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Virginia Tech

A Low-Power Design of Motion Estimation Blocks for Low Bit-Rate Wireless Video Communications

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Motion estimation and motion compensation comprise one of the most important compression methods for video communications. We propose a low-power design of a motion estimation block for a low bit-rate video codec standard H.263. Since the motion estimation is computationally intensive to result in large power consumption, a low-power design is essential for portable or mobile systems. Our block employs the Four-Step Search (4SS) method as its primary algorithm. The design and the algorithm have been optimized to provide adequate results for low-quality video at low-power consumption. The model is developed in VHDL and synthesized using a 0.35 um CMOS library. Power consumption of both gate-level circuits and memory-accesses have been considered. Gate-level simulation shows the proposed design offers a 38% power reduction over a "baseline" implementation of a 4SS model and a 60% power reduction over a baseline Three-Step Search (TSS) model. Power savings through reduction of memory access is 26% over the TSS model and 32% over the 4SS model. The total power consumption of the proposed motion estimation block ranges from 7 - 9 mW and is dependent on the type of video being motion estimated.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2001

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Richmond II, Richard Steven
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Ha, Dong Sam
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Reed, Jeffrey H.
  • Armstrong, James R.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-03132001-140635
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/31458

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Richmond II, Richard Steven. A Low-Power Design of Motion Estimation Blocks for Low Bit-Rate Wireless Video Communications. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/31458