Patent US 7,590,180

A motion estimator and an estimation method for a video encoder to reduce power consumption by reducing the computational complexity of the motion estimator. In an upper step, a full search for a ±4 pixel search region for a 4×4 pixel block is performed at ¼ video resolution, to detect two motion vector candidates. In a medium step, a partial search for two vector candidates selected in the upper step and one vector candidate using a spatial correlation is performed for a 8×8 block within a ±1 or ±2 search region, to decide one motion vector candidate. In a lower step, a partial search for the ±1 or ±2 search region on 16×16 block is performed at full resolution, and a half pixel search for a motion vector candidate obtained in the lower step is performed to estimate a final motion vector. A ±4 pixel search region is operatively divided into four search regions, and the estimator sequentially searches the four ±2 pixel search regions to sequentially output SAD values.