METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOTION ESTIMATION.

摘要

This invention relates to a motion estimating method and an apparatus therefor, and aims at providing a motion estimating method and apparatus in which an error value generated at an estimation of motion for determining the motion vector is used a more precise estimation in, especially, DPCM (Differential Pulse Code Modulation) system for codifying digital image signals. The motion estimating method and the apparatus therefor according to the present invention are capable of greatly reducing the signal processing quantity required to detect a motion vector of a semi-picture element unit, by generating an error value, which is among the error values used for the detection of a motion vector of a picture element unit, by comparing an image signal between an image block in a preceding frame corresponding to a motion vector to be detected and an image block in the present frame to be motion-estimated, with an image signal between an image block generated by moving the image block in the preceding frame by a distance corresponding to one picture element in both the lateral and longitudinal directions and the image block in the present frame; detecting a vertical component of a motion vector of a semi-picture element unit by vertically comparing the error value thus generated; and detecting a horizontal component of the motion vector of a semi-picture element unit by horizontally comparing the same error value.