Parallel correlation method and correlation apparatus using the same

A correlation apparatus, comprising:

• a memory unit, having a first memory bank and a second memory bank, the first memory bank storing a reference array corresponding to a reference image, wherein the reference pixel values of an ith column of the reference array are indexed by a ith column;
• the second memory bank storing a compare array corresponding to a first compare image captured, wherein the compare pixel values of a jth column of the compare array are indexed by a jth column;
• a parallel cell array, having a plurality of cells, coupled between the first memory bank and the second memory bank, each cell receiving the compare pixel values indexed from the second memory bank and correlating the reference pixel values tagged concurrently fed from the first memory bank to generate a correlation value;
• and
• an navigation engine processing unit, coupled to the parallel cell array, the first memory bank, and the second memory bank, driving the first memory bank and the second memory bank to correspondingly output the compare pixel values and the reference pixel values to the plurality of cells of the parallel cell array, and analyzing the correlation values generated for the plurality of cells of the parallel cell array so as to identify a peak correlation value based on a predetermined criterion;
• wherein i, and j are integers, respectively.