Patent ID: 8064523

Claim:
A motion vector search apparatus for using current image data and reference image data stored in an external memory to find motion vectors for macroblocks in a moving picture, the motion vector search apparatus comprising: a pair of current image memories each having storage space for one macroblock of current image data read from the external memory; N reference image memories each having storage space for M macroblocks of reference image data read from the external memory, where M and N are integers greater than unity; a first selector connected to the current image memories, for selecting the current image memories alternately and reading the macroblock of current image data stored in the selected current image memory; a second selector connected to the reference image memories, for selecting different sets of N−1 of the reference image memories and reading different blocks of reference image data from the selected reference image memories; a processor connected to the first and second selectors, for performing a block matching calculation on the current image data and reference image data read by the first and second selectors and generating block matching values; and a detector connected to the processor, for using the block matching values to find a motion vector for the macroblock of current image data stored in the current image memory selected by the first selector.