Motion vector searching system

Claim 2

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprise a set of calculators (311 to 319) each forming part of said distortion computing means and associated with one another to calculate a set of local distortion values based on the pixel values (a(m,n)) of said current picture blocks (TPi) from said current block data outputting means (100) and the pixel values registered in said first transmission registers (352) of said data registering means (300), the pixel values of said remaining part of said search window data (Wj) being registered at said second transmission registers while said calculators are operated to calculate said local distortion values based on the pixel values (a(m,n)) of said current picture blocks (TPi) from said current block data outputting means (100) and the pixel values of said part of said search window data (Wj) registered in said first transmission registers (352) of said data registering means (300).

Claim 3

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 2, in which said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) are controlled by said transmission controlling means (400 and 500) to perform time sharing of each of said calculators (311 to 319) of said distortion computing means (311 to 319) with the pixel values of two or more reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) respectively and sequentially transmitted to each of said first transmission registers (352).

Claim 4

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said distortion computing means (311 to 319) is constituted by a set of calculators (361) and a set of adders (364), said calculators (361) being operative in parallel to input each of the pixel values (a(0,0), a(0,1), a(1,0) and a(1,1)) outputted from said current block data outputting means (100) and said pixel values (b(0,0), b(0,2), b(0,4), b(2,0), b(2,2), b(2,4), b(4,0), b(4,2) and b(4,4)) registered in said first transmission registers (352) and to repeatedly calculate a set of local distortion values on the basis of the different pixel values (a(0,0), a(0,1), a(1,0) and a(l,l)) of each of said current picture blocks (TPi) outputted from said current block data outputting means (100) and the pixel values (b(0,0), b(0,2), b(0,4), b(2,0), b(2,2), b(2,4), b(4,0), b(4,2) and b(4,4)) registered in said first transmission registers (352), each of said adders (364) being operative, while said different pixel values (a(m,n), and b1(k+m, h+n), b2(k+m, h+n) or b3(k+m, h+n)) of each of said current and reference picture blocks (TPi and B1 to B9) are sequentially inputted to said calculators (361), to total said local distortion values calculated by each of said calculators (361) on the basis of said different pixel values (a(m,n), and b1(k-m, h-n), b2(k+m, h-n) or b3(k+m, h+n)) of each of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) and each of said current picture blocks (TPi), said current block data outputting means (100) sequentially outputting the pixel values (a(m,n)) of each of said current picture blocks (TPi) with respective positions of said different pixels in each block the same as those of said different pixels registered in said first transmission registers (352), the pixel values of one of said current picture blocks (TPi) being changed to the pixel values of another current picture block (TPi+1) when the local distortion values are totaled by said adders (364).

Claim 5

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a set of input registers (410 to 416) each operative to input and transmit said search window data (Wj) from said search window data outputting means (200) to said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382), and a plurality of side registers (421 to 430) each operative to input each of the pixel values of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) from one of said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) and to output the inputted pixel value to each of said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382), and in which said transmission controlling means (400 and 500) controls said first transmission registers (352), said second transmission registers (382), said input registers (410 to 416) and said side registers (421 to 430) to shift the pixel values ( (b(0,0), b(1,0), b(2,0), b(3,0) and b(4,0)), (b(1,0), b(2,0), b(3,0), b(4,0) and b(5,0)), (b(0,5), b(1,5), b(2,5), b(3,5) and b(4,5)) or (b(1,5), b(2,5), b(3,5), b(4,5) and b(5,5)) ) of said search window data (Wj) in the vertical direction of said searching region (310) and to shift the pixel values (b(0,0) to (4,4), b(0,1) to b(4,5), b(1,0) to b(5,4) or b(1,1) to b(5,5)) registered in said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) in the horizontal direction of said searching region (310) when the pixel values (b1(k+m, h+n), b2(k+m, h+n) or b3(k+m, h+n)) of said search window data (Wj) are inputted to said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) from said input registers (410 to 416).

Claim 6

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a plurality of transmission paths through which said pixel values (b1(k+m, h+n), b2(k+m, h+n) and b3(k+m, h+n)) of said search window data (Wj) are transmitted in the vertical and horizontal directions of said searching region (310), each of said transmission paths being constituted by said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) to have said pixel values (b1(k+m, h+n), b2(k+m, h+n) or b3(k+m, h+n)) of said search window data (Wj) sequentially transmitted to one of said first transmission registers (352) corresponding to a certain pixel position in said searching region (310).

Claim 7

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said searching region (310) has first and second columns (C1, C1' and C2 ) each containing said first pixels and a third column (C3 or C3') consisting of said second pixels and intervening between said first and second columns ((C1 and C2) or (C1' and C2)) in the horizontal direction of said searching region (310), the number of said second pixels of said third column (C3 or C3') being the same as that of each of said first and second columns (C1, C1' and C2 ).

Claim 8

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said searching region (310) has first and second rows (R1, R1' and R2) each containing said first pixels and a third row (R3 and R3') consisting of said second pixels and intervening between said first and second rows ((R1 and R2) or (R1' and R2)) in the vertical direction of said searching region (310), the number of said second pixels of said third column (R3 or R3') being the same as that of each of said first and second rows (R1, R1' and R2).

Claim 9

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said searching region (1310; 2310) includes first and second columns ((C 11 and C12); (C21 and C22)) each consisting of said first and second pixels (P1 and P2), the total number of said first and second pixels (P1 and P2) of said first column (C11 ; C21) being the same as that of said second column (C12; C22), while the number of said first pixels (P1) of said first column (C11; C21) being different from that of said second column (C12; C22).

Claim 10

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said searching region (1310; 2310) includes first and second rows ((R11 and R12); (R21 and R22)) each consisting of said first and second pixels (P1 and P2), the total number of said first and second pixels (P1 and P2) of said first row (R11; M21) being the same as that of said second row (R12; R22), while the number of said first pixels (P1) of said first row (R11; M1) being different from that of said second row (R12 or R22).

Claim 11

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 2 or 4, in which each of the pixel values (a(m,n)) of said current picture blocks (TPi) being provided to said calculators (311 to 319) in parallel by said current block data outputting means (100), said transmission controlling means (400 and 500) controlling said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) to have the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) registered in said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) and simultaneously shifted in the vertical and horizontal directions of said searching region (310).

Claim 12

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a two dimensional calculating circuit (300) ofa systolyic array structure type, said calculating circuit (300) including a plurality of processor elements (311 to 319) each having each of said first transmission registers (352) and each of said calculators (361) and a plurality of intermediate register units (321 to 336) each having each of said second transmission registers (382).

Claim 13

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a two dimensional calculating circuit (300) ofa systolyic array structure type, said calculating circuit (300) including three or more columns of processor elements (311 to 319) and plural columns of intermediate register units ((323 to 327 ) and (330 to 334)), each of said processor elements (311 to 319) having each of said first transmission registers (352) and each of said calculators (361), each of said intermediate register units ((323 to 327 ) and (330 to 334)) having each of said second transmission registers (382), the number of said intermediate register units intervening between each pair of adjacent processor elements ((311 and 314), (312 and 315), (313 and 316), (314 and 317), (315 and 318) and (316 and 319)) being constant.

Claim 14

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a two dimensional calculating circuit (300) of a systolyic array structure type, said calculating circuit (300) including three or more rows of processor elements (311 to 319) and plural rows of intermediate register units ((321, 324, 328, 331 and 335) and (322, 326, 329, 333 and 336)), each of said processor elements (311 to 319) having each of said first transmission registers (352) and each of said calculators (361), each of said intermediate register units (321, 322, 324, 326, 328, 329, 331, 333, 335 and 336) having each of said second transmission registers (382), the number of said intermediate register units intervening between each pair of adjacent processor elements ((311 and 312), (312 and 313), (314 and 315), (315 and 316), (317 and 318) and (318 and 319)) being constant.

Claim 15

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a two dimensional calculating circuit (1300; 2300) of a systolyic array structure type, said calculating circuit (1300; 2300) including a plurality of processor elements (PE) and a plurality of intermediate register units (IR), each of said processor elements (PE) having each of said first transmission registers (352) and each of said calculators (361), each of said intermediate register units (IR) having each of said second transmission registers (382), the number of said intermediate register units (IR) intervening between a pair of adjacent processor elements (PE) being different from that of said intermediate register units (IR) intervening between another pair of adjacent processor elements (PE).

Claim 16

A motion vector searching apparatus for searching a plurality of motion vectors indicative of visual motion between a current picture and a reference picture forming part of successive pictures for displaying a dynamic picture image, said current picture consisting of a plurality of current picture blocks (TPi) each having a plurality of pixels distributed in N rows and M columns, each of said N and M being an integer, said reference picture consisting of a plurality of search windows each including a set of reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) each having a block size the same as that of each of said current picture blocks (TPi), each of said motion vectors being searched by calculating a set of distortion values and detecting the minimum value from said distortion values, each of said distortion values being indicative of the difference between each of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) and each of said current picture blocks (TPi), comprising: current block data outputting means (100) for outputting current block data representative of said current picture blocks (TPi) and including a plurality of pixel values of said pixels of said current picture blocks (TPi); search window data outputting means (200) for outputting search window data (Wj) representing said search windows each having a window size ofK columns of H pixels and including a plurality of pixel values of said pixels of said search windows to have each of said search windows include two or more reference picture blocks (B1 to B9); data registering means (300) for registering said search window data (Wj) in a searching region (310) with a block size of (H-N+1) rows and (K-M+1) columns larger than the size of each of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9), said searching region (310) covering a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels each intervening between said first pixels, said data registering means (300) having a plurality of first transmission registers (352) for initially registering part of said search window data (Wj) corresponding to said first pixels and a plurality of second transmission registers for initially registering the remaining part of said search window data (Wj) corresponding to said second pixels; transmission controlling means (400 and 500) for controlling said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) to have said search window data (Wj) transmitted in a predetermined direction in said searching region (310), the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) being transmitted from said second transmission registers (382) to said first transmission registers (352) in order while said search window data (Wj) is transmitted in said predetermined direction in said searching region (310); distortion computing means (311 to 319) for computing said distortion values on the basis of the pixel values of one of said current picture blocks (TPi) represented by said current block data and the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) registered in order at said first transmission registers (352); and minimum distortion detecting means (600) for detecting the minimum value from said distortion values computed by said distortion computing means (311 to 319).

Claim 17

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises a set of calculators (311 to 319) respectively operative to calculate said distortion values on the basis of the pixel values of said current picture blocks (TPi) outputted from said current block data outputting means (100) and the pixel values registered in said first transmission registers (352), the pixel values of said remaining part of said search window data (Wj) being registered at said second transmission registers while said calculators are operated to calculate said local distortion values based on the pixel values (a(m,n)) of said current picture blocks (TPi) from said current block data outputting means (100) and the pixel values of said part of said search window data (Wj) registered in said first transmission registers (352) of said data registering means (300).

Claim 18

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 17, in which said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) are controlled by said transmission controlling means (400 and 500) to perform time sharing of each of said calculators (311 to 319) of said distortion computing means (311 to 319) with the pixel values of two or more reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) respectively and sequentially transmitted to one of said first transmission registers (352) while said search window data (Wj) representative of said plurality of search windows are transmitted by said data registering means (300) and said transmission controlling means (400 and 500).

Claim 19

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in which said distortion computing means (311 to 319) is constituted by a set of calculators (361) and a set of adders (364), said calculators (361) being operative in parallel to input each of the pixel values (a(0,0), a(0,1), a(1,0) and a(1,1)) outputted from said current block data outputting means (100) and said pixel values (b(0,0), b(0,2), b(0,4), b(2,0), b(2,2), b(2,4), b(4,0), b(4,2) and b(4,4)) registered in said first transmission registers (352) and to repeatedly calculate a set of local distortion values on the basis of the pixel values (a(0,0), a(0,1), a(1,0) and a(1,1)) of each of said current picture blocks (TPi) outputted from said current block data outputting means (100) and the pixel values (b(0,0), b(0,2), b(0,4), b(2,0), b(2,2), b(2,4), b(4,0), b(4,2) and b(4,4)) respectively registered in said first transmission registers (352), each of said adders (364) being operative, while said pixel values (a(m,n)) of each of said current and reference picture blocks (B 1 to B9) are sequentially inputted to said calculators (361), to total said local distortion values calculated by each of said calculators (361) on the basis of said pixel values of each of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) and each of said current picture blocks (TPi) said current block data outputting means (100) sequentially outputting the pixel values (a(m,n)) of each of said current picture blocks (TPi) with respective positions of said different pixels in each block the same as those of said different pixels registered in said first transmission registers (352), the pixel values (a(0,0), a(0,1), a(1,0) and a(1,1)) of one of said current picture blocks (TPi) being changed to the pixel values of another current picture block (TPi+1) when the local distortion values are totaled by said adders (364).

Claim 20

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises a column of(H-N+1) input registers (411 to 415) each operative to input and transmit said search window data (Wj) from said search window data outputting means (200) to said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382), and (N-1) rows of (K-M+1) side registers ((421 to 425) or (426 to 430)) each operative to input the pixel values of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) from one of said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) and to output the inputted pixel value to one of said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382), and in which said transmission controlling means (400 and 500) controls said first transmission registers (352), said second transmission registers (382), said input registers (411 to 415) and said side registers (421 to 430) to shift the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) in the vertical direction of said searching region (310) and to shift the pixel values registered in said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) in the horizontal direction of said searching region (310) when the pixel values (b1(k+m,h-n), b2(k+m,h+n) and b3(k+m,h+n)) of said search window data (Wj) are inputted to said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) from said input registers (411 to 415).

Claim 21

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises a plurality of transmission paths (S0, S1 and S2) through which said pixel values (b1(k+m,h+n), b2(k+m,h+n) and b3 (k+m,h+n)) of said search window data (Wj) are transmitted in the vertical and horizontal directions of said searching region (310), each of said transmission paths (S0, S1 and S2) being constituted by said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) to have said pixel values of said search window data (Wj) sequentially transmitted to one of said first transmission registers (352) corresponding to a certain pixel position in said searching region (310).

Claim 22

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in which said searching region (310) has first and second columns (C1, C1' and C2) each containing said first pixels and a third column (C3) consisting of said second pixels and intervening between said first and second columns (C1, C1' and C2) in the horizontal direction of said searching region (310), the number of said second pixels of said third column (C3) being the same as that of each of said first and second columns (C1, C1' and C2).

Claim 23

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in which said searching region (310) has first and second rows (R1, R1' and R2) each containing said first pixels and a third row (R3) consisting of said second pixels and intervening between said first and second rows (R1, R1' and R2) in the vertical direction of said searching region (310), the number of said second pixels of said third column (R3) being the same as that of each of said first and second rows (R1, R1' and R2).

Claim 24

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in which said searching region (1310; 2310) includes first and second columns ((C 11 and C12); (C21 and C22)) each consisting of said first and second pixels (P1 and P2), the total number of said first and second pixels (P1 and P2) of said first column (C11 ; C21) being the same as that of said second column (C12; C22), while the number of said first pixels (P1) of said first column (C11 ; C21) being different from that of said second column (C12; C22).

Claim 25

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, in which said searching region (1310; 2310) includes first and second rows ((R11 and R12); (R21 and R22)) each consisting of said first and second pixels (P1 and P2), the total number of said first and second pixels (P1 and P2) of said first row (R11, R21) being the same as that of said second row (R12; R22), the number of said first pixels (P 1) of said first row (R11; M21) being different from that of said second row (R12; R22).

Claim 26

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16 or 18, in which each of the pixel values (a(m,n)) of said current picture blocks (TPi) being provided to said calculators (311 to 319) in parallel by said current block data outputting means (100), said transmission controlling means (400 and 500) controlling said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) to have the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) registered in said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) and simultaneously shifted in the vertical and horizontal directions of said searching region (310).

Claim 27

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises a two dimensional calculating circuit (300) ofa systolyic array structure type, said calculating circuit (300) including a plurality of processor elements (311 to 319) each having each of said first transmission registers (352) and each of said calculators (361) and a plurality of intermediate register units (321 to 336) each having each of said second transmission registers (382).

Claim 28

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises a two dimensional calculating circuit (3 00) ofa systolyic array structure type, said calculating circuit (300) including three or more columns of processor elements (311 to 319) and plural columns of intermediate register units ((323 to 3 27) and (330 to 334)), each of said processor elements (311 to 319) having each of said first transmission registers (3 52) and each of said calculators (361), each of said intermediate register units ((323 to 327) and (330 to 334)) having each of said second transmission registers (382), the number of said intermediate register units (321 to 336) intervening between each pair of adjacent processor elements ((311 and 314), (312 and 315), (313 and 316), (314 and 317), (315 and 318) and (316 and 319)) being constant.

Claim 29

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises a two dimensional calculating circuit (300) of a systolyic array structure type, said calculating circuit (1300, 2300) including three or more rows of processor elements (311 to 319) and plural rows of intermediate register units ((321, 324, 328, 331 and 335) and (322, 326, 329, 333 and 336)), each of said processor elements (311 to 319) having each of said first transmission registers (352) and each of said calculators (361), each of said intermediate register units ((321, 324, 328, 331 and 335) and (322, 326, 329, 333 and 336)) having each of said second transmission registers (382), the number of said intermediate register units intervening between each pair of adjacent processor elements ((311 and 312), (312 and 313), (314 and 315), (315 and 316), (317 and 318) and (318 and 319)) being constant.

Claim 30

A motion vector searching apparatus as set forth in claim 16, which further comprises a two dimensional calculating circuit (1300; 2300) of a systolyic array structure type, said calculating circuit (1300; 2300) including a plurality of processor elements (PE) and a plurality of intermediate register units (IR), each of said processor elements (PE) having each of said first transmission registers (352) and each of said calculators (361), each of said intermediate register units (IR) having each of said second transmission registers (382), the number of said intermediate register units (IR) intervening between a pair of adjacent processor elements (PE) being different from that of said intermediate register units (IR) intervening between another pair of adjacent processor elements (PE).

Claim 31

A motion vector searching method of searching a plurality of motion vectors indicative of visual motion between a current picture and a reference picture forming part of successive pictures for displaying a dynamic picture image, said current picture consisting of a plurality of current picture blocks (TPi) each having a plurality of pixels distributed in rows and columns, said reference picture consisting of plurality of search windows each including a set of reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) each having a block size the same as that of each of said current picture blocks (TPi), each of said motion vectors being searched by calculating a set of distortion values and detecting the minimum value from said distortion values, each of said distortion values being indicative of the difference between each of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) and each of said current picture blocks (TPi), comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) each operative to register a pixel value (b1(k+m,h+n), b2(k+m,h+n) or b3(k+m,h+n)) and collectively form a searching region (310) with a block size larger than that of each of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9), said searching region (310) covering a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels each intervening between said first pixels; outputting current block data representative of said current picture blocks (TPi) and including a plurality of pixel values of said pixels (a(0,0), a(0,1), a(1,0) and a(1,1)) of said current picture blocks (TPi); outputting search window data (Wj) representative of said search windows and including a plurality of pixel values ( (b(0,0) to b (5,5)) of said pixels of said search windows to have each of said search windows include two or more reference picture blocks (B1 to B9); sequentially registering the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) in said searching region (310) with said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382); controlling said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) to have part of said search window data (Wj) corresponding to said first pixels initially registered at said first transmission registers (3 52) and the remaining part of said search window data (Wj) corresponding to said second pixels initially registered at said second transmission registers (382) and to transmit the pixel values of said remaining part of said search window data (Wj) from said second transmission registers (382) to said first transmission registers (352) in order while said search window data (Wj) is transmitted in said predetermined direction in said searching region (310); computing said distortion values on the basis of the pixel values of each of said current picture blocks (TPi) represented by said current block data and the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) registered in order at said first transmission registers (352); and detecting the minimum value from the computed distortion values to select from said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) one most similar to one of said current picture blocks (TPi).

Claim 32

A motion vector searching method as set forth in claim 31, which further comprises the steps of: preparing a set of calculators (361) respectively operative to calculate local distortion values on the basis of the pixel values of said outputted current picture blocks (TPi) and the pixel values registered in said first transmission registers (352); dividing said search window data (Wj) into said part of said search window data (Wj) and said remaining part of said search window data (Wj) to be transmitted from said second transmission registers (382) to said first transmission registers (352); sequentially inputting said part of said search window data (Wj) and said remaining part of said search window data (Wj) to said first transmission registers (352); calculating a set of local distortion values by said calculators (361) based on the pixel values of said current picture blocks (TPi) and the pixel values of said part of said search window data (Wj) registered in said first transmission registers (352); and calculating a set of local distortion values by said calculators (361) based on the pixel values of said current picture blocks (TPi) and the pixel values of said remaining part of said search window data (Wj) transmitted from said second transmission registers (382) and registered in said first transmission registers (352).

Claim 33

A motion vector searching method as set forth in claim 32, which further comprising the step of controlling said first and second transmission registers (352 and 3 82) to perform time sharing of each of said calculators (361) to have said pixel data of two or more reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) respectively and sequentially transmitted to one of said first transmission registers (352).

Claim 34

A motion vector searching method as set forth in claim 31, which further comprises the steps of: preparing a set of calculators (361) respectively operative to calculate a set of local distortion values on the basis of the pixel values of said outputted current picture blocks (TPi) and the pixel values registered in said first transmission registers (352), and a set of adders (364) each operative to total said local distortion values calculated by each of said calculators (361); sequentially outputting the pixel values (a(m,n)) of each of said current picture blocks (TPi) with respective positions of said different pixels in each block the same as those of said different pixels registered in said first transmission registers (352); inputting each of the pixel values of said current picture data in parallel to said calculators (361); inputting the pixel values from said first transmission registers (352) to said calculators (361) to repeatedly calculate said local distortion values on the basis of the pixel values of each of said current picture blocks (TPi) and the pixel values of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) in said search window data (Wj) registered in said first transmission registers (352); totaling said local distortion values each calculated by each of said calculators (361) while said pixel values of each of said current and reference picture blocks (TPi and B1 to B9) are sequentially inputted to said calculators (361); and changing said pixel values of each of said current picture blocks (TPi) to be inputted to said calculators (361) after the local distortion values are totaled.

Claim 35

A motion vector searching method as set forth in claim 31, which further comprises the steps of: preparing a set of input registers (410 to 416) each operative to input and transmit said search window data (Wj) to said first and second transmission registers (3 52 and 382), and a plurality of side registers (421 to 430) each operative to input each of the pixel values of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) from one of said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) and to output the inputted pixel value to each of said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382), and controlling said first transmission registers (352), said second transmission registers (382), said input registers (410 to 416) and said side registers (421 to 430) to shift the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) in the vertical direction of said searching region (310) and to shift the pixel values registered in said first and second transmission registers (3 52 and 3 82) in the horizontal direction of said searching region (310) when the pixel values (b1(k+m,h+n), b2(k+m,h+n) or b3(k+m,h+n)) of said search window data (Wj) are inputted to said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) from said input registers (411 to 416).

Claim 36

A motion vector searching method as set forth in claim 31, which further comprises the steps of: preparing a set of calculators (361) respectively operative to calculate a set of local distortion values on the basis of the pixel values of said outputted current picture blocks (TPi) and the pixel values registered in said first transmission registers (352), and a set of adders (364) each operative to total said local distortion values calculated by each of said calculators (361); preparing a set of transmission paths (S0, S1 and S2) through which said pixel values of said search window data (Wj) are transmitted in the vertical and horizontal directions of said searching region (310), each of said transmission paths (S0, S1 and S2) being constituted by said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) to have said pixel values of said search window data (Wj) sequentially transmitted to one of said first transmission registers (352) corresponding to a certain pixel position in said searching region (310); and transmitting said pixel values of said search window data (Wj) through said transmission paths (S0, S1 and S2) to have the pixel values of one of said reference picture blocks (B1 to B9) transmitted to one of said calculators (361).

Claim 37

A motion vector searching method as set forth in claim 32 or 34, which further comprising the steps of: providing each of the pixel values of said current picture blocks (TPi) to said calculators (361) in parallel, and controlling said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) to have the pixel values of said search window data (Wj) registered in said first and second transmission registers (352 and 382) and simultaneously shifted in the vertical and horizontal directions of said searching region (310).