Image encoder and method of the same

Abstract

An image encoder and its processing method for compression-encoding a dynamic image at a variable encoding rate in the case of an application required to perform real-time processing. A variable bit rate (VBR) control section (22) determines a VBR control quantizing scale VBRq according to a VBR buffer value held in a VBR buffer recording section (21). A constant bit rate (CBR) control section (23) determines a CBR control quantizing scale CBRq according to an inputted maximum bit rate BRmax. A quantizing scale comparing section (25) outputs the CBRq during constant rate encoding and outputs the larger one of the VBRq and CBRq during variable rate encoding. An image compression-encoding section (24) encodes the inputted image signal at a quantizing scale outputted from the quantizing scale comparing section (25) and outputs a bit stream (S20).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.