MOTION VECTOR DETECTING DEVICE

A motion vector detecting device is provided. In the motion vector detecting device, a global memory stores the pixels of a current picture and a reference picture, and a local memory is provided. A first buffer buffers the pixels of a subsampled macro block and a subsampled first search area, a motion vector detector receives the pixels of the subsampled macro block and first search area from the first buffer and detects a first motion vector, and a second buffer latches the first motion vector received from the motion vector detector. A main processor reads the pixels of a macro block in the current picture and a first search area in the reference picture from the global memory, stores the read pixels in the local memory, subsamplers stored pixels, stores the subsampled pixels in the first buffer, reads the first motion vector from the second buffer, and detects a second motion vector of the macro block by a software program from a second search area including a pixel indicated by the first motion vector and blocks having reference pivots at pixels around the pixel in the reference picture.