JP2002077874A - Image pickup device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device and method for reducing image- reading time and at the same time effectively utilizing storage capacity. SOLUTION: In the method for reading an image to be pickedup up by relatively moving a line sensor 15 where a plurality of pixels are aligned in series with an X direction in a Y direction, a control signal for controlling the write timing of an image signal to an image storage section 27 based on image pickup area information is outputted and at the same time the storage address of the image storage section 27 is set based on the image pickup area information, and the image signal is written into a storage region that is specified by the storage address according to the control signal by monitoring the position information in the Y direction to the line sensor 15 of a transfer head 5 when picking up the image, thus eliminating the need for outputting the image signal from an unneeded range for storage, and reducing image-reading time and at the same time effectively utilizing the storage capacity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method for reading an image of an object to be imaged by a line sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A line sensor is known as an imaging means for performing position recognition of an electronic component by image processing in an electronic component mounting apparatus or the like. This line sensor is configured by linearly arranging a pixel having a photoelectric conversion element for storing an electric charge corresponding to the amount of received light and a transfer unit for receiving an electric charge from the pixel and outputting it as an electric signal. When an optical image of an object to be imaged is formed on a line sensor by an optical system, electric charges corresponding to the optical image of the object are stored in each pixel.

By receiving the charges of each pixel by the transfer unit and sequentially outputting them as electric signals, one-dimensional image data in the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion elements, that is, in the main scanning direction can be obtained. Then, desired two-dimensional image data is obtained by paralleling a plurality of one-dimensional image data obtained by relatively moving the electronic component in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Conventionally, a CCD line sensor has been used as the line sensor.

[0004]

By the way, the types and sizes of electronic components are diverse, and a multi-function type electronic component mounting apparatus which targets various types of electronic components from small to large sizes has the same image reading capability. It is necessary to image electronic components of different sizes depending on the device. For this reason,
In general, an image reading apparatus using a line sensor often includes a line sensor having a scanning width corresponding to the size of the largest electronic component among the target components. The image signal output from the line sensor is stored in an image storage device provided in the imaging device.

[0005] However, in the CCD line sensor used in the conventional imaging apparatus, it is necessary to transfer charges from all the pixels constituting the line sensor at the time of image reading, regardless of the size of the image reading target.
For this reason, charges have been transferred from the pixels in the unnecessary range, which contain no necessary information at all, and stored in the memory.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method capable of reducing an image reading time.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus for reading an image of an imaging target by forming an optical image of the imaging target on a photoelectric conversion element. A line sensor in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in series in the X direction; a pixel selection unit that outputs an image signal from the selected pixel by selecting one of the plurality of pixels; A relative movement mechanism that relatively moves the target at least in the Y direction that intersects the X direction, an imaging area information storage unit that stores the X direction numerical value and the Y direction numerical value related to the size of the imaging area by the line sensor, An image storage unit that stores an image signal output from the line sensor, a control unit that controls selection of a pixel by the pixel selection unit using a numerical value in the X direction, A writing control unit that controls writing of an image signal to the image storage unit based on a numerical value of a direction and position information of the relative movement mechanism, and an address that sets a storage address of the image storage unit based on the imaging area information A setting unit; and an address control unit that writes the image signal to a storage area specified by the storage address when writing the image signal to the image storage unit according to the control signal of the writing control unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a line sensor in which a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element are arranged in series in the X direction is moved relative to an object to be imaged in a Y direction intersecting the X direction. An imaging method for reading an image of an imaging target, comprising: (1) setting an imaging area; and (2)
Setting a pixel for outputting an image signal based on the set width of the imaging area in the X direction; and (3) setting an image signal to the image storage unit based on the set length of the imaging area in the Y direction. Outputting a control signal for controlling writing of the image and setting the storage address of the image storage unit based on the imaging area information; and (4) outputting an image signal by periodically selecting pixels. (5) By monitoring a relative positional relationship between the imaging target and the line sensor in the Y direction, the output image signal is written to a storage area specified by the storage address according to the control signal. And step (4) is performed only on the pixels set in step (2).

According to the present invention, when an image signal is output from the line sensor, the image signal is selectively output only from pixels corresponding to an imaging area set as an image signal output target in the imaging field of view, By monitoring the relative positional relationship between the imaging target and the line sensor, controlling the writing of the image signal, and storing the image signal in a storage area designated by a storage address set in advance based on the imaging area, from the unnecessary range The waste of storing and outputting the image signal can be eliminated, and the image reading time can be reduced.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic component mounting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a line sensor of the imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an imaging method of the imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an imaging area setting of the apparatus, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a storage address setting of image data in an imaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, an electronic component mounting apparatus in which an imaging device is incorporated will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG.
The component supply unit 1 supplies an electronic component to be mounted. The board positioning stage 2 holds and positions a board 3 on which electronic components are mounted. A transfer head 5 is provided above the component supply unit 1 and the substrate positioning stage 2 by a transfer head moving mechanism 4.
Are disposed so as to be horizontally movable in the Y direction. The transfer head moving mechanism 4 includes an encoder 4a for position detection, generates a pulse signal indicating the position of the transfer head 5, and outputs the pulse signal to the mechanism control unit 12 and the image recognition unit 11 of the control device 9. .

The transfer head 5 is a multiple transfer head having six (see FIG. 4, only three in FIG. 1) pickup heads 5a, and is controlled by the mechanism control unit 12. , Different types of electronic components 6A, 6B, 6 from the component supply unit 1 by the respective pickup heads 5a.
C, 6D, 6E, and 6F are taken out, transported to a position on the substrate positioning stage 2, and mounted on the substrate 3.

A camera 8 is provided on a moving path of the transfer head 5 between the component supply unit 1 and the substrate positioning stage 2. As will be described later, the camera 8 includes a line sensor in which a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element are arranged in series in the X direction. The electronic components held by the transfer head 5 are positioned on the camera 8 and illuminated from below by the illumination unit 7 (see FIG. 4), so that the optical images of these electronic components to be imaged are converted on the photoelectric conversion element. An image signal formed by converting an optical image into an electric signal is formed in the image recognition unit 1.
1 is always output.

The transfer head 5 is moved by the transfer head moving mechanism 4 with respect to the camera 8 in the Y direction.
By performing imaging of the electronic component, a scanned image of the electronic component to be recognized can be obtained. The transfer head moving mechanism 4 is a relative moving mechanism that relatively moves the line sensor of the camera 8 with respect to the imaging target in the Y direction intersecting the arrangement direction (X direction) of the line sensors.

Next, the configuration of the camera 8 and the image recognition unit 11 that processes the image signal output from the camera 8 and performs the recognition processing of the electronic component will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 2, the camera 8 has a line sensor 1
5, a control unit 21 and an image correction unit 23 are provided.

The line sensor 15 has a plurality of pixels 15a arranged in the X direction. FIG. 3 shows one of these pixels. A pixel 15a includes a photoelectric conversion element 18 of the photoelectric conversion unit, gate elements 17 and 19 of the first and second shift gates, and a storage battery of the sample hold unit. It is composed of an element 20. Each storage element 20 is connected to the pixel selection circuit 22.

By forming an optical image on the line sensor 15, the photoelectric conversion element 18 is exposed to light and accumulates electric charges. When the control signal is transmitted from the control unit 21 to the second shift gate, the charge of the photoelectric conversion element 18 is transferred to the storage element 20 of the sample and hold unit via the gate element 19. The transferred charge is held as a voltage value corresponding to the amount of charge. By transmitting the control signal to the sample and hold unit before new charge is transferred,
The held voltage value is reset. When the control signal is transmitted to the first shift gate, the charge of the photoelectric conversion element 18 is discharged to the reset drain 16 via the gate element 17. Thereby, each photoelectric conversion element 18
Is initialized.

The pixel selection circuit 22 outputs an image signal from the selected pixel 15a by selecting one of the pixels 15a of the line sensor 15. That is, the voltage value is changed from the image signal Vo only from the pixel 15a specified based on the imaging area information of the imaging area information storage section 25 described later among the respective storage elements 20 of the sample and hold section.
ut is output. Therefore, the pixel selection circuit 22 is a pixel selection unit, and this pixel selection operation is performed by the control unit 2.
1 by controlling the pixel selection circuit 22.

An image signal output from each pixel 15a of the line sensor 15 by the pixel selection operation is output to an image correction unit 23.
Where the image signal is corrected for the black level and sensitivity. The image data after the correction processing is A /
It is D-converted and sent to the image recognition unit 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image recognition unit 11
Are a coordinate output unit 24, an imaging area information storage unit 25, a writing control unit 26, an image storage unit 27, an address setting unit 2
8, an address control unit 29, an operation processing unit 30, and an image processing unit 31. An image signal output from the line sensor 15 of the camera 8 is stored in the image storage unit 27.

The coordinate output unit 24 includes a transfer head moving mechanism 4
The line sensor 15 of the transfer head 5 is sent to the control unit 21, the image storage unit 27, and the write control unit 26 of the camera 8 based on the pulse signal output from the encoder 4a of FIG.
And outputs position information indicating the relative position in the Y direction with respect to.
The position information output to the control unit 21 is used as timing for switching the setting of a selection range when specifying a pixel to be an image signal output target. The position information output to the image storage unit 27 is linked to the corresponding image signal and written to the image storage unit when the image signal is written to the specified storage area on the memory. Thereby, the relative positional relationship between the transfer head 5 and the line sensor 15 when the image signal is captured can be accurately obtained. The position information output to the writing control unit 26 is used as information indicating an output timing of a control signal for controlling whether or not the image signal can be written to the image storage unit 27.

The imaging area information storage unit 25 stores imaging area information, that is, information about an area set as an image capturing area within an imaging visual field. The imaging area information includes a numerical value in the X direction and a numerical value in the Y direction indicating the size and position of the imaging area, as will be described later, and the input processing from the operation section 13 is processed by the operation processing section 30 to perform image processing. In addition to being stored in the area information storage unit 25, data already set as the imaging area information in a predetermined data format is read from an external device and stored in the imaging area information storage unit 25.

The writing control unit 26 calculates the Y-direction numerical value of the imaging area information stored in the imaging area information storage unit 25 and the aforementioned Y-direction position information output from the coordinate output unit 24. It outputs a control signal for controlling whether or not writing of an image signal to the image storage unit 27 is possible.

That is, a write permission signal indicating the timing at which writing of an image signal constantly output from the camera 8 to the image memory is permitted is transmitted to the image storage unit 2.
7, only the image signal output from the camera 8 at a predetermined timing set in advance is written into the memory of the image storage unit 27, and writing of the image signal output at another timing is prohibited. The writing timing of the image signal to be controlled is controlled.

This writing control monitors the position information indicating the relative position between the transfer head 5 and the line sensor sent from the coordinate output unit 24, and stores the position information in the Y direction of the imaging area stored in the imaging area information storage unit 25. This is performed by detecting an imaging start position in comparison with data. Thereby, the relative position of the camera 8 with respect to the imaging target among the image signals output from the camera 8 while each of the electronic components to be imaged is moving in the Y direction by the transfer head 5 is set for each electronic component. Only the image signal output at the timing corresponding to the designated predetermined imaging area is written to the image storage unit 27.

The address setting section 28 sets a storage area for each imaging area in the image storage section 27 based on the imaging area information. That is, a storage area is set for writing an image signal taken from an imaging area set in the imaging field of view as one set of data for each imaging area. The address setting unit 28 first stores the image-capturing area information storage unit 2
The number of data of an image having the same size as the imaging area is obtained from the numerical value stored in 5 (a numerical value that can specify the size of the imaging area). As a result, the storage capacity of the storage area to be set is determined, and the start address and the end point address that determine the storage area for this storage capacity are output as address setting information. At this time, the number of data may be output instead of the end point address.

The address control unit 29 includes the write control unit 2
When writing an image signal in the image storage unit 27 according to the control signal from the control unit 6, an address signal is generated in the image storage unit 27, and the image signal is written in the storage area specified by the above-described address setting information. Performs address control. Thus, a series of image signals bundled as one set of data is sequentially written from the storage area of the head address specified by the address setting information.

In other words, when writing the image signal output from the camera 8 to the image storage unit 27, the write timing is specified according to the write permission signal output from the write control unit 26, and the address control unit 29 sets the address. The control specifies the address of the storage area where the image signal is to be written. By synchronizing the output timing of the image signal from the camera 8 with the write permission signal from the write control unit 26 and the address signal from the address control unit 29, the image storage unit 2
7, in accordance with a preset storage address,
An image signal is written to a predetermined storage area.

The written image signal is read by the image processing section 31, and image processing is performed on the image data to recognize each of the electronic components 6A to 6F. The recognition result is sent to the mechanism control unit 12 and is used for controlling the mounting operation when these electronic components are mounted on the board 3, and is output to the display monitor 10 as necessary to perform a predetermined screen display. Various operations of the image recognition unit 11 and operations necessary for data input are performed by the operation unit 13 via the operation processing unit 30.

Next, the imaging area setting processing will be described. As described above, the line sensor 15 of the camera 8 according to the present embodiment is different from the conventional CCD line sensor in that a plurality of pixels 15 a
Of these, an image signal can be output from any specified pixel. Therefore, when taking an image with the line sensor 15, it is necessary to specify a pixel as an image signal output target according to the imaging target.

An image signal is always output from the line sensor 15. However, to obtain a scanned image of an object to be imaged, a timing corresponding to a set imaging area of the image signal constantly output during scanning is used. Only the image signal output in step (1) need be written in the image memory. For this reason, in the setting process of the imaging area, data input for setting a timing at which an image signal is to be written is performed while specifying a pixel to be output by the line sensor 15.

Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows an example in which six electronic components 6 </ b> A to 6 </ b> F to be recognized are held by the transfer head 5 and imaged by the camera 8 in the same imaging operation. That is, while the optical image is formed on the line sensor 15 through the optical system of the camera 8, the scanning image of each electronic component is obtained by moving the transfer head 5 in the Y direction on the camera 8. Is what you do.

To set the imaging area, first, the transfer head 5
The images of the electronic components 6A to 6F held in the respective nozzles are captured and displayed on the monitor screen of the display unit 10. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Electronic component 6A held by three nozzles respectively
Images up to 6F appear at intervals corresponding to the nozzle pitch. In this state, an imaging area corresponding to each electronic component is set.

Since the image information other than the area including the electronic component to be recognized is not necessary for the recognition of the electronic component, in setting the imaging area, each electronic component 6A
Rectangular areas A to F including ６6F and parallel to the coordinate axes are set as the imaging areas. This setting operation is performed by designating and inputting an area frame with a pointer or the like on the display screen of the display unit 10 using the operation unit 13.

The coordinate values of the designated imaging areas A to F on the display screen are read by the operation processing unit 30, and are stored as imaging area information in the imaging area information storage unit 2.
5 is stored. Here, as the imaging area information for specifying the imaging area, two numerical values are stored in the X direction and the Y direction for each imaging area. That is, A to F
(X1, X2, Y1, Y2) for each imaging area of
(X5, X6, Y5, Y6), (X9, X10, Y
9, Y10), (X3, X4, Y3, Y4), (X7,
X8, Y7, Y8), (X11, X12, Y11, Y1
Each numerical value of 2) is stored. This numerical input is equivalent to specifying the position coordinates of each point located on the diagonal of each imaging area. Therefore, the size of each imaging area in the X and Y directions and the X direction and Y of each imaging area on the image coordinate system of the display unit 10 on which the input has been performed are obtained from these numerical values.
The position of the direction is specified.

At the time of outputting the image signal, as shown in FIG. 5B, of the plurality of pixels 15a arranged in the line sensor 15 in the X direction, the pixel 15a (width) specified by the numerical value in the X direction is used. Direction range X (i) to X (i + 1)
The image signal is output only from the pixel 15a) belonging to.
That is, when the control section 21 controls the pixel selection circuit 22 to select a pixel as described above, these numerical values in the X direction are used.

In one scan in the X direction, the imaging area width W
(I) Pixel number a corresponding to (X (i + 1) -X (i))
An image signal is output from the pixel 15a of (i), and only the number of scans (the number of scan data b (i)) corresponding to the imaging area length L (i) (Y (i + 1) -Y (i)) is performed. The output of the image signal is repeated. Therefore, the number of data N (i) = a (i) × b (i) ×
n (n is an integer) image signals are output. Note that i shown here is 1, 3, 5, 7, corresponding to each imaging area.
There are six types of integers, 9 and 11.

Next, the storage address will be described with reference to FIG. The storage address is information for associating the imaging area information with the storage area of the memory of the image storage unit 27 where the image signal is written. By this storage address setting, the storage area of the image storage unit 27 where the image signal read from the imaging area is written is specified. This storage address is performed by specifying a head address to which the data of the head pixel in each imaging area is to be written and the number N (i) of image signal data from each imaging area.

In FIG. 6, the storage area 3 of the image storage unit 27
2, storage areas 33A to 33F in which image data obtained by imaging the imaging areas A to F are written. Start address of each storage area (AD1, AD3,
AD5, AD7, AD9, AD11) and the end point addresses (AD2, AD4, AD6, AD8, AD10, AD
In 12), the head pixel and the end pixel of each imaging area shown in FIG. 5B are written. The size of each storage area is set to a size in which the number of data N (i) can be written, and a predetermined blank area is provided between the end point address of one storage area and the start address of the subsequent storage area. Is set.

For example, in imaging for the imaging area A set for the electronic component 6A, the image signal from the first pixel is written to the address AD1 of the storage area 32, and N (N) obtained for the imaging area A is hereinafter obtained. 1) image signals are sequentially written to the storage area 33A. As described above, the storage address is specified by the head address corresponding to each imaging area and the number of data N (i), in other words, based on the numerical value in the X direction and the numerical value in the Y direction stored in the imaging area information storage unit 25. Is set.

Next, an imaging operation performed on the imaging area set as described above and an image signal writing operation for writing the output image signal in accordance with the storage address set as described above will be described. In FIG. 5, the numerical values indicated by Y1 to Y12 correspond to the numerical values (for example, the number of pulses output from the encoder 4a) on the mechanical coordinate system of the transfer head moving mechanism 4 that moves the transfer head 5.

That is, each numerical value in the Y direction shown on the Y axis in FIG. 5A is the Y value between the line sensor 15 and the transfer head 5.
It corresponds to a specific relative positional relationship in the direction, and it is possible to determine the positional relationship between the line sensor 15 and the transfer head 5 that is moving horizontally by using these numerical values. For example, if the position information (pulse signal) from the encoder 4a of the transfer head moving mechanism 4 matches the numerical value Y1, the imaging of the imaging area A set for the electronic component 6A held by the transfer head 5 is started. Indicates that the position has been reached.

That is, the position information from the encoder 4a is monitored, and if this position information matches each of the above numerical values in the Y direction, it is detected that a specific relative positional relationship corresponding to each numerical value has been realized. Is done. In accordance with the detection result, various operation controls, for example, operation control of the transfer head 5, writing control of the image signal, update of the image signal output target pixel setting of the line sensor 15, and the like are performed.

Prior to the image pickup operation, first, data of the preset image pickup areas A to F are read from the image pickup area information storage unit 25. That is, each numerical value shown in FIG. 5 is read. Then, based on the read numerical value, the control unit 21 first sets a pixel to be an image signal output in capturing an image of the imaging area D to be imaged first.
Thereby, among the pixels of the line sensor 15 of the camera 8, the pixels between X3 and X4 shown in FIG. 5 are set as output targets.

Then, an image signal is constantly output from the set pixel. When the reading operation is started and the transfer head 5 holding the electronic component A to be imaged starts moving, the pulse output from the encoder 4a of the transfer head moving mechanism 4 is transmitted to the position information via the coordinate output unit 24. Is sent to the writing control unit 26 and the control unit 21 of the camera 8.
The write controller 26 monitors this position information.

If this position information matches Y3 corresponding to the imaging start position of the imaging area D, the writing control unit 2
6 outputs a write permission signal to the image storage unit 27, and the address control unit 29 generates an address signal to the image storage unit 27. Thereby, the image signal output from the pixel corresponding to the imaging area D is written to the storage area 33D of the image storage unit 27.

Thereafter, when the transfer head 5 moves and the position information coincides with Y1 corresponding to the imaging start position of the imaging area A, X1 to X4 are added to the pixels in the range of X3 to X4.
The output of the image signal is also started from the pixels between the two. While the position information points between Y1 and Y2, X1
X2 and X3 to X4 output image signals from pixels in two ranges. Write timing control and address control are performed so that the image signals from the pixels belonging to X1 and X2 are written to the storage area 33A, and the image signals from the pixels belonging to X3 and X4 are written to the storage area 33D.

That is, in the operation of continuously writing a large number of image signals for the imaging areas A and D set in the pixel array width direction, the write timing is specified according to the write permission signal output from the write control unit 26. Then, the address of the storage area to be written is specified by the address signal from the address control unit 29 according to each imaging area, and the writing operation is dynamically controlled according to these timing signals and address signals.

In other words, the image signals sequentially output in time series are not necessarily written in the order of the storage addresses of the storage areas, but are stored in the storage areas 33A and 33 in a discrete manner according to the correspondence based on the preset storage addresses.
Written to 3D. For this reason, during the output of the image signal, an area where the image signal is not written is present in the storage area set from the beginning in a mottled state.

Thereafter, when the transfer head 5 moves and reaches Y2 which indicates the imaging end position of the imaging area A, X3 is returned again.
Image signals are output only from the range of ~ X4, and the image signals are continuously written to the storage area 33D. Y4 indicating the imaging end position of the imaging area D
Is reached, the writing control unit 26 stops the writing permission signal to the image storage unit 27 and prohibits writing. Thus, the storage of the images in the imaging areas A and D is completed. Thereafter, image capture and image signal writing for the subsequent imaging areas B, E, C, and F are similarly performed. As a result, the image signal is written to all of the storage areas 33A to 33F preset in the storage area 32.

As described above, by adopting the method of writing the image signal output from the line sensor to the storage area specified by the storage address set in advance based on the imaging area information, one line sensor Even when a plurality of imaging areas are set within the imaging width, image signals from pixels corresponding to each imaging area can be combined into one unit and the one unit image signal can be written to the same storage area. Become.

Thus, even when an imaging area is set such that a blank area in which an image signal is not written on the storage area is unavoidable in the past, the setting of the storage area allows the blank area to be set. The area can be minimized, and the storage capacity can be used effectively.

That is, the image pickup method described in the above embodiment reads a pixel of an image pickup object while relatively moving a line sensor 15 in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in series in the X direction with respect to the image pickup object in the Y direction. In this imaging, (1) an imaging area is first set, and (2) a pixel for outputting an image signal among the pixels of the line sensor 15 is set based on the set width of the imaging area in the X direction. And
(3) A control signal for controlling writing of an image signal to the image storage unit 27 is output based on the set length of the imaging area in the Y direction, and the storage address of the image storage unit 27 is used as the imaging area information. (4) In imaging, an image signal is output from the selected pixel by periodically selecting one pixel at a time, and (5) the relative position of the imaging target and the line sensor in the Y direction. By monitoring the positional relationship, an image signal is written to a storage area specified by the storage address according to the control signal. Then, the image signal output of (4) is performed only for the pixels set as the pixels to be image output in (2).

In this imaging, when outputting the image signal from the line sensor 15, the image signal is selectively output only from the range corresponding to the imaging area set as the imaging target in the imaging range. It is possible to eliminate the useless time for outputting the image signal from the unnecessary range and shorten the imaging time. Further, when storing the output image signal, writing is performed in accordance with a storage address set in advance based on information on the imaging area, so that a blank area can be eliminated as much as possible to effectively utilize the storage capacity. it can.

After the recognition of the electronic components 6A to 6F is completed by taking in images from all the imaging areas A to D, the transfer head 5 moves onto the substrate positioning stage 2. When mounting the respective electronic components on the substrate 3 by moving the transfer head 5 onto the substrate positioning stage 2, the respective electronic components are corrected on the substrate 3 based on the recognition result, and are then corrected on the substrate 3. Mounted on In this implementation operation,
As mentioned above, the imaging time is greatly reduced,
High-speed image recognition is realized, and mounting efficiency can be improved.

[0056]

According to the present invention, when an image signal is output from a line sensor, an image signal is selectively output only from a photoelectric conversion element corresponding to an imaging area set as an image signal output target within the imaging range. And the relative positional relationship between the imaging target and the line sensor is monitored to control the writing of the image signal so that the image signal is stored in a storage area specified by a storage address set in advance based on the imaging area. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the waste of outputting and storing the image signal from the unnecessary range, thereby shortening the image reading time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic component mounting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a line sensor of the imaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an imaging method of the imaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an imaging area setting of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a storage address setting of image data in the imaging method according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Transfer Head Moving Mechanism 8 Camera 11 Image Recognition Unit 15 Line Sensor 15a Pixel 21 Control Unit 22 Pixel Selection Circuit 24 Coordinate Output Unit 25 Imaging Area Information Storage Unit 26 Write Control Unit 27 Image Storage Unit 28 Address Setting Unit 29 Address Control Unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C022 AA01 AC27 AC42 5C024 AX20 BX04 CX00 CY44 EX01 GY01 5C054 AA01 CF07 FC11 FF02 GB02 HA03

Claims (2)

[Claims] An imaging apparatus for reading an image of an imaging target by forming an optical image of the imaging target on a photoelectric conversion element, wherein a plurality of pixels including the photoelectric conversion element are arranged in series in the X direction. A line sensor, a pixel selection unit that outputs an image signal from a pixel selected by selecting one of the plurality of pixels, and a line sensor and an image capturing target that are at least in a Y direction that intersects the X direction. Relative movement mechanism for moving the image sensor, an imaging area information storage unit for storing a numerical value in the X direction and a numerical value in the Y direction regarding the size of the imaging area by the line sensor, and an image for storing an image signal output from the line sensor A storage unit, a control unit that controls selection of a pixel by the pixel selection unit using the numerical value in the X direction, a numerical value in the Y direction, and position information of the relative movement mechanism A writing control unit that controls writing of an image signal to the image storage unit based on the image signal, an address setting unit that sets a storage address of the image storage unit based on the imaging area information, and a control signal of the writing control unit. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: an address control unit that writes an image signal to a storage area specified by the storage address when writing an image signal to the image storage unit. 2. An image pickup apparatus for reading an image of an object to be imaged while relatively moving a line sensor having a plurality of pixels having photoelectric conversion elements arranged in series in the X direction in the Y direction intersecting the X direction with respect to the object to be imaged. A method of: (1) setting an imaging area; (2) setting a pixel for outputting an image signal based on the set width of the imaging area in the X direction; and (3) setting the pixel. Outputting a control signal for controlling writing of an image signal to the image storage unit based on the length of the imaging area in the Y direction, and setting a storage address of the image storage unit based on the imaging area information;
(4) outputting an image signal by periodically selecting a pixel; and (5) monitoring a relative positional relationship between an imaging target and the line sensor in the Y direction, thereby obtaining the image signal according to the control signal. Writing the output image signal into a storage area specified by a storage address. The step (4) is performed only for the pixels set in the step (2). An imaging method characterized by being performed.