JP2002051332A - Work support - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a work support that enables images input by an image input unit to be confirmed by the image input unit. SOLUTION: The Fig. shows a portable unit 2 (4). If there is no '()' it indicates a field side and if there is '()' it indicates a head office. A transmitter 80 at a work site transmits site image information input from a site video camera 20 to a receiver (91) of the head office, and this is output to an ocellar display (72) of the head office. Further, a transmitter (90) of the head office transmits image information of the head office, which is input by a video camera (40) of the head office to a receiver 81 in the work site, and the receiver 81 in the work site can output the received image information of the head office to a site image circuit changing switch 86, and can switch the output of an ocellar display 62 of the work site to the head office image information or image information by a site video camera. Also a reference numeral 85 denotes an input image processing unit, 23 a microphone, 82 a speech processing unit and 83 a power supply, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a work support apparatus for supporting a worker at a work site by a work supporter at a headquarters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Operations such as maintenance and inspection and operation of equipment have become complicated with the increase in the number of functions of equipment, and in many cases, specialized knowledge is required. Therefore, it is necessary to leave maintenance and inspection of the device to a skilled person who is familiar with the device, or the operator needs to perform work while receiving instructions and support from the skilled person. However, in order for a skilled person to perform maintenance and inspection, it is necessary for the skilled person to directly operate the device. Therefore, the skilled person has to go to a place where the device is located. Conventionally, a method has been used in which a worker receives an instruction from a skilled person using a telephone. However, in this method, since the situation and the work method are explained by telephone, it is difficult to understand the contents of the explanation and the work. Therefore, the work was complicated and time was required.

As a method for an operator to receive an instruction from a remote expert, see, for example, JP-A-2000-13.
The method described in No. 4614 was known. According to this method, a worker wears a portable device equipped with a video camera, a microphone, and headphones, and receives an image of a site (an image of a device) and a voice of the worker input from the portable device, and a worker who is at the headquarters ( (Expert). The image and the sound are output by an image monitor and an audio speaker provided in the headquarters, and the work supporter determines the status of the device from the output information and gives an instruction to the worker using the sound. The worker receives an instruction from the work supporter through the microphone of the portable device, and performs maintenance and inspection of the device in accordance with the voice instruction.

[0004]

However, in the conventional method, the image of the site input by the video camera cannot be confirmed on the site. For this reason, for example, when the mounting position of the video camera is not appropriate or when the state of the image input by the video camera is not appropriate, it is necessary to give an instruction from the head office where the image monitor is provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a work support device that enables an image input by an image input device to be confirmed on the image input device side.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a configuration as described in each of the claims. According to the invention described in claim 1,
Since the work support device having the configuration described in claim 1 is configured, the image information input by the image information input device at the work site is displayed by the image information output device at the work site. Therefore, input image information can be adjusted in advance, or input can be performed while adjusting image information. Therefore, the input image information can be adjusted to appropriate information on the work site side, and the work site conditions and the like can be appropriately transmitted. Furthermore, the image information input by the image information output switching device and the received image information can be confirmed by one image information output device, and the overall device can be reduced in size,
And it becomes easy to carry.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the second aspect is provided.
Since the work support device having the configuration described in is configured,
The image information input by the image information input device of the headquarters is displayed by the image information output device of the headquarters. Therefore, input image information can be adjusted in advance, or input can be performed while adjusting image information. Therefore, the input image information can be adjusted to appropriate information on the headquarters side, and the status of the headquarters, the contents of work support, and the like can be appropriately transmitted to the work site. Furthermore, the image information input by the image information output switching device and the received image information can be confirmed by one image information output device, so that the whole device can be easily reduced in size and portability. Note that the image information transmitted from the headquarters side includes not only real-time image information input by the image information input device of the headquarters but also image information of recording obtained by reproducing an image input and recorded in advance.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
Or the work support device according to 2, wherein the image information input device at the headquarters inputs image information of the support work object having the same configuration as the work object at the work site. Therefore, the headquarters is provided with a work having the same configuration as the work at the work site, and the image information of the support work is transmitted from the headquarters to the worker. Therefore, the work supporter can easily explain to the worker, and the worker can easily understand the contents of the work.

Here, the "workpiece" is an object on which a worker performs work such as maintenance and inspection and operation, and is, for example, an entire apparatus, an operation panel of the apparatus, or a machine. It is a machine tool or a workpiece. In addition, “similar configuration” means, for example, that the type of device is the same,
Includes similar types and models of equipment.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the fourth aspect is provided.
The work support device having the configuration described in (1). Since the transmitting device at the work site wirelessly transmits the image information, it is easy to move the image information input device at the work site. Similarly, the receiving device at the headquarters receives the image information wirelessly, so that the image output device at the headquarters can be easily moved. Therefore, information such as work site conditions and work support contents can be input and output accurately or easily. Further, image information transmitted from the transmitting device at the work site to the receiving device at the headquarters is transmitted and received wirelessly because it is transmitted by wire via the base wired transmitting device at the working site and the base wired receiving device at the headquarters. The distance can be shortened. Therefore, devices required for wireless communication can be reduced in size, so that workers and work supporters can easily move and carry these devices.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the work support device 1 is provided from the work site 6 when a worker 60 at the work site 6 works on the site device 61, for example, when performing maintenance, inspection, operation, and repair. Work supporter 70 of remote headquarters 7
(Experts familiar with the on-site equipment 61 and developers of the equipment)
This is a device for receiving an instruction from. Further, the headquarters 7 includes a headquarters device 71 which is a device having the same configuration as the on-site device 61 or a device of the same type. Preferably, it is the same model, but it is a similar model such as the same model in the series or a model with different old and new models, or a model of the device,
It may be the operation panel of the device. Here, the on-site device 61 and the headquarters device 71 are the work and support work in the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the work support apparatus 1 and an information path between the work site 6 and the headquarters 7. The work support device 1 includes a work site 6 including a site portable device 2 and a site base device 3, and a headquarters 7 including a headquarter mobile device 4 and a headquarter base device 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the on-site portable device 2 includes a video camera 20, a monocular display 62, a headphone 24, a microphone 23, a portable device main body 8, and a power supply 8.
3. It comprises an input image processing device 85 and an image changeover switch 86. The video camera 20 is fixed to a helmet, and the position is determined so that the video camera 20 captures a position substantially the same as the line of sight of the worker 60. The headphones 24 include an earpiece covering the ear, a speaker installed in the earpiece, and an arm connecting the earpiece and the helmet. Note that the headphones 24 are of a type installed on one ear and a type installed on both ears.

The microphone 23 is connected to a headphone 24 via an arm. The monocular display 62 is configured by the photographing device 21 that projects an image, and the monitor surface 22 that displays the projected image.
The monitor surface 22 is connected to a headphone via an arm, and the camera 21 is also connected to the arm. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the video camera 20, the monocular display 62, the headphones 24, the microphone 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a structure which is integrally attached to the helmet and can be worn or carried by the worker 60.

The input image processing device 85 includes a video camera 2
The image from 0 is processed and sent to the portable device body 8 and the image changeover switch 86. As shown in FIG. 2, the portable device main body 8 includes a transmitter 80, a receiver 81, a processing device 82,
And an antenna 84. The processing device 82 processes the image data (image information) from the input image processing device 85 and the sound from the microphone 23 and transmits the data from the transmitter 80, and processes the data received from the receiver 81 to process the data from the headphones 24. Is sent to the image switch 86. The image switch 86 is connected to the image information received by the receiver 81 and the video camera 20 via the input image processing device 85.
Can be selected, and the operation can be performed by the operator 60 at hand.

The portable device body 8 and the headphones 2
4. The microphone 23, the input image processing device 85, and the image switch 86 are connected by wire. The image switch 86, the input image processing device 85, and the monocular display 62 are connected by wire. The portable device body 8, the power source 83 of the field portable device 2, and the input image processing device 85 are integrated by a harness or the like, and have a structure that can be mounted or carried.

The head office portable device 4 has the same configuration as the on-site portable device 2, and as shown in FIG. 2, a video camera 40, a monocular display 72, a headphone 44, a microphone 43, a portable device main body 9, a power supply 93, an input image. The processing unit 95 includes an image switch 96. The mobile device body 9 includes a transmitter 90, a receiver 91, and a processing device 9
2 and an antenna 94. The video cameras 20 and 40 of the present embodiment correspond to the image information input device of the present invention, and the monocular displays 62 and 72 correspond to the image information output device. Also, the transmitters 80 and 9 of the present embodiment
0 corresponds to the transmitting device of the present invention, the receivers 81 and 91 correspond to the receiving device, and the image changeover switches 86 and 96 correspond to the image information output changing device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the on-site base unit 3 and the headquarter base unit 5 include radio receivers 30 and 50, radio transmitters 31 and 51, wire receivers 32 and 52, and wire transmitters 33 and 53. And antennas 34 and 54, which are integrated by a housing. Note that the wireless receivers 30 and 50 of the present embodiment correspond to the base wireless receiving device of the present invention, and the wireless transmitters 31 and 51 correspond to the base wireless transmitting device. Further, the wired receivers 32 and 52 of the present embodiment correspond to the base wired receiving device of the present invention, and the wired transmitters 33 and 53 correspond to the base wired transmitting device.

Next, a work support method using the work support apparatus 1 will be described, and an information path in the work support apparatus 1, that is, an information transmission / reception path will be described. First, a method of transmitting information from the worker 60 to the work supporter 70 will be described. First, a worker 60 wearing the on-site portable device 2 shown in FIG.
Go to Next, the worker 60 uses the video camera 20 of the site portable device 2 to image the work site 6 and the site device 61.
Is input, and at the same time, the voice of the worker 60 is input by the microphone 23. if needed,
The sound generated from the on-site device 61 is also used for the microphone 23.
Enter by. This sound and the sound of the worker 60 are collectively called on-site sound.

The site image is converted into data by the input image processing device 85, and the site sound is converted into data by the processing device 82. These data, that is, image information and audio information of the site, are wirelessly transmitted by the transmitter 80 via the antenna 84. The information transmitted from the field mobile device 2 in this manner is transmitted to the head office mobile device 4 via the site base device 3 and the head office base device 5 as shown in FIG.
Sent to. The transmission / reception path will be described below.

The image information and the audio information of the site transmitted by radio are received by the radio receiver 30 of the site base unit 3 via the antenna 34, respectively. Further, the image information and audio information of the site are stored in the site-based device 3.
Is transmitted to the wired receiver 52 of the headquarter base device 5 via a wired, for example, telephone line (digital telephone line). Note that a CATV line, a LAN line, or the like can be used in addition to the telephone line.

Further, the image information and the sound information of the site are transmitted to the antenna 54 by the wireless transmitter 51 of the headquarter base device 5.
And received by the receiver 91 via the antenna 94 of the head office portable device 4 carried by the work supporter 70. The image information and audio information of the site are processed by the processing device 92 of the headquarters mobile device 4, the image of the site is displayed on the monocular display 72 via the image switch 96, and the site audio is output to the headphones 44. Is done. In this case, the image changeover switch 96 has selected the image information received by the receiver 91, and is in the state of the solid line in FIG.

Therefore, the work supporter 70 can grasp the situation of the work site from the site image and the site sound, and can determine the instruction given to the worker 60 and the contents of guidance and support based on the information. Next, the work supporter 70 sets the headquarters device 7
1 shows a work place, a work place, and a place of a device to be operated by the worker 60 while using 1. Further, the work supporter 70
Will be described using the headquarters device 71, and preferably, the same operation as the operation to be performed by the worker 60 will be described. These instruction contents are input by the video camera 40 of the head office portable device 4. The input headquarters image includes the work content of the headquarters device 71 and the work supporter 70. At the same time as the headquarters image,
The voice of the work supporter 70 is input by the microphone 43 and, if necessary, the sound generated from the headquarters device 71 is also input. This sound and the sound of the work supporter 70 are collectively called headquarters sound. This headquarters image is converted into data by the input image processing device 95, and the headquarters audio is converted into data by the processing device 9.
2 is converted to data. These data, that is, image information and audio information of the headquarters, are wirelessly transmitted by the transmitter 90 via the antenna 94.

The image information and the audio information of the headquarters transmitted by radio are transmitted to the antenna 5 of the headquarter base device 5, respectively.
, Base station device 5 by radio receiver 50 via
Received at. Further, the data is transmitted by the wired transmitter 53, received by the wired receiver 32 of the site base device 3 via a telephone line, for example, and transmitted from the headquarter base device 5 to the site base device 3.

The image information and audio information of the head office are transmitted to the radio transmitter 31 via the antenna 34 of the site base unit 3.
And received by the receiver 81 via the antenna 84 of the field mobile device 2. The received image information and audio information of the headquarters are stored in the processing device 8 of the on-site portable device 2.
2, the headquarters image is displayed on the monocular display 62 via the image switch 86, and the headquarters sound is output by the headphones 24. In addition,
In this case, the image changeover switch 86 has selected the image information received by the receiver 81, and is in the state of the solid line in FIG.

Next, the changeover switch 86 of the field portable device 2
Will be described. As described above, when the image changeover switch 86 selects the image information received by the receiver 81 (in the case of the solid line state in FIG. 2), the image information received by the receiver 81 is displayed on the monocular display 62. That is, the headquarters image is displayed. On the other hand, the worker 60 switches the image switch 86,
When the input image processing device 85 is selected, that is, when the route is changed from the solid line state to the dotted line state in FIG. 2, the site image input from the video camera 20 is displayed on the monocular display 62. That is, the image displayed on the monocular display 62 is switched to the headquarters image and the on-site image by the changeover switch 86 as appropriate. Similarly, the work supporter 70 is set by the changeover switch 96 of the headquarters mobile device 4.
Can switch the route of the monocular display 62, and by switching, the site image from the site 6 and the headquarter image input from the video camera 40 can be selected as appropriate.

Therefore, the worker 60 and the work supporter 7
0 indicates that the image information input by the video cameras 20 and 40, that is, the image information transmitted to the other side, can be confirmed as needed. Therefore, the worker 60 and the work supporter 70 can check the displacement of the image due to the installation position of the video cameras 20 and 40, the size of the image area, and the like.
The position of the video cameras 20 and 40 can be adjusted, and the distance to the target can be adjusted. Thereby,
More appropriate image information can be transmitted to the other party.

Further, since the image from the work supporter 70 side (the head office 7 side) includes an image of the head office apparatus 71 having the same configuration as the on-site apparatus 61, any operation part of the apparatus is determined. It is easy to understand a work place such as work, and a work state such as how to set the apparatus. further,
Since the image includes an image in which the work supporter 70 actually works or simulates the headquarters device 71, the worker 60 performs the work method of the field device 61 for working, for example, the work procedure, You can easily and quickly understand the subtle nuances of work speed and power.

The transmitter 80 according to the present embodiment
May be separate from the receiver 81, or may be integrated with the receiver 81. Similarly, a transmitter 90 and a receiver 91,
The wireless receivers 30 and 50 and the wireless transmitters 31 and 51, and the wired receivers 32 and 52 and the wired transmitters 33 and 53 may be separate bodies or may be integrated.
In addition, the on-site mobile device 2 and the headquarters mobile device 4 are
0 and the structure that can be attached to the work supporter 70, the worker 60 and the work supporter 70 can use their hands freely.
It is easy to work on the field device 61 and the headquarters device 71. Further, it is preferable that the on-site mobile device 2 and the headquarters mobile device 4 are the same device. Similarly, the on-site base device 3 and the headquarters base device 5 are preferably the same device. This is because it is possible to reduce the unit price of the apparatus and the number of stocks. Further, since the monocular displays 62 and 72 only cover one eye, they are less likely to hinder the work of the worker 60 and the work supporter 70.

In the above embodiment, the input image processing devices 85 and 95 are provided separately from the video cameras 20 and 40 and the portable device main bodies 8 and 9, but the input image processing devices 85 and 95 are provided separately. It may be a form integrated with the video cameras 20 and 40 or a form integrated with the processing devices 82 and 92 of the portable device main bodies 8 and 9.

In the above-described embodiment, the information transmission between the site portable device 2 and the site base device 3 and the information transmission between the head office portable device 4 and the head office base device 5 are performed wirelessly. May be used. Also,
The information transmission between the site base device 3 and the headquarter base device 5 is performed by wire, but may be performed by wireless. Furthermore, the field portable device 2 and the headquarter portable device 4 may transmit information directly or wirelessly without using the site base device 3 and the headquarter base device 5.

In the above embodiment, the changeover switch 8
Although the switching devices 86 and 96 are provided separately from the mobile device main body 8, the switching switches 86 and 96 are housed inside the mobile device main body 8, and the switching switches 86 and 96 are provided near the operator 60 and the work supporter 70. An operating device for remotely controlling the 96 may be provided. In this case, the operation device can be mounted on a helmet, clothing, or the like.

In the above embodiment, the image input by the video camera 40 of the head office portable device 4
However, it is also possible to transmit a pre-recorded image from the headquarters 7 to the work site 6. That is, the headquarters 7 is provided with an image reproducing device, and the image reproducing device reproduces image information and audio information recorded in advance in order to instruct the worker 60 and transmits the reproduced information to the work site 6 side. That is, "a work support device that supports the work of a worker at a work site by a work support person at a headquarters, and an image information input device, a transmission device provided at the work site, and image information provided at the headquarters. An output device and a receiving device, the transmitting device at the work site transmits the image information of the work site input by the image information input device at the work site to the receiving device at the headquarters, and the receiving device at the headquarters receives the received work. The image information of the site is output to the image information output device of the headquarters, and further, a receiving device, an image information output device, an image information switching device provided at the work site, and a transmission device provided at the headquarters are provided. The transmitting device transmits the image information of the headquarters recorded in advance to the receiving device of the work site, and the receiving device of the working site outputs the received image information of the headquarters to the image information switching device of the working site, and image The information switching device is a work support device capable of switching the output of the work site image information output device to the image information of the headquarters or the work site image information input by the work site image information input device. " . in this case,
The work supporter 70 selects image information and audio information suitable for the content to be instructed to the worker 60 and transmits the selected information to the worker 60. Further, it is preferable that the image information includes image information of the work (the site device 61) at the work site 6. Also according to this mode, the worker 60 can check the information input by the image information input device at the work site on the work site 6 side,
More appropriate image information can be transmitted to the work supporter 70.

[0032]

According to the work support apparatus of the present invention, information such as work site conditions and work support contents can be accurately or easily understood.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a block diagram of a work support apparatus and an information path between a work site and a headquarters.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a field mobile device and a headquarters mobile device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a site-based device and a headquarters-based device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 work support device 2 field mobile device 3 field base device 4 headquarter mobile device 5 headquarter base device 6 work site 7 headquarter 8 mobile device main body 20, 40 video camera 23, 43 microphone 24 44 headphone 60 worker 61 field device 62, 72 monocular display 70 work supporter 71 headquarter device 86, 96 image switch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Ogawa 1-1-1, Asahi-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Toyota Machine Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tadahiro Taniyama 1-1-1, Asahi-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Toyoda Machine Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masateru Ohno 1-1-1, Asahi-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi, Japan Toyota Machine Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Noboru Kawamura 1-1-1, Asahi-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Co., Ltd. F Terms (reference) 5C054 AA01 CA04 CC05 CH02 EA01 EA05 FA09 FE01 FF05 HA01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A work support device for assisting a worker at a work site by a work supporter at a headquarters, comprising: an image information input device and a transmission device provided at the work site; An image information output device and a receiving device are provided.The transmitting device at the work site transmits the image information at the work site input by the image information input device at the work site to the receiving device at the headquarters. The image information of the work site is output to the image information output device of the headquarters, and the receiving device, the image information output device, and the image information switching device provided at the work site; the image information input device provided at the headquarters; The transmitting device at the headquarters transmits the image information of the headquarters input by the image information input device at the headquarters to the receiving device at the work site, and the receiving device at the working site creates the received image information at the headquarters. Output to the on-site image information switching device. The on-site image information switching device outputs the output of the on-site image information output device to the head office image information or the on-site image information input by the on-site image information input device. Work support device that can be switched to 2. The work support device according to claim 1, further comprising an image information switching device provided in the headquarters, wherein the image information switching device in the headquarters receives an output of the image information output device in the headquarters. An operation support device that can be switched to the image information of the site received by the device or the image information of the headquarters input by the image information input device of the headquarters. 3. The work support device according to claim 1, wherein the image information input device at the headquarters has image information of a support work object having the same configuration as the work object at the work site. Work support device that inputs the information as image information of the headquarters. 4. The work support device according to claim 1, wherein a base wireless receiving device and a base wired transmitting device provided at a work site, a base wired receiving device provided at a headquarters, A base wireless transmitter, the transmitter at the work site wirelessly transmits the image information of the work site to the base wireless receiver at the work site, and the image information of the work site is transmitted from the base wired transmitter at the work site. A work support device that is transmitted by wire to the base wired receiver at the headquarters, and transmitted from the base wireless transmitter at the headquarters to the receiver at the headquarters wirelessly.