Abstract: When real-time recording a dynamic image in a storage medium of a fixed recording capacity at a variable bit rate, an encoding generated information quantity controller obtains a recording capacity and a recording time of information to be sequentially recorded in the storage medium, obtains a remaining recording capacity and a remaining recording time of the storage medium from the obtained recording capacity and recording time, calculates a target bit rate at and after the current time from the remaining recording capacity and the remaining recording time, and controls the variable bit rate to sequentially change its quantization step size to a quantization step size for maintaining a bit rate not larger than the target bit rate. Therefore, a dynamic image data with a proper picture quality can be stored within a prescribed time and prescribed capacity of the storage medium.

Abstract: An image display apparatus decodes and reproduces digital data representing frames of pictures. Each frame includes at least two fields. The apparatus includes a memory having banks, each bank storing one field of a multi-field picture. The banks of the memory from which picture data is to be read when pictures are reproduced in a reverse reproduction mode are specified so that the fields are read in a reverse order from the order in which the fields are read when pictures are reproduced in a forward reproduction mode.

Abstract: An audio reproducing apparatus comprises an audio buffer memory unit for temporarily storing decoded audio data and a source audio position in correspondence with each other; a reproducing speed control unit for generating a minute frame periodic pulse and a reproducing position signal that specifies a reproducing position calculated from a reproducing position function; and a counter for receiving the reproducing position signal and the minute frame periodic pulse and outputting reproduced audio data obtained by reproducing the decoded audio data in the audio buffer memory unit in a normal manner from a source audio position corresponding to the reproducing position by an amount corresponding to a period T of the minute frame periodic pulse. Due to this configuration, special reproduction of audio signals results in an efficient audible sound.

Abstract: In a motion vector detecting apparatus, pixel data in a search block located away from the position of a reference block by a search vector is selected from pixel data in a coded frame as pixel data to be compared with pixel data in the reference block. Further, the search block is moved in horizontal and vertical directions.

Abstract: The video and audio synchronization controller sets a system clock reference (SCR) included in the frame header portion of the coded video and audio data into a system time counter to set a timing of a system time clock (STC), immediately after a video and audio reproducing device has been powered on. The video and audio reproducing device decodes and displays a first arriving video data synchronous with a display system frame pulse, which is the closest to the value of a video time stamp included in a frame header of the first video frame on the time axis of the set STC. The video and audio synchronization controller sets again the value of the time stamp included in the first video frame to the system time counter to update the STC.

Abstract: A fiber fixing device for a linear lightguide comprises a tubular chuck and an elastic tubular body. The chuck includes a hollow part along its axis for receiving an optical fiber, a grasp part for grasping the received optical fiber, and a coupling part supporting the grasp part. The elastic tubular body is elastically expanded outwardly in the radial direction and in this state is fitted onto the grasp part of the chuck. Thus, the elastic tubular body exerts an elastic restoring force to radially inwardly press the grasp part which thereby grasps the optical fiber.

Abstract: In addition to a first oil pump directly connected to an engine, a second oil pump is provided which is driven by an electric motor. Accordingly, a start clutch engaging pressure is applied through first and second solenoid-operated valves. The electric motor-driven pump is of the constant pressure type, and therefore its start, at the start of the automobile, can be achieved with a simple control program. After the start of the automobile, the solenoid-operated valve is switched over to the other one, so that the oil pressure is applied from the first oil pump directly connected to the engine, whereby the battery power consumption is minimized. This oil circuit is applied to various kinds of friction engagement clutches.

Abstract: A motion-pictures and audio synchronization controller for extending and reproducing compressed motion-pictures and audio multiplexed data and outputting motion-pictures synchronously with audio comprises a selector for adjusting time between a system clock reference added to compressed motion-pictures and audio multiplexed data and picture time stamp, a system time counter for generating a system time clock output from an output of the time adjustment selector and a picture frame synchronization signal, an audio synchronization comparator for comparing a system time clock output from the system time counter with a delayed audio time stamp and outputting an audio output start signal, and a picture synchronization comparator for comparing the system time clock output from the system time counter with a delayed picture time stamp and outputting a picture output start signal.

Abstract: The invention selects a plurality of search ranges so that picture block motion detection can be controlled by feed forward sequence. A picture block motion detecting apparatus obtains an activity of blocks to be detected in advance, and then controls detection range of blocks to be detected next according to said activity. In the picture block motion detecting apparatus, motion vector is detected while picture block motion detection is not carried out, and backward inter-frame picture block motion detecting circuit in idle state operates when forward inter-frame picture block motion detection is operating, which provides an enlarged search range rather than that of bidirectional inter-frame picture block motion detection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing normally a picture of a recording system by operating the recording system and a display system asynchronously, and by holding and/or skipping a picture frame or field of the display system. The method for extending and reproducing compressed moving pictures includes asynchronizing data transferring a clock from a recording unit with a display system clock and then setting a hold or skip threshold which is in advance of a recording system time by a first predetermined frame (field) time. A timing is corrected by holding or skipping the display system time for one frame (field) when a display system time becomes equal to the hold or skip threshold. Frames (fields) of the display system which are closest to the recording system time are then displayed when the display system time is held or skipped for the one frame (field).

Abstract: An image coding/decoding apparatus intended for efficient processing by sharing members in coding, local decoding, and decoding processing. Processes such as DCT and IDCT, zigzag scan conversion and inversion, or quantization and inverse quantization performed in coding, local decoding, and decoding processing are similar to each other. DCT/IDCT, zigzag scan conversion/inversion, and quantization/inverse quantization are provided where either of the two functions can be selected for execution in synchronization with the processing timing for each block. Since the time required for one process for data for each block is very short, overall processing is not affected even if the members are used in a time division manner. By sharing processing, the hardware scale can be made small and by using a data bus in a time division manner, an external data bus can also be eliminated.

Abstract: A motion vector detector includes a processor array having a plurality of processing elements arranged in a two dimensional array. Each of the processing elements includes storage elements for storing search window data of a reference frame and associated template block date of a current frame and a circuit for obtaining an absolute difference of the stored search window data and template data. Each processing element shifts the stored data to an adjacent processing element in a one-way direction on a data transfer path. The processing elements shift the stored search window data while holding the template block data. A displacement vector is calculated in each cycle of the shifting of the search window data by a summation unit receiving outputs of the processing elements in parallel. A comparison unit receives outputs of the summation unit to detect a motion-vector for the template block.

Abstract: In a video encoding apparatus of the invention, a video camera is provided with a moving direction detecting means for detecting movement of the camera in preset moving direction and outputting a detecting signal, a movement information generator is installed for operating the displacement amount of the video camera based on the detecting signal outputted from the moving direction detecting means and calculating the specific position on the memory corresponding to the operated displacement amount of the video camera and outputting the position to a reference signal generator, and plural blocks stored to the specific position on the frame memory are read based on output from the movement information generator.

Abstract: In a video encoding apparatus of the invention, a video camera is provided with a moving direction detecting means for detecting movement of the camera in preset moving direction and outputting a detecting signal, a movement information generator is installed for operating the displacement amount of the video camera based on the detecting signal outputted from the moving direction detecting means and calculating the specific position on the memory corresponding to the operated displacement amount of the video camera and outputting the position to a reference signal generator, and plural blocks stored to the specific position on the frame memory are read based on output from the movement information generator.