is separated into a plurality of groups, in each of which the image frames are intraframe or interframe compression-coded to digital image information. The total quantity of compression-coded digital image information is limited to a value smaller than a first predetermined value. The digital image information contained in each group is partitioned in units of a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for encoding image data according to the present invention includes the steps of: specifying a type of a picture in a picture sequence including an I-picture, a P-picture and a B-picture; determining a position of at least one slice header in the picture in accordance with the type of the picture; and inserting the at least one slice header at the position determined in the determining step, wherein the position of the slice header is determined so that at least one of the relationships N.sub.i >N.sub.b and N.sub.p >N.sub.b is satisfied, where N.sub.i denotes the number of slices in the I-picture, N.sub.p denotes the number of slices in the P-picture and N.sub.b denotes the number of slices in the B-picture.

Abstract: A television-integrated video cassette recorder apparatus comprising a high definition television for receiving a high definition television signal from a broadcasting station, a digital video cassette recorder for recording and playing back the high definition television signal or a standard television signal on/from a magnetic tape, and an interface circuit for converting a format of the high definition television signal into a recording format of the digital video cassette recorder in a recording mode, converting a format of a playback signal from the digital video cassette recorder into a high definition television format or a standard television format in a playback mode and performing a plurality of screen processing functions in a standard television manner. According to the present invention, a compatibility is provided between a standard TV system and a HDTV system.

Abstract: The toy vehicle video production system for creating full-motion real time video images of a toy target vehicle includes a toy vehicle, a first wireless transmitter, and a first wireless receiver operatively coupled to the toy vehicle and configured to control movement of the toy vehicle in response to signals received from the first wireless transmitter. A video camera mounted to the toy vehicle generates real-time video images of the toy target vehicle while a camera controller connected to the video camera controls movement of the video camera relative to the toy vehicle. The invention also includes a second wireless transmitter and a second wireless receiver operatively coupled to the camera motion controller and configured to control movement of video camera in response to signals received from the second wireless transmitter.

Abstract: Method for the large-scale mapping of parameters of multi-dimensional structures in natural environments or ranges. According to the invention, the range to be subjected to mapping or sections thereof are detected during first picture-taking flights at flight altitudes between about 150 m to 500 m above ground by means of series aerial surveying pictures taken by reconnaissance cameras (2) in combination with tele-cameras (3) for making detailed images from the range section covered by said reconnaissance cameras 2. The series aerial surveying pictures are set with respect to their position in the range by means of orientation aids and evaluated using photogrammetric techniques. The range data obtained of a structure are assigned to the coordinates of the structure in the range for selective retrieval.

Abstract: Regions of a video frame are classified into different classes of regions (e.g., inter encoded blocks, intra encoded blocks, and skip blocks). The classes of regions are then run-length encoded using an encoding sequence that is a function of the content of the video frame. The run-length encoded signals are used to generate an encoded bit stream for the video frame. In preferred embodiments, the run-length encoding sequence either is selected from a set of possible sequences or is generated based on a selected location within the video frame. The selected sequence or location is identified explicitly in the encoded bit stream and used by a decoder to select/generate the run-length decoding sequence used to decode the run-length encoded signals in the encoded bit stream that correspond to the classes of regions in the video frame.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining or verifying the depth of cut of a micrometer surgical knife include placing the knife within the viewing field of a video microscope to produce an image on a video monitor, generating cursor lines on the monitor, spacing the cursor lines apart by a distance which, when calibrated to the actual dimensions of the knife, represents the actual, linear cutting depth, zeroing the knife by moving it until the footplate of the knife is aligned with one cursor line and moving the knife blade to extend past the footplate to the second cursor line. Alternatively, the footplate is aligned with the first cursor line and the second cursor line is aligned with the blade tip, and the resulting distance between the first and second cursor lines is correlated to an actual, linear dimension.

Abstract: Bus-line network communication system in which changing of adding number or location of monitoring camera can be carried out with easy: A central monitoring device 50 and monitoring cameras C31 to C40 are connected with a communication bus-line 40. The central monitoring device send a request command to the bus-line 40. The request command is received by the selected camera through the bus-line 40. The selected camera which is received the request command, send image data to the-bus line 40. The central monitoring device receives the image data and displays image.

Abstract: In a device which is supplied with a compression coded signal given by subjecting an original video signal to differential coding and which includes a converting section (10, 8, 7, 6) for carrying out a converting operation of converting the compression coded signal into a DCT coded signal identical with a coded signal given by subjecting the original video signal to DCT coding, a timer (3) measures a total time interval as a measured time interval until a reproducing unit (20) finishes reproducing from the DCT coded signal a leading frame of the original video signal from a time instant at which the converting section starts the converting operation. A subsampling information producing circuit (13) produces optimum subsampling information with reference to the measured time interval to make the converting section carry out an optimum subsampled converting operation of converting remaining frames of the compression coded signal into the DCT coded signal in accordance with the optimum subsampling information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient registration of a pair of digitized images is provided that obtains a registration metric value based upon a Sum of Absolute Differences registration metric computation for each of a plurality of neighboring-pixel relative displacements, and, for example, iteratively selects a new initial relative displacement from among the plurality of neighboring-pixel relative displacements such that each succeeding new initial relative displacement is associated with a smaller registration metric value, until an initial relative displacement that is associated with a minimum registration metric value is reached. In general, the relative displacement that is associated with the minimum registration metric value is located using a two-dimensional numerical optimization analysis. The invention is especially useful for flaw and defect analysis, such as Golden Template Analysis, third optical inspection, as well as for pair-wise comparison of die images on a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: An image signal recording device records image signals in a HDTV mode onto a magnetic disk in accordance with a predetermined mode, for example, an NTSC mode. The NTSC mode is provided with a vertical blanking period and horizontal scanning periods in which image signals are recorded. A part of the image signals are recorded in a part of the vertical blanking period, so that the number of scanning lines per one field is increased in comparison with a conventional device; thus, as much as possible of the HDTV mode image signals are recorded on the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A method for adaptively selecting feature points according to motions of objects between the current frame and the previous frame, comprising the steps of: subtracting a pixel value of the previous frame from a pixel value of the current frame to thereby provide a differential pixel value; comparing the differential pixel value with a first threshold value TH1 and selecting processing regions having differential pixel values larger than the first threshold value TH1; detecting a motion vector for each pixel of the processing region in the previous frame; providing a pixel value of the current frame based on the motion vector for each pixel of the processing region in the previous frame; subtracting a pixel value of said each pixel of the processing region in the previous frame from the pixel value of the current frame to thereby provide an error pixel value; comparing the error pixel value with a second threshold value TH2 and selecting grid regions having error pixel values larger than the second threshold v

Abstract: A composite of an audio and/or video recorder mounted and securable on a handgun holster having a holster-mounted recorder-activation switch activatable of the recorder upon withdrawal of the handgun from the holster, remaining activated until return of the handgun to the holster. Other weapon holsters also each with a recorder activation switch in each holster are activateable when the weapon is withdrawn, mounted in parallel electrical circuitry with the handgun-activation switch, for additional weapons such as mase and a baton.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for recording inputted digital video and audio signals of one field, which are synchronous with each other, onto a plurality of inclined tracks of a magnetic tape using a plurality sets of helical scan type magnetic heads provided in a rotation head drum at predetermined angle intervals, a read clock is generated. A read address of a first field memory is generated based on the read clock, so that the inputted digital video signal is read out and recorded onto both end portions of each of the inclined tracks of the magnetic tape, after starting recording the inputted digital video signal of one field onto an end of the inclined track, and ending recording the inputted digital video signal of one field onto another end of the other inclined track. On the other hand, a read address of a second field memory is generated based on the read clock, so that the inputted digital audio signal is read out and recorded onto the middle portion of each of the inclined tracks.

Abstract: Virtual data having a reference section to indicate reference data and a constraint section to indicate the manner in which the reference data are to be processed are held as video data. Decision means decides whether or not the video data read out from accumulating means are virtual data. If the video data are not virtual data, unprocessed video data are supplied. If the video data are virtual data, calculating means is actuated. The calculating means processes the reference data as indicated by the constraint section of the virtual data. As a result of the processing, index data are obtained. These index data are supplied as video data.

Abstract: An apparatus serving as a digital videocassette recorder (VCR) for recording analog video and audio signals as digital signals. The apparatus serves also as a digital data storage drive. The digital VCR and the storage drive share common circuitry and a common magnetic recording medium. This reduces the cost and enhances the efficiency at which tracks are used. The apparatus has a large storage capacity. The apparatus divides input digital data into two parts and performs error correction encoding for each of these two data parts to form sync blocks. These sync blocks are recorded in an audio signal recording area and a video signal recording area, respectively, on the recording medium. Error correction codes used during reading of digital data are the same as those used during recording of video and audio signals. The same track structure and the same sync block structure are used for these two modes of operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, reproducing digital video signals at a varied speed, adapted to insert information about the maximum coded lengths of digital video signals in slices resulting from encoding and compressing of the digital video signals by a digital video signal transmitter so that the inserted information can be transmitted together with the compressed digital video signal, and to insert slice condition information and slice length information in slice headers of slices upon reproducing the digital video signals recorded on a tape at a varied speed so that the inserted slice condition information and slice length information can be deformatted together with the slices. The apparatus and method is thus capable of decoding the digital video signals for macroblocks preceding the macroblock involving a discontinuous interval based on the maximum coded length information, slice condition information and slice length information.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when an ATV signal is recorded by a digital VCR in the conventional television signal record mode, variable speed reproduction data composed of HP data containing I frame is redundantly recorded in a surplus record area that is formed by the difference between the transmission rate of the ATV signal and the transmission rate of the conventional compressed digital video signal. When variable speed reproduction is performed, the variable speed reproduction data is reproduced.

Abstract: A picture encoding and decoding technique for enabling random accessing. Using a prediction picture signal formed by only locally decoded signals of an intra-coded first field, a second field making up a frame along with the above-mentioned first field is encoded. If the second field making up a frame along with the above-mentioned first field is encoded using a prediction picture signal formed from the local decoded signal of a field belonging to a temporally previous group, a flag indicating that encoding has been made using the local decoded signal of the field belonging to the temporally previous group is encoded.

Abstract: An indexing VCR system which responds to broadcast information to record a program guide which may subsequently be displayed to apprise the user of programs to be broadcast during the next day or week, etc. The program guide enables the user to condition the VCR to record selected programs when they are broadcast. The program guide may also include film clips of selected programs to assist the user in making a decision as to whether he/she desires to record any particular program. The program guide is preferably recorded on the video tape in the VCR in the form of a multi-cell grid and as full frame video so that information concerning each program may be displayed in respective cells in the grid. Other information, such as the PLUSCODE.TM., address of the corresponding clip, etc., may be transmitted to the user during the VBI intervals, or by other means.