JP3011546B2 - Underwater image detector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention captures an original image of an object suspended in water to analyze the characteristics of an object suspended in water, and simultaneously detects its fine features. The present invention relates to an underwater image detection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The characteristics of suspended shapes of suspended solids in water, especially in rivers and oceans, and in process waters in water purification plants and sewage treatment plants, can be obtained with water chemical analyzers that have been widely automated. Has information on water quality characteristics that cannot be
It is an important indicator of water environment analysis and management and water treatment operation and control. Nevertheless, heretofore, the determination of the characteristics of the suspended shape of these suspensions can only be performed manually by a complicated image detection processing step that requires time and labor, and therefore, it is freely used. I can't say that
There is an increasing demand for establishing a technology for automating the image detection process.

[0003] The size of a substance suspended in water varies in size and ranges from several mm to several microns. Therefore, when using a camera with a low magnification optical system to see the properties of a large substance or a suspension in a natural form, a small substance is not imaged, and conversely, a camera with a high magnification optical system is used to see a small substance. Thus, there is a problem that a large substance goes out of the field of view or destroys the shape of nature, and there is an increasing demand to establish a technology capable of detecting an image of a suspended substance regardless of the size of the suspended substance.

[0004]

In order to respond to such a demand, conventionally, a high-magnification optical camera is used to fix a water sample pumped up by a pump in a thin slit and to take an image. Detection devices are known. This is because the water sample is pumped up by a pump and fixed in a thin slit, so the magnetic force or the power of a motor breaks the water sample, making it impossible to observe the characteristics of the suspended matter in its natural form. there were.

[0005] In response to other conventional demands,
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an image detection apparatus which uses a low-magnification optical camera to immerse the test water in the test water without guiding the water with a pump or the like and image the characteristics of a suspended substance in a natural form. However, in this case, there is a problem that a small substance cannot be observed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and it has been proposed that a large object suspended in water flowing by a low-magnification optical system be broken into its natural form. Image can be detected clearly without swinging due to water, and at the same time, the details of a large object and the shape of a small object can be clearly detected with a high-magnification optical system. It is an object of the present invention to provide an underwater image detection device capable of smoothly performing feature determination by analysis.

[0007]

According to the underwater image detecting apparatus of the present invention, a transparent window is formed on the bottom surface, and is attached below the transparent window. A first space having a wide upper and lower width and a second space having a narrower upper and lower width are formed between the windows, and a sample plate having a fumarole connected to the space so as to open a fumarole; Above the window, an image detection probe constituted by a container equipped with an imaging means for selectively imaging the test water introduced into each space of the sample dish at different magnifications, and provided in the test water, It has a bell shape with only the lower part open, the image detection probe is housed and fixed inside, and the air inlet of the air supply pipe is open inside, and the internal water level is higher than the opening of the sample dish at a predetermined height. Water to detect the water level or a predetermined low water level lower than the opening of the sample dish An outer cylinder detector is attached, air valve provided in the pressurized air supply passage to the air line,
An exhaust valve for exhausting pressurized air in the air supply pipe, and an air system having a fume valve provided in a pressurized air supply path to a fume pipe connected to the space, and a water level in the outer cylinder being Opening the air supply valve on condition that it is at a predetermined high water level, and closing the air supply valve on condition that the water level in the outer cylinder has dropped to a predetermined low water level,
A detection control unit that gives an imaging instruction to the imaging unit, and a fumarolic control unit that opens and closes the fumarolic valve on the condition that the imaging of the imaging unit is completed, and blows away and removes the test water accumulated in the space; Exhaust means for closing the exhaust valve by opening the exhaust valve to discharge the air in the outer cylinder after the operation of the fumarolic valve is completed, and raising the water level in the outer cylinder to a predetermined high water level. It is provided with.

[0008]

In the underwater image detecting apparatus according to the present invention, the bell-shaped outer cylinder and the image detecting probe are always immersed in the water sample,
Until the water level detector detects the high water level at which the sample can flow into the sample dish of the image detection probe through the opening, the air inside the outer cylinder is exhausted by the air supply pipe, and then compressed air is sent from the air supply pipe to release the outer cylinder. The air system is controlled so that the water level is lowered to a low water level below the opening of the sample dish.

Then, when the water level detector detects the low water level, the water sample stored in the first space having a wide upper and lower width and the second space having a narrower upper and lower width of the sample dish by the imaging means in the container. Is controlled to be imaged at a low magnification and a high magnification, respectively, through a transparent window at the bottom of the container.

After this imaging, the air system is controlled so that air is blown out from the fumarole of the fumarolic tube into each of the two spaces in the sample dish, and water is blown out from the opening to make it empty. Thereafter, the air system is controlled so that the air in the outer cylinder is discharged through the air supply pipe until the water level detector detects the high water level again.

Further, after the water level detector detects the high water level, the air in the wide first space and the narrow second space in the sample dish is discharged through the fumarolic tube, so that the air is discharged from the outside. Control the air system to introduce new water samples into these spaces.

By repeating the above control, the sample is taken into the wide first space of the sample dish without applying an external force to destroy the suspended material floating therein, and the width of the sample dish is increased. A finer suspension can be taken into the narrow second space and captured by the imaging means to obtain an underwater image, and the macroscopic shape characteristics and fine shape characteristics of the suspension can be accurately imaged. The obtained images can be obtained simultaneously, automatically and continuously by the same device.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

An underwater image detecting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is broadly divided, as shown in FIG.
And an outer cylinder 2 for accommodating and fixing the same, a control room 3 for controlling various devices accommodated therein, and a support pipe 4 for connecting them.

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the image detecting probe 1, and FIG. 1B is a side view of A in FIG. 1A. This image detection probe 1 is an airtight container 1
1 is a configuration in which various devices are accommodated. In the container 11, an ITV camera 14 having lenses 12a and 12b having different magnifications and an optical path changing device 13 attached to the tip thereof as TV cameras and illuminators 15 and 15 are supported. The optical path changing device 13 is adapted to be operated by a position setting device 16.

A reflector 17 is provided at the optical axis of the illuminator 15. Further, a transparent window 18 such as glass is provided at the bottom of the container 11, and an image of the sample 110 on a sample dish 19 attached below the container 11 is provided on an ITV camera with background plates 19 a and 19 b as a background. 14 allows an image to be captured.

A part of the sample tray 19 is open, and the other part is airtightly joined to the lower surface of the container 11. The first space 19-1 having a large vertical width and the first space 19-1 having a small vertical width are provided. The second space 19-2 is formed in two steps, and the first space 19-2
-1 is connected to the fumarole 112 of the first fumarole 111, and the second space 19-2 is connected to the flare 1 of the second fumarole 113.
14 are communicated.

A signal cable 115 for transmitting a control signal to the ITV camera 14 and a fiber optic cable 116 for the illuminator 15 are led out through the center of the upper portion of the container 11. The same applies to the upper part of the fumarolic tube 111.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a bell-shaped outer cylinder 2 for accommodating and fixing the image detection probe 1. This outer cylinder 2 has an open lower part and the other parts have an airtight bell-shaped structure. The image detection probe 1 is accommodated therein. A water level detector 21 is provided above the inside of the outer cylinder 2. The first fumarolic tube 111 and the second fumarolic tube 113 of the image detection probe 1 communicate with the control chamber 3 shown in detail in FIG. 3 through a joint (not shown) at the upper bottom of the outer cylinder 2.

The outer tube 2 and the image detection probe 1 are both suspended and fixedly supported by a support tube 4. That is, the support tube 4 is integrated with the upper portion of the container 11, and the outer cylinder 2 is fixed to the support tube 4 by welding.

A signal cable 115 for the ITV camera 14 of the image detection probe 1 and an optical fiber cable 116 for the illuminator 15 are passed through the inside of the support tube 4 as shown in FIG. An air supply pipe 22 for taking in and out the air inside the air conditioner, and a signal line 2 of the water level detector 21
3 is passed.

The water level detector 21 is provided with a high water level (H) detection rod 21-H and a low water level (L) detection rod 21-L. It is set to be located near the high water level H.

FIG. 3 shows the IT inside the image detecting probe 1.
V camera 14, illuminator 15, and first and second fumaroles 11
The upper end of the support tube 4 is used to control the amount of air for removing the water sample 110 on the sample plate 19 to the outside through the sample tubes 1 and 113 and the amount of air supplied to adjust the water level inside the outer cylinder 2. 2 shows a configuration of a control room 3 provided in a section.

The control room 3 has an ITV camera controller 3
1, an illumination controller 32 for sending light to the illuminator 15, and an air conditioner 33 described in detail with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the air adjusting device 33 includes a sequence control device 331. The sequence control device 331 controls the signal of the pressure switch 333 attached to the air tank 332 and the signal shown in FIG. The air pump 334 and the eight valves V1 to V8 are controlled by the signal of the water level detector 21 in the cylinder 2 and a settable timer inside the sequence control device 331, and the air amount inside the outer cylinder 2 through the air supply pipe 22 is controlled. The amount of air for exchanging the test water 110 in the sample dish 19 through the first fumarolic tube 111 and the second fumarolic tube 113 is controlled in accordance with the sequence illustrated in FIG.

Next, the operation of the underwater image detecting apparatus having the above configuration will be described.

In order to detect an image of a suspended suspension in water, first, as shown in FIG. 3, the image detection probe 1 and the outer cylinder 2 are completely immersed in the water of the water treatment facility to be detected. Install.

Then, the sequence control is performed by the sequence controller 331 as described below, so that the floating state of the suspended matter in the water is repeatedly image-detected. That is, in the sequence diagram of FIG. 5, first, at timing A, the water level LC of the water level detector 21 is at the high water level H. Here, by opening (on) the valves V6 and V8,
The sample 110 is introduced into the first wide space 19-1 of the sample dish 19 and then into the second narrow space 19-2 through the opening in the sample dish 19.

Subsequently, the valves V2 and V4 are opened (O
N), the compressed air is sent to the outer cylinder 2 through the air supply pipe 22, and the water inside the outer cylinder 2 is pushed down by the pressure of the air to lower the water to the low water level L.

During the imaging, if the pressure in the air tank 332 decreases and the pressure switch 333 detects a low pressure (L) as shown at a timing C, the sequence controller 3
The valve 31 opens the valve V1 and the valve V2.
By activating 34, the pressure in the air tank 332 is set to the high pressure (H) of the pressure switch 332.

As a result, the image detection probe 1 is exposed from the water to the air.
The test water 110 remains in the first space 19-1 and the second space 19-2 in 9 and immediately stops.

Then, by activating the ITV camera controller 31 and the illumination controller 32 at the timing D, the illuminator 15 allows the water sample 110 to pass through the reflecting mirror 17 and the transparent window 18.
And the ITV camera 14 allows the transparent window 18 to be illuminated.
The water sample 110 is imaged through. In this case, first, the optical path of the optical path converter 13 is set by the position setting device 16 to the lens 12a having the smaller magnification for imaging the water sample existing in the first space 19-1 where the sample dish 19 is wide. The water sample existing in the wide first space 19-1 is imaged while the suspended matter is floating therein. Next, the position setting device 16 is operated again, and the optical path of the optical path converter 13 is set to the lens 12b having the larger magnification for imaging the water sample existing in the narrow second space 19-2 of the sample dish 19. Then, the water sample existing in the narrow second space 19-2 is imaged while the suspended matter is floating therein. In this way, for the test water present in the wide first space 19-1, a relatively large suspension floating therein is imaged without destroying its natural form, and the narrow second space 19-1 is imaged. Space 19-
With respect to the water sample existing in the sample No. 2, it is possible to image at a high magnification a detailed feature or a fine suspension of an object floating therein.

After the imaging by the ITV camera 14 is completed at the timing E, the valve V2 is opened (ON), the valves V5 and V7 are opened (ON) in this order, and the first and second fumarolic tubes 111, Compressed air is supplied to the first space 113, and the first and second spaces 19-1 and 19-are blown out from the blast ports 112 and 114.
2, air is gustyly blown out, and the sample 110 in the sample dish 19 is discharged to the outside to empty the sample dish 19.

Thereafter, at timing F, the valve V4 is opened, and the air in the outer cylinder 2 is caused to flow backward through the air supply pipe 22 to be discharged. At timing A ', the water level in the outer cylinder 2 is again raised to the high water level H.
Then, the sample 110 is introduced again into the sample dish 19 from the opening.

Thereafter, by repeating the operation of lowering the water level again, leaving the sample in the sample dish 19, and taking an image, the floating state of the suspension in the water is automatically set at a fixed period of A to A '. Image detection.

In this way, the characteristic of the natural suspended state of the suspension in water and the fine characteristic thereof can be simultaneously detected as an image at the same time, and can be used for the subsequent water quality analysis.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and in particular, the sequence control procedure can be appropriately changed as needed.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the width of the sample dish of the image detection probe is set such that the suspension suspended in the flowing water is shielded from the sample flowing in the bell-shaped outer cylinder. Can be introduced into the first space having a large width and the second space having a small width to detect an image in a stationary state, and an image of a fine structure of the floating object having a relatively large shape, Alternatively, an image of a minute floating object can be detected, and a clear original image for image processing can be automatically and continuously detected. This will make it easier to obtain information on the quality of suspended solids suspended in the process waters of rivers, oceans, sewage treatment plants and water treatment plants, and to support environmental monitoring and management and water treatment operations. It can be used as a tool and safe driving can be performed automatically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view and a side view of an image detection probe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a bell-shaped outer cylinder and an image detection probe of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the air conditioner of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing a sequence operation of the sequence control device of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image detection probe 2 outer cylinder 3 control room 4 support tube 11 container 12a, 12b lens 13 optical path converter 14 ITV camera 15 illuminator 16 position setting device 17 reflecting mirror 18 transparent window 19 sample dish 19-1 first space 19 -2 second space 21 water level detector 22 air supply pipe 31 ITV camera controller 32 lighting controller 33 air conditioner 110 water test 111 first fume pipe 112 fume port 113 second fume pipe 114 fume port 115 signal cable 331 sequence Control device 332 Air tank 333 Pressure switch 334 Air pump

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-40340 (JP, A) JP-A-5-157539 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 15/00 G01N 15/02 G01N 15/06 G01N 15/14 C02F 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first space having a transparent window formed on a bottom surface, which is attached below the transparent window, a part of the periphery of which is open and communicates with the outside, and has a wide vertical space between the transparent window and the first space. And a second space having a narrow upper and lower width is formed, and a sample plate connected to a fumarole so that a fumarole is opened in these spaces, and introduced into each space of the sample plate above the transparent window. An image detection probe consisting of a container equipped with an imaging means for selectively taking each of the sampled water at different magnifications, and a bell-shaped provided in the water sample, only the lower part being open,
The image detection probe is housed and fixed inside, and the air inlet of the air supply pipe is opened inside, and the internal water level is a predetermined high water level higher than the opening of the sample dish, or a predetermined water level lower than the opening of the sample dish. An outer cylinder provided with a water level detector for detecting whether the water level is low, an air supply valve provided in a pressurized air supply path to the air supply pipe, an exhaust valve for exhausting pressurized air in the air supply pipe,
And an air system having a fume valve provided in a pressurized air supply path to a fume tube connected to the space, and an air supply valve provided that a water level in the outer cylinder is at the predetermined high water level. Opening operation, while closing the air supply valve on condition that the water level in the outer cylinder has dropped to a predetermined low water level, detection control means for giving an imaging instruction to the imaging means, and imaging by the imaging means A fume control means for opening and closing the fume valve on the condition that the completion is completed, and blowing off and removing the test water accumulated in the space; after the operation of the fume valve is completed, the exhaust valve is opened and the outer cylinder is opened. An underwater image detecting apparatus comprising: exhaust means for discharging air inside the cylinder and closing the exhaust valve by raising the water level in the outer cylinder to a predetermined high water level.