Abstract: To provide an image compression coding apparatus and method capable of minimizing a deterioration in picture quality which is caused on a reproduced image during an overflow of an output buffer. A picture top detector (7A) executes a picture top detection processing for discarding image compression data (S2) until a top of a picture of the image compression data (S2) is detected during detection of a start address, and restarts a normal operation after detecting the top of the picture. A processor (5) brings a detection start register (8) into a set state and causes the picture top detector (7A) to execute the picture top detection processing during an overflow of an output buffer (3a), and executes an interruption processing of rewriting, as a value of a write address register (9), an address where a top of an overflow picture to be a picture causing the overflow is stored.

Abstract: A multilayer printed wiring board is composed of a substrate provided with through-holes, and a wiring board formed on the substrate through the interposition of an interlaminar insulating resin layer, the through-holes having a roughened internal surface and being filled with a filler, an exposed part of the filler in the through-holes being covered with a through-hole-covering conductor layer, and a viahole formed just thereabove being connected to the through-hole-covering conductor layer. Without peeling between the through-holes and the filler, this wiring board has a satisfactory connection reliability between the through-holes and the internal layer circuit and provides a high density wiring.

Abstract: A multilayer printed wiring board is composed of a substrate provided with through-holes, and a wiring board formed on the substrate through the interposition of an interlaminar insulating resin layer, the through-holes having a roughened internal surface and being filled with a filler, an exposed part of the filler in the through-holes being covered with a through-hole-covering conductor layer, and a viahole formed just thereabove being connected to the through-hole-covering conductor layer. Without peeling between the through-holes and the filler, this wiring board has a satisfactory connection reliability between the through-holes and the internal layer circuit and provides a high density wiring.

Abstract: An opening is formed in resin 20 by a laser beam so that a via hole is formed. At this time, copper foil 22, the thickness of which is reduced (to 3 &mgr;m) by performing etching to lower the thermal conductivity is used as a conformal mask. Therefore, an opening 20a can be formed in the resin 20 if the number of irradiation of pulse-shape laser beam is reduced. Therefore, occurrence of undercut of the resin 20 which forms an interlayer insulating resin layer can be prevented. Thus, the reliability of the connection of the via holes can be improved.

Abstract: When fade-in is detected at a time (&tgr;f), the remaining number of bits (R) is increased by Rup=G/2. Thus, the remaining number of bits R to be consumed in the GOP (n) becomes (3/2)G=(12/8)G. In this way, the remaining number of bits (R) is increased when fade-in is detected. This increases the bit rate in pictures coming after fade-in and requiring a large information content, thereby improving picture quality.

Abstract: An encoding device includes a processor unit controlling an overall operation and at the same time having a software for executing an audio encoding process, a video encoding unit to execute a video encoding process, a multiplex process unit to execute a system process and a timing control unit to generate a timing signal for activating an audio encoding process, a video encoding process and a system process, all of these elements are mountable on the same substrate. Each of a control process for controlling the audio encoding process, the video encoding process and system process is executed as an interrupt process. The processor unit includes an interrupt control circuit. The interrupt control circuit selects, based on a predetermined priority, one interrupt process corresponding to at least one generated timing signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image coding method and apparatus for preventing a coding quantity of coding data from being increased when a redundancy between image planes is low. A selector outputs either an optimum motion vector output from a motion vector detecting device or a motion vector output from a motion vector storing section to a real time image coding device for performing coding on the basis of an evaluation value output from the motion vector detecting device. If it is decided, according to the evaluation value, that a redundancy between a reference image plane and a coding object image plane is low, the motion vector is selected so that the coding quantity of the coding data can be prevented from being increased.

Abstract: Screen data consists of two sets of field data. Each set of field data is divided into a plurality of data blocks which has four rows of pixel data corresponding to four rows of pixels vertically arranged. Every data block corresponding to one set of field data is stored in the first bank (bank0) of a frame buffer memory while that corresponding to the other set of field data is stored in the second bank (bank1). One row address is assigned to each data block. Bank1 is precharged while bank0 is in a write operation and vice versa in order to carry out the precharging operation and the write operation concurrently, so that the pixel data can be transferred at a high data transfer rate and each of two sets of field data can be transferred independently.

Abstract: An evaluation value operation part computes evaluation values of a template block and a search window block in accordance with respective ones of a plurality of predictive modes in parallel with each other, and a candidate vector determination part decides candidate vectors indicating optimum vectors in accordance with the computed evaluation values and on the basis of priority levels from a priority generation part. In accordance with these candidate vectors, an optimum vector decision part decides the optimum vectors for the respective predictive modes. Thus provided is an image coding system which can reduce the amount of codes of motion vectors with excellent picture quality.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve visual picture quality. A picture signal is divided into a plurality of macro blocks and coding is conducted in macro block units. The coding is conducted including quantization process by a quantization portion. A motion compensation portion outputs the quantity of motion, L, in macro block units. An average quantity of motion, L.sub.ave, of a reference picture stored in a frame memory is outputted from a division portion. A control portion compares the quantity of motion L with two reference values relative to the average quantity of motion L.sub.ave and makes a correction to lower the quantization step in the quantization portion for macro blocks whose quantity of motion L is between the reference values. Accordingly, picture quality is improved in part of picture where motion is small and deterioration of visual picture quality is noticeable.

Abstract: In a data reading circuit, an output signal from a sense amplifier which outputs a signal having a level corresponding to a potential difference between an input/output line pair is output through a first tri-state inverter and a second tri-state inverter. An NMOS transistor for precharging is provided between an output node of the first tri-state inverter and an output node (N3) of the sense amplifier. When the sense amplifier and the first tri-state inverter are inactivated, this transistor is also inactivated. As a result, an output node of the second tri-state inverter and an output node of the sense amplifier are connected with this transistor therebetween, so that the output node of the sense amplifier is precharged to an intermediate potential. According to the structure as described above, in the data reading circuit, a fast access is implemented, operation of the circuit is stabilized, and the lack of balance between the access times is suppressed.

Abstract: Instructions of a program are stored at addresses sequentially designated in accordance with an M series pseudo-random number sequence in an instruction memory in the order of program addresses. A pseudo-random number program counter has a feedback shift register for generating the same M series pseudo-random number sequence and applies an address of an instruction to be read from the instruction memory to the instruction memory based on a generated pseudo-random number, and a jump address and a select signal from an instruction decoder. As a result, instructions are read from the instruction memory and executed in the order of program addresses. The feedback shift register can be implemented as a small-scale circuit and operable at high speed.

Abstract: In a data reading circuit, an output signal from a sense amplifier which outputs a signal having a level corresponding to a potential difference between an input/output line pair is output through a first tri-state inverter and a second tri-state inverter. An NMOS transistor for precharging is provided between an output node of the first tri-state inverter and an output node (N3) of the sense amplifier. When the sense amplifier and the first tri-state inverter are inactivated, this transistor is also inactivated. As a result, an output node of the second tri-state inverter and an output node of the sense amplifier are connected with this transistor therebetween, so that the output node of the sense amplifier is precharged to an intermediate potential. According to the structure as described above, in the data reading circuit, a fast access is implemented, operation of the circuit is stabilized, and the lack of balance between the access times is suppressed.

Abstract: A technique for reducing the circuit area of a test circuit which is formed by a parallel register which includes a plurality of scan latch circuits is disclosed. A scan latch circuit is formed by a master-slave latch circuit. The master-slave latch circuit includes a static latch circuit which serves as a master side latch circuit and a dynamic latch circuit which serves as a slave side latch circuit. Under the control of a control signal, either a signal inputted to a first circuit part or a signal inputted to a preceding stage scan latch circuit is held in the static latch circuit. The signal which was inputted to a first circuit part is outputted via an output terminal of the scan latch circuit to a second circuit part. The signal which was inputted to the preceding stage scan latch circuit is advanced to the dynamic latch circuit and thereafter outputted to a next scan latch circuit via other output terminal of the scan latch circuit.

Abstract: A read only memory includes a memory cell provided at an intersection between a word line and a bit line, and a plurality of reference potential transmission lines each receiving a reference potential determined in accordance with an externally applied potential designating signal. The memory cell includes a transistor element having a gate coupled to a word line, a drain coupled to a bit line and a source which is coupled to one of the reference potential transmission lines or is held in an open state. Stored data in the memory cell is changed by switching the potentials of the reference potential transmission lines. This enables storing of different data bits in one memory cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a memory cell array for storing data to be processed, and an operational unit for effecting a predetermined operation on the data read from the memory cell array. The memory cell array has first and second regions for storing first and second data words of first and second groups. The first data words and second data words each include a plurality of data bits. The first region includes a plurality of bit arrays for storing data bits of the same digit in the first data words, and the second region includes a plurality of bit arrays for storing data bite of the same digit in the second data words. The bit arrays of the first and second groups are arranged alternately in the order of digits of the data words. The bit arrays storing the data bits of the same digit form one subarray. The data bits in one data word are stored in the same positions of the bit arrays. The operational unit includes operational circuits each corresponding to one of the subarrays.

Abstract: A read only memory includes a memory cell provided at an intersection between a word line and a bit line, and a plurality of reference potential transmission lines each receiving a reference potential determined in accordance with an externally applied potential designating signal. The memory cell includes a transistor element having a gate coupled to a word line, a drain coupled to a bit line and a source which is coupled to one of the reference potential transmission lines or is held in an open state. Stored data in the memory cell is changed by switching the potentials of the reference potential transmission lines. This enables storing of different data bits in one memory cell.

Abstract: An integrated circuit 1 for video signal processing comprises a 2-line memory 3, a video signal processing circuit 4 and a coincidence circuit 6. A digital video signal of 8 bits inputted to an input terminal group 2 is applied to the 2-line memory 3 and the coincidence circuit 6. Also, the 2-line delay signal of 8 bits outputted from the 2-line memory 3 is applied to the coincidence circuit 6. The coincidence circuit 6 determines coincidence or non-coincidence of the input digital video signal and the 2-line delay signal received and outputs the result of that determination through a coincidence output terminal. As a result, an operation of the 2-line memory 3 can be tested individually.

Abstract: A bus circuit comprises a bus interconnection (1) and a plurality of local bus interconnections (10). A plurality of circuit blocks (21a to 21d) are connected to each of the plurality of local bus interconnections (10). A multiplexer (70), a bus driver (60) and a transmitting circuit (80A) are provided corresponding to each of the local bus interconnections (10). Each multiplexer (70) selects one of the outputs from the corresponding plurality of circuit blocks (21a to 21d) and applies the selected one to the bus driver (60). The bus driver (60) drives the bus interconnection (1) according to the output of the multiplexer (70). The local bus interconnections (10) are precharged to a predetermined potential in advance. When any of the plurality of transmitting circuits (80A) is selected, the selected transmitting circuit (80A) either discharges the corresponding local bus interconnection (10) or holds the same at a predetermined potential according to the information on the bus interconnection (1).

Abstract: An integrated circuit 1 for video signal processing includes a 2-line memory 3, a video signal processing circuit 4 and a coincidence circuit 6. A digital video signal of 8 bits inputted to an input terminal group 2 is applied to the 2-line memory 3 and the coincidence circuit 6. Also, the 2-line delay signal of 8 bits outputted from the 2-line memory 3 is applied to the coincidence circuit 6. The coincidence circuit 6 determines coincidence or non-coincidence of the input digital video signal and the 2-line delay signal received and outputs the result of that determination through a coincidence output terminal. As a result, an operation of the 2-line memory 3 can be tested individually.