Motion vector detecting apparatus and image stabilizer including the same

An image stabilizer for correcting sway of an image, comprising:

• a motion vector detector which divides an image of an inputted image signal into a plurality of regions each having a plurality of image points, and which calculates respective motion vectors based on the image points within the plurality of regions;
• a characteristics detector for determining at least one predetermined characteristic of each of the respective motion vectors of the plurality of regions, or of calculation data of the respective motion vectors of the plurality of regions, so as to detect a state for each region in which a number of image points exhibit a close correlation relative to one another in the image;
• and
• a vector control and decision unit which determines when said characteristics detector has detected the state, an overall motion vector of the inputted image signal based on selected motion vectors from at least one of the regions in which the state is not detected by said characteristics detector and by neglecting the motion vectors from the regions in which the state is detected by said characteristic detector;
• and
• an image output controller for interpolating the image so as to be capable of outputting the image disposed at an arbitrary position;
• wherein when said motion vector detector has detected sway of the image, said image output controller shifts the image in a direction opposite to that of the motion vector determined by said vector control and decision unit.