Scalable module-based architecture for MPEG-4 BMA motion estimation

In this paper, we present a scalable module-based architecture for block matching motion estimation algorithm of MPEG-4. The basic module comprises one set of processing elements based on one-dimensional systolic array architecture. To support various applications, modules of processing elements can be configured to form the processing element array to meet the requirements, such as variable block size, search range and computation power. And this proposed architecture has the advantage of few I/O port counts. Based on eliminating unnecessary signal transitions in the processing element, power dissipation of datapath can be reduced to about half without decreasing the picture quality.