Method and apparatus for contour motion estimating a binary image by using a weighted block match algorithm

An apparatus for motion estimating between a current and a previous frames of a binary image signal, wherein the current frame is divided into a plurality of equal sized search blocks, the method comprising:

• a search region formation means for forming a multiplicity of search regions within the previous frame, wherein each search region corresponds to each search block;
• a candidate block formation means for forming a plurality of candidate blocks within each search region, each of the candidate blocks having a same size as the search block, to thereby provide a displacement of each candidate block from the search block as a displacement vector of said each candidate block;
• a block matching means for overlapping the search block with each candidate block to thereby determine an unmatched region, a boundary of a matched region and a boundary of the search block;
• a weight assignment means for assigning a weight to each of the pixels within the unmatched region;
• a weighted error calculating means for calculating a weighted error of each candidate block by using the weights assigned to the pixels within the unmatched region at the weight assignment means;
• a comparing means for comparing the weighted errors with each other to thereby select a minimum weighted error, and providing a selection signal, wherein the selection signal indicates which displacement vector corresponds to the minimum weighted error;
• and
• a multiplexing means for selecting the displacement vector corresponding to the minimum weighted error in response to the selection signal and providing it as an optimum motion vector.