Abstract: A segmenting section divides an input image into a plurality of segments. A hierarchizing section determines classes of the respective segments according to a predetermined criterion, and produces a class identification signal indicating the classes of the respective segments. A coding section encodes the segmented image signal into code data while changing the value of a coding control parameter for each of the segments in accordance with the class identification signal. Examples of the coding control parameter are a coding time interval and precision of quantization.

Abstract: Provided is a high-strength zirconia sintered body in which the progression of low-temperature degradation is inhibited. The zirconia sintered body contains partially-stabilized zirconia as a matrix phase and contains at least one element from among phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi). The content of the abovementioned element(s) in the zirconia sintered body ranges from 4×10?4 mol to 4×10?2 mol with respect to 1 mol of zirconium(IV) oxide. Preferably, the zirconia sintered body further contains 0.03% to 3% by mass of silicon dioxide.

Abstract: A digital decoding method and apparatus for receiving a compression coded digital signal in predetermined transmission units for decoding is disclosed. The decoding apparatus includes an initialization unit for initializing a probability of occurrence based on information multiplexed into data constituting the transmission unit, when decoding of the transmission unit is started, a binarization unit for generating a binarization rule determined based on a type of decoded data, a probability of occurrence generation unit for providing the probability of occurrence of symbol generated by the binarization rule, and a decoding unit for executing arithmetic decoding based on the probability of occurrence thus generated.

Abstract: A data embedding apparatus including: a selecting unit for selecting, based upon the second data, a prediction system of calculating a prediction value with respect to data to be processed within the first data; a predicting unit for calculating the prediction value of the data to be processed by the prediction system selected by the selecting unit; a difference calculating unit for calculating a prediction error of the data to be processed by employing the prediction value; and a prediction error calculating unit for outputting the coded data, in which the predicting unit includes: a 0-embedding time predicting unit for performing prediction when a bit value of the second data is “0”; a 1-embedding time predicting unit for performing prediction when the bit value of the second data is “1”; and an embedding end time predicting unit for performing prediction when embedding of the second data is accomplished.

Abstract: In a bit stream syntax containing compressed video slice data for compressed video data of a slice structure, a slice header for compressed video slice data has attached thereto a slice start code, a register reset flag indicating whether a register value, which designates a status of a codeword occurring in an arithmetic coding process, should be reset in the next transmission unit, an initial register value which indicates a register value to be used to start arithmetic coding/decoding to build/decompose the next transmission unit, only when the register reset flag indicates that the register should not be reset.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to include, when encoding processing is applied to three color components using a 4:0:0 format, data for one picture in one access unit and makes it possible to set the same time information or the same set encoding modes among the respective color components. In an image encoding system for applying compression processing to an input image signal including a plurality of color components, encoded data obtained by independently subjecting an input image signal of each of the color components to encoding processing and a parameter indicating which color component the encoded data corresponds to are multiplexed with a bit stream. In an image decoding system for inputting a bit stream in which an image signal including a plurality of color components is compressed to perform decoding processing, decoding processing of the encoded data of each of the color components is performed using a parameter indicating which color component the encoded data corresponds to.

Abstract: A quantizing matrix selecting part 3 for calculating the average and variance of brightness values in a prediction image created by a motion-compensated prediction unit 1, and selecting a quantizing matrix corresponding to the average and variance of brightness values in the prediction image from among a plurality of quantizing matrices which are prepared in advance is disposed, and a quantizing part 6 quantizes orthogonal transformation coefficients outputted from an orthogonal transformation part 5 with reference to the quantizing matrix selected by the quantizing matrix selecting part 3.

Abstract: A MCP semiconductor device with an “anti-shake” function includes a driver chip and a logic chip. The logic chip includes a correction signal processing unit which obtains a value for vibration of apparatus based on a vibration detection signal to generate a correction signal and a control signal output unit having a plurality of types of signal output sections which output a vibration control signal in accordance with the correction signal to a vibration correction control unit which executes vibration correction control for an optical component. The logic chip further includes a driver output terminal which outputs the vibration control signal to the driver chip, an external output terminal which outputs the control signal to an external circuit other than the driver chip, and also an output switch unit which connects one of the plurality of signal output sections with the driver output terminal or the external output terminal.

Abstract: A loop filter 6 includes a region classifying unit 12 for extracting a feature quantity of each of the regions which construct a local decoded image to classify each of the regions into the class to which the region belongs according to the feature quantity, and a filter designing and processing unit 13 for, for each class to which one or more regions, among the regions which construct the local decoded image, belong, generating a Wiener filter which minimizes an error occurring between an inputted image and the local decoded image in each of the one or more regions belonging to the class to compensate for a distortion superimposed onto the one or more regions by using the Wiener filter.

Abstract: An encoding device includes a color component separating unit for separating an input bit stream for the respective color components, a block dividing unit for dividing an input color component signal into blocks to generate a signal of an encoding unit area, a predicted image generating unit for generating a predicted image for the signal, a determining unit for determining a prediction mode used for encoding according to a prediction efficiency of the predicted image, a prediction error encoding unit for encoding a difference between the predicted image corresponding to the prediction mode determined by the determining unit and the input color component signal, and an encoding unit for variable length-coding the prediction mode, an output from the prediction error encoding unit, and a color component identification flag indicating the color component to which the input bit stream belongs as a result of the color component separation.

Abstract: An encoding device includes a color component separating unit for separating an input bit stream for the respective color components, a block dividing unit for dividing an input color component signal into blocks to generate a signal of an encoding unit area, a predicted image generating unit for generating a predicted image for the signal, a determining unit for determining a prediction mode used for encoding according to a prediction efficiency of the predicted image, a prediction error encoding unit for encoding a difference between the predicted image corresponding to the prediction mode determined by the determining unit and the input color component signal, and an encoding unit for variable length-coding the prediction mode, an output from the prediction error encoding unit, and a color component identification flag indicating the color component to which the input bit stream belongs as a result of the color component separation.

Abstract: In a control circuit for servo control of a piezoelectric actuator, it is possible to efficiently move a movement object toward a target position in each servo control cycle. A pulse generation circuit (26) generates a drive pulse a plurality of times within a servo control cycle. The ideal value of the amount of movement in one drive pulse is stored in a register (28), and is used to estimate the amount of movement required to reach the target position of a lens (8) each time a drive pulse is generated. It is possible to switch between coarse movement and fine movement by using two types of drive pulses that have mutually different duty ratios, and the lens (8) can be rapidly moved by coarse movement when the required amount of movement is large, and fine movement when the required amount of movement is small.

Abstract: A digital decoding apparatus for receiving and decoding a compression-coded digital signal in predetermined transmission units is disclosed. The decoding apparatus includes an initialization unit for initializing an entropy coding process based on information of initializing a table of probability of occurrence which is multiplexed on a header of data for the predetermined transmission units, a context model determination unit for determining a context model to be used for each type of decoded data among a plurality of context models, a probability of occurrence generation unit for providing a probability of occurrence corresponding to the context model, and an entropy decoding unit for entropy decoding based on the generated probability of occurrence. A digital signal coding apparatus for making a compression coding of a digital signal is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an object detecting apparatus for detecting whether or not a detection object is present in a monitoring area by comparing a present image with a background image photographed when the detection target is not present in the monitoring area, a background contour line information extracting means extracts contour line information of an article photographed in the background image. An object detecting means extracts contour line information other than the contour lines of the background image from the present image. Also, the object detecting means detects whether or not the detection object is present in the monitoring area based upon such a fact as to whether or not the contour line information can be extracted from the present image.

Abstract: It is provided a fluorescent zirconia material including a fluorescent component and emitting fluorescence when excited with a light of a predetermined wavelength, the fluorescent component including a fluorescent material, the fluorescent material including at least one kind of Y2SiO5:Ce, Y2SiO5:Tb, (Y, Gd, Eu)BO3, Y2O3:Eu, YAG:Ce, ZnGa2O4:Zn and BaMgAl10O17:Eu and the fluorescent material being capable of emiting the fluorescence when subjected to firing treatment at temperatures ranging from 1300 to 1600(° C.) under oxidizing environments.

Abstract: A transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface of an original guide plate of an image reading apparatus, and similarly, a transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface at an edge portion of a reading guide plate, thereby preventing an original from being chipped by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces and illumination light from being diffused by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces.

Abstract: A digital signal coding apparatus and method for making a compression coding by dividing a digital signal in predetermined transmission units are disclosed. The apparatus includes an arithmetic coding unit, a binarization unit, a probability of occurrence generation unit, and a coding unit. The arithmetic coding unit compresses the digital signal of the transmission unit by arithmetic coding. The binarization unit generates a binarization rule determined based on a type of coding data, and the probability of occurrence generation unit provides the probability of occurrence of symbol generated by the binarization rule. The coding unit performs arithmetic coding of the digital signal of the transmission unit based on the generated probability of occurrence.

Abstract: Emission windows are prevented from being contaminated and are cleaned easily. The emission windows for emitting light beams are disposed on a housing of a laser exposure device having optical elements arranged inside for exposing a photoreceptor, and the upper surface of the housing is provided with a slidable shutter with openings. An image forming apparatus includes guide rails independent of the laser exposure device to movably guide predetermined cleaning brushes in the longitudinal direction of the emission windows. When the cleaning brushes are mounted on the guide rails and moved toward the inner side of the apparatus, the cleaning brushes touch a slant portion of a rib and the shutter is moved to the right to align the openings with the emission windows. While the cleaning brushes touch a longitudinally extending portion, the emission windows are exposed to enable the cleaning of the exposed window using the cleaning tool.

Abstract: In a drive circuit for a piezoelectric actuator, it is possible to move a movement object to a target position rapidly and with good precision. Parameters for two types of drive pulses (PL1, PL2) having different duty ratios are stored in a register (28). A pulse generation circuit (26) is configured so as to be able to switch, based on a parameter stored in the register (28), between (PL1) having a large displacement step width of a lens (8), and (PL2) having a small displacement step width. The lens (8) can be rapidly moved through coarse movement by (PL1), and the lens (8) can be made to approach the target position with good precision through fine movement by (PL2).

Abstract: In a light source unit (210) serving as an embodiment of an illuminating apparatus, when P is a light-emitting element pitch [mm], and H is an optical axis distance [mm] between light-emitting elements (212) and an original (G), and when, in an illuminance cycle (T) representing repetition of bright and dark areas in a main scanning direction (X) on a light-irradiated face (Gs) of the original (G) caused by the light-emitting elements (212), the light-emitting element pitch (P) and the optical axis distance (H) are set such that unevenness [%] (M) (=(L1?L2)/L3 [%]) obtained by dividing a value obtained by subtracting a minimum illuminance value (L2) from a maximum illuminance value (L1) by an average illuminance value (L3) and an inter-unevenness distance [mm] (N) which is a half cycle of the illuminance cycle (T) satisfy the relation M?N/2?5.5, and more preferably, M?N/2?7.5.