Abstract: A pattern recognition system comprising scanning means (1) for producing a binary signal indicative of the state of the elementary areas in successively scanned columns of elementary areas and segmentation means to separate from said signal data relating to individual discrete graphic objects in the scanned pattern and to store the separated data in individual storage zones of a memory array, characterized in that said segmentation means comprise a QTC generator (2) for producing quasitopological codes indicative of predetermined states of successive elementary areas using the data in the signal of each successive scanned column and the data in the signal of the last previously scanned column, and for producing therefrom a start and a stop signals at the beginning and end of any series of data corresponding to a fragment of a graphic object, the succession of codes being different depending on whether a fragment detected in the signal is or is not continued from last previously scanned column, and assignment

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for filtering noise from digital video images including means for determining first difference values between intensity values of current pel and one or more preceding pels, means for determining second difference values between intensity values of the current pel and one or more succeeding pels, means for limiting any of the first and second difference values that exceed a predetermined limit value, and means for generating a filtered value for the current pel by adding the intensity value of the pel to a scale summation of the limited first and second difference values.

Abstract: In an analog-digital converting apparatus including a row of light receiving units with each unit having a light receiving element and a sample-hold circuit, a counter for producing a digital signal whose value is increased successively, a digital-analog converter for receiving the digital signal and producing an analog reference signal whose amplitude increases successively from a lower limit value to an upper limit value in step-shaped manner, comparators for comparing the output signals of the light receiving units with said analog reference signal, respectively, memories for receiving the digital signal and controlled by the comparators, respectively to store instantaneous digital values when the corresponding comparators change their states, there is provided a second light receiving unit having substantially the same construction as that of the first mentioned light receiving unit except that a light receiving element provided therein is covered with a light shielding mask so as to produce an output equ

Abstract: Analysis of images or specimens which exhibit visually distinguishable component areas of a plurality of different types, to determine the relative abundances, average sizes or other characteristics of such areas, is facilitated by a semi-automatic scanning system which includes an on-line data processor. The apparatus combines the superior area recognition ability of the human operator with the speed and ease of operation of fully automatic systems. A keyboard control unit has a plurality of manually operable keys any one of which may be actuated to drive the stage motor of a microscope through which the operator views the specimen and each of which generates a distinctive signal identifying a different specific type of area in the specimen. The data processor receives stage translation signals and the area classification signals and computes the desired data which may be visually displayed following a period of scanning.

Abstract: A method for automatic recognition of white blocks as well as text, graphics and/or gray image areas on a printed master employs the steps of optoelectronically scanning the master and converting the analog scanning signals into digital signals such that a binarily encoded representation of the master is generated. Horizontal and vertical white blocks are successively searched for in the binary image and the locations of such white blocks are stored. The binary image thus subdivided by horizontal white blocks and the binary image subdivided by vertical white blocks are logically linked to one another in order to locate white "frames" for the individual areas of the printed matter. Such printed master areas formed in white are subsequently statistically analyzed in order to determine whether the framed area represents a text, graphics or gray image area on the printed master.

Abstract: In a control signal generator, a first frequency dividing circuit controllably frequency divides a television subcarrier signal to deliver a first frequency divided signal to a phase lock loop, which drives a logic circuit to produce a control signal for use in a television signal codec. Together with the first frequency divided signal, a second frequency divided signal produced by frequency dividing horizontal or vertical synchronizing signals, is supplied to a phase control circuit for phase controlling the first frequency divided signal so as to keep a phase difference which the first frequency divided signal has relative to the second one, within a prescribed tolerance. When the phase difference is smaller and not smaller than the tolerance, a switch may selectively supply the phase lock loop with the first and the second frequency divided signals, respectively, with the first frequency divided signal phase controlled to the tolerance if the phase difference is not within the tolerance.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for creating optical displays from a real optical scene with an optical feedback circuit projecting a parameter of the original scene for combination with the original scene itself or an image thereof. The feedback circuit may influence the parametric image in many ways to influence the combined optical display. For instance, the parametric image may be a negative of the real scene to produce a null combined display showing motion where the parametric image is time delayed or the parametric image may be defocused to produce a combined display with edge enhancement. The feedback circuit may project a vertical parametric image to create fixed relation combined displays or the feedback circuit can project real parametric images continuously to create a combined display which changes progressively as a function of the relation between original and parametric images.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus has an optical scanner for optically scanning a document and for outputting an image signal corresponding to the document pattern, a modified Huffman coding circuit for compressing the image information output by the optical scanner for each scanning line, and a page buffer memory for storing the image signal compressed by the modified Huffman coding circuit as line image information items. The line image information items are read out from the page buffer memory in units of a fixed number of bits, and are divided into image data pieces of a fixed bit length. Dummy data is added to the terminal end image data which does not have the fixed bit length, thus forming a terminal end image data of the fixed bit length. Error correction data is set for each image data piece.

Abstract: Quadrature-related outputs of synchronized color reference oscillator at +(R-Y) and +(B-Y) phases are applied to a first matrix to develop a first matrixed signal of a third intermediate phase. Additional matrixing operations on the oscillator outputs develop second and third matrixed signals of different phases symmetrically disposed about the third phase. A differential amplifier, of substantially fixed gain, with differential inputs respectively responsive to the second and third matrixed signals, develops a fourth matrixed signal, with a phase in quadrature relation with said third phase, across an output load. The reference signal input for a demodulator is derived from signals appearing across said output load.

Abstract: A noise reduction apparatus for reducing noises contained in a television picture signal is realized by comprising a low pass filter for filtering out noise components together with higher frequency components of the picture signal, the latter being compensated thereafter in response to detection of edge portions of the picture, as well as realized by utilizing interframe correlation of the television picture signal for reducing random noise components together with interframe varying components caused by motion of the picture, the latter being compensated thereafter in response to detection of the motion of the picture, which motion is discriminated by interframe variation of a group of picture elements. As a result, the noise reduction of the picture signal can be efficiently attained without any deterioration of picture quality, which is conventionally accompanied therewith.

Abstract: In a run length decoding apparatus of the type comprising a decoding circuit decoding a series of run length encoded data to sequentially output binary data indicative of respective run lengths, and decoding means for decoding a white or black signal having a number of bits represented by an output value of the decoding circuit so as to sequentially accumulate decoded signals in a picture memory device, there are provided a lower order counter to be set with a surplus less than n (an integer larger than 2) of the output value of the decoding circuit, an upper order counter to be set with an upper order value, count of the upper order counter being decremented according to a clock pulse, a selector which, in response to a carry signal outputted by the upper order counter, selects and outputs either one of a fixed value n and an output signal of the lower order counter at each clock pulse, a flip-flop circuit whose state is reversed at each one run length, and an array conversion circuit inputted with decoded d

Abstract: The VHF and UHF tuners of a television receiver are coupled by a switchable diplexing circuit to a single antenna input terminal. The diplexing circuit includes a first electronic switching means responsive to a U/V bandswitch control signal connected between the UHF tuner and the antenna input terminal. A switchable low-pass filter is connected between the VHF tuner and the antenna input terminal, the switchable low-pass filter including a second electronic switching means responsive to the U/V bandswitch control signal for causing the low-pass filter to exhibit a first low-pass frequency response having a cut-off frequency fc in the VHF mode and a second low-pass frequency responsive having a cut-off frequency less then fc in the UHF mode.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving a mirror about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis so that the mirror can scan in all directions and up and down to receive light rays representing images of distant objects and to direct the light rays to a video camera adjacent thereto. The video camera is in a fixed position in a housing and faces upwardly in optical alignment with the center of the mirror. A pair of vertically spaced ring gears are mounted in the housing for rotation relative to the video camera, and a pair of drive motors are coupled with respective ring gears for rotating the same in opposed directions relative to each other. One of the ring gears has a pair of posts which extend upwardly and terminate at the sides of the mirror. The mirror has a pair of stub shafts rotatably mounted in the upper ends of the post so that the mirror can rotate about a horizontal axis even as the first ring gear rotates about the vertical axis of the mirror.

Abstract: The digital signal values of adjacent picture points of pairs of points straddling the picture point currently being processed in every direction are compared in terms of only their more significant bits to determine which, if any, of the pairs involve a difference of value greater than a predetermined threshold. The determination that such a value difference is present is treated as the recognition of a picture contrast feature and causes, through operation of a read-only memory, the exclusion of such a picture point pair from the averaging process for producing a substitute value for the picture point currently under processing when the latter is found unusable by means of an error-detector. The resulting system for concealing errors detected in television picture avoids disturbing the outlines of picture features as other systems do which substitute averages of neighboring picture points for picture points found to be erroneous.

Abstract: In the method, an image is analyzed by a television camera, is then submitted to differential coding with a "temporal inter-fields prediction", between fields of the same image, with the exception of one initialization line which is coded with a "uni-dimensional space prediction". The transmitting device and the receiving device of the transmission system each comprise an image memory which stores the two fields. They also comprise means for calculating the prediction, shown in the figure, and operating according to two types of the method. A first device calculates a uni-dimensional space prediction, and a second device calculates a temporal inter-fields prediction. A pointer selects the space prediction during initialization and the temporal prediction during the remainder of the transmission.

Abstract: A document information filing system has a function of displaying a plurality of its operation modes such as "SEARCH", "RECORD", "DELETE" and "CHANGE" modes on a display device. When a given operation mode is selected by a keyboard, sequential guidance for the procedure of operation for the selected operation mode is displayed on the display device, whereby the operation of the selected operation mode can be executed by operating the keyboard in conformity to the display guidance.

Abstract: A color video signal reproducing apparatus comprises a carrier chrominance signal separation circuit for separating a carrier chrominance signal from a color video signal reproduced from a recording medium, a luminance signal separation circuit for separating a luminance signal from the reproduced color video signal, a demodulating circuit for demodulating the separated carrier chrominance signal into two color difference signals, where the demodulating circuit consists of demodulators for demodulating the carrier chrominance signal into the two color difference signals, an oscillator for supplying a predetermined frequency signal to the demodulators, and a control circuit for controlling the oscillation frequency of the oscillator according to a jitter component in the carrier chrominance signal, a reference signal producing circuit for producing a reference signal having a predetermined frequency, a modulating circuit for modulating the reference signal from the reference signal producing circuit, respectiv

Abstract: In a digital fluorography system a television (TV) camera converts X-ray images to analog video signals that are converted to digital pixel words in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The sync signals for the TV camera and the sample clock signals for the ADC are derived from a novel resettable crystal controlled sync generator. A phase-locked loop provides an ac reference signal at one-half power line frequency which is equivalent to TV frame rate. The sync generator is reset to start a new frame and an ensuing sequence of crystal controlled horizontal sync pulses only in response to occurrence of ac reference signals so every frame is in registration. A digital video processor (DVP) subtracts a mask image from each image in a sequence of images that are acquired while an X-ray contrast medium is appearing in and disappearing from a blood vessel. The resulting difference images are stored in analog video signal format in an analog video disk recorder.

Abstract: When copying cinematographic film onto color video tape there is ensured a given, desired mutual phase position between the picture frames of the film and a periodic signal component in the composite video signal recorded on the video tape, said periodic signal component extending over an integral number of picture frames. This is effected by splicing onto one end of the film (F) a film leader (FS) which is provided with a periodically repeated sequence of at least two mutually sequential picture frames (FS1, FS2) having mutually different, clearly discernible picture contents, for example one being dark and the other being light. The film (F) is fed into the telecine equipment (1) used for the copying process, with the film leader (FS) first.

Abstract: In colored image reproduction, we have found that for the appearance of some self-colored objects (e.g. human flesh or plant leaves) to be satisfactory, when picture elements of the object are expressed in terms of luminance (L) and two chromaticity signals (CHR1 and CHR2), each chromaticity signal is a single-valued function of the luminance. In this specification, such objects are identified by means of a mask (24) or by a color recognition circuit or both and the corresponding area of the reproduction is made under the control of the luminance signal (L) for the picture elements of the object and two chromaticity signals generated by digital look-up tables (LUT2 and LUT3) having the luminance signal as an input and loaded with functions representing the respective functions relating chromaticity to luminance for that object.