JP2007170823A - Infrared imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an infrared imaging apparatus capable of easily changing a color image after imaging. <P>SOLUTION: The infrared imaging apparatus comprises a first storage section M1 for two-dimensionally storing temperature information of an imaged object obtained from an infrared detection sensor 2, a coloring means 3 for converting the temperature information in the first storage section M1 into first color information, an indicator 5 for displaying the first color information, and a second storage section M2 for storing the two-dimensional temperature information in the first storage section and the two-dimensional first color information generated by the coloring means and selectively readably storing the stored temperature information and first color information. The infrared imaging apparatus can read the temperature information stored in the second storage section M2, convert the temperature information into second color information different from and separated from the first color information, rewrite the first color information to the second color information, and store it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an infrared imaging device.

As methods for performing processing such as coloring based on temperature information imaged by an infrared imaging device, the following are proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 3).
In the invention of Patent Document 1, the temperature range, color, and gradation can be changed for each divided area of the display screen.
In the invention of Patent Document 2, color display is performed in a predetermined temperature range, and a portion indicating the other temperature range is displayed in monochrome.
In the invention of Patent Document 3, an interface capable of inputting a temperature range setting on a screen is proposed.
JP-A-8-226853 (Summary) JP-A-2-107930 (Summary) JP 2001-249051 A (FIGS. 10 and 11)

In the infrared imaging device, processing such as coloring is performed based on the captured temperature information, and a color image including the color information is created. The color image is created by coloring according to a temperature range (temperature scale) for converting temperature information into color information.
The temperature information and the color image are recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card, for example.

  Here, after the color image is created, it may be necessary to convert the temperature information in a different temperature range and recreate the color image. For example, when the same imaging target is imaged in time series, when a temperature change of the imaging target does not fit within the initially set temperature range, a series of captured color images are changed to the temperature change. It will be necessary to recreate it in the corresponding temperature range. In some cases, it may be necessary to change the color or gradation of the color image so that the color image is easy to see.

  In such a case, using a personal computer or the like, temperature information is sequentially read for each frame imaged from the recording medium, and a color image is recreated based on the temperature information. For this reason, the conversion of the color image requires a complicated operation and requires a great deal of labor. In addition, dedicated software for converting and creating color images is required.

  Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide an infrared imaging device capable of easily changing a color image that has been captured.

  In order to achieve the above object, an infrared imaging device of the present invention includes an infrared detection sensor that receives infrared rays from an imaging target via a focus lens, and two-dimensional temperature information of the imaging target obtained from the infrared detection sensor. A first storage unit that stores the color information, a coloring unit that converts the temperature information of the first storage unit into first color information, a display for displaying the first color information, and the first storage The two-dimensional temperature information of the unit and the two-dimensional first color information generated by the coloring means are stored for each frame, and the stored temperature information and first color information are selected. A second storage unit that stores the information in a readable manner, reads the temperature information stored in the second storage unit, and converts the temperature information into second color information different from the first color information. Convert and read the read in the second storage unit Characterized in that the first color information corresponding to the temperature information made it possible to store rewrites the second color information.

According to the present invention, the infrared imaging apparatus reads temperature information from the second storage unit, converts the temperature information into second color information different from the first color information, and stores the temperature information in the second storage unit. The first color information corresponding to the read temperature information can be rewritten and stored as the second color information. Therefore, it is convenient because the color image that has been picked up can be changed in the main body of the infrared imaging device without using a personal computer or dedicated software.
In addition, since it is not necessary to prepare a personal computer or dedicated software separately, expenses can be significantly reduced.

Hereinafter, an infrared imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The infrared imaging device includes an imaging mode for imaging an imaging object and a change mode for changing a captured color image.

Imaging mode:
First, the imaging mode will be described.
An infrared imaging device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1A includes a focus lens 1 at the front. Infrared (thermal radiation) Ir emitted from the imaging target (subject) is incident on the focus lens 1, and a thermal image (FIG. 3A) color-coded for each gradation is displayed on the display 5 shown in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the infrared imaging device 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the infrared Ir emitted from the imaging target forms an image on the infrared detection sensor 2 via the focus lens 1. The infrared detection sensor 2 includes an infrared light receiving element whose resistance value changes when thermal radiation emitted from an imaging target is detected, and detects a distribution of thermal radiation energy.

The detection value of the infrared detection sensor 2 is converted into temperature information composed of digital information by an A / D converter (not shown). For example, the temperature information is two-dimensionally stored in the first storage unit M <b> 1 including a memory array, and is then sent to the coloring unit 3, and is converted into color information by the coloring unit 3. The coloring unit 3 creates color information according to a predetermined temperature range based on the temperature information. At that time, the color information is created based on a color or gradation corresponding to a color scale corresponding to each preset temperature.
Various information is added to the color information by a GUI (Graphical User Interface) 4 and displayed on a display 5 including a liquid crystal display, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the display 5 includes information such as an upper limit temperature 51, a lower limit temperature 53, a color distribution 52, a measurement temperature point 54, and a temperature 55 of the measurement temperature point on the color information. Overlaid and displayed.

Icon display;
An icon display unit 56 is displayed at the bottom of the display screen. As shown in FIG. 3B, the icon display unit 56 displays an icon that can intuitively grasp the state of the apparatus 10.

Imaging:
When the operator presses a predetermined imaging button to perform imaging, the temperature information is sent from the first storage unit M1 in FIG. 2 to the file conversion means 6, and the color information from the coloring means 3 is sent to the file conversion means 6. Sent. The file conversion means 6 creates an original image C _i based on the temperature information, creates a color image D _i based on the color information, and collects the original image C _i and the color image D _i together as an imaging file. Create F.

Second storage unit M2;
The infrared imaging device 10 is provided with a recess 18 (FIG. 4) for detachably connecting a second storage unit M2 made of a storage medium having a connector such as a CF (Compact Flash) card. The imaging file F is created by the file conversion means 6 every time shooting is performed, and is additionally stored in the second storage unit M2.
Therefore, all the captured files F _n that have been captured so far are stored in the second storage unit M2.

Change mode:
Here, one may want to change the color image D _i of each frame captured before. For example, so far, had created a color image D _i in the temperature range of 10 ° to 40 °, the temperature of the imaged object exceeds 40 °, 10 ° the color image D _i captured so far to 45 ° You may want to recreate it within the range. Further, there is a case to be easily seen color images D _i to change color, the tone. In such a case, the apparatus 10 is set to the change mode, and the captured color image _Di is changed.

  The present apparatus 10 is provided with an internal memory 7 for selectively reading the captured image file F stored in the second storage unit M2. The internal memory 7 is connected to the first storage unit M1.

After the operator sets the apparatus 10 to the change mode, when the imaging file (hereinafter referred to as “change target file”) F _i including the color image D _i to be changed is designated, the corresponding stored in the second storage unit M2 The original image C _i at the time of imaging is read from the change target file F _i to the internal memory 7. That is, the temperature information at the time of imaging recorded in the change target file F _i, data such as parameters for the coloring is read from the second memory unit M2 in the internal memory 7. The data is sent from the internal memory 7 to the first storage unit M1.

The imaging information read out by the coloring means 3 is colored according to the coloring parameters, and the same color as the color information (first color information) of the color image D _i recorded in the change target file F _i. An image made up of information is displayed on the display 5.
When the operator performs a predetermined operation while looking at the display 5 and performs a conversion operation such as a temperature range, a color, and a color tone, the coloring unit 3 performs a new operation based on the temperature information at the time of imaging according to the conversion operation. Color information (second color information) is created and displayed on the display 5. After the conversion operation, when the operator performs a predetermined writing operation, new color information is sent from the coloring unit 3 to the file conversion unit 6.

The file conversion means 6 creates the changed color image D _i from the new color information, combines the changed color image D _i and the original image C _i consisting of temperature information at the time of imaging, and changes the color image D _i A subsequent imaging file F _i is created. File conversion means 6 erases the modified target file F _i from the second storage unit M2, and stores the captured file F _i after the change to the second storage section M2 (overwritten is stored).

That is, the apparatus 10 reads the temperature information from the change target file F _i stored in the second storage unit M2, and uses the temperature information as the color information (first color) before the change included in the change target file F _i. Information) is converted into different new color information (second color information). The device 10 rewrites the first color information with the second color information to create a changed imaging file F _i and stores it in the second storage unit M2.

The operator sequentially designates the change target file F _i and converts the color information, and then rewrites the change target file F _i to the changed imaging file F _i and stores it.

  As described above, it is convenient that the captured color image can be changed only by the infrared imaging apparatus 10 without using a personal computer or dedicated software.

Last shot function;
Here, an external storage medium using a semiconductor memory such as a CF card takes time to read data. Therefore, the apparatus 10 can quickly read the original image C _i and the color image D _i taken immediately before from the main body memory of the apparatus 10 and confirm the images.

Last manual function;
In the present apparatus 10, the temperature range can be imaged while switching between a temperature range preset at the time of shipment (automatic setting) and a temperature range set by the operator (manual setting). In this apparatus 10, the temperature range in which the operator has made the manual setting last is stored, and the temperature range can be called and used by a predetermined operation.
A switching button is arranged at a position where it can be easily pressed with the thumb so that the manual setting and the auto setting can be switched with only the thumb of one hand.

Shutter function;
Here, in the conventional infrared imaging device, when imaging is performed, the display screen of the display 5 in FIG. 3 is stopped (frozen) for several seconds. However, in the present apparatus 10, when imaging is performed, the portions displayed in black approach each other from the vertical direction of the display screen, and the display screen darkens as if blinking. As a result, the operator can confirm that the shutter has been pressed. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly move to the next operation.

Visible camera 11;
As shown in FIG. 1A, a visible camera 11 is mounted on the upper part of the apparatus 10. The visible camera 11 is composed of, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) camera. The operator can display a visual image captured by the visible light camera 11, the display unit 5 while switching between the color image D _i.
If the visible camera 11 is provided below the viewing angle of the focus lens 1, the focus lens 1 is injured. On the other hand, if the visible camera 11 is provided in front of the heat radiating unit 12, the thermal image is affected. Therefore, the visible camera 11 is provided above the focus lens 1 and behind the heat radiating unit 12.

Position adjustment of the visible camera 11;
As shown in FIG. 1B, an adjustment hole 13 for changing the imaging direction of the visible camera 11 is provided in the upper part of the visible camera 11. By inserting the driver D into the adjustment hole 13 and turning it, the imaging direction of the visible camera 11 can be adjusted.

Grip 16;
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the apparatus main body 15 is formed of a metal such as aluminum, and a resin is used for the grip portion 16 where the operator holds the main body. Therefore, the heat of the apparatus main body 15 is not transmitted to the operator's hand.
Moreover, since the hand strap 16 is attached to the attachment part 17 formed in the said metal main body 15, the attachment intensity | strength of the grip 16 improves.

Cross button 14;
Further, by changing the height of the cross button 14 operated with the thumb of the right hand, it is possible to prevent a trouble that the two buttons are pressed simultaneously. For example, in the present apparatus 10, the height of two buttons among the four cross buttons 14 is set higher than the heights of the other buttons.

As described above, the preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. However, those skilled in the art will readily understand various changes and modifications within the obvious scope by looking at the present specification.
For example, the file format of the imaging file stored in the external storage unit may be any file format as long as the original image and the color image are combined together.
In the above-described embodiment, the change target file F _i is deleted from the second storage unit M2, and the changed imaging file F _i is stored (overwritten) in the second storage unit M2. The change target file F _i may be additionally stored in the second storage unit M2 as a new imaging file F _{i + j} without deleting the change target file F _i from the second storage unit M2.
Further, for example, an external storage device such as a hard disk drive may be connected to the infrared imaging device via an external connection terminal such as a USB.
Accordingly, such changes and modifications are to be construed as within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

  The present invention can be applied to an infrared imaging device that detects an infrared ray emitted from an object and displays an image.

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view from the front of an infrared imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view from the back of the apparatus when photographing. It is a schematic block diagram of the same apparatus. FIG. 3A is a front view showing a display screen of a display, and FIG. 3B is a chart showing icons displayed on the display screen and their meanings. It is a schematic perspective view from the back surface of the state which opened the back cover of this apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1: Focus lens 2: Infrared detection sensor 3: Coloring means 4: Display 10: Infrared imaging device Ir: Infrared M1: First storage unit M2: Second storage unit

Claims (1)

An infrared detection sensor that receives infrared rays from an imaging target via a focus lens;
A first storage unit that two-dimensionally stores temperature information of an imaging target obtained from the infrared detection sensor;
Coloring means for converting temperature information in the first storage unit into first color information;
A display for displaying the first color information;
The two-dimensional temperature information in the first storage unit and the two-dimensional first color information generated by the coloring unit are stored for each frame, and the stored temperature information and the first A second storage unit for selectively reading out the color information,
The temperature information stored in the second storage unit is read, the temperature information is converted into second color information different from the first color information, and the read temperature information in the second storage unit An infrared imaging device that can rewrite and store the first color information corresponding to the second color information.