Patent attributes
A first block size motion searching device (4) detects a motion vector with respect to each of blocks by a unit of variable blocks in the smallest first block size. A feature value extracting device (6) detects a feature value between the adjacent blocks. A motion search determining device (7) determines by utilizing the feature value whether or not the motion search should be executed in the second to nth block sizes. A search center generating device (8), a search area generating device (9) and a selected block size motion searching device (10) selects the second to nth block sizes and detects the motion vector. A block size determining device (11) determines the block size having a high efficiency.