Abstract

A local region image tracking apparatus continuously tracks an arbitrary local region within a search image which is described by search image data by comparing the search image data and reference image data related to the arbitrary local region having a size of am pixels by bn pixels with respect to input image data, where the search image has a size larger than am pixels by bn pixels, and a, b, m and n are natural numbers. The local region image tracking apparatus includes correlation computing circuit for computing a correlation between reference image data related to a reference image having a size of m pixels by n pixels and the search image data a plurality of times while moving a position of the reference image with respect to the search image, and for outputting correlation values respectively indicating a computed correlation, and a correlation value accumulating circuit for accumulating the correlation values output from the correlation computing circuit, and for outputting a correlation value indicative of a correlation between the search image data and reference image data related to an equivalent of a reference image having a size of am pixels by bn pixels.