Abstract: A sliding spline shaft device of the present invention includes a male spline and a female spline that is fitted to the male spline in an axially slidable manner, and at least one of the splines has a surface processed layer. The surface processed layer includes an undercoat layer, an intermediate layer containing phosphate, and a topcoat layer containing solid lubricant, in this order. The undercoat layer contains iron nitride and/or iron carbide. Thus, the surface of a base material has high hardness. As a result, microscopic deformation of the sliding surface is reduced, and increase in a real contact area is suppressed, whereby stick-slip is prevented.

Abstract: A program for generating a significant video stream causes a computer to function as coding parameter extraction means for extracting a coding parameter of each macroblock for each frame from an original video stream, macroblock selection means for selecting a significant macroblock that has a coding parameter satisfying a predetermined condition, and significant video stream generation means for generating a significant video stream in which frames of the original video stream temporally synchronized with the frames of the coding parameter in the significant macroblocks are combined in time series.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus and a corresponding method for applying orthogonal transformation to a prediction error signal between a video signal of an encoding target area and a predicted signal for the video signal, and quantizing an obtained orthogonal transformation coefficient by using a preset quantization step size so as to encode the coefficient. A prediction error power which is a power of the prediction error signal is computed. For input information such as the computed prediction error power, the preset quantization step size, and an upper limit of an amount of code generated for the encoding target area, it is determined whether or not an amount of code generated when performing quantization using the preset quantization step size exceeds the upper limit. An encoding process is changed based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: Input MPEG compressed data is input into a partial decoder and a logo insertion controller. A block DCT coefficients (a) output from the partial decoder is divided into a logo insertion region (c) and a non-logo insertion region (d) in a logo insertion region separator. Logo data (e) supplied from a logo information supply section is combined into the logo insertion region (c) with an arbitrary mixing ratio in a logo information insert section. In a logo region partial re-encoder, intra-frame coding of an image insertion region is executed when a starting frame for inserting an image is an intra-coded frame or a predictive coded frame, and, when the starting frame is a bidirectionally predictive-coded frame, inter-frame coding of the image insertion region is executed, and intra encoding of the image insertion region is executed in a frame to which the starting frame for inserting the image can refer.

Abstract: In a state where an adhesive tape is attached onto a main surface of a semiconductor wafer, a trench is formed in a rear surface of the semiconductor wafer. For forming the trench in the rear surface of the semiconductor wafer, after coating a resist film on the rear surface of the semiconductor wafer, the resist film is patterned by using the photolithography technology. The patterning of the resist film is performed so as not to leave the resist film in the region where the trench is to be formed. Then, the trench is formed in a predetermined region of the semiconductor wafer by the dry etching technology using the patterned resist film as a mask. Specifically, the trench is formed in the region near the dicing line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scene classification apparatus for classifying uncompressed or compressed video into various types of scenes at low cost and with high accuracy using characteristics of a video and audio characteristics accompanied by the video. When video are compressed data, their motion intensity, spatial distribution of motion and histogram of motion direction are detected by using values of motion vectors of predictive coding images existing in respective shots, and the respective shots of the video are classified into a dynamic scene, a static scene, a slow scene, a highlight scene, a zooming scene, a panning scene, a commercial scene and the like based on the motion intensity, the spatial distribution of motion, the histogram of motion direction and shot density.

Abstract: The picture input section 12 fetches image data from the storage device 11, and then, inputs image data on sequential n images into the section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images and the section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images. The section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images measures the correlation between sequential images based on video data. The section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images measures the correlation between sub-sampled images. The short shot determining section 15 determines short cut points by using the correlation between the sequential images and the correlation between the sub-sampled images. Otherwise, short cut points may be determined in consideration of motion amount between the sequential images or the sub-sampled images.

Abstract: The picture input section 12 fetches image data from the storage device 11, and then, inputs image data on sequential n images into the section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images and the section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images. The section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images measures the correlation between sequential images based on video data. The section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images measures the correlation between sub-sampled images. The short shot determining section 15 determines short cut points by using the correlation between the sequential images and the correlation between the sub-sampled images. Otherwise, short cut points may be determined in consideration of motion amount between the sequential images or the sub-sampled images.

Abstract: A first block size motion searching device (4) detects a motion vector with respect to each of blocks by a unit of variable blocks in the smallest first block size. A feature value extracting device (6) detects a feature value between the adjacent blocks. A motion search determining device (7) determines by utilizing the feature value whether or not the motion search should be executed in the second to nth block sizes. A search center generating device (8), a search area generating device (9) and a selected block size motion searching device (10) selects the second to nth block sizes and detects the motion vector. A block size determining device (11) determines the block size having a high efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a classification apparatus for broadcasted sport videos for classifying various scenes constituting a sport video, depending on the importance level without being limited to any particular sport video by using visual and audio features. A sport video classification processing portion determines and classifies a play scene, a close-up shot and the like using an audio and a color feature extracted from motion picture data. Because the determination of the most frequent color can be changed adaptively for each inputted sport video, it is not necessary to determine any particular color to the most frequent color previously.

Abstract: The picture input section 12 fetches image data from the storage device 11, and then, inputs image data on sequential n images into the section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images and the section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images. The section 13 for measuring correlation between sequential images measures the correlation between sequential images based on video data. The section 14 for measuring correlation between sampled images measures the correlation between sub-sampled images. The short shot determining section 15 determines short cut points by using the correlation between the sequential images and the correlation between the sub-sampled images. Otherwise, short cut points may be determined in consideration of motion amount between the sequential images or the sub-sampled images.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus and a corresponding method for applying orthogonal transformation to a prediction error signal between a video signal of an encoding target area and a predicted signal for the video signal, and quantizing an obtained orthogonal transformation coefficient by using a preset quantization step size so as to encode the coefficient. A prediction error power which is a power of the prediction error signal is computed. For input information such as the computed prediction error power, the preset quantization step size, and an upper limit of an amount of code generated for the encoding target area, it is determined whether or not an amount of code generated when performing quantization using the preset quantization step size exceeds the upper limit. An encoding process is changed based on a result of the determination.

Abstract: In a state where an adhesive tape is attached onto a main surface of a semiconductor wafer, a trench is formed in a rear surface of the semiconductor wafer. For forming the trench in the rear surface of the semiconductor wafer, after coating a resist film on the rear surface of the semiconductor wafer, the resist film is patterned by using the photolithography technology. The patterning of the resist film is performed so as not to leave the resist film in the region where the trench is to be formed. Then, the trench is formed in a predetermined region of the semiconductor wafer by the dry etching technology using the patterned resist film as a mask. Specifically, the trench is formed in the region near the dicing line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a real-time live picture information compression-transmission apparatus and method using a connection-less type protocol for a computer network. The compression-transmission apparatus is constituted to divide frame data output from a real-time encoder compressing live picture information into packets, and to transmit the live picture information in a real time manner according to the connection-less type protocol while suppressing burst transmission by conducting transmission control. The present invention also provides a compressed video data decoding apparatus capable of reducing compressed video decoding processing load without deteriorating picture quality and decreasing the number of played back picture planes when playing back a picture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the video playback unit of one or a plurality of videos, the delivery unit and the recording medium for recording the program of the processing of these units. The video playback unit of one video reads in order the video data of the video file from the storage unit. The display displays the video data, the time information sequence data and the still image sequence data positioned before and after the playback time of the video data. In this way, the video scene contained in the video file stored in the storage unit and the video file within the server network-connected can be effectively read or the target scene can be effectively retrieved. On the other hand, the playback unit of a plurality of videos divides a plurality of videos read from the storage unit into the main videos and the proxy videos so that these videos can be simultaneously displayed. In this way, a plurality of videos can be played back even in a limited transmission bandwidth and decoding capacity.

Abstract: Conversion encoding coefficients which are accumulated in an input memory and read out from the memory is input into converting unit. Conversion matrix integration unit multiplies a basis matrix of conversion encoding coefficient by, arbitrary interpolation matrix or thinning matrix which is input from resolution conversion matrix inputting unit and sampling conversion matrix inputting unit to produce a converting matrix, and outputs the same to the converting unit. Alternatively, the conversion matrix integration unit selects a converting matrix which is previously calculated and stored in the memory, and outputs the same to the converting unit. The converting unit inputs the converting matrix from the conversion matrix integration unit and the conversion encoding coefficients from the input memory, and achieves the resolution conversion and sampling conversion by matrix product computation of the conversion encoding coefficients in row unit.

Abstract: It is made possible to concretely estimate actual transmission bit rate in a frame of grasping a line state by using a report packet. Together with media packets encoded by a video encoder 1 and an audio encoder 2, a sender report packet generated by a sender report generation section 3 is sent to the transmission line. A receiver report packet is fed back from the receiver side. Each of the sender report packet and the receiver report packet includes report packets of two kinds differing in size. A rate estimation section 4 estimates transmission bit rate on the basis of round-trip delay time for the sender report packet and the receiver report packet each having a small size and round-trip delay time for the sender report packet and the receiver report packet each having a large size.

Abstract: In an information distribution/reproduction control apparatus, a plurality of stream servers distribute real-time reproducible stream information to a plurality of clients through a network like the Internet. A transit control server controls the stream servers for the distribution of the stream information, and also controls the clients for real-time reproduction of the stream information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a real-time live picture information compression-transmission apparatus and method using a connection-less type protocol for a computer network. The compression-transmission apparatus is constituted to divide frame data output from a real-time encoder compressing live picture information into packets, and to transmit the live picture information in a real time manner according to the connection-less type protocol while suppressing burst transmission by conducting transmission control. The present invention also provides a compressed video data decoding apparatus capable of reducing compressed video decoding processing load without deteriorating picture quality and decreasing the number of played back picture planes when playing back a picture.

Abstract: This invention provides a video information transmission apparatus for efficiently transmitting a digital video such as MPEG video at real time while controlling congestion on a QoS non-guaranteed IP network and suppressing degradation of a video quality. A transmission control section 13 on a sender side outputs bit rate feedback information in accordance with congestion information on the network to a real-time encoder 12, and controls a transmission bit rate to change the transmission bit rate in accordance with congestion information on the network. The bit rate feedback information is obtained based on the congestion information on the network on the sender side, or obtained on a receiver side and fed back.