Paul Willem Albert Cornelis Biezen

True-motion estimation with 3-D recursive search block matching

A new recursive block-matching motion estimation algorithm with only eight candidate vectors per block is presented. A fast convergence and a high accuracy, also in the vicinity of discontinuities in the velocity plane, was realized with such new techniques as bidirectional convergence and convergence accelerators. A new search strategy, asynchronous cyclic search, which allows a highly efficient implementation, is presented. A new block erosion postprocessing proposal further effectively eliminates block structures from the generated vector field. Measured with criteria relevant for the field rate conversion application, the new motion estimator is shown to have a superior performance over alternative algorithms, while its complexity is significantly less. >

Sub-pixel motion estimation with 3-D recursive search block-matching

Abstract Recently the 3-D Recursive Search Block-Matching algorithm was introduced as a high quality, low-cost, true-motion estimation method suitable for critical field rate conversion applications. In thisarticle an extension of the algorithm is presented that provides a sub-pixel accuracy of the estimated motion vectors. This significantly broadens the applicability of the algorithm in the area of interlaced-to-sequential scan conversion and coding. The extension is such that it hardly adds any calculational complexity, which implies that the attractiveness of the algorithm for a VLSI implementation remains high. Even more, a simplified version of the algorithm, the Y-prediction block-matcher, is suggested that offers sub-pixel accuracy, a large range of motion vectors, and an extremely low complexity requiring only four candidate vectors per block. An evaluation of this estimator is included in the paper.

An evolutionary architecture for motion-compensated 100 Hz television

In this paper, recently developed algorithms for high quality motion-compensated up-conversion are combined in a new architecture closely resembling that of current 100 Hz consumer television sets. By merging the motion estimation and the motion compensation part, the estimated silicon area could be reduced to a level where the entire functionality can be realized with one processing chip replacing the currently used 100 Hz processing chip. This enables a simple evolution towards motion compensated 100 Hz TV, considered to be very attractive. The architectural choice, and the wish to share expensive memories, requires some modifications in the motion estimator and up-convertor design which are discussed. The specific case of movie programs is dealt with, and it is also shown how the evolutionary architecture can achieve a significantly improved motion portrayal for this movie material. >

Graceful Degradation in Motion-Compensated Field-Rate Conversion

Abstract Recent motion estimation algorithms have reached a quality level that allows an improved motion portrayal for field rate conversion systems. As, in practice, still situations may occur in which motion estimation fails, a strategy for graceful degradation is required, to prevent the possible artifacts resulting from the processing from outweighing its advantages. In this paper both a global fall back detection and processing mode is introduced, and a novel method applying ordered statistical filtering in the up-convertor that realizes a graceful degradation for local errors in the estimated motion vector field.