Abstract: The Invention is a modular, flexible automobile turntable for installation on an uneven surface such as a residential driveway. A flexible track conforms to the surface of the driveway. A turntable deck is mounted for rotation on the track, the deck comprising a central disk driven by a hydraulic gear motor and a plurality of flexible petals extending radially from the center disk.

Abstract: An apparatus used for video encoding MPEG compliant digital visual images, having multiple MPEG encoders used in the motion estimation function. The search capabilities used in the motion estimation function of a single MPEG encoder are extended beyond its design limitations as a result of utilizing more than one MPEG encoder. The utilization of multiple encoders effectively creates the capability for a user to specify a wider search window than what is available in a single encoder configuration. The computational search efficency associated with searching the wider window is not adversely affected as a consequence of the multiple processors subdividing the extended window and analyzing each subdivision in parallel.

Abstract: A technique is provided for programmably and adaptively temporally filtering pixel values of frames of a sequence of video frames. The technique includes determining a pixel value difference between a pixel of a current frame and a corresponding pixel of a temporally previous frame; and adaptively filtering the pixel of the current frame using a selected filter coefficient. The filter coefficient is selected employing the pixel value difference. For example, multiple thresholds could be employed to differentiate between multiple filter coefficients, with the pixel value difference being employed to determine which filter coefficient is selected for the adaptive filtering. The thresholds and the filter coefficients can also be programmable. Further, the temporal filter can be integrated with a repeat field detection unit of a motion video encoder in order to conserve memory bandwidth.

Abstract: A scalable architecture for a video decode system is provided for facilitating decoding of an encoded stream of video frames, such as a high definition (HD) bitstream. The architecture comprises multiple decoders connected in parallel to receive the encoded stream of video frames. Each decoder selects and decodes a respective portion of each frame of the bitstream, wherein cumulatively the respective portions decoded by the multiple decoders constitute the entire frame. In one embodiment, the decoders are standard definition (SD) decoders.

Abstract: A method and system for encoding digital video picture data. In accordance with this method, the video picture data is partitioned into a group of blocks, at least some of those blocks are selected, one block at a time, and each of the selected blocks of data is encoded to form an encoded coefficient having an associated number of bits. The encoded coefficients are outputted, and an accumulated sum of the number of bits in the outputted encoded coefficients is kept. The outputting of the encoded coefficients is terminated at a defined time in order to prevent the accumulated sum from exceeding a given number.

Abstract: A digital video encoder is provided having an enhanced search range for motion estimation and compensation. The encoder is adapted to define from a reference frame a diamond-shaped search window about a current position of a current macroblock to be encoded. The encoder partitions the diamond-shaped search window into multiple search regions and reassembles the multiple search regions into a rectangular search area. This rectangular search area is then used to search the diamond-shaped search window for a best matching reference macroblock to the current macroblock.

Abstract: A method for compensating for reduced picture quality when combining a multi-chip encoding chipset into a single integrated semiconductor IC. The method includes additional functions provided on the single IC to compensate for the negative effects on picture quality produced as a result of rounding 8 bit luminance pixel data to 5 bits, where the luminance data values are supplied as input to the search function. The additional functions are collectively referred to as motion biasing and are applied to influence the choice of a "best match" motion type, which is well known in the art. The biasing is performed by the addition of a weight factor to a total difference result that is calculated by the search function. The biasing is applied only for the purpose of influencing the choice of a reference frame that is not necessarily the frame which produces an optimal motion vector, but rather will result in using fewer bits to encode macroblocks.