Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises: a plurality of pixels including a light-sensitive portion (2) for photoelectrically converting incident light, a transfer gate (10) for transferring a charge stored in the light-sensitive portion, a resettable detection capacitor (18) for storing the charge transferred from the transfer gate, and a selection switch (26) for outputting a charge of the detection capacitor according to a selection signal RWn; a charge amplifier (41) for converting the detection capacitor charge, which is outputted from the pixels, to a voltage; and a correlated double sampling circuit (86) for obtaining a voltage difference between a reset level and a detected level converted by the charge amplifier. According to the above device, a thermal noise is eliminated due to the correlated double sampling circuit. Further, a fixed pattern noise is not generated due to the pixel circuit structure.

Abstract: Distance from a small block to a synchronizing pattern inserted into coded data is calculated for each small block in an image frame. On the basis of the count, a data-loss probability estimation unit estimates the probability that coded data of a target small block will be lost during transmission. In regard to a small block in which interframe predictive coding has been performed, an image-quality degradation estimation unit estimates the degree of image-quality degradation that will be caused in this small block in the decoded image. The forced refresh priority of each small block is calculated upon comparing the estimated data-loss probability and estimated degree of image-quality degradation with threshold values, and the values of priority are recorded in the form of a forced refresh map. When the next frame is coded, reference is had to the recorded values of priority and a small block in which intraframe coding will be forcibly performed is selected based upon the recorded values of priority.

Abstract: A multi-quantum well infrared photo-detector, in which a plurality of multi-quantum well layers having respective sensitivities for different wavelength ranges of infrared are layered via a common contact layer. The infrared photo-detector includes a switch where one end is connected to the above common contact layer, and a current integration unit which is connected to the other end of the above switch. First and second voltages are applied to first and second contact layers at the opposite side of first and second multi-quantum well layer respectively. The above switch is conducted for a predetermined time so that either voltage between the above common contact layer and the first contact layer or voltage between the above common contact layer and the second contact layer becomes higher than the other, and the above current integration unit is charged or discharged by the current which flows in the above multi-quantum well layers.

Abstract: In an image size transformation method for an orthogonal transformation coded image, orthogonal coefficients as coded data of an image are read out by blocks, after which an operation process for transforming the coefficients on the orthogonal coefficients is carried out. Due to this operation process, coefficients of Y blocks are obtained from coefficients of X blocks, by which the orthogonal coefficients after having the image size enlarged or reduced are outputted. Due to this structure, it is possible to simplify the decoding system. According to the image size transformation method of the present invention, orthogonal transformation coefficients are processed directly on the coefficients by which a transformation of high precision is possible, while there is no possibility that a transformation efficiency will deteriorate because of operation errors caused by inversion or filtering, as in the conventional case.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital watermark insertion system that automatically calculates a digital watermark strength suitable to an input image and inserts a digital watermark into the image. The image categorizing section 103 classifies input images and outputs category indexes. The storage device 101 stores digital watermark characteristic tables describing the correspondences between digital watermark strength, image-quality degradation degree and attack-resistant evaluation value by category index and selects a digital watermark characteristic table to be used according to an input category index. The digital watermark strength calculation section 100 outputs a digital watermark strength to the storage device, calculates an optimum digital watermark strength using an image-quality degradation degree and a resistant evaluation value output from the storage device 103 and constraint information input by an user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital watermark insertion system that automatically calculates a digital watermark strength suitable to an input image and inserts a digital watermark into the image. The image categorizing section 103 classifies input images and outputs category indexes. The storage device 101 stores digital watermark characteristic tables describing the correspondences between digital watermark strength, image-quality degradation degree and attack-resistant evaluation value by category index and selects a digital watermark characteristic table to be used according to an input category index. The digital watermark strength calculation section 100 outputs a digital watermark strength to the storage device, calculates an optimum digital watermark strength using an image-quality degradation degree and a resistant evaluation value output from the storage device 103 and constraint information input by an user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital watermark insertion system that automatically calculates a digital watermark strength suitable to an input image and inserts a digital watermark into the image. The image categorizing section 103 classifies input images and outputs category indexes. The storage device 101 stores digital watermark characteristic tables describing the correspondences between digital watermark strength, image-quality degradation degree and attack-resistant evaluation value by category index and selects a digital watermark characteristic table to be used according to an input category index. The digital watermark strength calculation section 100 outputs a digital watermark strength to the storage device, calculates an optimum digital watermark strength using an image-quality degradation degree and a resistant evaluation value output from the storage device 103 and constraint information input by an user.

Abstract: Disclosed is an encoded moving picture data conversion device for converting encoded moving picture data compression-encoded by using inter-frame prediction, and for outputting converted data as encoded output data capable of being subjected to special reproducing, the device comprising: first storage for storing said inputted encoded moving picture data; decoding for decoding said inputted encoded moving picture data to decoded data; re-encoder for re-encoding said decoded data of a picture frame in a moving picture sequence, in an intra-frame encoding mode in order to generate intra-frame re-encoded data; second storage for storing re-encoded data, said re-encoded data including said intra-frame re-encoded data; and selector for selecting one of said encoded moving picture data stored in said first storage and said re-encoded data stored in said second storage for each picture frame, and for outputting the selected data as said encoded output data capable of being subjected to said special reproducing.

Abstract: A sensor comprises a linear region (variable region) in which the output voltage is changed in proportion to the accelerator opening degree, and a stepped region (invariable region) in which the output voltage is not changed with respect to the accelerator opening degree. A resistor electrode for constructing the sensor is formed by laminating a resistor composed of a resistance substance on a base plate in a linear section corresponding to the linear region. In a stepped section corresponding to the stepped region, the resistor electrode is formed by laminating the resistor on a conductive layer composed of a conductive substance formed on the base plate.

Abstract: According to the present invention, various logic circuits, AD converters, DA converters and counter circuits can be constituted with a small number of transistors by employing a capacitive coupling circuit.

Abstract: According to the present invention, various logic circuits, AD converters, DA converters and counter circuits can be constituted with a small number of transistors by employing a capacitive coupling circuit.

Abstract: According to the present invention, various logic circuits, AD converters, DA converters and counter circuits can be constituted with a small number of transistors by employing a capacitive coupling circuit.

Abstract: According to the present invention, various logic circuits, AD converters, DA converters and counter circuits can be constituted with a small number of transistors by employing a capacitive coupling circuit.

Abstract: In a coding system, an input picture is split into regions with adaptive configurations to a reference picture, a selected region with precedence data is detected of its configuration and of its relative motion to a corresponding region of the reference picture, a prediction region is generated from the corresponding region of the reference picture and the relative motion, a difference region is determined between the selected region and the prediction region, and the precedence data, detected configuration, relative motion and difference ergion are coded. In a decoding system, a decoded prediction region is generated from a decoded relative motion and a corresponding region of a reference picture selected by a decoded precedence data, and a decoded difference region is added to the decoded prediction region to obtain a decoded picture region, which is configuration-corrected by a decoded configuratrion data, before synthesizing a plurality of decoded picture regions to obtain a synthesized picture region.

Abstract: In a coding system, an input picture is split into regions with adaptive configurations to a reference picture, a selected region with precedence data is detected of its configuration and of its relative motion to a corresponding region of the reference picture, a prediction region is generated from the corresponding region of the reference picture and the relative motion, a difference region is determined between the selected region and the prediction region, and the precedence data, detected configuration, relative motion and difference ergion are coded. In a decoding system, a decoded prediction region is generated from a decoded relative motion and a corresponding region of a reference picture selected by a decoded precedence data, and a decoded difference region is added to the decoded prediction region to obtain a decoded picture region, which is configuration-corrected by a decoded configuratrion data, before synthesizing a plurality of decoded picture regions to obtain a synthesized picture region.

Abstract: In a coding system, an input picture is split into regions with adaptive configurations to a reference picture, a selected region with precedence data is detected of its configuration and of its relative motion to a corresponding region of the reference picture, a prediction region is generated from the corresponding region of the reference picture and the relative motion, a difference region is determined between the selected region and the prediction region, and the precedence data, detected configuration, relative motion and difference ergion are coded. In a decoding system, a decoded prediction region is generated from a decoded relative motion and a corresponding region of a reference picture selected by a decoded precedence data, and a decoded difference region is added to the decoded prediction region to obtain a decoded picture region, which is configuration-corrected by a decoded configuratrion data, before synthesizing a plurality of decoded picture regions to obtain a synthesized picture region.

Abstract: A display signal of high contrast is generated by processing an image signal that is acquired from a camera such as an infra-red or X-ray camera.

Abstract: In a coding system, an input picture is split into regions with adaptive configurations to a reference picture, a selected region with precedence data is detected of its configuration and of its relative motion to a corresponding region of the reference picture, a prediction region is generated from the corresponding region of the reference picture and the relative motion, a difference region is determined between the selected region and the prediction region, and the precedence data, detected configuration, relative motion and difference region are coded. In a decoding system, a decoded prediction region is generated from a decoded relative motion and a corresponding region of a reference picture selected by a decoded precedence data, and a decoded difference region is added to the decoded prediction region to obtain a decoded picture region, which is configuration-corrected by a decoded configuration data, before synthesizing a plurality of decoded picture regions to obtain a synthesized picture region.

Abstract: A charge injection circuit for injecting a charge to a signal processing circuit has a photo-voltaic element for generating a photocurrent when an infrared light is received, a field effect transistor used for injecting the charge to the signal processing circuit, and an impedance conversion circuit for feeding back an output of the field effect transistor to a substrate potential of the photo-voltaic element. The impedance conversion circuit has a gain which is greater than zero and less than or equal to one.

Abstract: In an image processing system for use in processing a sequence of image signals carrying a moving image, the image signal sequence is divided into a sequence of partial image signals each of which carries a scene subsequence defined by scene changes. A background signal generator determines a background portion of the moving image by monitoring a whole of each partial image signal and produces a background signal. The background signal is coded by a coder prior to a sequence of error signals resulting from predictive coding of each partial signal. During prediction of the background signal, the error signals may be rendered to zero in the coder. The background signal may be either determined at every picture element or at every block composed of a plurality of picture elements.