Abstract: A video buffer of a focal plane array (FPA) electrical interface module is presented for providing output capacitance cancellation. The buffer has a capacitance cancellation stage (50) for receiving an analog signal produced by a FPA. The cancellation stage (50) includes an amplifier having a gain greater than unity for amplifying the analog signal and positive feedback capacitor for reducing power requirements and providing an increased pixel rate for the system. A dc restoration stage (52) is included for setting the analog signal to a dc level that is required by an external system and a line driving stage (54) for driving a video cable from the buffer to the external components of the system.

Abstract: In a transmission system for bi-directionally transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals between two units, interconnected through a predetermined transmission path, if one of the plurality of signals falls into any of a transmission disabled state, a transmission not required state, a reception disabled state, and a reception not required state, at least one of a transmission operation and a reception operation for the signal in the one state is stopped or set into a stand-by state, thereby reducing electric power consumed by the transmission system. In addition, a transmission bandwidth of the transmission path is reduced by a portion associated with the signal in the one state, or an entire bandwidth for all signals except for the signal in the one state is expanded without changing the transmission bandwidth of the transmission path.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a method for scanning an image on a film and generating a video signal therefrom. The apparatus having a signal processor (10) receiving a plurality of input raster lines representing a film image, and a control unit (11) having controls (14) operating on said signal processor, whereby the number of the input raster lines used by the signal processor in the active raster to generate said output signal is variable. A signal representing a sequentially scanned image is supplied to filter (12) which performs an anti-aliasing and a decimation process. The amount of oversampling can be varied depending on various factors, such as film speed, and degree of anti-aliasing and aperture correction so as to optimize performance and, in CRT-based systems so as to maintain the size of the raster on the face of the CRT above a predetermined minimum.

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: A video surveillance system includes a remotely controllable video camera which generates a video signal, a video switch, a cable for transmitting the video signal from the video camera to the video switch, a control circuit connected to the cable for generating control signals to be transmitted to the video camera via the cable, and a control signal receiver associated with the camera and connected to the cable for receiving the control signals transmitted via the cable. The control signal receiver includes a detection circuit for automatically detecting the length of the cable and generating an adjustment signal indicative of the detected length of the cable. The control signal receiver also includes an adjustable circuit element which is adjusted on the basis of the adjustment signal so as to compensate for the detected length of the cable. The automatic cable compensation in the control signal receiver provides reliable detection of the camera control signals.

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 an apparatus for encoding an image signal. The apparatus includes an acquisition module disposed to receive the image signal. A first processor is coupled to the acquisition module. At least one encoder processor is coupled to the first processor. The at least one encoder processor produces an encoded image signal under control of the first processor. The method includes the steps of converting an input image signal into a predetermined digital format and transferring the digital format image signal to at least one encoder processor. The method further includes the step of applying, at the at least one encoder processor, a hierarchical vector quantization compression algorithm to the digitized image signal. At the next step, a resultant encoded bit stream generated by the application of the algorithm is collected. The method and apparatus of the present invention may be used in conjunction with an ordinary modem to transmit and/or receive audio, video sequences or still images.

Abstract: A cinematographic camera is operated at three times normal frame rates and converted to digital video in a telecine operation. Motion estimation provides from the digital video motion vectors which are substantially free of temporal aliasing. These motion vectors are employed in film weave measurement and correction and in motion compensated noise reduction and scratch concealment to provide a high quality signal which can be displayed at the elevated frame rate or standards converted, using the high quality motion vectors, to any desired standard.

Abstract: System for transmitting n video programs simultaneously through a transmission channel having a predetermined bitrate, comprising in cascade a decoding assembly and an encoding assembly. The decoding assembly consists of n parallel decoding means provided in parallel for decoding the coded input signals corresponding to said programs, and the encoding assembly consists of n encoding means being in cascade with each of said decoding means and each comprising a quantizer having a variable step size and a variable length encoder. The system also comprises means for controlling the step sizes of said encoding means in dependence upon their respective output bitrates, and these control means are also provided for controlling the output bitrates of said encoding means in dependence upon complexity values associated to the coded input signals of each decoding means with respect to the joint complexity of the plurality of said coded signals.

Abstract: A vehicle camera system for obtaining picture data of a runaway vehicle is provided in a toll road system. A vehicle passing a tollgate (4) is picked up by a camera (6). As a license plate of a vehicle is detected, picture data are cyclically and subsequently stored in a pluarlity of fram memories (20). When the vehicle dishonestly leaves without paying a toll, a tollbooth attendant (m) depresses a push button (3) to generate an instruction signal so that one or a plurality of picture data just before the timing of such depression can be read out from the frame memory (20) to be transmitted to a central unit for separate storage. The instruction signal may also be generated automatically based on detection of the vehicle.

Abstract: A video coding apparatus for performing predictive coding of digital video input signals. The apparatus employs a resolution selection controller that selects picture resolution to be used in coding of a source picture of a current frame, according to coding information in a previous frame. Such coding information includes quantizer step size, amount of coded data, and buffer occupancy. Before being supplied to a coding unit, the source picture is sent to a resolution converter, where the source picture is converted to gain the resolution selected by said resolution selection controller. The coding unit then encodes the source picture with the selected picture resolution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically allocating the available bandwidth of a common transmission channel of a multiplexed system among multiple encoders in such a manner as to maximize and equalize the quality of the encoded data output by all of the encoders, while also preventing underflow or overflow of encoder or decoder buffers at each end of the common transmission channel, and moreover, while also ensuring compliance with (i.e., without violating) the data encoding and transmission protocol utilized by the system. Further, the bandwidth of the common transmission channel is preferably allocated using an algorithm that does not impose any constraints on the size of the encoder or decoder buffers, other than any constraints specified by the data transmission protocol employed in transmitting the encoded data over the common transmission channel.

Abstract: A panoramic imaging system, for monitoring a space, comprises a single camera and a dome-like convex mirror. The camera is mounted relative to the mirror so that at least most of the surface of the mirror is within the field of view of the camera. The mirror has an elevation gain, .alpha., greater than 3 and a profile which (a) ensures that radiation from at least most of the space is reflected by the mirror onto the image plane of the camera, and (b) satisfied the relationship, in polar co-ordinates,Sin?A+0.5(1+.alpha.).theta.!=C.r.?-0.5(1+.alpha.)!where C is a constant and A specifies the inclination of the profile to the optical axis of the camera at the point on the mirror which is closest to the aperture lens of the camera. The camera may be an electronic camera having a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor at its image plane, and the processed image of the space produced by the camera may be displayed on a monitor screen as a dewarped image.

Abstract: A spectrally-filtered, miniature, imaging spectrometer system for airborne remote sensing data acquisition with a two dimensional field of view. Synchronized CCD-imager sensor modules or cameras are aligned to a common field of view. One sensor module has a visible range variable interference filter on its surface and a second module has a near-infrared range variable interference filter on its surface. Video data from the three sensor modules is combined and recorded on a single analog or digital recorder. Futher, such video data is monitored by a computer and used to control the shutter speed of each of the three sensor modules. Wavelength spectral image data and directional spectral image data are acquired by a single pass over a target area. Post-processing of such data produces reconstructed track-recovery-images extracted from a sequence of video frames for the spectral regions of interest at a fixed column position to produce multiple bands of monochrome images.

Abstract: A video logging tool is described which is particularly well adapted for production logging of oil or gas wells. The tool has both an end view optical system and a side view optical system for imaging side and end view on a CCD array in a camera.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for storing image data into or from a frame memory is disclosed. The image data includes plural pieces of element data arranged in a matrix form of first predetermined numbers of rows and columns. The image processing apparatus includes a memory controller for controlling access to the frame memory for writing or reading the image data in or from the frame memory. The memory controller is configured to access the frame memory in either a raster unit consisting of one line of plural pieces of element data in the first predetermined numbers of rows and columns or a block unit consisting of plural pieces of element data arranged in a matrix of second predetermined numbers of rows and columns. The second predetermined number is smaller than the first predetermined number. A raster access address generator is connected to the memory controller and generates a raster access address for accessing the frame memory to write or read the image data in the raster unit.

Abstract: An improved three dimensional display device, for a single viewer. To the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,839 is added a mechanism for tracking the eye motion of the viewer. Because the control system "knows" the angles at which the device must project the frame images, only two (stereoscopic) frame images need to be projected in each frame, and a more complete illusion of three dimensionality, with respect to both lateral and vertical movement of the viewer, is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically synchronizing a video system to one of a plurality of composite synchronizing signals in accordance with a plurality of known video formats, includes a number of synchronizing signal stripper circuits, corresponding, respectively, to a number of types of composite synchronizing signals, a horizontal analyzer, having a plurality of horizontal standard identification circuits corresponding to a identification circuits for each known horizontal synchronizing signal rate for each type of composite synchronizing signal, for determining an approximate horizontal synchronizing signal rate and, a vertical analyzer, having a plurality of vertical rate identification circuits corresponding to the number of different known vertical rates, for determining the vertical synchronizing signal rate.

Abstract: A method that allows the real-time replacement of the designated background portion of an incoming video signal with an alternate background. The method utilizes the actual background image for reference as the basis for determining the background and foreground elements within the image with the end result being comparable to traditional blue-screen processes, such as chroma-key and ultimate technology, but requiring only a personal computer, video camera and the software. In this case, however, the reference background image can be any reasonably static scene with a sufficient and stable light source captured by the camera. The video data stream is modified in real-time by comparisons against the reference background image and is then passed on to its original destination. Multiple signal-noise processing algorithms are applied in real-time against the signal to achieve a visually acceptable matte.

Abstract: A moving image signal encoding apparatus includes: a frame decimating circuit for extracting .?.encoded.!. frames from an input moving image signal at specified intervals; a frame interpolating circuit for obtaining an interpolated frame between the .?.encoded.!. .Iadd.extracted .Iaddend.frames, and a circuit for obtaining an error formed by frame interpolation. A moving image signal decoding apparatus includes: a receiving circuit for extracting a frame code from an inputted signal; a frame decoding circuit for decoding the frame code to obtain a reproduced frame, and a frame interpolating circuit for obtaining an interpolated frame between the reproduced frames. By transmitting an error of the interpolated frame from the encoding apparatus to the decoding apparatus and correcting the error of the interpolated frame with the decoding apparatus, the error of the interpolated frame is eliminated.