JP2000155012A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the synchronization of an image pickup device from being disturbed when the timing of the synchronization signal outputted to the image pickup device is changed. SOLUTION: The timing of the sinchronization signal is changed by changing the set values written on a horizontal register 14 and a vertical register 17. The operation of a set value change section 19 rewriting the set value is implemented by the authorization signal outputted when a rewrite authorization signal generation section 18 detects the time zone other than the output period of horizontal and vertical synchronization signals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for use in image recognition and the like, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus in which synchronization of an image pickup apparatus is prevented from being disturbed by changing the timing of a synchronization signal. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an electronic component mounting apparatus for mounting an electronic component on a circuit board, the electronic component is mounted in a correct position on the circuit board in a correct position by recognizing the positions and postures of the electronic component and the circuit board. As described above, the electronic component and the circuit board are respectively imaged by the imaging device, and the captured images are input to the image processing device to recognize the position / posture of the electronic component and the position of the circuit board. A correction operation of the component mounting position is performed. Such an image processing apparatus is used for the purpose of automating a visual inspection, and obtains data such as the area and the center of gravity of an object from an image.

In such an image processing apparatus, it is necessary that the image pickup apparatus and the image processing apparatus are synchronized, and when performing image processing by switching a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, the image processing apparatus is synchronized with the image processing apparatus. The internal synchronization method is adopted to match That is, by outputting the same synchronization signal from the image processing device to a plurality of imaging devices, all the imaging devices can be operated at the same timing. Also,
It is possible to adjust the position of the image by adjusting the synchronization signal.When overlaying the image input from the imaging device and the image in the image processing device, adjusting the relative positions of the images. It is effective for

FIG. 2 shows the structure of an image processing apparatus according to the prior art.
An example in which two CCD cameras 21a and 21b are connected is shown. The two CCD cameras 21a and 21b are connected to the image processing device 20 by selection switching by the analog switch 25. Selected CCD camera 21
The image signal is digitally converted by the A / D converter 26 and stored in the image memory 27, and the arithmetic unit 28 performs image processing on the image data stored in the image memory 27. Also, since the synchronization signal output from the synchronization signal generator 24 is input to each of the CCD cameras 21a and 21b,
The CCD cameras 21a and 21b perform image scanning at the same timing.

[0005]

In the above configuration, when the image input from the image pickup device and the image in the image processing device are displayed as an overlay, the arithmetic section changes the timing of the synchronization signal. The command is output to the synchronization signal generator 24. At this time, the synchronization signal generator 24 changes the output timing of the synchronization signal in accordance with the input of the command signal from the calculator 28. Therefore, if this is executed at an arbitrary timing, the synchronization signal pulse may be missing or incomplete. Become. In response to this, the CCD camera 21 enters a state where synchronization is not achieved due to the disorder of the periodicity of the synchronization signal pulse,
It takes approximately one second for synchronizing to the changed synchronizing signal. During this time, the image signal input from the CCD camera 21 to the image processing device 20 is transmitted to the image processing device 2.
The state is shifted from the internal synchronization of 0, and the CCD camera 21 waits for the input of the next synchronized image signal, which hinders speeding up of image processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus which speeds up image processing by avoiding disturbance of synchronization with an imaging apparatus by changing the timing of a synchronization signal.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus configured to process an image signal input from an imaging device and output a synchronization signal to the imaging device. A horizontal synchronizing signal generating unit for generating a horizontal synchronizing signal by comparing the count value of the basic clock with a set value of a timing for generating a horizontal synchronizing signal stored in a horizontal register; A vertical synchronizing signal generating unit for generating a vertical synchronizing signal by comparing the setting value of the timing for generating the vertical synchronizing signal stored in the register, and a setting value changing unit for rewriting the setting values stored in the horizontal register and the vertical register And a permission signal for operating the set value changing section at a predetermined timing that does not affect the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal. It is configured to include a rewrite permission signal generation unit which is characterized by comprising.

According to the above configuration, the predetermined timing which does not affect the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal is detected by the rewrite permission signal generating section, and when the predetermined timing is detected, the operation of the set value changing section is permitted. When the timing of the synchronization signal is changed, when the setting values stored in the horizontal register and the vertical register are rewritten by the setting value changing unit when the rewriting permission signal generation unit permits the synchronization signal, the synchronization signal output to the imaging device is disturbed. Does not cause
The imaging device can input an image scanned at the timing of the changed synchronization signal to the image processing device.

In the above configuration, the rewrite permission signal generator detects a time zone other than the output period of the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal, and outputs a signal for permitting the operation to the set value changing unit during this period. Can be configured. In a time period during which the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal are not output, even if the setting values stored in the horizontal register and the vertical register are rewritten, the synchronization signal output to the imaging device is not affected.

[0010] The rewriting permission signal generating unit may be configured to detect the end of one frame of the image signal input from the imaging device and output a signal for permitting the operation to the set value changing unit. it can. From the end of one frame of the image signal to the start of scanning of the next frame,
Changing the timing of the synchronization signal does not affect the synchronization of the imaging device, so that the rewrite permission signal generation unit can permit the set value change unit to change in this time zone.

The rewrite permission signal generator may be configured to detect a timing at which the vertical address value changes, and to output a signal for permitting the operation to the set value changer during this time. Since the end of one frame of the image signal can also be detected by detecting the vertical address value, the rewrite permission signal generating section can permit the setting value changing section to change the vertical address value.

The set value changing section and the rewrite permission signal generating section are provided in an arithmetic section which operates based on a predetermined image processing program, and are used for changing the timing of the synchronization signal set in the image processing program. It can be configured to perform a predetermined operation upon request. In response to a request to change the timing of the synchronization signal set in the image processing program, the arithmetic unit allows the set value changing unit to change the set value by detecting each of the rewritable time zones by the rewrite permission signal generating unit.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention.
The embodiment described below is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which image signals input from two CCD cameras (imaging devices) 2a and 2b configured as two-dimensional cameras are output. It is configured as an image processing device 1 for processing.

The image processing apparatus 1 includes two CCD cameras 2
a, an analog switch 3 for selectively switching image signal input from 2b, an A / D converter 4 for digitally converting an image signal, an image memory 5 for storing digitally converted image data, and an image memory 5 A computing unit 6 for performing image processing on the image data obtained, and a synchronizing signal generating unit 7 for outputting a synchronizing signal to each of the CCD cameras 2a and 2b
It is comprised including. Each CCD camera 2a, 2b
Scans an image in synchronization with a synchronization signal output from the synchronization signal generator 7, so that each CCD camera 2a, 2C
b can be operated at the same timing.

The synchronizing signal generator 7 is configured as follows. The basic clock generator 11 generates a basic clock signal. This basic clock is counted up by the horizontal counter 12. Horizontal register 14
The arithmetic unit 6 has written therein a set value of a timing necessary for generating a horizontal synchronizing signal.

The horizontal synchronizing signal generator 8 is provided with a horizontal counter 1
The horizontal synchronization signal is generated by comparing the count value of 2 with the set value written in the horizontal register 14. The vertical counter 15 counts up the clock output from the horizontal counter 12. Vertical register 1
The arithmetic unit 6 writes a set value of a timing necessary for generating a vertical synchronization signal in 7. The vertical synchronizing signal generator 9 compares the count value of the vertical counter 15 with the set value written in the vertical register 17 to generate a vertical synchronizing signal.

The arithmetic unit 6 writes the image data stored in the image memory 5 based on the image processing program to the horizontal register 14 and the vertical register 17 in addition to the image processing unit 10 for performing image processing. When the set value is changed, the horizontal address and the vertical address are read from the horizontal address register 13 and the vertical address register 16 to detect a predetermined timing, and a permission signal for permitting the change operation is output to the set value changing unit 19. Rewrite enable signal generating section 18 and rewrite enable signal generating section 1
A setting value changing unit 19 is provided for writing a setting value specified by the image processing unit 10 into the horizontal register 14 and the vertical register 17 when a permission signal is input from the control unit 8.

In the above configuration, when the image processing program is set to display the image input from the image pickup apparatus and the image generated by the image processing section 10 in an overlay manner, the same processing is artificially performed. When the image processing unit 10 is to perform the operation, the image processing unit 10 outputs to the set value changing unit 19 the timing set value of the synchronization signal for shifting the position of the image from the predetermined position by a predetermined amount, and sends the set value to the rewrite permission signal generating unit 18. The rewriting timing is detected.
The rewrite permission signal generator 18 is provided with the horizontal counter 12
And the count values of the vertical counter 15 are read from the horizontal address register 13 and the vertical address register 16, respectively, and a time period other than the output period of the synchronization pulse is detected from the horizontal address register 13 and the vertical address register 16 and within that time period. The permission signal is output to the set value changing unit 19. The set value changing unit 19 to which the permission signal has been input.
Changes the set values of the horizontal register 14 and the vertical register 17.

The horizontal register 14 and the vertical register 1
7, the timing of the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals can be changed. In addition, the rewriting permission signal generating section 18 detects a time period in which no abnormality is caused in the synchronization signal, and outputs a permission signal for changing the set value in this time period, thereby causing the CCD camera 2 to lose synchronization. The synchronization timing can be changed without any change. Accordingly, there is no loss time due to re-synchronization due to the disturbance of synchronization, and the image processing operation can be sped up.

The generation of the permission signal by the rewrite permission signal generator 18 is based on one of the image signals input from the imaging device.
When the end of the frame is detected, a signal for permitting the operation may be output to the set value changing unit. It is also possible to detect the timing at which the vertical address value changes, and to output a signal permitting the operation to the set value changing unit during this time.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the timing of the synchronization signal output from the image processing apparatus is not changed, the synchronization of the imaging apparatus is not disturbed.
There is no loss time for re-synchronization due to the disturbance of synchronization, and image processing can be speeded up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image processing device 2 imaging device 6 calculation unit 7 synchronization signal generation unit 8 horizontal synchronization signal generation unit 9 vertical synchronization signal generation unit 10 image processing unit 11 basic clock generation unit 12 horizontal counter 14 horizontal register 15 vertical counter 17 vertical register 18 rewrite Enable signal generator 19 Set value changer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2F065 DD06 FF04 FF31 JJ03 JJ05 JJ26 MM22 QQ03 QQ23 QQ24 QQ25 QQ51 2G051 AA61 AA65 AB14 CA03 CA04 CA07 EA06 EA12 EA14 EB01 EB02 5B057 AA03 CH18 CH20

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus configured to perform image processing on an image signal input from an imaging apparatus and output a synchronization signal to the imaging apparatus, wherein a count value of a basic clock and a horizontal register are stored. A horizontal synchronizing signal generator that generates a horizontal synchronizing signal by comparing the set value of the timing for generating the horizontal synchronizing signal,
A vertical synchronizing signal generating unit that generates a vertical synchronizing signal by comparing the count value of the basic clock with the set value of the timing for generating the vertical synchronizing signal stored in the vertical register;
A setting value changing unit that rewrites the setting values stored in the horizontal register and the vertical register; and a rewriting that outputs a permission signal that causes the setting value changing unit to operate at a predetermined timing that does not affect the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal. An image processing apparatus comprising: a permission signal generation unit. 2. The rewriting permission signal generating section is configured to detect a time zone other than the output period of the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal, and to output a permission signal to the set value changing section during the detection. Item 2. The image processing apparatus according to Item 1. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rewriting permission signal generating section outputs a permission signal to the set value changing section when detecting the end of one frame of the image signal input from the imaging device. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rewrite permission signal generation section detects a timing at which the vertical address value changes, and outputs a signal for permitting the operation to the set value change section during this time. Image processing device. 5. A setting value changing section and a rewriting permission signal generating section are provided in an arithmetic section which operates based on a predetermined image processing program, and a timing change of a synchronization signal set in the image processing program is performed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured to perform a predetermined operation in response to a request.