Abstract: The picture reproduction apparatus of this invention reproduces compressed image data which has been compressed using inter-frame encoding, extracts a header from the reproduced image data, taking out intra-frame encoded image data using the information of the header. Invalid data is added to the image data other than the intra-frame encoded data. The image data is output into a picture decoding apparatus, so as to obtain a reproduced video image during playback in fast forward and fast reverse. Alternatively, valid image data is detected from the reproduced image data. In the slow playback at a 1/N speed, M (<N) frames of valid image data and (N-1)*M frames of invalid image data are output in order to obtain a slow image output.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding an encoded digital video signal for the reproduction of an original video image signal comprises an image data partitioning circuit for dividing difference pixel values on the basis of the current macro block into four equal-sized current subblocks, motion compensation units and a formatter for providing predicted current macro block data, adders for providing the reconstructed current macro block signals by combining the predicted current macro block data and the difference pixel data. The motion compensation units have four memories for storing the reconstructed current macro block signals as the divided previous subblock data.

Abstract: A first video signal is produced in a video signal processing circuit within a video processor by an imaging device provided in an endoscope, is put into a switching circuit, has the tone and the like corrected by a picture image correcting circuit within an outer peripheral apparatus provided outside the video processor and is converted to a second video signal electrically different from the first video signal. The second video signal is recorded and is displayed in a color monitor through a switching circuit. In case the outer peripheral apparatus is abnormal and a normal picture image is not displayed in the color monitor, by the operation of a forcibly set switch, the first video signal produced in the video signal processing circuit within the video processor will be quickly displayed in the color monitor without being passed through the outer peripheral apparatus.

Abstract: A moving image processing method and apparatus for efficient access to a large amount of moving image data. By the hierarchical structure of storage media for storing the compressed moving image data, when reproduction of compressed moving image data is displayed, the data can be transferred with an adjustment of the transfer speed to a predetermined display speed of the moving image. More specifically, the compressed moving image data is transferred from a first storage medium having a large capacity and a slow access speed to a second storage medium having a small capacity and a fast access speed and further transferred from the second storage medium to an expander which expands the data and displays the expanded data. The compressed moving image data and the corresponding administrative information are stored separately in different storage media which are accessible independently of each other.

Abstract: A video decoder capable of downsampling full resolution images on a block by block basis regardless of the downsampling rate is disclosed. When the applied downsampling rate does not divide evenly into the number of pixel values included in a block in the dimension being downsampled, the decoder generates a partial pixel value. A partial pixel value represents a portion of the information used to represent a pixel of an image. In contrast, a full or complete pixel value is a value represents all the information used to represent a pixel of an image. The generated partial pixel value is stored and then added to another partial pixel value generated by downsampling another block of pixel values corresponding to a portion of a full resolution image. Numerous drift reduction processing techniques applicable to downsampling decoders are disclosed. Many of these processing techniques are applicable to decoders which perform full order IDCTs as well as reduced order IDCTs.

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 film scanner scans a frame of film three times by reciprocating a clapper gate assembly (160) holding the film (50) past a solid state line array sensor (210). Successive scans are in an opposite sense to the previous scan and R,G,B filter wheel (40) is placed in the optical path and advanced for each scan so that separate high resolution R,G and B scan are produced which can be combined to form a high resolution video signal.

Abstract: A motion picture encoding method and apparatus for adaptively switching filters in accordance with the property of a motion picture and the condition for encoding and to improve the encoding efficiency. A motion picture is encoded a plurality of times, an encoding parameter for encoding is optimized, the property of the motion picture signal is measured, and filtering is performed by using the encoding parameter or the property of the measured motion picture signal and thereby optimizing the filter characteristic only for the final-time encoding so as to practically generate and output an encoding signal (bit stream).

Abstract: A digital image capture system for a photo identification card wherein a housing contains a video camera and a tray that selectively moves through a formed slot in the housing between a first fully inserted position within the housing and a second fully open position outside of the housing. The tray has a formed recess that receives an insert plate. The insert plate has a formed opening for holding a photo identification card of a person. Different insert plates could be utilized under the teachings of the present invention having different-sized formed openings for different-sized photo identification cards. The photo identification card is placed into the formed opening and then the tray is slid into the fully inserted position in the housing. A magnet in the housing firmly holds the tray in the fully inserted position and this fully inserted position is sensed by a micro-switch that becomes activated to turn on a pair of opposing lamps to fully illuminate the photo identification card in the tray.

Abstract: We disclose: (1) a method for tensioning an ID saw blade, which comprises observing position of the cutting edge of the ID saw blade by using a CCD camera, exhibiting the observed position of the cutting edge of the ID saw blade on a display, adjusting tensioning screws while the position of the cutting edge of the ID saw blade exhibited on the display is watched, and disposing the cutting edge of the ID saw blade at a position within a preset allowable range which is exhibited on the display; and (2) an apparatus for monitoring tensioning of an ID saw blade which comprises a CCD camera for observing the position of the cutting edge of the ID saw blade, a display for exhibiting the observed position of the cutting edge of the ID saw blade, and a mechanism for exhibiting on the display an allowable range for the position of the cutting edge of the ID saw blade which is set in advance.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically inspecting the connection of a wire to a lead on lead frame containing a semiconductor chip or similar device. Using an image processor to locate the general position of a soldered lead in a digitized image, the present invention creates a template of an idealized optical indentation left by a good bond; determines parameters such as wire angle, idealized position and shape thresholds for applying the template; conducts a normalized correlation search of the digitized image; compares the results returned to the parameters and reports the resulting signals generated by this comparison to a host controller or other control module.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for automatically locating the bond of a wire to a lead frame and semiconductor chip or similar device as an in-process operation to facilitate in-process inspection. The apparatus includes a wire bonding machine, or similar apparatus, having a movable platform such as an X-Y table for holding semiconductor chips situated in lead frames; a video camera or other optical sensing or imaging device for generating images, which camera is typically positioned over the target chip and lead frame to be bonded; illumination means for illuminating the chip in a lead frame; an image processor capable of summing said absolute difference values, whereby each sum is stored as a difference metric, and digitizing and analyzing the optically sensed images; a bonding mechanism; and a host controller connected to the bonding mechanism, the movable platform, the camera and the image processor.

Abstract: Golden Template Comparison (GTC) is a method that can be applied to flaw and defect detection in images of 2-dimensional scenes. When a test image is compared to a golden template image, the images must be registered, and then subtracted. The resulting difference image is then analyzed for features that indicate flaws or defects. The registration step is a major determinant of the performance of GTC, and the invention performs the registration step of GTC using a highly efficient and accurate registration method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for interpolating pixels to obtain subpels for use by a video decompression processor. A prediction area is defined from which subpels are necessary to decompress a portion of a video image. Instead of reading all of the pixels from the prediction area and then processing them together to perform the necessary interpolation, portions of the pixel data are read and simultaneously averaged using in-place computation in order to reduce hardware requirements. Rounding of subpixel results is achieved using the carry input of conventional adders to add a binary "1" to the averaged pixels, which are subsequently truncated to provide the interpolated subpels.

Abstract: An apparatus, for use in a motion-compensated video signal encoder, for determining a predicted current frame based on a current and a previous frame, comprises: a feature point motion vector(MV) detector for detecting a first set of MVs for feature points; an edge point MV detector for, in each of the edges, detecting one or two neighboring feature points for each of edge points, and determining a second set of MVs for the edge points; a quasi-point detector for detecting quasi-feature points and a third set of MVs therefor, and detecting quasi-edge points and a fourth set of MVs therefor; a non-quasi-point MV detector for detecting a fifth set of MVs for all non-quasi-points, each of the fifth set of MVs being determined by averaging the MVs of one or more neighboring quasi-feature points for each of the non-quasi-points; an arrangement block for arranging the third, the fourth and the fifth sets of MVs to determine a group of MVs for all of the pixels in the current frame; and a motion compensator for prov

Abstract: A portable, self-contained visitor identification system comprising a first camera for recording a first image and a second camera for recording a second image from a piece of identification and a recording device connected to the first video camera and the second video camera for alternatively recording the first image and the second image. A switching mechanism switches the video recording device to record the first image from the first video camera, to subsequently record the second image from the second video camera and then to record the image of the first video camera.

Abstract: A method of making a hierarchical estimate of image motion for a television signal. A television signal video image is divided into blocks of fixed size, and motion relative to a second video image is determined for each block. Mutually non-overlapping pixel blocks are produced at a lower, more finely resolved hierarchical level. The center points of these blocks are used as the points for an analysis at a level that is located higher in the hierarchy. Preferably, points which lie between image lines and which do not represent real picture elements in the line raster, are investigated in the mutually non-overlapping blocks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a reduced cost HDTV/SDTV video decoder are disclosed. The described joint video decoder is capable of decoding HDTV pictures at approximately the resolution of standard definition television pictures and can be used to decode HDTV and/or SDTV pictures. The described video decoder may be used as part of a picture-in-picture decoder circuit for providing picture-in-picture capability without providing multiple full resolution video decoders. The reduction in decoder circuit complexity is achieved through the use of a plurality of data reduction techniques including the use of a preparser, downsampling, and truncating pixel values.

Abstract: A coding system for transmitting stereo image data, wherein an image for the left eye is disposed in odd fields and an image for the right eye is disposed in even fields, respectively. Frames F1, F2, F3 and F4 are sequentially coded in an order of I picture, B picture, P picture and B picture. The picture in each frame is coded by adaptively switching between a frame prediction mode or field prediction mode or a frame DCT mode or field DCT mode. Thereby, the parallax can be efficiently coded.

Abstract: Technique for coding video images by filtering the original input image into subband images using successive high-pass and low-pass filterings over a tree-shaped filter bank. Each subband image is then submitted to activity detection and coded with a different number of levels depending on the activity detected and on the subband involved.