JP2010194073A - Infrared thermography device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To be able to recognize both the temperature distribution information as well as the visual information of a subject at once in an infrared thermography device. <P>SOLUTION: The infrared thermograph device includes: an imaging part 103, an infrared detector 109; a first image generation means (104, 105) to generate a visible image, a second generation means (111, 105) to generate a thermography image, including a plurality of infrared rectangular regions with colors arranged according to detected infrared energies, and arranged corresponding to a plurality of infrared detection devices, an image overlay treatment part 112 to produce an overlay image by overlaying the visible image on an overlay thermography image generated by changing the clarity of arranged colors on the rectangular regions in part included in the thermography image, and a display 113 to display an overlay image. The display means shows a temperature per plurality of rectangular regions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an infrared thermography apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a portable infrared thermography apparatus.

  Conventionally, an infrared thermography apparatus is known as an apparatus for detecting the surface temperature of a subject. The infrared thermography device detects the infrared energy emitted by the subject by two-dimensionally arranged infrared detection elements, and at the position of each infrared detection element according to the level of infrared energy detected by each infrared detection element. This is a device for displaying an image by color-coding each region on a corresponding display unit. In general, since infrared energy is proportional to the temperature of an object, the temperature distribution on the body surface of the subject can be known by measuring the subject using an infrared thermography device.

JP 2004-16734 A

  However, the conventional infrared thermography device only visualizes infrared energy emitted from the subject itself, and the image is fundamentally different from human vision that detects light in the visible spectrum. For this reason, it has been difficult to recognize the color, shape, etc. of the subject from the displayed image. In addition, the apparatus is large and expensive.

  That is, in the case of the conventional infrared thermography apparatus, only the temperature distribution information is displayed as an image, and the visual information about the subject is not displayed as an image, so that the state of the subject cannot be known in detail. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to be able to carry in an infrared thermography apparatus and to simultaneously recognize visual information about a subject and body temperature distribution information.

  In order to achieve the above object, an infrared thermography apparatus according to the present invention includes a visible light detection means for detecting visible light contained in incident light and an infrared detection for detecting infrared energy contained in the incident light. And a first generation means for generating a visible image based on the visible light detected by the visible light detection means and a color according to the level of the infrared energy detected by the infrared detection means, and the infrared detection means The second generation means for generating a thermographic image including a plurality of rectangular areas arranged corresponding to the positions of the plurality of infrared detecting elements included, and a color arrangement is performed for a part of each rectangular area included in the thermographic image The third generation means for generating the overlay thermographic image by changing the transparency of the selected color, and the overlay support A fourth generation unit that generates an overlay image by overlaying the mammographic image on the visible image, and a display unit that displays the overlay image, and the display unit displays the temperature for each of the plurality of rectangular regions. It is characterized by that. In addition, the third generation unit generates an overlay thermography image by changing the transparency of the color arrangement for each of the rectangular areas included in the thermographic image, except for the outer peripheral portion having a predetermined width. It is characterized by that. Further, the third generation means is characterized in that the transparency of the color arrangement is changed to 100% for the region excluding the outer peripheral portion having a predetermined width. The third generation means converts the color of the outer peripheral portion having a predetermined width based on the color of the outer peripheral portion of the adjacent rectangular area. Further, the display means further displays an index indicating a relationship between the color arrangement and temperature. Further, the display means further displays the surface temperature of the area of the subject corresponding to the designated rectangular area when the rectangular area is designated by the user. Further, a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code of an image processing method in the infrared thermography apparatus according to the present invention includes a program code of a visible light detection step for detecting a visible light contained in incident light, and Program code of an infrared detection step for detecting infrared energy contained in incident light, program code of a first generation step for generating a visible image based on the visible light detected in the visible light detection step, and infrared light Program code of a second generation step that generates a thermographic image that includes a plurality of rectangular regions that are colored according to the level of infrared energy detected in the detection step and are arranged corresponding to the positions of the plurality of infrared detection elements; , Each rectangular area included in the thermographic image For some, the transparency of the color arrangement is changed, the program code of the third generation step that generates the thermographic image for overlay, and the overlay thermographic image is overlaid on the visible image to overlay the overlay image. The program code of the fourth generation step to be generated, the program code of the display step for displaying the overlay image, and the display means include the program code of the display step for displaying the temperature for each of the plurality of rectangular areas. And

According to the present invention, since the infrared thermography apparatus has portability, visual information about a subject and detailed body temperature distribution information can be easily and simultaneously recognized anytime and anywhere regardless of indoors or outdoors.

It is a figure which shows the function structure of the infrared thermography apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of measurement processing in the infrared thermography apparatus 100. It is a figure which shows an example of the overlay image comprised so that the surface temperature of the subject corresponding to the designated rectangular area might be displayed numerically at the time of the production | generation of the thermography image for overlays. When generating the thermographic image for overlay, the overlay image when the transparency inside each rectangular area is set to 50% and the surface temperature of the subject corresponding to the designated rectangular area are displayed numerically. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
[First Embodiment]
1. Functional Configuration of Infrared Thermography Device FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a portable infrared thermography device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The entire apparatus is driven by a battery or a rechargeable battery. As shown in FIG. 1, light including infrared rays emitted from a subject and visible light reflected by the subject passes through an optical system 101 including lens groups 121 and 124, a shutter 122, a diaphragm 123, and the like. Then, the light is guided to the imaging unit 103. The shutter 122 is controlled by the shutter control circuit 115, and the diaphragm 123 is controlled by the diaphragm motor control circuit 116. In addition, the focus lens 124 in the lens group is controlled by a focus motor control circuit 117.

  The imaging unit 103 generates an image signal by each of a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged imaging elements converting light reflected from the subject into an electrical signal. The image signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D circuit 104 and includes a program to be executed (for example, a program for changing the display form of the display unit 113) and various data, and a RAM and a ROM. The data is supplied to a CPU 105 such as a microcomputer that executes processing for control. The CPU 105 performs image processing on the supplied digital signal and supplies it to the image overlay processing unit 112 as a visible image. The imaging unit 103 is driven and controlled by the imaging element driving circuit 106.

  On the other hand, of the light incident on the optical system 101, the light branched by the half mirror 102 is guided to an A / F (autofocus) sensor 107. The sensor signal output from the A / F sensor 107 is processed in the A / F sensor processing circuit 108, and the distance to the subject (subject distance information) is calculated by, for example, a phase detection method.

  The calculated subject distance information is supplied to the CPU 105. The CPU 105 controls the focus lens 124 via the focus motor control circuit 117 based on the subject distance information.

  Further, the light branched by the half mirror 102 is also incident on an infrared detection unit 109 including a plurality of infrared detection elements arranged in two dimensions. The infrared detection unit 109 detects infrared energy radiated from the subject included in the branched light and converts it into an electrical signal.

  The infrared detection unit 109 is composed of, for example, thermopile type infrared detection elements arranged in 4 × 4, and is driven and controlled by the infrared detection element control circuit 107. Each infrared detection element constituting the infrared detection unit 109 detects infrared energy emitted from each part of the subject corresponding to each region of the visible image. In addition to the infrared detection element, the infrared detection unit 109 is used for measuring the reference temperature in order to measure the temperature of the measurement part of each part of the subject from the detected infrared ray to measure the temperature of the infrared detection element itself. It also includes elements.

  The infrared energy converted into the electrical signal is converted into an infrared digital signal in the A / D circuit 111 and supplied to the CPU 105. The CPU 105 generates a thermographic image by converting the supplied infrared digital signal into a predetermined color according to the energy level.

  Specifically, for example, when the infrared detection elements are arranged in 4 × 4, a thermographic image composed of 4 × 4 rectangular areas arranged corresponding to the positions of the respective infrared elements is generated. If the number of arrangements increases, more detailed temperature measurement information can be obtained, but the apparatus becomes expensive. If the number of arrangements is small, detailed temperature measurement information cannot be obtained.

  The generated thermographic image is supplied to the image overlay processing unit 112, and is converted into an image suitable for overlaying on the visible image (referred to as an overlay thermographic image, details will be described later). Further, the overlay thermographic image is overlaid on the simultaneously captured visible image, thereby generating an overlay image.

  The overlay image generated by the image overlay processing unit 112 is supplied to the display unit 113 and displayed on the display unit 113. Further, the data is supplied to the memory 114 and stored in the memory 114.

  Reference numeral 118 denotes an input unit including an operation switch (not shown), a mode selection switch (not shown), and a power ON / OFF (not shown) switch, and is input from a user (which may be a subject) to the infrared thermography apparatus 100. Accepts various instructions. Function to change the form of the measured body temperature display, the display form of the subject's image transparency, enlargement / reduction, etc., the subject's image and the form of the measured body temperature by operating the mode selection switch It is.

2. Flow of Measurement Processing in Infrared Thermography Device Next, the flow of measurement processing in the infrared thermography device 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of measurement processing in the infrared thermography apparatus 100.

  When an instruction to start measurement processing is received from the user via the input unit 118, the measurement processing shown in FIG. 2 is started.

  In step S201, the infrared detection unit 109 starts detecting infrared energy at a predetermined cycle.

  In step S202, the A / D circuit 111 sequentially converts the detected infrared energy into an infrared digital signal. Then, the CPU 105 generates a thermographic image based on the converted infrared digital signal. Note that the generated thermographic images are sequentially supplied to the image overlay processing unit 112.

  In step S203, the image overlay processing unit 112 generates an overlay thermographic image based on the thermographic image.

  The overlay thermography image is an image obtained by converting each rectangular area included in the thermography image into a transparent interior while leaving only the color of the outer periphery of a predetermined width. This is because if the thermographic image is directly overlaid on the visible image, the visible image becomes invisible due to the color of each rectangular area included in the thermographic image.

  In parallel with the processing in steps S201 to S203, in step S204, the imaging unit 103 starts detection of visible light at a predetermined cycle.

  In step S205, the A / D circuit 104 sequentially converts the detected visible light into a digital signal. Then, the CPU 105 performs image processing on the converted digital signal to generate a visible image. The generated visible images are sequentially supplied to the image overlay processing unit 112.

  In step S206, the image overlay processing unit 112 overlays the visible thermographic image supplied in step S203 on the visible image supplied in step S205, and generates an overlay image. Note that the visible image supplied in step S205 and the thermographic image for overlay supplied in step S203 are synchronized with each other (that is, an image generated based on light detected at the same timing). ).

  In step S207, the display unit 113 displays the temperature measurement values of a 4 × 4 rectangular area (16 areas) together with the generated overlay image. Further, in step S208, the memory 114 stores the temperature measurement value of the 4 × 4 rectangular area (16 areas) together with the generated overlay image together with the measurement date and time. In this way, in addition to the current information, it is possible to check the temperature measurement value of the 4 × 4 rectangular area (16 areas) together with the overlay image retroactively.

  Note that the processing from step S201 to step S208 shows the processing for generating one frame of the overlay image. Actually, these processing are repeatedly executed until the user inputs a measurement end instruction. Shall be.

3. Description of Overlay Image Next, an overlay image generated in the image overlay processing unit 112 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overlay image configured to display numerically the surface temperature of the subject corresponding to the designated rectangular area when generating the thermographic image for overlay.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the overlay image 300 includes a subject's visible image 301 and an overlay thermographic image 302 composed of the outer periphery of a 4 × 4 rectangular region overlaid on the visible image 301. . In addition, an index 303 indicating the relationship between the color constituting the thermographic image 302 for overlay and the temperature is included.

  As shown in FIG. 3, since the inside of the rectangular region of the thermographic image 302 for overlay is transparent, the user can see the visible image 301 even when overlaid on the visible image 301. Can be recognized.

  Since the thermographic image 302 for overlay and the index 303 are displayed, the surface temperature of each region of the visible image 301 can be recognized by comparing the two. That is, the user can simultaneously recognize the visual information about the subject and the temperature distribution information based on the overlay image 300.

  As is clear from the above description, the infrared thermography apparatus according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a visible image and a thermographic image are acquired simultaneously, and the inside of each rectangular area of the thermographic image is made transparent and then overlayed on the visible image. In addition, a temperature measurement value is also displayed for each rectangular area.

  This makes it possible to simultaneously recognize the visual information about the subject and the temperature distribution information of the body temperature.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, when generating the thermographic image for overlay, the inside of each rectangular area is made completely transparent, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the transparency inside each rectangular area may be configured so that the user can arbitrarily set between 100% and 0%.

  FIG. 4 shows the overlay image when the transparency of each rectangular area is set to 50% and the surface temperature of the subject corresponding to the designated rectangular area when the overlay thermographic image is generated. It is a figure which shows an example of the image comprised in this way.

  As shown in FIG. 4, even if the transparency inside each rectangular area is not 100%, the user can recognize a visible image to some extent. Therefore, depending on the situation (whether you want to know the temperature distribution, It would be beneficial for the user to be able to change the transparency setting (depending on whether they want to know the situation).

[Third Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, when generating the thermographic image for overlay, among the rectangular regions included in the thermographic image, the inside excluding the outer periphery of the predetermined width is converted to transparent, and the color of the outer periphery of the predetermined width is Although left as it is, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, you may comprise so that the color of the outer peripheral part of predetermined width may be further converted based on the color of the outer peripheral part of an adjacent rectangular area.

  For example, the color of the outer peripheral portion having a predetermined width may be converted to an intermediate color with the color of the outer peripheral portion of the adjacent rectangular area. In this case, adjacent outer peripheral portions have the same color.

  Or you may comprise so that the color of the outer peripheral part of predetermined width may be changed in steps in the width direction of an outer peripheral part according to the color of the outer peripheral part of an adjacent rectangular area. In this case, the color is displayed in gradation in the width direction between adjacent outer peripheral portions. The gradation display may be performed not only in the width direction of the outer peripheral portion but also in the longitudinal direction.

Claims (7)

Visible light detection means for detecting visible light contained in the incident light; and
Infrared detecting means for detecting infrared energy contained in the incident light;
First generation means for generating a visible image based on the visible light detected by the visible light detection means;
A thermographic image including a plurality of rectangular regions arranged in correspondence with the positions of a plurality of infrared detection elements included in the infrared detection means, which is colored according to the level of infrared energy detected by the infrared detection means. A second generating means;
Third generation means for generating a thermographic image for overlay by changing the transparency of the color arrangement for a part of each rectangular area included in the thermographic image;
A fourth generating means for generating an overlay image by overlaying the thermographic image for overlay on the visible image;
Display means for displaying the overlay image,
An infrared thermography apparatus characterized in that the display means displays temperature for each of a plurality of rectangular areas.   The third generation unit generates the thermographic image for overlay by changing the transparency of the color arrangement for each of the rectangular regions included in the thermographic image, excluding the outer periphery of a predetermined width. The infrared thermography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   3. The infrared thermography apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the third generation unit changes the transparency of the color arrangement to 100% in the region excluding the outer peripheral portion having the predetermined width.   The infrared thermography apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the third generation unit converts the color of the outer peripheral portion having the predetermined width based on the color of the outer peripheral portion of an adjacent rectangular region.   The infrared thermography apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit further displays an index indicating a relationship between the color arrangement and temperature.   5. The infrared ray according to claim 4, wherein when the rectangular area is designated by the user, the display means further displays the surface temperature of the area of the subject corresponding to the designated rectangular area. Thermography device. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code of an image processing method in an infrared thermography device,
Program code of a visible light detection step for detecting visible light contained in incident light,
A program code of an infrared detection step for detecting infrared energy contained in the incident light;
A program code of a first generation step for generating a visible image based on the visible light detected in the visible light detection step;
A program for a second generation step that generates a thermographic image including a plurality of rectangular regions that are colored according to the level of infrared energy detected in the infrared detection step and are arranged corresponding to the positions of the plurality of infrared detection elements. Code,
A program code of a third generation step for generating a thermographic image for overlay by changing the transparency of a color arrangement for a part of each rectangular region included in the thermographic image,
A program code of a fourth generation step of generating an overlay image by overlaying the thermographic image for overlay on the visible image;
A program code of a display step for displaying the overlay image;
The display means comprises a program code for a display step for displaying temperature for each of a plurality of rectangular areas, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for an image processing method in an infrared thermography apparatus .

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