Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for correcting tones of a digitized image, for use in a mobile terminal or the like. The use of a conventional image tone correction technique to backlight correction imposes a limit on improvement in local contrast in a bright region or a dark region.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a local skin color level calculating section, a local brightness deviation calculating section, and a correction amount calculating section. The local skin color level calculating section calculates, as a local skin color level, a skin color level in a predetermined local region in an image. The local brightness deviation calculating section calculates, as a local brightness deviation, a brightness dynamic range in the predetermined local region. The correction amount calculating section determines whether the predetermined local region is a skin region or not by using the local skin color level and the local brightness deviation.

Abstract: In a digital still camera, the amount of blur when a picture is taken is calculated from a first picture captured with a high-speed electronic shutter and a second picture captured with a normal shutter speed (5), and the blur in the picture captured with the normal shutter speed, which is degraded by the blur, is corrected through digital signal processing, by applying a picture restoration algorithm (6). Blur can be corrected by a simple device, without requiring an angular velocity sensor or a circuit to process its output in order to reduce the effect of camera shake.

Abstract: In a digital still camera, the amount of blur when a picture is taken is calculated from a first picture captured with a high-speed electronic shutter and a second picture captured with a normal shutter speed (5), and the blur in the picture captured with the normal shutter speed, which is degraded by the blur, is corrected through digital signal processing, by applying a picture restoration algorithm (6). Blur can be corrected by a simple device, without requiring an angular velocity sensor or a circuit to process its output in order to reduce the effect of camera shake.

Abstract: An encoding system capable of preventing the overflow of a buffer and performing the encoding of a VOP within a predetermined time period even where the processing time period necessary for encoding each macroblock is not constant. In order to provide the encoding system, the maximum number of bits Tmax is set for each VOP, and the output of encoding unit and the output of fixed code output unit is switched and outputted so that the number of bits Sc of the VOP may not exceed the Tmax.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for correcting tones of a digitized image, for use in a mobile terminal or the like. The use of a conventional image tone correction technique to backlight correction imposes a limit on improvement in local contrast in a bright region or a dark region.

Abstract: A steering system includes: a tilt mechanism including a pivotal shaft which extends in a sidewise direction of the vehicle, the tilt mechanism being adapted to pivot the movable column portion upward and downward around the pivotal shaft, the tilt mechanism controlling the movable column portion to be secured in a certain upper pivotal position and a certain lower pivotal position; a telescope mechanism adapted to pull out and push in in a forward-backward direction of the vehicle the movable column portion including the pivotal shaft; a pop up mechanism for allowing the movable column portion to make a popping up over an uppermost pivotal position defined by the tilt mechanism; and a pop up mechanism controlling mechanism for controlling the popping up of the movable column portion by the pop up mechanism until the movable column portion pulled out by the telescope mechanism has a certain length.

Abstract: A door mirror assembly for a vehicle is provided, which includes a housing, a frame supporting the housing internally. The housing has a shell with a front aperture, two fixation ports and an engagement port. On the other hand, the frame has a main body to be enclosed by the shell, two fixation elements and an engagement element. The door mirror assembly further includes two fixation sections formed by fixing the two fixation ports and two fixation elements with fasteners and an engagement section formed by engaging the engagement port and engagement element. The door mirror assembly has a feature that the engagement section is adapted to be on the circumference of a circle, the center of circle lies on an axis defined by the two fixation sections, so that the rotational displacement of housing relative to the frame can be restricted.

Abstract: In order to reduce the power consumed by the circuit when the image data is transferred to a memory in a display means, a write region detecting means 8 is provided to detect the address region in the graphics memory 2 accessed for writing by the image data writing means 1, and only such data that is within the region including the addresses accessed by the writing means 1 is transferred to the memory 5 in the display means 4. The region including the accessed addresses may for example a rectangular region of from the minimum vertical direction address to the maximum vertical direction address Y among the accessed addresses, and from the minimum horizontal direction address to the maximum horizontal direction address among the accessed addresses.

Abstract: An image encoding device is provided that can transmit encoded image data without lowering the frame rate even when the transmission speed of the transmission path is lowered. An encoded region designator selects the region that is to be encoded, in the input image, depending on the bit rate of the transmission path. Only such a region that is designated by the encoded region designator is encoded. The encoded region designator may be one which selects the region that is to be encoded, according to the bit rate of the transmission path, and the motion vector detected by the image encoding circuit. As an alternative, an encoded region designator may be used which selects the region that is to be encoded according to the bit rate of the transmission path, and the information on the designated region supplied from the outside.

Abstract: An encoding system capable of preventing the overflow of a buffer and performing the encoding of a VOP within a predetermined time period even where the processing time period necessary for encoding each macroblock is not constant. In order to provide the encoding system, the maximum number of bits Tmax is set for each VOP, and the output of encoding unit and the output of fixed code output unit is switched and outputted so that the number of bits Sc of the VOP may not exceed the Tmax.

Abstract: The imaging device according to the present invention adjusts the luminance in the first image such that the addition value of the value, which is obtained by multiplying the feature quantity of the luminance in the central portion of the first image by the first coefficient, and the feature quantity of the luminance in the peripheral portion of the first image becomes the first target value, and also adjusts the luminance in the second image such that the addition value of the value, which is obtained by multiplying the feature quantity of the luminance in the central portion of the second image by the second coefficient that is set independently of the first coefficient, and the feature quantity of the luminance in the peripheral portion of the second image becomes the second target value.

Abstract: As the video signals of macroblocks are coded, they are stored in a buffer. When the total code length of the stored macroblocks exceeds a predetermined value, all but the most recently coded macroblock are output from the buffer as a video packet, and the most recently coded macroblock is coded again. To minimize this occurrence, when each coded macroblock is stored, the code length of the next macroblock is predicted and added to the total length, and if the resulting sum exceeds the predetermined value, all of the coded macroblocks stored in the buffer are output as a video packet.

Abstract: An encoding system capable of preventing the overflow of a buffer and performing the encoding of a VOP within a predetermined time period even where the processing time period necessary for encoding each macroblock is not constant. In order to provide the encoding system, the maximum number of bits Tmax is set for each VOP, and the output of encoding unit and the output of fixed code output unit is switched and outputted so that the number of bits Sc of the VOP may not exceed the Tmax.

Abstract: A steering system includes:

Abstract: A door mirror assembly for a vehicle is provided, which includes a housing, a frame supporting the housing internally. The housing has a shell with a front aperture, two fixation ports and an engagement port. On the other hand, the frame has a main body to be enclosed by the shell, two fixation elements and an engagement element. The door mirror assembly further includes two fixation sections formed by fixing the two fixation ports and two fixation elements with fasteners and an engagement section formed by engaging the engagement port and engagement element. The door mirror assembly has a feature that the engagement section is adapted to be on the circumference of a circle, the center of circle lies on an axis defined by the two fixation sections, so that the rotational displacement of housing relative to the frame can be restricted.

Abstract: A matrix-type display device has a matrix display panel, a frame memory, and a graphics memory. Input image data are temporarily buffered in the graphics memory, then transferred to the frame memory and read out to drive the matrix display panel. Readout from the frame memory is cyclic, and is synchronized with a frame synchronization signal. A synchronizing circuit also synchronizes the transfer of data from the graphics memory to the frame memory with the frame synchronization signal, so that each displayed frame is generated from a single frame of image data, and not from parts of two different frames. Moving images can therefore be reproduced faithfully. This matrix-type display device is useful in mobile information-terminal equipment, such as mobile telephone sets.

Abstract: A videophone takes a live picture of the user, sends the live picture during part of a call, generates a processed picture different from the live picture, and sends the processed picture during another part of the call. The processed picture may be prepared in advance, or may be generated by combining the live picture with a prepared picture. Alternatively, the processed picture may be obtained by increasing a quantization coefficient of the live picture, producing a mosaic effect that disguises the live picture. The processed picture can be sent to protect the privacy of the videophone user, or to provide appropriate transition at the beginning or end of the call. The processed picture can also be sent when the call is placed on hold.

Abstract: The imaging device according to the present invention adjusts the luminance in the first image such that the addition value of the value, which is obtained by multiplying the feature quantity of the luminance in the central portion of the first image by the first coefficient, and the feature quantity of the luminance in the peripheral portion of the first image becomes the first target value, and also adjusts the luminance in the second image such that the addition value of the value, which is obtained by multiplying the feature quantity of the luminance in the central portion of the second image by the second coefficient that is set independently of the first coefficient, and the feature quantity of the luminance in the peripheral portion of the second image becomes the second target value.