Abstract: An ink cartridge including an ink storage chamber in which ink is stored, a cover to cover the upper portion of the ink storage chamber and a head to eject ink droplets in the ink storage chamber onto a recording medium, wherein the cover includes an inner cover to cover the upper portion of the ink storage chamber and an outer cover that seals the ink storage chamber and the inner cover, and is positioned at a predetermined distance above the inner cover. Also provided are plates to form zigzag air passages by blocking a space between the inner cover and the outer cover. With the ink cartridge according to the present invention, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress the backward flow of ink contained in an ink storage chamber due to overheating of or careless treatment of the ink cartridge. Even if ink flows backward from the ink storage chamber, it is stored in an ink storage space, thus preventing the clogging of an air passage.

Abstract: An ink cartridge using separate magnets is provided. The ink cartridge includes an ink container, which includes first and second chambers separated by a vertical partition formed therewithin for containing ink, and a head for ejecting the ink in the ink container onto a printing medium in the form of droplets. The first chamber includes a sponge filling most of the inside of the first chamber, a filter provided on a bottom portion of the sponge, and an ink supply pipe for supplying the ink which has passed through the filter to the head. The second chamber includes a magnet float floating on the ink in the second chamber and including a first magnet in its inside, and a second magnet provided in the bottom surface of the second chamber. The ink cartridge includes a magnet sensor for detecting a magnetic flux having at least a predetermined level when the magnet float contacts the second magnet.

Abstract: A method for motion vector coding of an MPEG-4 includes determining motion vector candidates, and selecting a candidate having a minimum bit rate among motion vector candidates in an encoder. A motion vector prediction error and prediction mode information and then to a decoder. The decoder estimates a minimum bit rate for coding a motion vector difference and codes a motion vector against components X and Y, using a minimum rate predictor.

Abstract: A method for coding a motion vector in a moving picture reduces overall bit rates in a process of moving picture coding includes searching a motion vector prediction candidate for a first block among a plurality of blocks in a macroblock, searching a plurality of motion vector prediction candidates for each of additional blocks in the plurality of blocks in succession upon completion of the search for the plurality of motion vector prediction candidates for the first block. A motion vector median prediction value for the first block is compared to a motion vector bound. If the motion vector median prediction value is determined to lie within a motion vector bound, a predicted value for coding the first block is determined to be the motion vector median prediction value.

Abstract: A method for estimating a motion vector in a moving picture is disclosed, that selectively uses a bilinear interpolation to estimate a motion vector, which reduces a computational complexity. The method includes estimating Y component motions of all macroblocks and determining a coding prediction mode when a motion vector is obtained. Then, blocks for which the coding prediction mode is determined to be INTER mode are searched for halfpels. A vector having a smaller SAD to an 8×8 block in question from motion vectors (MVibil) obtained by a bilinear interpolation of a 16×16 block motion vector(MV6) and motion vectors of blocks around the 16×16 block is selected as an initial motion vector. A local search of the initial motion vectors of the 8×8 blocks in a ±2 search region is made when the initial vectors of the 8×8 block are determined. Then, a ±0.5 halfpel search is again made to obtain final motion vectors.

Abstract: A method of coding a moving picture is provided that reduces blocking artifacts. The method can include defining a plurality of defining pixels S.sub.0, S.sub.1, and S.sub.2, which are centered around a block boundary. If a default mode is selected then frequency information of the surroundings of the block boundary is obtained. A magnitude of a discontinuous component in a frequency domain belonging to the block boundary is adjusted based on a magnitude of a corresponding discontinuous component selected from a pixel contained entirely within a block adjacent the block boundary. The frequency domain adjustment is then applied to a spatial domain. Or, a DC offset mode can be selected to reduce blocking artifacts in smooth regions where there is little motion.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a housing having a top opening, and a spin basket disposed in the housing. A door is mounted on the housing for opening and closing the top opening. A motor-actuated door opening/closing mechanism is provided for opening and closing the door, the mechanism being actuated by a foot pedal mounted at a lower portion of the housing. By pivoting the foot pedal, an electric signal is generated for actuating a motor of the door opening/closing mechanism.