JP2009210565A - Light quantity monitor sensor and image processing system equipped with this - Google Patents

Light quantity monitor sensor and image processing system equipped with this Download PDF

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JP2009210565A
JP2009210565A JP2009012516A JP2009012516A JP2009210565A JP 2009210565 A JP2009210565 A JP 2009210565A JP 2009012516 A JP2009012516 A JP 2009012516A JP 2009012516 A JP2009012516 A JP 2009012516A JP 2009210565 A JP2009210565 A JP 2009210565A
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JP5244633B2 (en
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Osamu Nakada
治 中田
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Optex FA Co Ltd
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light quantity monitor sensor which easily and automatically measures light quantity of illumination light from illuminating device even if the illumination light includes intermittent light. <P>SOLUTION: As this sensor uses an integrator circuit 5 to integrate light-receiving signal, pulse light or ambient light (DC light) with different waveforms in crest value, period, pulse width, etc. is also measured. Further it uses valid data output means 10 to output only the effective data on the amount of received light from any light-receiving signal sampling of which has been determined as available. These capabilities are combined each other to enable sampling at relatively lower frequency, therefore, a light quantity of the illuminating device L is easily and automatically measured even if its illumination light includes intermittent light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、照明装置の照明光の光量を自動的に測定する光量モニタセンサおよびこれを備えた画像処理システムに関する。   The present invention relates to a light amount monitor sensor that automatically measures the amount of illumination light of an illumination device and an image processing system including the same.

従来から、照明装置の照明光の光量(輝度)管理として、例えば、図1に示すような画像処理システムSに使用される照明装置Lからの照明光の光量を、一定期間ごとに照度計や輝度計などで測定(モニタ)して、経年劣化などによる光量の低下を検出することが知られている。   Conventionally, as a light amount (brightness) management of illumination light of an illumination device, for example, the amount of illumination light from an illumination device L used in an image processing system S as shown in FIG. It is known to measure (monitor) with a luminance meter or the like to detect a decrease in light amount due to deterioration over time.

また、画像処理システムSの照明装置LにLED(Light Emitting Diode)を用いて、LED照明を点灯して撮像した画像情報から照明光の輝度を演算し、照明光の光量の低下を検出する手法も知られている(例えば、特許文献1)。   Further, a method of calculating a luminance of illumination light from image information obtained by lighting an LED illumination and using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as an illumination device L of the image processing system S, and detecting a decrease in the amount of illumination light. Is also known (for example, Patent Document 1).

特開2007−265287号公報JP 2007-265287 A

ところで、画像処理システムSなどのLEDやハロゲンランプを用いた照明装置Lでは、連続的に照明する連続光(常点灯)、PWM制御点灯、ストロボ発光制御点灯およびこれらの複合型点灯などの各種点灯方法により照明する場合がある。   By the way, in the illuminating device L using an LED or a halogen lamp such as the image processing system S, various lighting such as continuous light for continuous illumination (normal lighting), PWM control lighting, strobe light emission control lighting, and combined lighting thereof. It may be illuminated depending on the method.

この場合、ストロボ発光制御点灯では間欠的な照明光(間欠光)になるので、連続的に照明する連続光と異なり、当該間欠光の輝度を正確に積算することが容易でないことから、間欠光にも対応して照明装置の光量を正確に測定することが困難であるという問題があった。   In this case, since the strobe emission control lighting is intermittent illumination light (intermittent light), unlike continuous light that is continuously illuminated, it is not easy to accurately integrate the brightness of the intermittent light. Accordingly, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately measure the light amount of the illumination device.

本発明は、照明装置からの照明光が間欠光を含むものであってもその光量を容易に自動的に測定することができる光量モニタセンサおよびこれを備えた画像処理システムを提供することを目的としている。   An object of the present invention is to provide a light amount monitor sensor capable of easily and automatically measuring the amount of light even if the illumination light from the illumination device includes intermittent light, and an image processing system including the same. It is said.

前記目的を達成するために、本発明の一構成にかかる光量モニタセンサは、照明装置からの間欠光を含む照明光の受光量に基づき受光信号を出力する受光部と、受光信号を積分する積分回路と、積分された受光信号を所定周波数でサンプリングするA/D変換部と、各部を制御して前記照明光の光量を測定させる制御部とを備え、前記制御部は、前記サンプリングされる受光信号の電圧を所定の設定電圧と比較する比較手段と、前記受光信号の電圧が前記設定電圧よりも高い場合にその受光信号のサンプリングを有効と判断して、当該有効な受光量データを出力する有効データ出力手段とを備えている。   In order to achieve the above object, a light amount monitor sensor according to one configuration of the present invention includes a light receiving unit that outputs a light reception signal based on a light reception amount of illumination light including intermittent light from an illumination device, and an integration that integrates the light reception signal. A circuit, an A / D conversion unit that samples the integrated light reception signal at a predetermined frequency, and a control unit that controls each unit to measure the amount of the illumination light, and the control unit receives the light reception to be sampled Comparing means for comparing the signal voltage with a predetermined set voltage, and when the received light signal voltage is higher than the set voltage, the received light signal sampling is determined to be valid and the effective received light amount data is output. Valid data output means.

この構成によれば、積分回路で受光信号を積分しているので、波高値・周期・パルス幅などの波形が異なるパルス光や定常光(DC光)も測定可能となり、有効データ出力手段によって、サンプリングが有効と判断された受光信号からの有効な受光量データのみを出力するので、これらが相俟って比較的低い周波数でのサンプリングが可能となり、照明光が間欠光を含むものであっても、容易に当該照明装置の光量を自動的に測定することができる。また、比較的低いサンプリング周波数を用いることができるので、A/D変換器の低コスト化、小型化が可能となる。   According to this configuration, since the light reception signal is integrated by the integration circuit, it becomes possible to measure pulsed light and stationary light (DC light) having different waveforms such as peak value, period, and pulse width, and the effective data output means Since only the effective received light amount data from the received light signal for which sampling is determined to be effective is output, in combination, sampling at a relatively low frequency is possible, and the illumination light includes intermittent light. In addition, the light quantity of the lighting device can be easily measured automatically. In addition, since a relatively low sampling frequency can be used, the A / D converter can be reduced in cost and size.

本発明の他の構成にかかる画像処理システムは、物体を撮像するカメラと、物体への照明光が間欠光を含む照明装置と、この照明装置の照明光の光量を測定する前記光量モニタセンサとを備えて、物体の画像を処理するものであって、前記光量モニタセンサの制御部は、さらに、少なくとも、前記間欠光のタイミングと自律的に同期をとるオンモードと、自律的に同期をとるモードが作動しないオフモードとに切り替えるモード切替手段と、前記オンモード中に、前記間欠光について有効と判断された受光信号のサンプリングの間隔が所定時間よりも短いとき、同期状態で連続した受光信号とみなして処理し、前記サンプリングの間隔が所定時間以上のとき、同期はずれ状態で当該受光信号を無効とみなして処理する間欠光処理手段とを備えている。   An image processing system according to another configuration of the present invention includes a camera that captures an object, an illumination device in which illumination light on the object includes intermittent light, and the light amount monitor sensor that measures the amount of illumination light of the illumination device. The light quantity monitor sensor control unit further autonomously synchronizes with at least an on mode that autonomously synchronizes with the timing of the intermittent light. A mode switching means for switching to an off mode in which the mode does not operate, and a continuous light reception signal in a synchronized state when a sampling interval of the light reception signal determined to be effective for the intermittent light is shorter than a predetermined time during the on mode And intermittent light processing means for processing the received light signal as invalid in an out-of-synchronization state when the sampling interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. There.

この構成によれば、間欠光について有効と判断された受光信号のサンプリングの間隔に基づき同期状態を判断して受光信号を処理するので、照明光が間欠光を含むものであっても、当該照明光の光量を迅速かつ正確に測定することができる。   According to this configuration, the synchronization state is determined based on the sampling interval of the received light signal determined to be effective for intermittent light, and the received light signal is processed. Therefore, even if the illumination light includes intermittent light, The amount of light can be measured quickly and accurately.

本発明の第1実施形態にかかる光量モニタセンサを備えた画像処理システムを示す平面図である。It is a top view which shows the image processing system provided with the light quantity monitor sensor concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. 図1の光量モニタセンサを示すブロック図である。It is a block diagram which shows the light quantity monitor sensor of FIG. 受光信号のサンプリング状態を示すタイムチャート図である。It is a time chart figure which shows the sampling state of a received light signal. (A)、(B)は受光信号のサンプリング状態を示すタイムチャート図である。(A), (B) is a time chart figure which shows the sampling state of a received light signal. 図2の光量モニタセンサの動作を示すフローチャートである。It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the light quantity monitor sensor of FIG. 本発明の第2実施形態に係る光量モニタセンサを示すブロック図である。It is a block diagram which shows the light quantity monitor sensor which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

以下、本発明の好ましい実施形態について図面を参照しながら説明する。図1は、本発明の第1実施形態にかかる光量モニタセンサ1を備えた画像処理システムSを示す。この画像処理システムSは、図示しない物体を撮像するカメラと、物体の画像を処理する画像処理部とを備え、物体への照明光が間欠光を含む照明装置Lと、照明装置Lの照明光の光量を自動的に測定(モニタ)する光量モニタセンサ1とを備えている。この画像処理システムSは、画像処理装置の照明装置Lについて、その照明光の光量をモニタするために、光量モニタセンサ1をいわゆる外付けにしたものである。   Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image processing system S including a light quantity monitor sensor 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system S includes a camera that captures an object (not shown) and an image processing unit that processes an image of the object. The illumination device L includes illumination light that includes intermittent light, and illumination light from the illumination device L. And a light amount monitor sensor 1 for automatically measuring (monitoring) the amount of light. In this image processing system S, a light amount monitor sensor 1 is externally attached to the illumination device L of the image processing device in order to monitor the amount of illumination light.

図2は、光量モニタセンサ1のブロック図を示す。図1の照明装置Lは、例えばLEDを所定のPWM制御周波数が一定でパルス幅を可変させるPWM制御により照明するものである。また、連続的に点灯する連続光(常点灯)またはストロボ発光のように間欠的に点灯する間欠光で照明を行うことができる。LEDに代えて蛍光灯やハロゲンランプ等を用いてもよい。   FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the light quantity monitor sensor 1. The illuminating device L in FIG. 1 illuminates, for example, an LED by PWM control in which a predetermined PWM control frequency is constant and a pulse width is varied. Moreover, it can illuminate with the continuous light (continuous lighting) which lights continuously, or the intermittent light which lights intermittently like strobe light emission. A fluorescent lamp or a halogen lamp may be used instead of the LED.

図2の光量モニタセンサ1は、照明装置Lからの照明光を受光する光ファイバ2および照明光の受光量に基づき受光信号を出力する受光素子3を有する受光部4と、受光信号を積分し増幅する積分・増幅回路5と、積分・増幅された受光信号を所定周波数でサンプリングするA/D変換部6と、センサ全体および各部を制御して、前記照明光の光量を自動的に測定(モニタ)させる制御部(制御・処理部)7とを備えている。この例では、A/D変換部6におけるサンプリングの所定周波数が前記PWM制御のPWM制御周波数よりも低くなっている。   The light quantity monitor sensor 1 in FIG. 2 integrates the light reception signal with an optical fiber 2 that receives illumination light from the illumination device L and a light receiving element 4 that outputs a light reception signal based on the amount of light received from the illumination light. An integrating / amplifying circuit 5 for amplifying, an A / D converter 6 for sampling the integrated / amplified received light signal at a predetermined frequency, and the entire sensor and each part are controlled to automatically measure the amount of illumination light ( And a control unit (control / processing unit) 7 to be monitored. In this example, the predetermined sampling frequency in the A / D converter 6 is lower than the PWM control frequency of the PWM control.

前記制御部7は、モード切替手段8と、比較手段9、有効データ出力手段(トリガ回路)10および間欠光処理手段11を備えている。前記モード切替手段8は、例えば照明装置Lからのストロボ発光のような間欠光のタイミングと自律的に同期をとるオンモードと、自律的に同期をとるモードが作動しないオフモードとに切り替える。   The control unit 7 includes mode switching means 8, comparison means 9, effective data output means (trigger circuit) 10, and intermittent light processing means 11. The mode switching means 8 switches between an on mode that autonomously synchronizes with the timing of intermittent light such as strobe emission from the lighting device L, and an off mode that does not operate the autonomously synchronized mode.

前記比較手段9は、A/D変換部6でサンプリングされる受光信号の電圧を所定の設定電圧(トリガレベル)と比較する。前記有効データ出力手段(トリガ回路)10は、前記受光信号の電圧が前記設定電圧(トリガレベル)よりも高い場合にその受光信号のサンプリングを有効と判断して、当該有効な受光量データを出力する。前記間欠光処理手段11は、前記オンモード中に、前記間欠光について有効と判断された受光信号のサンプリングの間隔が所定時間よりも短いとき、同期状態で連続した受光信号とみなして処理し、前記サンプリングの間隔が所定時間以上のとき、同期はずれ状態で当該受光信号を無効とみなして処理する。   The comparison means 9 compares the voltage of the received light signal sampled by the A / D converter 6 with a predetermined set voltage (trigger level). The valid data output means (trigger circuit) 10 determines that the sampling of the received light signal is valid when the voltage of the received light signal is higher than the set voltage (trigger level), and outputs the effective received light amount data. To do. The intermittent light processing means 11 treats the received light signal as a continuous light signal in a synchronized state when the interval of sampling of the received light signal determined to be valid for the intermittent light is shorter than a predetermined time during the on mode, When the sampling interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the received light signal is regarded as invalid in the out-of-synchronization state and processed.

また、光量モニタセンサ1は、設定電圧(トリガレベル)などの設定値を可変可能に記憶する記憶装置12と、前記トリガレベルを任意に可変した設定値などを入力するスイッチ等入力回路13とを備えており、その他に表示部14および出力回路15を備えている。複数台の光量モニタセンサ1を同時に使用する必要がある場合には、連結回路16が設けられる。   Further, the light quantity monitor sensor 1 includes a storage device 12 that variably stores a set value such as a set voltage (trigger level), and an input circuit 13 such as a switch that inputs a set value with the trigger level arbitrarily changed. In addition, a display unit 14 and an output circuit 15 are provided. When it is necessary to use a plurality of light quantity monitor sensors 1 at the same time, a connecting circuit 16 is provided.

照明装置LがPWM制御による照明を行う場合に、光量モニタセンサ1のサンプリング動作を、図3、4の例を用いて説明する。図3は、LEDを一般的にPWM制御して照明させた場合を示す。a)は、連続光(常点灯)の照明であり、受光信号を例えばPWM制御周波数60kHz、Duty50%でPWM制御する状態を示す。b)は積分・増幅回路5を通過した後の受光信号の波形を示す。この波形はトリガレベルより常に大きくなる。c)は、b)の受光信号がPWM制御周波数60kHzよりも低い周波数20kHzでA/D変換器6によりサンプリングされた状態を示す。常点灯のように、同期が不要で同期モードが作動しないオフモードのときは、比較手段9のトリガレベルと関係なく、n−1、n、n+1回目の受光信号のサンプリングはいずれも有効である。この結果、この有効なサンプリングと判断された受光信号における有効な受光量データが出力される。   The sampling operation of the light quantity monitor sensor 1 when the illumination device L performs illumination by PWM control will be described using the examples of FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a case where an LED is generally illuminated by PWM control. a) is illumination of continuous light (normally lit), and shows a state in which the received light signal is subjected to PWM control at a PWM control frequency of 60 kHz and a duty of 50%, for example. b) shows the waveform of the received light signal after passing through the integrating / amplifying circuit 5. This waveform is always greater than the trigger level. c) shows a state where the light reception signal of b) is sampled by the A / D converter 6 at a frequency of 20 kHz which is lower than the PWM control frequency of 60 kHz. In the off mode where synchronization is not required and the synchronization mode does not operate, as in the case of always lighting, the sampling of the n−1, n, and n + 1 light reception signals is all effective regardless of the trigger level of the comparison means 9. . As a result, effective received light amount data in the received light signal determined to be effective sampling is output.

なお、サンプリングは、例えば、一度のサンプリング時に3μs間隔で連続3回の多重サンプリングを行いその平均値を使用する。多重サンプリングを行うことで平均化されて、PWM制御周波数が低い場合のリプルの影響を低減することができる。   Note that sampling is performed by, for example, performing multiple sampling three times at intervals of 3 μs during one sampling and using the average value. It is averaged by performing multiple sampling, and the influence of ripple when the PWM control frequency is low can be reduced.

図4は、LEDをストロボ発光(間欠光)のPWM制御をして照明させた場合を示す。図3と同様に、PWM制御周波数60kHz、Duty50%で、A/D変換器6のサンプリング周波数はこれよりも低い20kHzである。   FIG. 4 shows a case where the LED is illuminated by PWM control of strobe light emission (intermittent light). Similar to FIG. 3, the PWM control frequency is 60 kHz and the duty is 50%, and the sampling frequency of the A / D converter 6 is 20 kHz, which is lower than this.

図4(A)では、受光部4で検知したストロボ発光のタイミングと自律的に同期するオンモードの場合であって、a)に示すように間欠光の照明であり、b)に示す、積分・増幅回路5を通過した後の受光信号波形のように、間欠光処理手段11により、トリガレベルを超えて有効と判断された受光信号のサンプリング間隔が例えば5sec未満の場合には、同期状態で連続した受光信号とみなして処理される。c)のように、n−1、n回目のサンプリングは有効であり、有効データ出力手段(トリガ回路)10により、この有効なサンプリングと判断された受光信号における有効な受光量データが出力される。その一方、この間のタイミングでサンプリングされた受光信号はトリガレベル以下なので、このサンプリングは無効として処理される。   In FIG. 4 (A), it is a case of an on mode that autonomously synchronizes with the timing of strobe emission detected by the light receiving unit 4, and is an illumination of intermittent light as shown in a), and the integration shown in b). As in the case of the received light signal waveform after passing through the amplifier circuit 5, when the sampling interval of the received light signal that is determined to be effective by exceeding the trigger level by the intermittent light processing means 11 is less than 5 seconds, for example, in a synchronized state The signal is processed as a continuous light reception signal. As shown in c), the (n-1) -th and n-th samplings are effective, and the effective data output means (trigger circuit) 10 outputs effective received light amount data in the received light signal determined to be effective sampling. . On the other hand, since the received light signal sampled at the timing during this period is below the trigger level, this sampling is processed as invalid.

また、前記オンモードのとき、ストロボ発光制御されて間欠的な照明であっても、サンプリング周波数が20kHzの場合、周期(1/f)が50μsであるから、発光時間が理論上、100μs程度あればサンプリングすることが可能となる。   In the ON mode, even if the lighting is controlled with stroboscopic light and intermittent lighting, if the sampling frequency is 20 kHz, the period (1 / f) is 50 μs, so the light emission time is theoretically about 100 μs. Sampling is possible.

また、トリガレベルを超えて有効と判断された受光信号をサンプリングして、有効な受光量データのみを出力することで、たとえA/D変換器6のサンプリングの周期にずれが生じたり、受光信号が各種あってそのサンプリングタイミングが各別だったりなどしても、受光信号の平均値が適正化され、正確な受光量データを得ることができる。   Further, by sampling the received light signal that is determined to be effective beyond the trigger level and outputting only the effective received light amount data, even if the sampling period of the A / D converter 6 is shifted, the received light signal Even if there are various kinds of sampling timings and the like, the average value of the received light signal is optimized and accurate received light amount data can be obtained.

図4(B)のように、ストロボ発光のPWM制御をして照明させた場合であって、例えばストロボ発光の間隔があいて同期が取れない場合に、b)のように、間欠光処理手段11により、有効と判断された受光信号のサンプリング間隔が例えば5sec以上となったとき、同期はずれ状態で当該受光信号を無効とみなして処理され、サンプリングが一旦リセットされる。   As shown in FIG. 4B, in the case where lighting is performed by PWM control of strobe light emission, for example, when synchronization is not possible due to a strobe light emission interval, intermittent light processing means as in b) 11, when the sampling interval of the received light signal determined to be valid is, for example, 5 seconds or more, the received light signal is processed as invalid in the out-of-synchronization state, and sampling is once reset.

こうして、間欠光処理手段11により、間欠光について有効と判断された受光信号のサンプリングの間隔に基づき同期状態を判断して受光信号を処理するので、照明光が間欠的であっても、当該照明光の光量を迅速かつ正確に測定することができる。   Thus, the intermittent light processing means 11 determines the synchronization state based on the sampling interval of the received light signal that is determined to be effective for the intermittent light, and processes the received light signal. The amount of light can be measured quickly and accurately.

なお、外乱光の誤検知を防止するために、光量モニタセンサ1で自動的に測定(モニタ)された照明装置Lの光量の計測値を多数回計測した値の平均値としてもよい。   In order to prevent erroneous detection of disturbance light, the measurement value of the light amount of the illumination device L automatically measured (monitored) by the light amount monitor sensor 1 may be an average value of the values measured many times.

図5は、光量モニタセンサ1のサンプリング動作を説明するフローチャートである。サンプリング処理が開始されると(S1)、まず、受光信号を積分・増幅回路5に通した後に、A/D変換部6で例えばサンプリング周波数20kHzによりサンプリングしてA/D変換を開始する(S2)。この例では、PWM制御周波数60kHzよりも低い周波数20kHzでサンプリングする。このとき、受光信号がトリガレベルよりも高く、その受光信号のサンプリングが有効であることを示すトリガ入力がされたか否かが確認される(S3)、トリガ入力された場合には、トリガフラグがセットされて同期状態で(S4)、A/D変換の終了を待つ(S6)。トリガ入力がされない場合には、トリガフラグがクリアされて非同期状態で(S5)、A/D変換の終了を待つ(S6)。   FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the sampling operation of the light quantity monitor sensor 1. When the sampling process is started (S1), first, after passing the received light signal through the integrating / amplifying circuit 5, the A / D conversion unit 6 samples, for example, at a sampling frequency of 20 kHz and starts A / D conversion (S2). ). In this example, sampling is performed at a frequency 20 kHz lower than the PWM control frequency 60 kHz. At this time, it is confirmed whether or not a trigger input indicating that the received light signal is higher than the trigger level and sampling of the received light signal is valid (S3). If the trigger is input, the trigger flag is set. In the synchronized state (S4), the end of A / D conversion is awaited (S6). When the trigger input is not made, the trigger flag is cleared and in an asynchronous state (S5), and the end of A / D conversion is waited (S6).

次に、A/D変換終了後、トリガ入力がされているか否かが確認されて(S7)、トリガ入力がされてまだ同期状態のとき、制御・処理部7はトリガ入力されて有効なサンプリングの受光信号と判断されて出力された有効な受光量データの受光量を積算する(S8)。そして、積算回数を1回プラスして(S9)、サンプリングを終了する(S10)。こうして、所定のトリガレベルを超えた受光信号のサンプリングを有効として出力された有効な受光量データのみで受光量が積算される。トリガ入力がされず非同期(同期はずれ)状態のとき、サンプリングの間隔が正常な範囲内か否かが確認されて(S11)、例えばサンプリング間隔が5秒未満の正常な範囲内であれば連続した受光信号とみなして(図4(A))、サンプリングを終了する(S10)。サンプリング間隔が5秒以上で正常な範囲でなければ、受光信号を無効とみなしてサンプリングを一旦リセットするように(図4(B))、パラメータをクリア処理して(S12)、サンプリングを終了する(S10)。   Next, after the A / D conversion is completed, it is confirmed whether or not a trigger input is made (S7), and when the trigger input is still in a synchronized state, the control / processing unit 7 receives the trigger and makes a valid sampling. The received light amount of the effective received light amount data which is determined and output as the received light signal is integrated (S8). Then, the number of integration is incremented by 1 (S9), and the sampling is finished (S10). In this way, the received light amount is integrated only with the effective received light amount data that is output by validating the sampling of the received light signal exceeding the predetermined trigger level. When the trigger input is not in the asynchronous (out of sync) state, it is confirmed whether the sampling interval is within the normal range (S11). For example, if the sampling interval is within the normal range of less than 5 seconds, it is continuous. Considering the received light signal (FIG. 4A), the sampling is finished (S10). If the sampling interval is 5 seconds or more and is not in the normal range, the received light signal is regarded as invalid and sampling is reset once (FIG. 4B), the parameter is cleared (S12), and the sampling is terminated. (S10).

これにより、本発明は、積分・増幅回路5で受光信号を積分しているので、波高値・周期・パルス幅などの波形が異なるパルス光や定常光(DC光)も測定可能となる。また、受光信号を常時サンプリングするとともに、有効データ出力手段10によって、サンプリングが有効と判断された受光信号からの有効な受光量データのみを出力するので、これらが相俟ってPWM制御周波数よりも低い周波数でのサンプリングが可能となり、照明装置Lからの照明光が間欠光を含むものであっても、照明装置Lの光量を容易に自動的に測定(モニタ)することができる。また、比較的低いサンプリング周波数を用いることができるので、A/D変換器6の低コスト化、小型化が可能となる。   Accordingly, in the present invention, since the light reception signal is integrated by the integration / amplification circuit 5, it is possible to measure pulsed light and stationary light (DC light) having different waveforms such as peak value, period, and pulse width. In addition, the light reception signal is always sampled, and the effective data output means 10 outputs only the effective light reception amount data from the light reception signal for which sampling is determined to be effective. Sampling at a low frequency is possible, and even if the illumination light from the illumination device L includes intermittent light, the light amount of the illumination device L can be easily measured (monitored) easily. In addition, since a relatively low sampling frequency can be used, the A / D converter 6 can be reduced in cost and size.

図6は本発明の第2実施形態に係る光量モニタセンサを示すブロック図である。第2実施形態は、受光部4が受光レンズ22と受光素子3からなる点で第1実施形態と異なるが、その他の構成は第1実施形態と同様である。   FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a light amount monitor sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the light receiving unit 4 includes a light receiving lens 22 and a light receiving element 3, but the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

第2実施形態も、第1実施形態と同様に、照明装置Lの照明光が間欠光を含むものであっても、当該照明光の光量を容易に自動的に測定できる。   Similarly to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, even if the illumination light of the illumination device L includes intermittent light, the light amount of the illumination light can be easily and automatically measured.

なお、各実施形態では、光量モニタセンサ1を画像処理システムSに使用しているが、これに限定されることなく、他の照明装置の照明光の光量を測定してもよく、この場合、モード切替手段8および間欠光処理手段11を省略してもよい。   In each embodiment, the light amount monitor sensor 1 is used in the image processing system S. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light amount of illumination light from other illumination devices may be measured. The mode switching unit 8 and the intermittent light processing unit 11 may be omitted.

また、各実施形態では、モード切替手段8がオンモードとオフモードに切り替えて、受光部4のストロボ発光の検知に基づいてオンモードで自律的に同期を取っているが、モード切替手段8はさらに外部からの信号で強制的に同期をとるモードに切り替えるようにしてもよく、このモード切替によって、例えば図1の画像処理システムSが有する物体検知に基づく外部からの信号などにより強制的に同期を取るようにしてもよい。   Further, in each embodiment, the mode switching unit 8 switches between the on mode and the off mode, and autonomous synchronization is established in the on mode based on the detection of the strobe emission of the light receiving unit 4, but the mode switching unit 8 is Further, the mode may be switched to a mode in which synchronization is forcibly performed by a signal from the outside. By this mode switching, for example, the synchronization is forcibly performed by an external signal based on object detection included in the image processing system S of FIG. You may make it take.

なお、各実施形態では、有効データ出力手段10として、ハードウエア上でトリガ回路を設けて、受光信号のサンプリングの有効を判断しているが、これに代えて、ソフトウエア上で判断するようにしてもよい。   In each embodiment, the valid data output means 10 is provided with a trigger circuit on hardware to determine whether the received light signal sampling is valid. Instead, it is determined on software. May be.

なお、各実施形態では、受光信号をPWM制御周波数よりも低い周波数でサンプリングをしているが、PWM制御周波数よりも高い周波数でサンプリングするようにしてもよい。   In each embodiment, the received light signal is sampled at a frequency lower than the PWM control frequency, but may be sampled at a frequency higher than the PWM control frequency.

1:光量モニタセンサ
4:受光部
5:積分・増幅回路
6:A/D変換部
7:制御部(制御・処理部)
8:モード切替手段
9:比較手段
10:有効データ出力手段(トリガ回路)
11:間欠光処理手段
12:記憶装置
13:スイッチ等入力回路
L:照明装置
S:画像処理システム
1: Light quantity monitor sensor 4: Light receiving unit 5: Integration / amplification circuit 6: A / D conversion unit 7: Control unit (control / processing unit)
8: Mode switching means 9: Comparison means 10: Effective data output means (trigger circuit)
11: intermittent light processing means 12: storage device 13: input circuit L such as a switch L: lighting device S: image processing system

Claims (2)

照明装置からの間欠光を含む照明光の受光量に基づき受光信号を出力する受光部と、受光信号を積分する積分回路と、積分された受光信号を所定周波数でサンプリングするA/D変換部と、各部を制御して前記照明光の光量を測定させる制御部とを備えた光量モニタセンサであって、
前記制御部は、
前記サンプリングされる受光信号の電圧を所定の設定電圧と比較する比較手段と、
前記受光信号の電圧が前記設定電圧よりも高い場合にその受光信号のサンプリングを有効と判断して、当該有効な受光量データを出力する有効データ出力手段とを備えている、
光量モニタセンサ。
A light receiving unit that outputs a light reception signal based on the amount of received illumination light including intermittent light from the illumination device, an integration circuit that integrates the light reception signal, and an A / D conversion unit that samples the integrated light reception signal at a predetermined frequency; A light quantity monitor sensor comprising a control part for controlling each part to measure the light quantity of the illumination light,
The controller is
A comparing means for comparing the voltage of the light-receiving signal to be sampled with a predetermined set voltage;
When the voltage of the light reception signal is higher than the set voltage, it is determined that sampling of the light reception signal is valid, and includes effective data output means for outputting the effective light reception amount data.
Light intensity monitor sensor.
物体を撮像するカメラと、物体への照明光が間欠光を含む照明装置と、この照明装置の照明光の光量を測定する請求項1または2に記載の光量モニタセンサとを備えて、物体の画像を処理する画像処理システムであって、
前記光量モニタセンサの制御部は、さらに、
少なくとも、前記間欠光のタイミングと自律的に同期をとるオンモードと、自律的に同期をとるモードが作動しないオフモードとに切り替えるモード切替手段、および、
前記オンモード中に、前記間欠光について有効と判断された受光信号のサンプリングの間隔が所定時間よりも短いとき、同期状態で連続した受光信号とみなして処理し、前記サンプリングの間隔が所定時間以上のとき、同期はずれ状態で当該受光信号を無効とみなして処理する間欠光処理手段を備えている、光量モニタセンサを備えた画像処理システム。

A camera for imaging an object, an illuminating device in which illumination light to the object includes intermittent light, and a light amount monitor sensor according to claim 1 or 2 for measuring the amount of illumination light of the illuminating device. An image processing system for processing an image,
The control unit of the light quantity monitor sensor further includes:
At least a mode switching means for switching between an on mode that autonomously synchronizes with the timing of the intermittent light, and an off mode that does not operate the autonomously synchronized mode, and
When the sampling interval of the received light signal determined to be effective for the intermittent light is shorter than a predetermined time during the on mode, the light receiving signal is processed as a continuous light receiving signal in a synchronized state, and the sampling interval is equal to or longer than the predetermined time. At this time, an image processing system including a light amount monitor sensor, which includes intermittent light processing means for processing the received light signal as invalid in a state of being out of synchronization.

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