Image encoding apparatus.

摘要

An image encoding apparatus (K1) comprises: a blocking unit (102) for dividing a first image signal into a plurality of blocks; a frame memory (103) for storing a second image signal of a preceding frame; a motion vector memory (104) for storing motion vector data of a block abutting on an encoding block; a search data calculator (105) which calculates one probable vector from the motion vector data stored in the motion vector memory (104) and calculates as search data, data for setting as a first area for closely searching for a motion vector, an area not only including a block predicted by the probable vector but smaller than a search area on a referential frame and for setting as a second area for roughly searching for the motion vector, an area including a search area other than the first area; and a motion vector detector (106) for detecting the motion vector from the first and second image signals by using the search data.