JP2009078687A - Method and device for checking visibility of railroad signal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for checking visibility of a railroad signal without turning on or turning off a color lamp. <P>SOLUTION: The device for checking visibility of the railroad signal comprises an infrared ray emitting device 2 which is mounted on the railroad signal toward the checking point to perform the infrared ray emission 3 of the checking bit pattern, and a checking device 1. The checking device 1 comprises an infrared ray video camera 11 for performing the image pickup of the infrared ray emission 3 at the checking point, and an image processing unit including a control unit 14 which performs the image processing of the picked-up image to determine the identity of the checking bit pattern. The checking bit pattern consists of the first checking bit pattern for removing the diffused external light by the sun beam and the second checking bit pattern for performing the identification from any peripheral similar light source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention is a method and apparatus for confirming whether or not lighting and extinguishing of a railway traffic signal built at a specified distance can be confirmed, that is, a method and apparatus for confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved. The specified distance is also called a viewing distance, and is set to 600 m or 800 m, for example. In this specification, the railway traffic signal is a color light signal for railway, a sign or a special signal light emitter.

As a light source of a color lamp of a recent color light signal device for a railway, a signal light bulb is used as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-052988 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-213322 (Patent Document 2). Instead, LEDs are used. This is because it is possible to simultaneously achieve power saving and labor saving, such as eliminating the need for periodic bulb replacement work.

A railway traffic signal is a device that transmits train operation information to a train driver by turning on or off a color lamp. The above train operation information is transmitted by the train driver by visually confirming that the color lights of the railway traffic lights are turned on or off. Therefore, if the driver overlooks the signal, the train operation information is not correctly transmitted. There is a risk. In addition, since the railway traffic signal is built on the side of the track, there is a problem that the installation location is limited. Therefore, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-348784 (Patent Document 3), a wireless electronic tag having a wireless information tag stored therein is installed beside the track along with the wireless signal and mounted on the vehicle. Therefore, a wireless railroad sign that displays the sign information read at the time of passing through a train is proposed, but has not yet been implemented. Therefore, it is an information transmission method indispensable for the current train operation that the train driver visually confirms the sign information by turning on or off the color lights of the railway traffic lights.

For that reason, the railway traffic lights that transmit train operation information to the train driver have an appropriate light transmission direction so that the train driver can see the color lights from the viewing point. It must be erected to be oriented. Also, there must be no obstacles such as trees that block light on the optical path connecting the railway traffic signal and the viewing point. For this reason, it is important to confirm that the visibility of the railway traffic signal at the time of planting is properly secured. However, at present, workers are placed at each of the railway traffic signal building site and the viewing site. It is done manually.

Workers at the planting point adjust the light transmission direction by looking at the direction of the viewing point from the viewing permission confirmation peephole attached to the railway traffic signal. After that, when the worker at the viewing point can visually check whether the color lights of the railway traffic lights are turned on or off, it is confirmed that the visual permission of the railway traffic lights is acceptable. If it is not visible, it can be said that the railroad traffic signal is not approved. Therefore, it is checked whether there is an obstacle on the optical path, and if there is any, it is removed. If there are no obstacles, the workers at the planting site will communicate with the mobile phone or radio to adjust the light transmission direction of the railway traffic signal. The adjustment of the light transmission direction is performed by a fine adjustment while the worker at the planting point looks into the direction of the viewing point from the peep hole. Since this is accompanied by such manual work and visual confirmation by the worker, there is a problem in that confirmation of whether or not the visual approval of the railway traffic signal so far is inefficient. In addition, actually turning on or off the railway traffic lights during business hours during the day for visual approval / disapproval confirmation work will give incorrect train operation information to the train driver, which is actually a difficult problem. is there.
JP 2000-052988 A JP 2001-213322 A JP 11-348784 A

A first problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved without actually turning on or off the traffic light so as not to affect the train driver. That is. The second problem to be solved by the present invention is to reliably remove the influence of disturbance light from sunlight and disturbance light from surrounding light sources in an apparatus for confirming whether or not a railway traffic light is approved for viewing using infrared rays. is there. In addition, in this specification, infrared rays are electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of 0.7 μm to 1000 μm including near infrared rays, middle infrared rays, and far infrared rays.

A method of confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved for viewing is a method of causing an infrared light emitter attached to a railway traffic signal to emit infrared light of a bit pattern for confirmation toward the viewing point, and A method for determining the identity of a railway traffic signal by using the infrared video camera to determine the identity of a pattern obtained by performing image processing on a captured image of the infrared video camera and the confirmation bit pattern. It is.

An apparatus for confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved for viewing that solves the above-described problem is an infrared light emitter that is attached to a railway traffic signal toward the viewing point and emits an infrared light of a confirmation bit pattern. And an image processing device for determining the identity of the light emission pattern obtained by image processing of the image captured by the infrared video camera and the confirmation bit pattern.

According to the present invention, there has been provided a method and apparatus for confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved without actually turning on or off the traffic signal so as not to affect the train driver. Further, according to the present invention, erroneous train operation information is no longer given to the train driver during the confirmation work of whether or not the railway traffic signal is approved. In addition, the confirmation of whether or not the railway traffic signal is approved is not based on the subjectivity of the workers, but can be made based on quantitative judgment. Furthermore, the apparatus for confirming the approval or disapproval of the railway traffic signal according to the present invention can use commercially available apparatuses for the infrared video camera and the image processing apparatus among the three components, and the infrared light emitter is simple. Since it is a thing of a structure, it has the characteristics that manufacturing cost is cheap and workability | operativity is high.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention is an infrared light emitter that is attached to a railway traffic signal in the direction of a visual recognition point and emits infrared light of a confirmation bit pattern, an infrared video camera that photographs the infrared light emission at the visual recognition point, and An apparatus for confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved for viewing is composed of an image processing apparatus that determines the identity between a light emission pattern obtained by image processing of an image captured by the infrared video camera and the confirmation bit pattern. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus for confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved for viewing according to an embodiment of the present invention automatically determines the visual distance of the railway traffic signal 4 installed in the vicinity of the track 5 at the visual recognition point A by the confirmation apparatus 1. It is a device to check. The viewing point A is a predetermined viewing distance from the building point B of the railway traffic signal 4, that is, a point on the track 5 that is 600 m or 800 m away. The confirmation device 1 detects the infrared rays 3 blinking in a predetermined pattern of the infrared light emitters 2 attached to the railway traffic signal 4, and confirms whether or not the visual approval is permitted. The confirmation device 1 is a portable type, and the worker holds the confirmation device 1 at the visual recognition point A and performs confirmation work. Alternatively, the confirmation device 1 is mounted on a test train, and the test train is temporarily stopped at the visual recognition point A, and an operator operates the confirmation device 1 to perform confirmation work.

As shown in FIG. 2, the confirmation apparatus 1 includes an infrared video camera 11, an A / D conversion unit 12, and an image data storage unit 13. The confirmation device 1 further includes an image processing unit that performs image processing on the image data stored in the image data storage unit 13 and determines whether the railroad traffic signal is approved for viewing. The image processing unit includes a control unit 14 that performs arithmetic control according to a program, an input unit 15 that inputs various data, a setting unit 16 that performs various settings for arithmetic control, and a program storage unit that stores an arithmetic control program 17, a data storage unit 18 for storing various data, and a display unit 19 such as a liquid crystal display panel.

The infrared light emitter 2 is a device that generates infrared light emission 3 of a predetermined confirmation bit pattern, generates an infrared light emitting element 21 such as a highly directional infrared LED, and a predetermined confirmation bit pattern signal. The pattern signal generating circuit 22 is configured to cause the infrared light emitting element 21 to flash and emit light according to the signal. The confirmation bit pattern includes a first confirmation bit pattern for removing disturbance light caused by sunlight and a second confirmation bit pattern for distinguishing from surrounding similar light sources. This is because both the sunlight and the surrounding light sources contain the same components as the infrared rays of the infrared light emitting element 21, and the infrared rays of these components become disturbances at the time of confirmation of the visual approval.

The infrared light emission of the first confirmation bit pattern is performed by performing a binary N bit pattern at a frequency less than half of the sampling frequency of the infrared video camera 11 based on the Nyquist sampling theorem. The infrared light emission is performed at a frequency different from the first confirmation bit pattern and at a frequency equal to or lower than half the sampling frequency of the infrared video camera 11 according to a specific bit string. In this embodiment, the N bit is 8 bits and the sampling frequency of the infrared video camera 11 is 30 Hz. The first confirmation bit pattern is “01010101” and the second confirmation bit pattern is “00010001”.

In this embodiment, the image processing cycle of the confirmation apparatus 1 is set to 15 Hz which is half the sampling frequency 30 Hz of the infrared video camera 11, that is, the blinking frequency of the infrared light emitting element 21. In consideration of the fact that the rising and falling of the infrared light emitting element 21 are not necessarily steep, the infrared light emitting element 21 is synchronized with the blinking of the infrared light emitting element 21 and shifted by a quarter of the period of the infrared light emitting element 21 blinking. Two of them are used to take the timing of image processing of the confirmation device 1. Thereby, the reliability of the image processing of the confirmation apparatus 1 is ensured.

Hereinafter, the operation of the train forward railway signal / sign recognition device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the infrared light emitter 2 constituting the device for confirming whether or not the railway traffic signal is approved for viewing according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, the pattern signal generation circuit 22 of the infrared light emitter 2 generates a first N-bit pattern signal (101), and the infrared light-emitting element 21 emits light according to the first N-bit pattern signal (102). Subsequently, the pattern signal generation circuit 22 generates a second N-bit pattern signal (103), the infrared light emitting element 21 emits light according to the second N-bit pattern signal (104), and the process returns to the first step 101.

As described above, the first confirmation bit pattern is “01010101”, and the second confirmation bit pattern is “00010001”. In short, when the power switch is turned on, the infrared light emitter 2 first blinks in accordance with the first confirmation bit pattern “01010101”, that is, “blink” “light” “light” “light” “light” “light” “ Infrared light emission of “blink” and “light” is performed, and then blinking according to the second confirmation bit pattern “00010001”, that is, “bill” “bill” “bill” “light” “bill” “bill” “bill” “ In the same manner, the infrared light emission of the first confirmation bit pattern and the infrared light emission of the second confirmation bit pattern are repeated.

Next, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the confirmation device 1 constituting the device for confirming whether or not the railway traffic signal is approved according to the embodiment of the present invention first performs photographing and image processing corresponding to the first confirmation bit pattern, After that, photographing and image processing corresponding to the second confirmation bit pattern are performed, and finally, confirmation of the visual approval of the confirmation light emitter is performed.

First, in photographing and image processing corresponding to the first confirmation bit pattern, the infrared camera 11 of the confirmation device 1 arranged at the viewing point A photographs the front including the railway traffic signal 4 at a sampling frequency of 30 Hz, and the photographed image. Is converted into digital data by the A / D conversion unit 12 and stored in the image data storage unit 13 (201).

Subsequently, the control unit 14 performs image processing at a cycle of 15 Hz, which is half the sampling frequency 30 Hz of the infrared video camera 11, and at a timing shifted by a quarter of the cycle synchronized with the blinking cycle of the infrared light emitting element 21. Do.

Following step 201, the control unit 14 reads out one frame of image data from the image data storage unit 13, and extracts the black when the bit is 0 in accordance with the first 8-bit pattern “01010101”. When the bit is 1, binarization processing is performed on each image from which white is extracted, and the processing result is stored in the data storage unit 18 (202).

Subsequently, the control unit 14 determines whether or not 8-bit data has accumulated (203). If No, the process flow returns to step 201, and if Yes, the process flow proceeds to step 205. In short, the processing from step 201 to step 202 is continuously performed until binary image data for 8 bits is accumulated in the data storage unit 18.

Following step 203, the control unit 14 performs a logical product of the 8-bit binary image data stored in the data storage unit 18, and stores the resulting logical product P in the data storage unit 18 (204). . That is, in step 204, the data corresponding to the first 8-bit pattern “01010101” remains as “1” in the binary image data, and the data in which the other area is “0” is stored in the data storage unit 18. Is done.

When shooting and image processing corresponding to the first confirmation bit pattern are completed, shooting and image processing corresponding to the second confirmation bit pattern are performed. That is, following step 204, the infrared camera 11 of the confirmation device 1 arranged at the viewing point A captures the front including the railway traffic signal 4 with a sampling frequency of 30 Hz, and the captured image is digitally converted by the A / D converter 12. The data is converted and stored in the image data storage unit 13 (205).

Next, the control unit 14 reads out one frame of image data from the image data storage unit 13 and performs a binarization process for extracting black when the image is 0 in accordance with the second bit pattern “0010001”. When the value is 1, binarization processing for extracting white is performed, and the processing result is stored in the data storage unit 18 (206).

Subsequently, the control unit 14 determines whether or not 8-bit data has accumulated (207). If No, the process flow returns to step 205, and if Yes, the process flow proceeds to step 208. In short, the processing from step 205 to step 206 is continuously performed until data of 8 bits is accumulated in the data storage unit 18.

Following step 207, the control unit 14 performs a logical product of the 8-bit binary image data stored in the data storage unit 18, and stores the resultant logical product Q in the data storage unit 18 (204). . That is, in step 207, data corresponding to the second 8-bit pattern “00010001” remains as “1” in the binary image data, and data in which the other area is “0” is stored in the data storage unit 18. Is done.

When the photographing and image processing corresponding to the above-described second confirmation bit pattern are completed, the confirmation device 1 performs confirmation processing for confirming whether the confirmation light emitter is approved. That is, following step 208, the control unit 14 calculates and stores the logical product R of the logical product P and the logical product Q stored in the data storage unit 18 (209).

Following step 209, the controller 14 evaluates the logical product R (210). In other words, if there is a region “1” in the logical product R, this indicates that the blinking of the infrared light emitting element 21 of the infrared light emitter 2 has been confirmed by the confirmation device 1. In other words, the determination result of whether the railway traffic signal is approved or not is Yes. If there is no “1” area in the logical product R, that is, if all the areas are “0”, in this case, the flashing of the infrared light emitting element 21 of the infrared light emitter 2 can be confirmed by the confirmation device 1. It means that there was no. In other words, the determination result of whether the railway traffic signal is approved or not is No.

If the determination result in step 210 is Yes, since it is confirmed that the railroad traffic signal can be approved for viewing, the apparatus for confirming whether the railroad traffic signal is approved for viewing ends the processing. If the determination result in step 210 is No, it is determined that the railroad traffic signal is not approved for viewing, and the flow of processing proceeds to step 211. That is, in step 211, the worker checks the presence or absence of an obstacle on the optical path, and if there is, removes it. If there is no obstacle, contact the worker at the planting point B with a mobile phone and adjust the light transmission direction of the railway traffic light. Then, the process flow returns to the first step 201. The control unit 14 causes the display unit 19 to perform the determination result of step 210 and notifies the worker of the confirmation apparatus 1. The display of the determination result is, for example, a display such as “confirmed” or “unconfirmed”.

As described above, the operation of the confirmation apparatus 1, particularly the flow of processing of the image processing unit of the confirmation apparatus 1 that determines the identity between the light emission pattern obtained by image processing of the image captured by the infrared video camera 11 and the confirmation bit pattern. Although described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, the present invention is of course not limited to the processing of this embodiment.

It is outline | summary explanatory drawing of the apparatus which confirms the visual approval disapproval of the railway traffic signal which concerns on this invention. It is a block block diagram of the apparatus which confirms the visual approval disapproval of the railway traffic signal which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of an infrared rays light emitter. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a confirmation apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Confirmation apparatus 2 Infrared light emitter 3 Infrared light emission 4 Railroad traffic light 5 Track 11 Infrared video camera 12 A / D conversion part 13 Image data storage part 14 Control part 15 Input part 16 Setting part 17 Program storage part 18 Data storage part 19 Display part 21 Pattern signal generation circuit 22 Infrared light emitting element A Viewing point B Building point

Claims (5)

An infrared light emitter attached to the railway traffic signal is made to emit infrared light of a confirmation bit pattern in the direction of the visual recognition point, and the infrared light emission is photographed by an infrared video camera at the visual recognition point, and the photographed image of the infrared video camera A method of confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved by judging the identity of a light emission pattern obtained by image processing and the confirmation bit pattern. An infrared light emitter that is attached to a railway traffic signal and faces the direction of the viewing point and emits infrared light of a confirmation bit pattern, an infrared video camera that photographs the infrared light emission at the viewing point, and a captured image of the infrared video camera An apparatus for confirming whether or not a railway traffic signal is approved for viewing, which is configured by an image processing apparatus that performs image processing and determines an identity between a captured light emission pattern and the confirmation bit pattern. The check bit pattern includes a first check bit pattern for removing disturbance light caused by sunlight and a second check bit pattern for distinguishing from surrounding similar light sources. The apparatus which confirms the visual approval disapproval of the railway traffic signal of 2.   Infrared light emission of the first confirmation bit pattern is performed with a binary N-bit pattern based on a Nyquist sampling theorem with a period of half or less of the sampling frequency of the infrared video camera, and the second confirmation The infrared light emission of the bit pattern for use is a pattern different from the first confirmation bit pattern, and is performed in a cycle less than half of the sampling frequency of the infrared video camera according to a specific bit string. The apparatus which confirms the visual approval disapproval of the railway traffic signal of 3. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the N bits are 8 bits.

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