JP2001101416A - Device and method for processing image and inspecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of processing an image in a short time with simple configuration. SOLUTION: When an object 100 to be picked up is conveyed to a prescribed position, a trigger sensor 17 detects the object 100 to be picked up and transmits a trigger signal to an image processor 20. The image processor 20 sends a signal for controlling the emission of a stroboscope 13 of a first image pickup means 11 and the shutter of a first camera 12 in response to the trigger signal and image data photographed by the first camera 12 are sent to the image processor 20 as a video signal. The image processor 20 has a shutter/illumination control part 30 for delaying the generation of the trigger signal for prescribed time and transmits a shutter/stroboscope emitting signal to a second image pickup means 14 in the state of delay for the prescribed time. Image data picked up by a second camera 16 are stored in an image memory and processed after processing of an image due to the first camera 12 is finished.

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 capturing an image of an object to be captured using a camera combined with an illumination device such as a strobe, and processing the captured image.
The present invention relates to an image processing method and an inspection method, and more particularly, to an image processing device including a plurality of imaging devices, an image processing method, and an inspection method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of a conventional image processing apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 6, a conventional image processing apparatus comprises:
For example, a lighting device 113 such as a strobe and a camera 11
2 and a lighting device 114.
And a second imaging device 116 including a camera 115,
Connected to the first and second imaging devices 111 and 116,
And an image processing device 120 that inputs images captured by the cameras 112 and 115 and performs predetermined image processing.

In each of the imaging devices 111 and 116, the illumination devices 113 and 114 and the shutters of the cameras 112 and 115 are operated in conjunction with each other in response to a trigger signal to perform imaging.

[0005] First and second imaging devices 111 and 116
Performs image processing by capturing an image of the object to be imaged 100 such as an inspection object transported by a predetermined transport device, taking the image into the image processing device 120, and performing image processing.

A first camera 112 and a second camera 115
Each stage is provided for each, and the object to be imaged 100 is tact-fed between the stages. Image input is the first camera 1
12 and for each stage of the second camera 115. This means that a plurality of cameras 112,
In order to input images by irradiating illumination from 115 and inputting images, in order to avoid interference of mutual illumination, an image input stage is provided separately for each of the cameras 112 and 115,
This is because it is necessary to input an image and perform processing.

In the vicinity of the first image pickup device 111, a first trigger sensor 117 for driving the camera 112 and the illumination device 113 and generating a trigger for the camera 112 to pick up an image of an object to be inspected is provided. Can be Second imaging device 11
In the vicinity of 6, a second trigger sensor 118 that drives the camera 115 and the illumination device 114 and generates a trigger signal for capturing an image of the object 100 with the camera 115 is provided.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main part of a conventional image processing apparatus. Referring to FIG. 7, image processing apparatus 120
Is an A / D converter 12 that converts analog signals from the first camera 112 and the second camera 115 into digital signals.
1, 122, an image processing unit 124 that processes the respective digital signals, and a C that controls the entire image processing apparatus 120.
PU126. Signals from the first trigger sensor 117 for the first camera 112 and the second trigger sensor 118 for the second camera 115 are input to capture an image of an object at each stage. When the trigger signals from the first and second trigger sensors 117 and 118 are input, C
The PU 126 controls the first and second cameras 112 and 115 to turn on the shutters of the cameras.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image processing in a conventional image processing apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the conventional image processing apparatus, first, the object 100 is conveyed to a stage on which the first camera 112 is provided (step S111; steps are abbreviated below). Next, the first trigger sensor 117 detects the object to be imaged 100 and outputs a trigger signal to the image processing device 120 (S112). In response to this trigger signal, the shutter of the first camera 112 is turned on and the object 1
00, and the image is input to the image processing unit 124 via the A / D converter 121 to perform image processing.

Next, the object to be imaged 100 is the second camera 11
6 is transported by tact feeding to the stage provided (S115). The object to be imaged 100 is moved to the second trigger sensor 11
When 8 is detected, a trigger signal is output to the image processing device 120 (S116). In response to this trigger signal, the second
The shutter of the camera 115 is turned on to capture an image of the object 100 (S117). Then, the image captured by the second camera 115 is processed by the image processing unit 124 (S118).

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of processing in the conventional image processing apparatus processed as described above. Referring to FIG. 9, it takes about 35 ms to image the object 100 with the first imaging device 111 and perform image processing, and approximately 35 ms to image and perform image processing with the second imaging device 116. It took about 70 ms + tact transport time to complete the image processing using the first and second imaging devices. In the drawing, α is the image processing time.

[0013]

A conventional image processing apparatus for inputting an image using a plurality of image pickup devices and performing image processing using a plurality of image pickup devices, each including a set of a camera and a lighting device, is configured as described above. Was.

However, in such a conventional image processing apparatus, an image input stage is prepared for each image pickup apparatus, and an image is input at each stage. (1) The image input stage is provided for each camera. Multiple are required.

(2) It is necessary to tact-feed the object to be imaged for each stage. (3) It is necessary to input an image input trigger at each stage.

(4) It takes time to input an image in each of a plurality of cameras. There was a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus having a simple structure and capable of performing processing in a short time, and an image processing method. .

[0018]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for processing an image picked up by using an image pickup device in which a camera and a lighting device are set, according to a predetermined trigger signal. The apparatus is operated to take an image with the camera. The image processing device includes a plurality of imaging devices,
Image processing means for processing an image picked up by the image pickup device, wherein the plurality of image pickup devices are sequentially driven in response to a single trigger signal to pick up an image and process the image with the image processing device.

Since a plurality of image pickup devices are sequentially driven in response to a trigger signal from a single trigger sensor to continuously process a plurality of images, the image processing is simplified and the processing time is shortened. Equipment can be provided.

Here, the illumination device is preferably a strobe. In order to sequentially drive a plurality of imaging devices in response to a trigger signal from a single trigger sensor, a delay circuit that activates the next imaging device after a predetermined delay time with respect to the input of the trigger signal is provided. The delay time is preferably set to a desired time, but may be fixed depending on the device.

More preferably, the image processing means has a memory for storing an image picked up by the image pickup device, and temporarily (temporarily) stores image data picked up by the image pickup device in the memory.

The image processing means has a memory for each image pickup means in order to store the image data picked up by the image pickup apparatus in a memory, and the images are stored in the memory and processed in order by the image processing apparatus.

This memory does not necessarily need to be provided for each imaging device, and may be omitted for the first imaging.

In another aspect of the present invention, the first and second units each include a set of a lighting device and a camera.
A method of processing an image using an imaging unit includes: detecting an object to be imaged and generating a predetermined trigger signal; and capturing an image of the object by the first imaging unit in response to the trigger signal. A step of imaging the object by the second imaging means after a predetermined time has elapsed after the imaging by the first imaging means, and a step of sequentially processing the images captured by the first and second imaging means. Including.

Since a plurality of image pickup devices are sequentially driven in response to a trigger signal from a single trigger sensor and a plurality of images are continuously processed, the configuration is simplified and the image processing time is shortened. A method can be provided.

In still another aspect of the present invention, an inspection method includes a step of detecting an object to be imaged and generating a predetermined trigger signal, and a camera combined with an illumination device in response to the trigger signal. Detecting the first image of the object by the first imaging means, and, after a predetermined time has passed after receiving the trigger signal, the second imaging means comprising a camera combined with the illumination device, which is different from the first imaging means. Detecting a second image of the object; and determining whether the object satisfies predetermined requirements based on the first and second images.

In response to the trigger signal, the first image pickup means detects a first image of the object to be picked up.
The second imaging unit detects a second image of the object and determines whether the object satisfies predetermined requirements based on the first and second images. Inspection method can be provided with short time.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes an image pickup object 100, such as an inspection object, conveyed to a predetermined stage.
A first imaging unit 11 for imaging an image, and a second imaging unit 1
4 and an image processing apparatus 2 connected to the first and second image pickup means 11 and 14 for inputting video signals picked up by the first camera 12 and the second camera 16 and performing image processing
0 and a trigger sensor 17 that detects the object 100 and outputs a trigger signal for imaging.

Each of the image pickup means 11 and 14 comprises first and second cameras 12 and 16 and first and second lighting devices 13 and 15 as in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, image processing apparatus 20 has a first A / D converter 21 for inputting a video signal from first camera 12 and converting the video signal to a digital signal, and a second A / D converter 21 for storing image data converted to a digital signal. A first image memory 23, a second A / D converter 22 for inputting a video signal captured by the second camera 14 and converting it to a digital signal, and a second image memory for storing digitally converted image data 24 and the first image memory 2
3. an image processing unit 25 connected to the second image memory 24 for processing the image data stored therein, a CPU 26 for controlling the entire image processing apparatus 20, and a trigger sensor 1
7, the shutter signals of the first and second cameras 12, 16 and the first illuminating device,
And a shutter / illumination control unit 30 for outputting strobe light emission signals of the illumination devices 13 and 15.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, first camera 1
An image memory 23 for each of the second and second cameras 16;
24 for temporarily storing images from the first camera 12 and the second camera 16. In the shutter / illumination control unit 30,
The shutters of the cameras 12 and 16 and the on / off of the illumination are controlled.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the shutter / illumination control unit 30 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, shutter / illumination control unit 30 includes a trigger signal input terminal 31 for inputting a trigger signal from trigger sensor 17,
An input terminal 32 for inputting a desired delay time from the CPU 26 to the delay circuit 35, a first shutter / strobe light emission signal output terminal 33 for directly outputting a signal input from the trigger signal input terminal 31, and a trigger signal input terminal 3
1 and a delay circuit 3 connected to the CPU input signal terminal 30 for delaying by a time to avoid mutual illumination interference
5 and the second signal delayed from the delay circuit 35 by a predetermined time.
A shutter / strobe light emission signal output terminal 34. C
The input of the delay time to the PU 26 is performed using a keyboard (not shown) or the like.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an image pickup processing procedure of the image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, an object to be inspected, such as object to be imaged 100, is transported to the stage (S11).
Next, the trigger sensor 17 detects the object 100 and outputs a trigger to the image processing device 20 (S12). In response to this trigger signal, a strobe light emission signal of the first illumination device 13 and a shutter signal of the first camera 12 are output, and the first imaging means images the object 100 (S13).

Next, the image (video signal) captured by the first camera 12 is input to the image processing device 20 for processing (S14), and the shutter of the second camera 16 and the second
The illumination device 15 is turned on, and the second imaging unit 14 performs imaging (S15).

The image (video signal) captured by the second camera 14 is stored in the image memory 24 of the image processing device 20 (S
16) After the processing of the image captured by the first camera 12 is completed, the image stored in the image memory 24 is processed by the image processing unit 25 (S17).

The inspection apparatus may be configured by using the image processed in this way to determine whether or not the object to be inspected satisfies predetermined requirements in appearance and dimensions. In this case, the predetermined requirements are stored in a memory (not shown).

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the processing contents shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, in the embodiment of the present invention, after imaging by first imaging means 11,
After the delay of 1 ms, the image is taken by the second imaging means 14 and the image taken by the second camera 14 is processed by the image processing unit 25 after the image processing by the first camera 12 is completed. The time from when the image is generated until the image processing with the two cameras ends is about 35 ms + α
(Image processing time), which is about half of the time required in the conventional image processing apparatus.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where two image pickup devices are used has been described.
The same processing can be performed when using more than one imaging device.

In the above embodiment, one image memory is provided for each camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The image memory is omitted for the first camera 12 by performing image processing immediately. , An image memory may be provided only in the second camera 14 and thereafter.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the strobe is used as the lighting device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any lighting device other than the strobe may be used.

In the above embodiment, the delay time of the delay circuit is made variable by a signal from the CPU. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the delay time may be fixed in advance according to the image processing time of the image processing unit 25. Good.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating details of a shutter illumination control unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an imaging process of an object to be imaged by the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional image processing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a conventional image processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an imaging processing procedure of a conventional image processing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart in a conventional image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 image processing apparatus, 11 first imaging means, 12 first
Camera, 13 first illumination device, 14 second imaging means, 1
5 second illumination device, 16 second camera, 17 trigger sensor, 20 image processing device, 23, 24 image memory, 2
5 image processing unit, 26 CPU, 30 shutter / illumination control unit.

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G051 BC03 CA07 DA06 EA14 EA19 5B057 BA02 BA11 BA19 CH01 CH11 CH20 DA01 DA06 5C054 AA01 CA04 CC03 CG07 CH04 EA01 HA01 HA05

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for processing an image captured using an imaging device in which a camera and a lighting device are set, wherein the lighting device is activated in response to a predetermined trigger signal, and the camera A plurality of the imaging devices; an image processing unit configured to process an image captured by the imaging device; and a plurality of the imaging devices sequentially driven in response to a single trigger signal to capture an image. And a control unit for processing the image. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit has a memory for storing an image captured by the imaging device, and stores image data captured by the imaging device in the memory. apparatus. 3. A method of processing an image using first and second photographing means, each of which is constituted by a set of a lighting device and a camera, comprising detecting an object to be photographed and generating a predetermined trigger signal. Generating, in response to the trigger signal, imaging the object with the first imaging means, and after imaging by the first imaging means, after a predetermined time has elapsed, by the second imaging means An image processing method, comprising: imaging the object; and sequentially processing images captured by the first and second imaging units. Detecting an object to be imaged and generating a predetermined trigger signal; and responding to the trigger signal by a first image pickup means comprising a camera combined with a lighting device. Detecting a first image, and after a predetermined time has passed after receiving the trigger signal,
Detecting a second image of the object by a second image pickup unit comprising a camera combined with a lighting device, wherein the object to be imaged is determined based on the first and second images. Determining whether the requirement is satisfied.