US5561475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Variable block matching motion estimation apparatus
Assignee: Quarterhill Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-30
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Granted: 1996-10-01
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Expires: 2014-12-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for detecting motion vectors between a current frame and a previous frame of video signals based on a block matching motion estimation approach comprises a variable block formation section for defining a variable search block from the current frame, the variable search block is extended from a selected search block which is a plain picture block without having an edge of an object within the current frame; and a motion-estimation section for estimating the variable search block with respect to each of candidate blocks included in the previous frame to provide a number motion vector and an error function corresponding thereto, the motion vector representing the displacement of pixels between the search block and a candidate block which yield a minimum error function.
Inventors
- 👤 Hae-Mook Jung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/51
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
An apparatus for detecting motion vectors between a current frame and a previous frame of video signals employing a block matching motion estimation approach, wherein the current frame is divided into a number of search blocks of an identical size and the previous frame is divided into a corresponding number of search regions, each search region having a plurality of candidate blocks of said identical size, which comprises: means for sequentially selecting a search block which is a plain picture block without having an edge of an object within the current frame; means for expanding the selected search block per one pixel basis in a horizontal and a vertical directions until the boundary of the search block includes an edge, to thereby produce expanded search blocks; means for deriving variances for the expanded blocks to detect the presence of an edge therein; means for comparing each of the variances with a predetermined threshold to select a variance smaller than the predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold is chosen to have a value larger than and closest to the variance of the selected search block; and means for selecting an extended search block corresponding to the selected variance; and means for motion-estimating the expanded search block with respect to each of the candidate blocks to provide a motion vector and an error function corresponding thereto, said motion vector representing the displacement of pixels between the search block and a candidate block which yields a minimum error.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
245 words
An apparatus for detecting motion vectors between a current frame and a previous frame of video signals employing a block matching motion estimation approach, wherein the current frame is divided into a number of search blocks of an identical size and the previous frame is divided into a corresponding number of search regions, each search region having a plurality of candidate blocks of said identical size, which comprises: means for sequentially selecting a search block which is a plain picture block without having an edge of an object within the current frame; means for expanding the selected search block per one pixel basis in a horizontal and a vertical directions until the boundary of the search block includes an edge, to thereby produce expanded search blocks; means for deriving variances for the expanded blocks to detect the presence of an edge therein; means for comparing each of the variances with a predetermined threshold to select a variance smaller than the predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold is chosen to have a value larger than and closest to the variance of the selected search block; and means for selecting an extended search block corresponding to the selected variance; and means for motion-estimating the expanded search block with respect to each of the candidate blocks to provide a motion vector and an error function corresponding thereto, said motion vector representing the displacement of pixels between the search block and a candidate block which yields a minimum error.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5036393A
Cited
JPH05328334A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-01 | 2000-04-01 | 2000-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-01 | 2004-04-01 | 2004-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-01 | 2008-04-01 | 2008-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |