Low-power VLSI architecture for a new block-matching motion estimation algorithm using dual-bit-resolution images

This paper describes an improved multiresolution telescopic search algorithm (MRTlcSA) for block-matching motion estimation. The algorithm uses images with full and reduced bit resolution, and uses motion-track and adaptive-search-window strategies. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm has low computational complexity and achieves good image quality. We have developed a systolic-architecture-based search engine that has split data paths. In the case of low bit-resolution, the throughput is increased by enhancing the operating parallelism. The new motion estimator works at a low clock frequency and a low supply voltage, and therefore has low power consumption.