Image motion vector detector

Abstract: An image motion vector detection apparatus effectively reduces influences of false vectors arising at a certain probability and suppresses time lags. An image fluctuation stabilizer highly stabilizes images or frames without causing unnatural visual feelings. An image motion vector detection apparatus comprises means (2 to 5) for detecting motion vectors in each of motion vector detection regions defined in the whole or part of picture frame, means (12) for judging the reliability of the motion vector in each region, and signal processing means (11) which, in obtaining a motion vector of the whole or part of the frame from the motion vectors of the regions and in case the number of motion vectors judged to be reliable is more than or equal to a predetermined number, outputs a representative value of a set of the reliable motion vectors as a motion vector of the frame.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to motion vector detection for image and processing of image for stabilization against fluctuations. Recently, the motion vector detection for image and a smoothing signal processing apparatus are disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 61-107886. The following explains the conventional motion vector detection for images and smoothing signal processing apparatus. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the motion vector detection apparatus which uses a conventional motion vector smoothing circuit for images. Fig. 2 is a diagram used to explain the operation of the apparatus. In Fig. 1 numeral 1 is an image signal input terminal, 2 is a representative point memory which stores signals of pixels on representative points in the entered image signal, and 3 is a differential-absolute value converter which produces the absolute value of the difference of inputs. Reference numeral 4 is an accumulating adder, 5 is a minimal point detection circuit, 6 is a selection means, and 7 is a motion vector smoothing means. In Figs. 7A and 7B, 8 is a frame, 9a-9d are motion vector detection regions, and 10a-10d are motion vectors detected in the respective regions. The conventional image motion vector detection apparatus arranged as described above will be explained for its operation in the following. First, an image signal which is continuous in the time domain is entered to the input terminal 1. The representative point memory 2, for which a plurality of representative points in the detection regions 9a-9d of the frame 8 are determined in advance, stores signals of pixels on the representative points according to the input image signal. The differential-absolute value converter 3 evaluates the absolute value |ΔL|(i,j) of the difference between the signal at the position of a representative point in a field just preceding to a present field and the signal at the position with a displacement (by i in the horizontal direction and j in the vertical direction) from the representative point of the present field. The accumulating adder 4 includes a table of displacements (i, j) for the detection regions 9a-9d, and it performs cumulative addition for the signal from the differential-absolute value converter 3 separately for each displacement (i, j). The result is termed a correlation value Σ|ΔL|(i,j) for displacement (i,j). The minimal point detection circuit 5 detects a displacement (i′,j′) which provides the minimum value of the correlation values, and it delivers the values as motion vectors 10a-10d in the detection regions 9a-9d. The selection means 6 provides a motion vector of the whole frame from the motion vectors 10a-10d in all detection regions. The motion vector smoothing means 7 produces a value, which is smoothed in the time domain, of the motion vector provided in each field on the basis of the following equation. Vo(k) = W(k) x Vi(k) + (1-W(k)) x Vo(k-1) (where Vi(k) is the input motion vector of the k-th field, Vo(k) is the output motion vector of the k-th field, and W(k) is a weighting factor of the k-th field). The operation is to implement the smoothing process for the motion vector in the time axis direction so that, in case the motion vector of the whole frame detected by the selection means 6 is a false vector, the discontinuity of motion vectors in the time domain due to the false vector is reduced thereby to improve the property of visibility in case a so-called motion correction is conducted. The W(k) takes 1 in such a case of scene changes so as to follow a quick change, and takes a value of about 1/8 in a steady state so as to have an increased noise elimination effect. However, when the motion vector detection apparatus using the conventional image motion vector smoothing circuit is used for the stabilization of fluctuated images or frames, the following problems arise. The stabilization of fluctuated images is implemented in such a procedure of storing a field of image signal in the memory in advance while detecting a motion vector of the whole frame of a field immediately precedent to a current field, and shifting or changing the memory read-out position (i.e., image position in the picture frame) in a direction of motion correction for each field. Accordingly, the memory read-out position is determined, in principle, from the integrated value of detected motion vectors. The following explains a fluctuation stabilizing operation by the motion vector detection apparatus using the conventional image motion vector smoothing circuit with reference to Figs. 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c). Fig. 3(a) shows an error in case the motion vector of the whole frame in one field detected by the selection means 6 was a false vector, Fig. 3(b) shows an error created then at the output of the vector smoothing means 7, and Fig. 3(c) shows an integrated error as a result of the integration operation. In one field, in case the motion vector of the whole frame detected by the selection means 6 is a false vector and an error 20 shown in Fig. 3(a) arises, the discontinuity in the time domain of motion vectors due to the false vector is reduced as shown in Fig. 3(b). The cumulative error caused in the integrated value of the detected motion vectors does not have its final integration error 21 reduced as shown in Fig. 3(c) since the error of the arising false vector is merely smoothed over several fields. For this reason, the fluctuation stabilization is directly affected by the error of such a false vector, resulting in such a malfunctioning as a shift of the stabilization image in the direction opposite to that of the error. The smoothing operation creates a time lag in the motion vector, and therefore only low frequency components of fluctuations are stabilized with its high frequency components being left without being stabilized, giving unnatural feelings to viewers. As described above, the motion vector detection apparatus using the conventional image motion vector smoothing circuit, when used for the stabilization of fluctuated images, involves such deficiencies as faulty operations and unnatural feelings given to viewers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is intended to solve the foregoing prior art problems, and its object is to provide an image motion vector detection apparatus which effectively reduces influences of errors of false vectors arising at a certain probability and suppresses the occurrence of time lags, and an image fluctuation stabilizer which produces a highly stablized image without causing unnatural visual feelings. The features of the invention are defined by Claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the conventional image motion vector detection apparatus; Fig. 2 is a diagram explaining the operation of the above conventional apparatus; Fig. 3 is a diagram explaining the operation of the above conventional apparatus as a fluctuation stabilizer; Fig. 4 is a block diagram of an image motion vector detection apparatus based on the first embodiment of this invention; Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an image motion vector detection apparatus based on the second embodiment of this invention; Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an image fluctuation stabilizer based on the third embodiment of this invention; and Fig. 7 is a diagram explaining the operation of the image fluctuation stabilizer based on the third embodiment of this invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the image motion vector detection apparatus based on the first embodiment of this invention. In Fig. 4, indicated by 1 is an image signal input terminal, 2 is a representative point memory, which stores signals of pixels at representative points in the entered image signal. Numeral 3 is a differential-absolute value converter, which produces the absolute value of the difference of inputs. Numeral 4 is a cumulative adder, 5 is a minimal point detection circuit, and 11 is a median selection means. 12 is a reliability judgement means, and 13 and 14 are memories. The operation of the image motion vector detection apparatus based on the first embodiment of this invention arranged as described above will be explained in the following. First, an image signal which is continuous in the time domain enters to the input terminal 1. For the representative-point memory 2, a plurality of representative points in the detection regions 9a-9d of the frame 8 are determined in advance, and it stores signals of pixels at the positions of representative points in the input image signal. The differential-absolute value converter 3 evaluates the absolute value |ΔL|(i,j) of the difference between the signal at the position of a representative point in a field just precedent to a current or present field and the signal at the position with a displacement (by i in the horizontal direction and j in the vertical direction) from the representative point of the present field. The cumulative adder 4 includes a table representative of displacements (i,j) in the detection regions 9a-9d, and it accumulates signals from the differential-absolute value converter 3 separately for each displacement (i,j) to produce a correlation value Σ|ΔL|(i,j) for a displacement (i,j). The minimal point detection circuit 5 detects a displacement (i′,j′) which provides the minimum value of the correlation values, and delivers it as a motion vector 10a-10d in each detection region 9a-9d. The reliability judgement means 12 implements the judgement of reliability of motion vectors in each region, and delivers such a motion vector, which has been judged to be reliable, to the median selection means 11 and memory 13. The memory 14 stores a set of motion vectors in detection regions, which have been judged to be reliable, and the output motion vectors of a first precedent field and a second precedent field which precedes a present field by two. (Hereinbelow a field immediately precedent to a present field is called as "first precedent field", and a field immediately precedent to the first precedent field is called as "second precedent field".) The memory 13, in case one motion vector has been judged to be reliable in the detection regions in a present field, holds the motion vector until a field which is later than the present field by two. The median selection means 11 produces an output motion vector of the whole field on the basis of the outputs of the reliability judgement means 12, memory 13 and memory 14 in the following manner. [It is herein noted that the above-referred table is such as defining 64 displacements by 64 horizontalwise detection pixels (i = -31 - 0 - +32) and 16 verticalwise detection lines (j = -7 - 0 - +8). For the reliability judgement of motion vectors, a reference may be made to JP-A-61-269475, for example. As discussed herein later referring to Figs. 7A and 7B, motion vectors of detection regions 9a to 9d in Fig. 7A are judged as reliable which do not contain moving image portions. On the other hand, such vectors in Fig. 7B are judged as not reliable in the detection regions containing moving image portions 9a to 9c]. First, in case the number of motion vectors in the detection regions which have been judged to be reliable in a present field is three or more, a median of a set of the reliable motion vectors (the value of a middle magnitude of the motion vectors, or the mean value of two motion vectors nearest to the magnitude center of the motion vectors in case the number of them is even) is outputted. Such vectors are treated for their values independently in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, and the output vector is represented by the median of each set. In case the number of motion vectors judged to be reliable in the detection regions in the present field is two, the output motion vector of a first precedent field is added to the set of the motion vectors so that the number of the motion vectors in total becomes three, and thereafter the median of them is outputted. In case a single motion vector has been judged as reliable in the detection regions in the present field the single motion vector is added to the output motion vectors of a first precedent field and a second precedent field so as to produce a set of three reliable motion vectors, and thereafter the median of them is outputted. However, even if such a single motion vector judged as reliable in the detection regions continues over three fields or more, motion vectors in the detection regions which have been judged to be reliable in a first precedent field and a second precedent field are added to the single motion vector so as to produce a set of three reliable motion vectors, and thereafter the median of them is outputted. (This is to prevent such a mulfunctioning in which after consecutive outputs of a same value for two fields, the same value is outputted continuously in the successive fields. Namely under a continued state of a single-motion vector judged as reliable in the detection regions over several fields and if, the output motion vectors of the first precedent field and the second Precedent field are added to the single motion vector so as to produce the set of three motion vectors and thereafter the median of them is outputted, then the mulfunctioning will be caused.) In case the number of motion vectors judged reliable in the present field is zero; the output motion vectors of the first precedent field and the second Precedent field, and the first precedent field output motion vector multiplied by a factor of one or less are added so as to produce the set of three reliable motion vectors, and thereafter the median of them is outputted. As mentioned above, by making such three motion vectors and thereafter producing the median of them, even if one of the three motion vectors is a false vector, but with the remaining two vectors being accurately reliable, it is possible to selectively output a well accurate vector value without being affected by the false vector at all. Only in case the number of motion vectors which have been judged to be reliable in the detection regions in the present field is less than three, the output motion vectors of precedent field(s) before a present field or motion vectors judged as reliable in the detection regions in such precedent fields are added so as to produce the set of three motion vectors and thereafter a median in the set is outputted, so that the probability of the occurrence of a time lag in the detected vector is very low. For example, supposing the case of two motion vectors in the regions which have been judged to be reliable in the present field. When both of the two motion vectors are correct motion vectors in the present field, they should have an equal value, and therefore the selection of a median of the set after adding the output motion vectors in the previous field to the set will result in a selection of a correct value of motion vector in the present field, and a time lag does not occur. If one of the two motion vectors is a false vector which is largely deviated from the motion vector in the present field, the output motion vector of the previous field is added to the set of the two motion vector and the median of the set is selected, so that any of correct motion vectors in the present field or output motion vector of the precedent field closed to that value is outputted, and therefore the influence of the false vector can be removed. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of another image motion vector detection apparatus based on the second embodiment of this invention. In Fig. 5, numeral 1 is an image signal input terminal, 2 is a representative point memory, 3 is a differential-absolute value converter, 4 is an accumulating adder, 5 is a minimal point detection circuit 11, is a median selection means, 12 is a relaibility judgement means, and 13 is a memory. In Fig. 5 circuit portions common to those of Fig. 1 are referred to by the same numerals. This image motion vector detection apparatus will be explained in the following. The arrangement and operation of portions including the image signal input terminal 1, representative point memory 2, differential-absolute value converter 3, accumulating adder 4, minimal point detection circuit 5, and reliability judgement means 12 are identical to the first embodiment. Subsequently, the reliability judgement means 12 implements the judgement of reliability of motion vectors in all regions, and motion vectors which have been judged to be reliable are outputted to the memory 13. The memory 13 stores four vectors in the order or sequence outputted from the reliability judgement means 12, and outputs the four vectors to the median selection means 11. The median selection means 11 outputs a median of the set of four vectors as a motion vector of the frame. According to this embodiment, in which the median of the set of four vectors is outputted as a motion vector of the frame, if one vector of the set is a false vector, a stabilized motion vector can be detected without being affected by the false vector. In case the number of vectors provided by the reliability judgement means 12 for the present field is four, all of the four vectors provided by the memory 13 have been detected in the present field, and therefore the output made of the median of the set of four vectors does not involve a time lag. Even in case the number of vectors provided by the reliability judgement means 12 for the present field is less than four, the number of vectors is increased to four by adding to them vectors provided by the reliability judgement means 12 before the present field, so that the median of the four vectors is outputted as a motion vector of the frame, whereby the influence of a false vector can be eliminated. Accordingly, the effectiveness which is almost identical to the first embodiment can be accomplished more simply. Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an image fluctuation stabilizer according to the third embodiment of this invention. In Fig. 6, numeral 1 is an image signal input terminal, 2 is a representative point memory, 3 is a differential-absolute value converter, 4 is an accumulating adder, 5 is a minimal point detection circuit, 11 is a median selection means, 12 is a reliability judgement means, 13 and 14 are memories, 15 is a field memory, 17 is a reading control means, and 18 is an interpolation-enlargement means. In Fig. 3, circuit portions same as those of Fig. 4 are referred to by the same numerals. A section of arrangement including the representative point memory 2, differential-absolute value converter 3, accumulating adder 4, minimal point detection circuit 5, median smoothing means 11, reliability judgement means 12, and memories 13 and 14 is a motion vector detection means. The operation of the image fluctuation stabilizer arranged as above will be explained in the following. First, an image signal is applied from the input terminal 1. The field memory 15 stores the image signal for one field. The motion vector detection means 16, which is identical in arrangement and operation to the first embodiment and the motion vector detection means of Fig. 4, detects a motion vector of the whole frame in a present field relative to the precedent field, and outputs a signal of the vector to the reading control means 17. The reading control means 17 responds to the entered motion vector signal to shift the memory reading position in a direction for correcting or adjusting the movement relative to the reading position for a first precedent field, and performs such processings as centering and clipping so that the reading position does not go out of the frame, and outputs the result to the interpolation-enlargement means 18. The interpolation-enlargement means 18 read out image signals of a portion specified by the entered reading position frame the field memory 15, implements the enlarged interpolation for the readout image signals to output as image signals for one frame. These means may be implemented, for example, with reference to article "Picture center correction" written on pages 43 to 48 by Japanese TV Society Technical Report dated May 28, 1987. Figs. 7A and 7B are simple illustrations of frames used to explain the above operation in more detail. In Figs. 7A and 7B, 8 is a frame, 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d are a plurality of motion vector detection regions included in the motion vector detection means 16, and 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d are motion vectors detected in the respective regions. 19a, 19b and 19c are moving objects in the frame having movements different from the movement of whole image in the frame. Fig. 7A is a case of no moving objects in the frame. In this case, the motion vector detection means 16 judges that all vectors 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d detected in the respective detection regions 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d are reliable, and outputs a median among them as an output motion vector of the frame. Accordingly, even in case one of the detected vectors 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d is a false vector, a stabilized motion vector is detected by being rid of its influence, and a satisfactory corrected stabilized frame is presented. In case there is no moving objects in the frame, as shown in the 7A, a small residual of correction in the stabilized frame can easily visually be noted, causing unnatural feelings. In the case, however, the motion vector provided by the motion vector detection means 16 has no time lag, and therefore there airses no residual of correction due to a time lag in the stabilized frame. Fig. 7B is a case of many moving objects existing in the frame. In this case, due to moving objects 19a, 19b and 19c, the motion vector detection means 16 judges that only a vector 10d among vectors 10a-10d detected in the respective detection regions 9a-9d is reliable. Accordingly a set of three reliable motion vectors is formed of the 10d, the outputs of the first precedent field and the second precedent field or a motion vector in each region which has been judged to be reliable, and a median in the set is outputted as a motion vector of the frame. Accordingly, even in case the detected vector 10d in a present field is a false vector, a stabilized motion vector is detected by being rid of influences from the false vector, and a satisfactory stabilized frame is presented. In this case, however, the motion vector produced by the motion vector detection means 16 may possibly have a time lag, and it results in instabilized fluctuation residual of high frequency components due to the time lag in the fluctuation stabilized frame. However, in case many moving objects images are produced in the frame, as shown in Fig. 7B, a small residual of instabilization is hardly recognized on the stabilized frame and therefore it does not cause unnatural feelings. As described, according to this embodiment, only in case the number of motion vectors of regions which have been judged to be reliable in a present field is less than a specified number, output motion vectors of precedent fields inclusive of a first precedent field or motion vector judged reliable in regions of such precedent fields are added to produce a set of motion vectors a number of which becomes a specified number or more and a representative vector value in the set is outputted by the median selection means 11, whereby the influence of errors caused by a false vector is suppressed low, and instabilized fluctuation residual occurs only in the case of the drastic movement of moving objects in the frame or in the case of much noises. In the case such a small fluctuation residual does hardly significantly causes unnaturalness in the visual observation. On the other hand, in the case of less moving objects and noises in the frame, in which such small fluctuation residual can easily be noted, the fluctuations can be stabilized sufficiently low, whereby a satisfactory stabilized image can be presented for all conditions of various moving images. Although in the third embodiment the motion vector detection means 16 is arranged identically to the motion vector detection apparatus of the first embodiment, it is obvious that the means is arranged identically to the motion vector detection apparatus of the second embodiment to achieve the same effectiveness. Although in the first, second and third embodiments there are four detection regions provided in the frame, the number of regions may be other than four. Although in the first, second and third embodiments the minimum number of motion vectors to produce the median by the median selection means 11 is three and four, respectively, a different number of such vectors above three may be adopted. Although in the first, second and third embodiments the median selection means 11 outputs the median as a representative value, it may be designed such that motion vectors distant from the general trend of such a set are excluded from the set and a representative value is determined from the remaining motion vectors. For example, assuming a set of eight motion vectors, values of four of them closer to the magnitude center of them are averaged to produce a representative value of the set. Alternatively, in selecting four vectors from among a set of eight motion vectors, they are selected such that the sum of distances between the selected four vectors is minimal, and a mean value of the four vectors is outputted as a representative value of the set. Although in the first, second and third embodiments the motion vectors produced in a first precedent field and the like are added in the case the number motion vectors judged as reliable in the detection regions in a present field is less than three, a motion vector of the present field predicted from such outputs of the first precedent field and the second precedent field may be added to produce the vector set. For example, an added vector may be produced by subtracting the output vector the second precedent field from the output vector multiplied by two of the first precedent field may be added to the set. Although in the first, second and third embodiments the representative point memory 2, differential-absolute value converter 3, accumulating adder 4 and minimal point detection circuit 5 are used to detect a plurality of motion vectors of two consecutive fields by "a so-called representative point matching method" and by providing a plurality of detection regions in one frame, and the detected results are supplied to the median selection means 11 and memory 13, they may be replaced with other means capable of detecting a plurality of motion vectors. For example "a so-called all-point matching method" or "gradient method" may be used in place of the representative point matching method. As mentioned above, the image motion vector detection apparatus of this invention determines a representative value of a set of motion vectors by removing those distant from the general trend of the set, whereby it is highly effective for eliminating the influence of possible false or unreliable vectors in the set, and the apparatus determines a representative value from among motion vectors when the number of motion vectors judged as reliable in a present field is more than a predetermined number, whereby a time lag does not arise in the output motion vector, and even if the number of motion vectors judged as reliable in the present field is less than the predetermined number due to moving objects and noises in the frame, motion vectors are suppremented by using motion vectors in regions, which have been judged to be reliable, and output vectors of precedent fields thereby to determine a representative value among them, whereby it is highly effective for eliminating influences of a false vector included in the set. Accordingly, the motion vector produced by the apparatus has its errors minimized and its time lag suppressed thoroughly in all conditions of even varying images, whereby it is highly effective in achieving a satisfactory result when used for such image processings as motion correction and coding and for the control of other equipments. The image fluctuation stabilization apparatus of this invention uses the above-mentioned inventive image motion vector detection apparatus, whereby the residual of instabilization of high frequency components of fluctuations arises only in the case of drastic movement of moving objects in the frame or significant noises, and a small residual fluctuation of these cases does not significantly cause unnatural feelings with the picture frame, and in case even a small residual fluctuation is easily noted by viewers, accurate correction can be implemented up to a high frequency components of fluctuations. Accordingly, a satisfactory fluctuation stabilized image can be produced in all conditions of image variations.

Claims: An image motion vector detector comprising: means (2-5) for defining a plurality of motion detection regions in whole, or in part of a present field of an input image signal and for detecting a motion vector in each of said regions; means (12) for determining whether or not the motion vector detected in each of said regions is reliable; signal processing means for producing a motion vector for the whole, or for the part of the present field from the detected motion vectors, which have been determined to be reliable in the respective regions; characterised in that said signal processing means includes comparison means for comparing the number of motion vectors, which have been determined to be reliable in said field, with a predetermined number and for providing a comparison result; and output means, responsive to the comparison result, so as to output, as a motion vector for the whole, or for the part of said field, an estimated motion vector which has been estimated from a set of the motion vectors that have been determined to be reliable in the respective regions. A motion vector detector according to Claim 1, wherein said output means outputs the estimated motion vector when said comparison means detects that the number of the reliable motion vectors is larger than, or equal to the predetermined number. A motion vector detector according to Claim 2, wherein the signal processing means includes median selection means (11) whereby the estimated motion vector is a median of the motion vectors which have been determined to be reliable. A motion vector detector according to Claim 1, further including means (13,14) for storing data representing motion vectors determined to be reliable, from at least one preceding field, before said present field; said output means outputting the estimated a motion vector on the basis of the stored data of the preceding field and data representing motion vectors determined to be reliable from the present field. A motion vector detector according to Claim 4, wherein said signal processing means includes median selection means (11), whereby said estimated motion vector is a median of a set of motion vectors determined to be reliable from the preceding field and from the present field. A motion vector detector according to Claim 4, further including means for storing data representing motion vectors detected sequentially from preceding fields by selecting those closer to the present field, thereby obtaining the estimated motion vector on the basis of the preceding field motion vectors and the present field motion vectors. A motion vector detector according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein said means (12) for determining whether or the motion vector detected in each region is reliable is operative to determine correlation values between the stored data of the preceding field and data representing motion vectors determined to be reliable from the present field; said signal processing means adding at least one motion vector, determined to be reliable, from said preceding field, prior to arithmetic processing, when the total number of image motion vectors determined to be reliable is lower than the predetermined number.

Inventors: ISHII HIROFUMI, MORIMURA ATSUSHI EKUSERU HAITS, ISHII, HIROFUMI, MORIMURA, ATSUSHI, EKUSERU HAITSU
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: G06T7, H04N5, H04N7