1. A motion estimation system, comprising:
a prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search that divide luminance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area and store said luminance data by prescribed unit as stored luminance data; and
an integer pixel motion estimation section that extracts a prescribed reference extracted area based on a combination of said stored luminance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search, to perform motion estimation with integer-pixel accuracy, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search, said stored luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction and four consecutive said stored luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said horizontal direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search.
2. A motion estimation system for quarter-pixel luminance, comprising:
a temporary storage section for luminance that stores luminance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area;
a quarter-pixel generation section for luminance that performs a horizontal-direction interpolation process and a vertical-direction interpolation process based on said luminance data read from said temporary storage section for luminance to generate partial quarter-pixel luminance data, said partially quarter-pixel luminance data being luminance data of quarter-pixel accuracy only in one direction of said horizontal direction and vertical direction;
a prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search that divide said partial quarter-pixel luminance data and store said partial quarter pixel luminance data by prescribed unit as stored quarter-pixel luminance data; and
a quarter-pixel motion estimation section that performs a prescribed calculation process based on a combination of said stored quarter-pixel luminance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, to obtain a prescribed reference area after luminance calculation with quarter-pixel accuracy in both of said horizontal direction and vertical direction and perform motion estimation with quarter-pixel accuracy, said prescribed calculation process including an interpolation process in the other direction than said one direction to calculate luminance data of quarter-pixel accuracy in said other direction, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, said stored quarter-pixel luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said other direction and four consecutive said stored quarter-pixel luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in units of integer pixels in said one direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search.
3. A motion estimation system for quarter-pixel chrominance, comprising:
a prescribed number of storage sections for a chrominance that divide chrominance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area and store said data in units of stored chrominance data; and
a quarter-pixel generation section for chrominance that performs a calculation process based on reference position information of quarter-pixel accuracy in accordance with a combination of said stored chrominance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for a chrominance, to generate a prescribed reference area after chrominance calculation of quarter-pixel accuracy as estimation result chrominance data, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for a chrominance,
said stored chrominance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in a horizontal direction are stored by being superimposed in units of a first number of pixels, and
a second number of consecutive said stored chrominance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in a vertical direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for a chrominance.
4. A motion estimation system for combined luminance, comprising:
a motion estimation system; and
a motion estimation system for quarter-pixel luminance,
said motion estimation system including:
a prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search that divide luminance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area and store said luminance data by prescribed unit as stored luminance data; and
an integer pixel motion estimation section that extracts a prescribed reference extracted area based on a combination of said stored luminance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search, to perform motion estimation with integer-pixel accuracy, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search, said stored luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction and four consecutive said stored luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said horizontal direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search,
said motion estimation system for quarter-pixel luminance including:
a temporary storage section for luminance that stores luminance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area;
a quarter-pixel generation section for luminance that performs a horizontal-direction interpolation process and a vertical-direction interpolation process based on said luminance data read from said temporary storage section for luminance to generate partial quarter-pixel luminance data, said partially quarter-pixel luminance data being luminance data of quarter-pixel accuracy only in one direction of said horizontal direction and vertical direction;
a prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search that divide said partial quarter-pixel luminance data and store said partial quarter pixel luminance data by prescribed unit as stored quarter-pixel luminance data; and
a quarter-pixel motion estimation section that performs a prescribed calculation process based on a combination of said stored quarter-pixel luminance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, to obtain a prescribed reference area after luminance calculation with quarter-pixel accuracy in both of said horizontal direction and vertical direction and perform motion estimation with quarter-pixel accuracy, said prescribed calculation process including an interpolation process in the other direction than said one direction to calculate luminance data of quarter-pixel accuracy in said other direction, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, said stored quarter-pixel luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said other direction and four consecutive said stored quarter-pixel luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in units of integer pixels in said one direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search,
said integer pixel motion estimation section in said motion estimation system outputs a reference position signal of integer-pixel accuracy as a motion estimation result, and
said quarter-pixel motion estimation section in said motion estimation system for quarter-pixel luminance performs motion estimation of quarter-pixel accuracy with a reference position instructed by said reference position signal as a base point.
5. A motion estimation system for combined luminance and chrominance, comprising:
a motion estimation system;
a motion estimation system for quarter-pixel luminance; and
a motion estimation system for quarter-pixel chrominance,
said motion estimation system including:
a prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search that divide luminance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area and store said luminance data by prescribed unit as stored luminance data; and
an integer pixel motion estimation section that extracts a prescribed reference extracted area based on a combination of said stored luminance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search, to perform motion estimation with integer-pixel accuracy, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search, said stored luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction and four consecutive said stored luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said horizontal direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for an integer pixel search,
said motion estimation system for quarter-pixel luminance including:
a temporary storage section for luminance that stores luminance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area;
a quarter-pixel generation section for luminance that performs a horizontal-direction interpolation process and a vertical-direction interpolation process based on said luminance data read from said temporary storage section for luminance to generate partial quarter-pixel luminance data, said partially quarter-pixel luminance data being luminance data of quarter-pixel accuracy only in one direction of said horizontal direction and vertical direction;
a prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search that divide said partial quarter-pixel luminance data and store said partial quarter pixel luminance data by prescribed unit as stored quarter-pixel luminance data; and
a quarter-pixel motion estimation section that performs a prescribed calculation process based on a combination of said stored quarter-pixel luminance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, to obtain a prescribed reference area after luminance calculation with quarter-pixel accuracy in both of said horizontal direction and vertical direction and perform motion estimation with quarter-pixel accuracy, said prescribed calculation process including an interpolation process in the other direction than said one direction to calculate luminance data of quarter-pixel accuracy in said other direction, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, said stored quarter-pixel luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said other direction and four consecutive said stored quarter-pixel luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in units of integer pixels in said one direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search,
said motion estimation system for quarter-pixel chrominance including:
a prescribed number of storage sections for a chrominance that divide chrominance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area and store said data in units of stored chrominance data; and
a quarter-pixel generation section for chrominance that performs a calculation process based on reference position information of quarter-pixel accuracy in accordance with a combination of said stored chrominance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for a chrominance, to generate a prescribed reference area after chrominance calculation of quarter-pixel accuracy as estimation result chrominance data, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for a chrominance,
said stored chrominance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in a horizontal direction are stored by being superimposed in units of a first number of pixels, and
a second number of consecutive said stored chrominance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in a vertical direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for a chrominance,
said integer pixel motion estimation section in said motion estimation system outputs a reference position signal of integer-pixel accuracy as a motion estimation result,
said quarter-pixel motion estimation section in said motion estimation system for quarter-pixel luminance performs motion estimation of quarter-pixel accuracy with a reference position instructed by said reference position signal as a base point, to output estimation result luminance data of quarter-pixel accuracy, and
said reference position information used by said motion estimation system for quarter-pixel chrominance includes reference position information on said estimation result luminance data of quarter-pixel accuracy.
6. A motion estimation system for quarter-pixel luminance and chrominance, comprising:
a prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search that divide luminance data and chrominance data of integer-pixel accuracy in a prescribed image area and store said luminance data and chrominance data by prescribed unit as stored luminance data and stored chrominance data, respectively; and
a quarter-pixel motion estimation section that performs a prescribed calculation process based on a combination of said stored luminance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, to obtain a prescribed reference area after luminance calculation with quarter-pixel accuracy in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction and perform motion estimation thus obtaining estimation result luminance data, and generates a prescribed reference area after chrominance calculation of quarter-pixel accuracy as estimation result chrominance data based on a combination of said stored chrominance data read from said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, said prescribed reference area after chrominance calculation corresponding to position information of quarter-pixel accuracy of said estimation result luminance data, wherein
in said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search,
said stored luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said horizontal direction are stored by being superimposed in units of a first number of pixels,
a second number of consecutive said stored luminance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said vertical direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search, and
said stored chrominance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said horizontal direction and a third number of consecutive said stored chrominance data corresponding to pixels adjacent in said vertical direction are stored to vary among said prescribed number of storage sections for a quarter-pixel search.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A microirradiator, comprising:
a non-radioactive conducting electrode;
an insulating sheath disposed about at least a portion of the non-radioactive conducting electrode along a longitudinal axis of the non-radioactive conducting electrode; and
a radioactive source in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein the radioactive source is positioned at a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode via electroplating;
wherein the insulating sheath is disposed about at least a portion of the radioactive source along a longitudinal axis of the radioactive source.
2. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein a terminus of the insulating sheath is level with a terminus of the radioactive source.
3. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein a terminus of the insulating sheath extends beyond a terminus of the radioactive source to define a channel within the insulating sheath.
4. The microirradiator of claim 1, further comprising a contact electrode in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode.
5. The microirradiator of claim 4, wherein the contact electrode is electrically coupled to the non-radioactive conducting electrode within the insulating sheath.
6. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein the average thickness of the electroplated radioactive source along the longitudinal axis is less than or equal to about 50 micrometers.
7. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein the microirradiator produces an absolute radiation of less than or equal to about 1000 Becquerels and a radiation flux density of greater than or equal to about 104 Becquerels per square centimeter.
8. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein the non-radioactive conducting electrode is an inert metal, the insulating sheath is a glass capillary tube, and the radioactive source is an elemental radioisotope.
9. The microirradiator of claim 1, wherein a target of radiation has an average longest cross-sectional dimension of less than or equal to about 30 micrometers.
10. A microirradiator, comprising:
a non-radioactive conducting electrode;
an insulating sheath disposed about at least a portion of the non-radioactive conducting electrode along a longitudinal axis of the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode extends beyond the insulating sheath to define a probe; and
a radioactive source in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode, wherein the radioactive source is electroplated on the probe.
11. The microirradiator of claim 10, further comprising a contact electrode in electrical communication with the non-radioactive conducting electrode.
12. The microirradiator of claim 11, wherein the contact electrode is electrically coupled to the non-radioactive conducting electrode within the insulating sheath.
13. The microirradiator of claim 10, wherein the average thickness of the electroplated radioactive source on the probe is less than or equal to about 50 micrometers.
14. The microirradiator of claim 10, wherein the microirradiator produces an absolute radiation of less than or equal to about 1000 Becquerels and a radiation flux density of greater than or equal to about 104 Becquerels per square centimeter.
15. The microirradiator of claim 10, wherein the non-radioactive conducting electrode is an inert metal, the insulating sheath is a glass capillary tube, and the radioactive source is an elemental radioisotope.
16. The microirradiator of claim 10, wherein the microirradiator is configured to be inserted into a target of radiation.
17. The microirradiator of claim 16, wherein the target of radiation has an average longest cross-sectional dimension of less than or equal to about 30 micrometers.
18. A method for making a microirradiator, the method comprising:
disposing an insulating sheath about at least a portion of a non-radioactive conducting electrode; and
electroplating a radioactive source at or about a terminus of a first longitudinal end of the non-radioactive conducting electrode.
19. The method for making a microirradiator of claim 18, wherein the disposing comprises inserting the non-radioactive conducting electrode into the insulating sheath.
20. The method for making a microirradiator of claim 18, further comprising electrically coupling a contact electrode to the non-radioactive conducting electrode.