JP3132195U - Skin imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

A clear skin image is easily obtained by preventing shine.
In a skin image photographing apparatus for photographing a skin image of a subject, a first light for passing light in a specific direction provided between the subjects from a light source emitting ultraviolet rays having a predetermined wavelength. A polarizing filter, imaging means for receiving reflected light that is polarized by the first polarizing filter and reflected by the subject, and the reflection between the subject and the imaging means The above-described problem is solved by having a second polarizing filter for passing light in a direction different from that of the first polarizing filter.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a skin image capturing apparatus, and more particularly to a skin image capturing apparatus for easily acquiring a clear skin image by preventing shine.

  In recent years, interest in health and beauty has increased, and in particular, interest in the health and beauty of women's skin has become very high. Under such circumstances, for example, in cosmetic skin and plastic surgery, the opportunity to treat spots, freckles, and the like that are generated by ultraviolet rays has increased remarkably. For example, in the field of aesthetic medicine, treatment for eliminating stains (that is, sunbeams (senile pigment spots)) is performed by phototherapy such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) or laser treatment.

  In the field of cosmetic counseling, for example, a face irradiated with ultraviolet rays is photographed, and the skin property is objectively determined based on the skin color obtained from the photographed image, or the skin property of the customer is determined. There are photographing devices and the like for recommending optimal cosmetics (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, there is a method of photographing by irradiating the skin with ultraviolet rays, and visualizing and measuring a melanin monomer which is a source of melanin for producing a stain, freckles and the like from the obtained photographed image (for example, see Patent Document 2). ).

  By the way, there are various kinds of spots such as liver spots, sparrow egg spots, seborrheic keratosis and flat nevus, in addition to Nikko Kuroko (senile pigment spots), which are generally called spots. However, not all the spots are subjected to the above-mentioned IPL, laser treatment, and beauty counseling.

  For example, patients with melasma usually do not receive phototherapy such as IPL or laser treatment, but recognition of melasma is difficult by judgment based on imaging with the naked eye or visible light, and it is difficult to recognize the sunlight Kuroko. When there is an overlap with various melasma (hidden melasma), when IPL treatment is applied to Nikko Kuroko, there is a problem that the melasma further deteriorates.

Accordingly, a method and apparatus for determining hidden melasma from a UV (Ultra Violet) camera image is disclosed in order to observe and analyze in detail the melanin state that causes the above-mentioned spots so that the presence of melasma can be recognized. (For example, refer nonpatent literature 1).
JP 2004-81735 A JP 2005-334199 A Satoshi Negishi et al., “Usefulness of UV camera in the treatment of pigmented lesions”, Japanese Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, Vol. 25, No. 3 (pp. 22-27), published on September 25, 2003.

  By the way, the method shown in Non-Patent Document 1 described above performs photographing with a UV camera under a normal room light, and takes a UV photograph using a UV filter (wavelength is 270 to 430 nm, peak wavelength 364 nm). is doing.

  However, in the case of photographing with the UV camera having the above-described configuration, since the skin is shining, the photograph of melasma is actually poor and the presence of melasma cannot be clearly observed. That is, in the conventional method, it is possible to obtain an image that accurately classifies various kinds of spots such as sunlight melanoma (senile pigment spots), liver spots, sparrow egg spots, seborrheic keratosis, and flat nevus. could not.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a skin image photographing device for easily acquiring a clear skin image by preventing shine.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention employs means for solving the problems having the following characteristics.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a skin image photographing device for photographing a skin image of a subject. Light in a specific direction provided between the subject from a light source that emits ultraviolet rays having a predetermined wavelength. A first polarizing filter for passing; an imaging means for receiving a reflected light polarized by the first polarizing filter and reflected by the subject; and acquiring the skin image; the subject and the imaging means And a second polarizing filter for allowing the reflected light to pass light in a direction different from that of the first polarizing filter.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily obtain a clear skin image by preventing shine. Thereby, a plurality of types of spots can be easily and accurately classified.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the first polarizing filter and the second polarizing filter are made of a material containing quartz.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize highly accurate polarized light with a low cost material.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the light source includes two or more light sources, and each of the two or more light sources is disposed at a position where the distance from the imaging unit is equal and the distance from the subject is also equal. It is characterized by that.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the amount of light can be increased by using two or more light sources. In addition, by arranging the light sources on the left and right objects, it is possible to irradiate the subject with uniform light.

  The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the light source emits ultraviolet rays including at least one wavelength of UVAI, UVAII, and UVB.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, a clear skin image can be acquired for each wavelength. Thereby, a plurality of types of spots can be more accurately classified.

  The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the second polarizing filter is polarized so as to be in a cross direction with respect to the polarization direction of the first polarizing filter.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the imaging means receives only the reflected light inside the skin including information such as spots and freckles generated by cutting the surface reflected light against the skin and repeatedly scattering and absorbing inside the skin. be able to. Further, since the surface reflected light can be cut as much as possible by polarizing in the cross direction with the two polarizing filters, it is possible to prevent shine and obtain a clear skin image easily.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily obtain a clear skin image by preventing shine. Thereby, a plurality of types of spots can be easily and accurately classified.

  Below, the form which implemented suitably the skin image photographing device in the present invention is described using a drawing.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a skin image capturing system. A skin image photographing system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes light sources 11-1 and 11-2, a camera 12 as an imaging unit, first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2, and a second polarizing filter 14. And the control device 15. The light source 11, the camera 12, the first polarizing filter 13, and the second polarizing filter 14 are configured as a skin image capturing device (unit) 20.

  The light sources 11-1 and 11-2 emit ultraviolet rays having a predetermined wavelength. In addition, in FIG. 1, although it has the structure which has the two light sources 11-1 and 11-2, the number of the light sources in this invention has two or more preferable. Thereby, the amount of light can be increased. The light sources 11-1 and 11-2 are arranged at positions where the distance from the camera 12 is equal and the distance from the photographing position (range) of the subject 1 is also equal. Details of the type of ultraviolet light emitted from the light source and the positional relationship between the light source 11 and the camera 12 will be described later.

  The light source 11 can be an illumination device such as a strobe that emits ultraviolet rays. Specifically, for example, commercially available strobes such as model numbers auto22SR, auto30SR, and auto36SR manufactured by Sunpack Corporation can be used. In the case of a strobe equipped with an ultraviolet cut filter, a strobe with a specification from which the ultraviolet cut filter is removed is used.

  Further, the camera 12 irradiates the subject 1 with the ultraviolet rays from the light sources 11-1 and 11-2 via the first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2, and converts the reflected light obtained therefrom to the second polarized light. Light is received through the filter 14 to take a picture.

  Here, the camera 12 is a commercially available UV digital camera having a resolution of 1280 × 960, 640 × 480 (TV format), 1344 × 1024, 4256 × 2848, etc. (for example, model numbers XCD-SX900UV, XCD manufactured by Sony Corporation). -SX910UV, XC-EU50, model number C8484-16C manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics Co., Ltd., BT-CCD camera C8000, etc. Furthermore, the lens 21 provided in the camera 12 should use a commercially available ultraviolet lens. For example, model numbers H2520-UVM (focal length 25 mm, aperture value F2.0-16), B2580-UV (focal length 25 mm, aperture value F2.8-16), B7838-UV (focus) manufactured by Pentax Corporation Uses a distance of 77.55 mm, aperture value F3.8-16), etc. Rukoto can.

  The first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 are filters for polarizing light from the respective light sources 11-1 and 11-2 such as a strobe light emitting unit in a specific direction. The second polarizing filter 14 reflects light in a specific direction that has passed through the first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 by the subject 1, and has a specific direction out of the reflected scattered light. Allow only reflected light to pass through.

  The first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 have the same polarization direction, and the direction of the polarization in the first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 and the second polarizing filter 14. The directions of polarized light are different from each other.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the skin image capturing system 10 transmits predetermined ultraviolet light emitted from the light sources 11-1 and 11-2 through a first polarizing filter 13-1 and 13-2 to a specific polarization plane. And irradiating a predetermined position such as the face of the subject 1 with the light. The light applied to a predetermined position of the subject 1 is reflected on the skin surface and becomes surface reflected light. Moreover, the surface reflected light has unevenness information on the skin surface, and further, scattering and absorption are repeated on the surface of the skin, and the light is emitted from the skin surface again to become reflected light inside the skin. This internal skin reflected light has internal skin information such as skin spots and freckles.

  Therefore, as described above, the first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 and the second polarizing filter 14 are made to have different polarization directions, thereby cutting the surface reflected light and allowing the internally reflected light to pass therethrough. Thus, it is possible to clearly acquire a state such as a stain or freckles.

  Furthermore, the direction of polarization in the first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 and the direction of polarization in the second polarizing filter 14 are made to be in a cross (cross, shifted by 90 degrees) direction. Thereby, since surface reflected light can be cut to the maximum extent, it is possible to prevent shine and easily obtain a clear skin image.

  Specifically, the first polarizing filter 13 and the second polarizing filter 14 are, for example, near infrared polarizing plates manufactured by Luceo Co., Ltd. (for example, POLAX-30IR (wavelength region 850 nm to 2000 nm: average transmittance 30). % ± 3%)) etc. can be used. Moreover, it is preferable that the material of the 1st polarizing filter 13 and the 2nd polarizing filter 14 is a material containing quartz, for example, synthetic quartz etc. can be used. As a result, high-precision polarization can be realized with a low-cost material. In addition, instead of the polarizing plate, a plurality of diffusion plates can be combined to allow only a specific direction to pass. However, in such a case, the configuration is complicated because a plurality of diffusion plates are combined in a predetermined direction. Cost too. Furthermore, the shine cannot be erased to the same extent as the polarizing plate.

  The skin image photographing device 20 has a function of irradiating a plurality of ultraviolet rays (UV) having different wavelengths, and can acquire skin images photographed for each wavelength. For example, the camera 12 is a UVAI (wavelength is about 360 to 400 nm), UVAII (wavelength is about 320 to 360 nm), UVB (wavelength is about 280 to 320 nm), and Violet (wavelength is about 400 to 450 nm). Can be obtained.

  In this case, the wavelength-specific image can be acquired by, for example, installing a band-pass filter for each wavelength in front of the light source 11 or the camera 12 to acquire only an image of a predetermined wavelength. , UVAII, UVB, and Violet may be provided, and light sources may be selected as necessary, and strobe light emission may be performed.

  Further, the control device 15 stores light emission control of a predetermined wavelength by the light source 11, shooting control of the camera 12, and a skin image captured by the camera 12 in a storage unit such as a memory or an auxiliary storage device provided in the control device 15. Control for displaying the acquired skin image on the display means such as a display provided in the control device 15 is performed. Thereby, it is possible to easily confirm a clear skin image in which shine is prevented.

  Furthermore, the skin image photographing device 20 is a frame member as a fixing member so that a predetermined photographing range such as a face or a hand in the subject 1 can be fixed at a predetermined position from the camera 12 and a skin image can be acquired. 22 may be provided. By fixing a part of the image acquisition target such as a face or a hand to the frame member 22 at a predetermined distance from the lens position, a highly accurate skin image can be acquired. For example, when photographing a face, the frame member 22 is fixed by placing a chin on a fixing base of the frame member 22. At this time, the face can be fixed not only in front of the camera but also at a position inclined at a predetermined angle. Thereby, local images such as left and right cheeks, corners of the eyes, and forehead can be acquired.

  By having the configuration of the skin image photographing system 10 as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to easily obtain a clear skin image while preventing shine. Thereby, a plurality of types of spots can be easily and accurately classified.

  This makes it possible to classify various types of stains such as sun larvae (senile pigment spots), liver spots, sparrow egg spots, seborrheic keratosis, and flat nevus with high accuracy. . In other words, by displaying the acquired skin image with a display means such as a display provided in the control device 15 with a clear skin image preventing shine, the skin state of the photographing part of the subject 1 can be accurately grasped. The type of stain can be classified and evaluated with high accuracy.

<Example of polarizing filter installation>
Here, a mounting example of the first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 and the second polarizing filter 14 described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of attachment of a polarizing filter in a skin image photographing device (unit). As shown in FIG. 2A, in the light sources 11-1 and 11-2 and the camera 12 included in the skin image capturing device 20, with respect to the light emitting unit 31 present in the light source 11 and the lens unit 21 of the camera 12. A polarizing filter as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 that pass light in a certain direction with respect to the light from the light source 11, the entire light emitting unit 31. It is formed in a size that covers it and is attached as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, when the light from the light source is allowed to pass through and irradiate the subject, it is polarized in the vertical direction, and the reflected light obtained by the irradiation is passed through and received by the camera 12. In some cases, it is polarized horizontally. That is, as described above, the direction of polarization in the first polarizing filters 13-1 and 13-2 and the direction of polarization in the second polarizing filter 14 are in a cross (cross, 90 degrees shifted) direction. Like that. Thereby, since surface reflected light can be cut to the maximum extent, it is possible to prevent shine and easily obtain a clear skin image.

  In addition, when attaching the 1st polarizing filter 13 and the 2nd polarizing filter 14, you may attach by direct adhesion | attachment etc. with respect to the light emission parts 31-1, 31-2 and the lens 21, and the light emission part 31 and A slide mechanism that slides the polarizing filter up and down with respect to the lens 21 may be provided, and a structure that can be easily attached and detached with a magnet or the like may be used. Furthermore, the attachment positions of the first polarizing filter 13 and the second polarizing filter 14 may be installed at a predetermined distance from the light emitting units 31-1 and 31-2 and the lens 21.

<About the arrangement relationship between the light source 11 and the camera 12>
Next, the arrangement relationship between the light source 11 and the camera 12 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example for explaining the positional relationship between the light source and the camera. As shown in FIG. 3, when there are a plurality of light sources, adjustment is performed so that the positions from the camera 12 are equal distances so that uniform ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the photographing portion of the subject. Therefore, the distances d1 and d2 between the camera 12 and the light sources 11-1 and 11-2 shown in FIG. 3 are preferably the same (d1 = d2).

  Furthermore, since it is preferable that the intensity of light irradiated to the subject 1 is also uniform left and right, the distances d3 and d4 from the light sources 11-1 and 11-2 to the subject 1 are also the same (d3 = d4). In this embodiment, for example, d1 (d2) is 5 to 10 cm and d3 (d4) is 50 to 100 cm. The distance d5 from the lens 21 to the subject 1 is about 50 to 100 cm. However, the distance d1 to d5 is not particularly limited in the present invention, and the performance (resolution, angle of view, etc.) of the camera and lens. ), And can be arbitrarily adjusted according to the intensity of the light source.

<Photograph results>
Next, an example of a photographing result by the above-described skin image photographing system will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a photographing result of the skin image photographing system in the present invention. 4A shows an example of a color image of a subject, FIG. 4B shows an example of an image of a subject when the polarizing filter is not passed, and FIG. 4C shows the present invention. 2 shows an example of an image of a subject through a polarizing filter in FIG.

  In addition, the photographing in FIG. 4 was performed by placing the chin of the subject 1 on a fixed base such as the frame member 22 and closing the eyes under a normal indoor environment. Further, the focus of the camera 12 is kept constant. Moreover, there is no influence by the brightness of lighting fixtures, such as a room light.

  Moreover, the used camera 12 used the polarized ultraviolet camera containing the UV digital camera according to the absorption wavelength of a melanin monomer. The melanin monomer is a precursor in a stage before becoming melanin which causes stains, and sufficiently absorbs ultraviolet rays. In photographing, three types of images classified by wavelength of UVAI, UVAII, and UVB were acquired, and compared with a color image, increase / decrease in contrast of the target stain was determined.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, by providing a polarizing filter that polarizes in the cross direction, it is possible to obtain a clear skin image in which shine is prevented compared to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

  As a result, for example, spots such as liver spots, sparrow egg spots, sunlight moles, seborrheic keratosis, and flat nevus can be accurately grasped.

  For example, in the case of melasma, high contrast was obtained in any of UVAI, UVAII, and UVB regardless of the length of the UV wavelength. In particular, it was found that in the wavelength band having a longer wavelength, melasma can be clearly identified, and the discrimination power is higher in the order of UVAI, UVAII, and UVB.

  In the case of sparrow eggs, it was found that high contrast was obtained in UVAI with a long wavelength and discrimination power against sparrow eggs was high. However, in UVAII and UVB on the short wavelength side, contrast was low and sufficient discrimination was achieved. There was no power.

  Moreover, in the case of a solar black mole, although it is not sufficient, a high contrast was obtained with a long wavelength UVAI as compared with UVAII and UVB on the short wavelength side. The UVAII on the short wavelength side had only a slight contrast, and the UVB on the shorter wavelength side had a low contrast and no discrimination power.

  Also, in seborrheic keratosis and flat nevus, contrast increased with long wavelength UVAI compared with short wavelength UVAII and UVB, but with short wavelength UVAII and UVB, only the discrimination There was no contrast and there was not enough discrimination.

  Here, the reason why the above-mentioned results were obtained is that UVAI, which has a long wavelength, is deep in the skin, considering that melanin in the melasma is in the epidermis layer and melanin in the solar larvae is in the back of the dermal cells. This is probably because UVAII and UVB, which have a shorter wavelength, cannot reach the back of the skin.

  From this result, it is understood that the UVAI in the long wavelength band can be used for identifying any kind of stain. Further, the stains can be classified with high accuracy by using the ultraviolet image for each wavelength.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, by adopting a UV camera system that uses a polarizing filter at the time of capturing a UV image, it is possible to obtain a UV image that is much better than before, and to easily and clearly classify spots. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily obtain a clear skin image by preventing shine. Thereby, a plurality of types of spots can be easily and accurately classified.

  In other words, the present invention was developed based on the idea that the visibility of spots, freckles, etc. contained in the acquired image differs depending on the wavelength of ultraviolet rays (UV) that irradiate the subject's skin, hands, etc. did. According to the present invention, it is possible to classify spots and the like with high accuracy based on images captured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays having different wavelengths using a camera that irradiates with ultraviolet rays having different wavelengths. Further, by using a polarizing filter at the time of image capturing, it is possible to easily obtain a clear skin image by preventing shine, and it is possible to obtain a UV image that is much better than before.

  In addition, by classifying stains using images in the present invention, effective treatment and cosmetic counseling suitable for the skin can be performed, and further, it can be utilized for product evaluation and development of product information. Furthermore, it can also be applied to evaluation of prototypes of developed products, evaluation of products from other companies, application to store equipment software, and the like.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention described in the claims for utility model registration. Modifications and changes are possible.

It is a figure which shows an example of schematic structure of a skin image imaging system. It is a figure which shows an example of attachment of the polarizing filter in a skin image imaging device (unit). It is a figure which shows an example for demonstrating the arrangement | positioning relationship between a light source and a camera. It is a figure for demonstrating the imaging | photography result of the skin image imaging system in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Subject 10 Skin Image Shooting System 11 Light Source 12 Camera (Imaging Means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 1st polarizing filter 14 2nd polarizing filter 15 Control apparatus 20 Skin imaging device 21 Lens part 22 Frame member 31 Light emission part

Claims (5)

In a skin image photographing device for photographing a skin image of a subject,
A first polarizing filter for passing light in a specific direction provided between the subject from a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength;
Imaging means for receiving a reflected light polarized by the first polarizing filter and reflected by the subject to obtain a skin image;
A skin image photographing apparatus comprising: a second polarizing filter for passing light in a direction different from the first polarizing filter among the reflected light between the subject and the imaging unit.   The skin image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first polarizing filter and the second polarizing filter are formed of a material containing quartz.   2. The light source includes two or more light sources, and each of the two or more light sources is disposed at a position where the distance from the imaging unit is equal and the distance from the subject is also equal. 2. The skin image photographing device according to 2.   4. The skin image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source emits ultraviolet light including at least one wavelength of UVAI, UVAII, and UVB. 5.   5. The skin image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second polarizing filter is configured to polarize the light so as to have a cross direction with respect to a polarization direction of the first polarizing filter. .