Abstract: A frame interpolation apparatus generates a pixel value at an interpolation position by examining pairs of pixel blocks, one from a preceding reference frame and one from a following reference frame, located in positions that are point-symmetric or nearly point-symmetric with respect to the interpolation position. The pair of pixel blocks showing the greatest mutual similarity is selected, the central pixels in the selected pair of pixel blocks are taken as reference pixels, and the interpolated pixel value is generated from the reference pixel values. By routinely examining a large number of pairs of pixel blocks for each interpolation position, the frame interpolation apparatus can detect image motion accurately and generate accurate interpolated values.

Abstract: An image correction method can perform adaptive correction processing to a taken image by a simple construction in a short time, and includes the steps of: computing window region local difference values for a plurality of neighboring pixels, each of the window region local difference values being a difference value between image data of a notice pixel (33a) in a difference value determination region (32) formed of a whole or a part of a screen area of an input image (31) and image data of a neighboring pixel in a window region (33) set around the notice pixel (33a), thereby determining a maximum local difference value which is a maximum value of the window region local difference values in each window region; determining a threshold value reflecting a characteristic of the input image on the basis of the maximum local difference value; producing adaptive filter coefficients for respective pixels of the input image by using the threshold value; and performing filter processing of the input image by using the

Abstract: A frame interpolation apparatus generates a pixel value at an interpolation position by examining pairs of pixel blocks, one from a preceding reference frame and one from a following reference frame, located in positions that are point-symmetric or nearly point-symmetric with respect to the interpolation position. The pair of pixel blocks showing the greatest mutual similarity is selected, the central pixels in the selected pair of pixel blocks are taken as reference pixels, and the interpolated pixel value is generated from the reference pixel values. By routinely examining a large number of pairs of pixel blocks for each interpolation position, the frame interpolation apparatus can detect image motion accurately and generate accurate interpolated values.

Abstract: A digital video signal record and playback device for recording on a recording medium a digital video signal coded by using a motion compensation prediction and an orthogonal transform and playing back data from the recording medium. In a data arrangement of a digital video signal, an I picture which can be independently represented in a picture is divided into n areas in the vertical direction, and the data is arranged from the front of one GOP in the unit of area by giving a priority to an area located at the center of the screen. A playback picture is outputted by playing back the I picture read from the recording medium in the unit of area unit. In the case where the whole I picture area cannot be read within a definite time, the area which cannot be read are interpolated by the use of the data of the preceding screen.

Abstract: A digital video signal record and playback device for recording on a recording medium a digital video signal coded by using a motion compensation prediction and an orthogonal transform and playing back data from the recording medium. In a data arrangement of a digital video signal, an I picture which can be independently represented in a picture is divided into n areas in the vertical direction, and the data is arranged from the front of one GOP in the unit of area by giving a priority to an area located at the center of the screen. A playback picture is outputted by playing back the I picture read from the recording medium in the unit of area unit. In the case where the whole I picture area cannot be read within a definite time, the area which cannot be read are interpolated by the use of the data of the preceding screen.

Abstract: An image correction method can perform adaptive correction processing to a taken image by a simple construction in a short time, and includes the steps of: computing window region local difference values for a plurality of neighboring pixels, each of the window region local difference values being a difference value between image data of a notice pixel (33a) in a difference value determination region (32) formed of a whole or a part of a screen area of an input image (31) and image data of a neighboring pixel in a window region (33) set around the notice pixel (33a), thereby determining a maximum local difference value which is a maximum value of the window region local difference values in each window region; determining a threshold value reflecting a characteristic of the input image on the basis of the maximum local difference value; producing adaptive filter coefficients for respective pixels of the input image by using the threshold value; and performing filter processing of the input image by using the

Abstract: The digital image output apparatus comprises a digital image decoder (1a) for decoding encoded digital image data and outputting image data update information (V2); an image data transfer area control unit (7) for determining a portion of the image data which has been updated in encoding according to the image data update information (V2) and outputting a result of the determination (VCT); an image data transfer unit (2a) for transferring digital image data (V1A) from the digital image decoder (1a) to an LCD memory (4) on the basis of the output signal (VCT) from the image data transfer area control unit (7); and the LCD memory (4) for storing the digital image data (V1A). A low-power digital image output apparatus is implemented by transferring image data depending on whether the image data has been updated in encoding of a digital image.

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: A digital video signal record and playback device for recording on a recording medium a digital video signal coded by using a motion compensation prediction and an orthogonal transform and playing back data from the recording medium. In a data arrangement of a digital video signal, an I picture which can be independently represented in a picture is divided into n areas in the vertical direction, and the data is arranged from the front of one GOP in the unit of area by giving a priority to an area located at the center of the screen. A playback picture is outputted by playing back the I picture read from the recording medium in the unit of area unit. In the case where the whole I picture area cannot be read within a definite time, the area which cannot be read are interpolated by the use of the data of the preceding screen.

Abstract: A digital video signal record and playback device for recording on a recording medium a digital video signal coded by using a motion compensation prediction and an orthogonal transform and playing back data from the recording medium. In a data arrangement of a digital video signal, an I picture which can be independently represented in a picture is divided into n areas in the vertical direction, and the data is arranged from the front of one GOP in the unit of area by giving a priority to an area located at the center of the screen. A playback picture is outputted by playing back the I picture read from the recording medium in the unit of area unit. In the case where the whole I picture area cannot be read within a definite time, the area which cannot be read are interpolated by the use of the data of the preceding screen.

Abstract: A digital video signal record and playback device for recording on a recording medium a digital video signal coded by using a motion compensation prediction and an orthogonal transform and playing back data from the recording medium. In a data arrangement of a digital video signal, an I picture which can be independently represented in a picture is divided into n areas in the vertical direction, and the data is arranged from the front of one GOP in the unit of area by giving a priority to an area located at the center of the screen. A playback picture is outputted by playing back the I picture read from the recording medium in the unit of area unit. In the case where the whole I picture area cannot be read within a definite time, the area which cannot be read are interpolated by the use of the data of the preceding screen.

Abstract: The digital image output apparatus comprises a digital image decoder (1a) for decoding encoded digital image data and outputting image data update information (V2); an image data transfer area control unit (7) for determining a portion of the image data which has been updated in encoding according to the image data update information (V2) and outputting a result of the determination (VCT); an image data transfer unit (2a) for transferring digital image data (V1A) from the digital image decoder (1a) to an LCD memory (4) on the basis of the output signal (VCT) from the image data transfer area control unit (7); and the LCD memory (4) for storing the digital image data (V1A). A low-power digital image output apparatus is implemented by transferring image data depending on whether the image data has been updated in encoding of a digital image.

Abstract: A digital video signal record and playback device for recording on a recording medium a digital video signal coded by using a motion compensation prediction and an orthogonal transform and playing back data from the recording medium. In a data arrangement of a digital video signal, an I picture which can be independently represented in a picture is divided into n areas in the vertical direction, and the data is arranged from the front of one GOP in the unit of area by giving a priority to an area located at the center of the screen. A playback picture is outputted by playing back the I picture read from the recording medium in the unit of area unit. In the case where the whole I picture area cannot be read within a definite time, the area which cannot be read are interpolated by the use of the data of the preceding screen.

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: A digital video signal record and playback device for recording on a recording medium a digital video signal coded by using a motion compensation prediction and an orthogonal transform and playing back data from the recording medium. In a data arrangement of a digital video signal, an I picture which can be independently represented in a picture is divided into n areas in the vertical direction, and the data is arranged from the front of one GOP in the unit of area by giving a priority to an area located at the center of the screen. A playback picture is outputted by playing back the I picture read from the recording medium in the unit of area unit. In the case where the whole I picture area cannot be read within a definite time, the area which cannot be read are interpolated by the use of the data of the preceding screen.

Abstract: A digital video signal record and playback device for recording on a recording medium a digital video signal coded by using a motion compensation prediction and an orthogonal transform and playing back data from the recording medium. In a data arrangement of a digital video signal, an I picture which can be independently represented in a picture is divided into n areas in the vertical direction, and the data is arranged from the front of one GOP in the unit of area by giving a priority to an area located at the center of the screen. A playback picture is outputted by playing back the I picture read from the recording medium in the unit of area unit. In the case where the whole I picture area cannot be read within a definite time, the area which cannot be read are interpolated by the use of the data of the preceding screen.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus having an optical zoom mechanism and an electronic zoom mechanism, wherein the optical zoom mechanism and the electronic zoom mechanism are adjusted in accordance with information on a position and size of an area recognized as an object (a human face). An image pick-up apparatus in which the control gain for restoring the rotating lens barrel to a reference position is increased by static detection of a housing, thereby attaining a compatibility between a high vibration-proofing performance and a high-accuracy origin restoration. A motion vector detection apparatus, in which by making the motion vector detection area movable, a motion vector is detected without any feeling of disorder regardless of the image pattern. An image swing correction apparatus is also disclosed in which the phase of a read clock of a video memory is adjusted in accordance with the result of detection of a time-base error of the video signal, and read out by a clock of regular intervals.