Abstract: A decoding apparatus having a de-ringing filter to filter image data decoded from encoded image data by orthogonal transformation encoding. In the de-ringing filter, a subtracter generates an absolute value of difference between a value of a filter object pixel and a value of at least one pixel selected from pixels surrounding the filter object pixel on the image data. A comparator compares the absolute value with a threshold. A selector outputs the value of the at least one pixel if the absolute value is less than the threshold, and outputs the value of the filter object pixel if the absolute value is not less than the threshold. A convolution operator convolutes a filter coefficient with the value output from the selector, and outputs a convolution result as a filtered value of the filter object pixel.

Abstract: An alpha-map encoding apparatus includes a first down-sampling circuit (21) for down-sampling an alpha-map signal which represents the shape of an object and the position in the frame of the object at a down-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information, an up-sampling circuit (23) for up-sampling the alpha-map signal at an up-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information given to restore the down-sampled alpha-map signal to an original size, and outputting a local decoded alpha-map signal, a motion estimation/compensation circuit (25) for generating a motion estimation/compensation signal on the basis of the previous decoded video signal and a motion vector signal, a second down-sampling circuit (26) for down-sampling the motion estimation/compensation signal at the down-sampling ratio, a binary image encoder for encoding the alpha-map signal down-sampled by the first down-sampling circuit to a binary image in accordance with the motion estimation/compensation signal down-sampled by t

Abstract: An irregularity defect inspection apparatus for inspecting an object to be inspected having a repeated pattern composed of regularly arranged unit patterns on the surface thereon to detect an irregularity defect occurring in the repeated pattern. The apparatus includes a light source apparatus having a light source for applying light to a region including an inspection region of the object to be inspected at a desired incidence angle, and an observation apparatus having a light-receiving optical system for receiving light which is generated from the inspection surface of the object to be inspected perpendicularly thereto when light is applied by the light source apparatus. The light source apparatus is provide with a light source having a parallelism of 2 degrees or less and an illuminance of 300000 Lx or higher.

Abstract: It is possible to detect with high precision a plurality of types of nonuniformity defects that occur in patterns formed on the surface of an examination object. A device (10) for examination of nonuniformity defects that has a light source (12) for emitting light to a photomask 50 whose surface is provided with a repeating pattern (51) in which unit patterns (53) are arrayed in a regular fashion, and a photodetector (13) for photodetecting and converting into photodetection data scattered light from the photomask, so that the photodetection data is observed to detect nonuniformity defects that have occurred in the repeating pattern, in the device further having a wavelength filter (14) for selecting and extracting one or a plurality of desired wavelength bands from the light of a plurality of wavelength bands, wherein nonuniformity defects of the repeating pattern are detected using the selected and extracted light of the wavelength band.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.

Abstract: An alpha-map encoding apparatus includes a first down-sampling circuit (21) for down-sampling an alpha-map signal which represents the shape of an object and the position in the frame of the object at a down-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information, an up-sampling circuit (23) for up-sampling the alpha-map signal at an up-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information given to restore the down-sampled-alpha-map signal to an original size, and outputting a local decoded alpha-map signal, a motion estimation/compensation circuit (25) for generating a motion estimation/compensation signal on the basis of the previous decoded video signal and a motion vector signal, a second down-sampling circuit (26) for down-sampling the motion estimation/compensation signal at the down-sampling ratio, a binary image encoder for encoding the alpha-map signal down-sampled by the first down-sampling circuit to a binary image in accordance with the motion estimation/compensation signal down-sampled by t

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.

Abstract: For providing a removable electrical connector to be attached and removed easily without being damaged, a structure of the removable electrical connector has a receiving part, a pivoting part, an engaging and disengaging part, and a rotation allowing part. The removable electrical connector is pivoted around a first edge of the connector housing of the pivoting part. A second edge opposed to the first edge of the removable electrical connector of the engaging and disengaging part is engaged with and disengaged from the receiving part of a mating connector or a mating equipment. The rotation allowing part allows the removable electrical connector to rotate around the pivoting part.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus comprises a motion vector detector to detect a motion vector of an input picture referring to a reference picture, and a predictive encoder to perform forward predictive encoding and bidirectional predictive encoding using the motion vector and the reference picture, the forward predictive encoder subjecting the macroblock of the forward predictive encoded picture to a variable length encoding in not_coded mode when a correlation between the macroblocks of the forward and bidirectional predictive encoded pictures and the reference picture which are located at the same position is high.

Abstract: A contents transmission system comprising a first terminal which receives a first code stream produced by compression-encoding contents and has a converter section converting the first code stream into a second code stream having a data size smaller than that of the first code stream, a transmission section transmitting the second code stream, and a second terminal which receives the second code stream transmitted from the first terminal and has a reconstruction section reconstructing the contents by decoding the second code stream.

Abstract: A contents transmission system comprising a first terminal which receives a first code stream produced by compression-encoding contents and has a converter section converting the first code stream into a second code stream having a data size smaller than that of the first code stream, a transmission section transmitting the second code stream, and a second terminal which receives the second code stream transmitted from the first terminal and has a reconstruction section reconstructing the contents by decoding the second code stream.

Abstract: An image data coding system comprises a screen-area determining means for determining the area of a screen reproduced on the basis of an input image data; a code-amount assigning control means for controlling regions to which data on the screen are to be assigned and the code amount assigned to each of the regions, on the basis of the results determined on the area of the reproduced screen; and a coding means for coding the image data signal inputted in accordance with the code amount assigned to each of the regions. In an image data coding and/or decoding system, a coding system performs the two-dimensional orthogonal transform of picture signals of all the pixels with respect to inside blocks and of only picture signals of pixels contained in a content with respect to edge blocks, in accordance with a map signal indicative of the position and shape of the content, and it codes the map signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for retrieving a video picture includes a decoder section for decoding a coded bit stream of video picture data representing an arbitrary shape object and including shape information and texture information, a retrieval condition input section for inputting a retrieval condition for retrieval of a desired picture, a retrieval section for retrieving a picture meeting the retrieval condition by using shape information of the object decoded by the decoder section, and a display section for outputting the retrieved result obtained by the retrieval section.

Abstract: A contents transmission system comprising a first terminal which receives a first code stream produced by compression-encoding contents and has a converter section converting the first code stream into a second code stream having a data size smaller than that of the first code stream, a transmission section transmitting the second code stream, and a second terminal which receives the second code stream transmitted from the first terminal and has a reconstruction section reconstructing the contents by decoding the second code stream.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus comprises a motion vector detector to detect a motion vector of an input picture referring to a reference picture, and a predictive encoder to perform forward predictive encoding and bidirectional predictive encoding using the motion vector and the reference picture, the forward predictive encoder subjecting the macroblock of the forward predictive encoded picture to a variable length encoding in not_coded mode when a correlation between the macroblocks of the forward and bidirectional predictive encoded pictures and the reference picture which are located at the same position is high.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.

Abstract: An apparatus for retrieving a video picture includes a decoder section for decoding a coded bit stream of video picture data representing an arbitrary shape object and including shape information and texture information, a retrieval condition input section for inputting a retrieval condition for retrieval of a desired picture, a retrieval section for retrieving a picture meeting the retrieval condition by using shape information of the object decoded by the decoder section, and a display section for outputting the retrieved result obtained by the retrieval section.

Abstract: A bit rate of encoded moving picture data is converted in a system including a main processor, at least one sub processor and a main memory. In the main processor, a data acquisition unit acquires the encoded moving picture data from the main memory, a data analysis unit analyzes the encoded moving picture data, and an analysis data creation unit creates analysis data based on an analysis result. In the at least one sub processor, an analysis data acquisition unit acquires the analysis data, and a conversion processing unit converts the bit rate of the encoded moving picture data based on the analysis data.

Abstract: A format conversion method comprising decoding the bit stream of a first encoded video data format, converting decoded video data to the second encoded video data format, encoding the converted video data in a process for converting the bit stream of the first encoded video data format to the bit stream of the second encoded video data format, and controlling processing parameters of at least one of the decoding, the converting and the encoding.