JP2009041955A - Data acquisition device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data acquisition device capable of acquiring numerical data from each measuring display part of various measuring apparatuses by one device. <P>SOLUTION: This portable data acquisition device for photographing the measuring display part of a measuring apparatus, and acquiring numerical data from a photographed image is equipped with a photographing means 1 for photographing the measuring display part of the measuring apparatus; a measuring apparatus discrimination part 11 for discriminating the kind of the measuring apparatus by inputting discrimination data from a discrimination data transmission means 5 provided on the measuring apparatus side; an image processing method storage part 12 for storing an image processing method corresponding to the kind of the measuring apparatus; and a numerical data recognition part 13 for recognizing numerical data from the photographed image by inputting an image processing method corresponding to the kind of the measuring apparatus from the image processing method storage part 12, and by applying the image processing method, based on the photographed image photographed by the photographing means 1 and discrimination data discriminated by the measuring apparatus discrimination part 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data acquisition device capable of capturing a measurement display unit in a measurement device with a camera device and automatically acquiring numerical data from the captured image.

  For example, when various devices are installed in a large site such as plant equipment, the measuring instruments of devices that are not connected online are monitored and inspected by patrols of workers, but they are connected online. Therefore, the operator writes down the numerical values displayed on the display unit of the measuring device on paper, and these papers are filed after the patrol is completed. The data described on this paper is not particularly digitized, and therefore is not used for statistical processing or the like.

In order to meet such a demand, for example, a measurement display unit in a measuring instrument having a rotameter indicating the position of a float in the liquid is photographed with a camera device, and image processing is performed on the photographed image, thereby raising the float in the rotameter. There has been proposed a technique for automatically acquiring a child position, that is, a numerical value in a measurement display unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 07-198331 A

  By the way, although the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above can be applied to a specific measuring device called a rotameter, usually, various measuring devices are arranged in a plant facility. Therefore, when trying to cope with a large number of types of measuring equipment such as plant equipment, it is still necessary to give up automatic data acquisition for a certain measuring equipment or to deal with many kinds of measuring equipment. Then, as many data acquisition devices as the number of types of measuring devices are required. For this reason, depending on the type of measuring instrument to be automatically acquired, an operator needs to carry a plurality of data acquisition devices, which imposes a burden on maintenance inspection work such as monitoring and inspection.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a data acquisition device that can automatically acquire numerical data from many types of measuring devices using a single device.

In order to solve the above problems, a data acquisition device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a portable data acquisition device that captures numerical measurement data from a captured image while photographing a measurement display unit of a measurement instrument,
Photographing means for photographing the measurement display section of the measuring device;
A measuring device identifying unit for identifying the type of the measuring device by inputting identification data from the identification data transmitting means provided on the measuring device side;
An image processing method storage unit that stores an image processing method according to the type of measuring device;
An image processing method according to the type of the measurement device is input from the image processing method storage unit based on the captured image captured by the imaging unit and the identification data identified by the measurement device identification unit, and the image processing And a numerical data recognition unit that recognizes numerical data from a captured image by applying the method.

Further, the data acquisition device according to claim 2 is a portable data acquisition device that images the measurement display unit of the measurement device and acquires numerical data from the captured image.
Photographing means for photographing the measurement display section of the measuring device;
An image processing method storage unit that stores an image processing method according to the type of measuring device;
A measurement device identification unit for extracting identification data indicating the type of measurement device included in the photographed image photographed by the photographing means;
Based on the identification data obtained by the measurement device identification unit, an image processing method corresponding to the type of the measurement device is input from the image processing method storage unit, and numerical data is obtained from the captured image by applying the image processing method. And a numerical data recognition unit for recognizing.

Further, the data acquisition device according to claim 3 is provided with display means for inputting and displaying the numerical data recognized by the numerical data recognition unit on the photographing means side in the acquisition device according to claim 1 or 2,
In addition, data input means for inputting correction data for the numerical data displayed on the display means is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data acquisition device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the imaging unit and the display unit in the acquisition device according to the first or second aspect are provided in a head-mounted head mounting tool,
The measurement device identification unit, the image processing method storage unit, and the numerical data recognition unit are provided in a body mounting tool that can be mounted on a human body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a data acquisition device according to any one of the first to third aspects includes a photographing unit and a display unit in the acquisition device according to any one of the first to third aspects, and constitutes a terminal unit.
A measurement device identification unit, an image processing method storage unit, and a numerical data recognition unit are provided in a separate housing to constitute the apparatus main body,
Further, the terminal unit and the apparatus main body are provided with a terminal side communication means and a main body side communication means capable of transferring a photographed image and numerical data.

  According to the configuration of each data acquisition device described above, one data acquisition device is provided with an image processing method suitable for the measurement display unit of various measurement devices, that is, the measurement display unit, and is identified from the measurement device side. Since the type is specified by the data and the numerical data is acquired from the photographed image using the optimum image processing method, the numerical data displayed on the measurement display unit of various measuring devices is obtained by one data acquisition device. Can be acquired. That is, as compared with the conventional one that can handle only one type of measuring device, there is no need to increase the types of measuring devices that can acquire numerical data, that is, it is not necessary to carry a plurality of types of data acquisition devices. Maintenance and inspection work such as monitoring and inspection can be performed very easily.

  In addition, since the data acquisition device is composed of a terminal unit including a photographing unit and a display unit, and a separate apparatus main unit including a measurement device identification unit, an image processing method storage unit, and a numerical data recognition unit, for example, maintenance At the time of inspection work, the worker only needs to carry at least a terminal unit having photographing means and display means, and therefore maintenance and inspection work can be performed very easily. Furthermore, when processing functions are expanded, it is necessary to increase the size of circuit boards and the like and increase the cooling capacity. However, the increase in equipment weight accompanying these increases is associated with the separately installed device main unit. The terminal unit carried by the worker is not affected, and therefore no extra load is generated on the worker.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, a data acquisition apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This data acquisition device, for example, at the time of maintenance / inspection work such as monitoring / inspection in a plant facility, the data measured by the measuring device corresponds to the type of the measuring device, that is, a measurement display unit (for example, a digital display) (Appropriate) image processing according to the water level indicator by float, water amount indicator by float, scale plate by needle, etc.), and the measurement display state (hereinafter referred to as measurement data) displayed on the measurement display unit Recognize it as numerical data, and store this recognized numerical data in a server or the like provided at the management facility. On the measuring device side, identification data for identifying the type of the measuring device It can be outgoing.

  That is, this data acquisition device can be carried by a worker (it is portable), and as shown in FIG. 1, it is roughly divided into a head wearing tool that can be worn on the operator's head (for example, wearing) A head-mounted imaging means (for example, a CCD camera is used, hereinafter referred to as a camera device) 1 provided on (held by) a body 1) and a body that can be attached to the body of an operator An appropriate image processing method is selected based on the identification data from the identification data transmission means 5 provided on the measuring instrument side and input (captured) from the camera device 1 provided (held) on the attachment device. The data processing means 2 capable of recognizing (acquiring) the measurement data as numerical data and the numerical data recognized by the data processing means 2 provided on the head-mounted device in the same manner as the photographing means 1 are displayed. Display means (for example, a display screen such as a liquid crystal) 3 and data input means 4 that can be carried by an operator and can input numerical data to correct numerical data as required, for example. It is configured. The data input means 4 is usually provided on a wrist wearing device such as an arm, but can also be provided on a head wearing device or a body wearing device, for example.

  The identification data transmitting means 5 can transmit identification data that can specify the type of measuring device to be measured by radio (or including infrared rays), and can also use an IC tag or the like. .

  As described above, this identification data can be used to determine how the measurement display unit is configured by specifying the type of measurement device. For example, the identification data is a digital display, a liquid level gauge, You can know whether it is a liquid meter or a scale plate.

  The data processing device 2 inputs the identification data transmitted from the identification data transmitting means 5 and specifies the type of the measuring device, that is, the measuring device identifying unit 11 to be identified and the measurement to be measured at least in the plant equipment. An image processing method storage unit 12 in which a plurality of image processing methods corresponding to the type of device are stored, identification data indicating the type of measurement device obtained by the measurement device identification unit 11, and the camera device 1. The captured image is read (input), and an optimal (or appropriate) image processing method corresponding to the identification data, that is, the type of the measuring device is read from the image processing method storage unit 12 and the captured image processing method is read. Numerical data for extracting measurement data from the measurement display in the captured image and recognizing (acquiring) it as numerical data A data storage unit (which is also a data storage unit) for temporarily storing numerical data recognized by the numerical data recognition unit 13, and data stored in the data storage unit 14 For example, a data communication unit (also referred to as a data wireless transmission unit) 15 that transmits wirelessly to the management room is configured. Note that at least the numerical data recognition unit 13 and the like are executed by a program and can be called a functional unit in that sense, and in some cases, can be configured as a circuit unit that can perform the function. .

  The numerical data recognition unit 13 receives the identification data from the measuring device identification unit 11 and reads an image processing method corresponding to the identification data from the image processing method storage unit 12; A numerical data extraction unit that reads a photographed image photographed by the photographing means 11 and performs image processing based on the image processing method read by the image processing method reading unit 12 and extracts numerical data from the measurement data ( Of course, it has an image processing function such as binarization processing, edge processing, labeling processing, etc., and can also be called an image processing unit) 22, and numerical data extracted (recognized) by the numerical data extraction unit 22 When the numerical data is output to the display means 3 and the numerical data is incorrect, the data input by the data input means 4 is determined as numerical data. Obtaining (also say data correction unit) data determining section 23 and are provided. If the data determining unit 23 determines that the data is correct, the date / time data (that is, work date / time data obtained from a timer) and identification data for specifying the measuring device are added to the numerical data. And stored in the data storage unit 14.

Hereinafter, a data acquisition method by the data acquisition device will be briefly described.
For example, when a worker carries this data acquisition device and performs maintenance / inspection work such as monitoring / inspection, the worker first goes to a predetermined measurement place, and the camera device 1 photographs the measurement display unit of the measurement device. To do. At this time, the identification data from the identification data transmitting means 5 is input to the measurement device identification unit 11 and the type of the measurement device is specified to obtain the identification data. Then, identification data indicating the type of the measuring device is input to the image processing method reading unit 21, and an image processing method optimum for the measurement display unit corresponding to the measuring device is read from the image processing method storage unit 12.

  The optimum image processing method read by the image processing method reading unit 21 is input to the numerical data extraction unit 22, where the input captured image is subjected to the image processing method, and the measurement data is converted into numerical data. Extracted.

The extracted numerical data is sent to the data determining unit 23, from which it is sent to the display means 3 provided on the operator's head-mounted tool, and the numerical value is displayed.
Then, the operator determines whether or not the numerical value displayed on the display means 3 and the numerical value obtained by visually observing the measurement display unit are correct. In such a case, for example, the correct numerical value data may be input from the numerical value input key by pressing the correction button.

  In the data determining unit 23, when the confirmation signal is input, the numerical data extracted by the numerical data extracting unit 22 is determined as correct data, and when the correction signal is input, the data input unit 4 The input numerical data is determined as correct data.

The numerical data determined by the data determination unit 23 is sent together with the date / time data and the identification data to the data storage unit 14 and to the management room via the data communication unit 15.
According to the configuration of the data acquisition device, one data acquisition device is provided with an image processing method suitable for the measurement display unit of various measurement devices, that is, the measurement display unit, and is identified from the measurement device side. Since the type is specified by the data and the numerical data is extracted from the captured image using the optimum image processing method, the numerical value displayed on the measurement display unit of various measuring devices with one data acquisition device Data can be acquired. In other words, there is no need to increase the number of devices that can only handle one type of conventional measuring device according to the type of measuring device, that is, there is no need to carry multiple types of data acquisition devices. When performing work, it can be done easily without imposing a burden on the operator.

  Moreover, since the extracted (recognized) numerical data can be corrected by the data input means, even if the extracted data is incorrect, the operator himself / herself manually looks at the measurement display section. Correcting can be performed by inputting a correct numerical value, and thus the reliability of the automatic operation for acquiring numerical data can be improved. Further, if there is no error, it is only necessary to press a confirmation button or the like for accepting the numerical value, so that the burden of the additional work is small.

By the way, in Embodiment 1 described above, the camera device and the display means are provided on the head mounting tool, but may be portable, for example, which can be held by hand.
In the first embodiment, the image processing method reading unit has been described as being separate from the numerical data extraction unit. However, the image processing method reading unit may be included in the function of the numerical data extraction unit.

  In the first embodiment, the “brightness” of the photographed image by the camera device has not been described. However, the “brightness” is taken into account in the camera device, for example. If not, for example, the camera device 1 is provided with a brightness meter, that is, a brightness meter, and when selecting an image processing method, an optimum image processing method is selected in consideration of the value of this “brightness”. Alternatively, “brightness” can be taken into consideration during image processing.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the numerical data stored in the data storage unit has been described to be transmitted to the management room side via the data communication unit. However, for example, instead of the data communication unit, magnetism, optical A data output unit capable of recording numerical data may be provided on a recording medium using the above. For example, the server can be transferred to these servers via the recording medium.

Note that the contents of the above-described modified examples also apply to the embodiments described below.
[Embodiment 2]
Next, a data acquisition apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the identification data for specifying the type of the measuring device has been described as being transmitted from the identification data transmitting means provided on the measuring device side. However, in the second embodiment, the measurement data is measured. A mark serving as identification data is placed at or near the measurement display section of the device, and the mark is photographed together with the measurement display section, and the identification data is extracted from the photographed image by, for example, image processing. The type of the measuring device is specified.

  Hereinafter, the data acquisition apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2, but a portion different from the first embodiment is a portion that specifies the type of measuring device, and thus will be described by focusing on this portion. In addition, the other parts are denoted by the same part numbers as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the numerical data recognition unit 13 ′ in this data acquisition device, a photographed image photographed by the camera device 1 is input and a mark (for example, a numerical value with a clear contrast is pasted at a predetermined position around the measurement display unit). Or an identification data extracted by the measurement equipment identification section 11 '. The measurement equipment identification section 11' is used to extract identification data. Data is input and an image processing method corresponding to the identification data is read from the image processing method storage unit 12 to the image processing method reading unit 21, and the numerical data extraction unit 22 converts the photographed image input from the camera device 1. Numerical data is extracted by applying the read image processing method. The identification data obtained by the measuring device identification unit 11 ′ is input to the numerical data extraction unit 22, and the identification data is sent to the image processing method reading unit 21 by the numerical data extraction unit 22 for optimal image processing. You may make it take in a method.

By configuring in this way, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment, the identification data transmission means required in the first embodiment can be made unnecessary.
In addition to the above-described configuration, for example, a transmitter that transmits infrared rays at a predetermined period is provided on the measurement device side, and the infrared rays are captured from a photographed image continuously captured for a predetermined time while the infrared rays are captured by the camera device. By detecting the transmission period, the type of measuring device can be specified. In this case, the numerical data recognition unit includes an identification data detection unit that can detect the infrared transmission period as the identification data.

  By the way, in each of the above-described embodiments, the data acquisition device set according to the present invention has been described as a portable type that can be carried by an operator. The main body of the apparatus (for example, each of the constituent members arranged in the housing) may be arranged, for example, at a data wireless relay location (in this sense, it may be referred to as a data acquisition system). it can).

Hereinafter, the case where this structure is applied to each embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated easily.
(1) FIG. 3 shows a case where the present invention is applied to the first embodiment.
In this case, the data acquisition apparatus includes a terminal unit in which the photographing unit (camera unit) 1 and the display unit 3 are provided in a head-mounted head-mounted device (also referred to as a terminal-side mounted device), and a measurement device identifying unit. 11, an image processing method storage unit 12, a numerical data recognition unit 13, a data storage unit 14, and a data communication unit 15. The terminal side data input / output means 31 and the terminal side communication means 32 that are capable of transferring captured images and numerical data are provided on the terminal part (terminal side wearing tool) side, and on the apparatus main body side, Main body side communication means 33 and main body side data input / output means 34 are provided.
(2) FIG. 4 shows a case where the present invention is applied to the second embodiment.

  In this case, the data acquisition device includes a terminal unit in which the photographing unit (camera device) 1 and the display unit 3 are provided in a head-mounted terminal-side mounting tool (also referred to as a terminal-side mounting tool), and an image processing method storage. And a separate device main body composed of a unit 12, a numerical data recognizing unit 13, a data storage unit 14, and a data communication unit 15. A terminal side data input / output means 41 and a terminal side communication means 42 capable of transferring a photographed image and numerical data are provided on the terminal section (terminal side wearing tool) side, and a main body side communication means 43 is provided on the apparatus main body side. In addition, a main body side data input / output means 44 is provided.

  Therefore, according to these configurations, the photographed image by the camera device 1 is transmitted to the terminal side data input / output means 31, 41, the terminal side communication means 32, 42, the main body side communication means 33, 43, and the main body data input / output means 34, 44. Then, the data is input to the data processing means 2, where the measurement data is recognized as numerical data as in the above-described embodiments. Then, the numerical data is transmitted to the management room via the data communication unit 15 and stored in, for example, an electronic file.

  In this way, one data acquisition device is composed of a terminal unit composed of a photographing unit and a display unit, and a separate apparatus main unit composed of a measuring device identification unit, an image processing method storage unit, and a numerical data recognition unit. Therefore, at the time of maintenance / inspection work such as monitoring / inspection, for example, the operator only needs to carry the terminal unit having at least the photographing means and the display means, and therefore the maintenance / inspection work can be performed very easily. Furthermore, when processing functions are expanded, it is necessary to increase the size of circuit boards and the like and increase the cooling capacity. However, the increase in equipment weight accompanying these increases is associated with the separately installed device main unit. The terminal unit carried by the worker is not affected, and therefore no extra load is generated on the worker.

  As described above, one data acquisition device is separated into the terminal side (terminal unit) and the device main unit side (device main unit). For example, one device main unit is supported for a plurality of terminal units. You may make it make it. In this case, of course, consideration is given to distinguishing data transmitted from the terminal side. For example, the data is transmitted by changing the transmission frequency of the data for each terminal unit or adding an identification code.

In this way, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced by sharing the apparatus main body with a single device for a plurality of terminals.
Further, instead of placing the apparatus main body at the relay location, it may be arranged directly in the management room (this is normal). In this case, data communication provided in the data processing means of the apparatus main body Instead of the unit, a data display unit or a data extraction unit is provided.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the data acquisition apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the data acquisition apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure which concerns on the modification of the data acquisition apparatus which concerns on the same Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure which concerns on the modification of the data acquisition apparatus which concerns on the same Embodiment 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Shooting means (camera device)
2 Data processing means 3 Display means 4 Data input means 5 Identification data transmission means 11 Measuring equipment identification section 11 ′ Measuring equipment identification section 12 Image processing method storage section 13 Numerical data recognition section 13 ′ Numerical data recognition section 14 Data storage section 15 Data Communication unit 21 Image processing method reading unit 22 Numerical data extraction unit 23 Data determination unit 31 Terminal side data input / output unit 32 Terminal side communication unit 33 Main unit side communication unit 34 Main unit side data input / output unit 41 Terminal side data input / output unit 42 Terminal side communication unit 43 Body side communication means 44 Body side data input / output means

Claims (5)

A portable data acquisition device that captures a measurement display unit of a measurement device and acquires numerical data from the captured image,
Photographing means for photographing the measurement display section of the measuring device;
A measuring device identifying unit for identifying the type of the measuring device by inputting identification data from the identification data transmitting means provided on the measuring device side;
An image processing method storage unit that stores an image processing method according to the type of measuring device;
An image processing method according to the type of the measurement device is input from the image processing method storage unit based on the captured image captured by the imaging unit and the identification data identified by the measurement device identification unit, and the image processing A data acquisition apparatus comprising: a numerical data recognition unit that recognizes numerical data from a captured image by applying the method. A portable data acquisition device that captures a measurement display unit of a measurement device and acquires numerical data from the captured image,
Photographing means for photographing the measurement display section of the measuring device;
An image processing method storage unit that stores an image processing method according to the type of measuring device;
A measurement device identification unit for extracting identification data indicating the type of measurement device included in the photographed image photographed by the photographing means;
Based on the identification data obtained by the measurement device identification unit, an image processing method corresponding to the type of the measurement device is input from the image processing method storage unit, and numerical data is obtained from the captured image by applying the image processing method. A data acquisition apparatus comprising: a numerical data recognition unit for recognizing. Display means for inputting and displaying numerical data recognized by the numerical data recognition unit on the photographing means side is provided,
3. The data acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising data input means for inputting correction data for the numerical data displayed on the display means. While providing the photographing means and the display means in the head-mounted head mounting tool,
The data acquisition apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measurement device identification unit, the image processing method storage unit, and the numerical data recognition unit are provided in a body mounting tool that can be mounted on a human body. The photographing unit and the display unit are provided on the worker's wearing tool to constitute the terminal unit, and
A measurement device identification unit, an image processing method storage unit, and a numerical data recognition unit are provided in a separate housing to constitute the apparatus main body,
The terminal unit and the apparatus main body unit are further provided with a terminal side communication unit and a main unit side communication unit that can exchange a captured image and numerical data. Data acquisition device.

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