Abstract: A motion estimation method is provided for generating a motion vector of a to-be-generated frame between two continuous reference frames. The method includes the following steps. A candidate motion vector is obtained according to the position of a to-be-generated block of a to-be-generated frame. Two first reference blocks are obtained from the two reference frames by extending the candidate motion vector from the to-be-generated block to the two reference frames, respectively. Two second reference blocks are obtained from the two reference frames by extending the candidate motion vector from one reference frame to another reference frame. Whether the candidate motion vector is valid is determined according to the positions of the two reference blocks obtained in each obtaining step. The corresponding motion vector of the to-be-generated block is determined according to the valid candidate motion vector.

Abstract: An image processing circuit and an image processing method are provided. The image processing circuit comprises a full search engine and a frame rate conversion (FRC) engine. The full search engine executes a full search to generate a sum of sum of absolute difference (SAD) distribution according to the reference image and the current image. The FRC engine analyzes a scene characteristic from the current image according to SAD distribution. The FRC engine adjusts at least one of the control parameters according to the scene characteristic. The FRC engine generates an interpolated image according to the reference image, the current image and the control parameters.

Abstract: An estimation method of a predicted motion vector for an image block having one or more pixels, which includes calculating a pixel difference value corresponding to a current frame and a reference frame for each pixel of the image block, determining a pixel difference area according to the pixel difference values corresponding to the plurality of pixels, and determining a predicted motion vector according to the pixel difference area.

Abstract: A motion estimation method is provided, which includes following steps: dividing a first frame to be estimated into a plurality of area units, in which each of the area units includes a plurality of blocks; and assigning a set of motion vector values to each of the area units, in which the set of motion vector values includes a plurality of predetermined motion vector values, and each of the predetermined motion vector values is assigned to at least one block in each of the area units.

Abstract: An image processing circuit and an image processing method are disclosed. The image processing circuit comprises a block matching unit, a multiplexer, an arbiter, and a motion compensation circuit. The block matching unit calculates an alternating current (AC) sum of absolute difference (SAD) and a direct current (DC) sum of absolute difference (SAD) according to a current block in a current image and a reference block in a reference image. The arbiter controls the multiplexer selectively to output the AC SAD or the DC SAD according to an arbitration rule related to a scene characteristic of the current image. The motion compensation circuit executes motion compensation according to the AC SAD or the DC SAD outputted by the multiplexer.

Abstract: An image enhancement system and method include a high-pass filter (HPF) configured to pass high-frequency spatial components of an input image to generate a high-pass image; an adder configured to add the high-pass image to the input image, thereby resulting in an enhanced image; and an over-enhancement detection unit configured to detect tendency of the input image towards overshoot or undershoot. An output of the over-enhancement detection unit is used to prevent overshoot or undershoot in the enhanced image.

Abstract: A block matching method for estimating a motion vector of an estimation block of an image frame is provided, which includes comparing the estimation block with at least one reference block corresponding to a first object to obtain a plurality of pixel difference values, determining a mask area corresponding to the first object and a calculation area corresponding to a second object in the estimation block, and performing blocking matching operations on the calculation area to determine a motion vector of the second object as the motion vector of the estimation block.

Abstract: Method for detecting edge of fixed pattern includes receiving and analyzing a first image to obtain a first edge information. Second image and a corresponding second edge information are received, in which the second image includes an accumulation of image history information. According to the first edge information and the second edge information, a consistent number and an inconsistent number for pairs of pixels at the corresponding location of the first image and the second image are calculated, in which the consistent number represents how many pairs of pixels of which two compared pixels of each pair are both edge pixels, and the inconsistent number represents one of the two compared pixels is not the edge pixel. When the consistent number is greater than first predetermined value and meanwhile the inconsistent number is less than second predetermined value, first image and second image have a fixed pattern with fixed edge.

Abstract: An image processing circuit and an image processing method are provided. The image processing circuit comprises a full search engine and a frame rate conversion (FRC) engine. The full search engine executes a full search to generate a sum of sum of absolute difference (SAD) distribution according to the reference image and the current image. The FRC engine analyzes a scene characteristic from the current image according to SAD distribution. The FRC engine adjusts at least one of the control parameters according to the scene characteristic. The FRC engine generates an interpolated image according to the reference image, the current image and the control parameters.

Abstract: A multimedia device and a play mode determination method of the same are provided. The multimedia device includes a frame difference calculation unit, a global threshold determination unit and a play mode determination unit. The frame difference calculation unit calculates the frame difference between two continuous frames to obtain a global variation. The global threshold determination unit determines a film mode threshold corresponding to a film mode and a video mode threshold corresponding to a video mode according to a current frame of the two frames and a previous global variation, and selects a global threshold from the film mode threshold and the video mod threshold. The selected threshold is smaller than the film mode threshold. The play mode determination unit compares the global variation with the global threshold, and enables the multimedia device to enter one of the film mode and the video mode according to the comparison result.

Abstract: A method for searching small moving object is used to insert an inserting image frame between adjacent two image frames. An inserting region is selected in the inserting image frame. Multiple extending directions passing through the inserting region are selected. Each of the extending directions extends and intersects with the two image frames to analyze out which one of the extending directions satisfies the condition of movement by the same object, and obtain at least one motion vector corresponding to the extending direction. A globe motion vector between the two image frames is obtained. A motion-vector difference between the at least one motion vector and the globe motion vector is compared to judge whether greater than a setting value. If the motion vector difference is greater than the setting value then the first local-region image data and the second local-region image data are treated as a small moving object.

Abstract: Method for searching for a small moving object is used to insert an inserting image frame between two adjacent image frames. An inserting region in the inserting image frame is selected. Multiple preset extending directions passing through the inserting region are selected. The extending directions respectively intersect the two image frames simultaneously to analyze whether the extending directions satisfy a condition of movement of the same image object, and obtain at least one motion vector (MV) corresponding to the extending direction. A globe MV between the first image frame and the second image frame is obtained. It is compared whether a motion-vector difference between the at least one MV and the globe MV is smaller than a setting value, and then first local-region image data and second local-region image data corresponding to the MV are used for compensation to produce an inserting image for the inserted region about background.

Abstract: Method for detecting edge of fixed pattern includes receiving and analyzing a first image to obtain a first edge information. Second image and a corresponding second edge information are received, in which the second image includes an accumulation of image history information. According to the first edge information and the second edge information, a consistent number and an inconsistent number for pairs of pixels at the corresponding location of the first image and the second image are calculated, in which the consistent number represents how many pairs of pixels of which two compared pixels of each pair are both edge pixels, and the inconsistent number represents one of the two compared pixels is not the edge pixel. When the consistent number is greater than first predetermined value and meanwhile the inconsistent number is less than second predetermined value, first image and second image have a fixed pattern with fixed edge.

Abstract: An estimation method of a predicted motion vector for an image block having one or more pixels, which includes calculating a pixel difference value corresponding to a current frame and a reference frame for each pixel of the image block, determining a pixel difference area according to the pixel difference values corresponding to the plurality of pixels, and determining a predicted motion vector according to the pixel difference area.

Abstract: An image processing circuit and an image processing method are disclosed. The image processing circuit comprises a block matching unit, a multiplexer, an arbiter, and a motion compensation circuit. The block matching unit calculates an alternating current (AC) sum of absolute difference (SAD) and a direct current (DC) sum of absolute difference (SAD) according to a current block in a current image and a reference block in a reference image. The arbiter controls the multiplexer selectively to output the AC SAD or the DC SAD according to an arbitration rule related to a scene characteristic of the current image. The motion compensation circuit executes motion compensation according to the AC SAD or the DC SAD outputted by the multiplexer.

Abstract: A motion estimation method is provided, which includes following steps: dividing a first frame to be estimated into a plurality of area units, in which each of the area units includes a plurality of blocks; and assigning a set of motion vector values to each of the area units, in which the set of motion vector values includes a plurality of predetermined motion vector values, and each of the predetermined motion vector values is assigned to at least one block in each of the area units.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining a video deinterlacing strategy are disclosed. First, all the pixels of a (i+2)th field are subtracted from the corresponding pixels of the ith field to obtain a difference field. Next, a specific check-area is located according to the difference field. Next, the ith field is combined with the (i+1)th field into a specific frame. Next, the combing phenomenon of the specific check-area in the specific frame is checked to determine the deinterlacing scheme for the pixels in the specific check-area.

Abstract: An image interpolation processing device is provided for interpolating at least one line between two adjacent lines. A prefetch unit is to prefetch pixel data of the two adjacent lines with a predetermined pixel length, so as to obtain a plurality of basic characteristics that are then stored in a first register. A characteristic processing unit is used for cutting and/or linking the basic characteristics to generate at least one set of linked characteristics. The linked characteristics are stored in a second register, as a reference for an operation unit to perform the interpolation. The operations between the operation unit and the prefetch unit are separated by a predetermined edge length.

Abstract: A block matching method for estimating a motion vector of an estimation block of an image frame is provided, which includes comparing the estimation block with at least one reference block corresponding to a first object to obtain a plurality of pixel difference values, determining a mask area corresponding to the first object and a calculation area corresponding to a second object in the estimation block, and performing blocking matching operations on the calculation area to determine a motion vector of the second object as the motion vector of the estimation block.

Abstract: An image processing method and device thereof are provided. The device includes a capture device and a processor. The capture device is adopted for receiving a plurality of frames and comparing at least two adjacent frames to obtain an area selection signal according to a differential value there-between. The processor is connected to the capture device for receiving the area selection signal and to separate each of the adjacent frames into at least two areas. Each of the areas of the adjacent frames is performed by an image processing step respectively, and then the images of the areas are combined to obtain a resulted frame.