Abstract: A bit position synchronizer including a sampling circuit which samples an input signal based on a plurality of phases of clock signals to obtain a plurality of sampled signals, a selector which selects one of the plurality of sampled signals, each of which is delayed for a short period, based on a selection signal and which outputs an output signal, a detection circuit which detects a first changing point and a second changing point of the sampled signals, a first register which stores a first value for the first changing point, a second register which stores a second value for the second changing point and a third register which stores an intermediate value between the first and second values and which outputs the selection signal.

Abstract: A scene characteristics detection type motion video encoding apparatus is provided for minimizing the degradation of picture quality derived from the point of scene change. The filtering characteristic (namely a filter factor) of a spatiotemporal filter is updated in response to the scene attribute data (a) received from a scene change point detector and the encoding difficulty data (b) received from an encoding difficulty estimator. Accordingly, when the encoding difficulty is high, high frequency components of the input video signal are eliminated. A rate controller determines the target amount of data to be encoded using scene attribute data (a) and the encoding difficulty data (b). When the point of scene change is detected, the target amount of data to be encoded for the input video signal which is distanced by a given distance from the point of scene change is weighted for matching with the encoding difficulty by a weighting factor Wsc (>1.0).

Abstract: A content billing method for performing billing processing corresponding to use of digital content. After the operation is started, search management processing is performed. In the search management processing, information on whether or not a search period expires is managed. When the search period expires, content is searched for in automatic-search-and-collection processing, and identification information of the content is extracted and use information is generated in identification-information recognition processing. The use information is recorded and managed in use-information management processing. Subsequently, in state-of-use recognition processing, a status of use in a predetermined period is recognized based on the use information, and state-of-use information is generated. Finally, in use-fee calculation processing, a use fee corresponding to the state-of-use information is calculated.

Abstract: A device for objectively evaluating the quality of a digitally transmitted picture. This device compresses encoded pictures x1 and x2 transmitted on two links that are decoded by a first decoder and a second decoder. A variance value &sgr;2(x1) of the decoded picture decoded by the first decoder is measured by a variance measuring unit. A variance value &sgr;2(x1−x2) of a signal indicative of a difference between the decoded pictures decoded by the first and the second decoders is measured. These two variance values are used to determine image quality.

Abstract: A differential amplifier includes a first diode which has a first terminal and a second terminal wherein the first terminal of the first diode is coupled to a voltage node and wherein the second terminal of the first diode is coupled to a first node, a second diode which has a first terminal and a second terminal wherein the first terminal of the second diode is coupled to the voltage node and wherein the second terminal of the second diode is coupled to a second node, a first transistor which is coupled to the first node in series with the first diode and which has a control terminal coupled to a first input terminal, a second transistor which is coupled to the second node in series with the second diode and which has a control terminal coupled to a second input terminal, and a bias current supply which is coupled to the first and second nodes to bias the first and second diodes.

Abstract: A divider circuit including a plurality of latch circuits which are connected in series such that each of the latch circuits is responsive to a control signal to latch data which is output from a preceding latch circuit in the series and a logic circuit which receives the data output from plurality of latch circuits and which outputs a logic operation result to a first latch circuit in the series of the plurality of latch circuits.

Abstract: A signal waveform detection circuit includes an amplifier circuit and a comparing circuit. The amplifier circuit has differential amplifiers connected in series. Each of the differential amplifiers has a common connection point. The comparing circuit is connected to the common connection points of the amplifier circuit. The comparing circuit includes comparing units connected to one of the differential amplifiers. Each of the comparing units has a threshold voltage generating circuit for generating signals. Each signal has a threshold voltage that is set between a maximum threshold voltage of a signal output from the corresponding differential amplifier during a muximum amplitude output and a minimum threshold voltage of a signal output from the corresponding differential amplifier during a minimum amplitude output. The comparing unit further has a comparator comparing a voltage at the common connection point with the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A current/voltage converting circuit has a differential circuit. The differential circuit has a first input terminal coupled to receive an input voltage signal, a second input terminal coupled to receive a reference voltage signal and an output terminal for outputting an electrical current in response to a comparison of the input voltage signal and the reference voltage signal. The differential circuit includes first and second transistors. The first transistor has a control terminal connected to the first input terminal and has a first dimension. The second transistor has a control terminal connected to the second input terminal and has a second dimension that is different from the first dimension.

Abstract: An input video signal is distributed to two links. The distributed video signals are coded by encoders in a spacewise or timewise shifted manner, and then, are transmitted over the transmission links. On a receiving side, the video signals are decoded by decoders, respectively. An averaging processor determines an average of the video signals per pixel, and then, outputs it. A data selector selects an output from the averaging processor when the plural links are operated normally; to the contrary, it selects a decoded output on the normal link in the case where an accident occurs in any one of the plural links. Specific methods for shifting the video signals spacewise or timewise include: a method for shifting a timing of intra-frame coding; a method for shifting the video signals on the links by several pixels or lines at least one of upward, downward, rightward and leftward; a method for disposing a sampling conversion filter in at least one of the links; and the like.

Abstract: Musical score of a music piece is divided into a plurality of displaying portions, and display progression information is supplied which defines a shift or jump, in the displaying portions, of a performed measure based on a repeat sign. Next displaying portion to be displayed following a current displaying portion is determined, and display switching timing at which the current performance progression of the music piece shifts from the current displaying portion to the next displaying portion is detected on the basis of the display progression information and performance progression information. By switching between the displaying portions in response to detection of the display switching timing, sequential switching from the current displaying portion to the next displaying portion can take place appropriately in accordance with progression of the performance.

Abstract: A motion detecting device for enhancement of the image quality at ultra-low bit rates is disclosed, which permits quantization of the prediction error with the highest possible degree of accuracy, taking into account the amount of information which is generated by a motion vector generated by a motion vector generator. A difference vector corresponding to a difference between the motion vector and a motion vector of an already encoded reference pixel block located near the current pixel block to be encoded in said current frame is obtained. An output resulting from a motion detection of the difference vector so as to obtain the minimum step size from said difference vector, through the use of the number of generated bits and the number of bits of said difference vector, is encoded.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide a method and apparatus for detecting a synchronization shift in which the synchronization shift between an original image and a reproduced image can be accurately detected even if noises are generated by a video codec or the like. An original image sent out from an image source 1 has a sine wave for synchronization overwritten thereon in a frame memory. The image on which the sine wave has been overwritten is decoded in a codec and stored in another frame memory. The two images srored. in two frame memories are simultaneously started to be read out. From the image from the other frame memory, only the sine wave is extracted in a notch filter, subjected to an offset correction in an adder, and inputted to asynchronization shift detecting unit. The synchronization shift detecting unit uses the sine wave to detect line, frame and horizontal pixel shifts.

Abstract: A first characteristic value extracting unit extracts a characteristic value from a picture transmitted from a transmission side, and a second characteristic value extracting unit extracts a characteristic value from a picture received on a reception side. These extracted characteristic values are supplied to a central monitoring unit through low speed lines, respectively. In the central monitoring unit, an MSE (mean square error) is assessed from the data by an MSE assessing unit. The first and second characteristic value extracting units divide an input picture into blocks, subject the blocks to an orthogonal transformation, or subject the blocks to PN sequence multiplication before the orthogonal transformation, and extract and output orthogonal transformation coefficients.

Abstract: A signal compensation circuit compensates for direct-current offset of an input signal by amplifying the input signal with an amplifier having a variable direct-current offset. A low-speed negative feedback loop charges and discharges a capacitor in an integrating circuit according to the direct-current component of the amplified signal. A high-speed negative feedback loop charges and discharges the same capacitor at a faster rate when the amplified signal goes outside an allowable amplitude range. The capacitor potential is used to control the direct-current offset of the amplifier. The allowable amplitude range is adjusted according to the amplitude of the amplified signal. High-speed compensation can thus be combined with a tolerance for runs of identical code levels in the input signal.

Abstract: A corresponding MB2 for the left sequence is determined from the parallax vector of a coding-object MB1 of the frame Bi for the right sequence. The motion vector {circle around (2)} of the corresponding MB2 is used as an origin of the search area for finding the motion vector of the coding-object MB1. As an alternative, the motion vector {circle around (3)} of MB3 adjacent to the coding-object MB1 is used as an origin of the search area for finding a motion vector of the coding-object MB1. As another alternative, the motion vector {circle around (2)} or {circle around (3)}, whichever is higher in utility evaluation, is used as an origin. As a result, both the search area and the circuit size for detecting a motion vector can be reduced. This configuration provides a stereo video data motion vector coding apparatus small in circuit size and capable of detecting a motion vector with high accuracy.

Abstract: An encrypted contents file contains use restriction information, and contents. The use restriction information corresponds to such an information capable of restricting a use of the contents when the contents are used. A Web server provides the encrypted contents file to a client, and thereafter, transmits use approval information outputted from a use approving unit to the client in response to a request issued from this client. The use approving unit approves the use of the contents under such a condition that the client has paid a consideration of the use of the contents, and changes a use restriction of the contents provided to the client, so that the client can use the contents.

Abstract: Received videos through A and B routes are inputted in first and second variable means, and then, they are delayed by a first and a second frame memory by one frame. Further, the delayed signals A and B are inputted in a comparator. Alternatively, these signals A and B are further delayed by one frame by third and fourth frame memories and these delayed signals AF and BF are also inputted in the comparator. The comparator compares the signals obtained by delaying the signals A, B, AF and BF by one line and one pixel, respectively, between the A and B routes with respect to all combinations so as to detect the difference between them. Then, a signal having the minimum difference is detected and a first and a second memory control signal to make the difference smaller are outputted to the first and second variable delay means. By repeating the processing, the difference is gradually corrected and finally, the difference is completely corrected.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for displaying musical score data in a display area. In the apparatus, a specifying device specifies a display range of original musical score data. An extracting device extracts musical score data included in the display range from the original musical score data and extracts musical information precluded from the display range but influencing the extracted musical score data from the original musical score data. A determining device determines whether a supplementary display is necessary or not in accordance with the specified display range. A setting device divides the display area into a main display area and an auxiliary display area when the supplementary display is necessary. A display device displays the extracted musical score data in the main display area and concurrently displays the extracted musical information in the auxiliary display area. The display area may be divided into a plurality of display sub areas.

Abstract: A shape entropy, a motion vector entropy, and a texture entropy of a certain area i of an input image are derived by a shape entropy calculation section, a motion vector entropy calculation section, and a texture entropy calculation section, respectively. Among them, the texture entropy is derived by taking an allowed value n of encoding degradation given according to a limit (encoding rate) of an entropy which can transmitted into consideration. Therefore, a generated entropy obtained by adding up the shape entropy, the motion vector entropy, and the texture entropy becomes a value according to the encoding rate. In such optimizing segmentation encoding as to minimize the generated entropy, therefore, it becomes possible to conduct segmentation according to the encoding rate.

Abstract: In a fuel infection valve, a valve chamber of a three ways valve is selectively communicated to drain and high pressure conduits and also communicated, via a main orifice, to a control chamber for controlling valve opening and closing operations of a nozzle needle. The control chamber may be communicated via the main orifice and the valve chamber to the drain conduit or the high pressure conduit, when a valve body is driven by a piezo actuator to open or close the drain conduit and close or open the high pressure conduit. The control chamber is always communicated via a sub orifice to the high pressure conduit without bypassing the three ways valve. Accordingly, hydraulic pressure in the control chamber is slowly decreased at a valve opening time and is rapidly increased at a valve closing time so that a lift characteristic of the nozzle needle is improved.