A still image encoder based on adaptive resolution vector quantization employing needless calculation elimination architecture

We have developed an advanced vector quantization (VQ) encoding hardware for still image encoding systems. By utilizing needless calculation elimination methods, the computational cost of VQ encoding is reduced to 40% or less, while maintaining the accuracy of full-search VQ. We have successfully implemented the advanced encoding method and adaptive resolution VQ (AR-VQ), which realizes a compression ratio over 1/200 while maintaining image quality, into a still image encoding processor. The processor can compress a still image of 1600×2400 pixels within one second, which is 60 times faster than software implementation on current PCs.