Method and apparatus for detecting motion vector

A motion vector detecting apparatus comprising:

• a starting pixel generation unit which generates a starting pixel data when detecting a motion vector, based on pixel data in a first frame or a second frame that is front or rear frame in timing order;
• a search range pixel generation unit which generates a plurality of pieces of search range pixel data included in predetermined search ranges in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction for detecting the motion vector based on the pixel data in the second frame when the starting pixel generation unit generates the starting pixel data based on the pixel data in the first frame, and generates the search range pixel data based on the pixel data in the first frame when the starting pixel generation unit generates the starting pixel data based on the pixel data in the second frame;
• a first switching unit which switches alternately and repeatedly between a state where the starting pixel generation unit generates the pixel data of one line selected from an odd-numbered line and an even-numbered line in the first frame as the starting pixel data and a state where the starting pixel generation unit generates the pixel data of the selected line in the second frame as the starting pixel data, at every line in the first and second frames;
• a second switching unit which switches alternately and repeatedly between a state where the search range pixel generation unit generates the search range pixel data based on the pixel data of the selected line in the first frame, and a state where the search range pixel generation unit generates the search range pixel data based on the pixel data of the selected line in the second frame, at every line in the first and second frames;
• a motion vector candidate selection unit which selects a motion vector candidate having highest correlation among a plurality of motion vector candidates connecting a pixel of the starting pixel data and each of pixels of the search range pixel data to each other as a first motion vector when the starting pixel generation unit generates the starting pixel data based on the pixel data in the first frame by the switching of the first switching unit and the search range pixel generation unit generates the search range pixel data based on the pixel data in the second frame by the switching of the second switching unit, and selects a motion vector candidate having highest correlation among a plurality of motion vector candidates connecting a pixel of the starting pixel data and each of pixels of the search range pixel data to each other as a second motion vector when the starting pixel generation unit generates the starting pixel data based on the pixel data in the second frame by the switching of the first switching unit and when the search range pixel generation unit generates the search range pixel data based on the pixel data in the first frame by the switching of the second switching unit;
• and
• a correlation comparing unit which compares the first and second motion vectors with each other, and selects and outputs the motion vector having higher correlation.

A motion vector detecting method comprising:

• repeating alternately a state where pixel data of one line selected between an odd-numbered line and an even-numbered line in a first frame is generated as starting pixel data when detecting a motion vector, and a state where pixel data of the selected line in a second frame is generated as starting pixel data, at every line in the first and second frames, wherein the first and second frames are front and rear frames in timing order;
• repeating alternately a state where a plurality of pieces of search range pixel data included in predetermined search ranges in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction for detecting the motion vector is generated based on the pixel data of one line of the odd-numbered line and the even-numbered line in the first frame and a state where the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the other line of the odd-numbered line and the even-numbered line in the second frame, at every line in the first and second frames, wherein the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the second frame when the starting pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the first frame and the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the first frame when the starting pixel data is generated based on the pixel data in the second frame;
• selecting a motion vector candidate having highest correlation among a plurality of motion vector candidates connecting a pixel of the starting pixel data and each of and pixels of the search range pixel data to each other as a first motion vector, when the starting pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the first frame and when the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data in the second frame;
• selecting a motion vector candidate having highest correlation among a plurality of motion vector candidates connecting a pixel of the starting pixel data and each of pixels of the search range pixel data to each other as a second motion vector, when the starting pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the second frame and when the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data in the first frame;
• and
• selecting and outputting one of the first and second motion vectors having higher correlation by comparing the first and second motion vectors with each other.

A motion vector detecting method comprising:

• repeating alternately a state where pixel data of one selected between an odd-numbered line and an even-numbered line in a first frame is generated as starting pixel data when detecting a motion vector, and a state where pixel data of the selected line in a second frame as starting pixel data at every line in the first and second frames, wherein the first and second frames are front and rear frames in timing order;
• repeating alternately a state where a plurality of pieces of search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the selected line in the first frame and a state where the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the selected line in the second frame, wherein the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the second frame when the starting pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the first frame and the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the first frame when the starting pixel data is generated based on the pixel data in the second frame;
• selecting a motion vector candidate having highest correlation among a plurality of motion vector candidates connecting a pixel of the starting pixel data and each of pixels of the search range pixel data to each other as a first motion vector, when the starting pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the first frame and when the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data in the second frame;
• selecting a motion vector candidate having highest correlation among a plurality of motion vector candidates connecting a pixel of the starting pixel data and each of pixels of the search range pixel data to each other as a second motion vector, when the starting pixel data is generated based on the pixel data of the second frame and when the search range pixel data is generated based on the pixel data in the first frame;
• and
• selecting and outputting one of the first and second motion vectors having higher correlation by comparing the first and second motion vectors with each other.