Patent US5729302A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5729302A
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US
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Method and apparatus for detecting motion vectors of pixel blocks of a digitized video signal
Assignee: S Aqua Semiconductor LLC
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Filing: 1994-09-16
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Granted: 1998-03-17
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Expires: 2014-09-16
Abstract
Abstract A motion detector and a motion area detector detect shifts of areas at which motions exist by using signals of fields before and after the field to be detected. According to shifts of the detected areas, an initial vector closest to the true motion is selected among prospective initial vectors produced at an initial vector selector or an initial vector detector by a block matching method, thereby reducing detection errors in motion vectors occurring at a time of the detection of motion vectors, and thereby improving accuracy of motion vectors, so that image distortions would be reduced in an interpolating process.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsuo Yamauchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/144; H04N5/145; G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/20; G06T7/223; G06T7/238; H04N19/00; H04N19/10; H04N19/102; H04N19/103; H04N19/105; H04N19/112; H04N19/134; H04N19/136; H04N19/137; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/51; H04N19/56; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10016; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20048; G06T2207/20056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A true motion vector detecting method, including dividing a digitized video signal into plural blocks, producing plural prospective initial vectors from previously detected true motion vectors in respect to said block in which the true motion vector is to be detected in order to detect the true motion vector in respect to each of said blocks between signals located at least one field away from one another, seeking a shift vector based on an optimum vector as an initial vector selected from among said plural prospective initial vectors, and rendering a summation of said initial vector and said shift vector as the true motion vector of said block, said detecting method comprising the steps that: a) a further prospective initial vector is produced independently of the prospective initial vectors produced from previously detected true motion vectors in respect to each block; and b) said produced motion vector is used along with the plural prospective initial vectors for detecting the true motion vector for said each block.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A true motion vector detecting method, including dividing a digitized video signal into plural blocks, producing plural prospective initial vectors from previously detected true motion vectors in respect to said block in which the true motion vector is to be detected in order to detect the true motion vector in respect to each of said blocks between signals located at least one field away from one another, seeking a shift vector based on an optimum vector as an initial vector selected from among said plural prospective initial vectors, and rendering a summation of said initial vector and said shift vector as the true motion vector of said block, said detecting method comprising the steps that: a) a further prospective initial vector is produced independently of the prospective initial vectors produced from previously detected true motion vectors in respect to each block; and b) said produced motion vector is used along with the plural prospective initial vectors for detecting the true motion vector for said each block.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A detecting method of motion vectors as set forth in claim 1, wherein a block matching method is used independently for each block to detect the further prospective initial vector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
195 words
A true motion vector detecting apparatus, dividing a digitized video signal into plural blocks, producing plural prospective initial vectors from previously detected true motion vectors in respect to said block in which the true motion vector is to be detected in order to detect the true motion vector in respect to each of said blocks between signals located at least one field away from one another, seeking a shift vector based on an optimum vector as an initial vector selected among said plural prospective initial vectors, and rendering a summation of said initial vector and said shift vector as the true motion vector of said block, said apparatus comprising: a first prospective initial vector generator for producing plural prospective initial vectors from the previously detected motion vector for the block at which a motion vector is to be detected; a second prospective initial vector generator for producing at least one prospective initial vector from independently detecting a further motion vector in respect to each block; and an initial vector selector for selecting the optimum one among the plural prospective initial vectors produced at said first and second prospective initial vector generators as the initial vector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
195 words
A true motion vector detecting apparatus, dividing a digitized video signal into plural blocks, producing plural prospective initial vectors from previously detected true motion vectors in respect to said block in which the true motion vector is to be detected in order to detect the true motion vector in respect to each of said blocks between signals located at least one field away from one another, seeking a shift vector based on an optimum vector as an initial vector selected among said plural prospective initial vectors, and rendering a summation of said initial vector and said shift vector as the true motion vector of said block, said apparatus comprising: a first prospective initial vector generator for producing plural prospective initial vectors from the previously detected motion vector for the block at which a motion vector is to be detected; a second prospective initial vector generator for producing at least one prospective initial vector from independently detecting a further motion vector in respect to each block; and an initial vector selector for selecting the optimum one among the plural prospective initial vectors produced at said first and second prospective initial vector generators as the initial vector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A detecting apparatus for motion vectors as set forth in claim 3, wherein said second prospective initial vector generator renders the further motion vector detected from a block matching method as the prospective initial vector.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of producing a true motion vector for each block of each field of a digitized video signal, the digitized video signal being divided into successive fields, each field being subdivided into plural blocks, a block for which a true motion vector in a present field is being currently produced being designatable as a current target block, the true motion vectors being produced representing changes in position of target blocks relative to blocks in fields at least one field away from the present field, the true motion vector for each target block being a sum of an optimum initial vector and a shift vector, the method comprising, for the production of the true motion vector for the current target block, the steps of: producing plural prospective initial vectors, including producing a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks, and producing another of the plural prospective initial vectors that is independent of any previously obtained true motion vectors; selecting an optimum initial vector from among the plural prospective initial vectors; producing a shift vector based on the optimum initial vector; and summing the optimum initial vector and the shift vector to obtain the true motion vector for the current target block.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of producing a true motion vector for each block of each field of a digitized video signal, the digitized video signal being divided into successive fields, each field being subdivided into plural blocks, a block for which a true motion vector in a present field is being currently produced being designatable as a current target block, the true motion vectors being produced representing changes in position of target blocks relative to blocks in fields at least one field away from the present field, the true motion vector for each target block being a sum of an optimum initial vector and a shift vector, the method comprising, for the production of the true motion vector for the current target block, the steps of: producing plural prospective initial vectors, including producing a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks, and producing another of the plural prospective initial vectors that is independent of any previously obtained true motion vectors; selecting an optimum initial vector from among the plural prospective initial vectors; producing a shift vector based on the optimum initial vector; and summing the optimum initial vector and the shift vector to obtain the true motion vector for the current target block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of producing a true motion vector according to claim 5, wherein said step of producing another of the plural prospective initial vectors includes producing the another of the plural prospective initial vectors based on a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the current target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
A method of producing a true motion vector according to claim 6, further comprising the step of storing each true motion vector in a memory as it is obtained, wherein said step of producing a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks includes selecting the prospective initial vectors from among the true motion vectors stored in the memory, outputting the selected prospective initial vectors from the memory, and selecting an optimum initial vector from among the selected prospective initial vectors and the another of the plural prospective initial vectors, based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
A method of producing a true motion vector according to claim 5, further comprising the step of storing each true motion vector in a memory as it is obtained, wherein said step of producing a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks includes selecting the prospective initial vectors from among the true motion vectors stored in the memory, outputting the selected prospective initial vectors from the memory, and selecting an optimum initial vector from among the selected prospective initial vectors and the another of the plural prospective initial vectors, based on at least a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the current target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of producing a true motion vector according to claim 5, wherein each block consists of a block of pixels.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
274 words
A method of producing a motion vector for each block of each field of a digitized video signal, the digitized video signal being divided into successive fields, each field being subdivided into plural blocks, each block consisting of a block of pixels, a block for which a motion vector in a present field is being produced being designatable as a target block, the motion vectors being produced representing changes in position of target blocks relative to blocks in fields at least one field away from the present field, the motion vector for each target block being a sum of an optimum initial vector and a shift vector, the method comprising, for the production of the motion vector for the target block, the steps of: producing a set of prospective initial vectors including a plurality of first prospective initial vectors and a second prospective initial vector, including producing the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks, and producing the second prospective initial vector independently of any previously obtained motion vector based on a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field; selecting an optimum initial vector from the set of prospective initial vectors based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal; producing a shift vector based on the optimum initial vector and at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal; and summing the optimum initial vector and the shift vector to obtain the true motion vector for the target block.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
274 words
A method of producing a motion vector for each block of each field of a digitized video signal, the digitized video signal being divided into successive fields, each field being subdivided into plural blocks, each block consisting of a block of pixels, a block for which a motion vector in a present field is being produced being designatable as a target block, the motion vectors being produced representing changes in position of target blocks relative to blocks in fields at least one field away from the present field, the motion vector for each target block being a sum of an optimum initial vector and a shift vector, the method comprising, for the production of the motion vector for the target block, the steps of: producing a set of prospective initial vectors including a plurality of first prospective initial vectors and a second prospective initial vector, including producing the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks, and producing the second prospective initial vector independently of any previously obtained motion vector based on a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field; selecting an optimum initial vector from the set of prospective initial vectors based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal; producing a shift vector based on the optimum initial vector and at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal; and summing the optimum initial vector and the shift vector to obtain the true motion vector for the target block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 10, further comprising the step of storing each motion vector in a memory as it is obtained, wherein said step of producing a set of the prospective initial vectors includes selecting the first prospective initial vectors from among the motion vectors stored in the memory, outputting the selected prospective initial vectors from the memory, and selecting an optimum initial vector from among the selected prospective initial vectors and the second prospective initial vector, based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
109 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 10, wherein said step of selecting an optimum initial vector from the set of prospective initial vectors includes the steps of: determining whether the target block is in a motion transition area between motion and still areas, based on at least a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field; and selecting the optimal initial vector either from the first prospective initial vectors or as the second prospective initial vector according to a condition of the transition area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
A detecting method of motion vectors as set forth in claim 12, wherein said step of selecting the optimal initial vector includes selection of a null vector if the transition area is an area of transition from a motion area to a still area, and selection of a the second prospective initial vector if the transition area is an area of transition from a still area to a motion area, said step of producing the second prospective initial vector being performed by a block matching method.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
205 words
An apparatus for producing a true motion vector for each block of each field of a digitized video signal, the digitized video signal being divided into successive fields, each field being subdivided into plural blocks, a block for which a true motion vector in a present field is being currently produced being designatable as a current target block, the true motion vectors being produced representing changes in position of target blocks relative to blocks in fields at least one field away from the present field, the true motion vector for each target block being a sum of an optimum initial vector and a shift vector, the apparatus comprising: means for generating plural prospective initial vectors, including means for generating a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks, and means for generating another of the plural prospective initial vectors that is independent of any previously obtained true motion vectors; means for selecting an optimum initial vector from among the plural prospective initial vectors; means for producing a shift vector based on the optimum initial vector; and means for summing the optimum initial vector and the shift vector to obtain the true motion vector for the target block.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
205 words
An apparatus for producing a true motion vector for each block of each field of a digitized video signal, the digitized video signal being divided into successive fields, each field being subdivided into plural blocks, a block for which a true motion vector in a present field is being currently produced being designatable as a current target block, the true motion vectors being produced representing changes in position of target blocks relative to blocks in fields at least one field away from the present field, the true motion vector for each target block being a sum of an optimum initial vector and a shift vector, the apparatus comprising: means for generating plural prospective initial vectors, including means for generating a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks, and means for generating another of the plural prospective initial vectors that is independent of any previously obtained true motion vectors; means for selecting an optimum initial vector from among the plural prospective initial vectors; means for producing a shift vector based on the optimum initial vector; and means for summing the optimum initial vector and the shift vector to obtain the true motion vector for the target block.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means for generating another of the plural prospective initial vectors includes means for generating the another of the plural prospective initial vectors based on a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the current target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means for generating a plurality of the prospective initial vectors includes a memory for storing each true motion vector as it is obtained and means for selecting the prospective initial vectors from among the true motion vectors stored in the memory and outputting the selected prospective initial vectors from the memory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for selecting an optimum initial vector comprises means for selecting the optimum initial vector based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means for generating a plurality of the prospective initial vectors includes a memory for storing each true motion vector as it is obtained and means for selecting the prospective initial vectors from among the true motion vectors stored in the memory and outputting the selected prospective initial vectors from the memory, and wherein said means for selecting an optimum initial vector comprises means for selecting the optimum initial vector based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
272 words
An apparatus for producing a motion vector for each block of each field of a digitized video signal, the digitized video signal being divided into successive fields, each field being subdivided into plural blocks, each block consisting of a block of pixels, a block for which a motion vector in a present field is being produced being designatable as a target block, the motion vectors being produced representing changes in position of target blocks relative to blocks in fields at least one field away from the present field, the motion vector for each target block being a sum of an optimum initial vector and a shift vector, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a set of prospective initial vectors including a plurality of first prospective initial vectors and a second prospective initial vector, including means for generating the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks, and means for generating the second prospective initial vector independently of any previously obtained motion vector based on a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field; means for selecting an optimum initial vector from the set of prospective initial vectors based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal; means for generating a shift vector based on the optimum initial vector and at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal; and means for summing the optimum initial vector and the shift vector to obtain the true motion vector for the target block.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
272 words
An apparatus for producing a motion vector for each block of each field of a digitized video signal, the digitized video signal being divided into successive fields, each field being subdivided into plural blocks, each block consisting of a block of pixels, a block for which a motion vector in a present field is being produced being designatable as a target block, the motion vectors being produced representing changes in position of target blocks relative to blocks in fields at least one field away from the present field, the motion vector for each target block being a sum of an optimum initial vector and a shift vector, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a set of prospective initial vectors including a plurality of first prospective initial vectors and a second prospective initial vector, including means for generating the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks, and means for generating the second prospective initial vector independently of any previously obtained motion vector based on a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field; means for selecting an optimum initial vector from the set of prospective initial vectors based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal; means for generating a shift vector based on the optimum initial vector and at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal; and means for summing the optimum initial vector and the shift vector to obtain the true motion vector for the target block.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
105 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said means for generating a plurality of the prospective initial vectors includes a memory for storing each motion vector as it is obtained, wherein said means for generating a set of the prospective initial vectors includes means for selecting the first prospective initial vectors from among the motion vectors stored in the memory and outputting the selected prospective initial vectors from the memory, and means for selecting an optimum initial vector from among the selected first prospective initial vectors and the second prospective initial vector, based on at least the first and second portions of the digitized signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
95 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said optimum initial vector selecting means includes: means for determining whether target block is in a motion transition area between motion and still areas, based on at least a first portion of the digitized signal corresponding to the target block and a second portion of the digitized signal separated from the first portion by at least one field, and means for selecting the optimal initial vector either from the first prospective initial vectors or as the second prospective initial vector according to a condition of the transition area.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
101 words
An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said means for selecting the optimal initial vector either from the first prospective initial vectors or as the second prospective initial vector comprises means for selecting as the optimal initial vector a null vector if the transition area is an area of transition from a motion area to a still area, and the second prospective initial vector if the transition area is an area of transition from a still area to a motion area, said means for generating the second prospective initial vector generating the second prospective initial vector by a block matching method.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 5, wherein said step of producing a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks includes producing first prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks in the present field.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 23, wherein said step of producing a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks further includes producing second prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks in at least one field at least one field away from the present field.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 5, wherein said step of producing a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks includes producing at least one of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for at least one other block in at least one field at least one field away from the present field.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 22, wherein said step of producing plural prospective initial vectors, includes storing the produced plurality of the prospective initial vectors in a memory; and said step of selecting an optimum initial vector includes selecting the optimum initial vector from among the stored plurality of prospective initial vectors and the produced another of the plural prospective initial vectors, after said step of storing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 10, wherein said step of producing the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks includes producing a plurality of the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks in the present field.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 27, wherein said step of producing the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks further includes producing further prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks in at least one field at least one field away from the present field.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 27, wherein the first prospective initial vectors includes six prospective initial vectors, said step of producing first prospective initial vectors includes storing the produced six prospective initial vectors in a memory; and said step of selecting an optimum initial vector includes outputting all of the plurality of prospective initial vectors from the memory and selecting the optimum initial vector from among the output plurality of prospective initial vectors and the second prospective initial vector.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said means for of generating a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks includes means for generating first prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks in the present field.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said means for generating a plurality of the prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks further includes means for generating second prospective initial vectors based on true motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks in at least one field at least one field away from the present field.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
88 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the plurality of prospective initial vectors includes six prospective initial vectors, means for generating the plurality of prospective initial vectors includes a memory for storing the produced six prospective initial vectors; and said means for selecting an optimum initial vector includes means for outputting all of the plurality of prospective initial vectors from the memory and means for selecting the optimum initial vector from among the output plurality of prospective initial vectors and the another of the plural prospective initial vector.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said means for generating the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks includes means for generating a plurality of the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks in the present field.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said means for generating the first prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks further includes means for generating further prospective initial vectors based on motion vectors previously obtained for other blocks in at least one field at least one field away from the present field.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method of producing a motion vector according to claim 33, wherein the first prospective initial vectors includes six prospective initial vectors, said means for generating the first prospective initial vectors includes a memory for storing the produced six prospective initial vectors; and said means of selecting an optimum initial vector includes means for outputting all of the plurality of prospective initial vectors from the memory and selecting the optimum initial vector from among the output plurality of prospective initial vectors and the second prospective initial vector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-16 | 2001-09-15 | 2002-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-09-15 | 2006-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-16 | 2009-09-15 | 2010-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |