JP3331932B2 - Water leak inspection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water leakage inspection device for inspecting the presence or absence of water leakage in a vehicle, a trunk or the like in a water leakage inspection process in an automobile assembly line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a water leak inspection process of an automobile, which has been substantially completed in an automobile assembly line, a shower tester or the like that sprays water or the like from the front, rear, left, right, or above the automobile is used. In the water leaking step, after water or the like is sprayed from the above-described direction by the shower tester, it is checked whether or not there is a water leak in the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment.

[0003] In the water leak test, conventionally, an operator directly touches a portion to be inspected with his / her hand to check the degree of wetness, or visually observes from a distant place, or applies ultraviolet light to water previously sprayed by a shower tester. The presence or absence of water leakage from the inspected portion is inspected based on the light emission state using a black light that mixes a fluorescent agent that emits light and irradiates ultraviolet rays during inspection.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional water leak inspection, if the state of the water leak is inspected by manually touching the inspected part by hand or visually inspected, the degree of the water leakage is accurately determined. It cannot be grasped, and the degree of water leakage detected by the worker's proficiency varies greatly.

[0005] When a black light that irradiates ultraviolet rays is used, it is not possible to irradiate too strong ultraviolet rays in order to ensure safety for workers. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to find a minute water leak. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a water leak inspection device capable of detecting a minute water leak and detecting the magnitude of the water leak.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, a water leakage inspection apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that infrared rays are irradiated to a part to be inspected for water leakage inspection.
Irradiating means for irradiating, reflected by the inspected portion
Receiving means for receiving infrared rays
A predetermined intensity distribution of infrared light reflected from the inspection site and the
Comparing the intensity distribution of the infrared light received by the light receiving means
Accordingly, an image processing means for detecting a water leakage, the
The image processing means returns from the inspected part when there is no water leakage.
A storage unit that stores a predetermined intensity distribution of the emitted infrared light,
The predetermined strength stored in the storage unit when there is no water leakage
Degree distribution and the intensity distribution of infrared light received by the light receiving means.
The comparison section to be compared, and no water leakage compared in the comparison section
Intensity distribution and the intensity received by the light receiving means
If the difference from the distribution exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that there is a water leak.
Or, if it is less than the predetermined value, it is judged that there is no water leakage.
And a tough, when the determination unit determines that water leakage Yes
In the case where there is no water leakage stored in the storage unit,
And the difference between the intensity distribution received by the light receiving means is
If the value exceeds a predetermined value, calculate the area of the difference in the intensity distribution.
Calculation unit .

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, a water leak inspection device 1 is a device that detects whether or not there is a water leak in an inspected portion 2 such as an occupant room of an automobile or a luggage room and, when there is a water leak, the size of the leak. And
A light source 3 as an irradiation unit, a photodetector 4 as a light receiving unit, an image processing unit 5 as an image processing unit, a display unit 6 and the like are provided.

The light source 3 has a function of irradiating an infrared ray or the like having a wavelength in the range of 0.75 μm to several mm toward the inspection site 2. It is desirable that the light source 3 emits near-infrared light (infrared light having a wavelength in the range of 0.75 μm to several tens of μm) having a high absorptivity due to moisture. More preferably, the wavelength is 1.2 μm, 1.43 μm, 1.94 μm, 2.95.
It is desirable to irradiate near-infrared rays having any wavelength of μm. Further, in the illustrated example, the light source 3 irradiates the above-described infrared ray or the like in a range T surrounded by a dashed line.

The light detector 4 is configured such that the light source 3
And has a function of detecting the above-described infrared rays and the like which are emitted toward the inspection target 2 and reflected by the inspected portion 2. When the photodetector 4 detects infrared rays or the like, it performs photoelectric conversion and outputs infrared image data ID1 (an example is shown in FIG. 5) to the image processing unit 5.

The photodetector 4 is arranged so that its field of view S (the area surrounded by the two-dot chain line in the drawing) encompasses the irradiation range T of the light source 3 illuminated on the part 2 to be inspected. . When the light source 3 simultaneously irradiates light other than the above-described infrared light, it is desirable to provide a filter or the like that transmits only infrared light of a desired wavelength between the inspected portion 2 and the photodetector 4. .

The image processing unit 5 includes a known CPU, R
This is an arithmetic device including an OM, a RAM, and the like. The image processing unit 5 is connected to the light source 3, the photodetector 4, and the display unit 6 and controls these operations to control the entire water leak inspection device 1.

The image processing unit 5 includes a storage unit 7, a comparison unit 8, a determination unit 9, and a calculation unit 10. The storage unit 7 stores, for example, infrared image data ID that is reflected from the inspection site 2 where there is no water leakage and that is detected by the photodetector 4, as shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the infrared intensity distribution IB along the line YY ′ shown in FIG.

The comparing section 8 stores a predetermined infrared image data ID stored in the storage section 7 when there is no water leakage, and the infrared image data ID actually illuminated by the light source 3 and reflected by the inspected portion 2 and detected by the photodetector 4. Has a function of comparing with the detected infrared image data ID1 (an example is shown in FIG. 5).

The judging section 9 has a function of judging from the infrared image data ID1 or the like actually detected by the photodetector 4 whether or not there is water leakage in the inspected portion 2. Judgment unit 9
Is the infrared image data ID stored in the storage unit 7,
If the difference from the infrared image data ID1 actually detected by the photodetector 4 exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that there is water leakage. The calculation unit 10 has a function of calculating the area and the center of gravity of the portion where the difference between the infrared image data ID and ID1 exceeds the predetermined value.

The display unit 6 is connected to the image processing unit 5 and can monitor an infrared image data ID detected by the photodetector 4 and subjected to the above-described processing by the image processing unit 5, and the like. It is desirable to provide an alarm means such as a siren or a red stirrup that informs an operator by sound or light when water leaks.

According to the configuration described above, the water leak inspection device 1
When inspecting a part to be inspected 2 such as a passenger compartment and a luggage compartment of a car or the like for water leakage by using, the emission direction of the light source 3 is first directed to the inspected part 2. Then, the photodetector 4 is arranged so that the infrared rays reflected by the inspection site 2 enter the visual field range S thereof.

After that, infrared rays are emitted from the light source 3 to the portion 2 to be inspected.
Irradiate toward. The photodetector 4 detects infrared rays and the like reflected by the inspection site 2, performs photoelectric conversion, and outputs infrared image data ID <b> 1 to the image processing unit 5. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, when moisture 11 or the like is attached to a part of the inspection site 2 due to water leakage, the infrared image data ID1 obtained by the photodetector 4 indicates that the moisture 11 is attached. The intensity of the infrared light reflected from the portion where the light is reflected is low as in the region R shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 6 shows an infrared intensity distribution IB1 along the line YY ′ shown in FIG.

Then, in the comparing section 8, the infrared image data ID stored in the storage section 7 when there is no water leakage
(Shown in FIG. 2) and infrared image data ID1 (shown in FIG. 5) actually obtained by the photodetector 4 are compared. Note that FIG.
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the intensity distributions IB (shown in FIG. 3) and IB1 (shown in FIG. 6) along the line YY ′ shown in FIG. 5 are compared with each other.

Next, in the determination section 9, as shown in FIG. 7, the intensity distribution IB of the predetermined infrared image data ID stored in advance in the storage section 7 indicated by the dotted line Q in the drawing, and the solid line P in the drawing. Is calculated from the intensity distribution IB1 of the infrared image data ID1 actually obtained by the photodetector 4. If the difference between the intensity distributions IB and IB1 exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that there is water leakage, and if it is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is determined that there is no water leakage.

When the judging section 9 judges that there is a water leak, a display is made on the display section 6 and the calculating section 10 is operated.
In the figure, a region U indicated by oblique lines in the drawing as a water leak location where the difference between the intensity distributions IB and IB1 exceeds a predetermined value is obtained.
The calculation unit 10 calculates the area and the center of gravity of the region U shown in FIG. Then, the procedure moves to the inspection of the next inspection target part 2. Also, when the determination unit 9 determines that there is no water leakage, the process moves to the next inspection of the inspected part 2.

When calculating the area of the region U at the water leaking point, the calculating unit 10 calculates the length G of the region U along the line YY 'shown in FIG. Obtained by integration. As described above, the image processing unit 5 detects the presence / absence of a water leak as the state of the water leak and the area of the water leak location.

When the display unit 6 is constituted by a monitor or the like, the operator operates the image processing unit 5 described above.
In addition to observing the state of image processing, the presence or absence of water leakage as the state of water leakage and, in the case of water leakage, the area of the water leakage location calculated by the arithmetic unit 10 and the position of the center of gravity thereof can be confirmed. ing.

According to the present embodiment, the predetermined infrared image data ID stored in the storage unit 7 when there is no water leakage
And infrared image data ID actually detected by the photodetector 4
1 and the presence or absence of water leakage is determined from the difference between the infrared image data ID and ID1. Can also be reliably detected.

Since the calculation unit 10 of the image processing unit 5 calculates the area of the water leak location, the size of the water leak location can be reliably grasped, and the size of the detected water leak location does not vary. . Further, since the calculation unit 10 of the image processing unit 5 calculates the center of gravity of the water leak location,
It is easy to specify the leak location of the inspected site 2.

Also, when inspecting the inspected portion 2a having irregularities as shown in FIG.
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, by storing the infrared image data ID2 and the intensity distribution IB2 in the case where there is no water leakage in the inspected portion 2a, the presence / absence of water leakage and the water leakage are ensured. In that case, the size can be detected.

[0028]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the intensity distribution of the infrared light reflected by the inspected part when there is no water leakage, and the intensity distribution of the infrared light reflected by the inspected part received by the light receiving means. Therefore, the presence / absence and size of a water leak as a water leak situation can be easily detected, and a minute water leak can also be detected.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the intensity distribution of the infrared ray reflected by the inspected part when there is no water leakage and the intensity distribution of the infrared ray reflected by the inspected part received by the light receiving means are determined. Since the presence / absence of water leakage is determined from the difference, the presence / absence of water leakage can be easily detected and minute water leakage can also be detected. Further, when the difference in the intensity distribution of the infrared rays exceeds a predetermined value, the area of the range is calculated, so that the magnitude of the water leakage can be easily detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a water leak inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an infrared intensity distribution when there is no water leak stored in a storage unit of the water leak inspection device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an intensity distribution of infrared rays along a YY ′ line shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the water leakage inspection device according to the embodiment inspects a part to be inspected having a water leakage.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an intensity distribution of infrared rays received by a photodetector in the inspection shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an intensity distribution of infrared rays along the line YY ′ shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the comparing unit of the image processing unit according to the embodiment compares the infrared intensity distribution stored in the storage unit with the infrared intensity distribution detected by the photodetector;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the calculation unit of the image processing unit according to the embodiment calculates the size of the water leakage point.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing an example of a state in which the water leak inspection device of the embodiment inspects an inspected portion having a surface having irregularities.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an intensity distribution of infrared rays received by the photodetector when there is no water leakage in the inspection shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an intensity distribution of infrared rays along a line YY ′ shown in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water leak inspection apparatus 2 ... Inspection part 3 ... Light source (irradiation means) 4 ... Photodetector (light receiving means) 5 ... Image processing unit (image processing means) 7 ... Storage part 8 ... Comparison part 9 ... Judgment part 10 … Calculator

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An irradiation unit for irradiating an infrared ray to an inspection target part to be subjected to a water leakage inspection; a light receiving unit for receiving infrared light reflected by the inspection target part; By comparing a predetermined intensity distribution of the reflected infrared light with the intensity distribution of the infrared light received by the light receiving means, an image processing means for detecting water leakage is provided, and the image processing means has no water leakage. Infrared reflected from the inspected part
A storage unit storing a predetermined intensity distribution, and a predetermined strength stored in the storage unit when there is no water leakage.
Degree distribution and the intensity distribution of infrared light received by the light receiving means.
A comparison part to be compared, and a predetermined strength when there is no water leakage compared in the comparison part
The difference between the distribution and the intensity distribution received by the light receiving means is a predetermined value.
If it exceeds, it is judged that there is a water leak or
A determining unit and the water leakage free in some cases, provided with, when the determination unit determines that water leakage Yes, the storage unit
The predetermined intensity distribution when there is no stored water leak and the
If the difference from the intensity distribution received by the light receiving means exceeds a predetermined value,
An inspection apparatus , comprising: a calculation unit for calculating an area of a difference between the intensity distributions .