METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOTION ESTIMATION

A method for motion estimation includes steps for comparing image signals of image blocks within a previous frame corresponding to a motion vector detected among error values used for detecting the motion vector of a pixel unit and surrounding image blocks which are generated by moving the reference image block in every direction by one pixel, respectively, with the image signal of image blocks within a present frame for which the motion estimation is performed, and then generating error values according to the comparison results. By vertically comparing the generated error values, a vertical component of the motion vector in half-pixel units is detected. By horizontally comparing the generated error values, a horizontal component of the motion vector in half-pixel units is detected. It will be appreciated that the method leads to greater efficiency in motion estimation by reducing the amount of data required to be processed during detection of the motion vector in half-pixel units. An apparatus for determining motion vector in half-pixel units and adapted to perform the corresponding method, is also described.