JP2002271682A - Imaging system and imaging device used for the system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging system, in which the connection of a trigger signal is simplified, and to provide an imaging device used for the system. SOLUTION: In the imaging system, where a plurality of imaging devices an image a movable object, each imaging device 4a (4b, 4c) has at least an imaging means 5a (5b, 5c), an input terminal 6a (6b, 6c), an output terminal 13a, (13b, 13c), and a delay circuit 14a (14b, 14c) that delays a signal received at the input terminal by a prescribed time and gives the delayed signal to the output terminal, and the input terminal 6a of the 1st imaging device 4a is connected to a 1st line 15a, to receive a trigger signal from a trigger signal generator 9, and the output terminal 13a of the 1st imaging device 4a is connected to the input terminal 6b of the 2nd imaging device 4b via a 2nd line 15b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup system for picking up an image of a moving object with a plurality of image pickup devices and an image pickup device used for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional imaging system. FIG. 2 shows that a can 2 is placed on a belt conveyor 1.
a, cans 2b, and 2c are placed at intervals, and when the belt conveyor 1 moves in the direction of the arrow, the cans 2a, 2b, and 2c have a plurality of cans, such as labels and bars. This is an imaging system that inspects whether or not the codes are correctly pasted or displayed at predetermined locations by photographing the codes.

The imaging devices 4a, 4b, and 4c are arranged corresponding to the positions where the cans 2a, 2b, and 2c are located. Each of the imaging devices 4a, 4b, and 4c includes the cans 2a, 2c.
It is set so that images of different parts b and 2c are taken.

Each of the image pickup devices 4a, 4b, 4c includes an image pickup means 5a, 5b, 5c, a trigger signal input terminal 6a, 6b, 6c, and a serial bus standard IEEE13.
94-compliant personal computer signal input / output terminals 7a and 8
a, PC signal input / output terminals 7b and 8b based on the serial bus standard IEEE1394, PC signal input / output terminal 7 based on the serial bus standard IEEE1394
c and 8c.

[0005] The imaging means 5a, 5b, 5c capture images of different portions of the cans 2a, 2b, 2c in response to trigger signals input from trigger signal input terminals 5a, 5b, 5c, respectively. The imaging outputs of the imaging means 5a, 5b, 5c are connected to personal computer signal input / output terminals 7a, 7b, 7c.
The personal computer signal input / output terminals 7a, 7b, 7c are connected to the personal computer signal input / output terminals 8a, 8b, 8c.

In addition, sensors 3a and 3b, a trigger generator 9, and a personal computer 10 are provided.

The sensors 3 a and 3 b detect when the can 2 a has moved and passed, generate a timing pulse, and send it to the trigger generator 9. The trigger generator 9 generates a photographing trigger signal based on the timing pulse.

Conventionally, as the photographing trigger signal,
Cables 11a, 11b, 11c are connected to trigger signal input terminals 6a, 6b, 6c of the respective imaging devices 4a, 4b, 4c.
c, an imaging trigger signal corresponding to each of these imaging devices has been separately input.

The personal computer signal input / output terminal 7a is used to exchange signals with the personal computer 10.
4 is connected to a PC signal input / output terminal 8a, and a personal computer signal input / output terminal 8b is connected to a personal computer signal input / output terminal 7b by an IEEE1394 compliant cable 12b. 7c, the image picked up by the image pickup means is displayed on the personal computer 10 for inspection.

[0010]

As described above,
Conventionally, a trigger signal from a trigger generator 9 is transmitted to a trigger signal input terminal 6 of each of the imaging devices 4a, 4b, and 4c.
Wiring is complicated because the signals are separately input to the cables a, 6b, and 6c via the cables 11a, 11b, and 11c.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup system in which connection of a trigger signal is simplified and an image pickup apparatus used therefor.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a sensor for detecting the movement of a moving object, a trigger signal generator for generating a trigger signal in accordance with the detected sensor output, and a plurality of imaging devices. Then, in an imaging system that captures the moving object with each of the plurality of imaging devices according to the trigger signal output from the trigger signal generator, each of the imaging devices receives a trigger signal, The plurality of imaging devices, comprising: imaging means for imaging in response to the input trigger signal; means for delaying the input trigger signal by a predetermined delay amount; and means for outputting the delayed trigger signal. A trigger signal from the trigger signal generator is input to the trigger signal input means of the first imaging device, and each imaging except the first imaging device is performed. An imaging system characterized by inputting a trigger signal delayed respectively from the trigger signal output means of the respective other imaging device to the trigger signal input means location.

According to the present invention, in an imaging system for imaging a moving object with a plurality of imaging devices, each of the plurality of imaging devices includes an imaging device and an imaging trigger signal for supplying the imaging trigger signal to the imaging device. Input terminal, output terminal,
At least a delay circuit for delaying a signal input to the input terminal by a predetermined time and supplying the delayed signal to the output terminal, wherein the input terminal of a first imaging device among the plurality of imaging devices is configured to move the moving object; Is connected to a first line for inputting a trigger signal from a trigger generator generated in response to a timing pulse from a sensor that has detected the signal, and the output terminal of the first imaging device is connected to a first line of the plurality of imaging devices. An image pickup system is connected to the input terminal of the second image pickup device through a second line.

In the present invention, the output terminal of the second imaging device is connected to the input terminal of a third imaging device of the plurality of imaging devices via a third line. System.

In the present invention, each of the plurality of imaging devices further includes an input / output first terminal, and means for controlling a delay time of the delay circuit by a control signal from the input / output first terminal. An input / output second terminal for outputting a control signal from the input / output first terminal, wherein the input / output first terminal of a first imaging device of the plurality of imaging devices is configured to output the control signal from a personal computer. And the second input / output terminal of the first imaging device is connected to the fifth input / output first terminal of the second imaging device of the plurality of imaging devices. An imaging system characterized by being connected by:

In the present invention, the second input / output terminal of the second imaging device is connected to a third one of the plurality of imaging devices.
An imaging system, wherein the input / output first terminal of the imaging device is connected to a sixth line.

According to the present invention, there is provided an imaging system, wherein an imaging output of the imaging means is connected to the input / output first terminal.

In the present invention, the first input / output terminal and the second input / output terminal are connected to a serial bus standard IEEE1.
394 is a terminal conforming to 394.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image pickup means, an input terminal for supplying an image pickup trigger signal to the image pickup means, an output terminal, and a signal inputted to the input terminal, which is delayed for a predetermined time to the output terminal. An image pickup apparatus comprising at least a delay circuit for supplying.

In the present invention, further, an input / output first terminal, means for controlling a delay time of the delay circuit by a control signal from the input / output first terminal, and a control signal from the input / output first terminal An imaging device comprising an input / output second terminal for outputting.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus wherein an image pickup output of the image pickup means is connected to the input / output first terminal.

In the present invention, the input terminal and the output terminal are terminals conforming to the serial bus standard IEEE1394.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an imaging system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 1, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Each of the imaging devices 4a, 4b, 4c further includes a trigger signal output terminal 13a, 13b, 13c, a trigger signal input terminal 6a, 6b, 6c, and a trigger signal output terminal 1.
Delay circuit 14 connected between 3a, 13b and 13c
a, 14b and 14c. This delay circuit 14
a, 14b and 14c are personal computer signal input / output terminals 7a,
7b and 7c are also connected.

The trigger signal input terminal 6a is connected to a cable 15a for inputting a photographing trigger signal from the trigger generator 9, and the trigger signal output terminal 13a is connected to the trigger signal input terminal 6b by a cable 15b. The output terminal 13b is connected to the trigger signal input terminal 6c by a cable 15c.

An example of the delay circuits 14a, 14b and 14c includes a programmable counter and a D-flip-flop, and counts a clock signal input to the programmable counter by a predetermined delay amount corresponding to a signal from the personal computer 10. The delay time of the trigger signal input from the D-flip-flop based on the trigger signal from the trigger input terminal 6a, 6b, 6c to the image pickup means 5a, 5b, 5c is determined by the setting position of the image pickup device. Or the moving speed of a belt conveyor.

In the drawings, the sensors 3a and 3b are photo sensors or infrared sensors, but another image pickup device may be prepared to detect the can.

[0027]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image pickup system in which connection of a trigger signal is simplified and an image pickup apparatus used therefor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an imaging system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional imaging system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... belt conveyor, 2a, 2b, 2c ... can, 3a, 3
b: sensor, 4a, 4b, 4c: imaging device, 5a, 5
b, 5c: imaging means, 6a, 6b, 6c: trigger signal input terminal, 7a, 7b, 7c: personal computer signal input / output terminal, 8a, 8b, 8c: personal computer signal input / output terminal, 9 ...
Trigger signal generator, 10 ... PC, 11a, 11
b, 11c: cable, 12a, 12b, 12c: cable, 13a, 13b, 13c: trigger signal output terminal, 14a, 14b, 14c: delay circuit, 15a, 15
b, 15c ... cable.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Katsumasa Ueno 32 Miyukicho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo F-term in Hitachi Kokusai Electric Koganei Factory (reference) 5C022 AA01 AB61 AB64 AB65 5C054 AA04 EF06 FC13 FF02 HA01 HA03

Claims (11)

[Claims] A sensor for detecting a movement of a moving object; a trigger signal generator for generating a trigger signal in accordance with the detected sensor output; and a plurality of imaging devices. In an imaging system that captures the moving object with each of the plurality of imaging devices in response to the output trigger signal, each of the imaging devices includes a means for inputting a trigger signal, and An imaging unit that captures an image in response to the input signal; a unit that delays the input trigger signal by a predetermined delay amount; and a unit that outputs the delayed trigger signal. A trigger signal from the trigger signal generator is input to the trigger signal input means of the device, and the trigger of each imaging device except the first imaging device is input. Imaging system characterized by inputting a trigger signal delayed respectively from the trigger signal output means of the respective other imaging device to over the signal input means. 2. An imaging system for imaging a moving object with a plurality of imaging devices, wherein each of the plurality of imaging devices includes an imaging unit and an input terminal for supplying an imaging trigger signal to the imaging unit. An output terminal, and at least a delay circuit for delaying a signal input to the input terminal for a predetermined time and supplying the delayed signal to the output terminal, wherein the input terminal of a first imaging device of the plurality of imaging devices is Connected to a first line for inputting a trigger signal from a trigger generator generated in response to a timing pulse from a sensor that has detected the movement of the moving object, wherein the output terminal of the first imaging device is An imaging system, wherein the imaging system is connected to the input terminal of a second imaging device of the plurality of imaging devices via a second line. 3. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the output terminal of the second imaging device is a third one of the plurality of imaging devices.
An image pickup system, wherein the input terminal of the image pickup apparatus is connected by a third line. 4. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of image pickup apparatuses further includes a first input / output terminal and a control signal from said first input / output terminal to control a delay time of said delay circuit. Controlling means, and an input / output second terminal for outputting a control signal from the input / output first terminal, wherein the input / output first terminal of a first imaging device of the plurality of imaging devices is connected to a personal computer. Connected to a fourth line for inputting the control signal, wherein the input / output second terminal of the first imaging device is connected to the input / output first terminal of a second imaging device of the plurality of imaging devices. An imaging system, wherein the imaging system is connected to a fifth line. 5. The input / output second terminal of the second imaging device is connected to a sixth input / output first terminal of a third imaging device of the plurality of imaging devices. An imaging system characterized by being connected by: 6. An imaging system according to claim 4, wherein a signal imaged by said imaging means is connected to said input / output first terminal. 7. The imaging system according to claim 4, wherein said first input / output terminal and said second input / output terminal are terminals compliant with a serial bus standard IEEE1394. 8. An image pickup means, an input terminal for supplying an image pickup trigger signal to the image pickup means, an output terminal, and a signal inputted to the input terminal delayed by a predetermined time and supplied to the output terminal. An imaging device comprising at least a delay circuit. 9. The input / output first terminal according to claim 8, further comprising: an input / output first terminal; means for controlling a delay time of the delay circuit by a control signal from the input / output first terminal; An imaging apparatus comprising: an input / output second terminal that outputs a control signal of (i). 10. An imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a signal imaged by said imaging means is connected to said input / output first terminal. 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said input terminal and said output terminal are serial bus standard IEEE13.
An imaging device, characterized in that the terminal is a terminal conforming to 94.