Patent ID: 8085848

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for identifying a motion vector by executing the steps of: setting a plurality of reference blocks in a search range set on a reference screen as reference blocks each having a size equal to a target block set at a predetermined position on a target screen as a target block having a predetermined size covering a plurality of pixels; searching a specific reference block having a strongest correlation among correlations between said plurality of reference blocks and said target block; and detecting said motion vector on the basis of a shift of said specific reference block from a position corresponding to said predetermined position of said target block on said target screen, said image processing apparatus comprising: correlation-value computation means configured to compute correlation values each representing a correlation between one of said reference blocks and said target block on the basis of pixel values of a plurality of pixels located at points on each of said reference blocks and pixel values of a plurality of pixels located at corresponding points on said target block; table generation means configured to generate a contracted correlation-value table by: storing a correlation value computed by said correlation-value computation means for a reference vector as it is in a table element included in said contracted correlation-value table as a table element associated with a contracted reference vector obtained as a result of contracting said reference vector, which represents a shift of a reference block over said reference screen from a position corresponding to said predetermined position of said target block on said target screen, at a predetermined contraction factor; or finding a plurality of component correlation values each associated with a specific one of a plurality of close contracted reference vectors located close to said contracted reference vector by splitting a correlation value computed by said correlation-value computation means for said reference vector contracted to produce said contracted reference vector and cumulatively storing each of said component correlation values in a table element included in said contracted correlation-value table as a table element associated with said specific close contracted reference vector; and motion-vector computation means configured to find a motion vector between said target screen and said reference screen on the basis of said component correlation values stored in said contracted correlation-value table.