Abstract: A record reproduction apparatus includes an encoding unit that encodes sector data to be written into a recording medium, by dividing the data into a predetermined number of blocks, and an iterative decoding unit that iteratively decodes the sector data read from the recording medium, by dividing the sector data into the predetermined number of blocks.

Abstract: An information recording/reading apparatus employs a preamble to reproduce a clock used when recording information in a recording medium and reads the information out of the recording medium at a timing synchronized with a read signal. The preamble is split and recorded by replacing a middle portion of the preamble with data and a sync byte. While a first buffer is employed to delay signal data read out of the recording medium, a frequency offset detector detects a frequency offset using the split preamble.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus having an error correction function ECC-less, includes a erasure detector generating an erasure flag indicating disappearance of a read signal; and an iterative decoder having two soft-in/soft-out (SISO) decoders, i.e., an inner decoder and an outer decoder, and correcting the erasure by inputting the erasure flag ek into the inner decoder 84 and performing erasure compensation in the inner decoder. As the erasure compensation in the inner decoder, channel information is masked while the erasure flag is on. The erasure of data due to a media defect is detected inside the iterative decoder, and the second erasure flag is inputted into the inner decoder to perform erasure compensation in the inner decoder.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus having an error correction function ECC-less, includes a erasure detector generating an erasure flag indicating disappearance of a read signal; and an iterative decoder having two soft-in/soft-out (SISO) decoders, i.e., an inner decoder and an outer decoder, and correcting the erasure by inputting the erasure flag ek into the inner decoder 84 and performing erasure compensation in the inner decoder. As the erasure compensation in the inner decoder, channel information is masked while the erasure flag is on. The erasure of data due to a media defect is detected inside the iterative decoder, and the second erasure flag is inputted into the inner decoder to perform erasure compensation in the inner decoder.

Abstract: In a Maximum A posteriori Probability decoding (MAP decoding), a correlation and a deviation of noises for past and future states which depend on input signal patterns in past N bits and future Q bits are calculated by training by a noise correlation arithmetic operating unit 84 and they are stored. Upon reproduction, in a white noise arithmetic operating unit 91, white noise values for the past and future states in which colored noises are converted into white noises are obtained by using the stored correlation and deviation of the noises. In an input signal arithmetic operating unit 92, an input signal (channel information) &Lgr;c(yk|Smk) of the MAP decoding is calculated from the white noise values and the deviation for the past and future states. A likelihood in the MAP decoding is obtained from the input signal.

Abstract: A local region image tracking apparatus continuously tracks an arbitrary local region within a search image which is described by search image data by comparing the search image data and reference image data related to the arbitrary local region having a size of am pixels by bn pixels with respect to input image data, where the search image has a size larger than am pixels by bn pixels, and a, b, m and n are natural numbers.

Abstract: An image processing process wherein an image is divided into small areas, a polar transformation is applied to the image in each of the small areas, and image processing is performed based on the result of the polar transformation. Further, each of a plurality of images is divided into small areas, a polar transformation is applied to the image in each of the small areas for each of the plurality of images, and correlation is obtained between the results of the polar transformation for the plurality of images. One-dimensional filter processing is applied to the polar-transformed output.

Abstract: An image-feature tracking apparatus for tracking an object includes a feature deriving part for deriving at least one feature in an image of the object, and a matching operation part for matching two frames of the image defined at different times in the image of the object and producing an approximate motion vector of the feature. The apparatus further includes a motion-vector correcting part for correcting the approximate motion vector provided in the matching operation part based on a position of the feature derived in the feature deriving part. In the image-feature tracking apparatus, from a corrected motion vector provided in the motion-vector correcting part, a position of the object is detected.

Abstract: An image processing process wherein an image is divided into small areas, a polar transformation is applied to the image in each of the small areas, and image processing is performed based on the result of the polar transformation. Further, each of a plurality of images is divided into small areas, a polar transformation is applied to the image in each of the small areas for each of the plurality of images, and correlation is obtained between the results of the polar transformation for the plurality of images. One-dimensional filter processing is applied to the polar-transformed output.

Abstract: A method for determining an orientation of a line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image. The number of pixels having a predetermined value and located in each orientation in the local area, is obtained, and it is determined that a line segment exists in an orientation in which the number of pixels is large. Further, when it is determined that the number of pixels located in each of a plurality of orientations and having a predetermined value, is greater than a sum of the numbers of pixels in orientations adjacent to said each orientation on both sides thereof, it is determined that a line segment exists in said each orientation. Two orientations in which large numbers of pixels are located are detected, and it is determined whether the point is a constituent of a line segment, a line segment of the sub-straight-line form, or a near-corner point, depending on angles made by the two orientations is equal to 180.degree.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an orientation of a line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image. The number of pixels having a predetermined value and located in each orientation in the local area, is obtained, and it is determined that a line segment exists in an orientation in which the number of pixels is large. Further, when it is determined that the number of pixels located in each of a plurality of orientations and having a predetermined value is greater than a sum of the numbers of pixels in orientations adjacent to said each orientation on both sides thereof, it is determined that a line segment exists in said each orientation. Two orientations in which large numbers of pixels are located are detected, and it is determined whether the point is a constituent of a line segment, a line segment of the sub-straight-line form, or a near-corner point, depending on angles made by the two orientations is equal to 180.degree.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an orientation of a line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image. The number of pixels having a predetermined value and located in each orientation in the local area, is obtained, and it is determined that a line segment exists in an orientation in which the number of pixels is large. Further, when it is determined that the number of pixels located in each of a plurality of orientations and having a predetermined value is greater than a sum of the numbers of pixels in orientations adjacent to said each orientation on both sides thereof, it is determined that a line segment exists in said each orientation. Two orientations in which large numbers of pixels are located are detected, and it is determined whether the point is a constituent of a line segment, a line segment of the sub-straight-line form, or a near-corner point, depending on angles made by the two orientations is equal to 180.degree.

Abstract: Outermost fork shafts are provided adjacent to shift lugs thereof with arms which have free end faces opposing each other. The arms prevent the shift lugs from moving apart from their adjacent shift lug, thereby making it possible to prevent a control finger from accidentally entering between adjacent shift lugs.

Abstract: A method for measuring a position and an orientation of an object. A sequence of movement points which line up on an intersection line of a predetermined projection surface and a plane which contains a predetermined projection center corresponding to a position of a camera, is obtained by obtaining projected points respectively generated for a plurality of positions of the camera, onto a point on the predetermined projection surface where the camera position is deemed as the projection center. Then, a sequence of reference points which line up on an intersection line of a plane containing the center of projection and the predetermined projection surface, shares a point with the sequence of movement points, and has the same cross ratio (inharmonic ratio) as a cross ratio of the sequence of movement points, is generated.