Abstract: A novel de-blocking and de-banding filter and a related method of operation reduce and/or remove blocking and banding artifacts that originate from a low bitrate video compression. For filtering a luminance channel, the de-blocking and de-banding filter determines filtering needs and also adjusts filtering strengths based on a compression level (Qp) and a gray level of the video signal. For filtering a chrominance channel, the de-blocking and de-banding filter determines the filtering needs and adjusts the filtering strengths based on Qp alone. Preferably, the de-blocking and de-banding filter utilizes a low pass filter of adjustable strength at a border of a block perpendicular to the border or a band border. The adjustable strength of the de-blocking and de-banding filter is a function of the compression level (Qp) and/or the gray level of the video signal, but does not depend on a duration of the blocking and/or banding artifacts.

Abstract: The present invention relates inter alia to a method for processing an encoded video sequence, said method comprising the steps of: —reconstructing the encoded video sequence and providing a plurality of neighboring pictures; —transforming each of said neighboring pictures or at least a coherent region of each neighboring picture into the coordinate system of a reference picture based on a motion model, and thereby generating a picture stack comprising transformed pictures; —combining the pixel amplitudes of corresponding pixels of said transformed pictures using a weighting function, to form a processed pixel amplitude for at least one image pixel of the reference picture; and —generating a processed picture based on said at least one processed pixel amplitude of said image pixel.

Abstract: A device for parallel symbol decoding may include a first and second block. The first block is configured to convert a bitstream into a stream of binary symbols corresponding to motion vector data and other compressed image data, insert length fields into the stream of binary symbols that are each indicative of a number of consecutive binary symbols that correspond to motion vector data, and store the stream of binary symbols in a buffer. The second block is configured to retrieve the stream of binary symbols from the buffer, determine, based at least in part on the inserted length fields, consecutive binary symbols that correspond to motion vector data, decode the consecutive binary symbols that correspond to motion vector data via a first decode path, and to decode binary symbols that correspond to other compressed image data via a second decode path that is independent of the first decode path.

Abstract: A spark plug is held by a work holder, and an illumination device is disposed between a rear end surface of a metal terminal of the spark plug and a lens of a CCD camera. The positional relationship among the rear end surface, the lens and a light source is determined such that regular reflected light resulting from regular reflection of irradiation light emitted from the light source and impinging on the rear end surface is not incident on the lens. In capturing an image of the rear end surface not only is the regular reflected light not incident on the lens, but also the incidence, on the lens of irregular reflected light resulting from irregularities on the rear end surface is reduced, whereby interference of reflected light with a captured image can be reduced.

Abstract: Techniques are described related to coding of long-term reference pictures for a reference picture set. In some examples, a video coder may code candidate long-term reference pictures in a parameter set. The video coder also code syntax elements that indicate which long-term reference pictures from the candidate long-term reference pictures belong in the reference picture set.

Abstract: An image decoding method for decoding a bitstream including a coded signal resulting from coding slices into which an image is partitioned and each of which includes coding units, includes decoding the coded signal, wherein each of the slices is either a normal slice having, in a slice header, information used for another slice or a dependent slice which is decoded using information included in a slice header of another slice, the image includes rows each of which includes coding units, and when the normal slice starts at a position other than the beginning of the first row, the second row immediately following the first row does not start with the dependent slice.

Abstract: For operators of public or commercial buildings, such as supermarkets, it is interesting to determine how many persons, in particular potential buyers, enter the building each day. In other areas, as well, entering and exiting moving objects are counted: it is typical, for example, that cars driving into and out of a parking garage are counted.

Abstract: An image decoding method for decoding a bitstream including a coded signal resulting from coding tiles and slices into which an image is partitioned, the method including decoding the coded signal, wherein each of the slices is either a normal slice having, in a header, information used for an other slice or a dependent slice which is decoded using information included in a slice header of another slice, and when the normal slice starts from a position other than a beginning of a first tile, a second tile coded next to the first tile does not start from the dependent slice.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display device includes a display unit including a plurality of pixels and a data driver supplying first image data for a first view point to the plurality of pixels, second image data for a second view point to the plurality of pixels after supply of the first image data, third image data for the second view point to the plurality of pixels after supply of the second image data, and fourth image data for the first view point to the plurality of pixels after the input of the third image data. The stereoscopic image display device using such a time-division type scheme may decrease driving speed needed to display the stereoscopic image, may decrease reduction of luminance by reducing an amount of black data, and may decrease power consumption.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method that provides common data and enforces multiple view consistency. In a preferred embodiment, a coordinate alignment matrix is generated after initial warped views are formed. The matrix is used efficiently to repair holes/occlusions when synthesizing final views. In another preferred embodiment, a common background layer is generated based upon initial warped views. Holes are repaired on the common background layer, which can then be used for synthesizing final views. The cost of the latter method is sub-linear, meaning that additional views can be generated with lesser cost. Preferred methods of the invention also use a placement matrix to generate initial warped views, which simplifies warping to a lookup operation.

Abstract: There is provided a medical support system in which a plurality of photography apparatuses and a portable-type viewer apparatus including a display unit are communicably connected to a server. The portable-type viewer apparatus includes: a selection unit that selects one of the plurality of photography apparatuses; and a photographer ID input unit that inputs a photographer ID that is an ID of a photographer photographing a subject using the selected photography apparatus. The selected photography apparatus further includes a transmission unit that transmits image data of the subject photographed by the selected photography apparatus to the server, and the server includes a recording unit that records the photographer ID and the transmitted image data in association with each other in a case where the photographer ID is input.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product to determine whether a product has been successfully purchased by identifying in a video record when a movement of a product adjacent to a scanner occurs, and whether the scanner did not record a purchase transaction at that time; measuring a difference in time between the time of the movement of the product and a time of another movement of a product, and determining by a trained support vector machine a likelihood that the product was successfully purchased. Alternately, the difference in time can be measured between the time of the movement of the product and a time of a transaction record, or between the time of the movement of the product and a boundary time. The support vector machine can use a radial basis function kernel and can generate a decision value and a confidence score.

Abstract: Image surveillance and reporting technology, in which an event that is indicative of potential physical activity within an area corresponding to a location of a camera unit is detected. In response to detection of the event, the camera unit is controlled to capture one or more images of the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images captured by the camera unit are analyzed to determine whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit. The one or more images are handled based on the determination of whether the one or more images include image data that is indicative of relevant physical activity within the area corresponding to the location of the camera unit.

Abstract: A reconstructed image which further reflects the photo shooting information of a main object is generated. A layer determiner defines a layer of a reconstructed image. A layer image generator reconstructs an image of an object included in the allocated depth range from a light field image and the depth map of the light field image for each layer. A conversion pixel extractor extracts corresponding pixels on a conversion layer which corresponds to an object to be modified. The object to be modified is designated by an operation acquired by a modification operation acquirer. A reconstructed image generator converts layer images using a conversion matrix defined by a conversion matrix determiner and generates an image whose composition has been modified by superimposing the layer images.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an inspection device including a light source module, an image receiving module and a processing unit. The light source module emits a first incident light and a second incident light to a device under test (DUT). The image receiving module receives a first image corresponding to the DUT irradiated by the first incident light, and receives a second image corresponding to the DUT irradiated by the second incident light. The processing unit calculates the contrast ratio of the first image and the second image to obtain a high-contrast image for inspection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for transmitting/receiving a digital broadcast signal having a three-dimensional image. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a device for receiving a digital broadcast signal comprises: a tuner which receives a digital broadcast signal of a transport packet that contains signaling data and a video stream for implementing a three-dimensional image; a demodulation unit which demodulates said received digital broadcast signal; a decoding module which extracts mode conversion information from said demodulated digital broadcast signal; and an output formatter which outputs a decoded image signal on the basis of said mode conversion information.

Abstract: For inspection of a pattern such as a semiconductor device, it is useful to selectively detect a defect on the specific pattern in order to estimate the cause of the occurrence of the defect. An object of the invention is to provide a charged particle beam apparatus capable of setting, on the basis of the shape of the pattern on a sample, a region to be inspected. The invention is characterized in that the contour of the pattern on the sample is extracted using a template image obtained on the basis of an image of the sample, the region to be inspected is set on the basis of the contour of the pattern, a defect candidate is detected by comparing the image to be inspected with a comparative image, and the sample is inspected using a positional relationship between the region to be inspected and the defect candidate included in the region to be inspected.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus includes a processor that calculates and stores, an evaluation value for each candidate vector, based on a given block to be encoded among blocks formed by dividing an image, and a reference block on a reference image represented by each candidate vector that is a candidate motion vector of the given block; identifies an evaluation value of a first candidate motion vector of the given block, based on the stored evaluation values; calculates an evaluation value of a second candidate motion vector, based on the evaluation value of each candidate vector and the second candidate motion vector selected for the given block from among motion vectors of blocks adjacent to the given block; and determines the first or the second candidate motion vector to be the motion vector of the given block, based on the respective evaluation values of the first and the second candidate motion vectors.

Abstract: An image display apparatus, includes: a stereoscopic image obtaining unit which obtains a plurality of images having different points of view; a display unit which displays the plurality of images; a photographic subject selecting unit which selects a specific photographic subject in any one of the plurality of images; and a display controller which displays a line where a parallax amount of a first viewpoint image and a second viewpoint image among the plurality of images is zero and an anteroposterior relationship of the line where the parallax amount is zero and a position of the specific photographic subject in an optical axis direction in photographing a stereoscopic image in a partial display region of the display unit as a pseudo overhead view of the photographic subject which is seen from an upper side with respect to the optical axis in photographing the stereoscopic image.

Abstract: An image display device includes a system block producing source data from a video signal received from the outside, a display block displaying 2D data or 3D data included in the source data, and a multifunctional block including a single multifunctional chip for integrating a first function, a second function, and a third function and a memory. The first function reflects a depth information on the 2D data based on motion evaluation for extracting an object and converts the 2D data into the 3D data. The second function renders the 3D data in conformity with a driving environment of the display block. The third function up-converts a frame rate of the 2D data based on the motion evaluation. The memory individually stores the 2D data of a predetermined amount for the motion evaluation.