Abstract: A method for hierarchical motion estimation which can perform motion estimation in various block modes. According to the method, matching criterion values are calculated in units of an upper sub-block using matching criterion values calculated in units of a lowest-order sub-block and a block mode and a motion vector for motion estimation of an input block are determined using a plurality of matching criterion values for each of the various block modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thickness measurement method for thin films using microwaves. In the method, the Q-factors of a dielectric resonator are measured. The effective surface resistance (RSeff) of a superconductor or a conductor film and the loss tangent of a dielectric are determined using the Q-factor. The penetration depth ? for the superconductor film is measured using a dielectric resonator with a small gap between the superconductor film at the top of the resonator and the rest. The intrinsic surface resistance of superconductor films for calibration is determined using the measured RSeff and ? while the intrinsic surface resistance of a conductor film for calibration is determined using the measured RSeff and the nature of the intrinsic surface resistance being equal to the intrinsic surface reactance.

Abstract: Provided is a method for encoding and decoding a motion picture frame, which achieve natural picture conversion of frames near an Instantaneous Decoding Refresh-I (IDR-I) frame. The decoding method includes: decoding a first frame which is a P frame that is to be displayed last among a plurality of P frames that are to be displayed before an IDR-I frame is displayed; decoding the IDR-I frame; decoding a second frame which is a P frame that is to be displayed first among a plurality of P frames that are to be displayed after the IDR-I frame is displayed; and maintaining a reference frame stored in a buffer, for decoding the first frame until the second frame is decoded. Therefore, by allowing frames near an IDR-I frame to access reference frames stored in a buffer, natural picture conversion is possible, and accordingly smooth picture conversion without flickering is possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding an image are provided. The method of encoding an image includes: generating a prediction block that is an intra or inter prediction value of a current block; calculating a color difference between the current block and the generated prediction block; and, encoding the current block by adjusting a quantization step, based on the calculated color difference. In this way, color distortion in a restored image that can occur when a color of a current block is incorrectly predicted can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packing paper box, in which a piece of packing paper is folded, first and second connecting sections are combined, and third and fourth connecting sections are combined, whereby a user can easily make without cutting packing paper. To this end, a packing paper box comprises a body portion having an accommodation space defined therein and including first and second connecting sections; a cover portion, the body portion being covered with the cover portion; and a connection portion including third and fourth connecting sections formed to each other between the body portion and the cover portion, wherein the first and second connecting sections are combined with each other, and the third and fourth connecting sections are combined with each other.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding an image are provided, in which motion estimation and compensation are performed by using a reference background image and a reference object image extracted from an input image frame. In the method and apparatus, a background image of each of input image frames is used, and a background area which any one image frame lacks is updated by using a background image of another image frame. In this way, a reference background image is generated and stored, and an object image in each image frame is stored as a reference object image. Then, by using the stored reference background images and reference object images, motion estimation and compensation are performed, thereby increasing encoding efficiency.

Abstract: An optical transfer system having a transmitter and a receiver converts an externally-applied video signal into an optical signal and restores the optical signal to the original video signal The system includes a video controller, a transmitter, a transmission photo diode, an optical transmission line, a reception photo diode, and a receiver. The video controller separates color signals and a horizontal/vertical synchronous signal from the video signal, and transmits the color signals and the horizontal/vertical synchronous signal in response to externally-applied predetermined data enable and clock signals. The transmitter skew-compensates and compresses signals received from the video controller and converts the compressed signals into a driving current. The transmission photo diode converts the driving current into an optical signal and outputs the optical signal. The optical transmission line is comprised of a predetermined number of channels, and transmits the optical signal.

Abstract: Provided are an image data storage device included in a motion estimation device to store image data of a reference frame required for motion estimation and a method of storing image data. The image data storage device includes a data storing unit storing search area data of the reference frame used for motion estimation of a macroblock and a controller performing controlling to store the search area data in or read the search area data from the data storing unit. The data storing unit includes at least one internal memory capable of storing a plurality of data units. Each of the data units is search area data of the reference frame having a size corresponding to a difference between search area data used for motion estimation of an ith (i is an integer) macroblock and search area data used for motion estimation of an (i+1)th macroblock.

Abstract: A structure for maintaining clearance between a headlamp and a fender of a vehicle is capable of significantly enhancing a visual outer appearance of the vehicle. By decreasing a length of a dummy section formed in a lateral side of a headlamp lens and removing a hole processing flange formed in a front end of a fender.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for predicting a motion. The method of predicting a motion using a hierarchical motion estimation (ME) method includes: compensating for the motion using data stored in an internal memory that has been used in the motion estimation method, without accessing data stored in an external memory. Accordingly, the internal memory for use in the ME is used instead of accessing to the external memory, whereby a burden of a bus is reduced and a processing time for the MC can be reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sub-pixel motion estimation which performs sub-pixel motion estimation in which the precision of a difference between a pixel value of a block to be searched and a pixel value of a block of a search area, i.e., the number of bits of the difference, is reduced. The method for sub-pixel motion estimation in inter-prediction includes (a) determining one integer pixel corresponding to an estimated block by performing integer-pixel motion estimation, (b) receiving a value of a sub-pixel that is adjacent to the determined integer pixel and a value of an integer pixel of a block to be searched, (c) reducing a difference between the value of the sub-pixel and the value of the integer pixel and reducing a bit precision of the difference, and (d) calculating a similarity using the difference whose bit precision is reduced.

Abstract: An ME method and an apparatus thereof for use in an image codec. The ME method includes: selecting at least one prediction mode whose integer pixel motion estimation (IPME) result cost is relatively low among a plurality of prediction modes based on IPME results for each of the plurality of prediction modes including blocks of various sizes; and performing a sub-pixel motion estimation (SPME) using the selected at least one prediction mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for generating a middle level motion vector in hierarchical motion estimation. TA second-resolution-frame motion vector is generated in a second resolution frame having a second resolution from a first-resolution-frame motion vector in a first resolution frame having a first resolution, the second resolution being higher than the first resolution. A local-search reference point is determined in the second-resolution frame based on the first-resolution-frame motion vector, and the second-resolution-frame motion vector is generated by performing a local search process on the second resolution frame based on the determined local-search reference point. The local search process is performed based on matching reference values for lower estimation blocks, each of the lower estimation blocks comprise pixel values of some portions of a current estimation block and a past estimation block.

Abstract: A motion estimation apparatus and method for efficient hierarchical motion estimation. The motion estimation apparatus includes a pixel data storing unit storing pixel data of a block to search for and pixel data of blocks in a search area a two-dimensional processing element array receiving pixel data from the pixel data storing unit and calculating degrees of similarity between the block to search for and the blocks in the search area, a merging and comparing unit merging the degrees of similarity, generating degrees of similarity for blocks of various sizes, comparing the generated degrees of similarity, and outputting motion vectors for the blocks of various sizes, and an address controlling unit controlling an address of the pixel data storing unit such that the pixel data of the pixel data storing unit can be sequentially transmitted to the two-dimensional processing element array.

Abstract: A memory access method and a memory access device are provided. The memory access method for performing motion compensation includes obtaining reference picture data corresponding to a bounding box from an external memory in units of bounding boxes, the bounding box includes a group of predetermined partitions among partitions in a macroblock to be motion-compensated. According to the method and device, the amount of memory access required for motion compensation in a video decoder can be reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the horizontal size of a monitor screen are provided. The provided system for controlling the horizontal size of a monitor screen includes a processor, a driving circuit, and a microcomputer. Here, the processor generates a calibration signal to control the horizontal size of a monitor screen, in response to predetermined control signals. The driving circuit receives the calibration signal and controls the driving capacity of the calibration signal according to an external load to output the calibration signal. The microcomputer generates the control signals.

Abstract: A fast motion estimating apparatus including a merging unit which merges differences for respective basic blocks separated from a macro block to calculate differences for blocks of various sizes; and a best motion estimation block determining unit which determines blocks performing a best motion estimation according to the differences for the blocks of various sizes calculated by the merging unit, wherein it a fast motion estimating apparatus using image blocks of various sizes is implemented in real time even when an input picture has a standard definition format.

Abstract: A method for hierarchical motion estimation which can perform motion estimation in various block modes. According to the method, matching criterion values are calculated in units of an upper sub-block using matching criterion values calculated in units of a lowest-order sub-block and a block mode and a motion vector for motion estimation of an input block are determined using a plurality of matching criterion values for each of the various block modes.

Abstract: A prediction method, apparatus, and medium including computer readable code, for calculating an average of intra-prediction costs or an average of inter-prediction costs of macroblocks of a received picture by encoding the received picture using an intra-prediction and/or inter-prediction in consideration of a type of the received picture, calculating a threshold value using the calculated average of intra-predication costs and/or inter-predication costs, and determining whether to perform intra-prediction on a subsequent picture based on the calculated threshold value. Accordingly, it is possible to considerably reduce the amount of computation that conventionally was required to encode a picture, without any deterioration in the encoding performance, by considerably reducing the number of macroblocks that need to undergo intra-prediction.

Abstract: In a circuit and method of controlling the horizontal and vertical screen sizes of a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, the circuit includes a horizontal screen size compensation circuit, an east-west correction signal controller, a vertical screen size compensation circuit, and a vertical screen size correction signal controller. The horizontal screen size compensation circuit compares the voltage value of a horizontal screen size correction signal with the voltage value of a horizontal reference voltage to obtain first and second horizontal current signals. In response to a horizontal control signal, the horizontal screen size compensation circuit outputs a horizontal correction current signal obtained by subtracting a horizontal variable current signal from the first horizontal current signal.