JPH07177299A - Adjusting system for image handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate adjustments of mounting positions of respective sensors by displaying an image, picked up by a line sensor, on a monitor screen and adjusting the mounting state of the line sensor based on the display screen. CONSTITUTION:The image of a test chart, where a pattern having edge parts K1-K4 extended in the array direction of the photoelectric conversion element array of the line sensor is drawn, is picked up while the line sensor is held at a reference position and displayed on the monitor. The fitting states of the respective sensors S1-S4 are grasped by looking at display images of respective sensor areas on the monitor screen, and matching adjustments between reference edge parts K1-K4 and the sensor S1-S4 are made by a sensor mounting position adjusting device. Therefore, the mounting positions of plural sensors can be adjusted with high precision over a look at the monitor screen, and the adjustments are facilitated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image handling device adjusting system, and more particularly to an image handling device adjusting system for adjusting the mounting position of each sensor of an image handling device which captures an image by a plurality of sensors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of sensors for converting image information into electric image signals are installed at a distance from each other, and one image divided into a plurality of acquisition regions is captured by a sensor corresponding to each divided region, and the captured image is captured. An apparatus that combines signals, synthesizes them, and reproduces an original image is considered as an image handling apparatus that can obtain a high-definition image.

As one of the image handling devices of this type, light from a light source is condensed by a condenser lens, and a linear motor irradiates a film fixed on a stage moving in one direction to irradiate the film. The applicant of the present invention has also proposed a device that allows transmitted light to enter a plurality of sensors (CCD) or the like via a lens. In such an image handling apparatus, since the images taken in by the respective sensors have to be combined with each other, it is desirable that the mounting positions of the respective sensors are accurately set to each other. A slight positional deviation can be compensated by converting the coordinate of the image data obtained from each sensor by the coordinate conversion circuit. However, if the positional deviation is large, the circuit scale of the coordinate conversion circuit becomes large. Smaller is preferable. The mounting and adjustment of the mounting position of the sensor are usually performed at the stage of manufacturing the image handling device.

[0004]

As described above, in this type of image handling system, the sensor mounting position is adjusted at the manufacturing stage, but the adjustment work must be done with great care. However, high-precision adjustment requires a large number of man-hours, and it is difficult to minimize the sensor mounting position deviation in consideration of the man-hours.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image handling device adjusting system which can easily adjust the mounting position of each sensor in an image handling device using a plurality of sensors.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the image handling apparatus adjusting system of the present invention, the line sensor whose mounting attitude is to be adjusted becomes a normal attitude at the predetermined reference position. A test chart in which a pattern having an edge portion extending along the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion element rows of the same line sensor at a given time is drawn, and this test chart with the line sensor stationary at the reference position Monitor means for monitoring the image obtained by imaging on the screen, and adjusting means for adjusting the mounting state of the line sensor according to the pattern of the test chart monitored by the monitor means. It is configured to include.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a test chart on which a pattern having an edge portion along the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion element array of the line sensor is drawn is displayed on the monitor screen by the image obtained by the line sensor. , The line sensor installation status is adjusted based on the display screen.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an example of a test chart used in an image handling device adjustment system according to the present invention,
The edge portions K1 to K4 in the vertical (V) direction corresponding to the position of the line sensor (four in this example) to be adjusted are provided, and the saturation degree is generally monotonous or finely stepped in the horizontal (H) direction. A strip-shaped or linear pattern portion (in this example, a linear pattern at a middle position in the horizontal direction) P that has a halftone portion that monotonously changes in a linear manner and that is extended so as to intersect the edge portion. Have. When the four sensors S1 to S4 (not shown) are installed at accurate positions, the length directions of the sensors S1 to S4 match the edge portions K1 to K4 of FIG. Since the positions are aligned, the line image is displayed in the center on the monitor that displays the image obtained from each sensor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image capturing process while the film is stationary for the sensor position adjustment. As shown in (A) of the figure, four sensors S1 to S4 are arranged in the lateral direction of the film at predetermined intervals, and when the image capturing is started, the film is in a stationary state, so that a signal of one line is transmitted. Since the signals are continuously output, the output signal level from each sensor has a constant value level according to the lightness and darkness of the received light image, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic arrangement of a high-definition image input apparatus to which an embodiment of the adjustment system for an image handling apparatus according to the present invention is applied. The camera unit 1 includes an optical system such as a lens and a plurality of (in this example, four) image pickup devices (CCD or the like) for converting an image formed through the optical system into an electric signal.
And A / which converts the obtained image signal into digital data
The image data from the camera unit 1 is supplied to the imaging process units 2A to 2D. The imaging process units 2A to 2D receive the image data from the corresponding imaging elements of the camera unit 1, respectively, perform a predetermined imaging process process such as an optical black clamp, and the corresponding main process units 3A to 3D are provided. Send out. The main process units 3A to 3D mainly perform coordinate conversion processing for image pasting processing.

The output data from the main process units 3A to 3D is displayed by corresponding display process units 4A to 4D.
Then, after the display processing such as the gamma processing and the aperture processing is performed, the image data is written in the display memory unit 5 and the respective image data is written in the main memory unit 6.

Lamination (composition) from the display memory unit 5
The processed image data is read out, converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter, added with a synchronization signal, and output to a monitor, a printer, or the like.

System controller (system controller) section 7
Performs the overall control of the apparatus, and includes the camera unit 1, the imaging process units 2A to 2D, and the main process units 3A to 3
D, the display process units 4A to 4D are controlled, and writing and reading to and from the display memory unit 5 and the main memory unit 6 are controlled. The host personal computer (PC) 8 communicates with the system controller 7 and writes the image data read from the main memory 6 into an external storage medium 9 such as a magnetic tape or a magneto-optical disk.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the camera section of the image input apparatus. The light from the light source 101 is condensed by the condenser lens 102 and illuminates the film 104 held by the film holder 103 mounted on the stage 105. The light transmitted through the film 104 enters each CCD of the sensor block 108 in which four CCDs are arranged via the lens 107. Stage 10
The linear motor 5 is moved at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow by the linear motor 106 to scan in the lateral direction.

In the structure of FIG. 4, when the sensor mounting position is adjusted, the mounting position is adjusted by the method described below using the test chart shown in FIG. 1 as the film 104. Here, the sensor mounting position can be adjusted in any direction by applying the method described below.

FIG. 5 shows an example of an adjusting device for adjusting the sensor mounting position. A storage unit 20 in which a line sensor S such as a CCD is stored is held on a holder 30 by an adjusting screw and a spring. That is, in the upper part and the lower part of the storage portion 20, one of the lateral directions is pressed by the springs 12 and 14, and the other is supported by the screws 11 and 13. By rotating the adjusting screws 11 and 13, the inclination θ and the lateral direction can be obtained. Is adjusted. The position adjustment of the line sensor S in the length direction L is performed by the adjusting screw 15 and the spring 16. For example, if the adjusting screw 11 is rotated clockwise and the storage section 20 is tilted to the right, the line sensor S is tilted to the right, and similarly, if the adjusting screw 13 is rotated to the right, the line sensor S is tilted to the left. .

Now, an example of a method for detecting the positional deviation of the line sensor using the test chart of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
Will be described with reference to. In the present example, consider a case where the sensors S1 to S4 are installed with being displaced from the reference edge or the center position of the test chart in the state shown in FIG. At this time, an image obtained from S1 to S4 of each sensor of the sensor block 108 in FIG. 4 and displayed on the monitor as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.

In FIG. 7, the sensor S1 is shifted to the right with respect to the reference edge portion K1 as a whole, and the lower side is tilted to the right, which is in a slightly dark portion of the test chart. The part corresponding part is displayed darker than the upper part corresponding part. Further, since the sensor S1 is not displaced in the vertical direction (L direction in FIG. 5) and is at the center position, the horizontal line PL1 corresponding to the line pattern portion P is displayed at the center position.

The mounting state of the sensor S2 is the same as that of the sensor S1, but the upper part of the sensor S2 overlaps the black part of the adjacent region, so the upper part of the S2 region on the monitor screen is black (dark).
And the bottom is displayed white (bright). Further, in this case, since the sensor S2 is vertically displaced from the lower side, the horizontal line P corresponding to the line pattern portion P is arranged.
L2 is displayed shifted above the center position.

Since the sensor S3 is installed so as to be displaced to the right of the reference position and to be displaced to the upper side in the vertical direction, the S3 area on the monitor screen is entirely displayed in white, and the horizontal line PL3 is displaced from the center position. Displayed on the bottom.

Since the sensor S4 is tilted to the right and the lower part thereof is placed on the black portion of the adjacent area without any vertical displacement, the S4 area on the monitor screen is black on the lower side and the horizontal line PL4 is substantially at the center. It is displayed at the position.

As described above, the mounting state of each corresponding sensor can be grasped by looking at the display image of each sensor area on the monitor screen. That is, the greater the change in brightness between the upper and lower parts of each sensor area on the monitor screen, the greater the inclination angle of the sensor mounting position from the reference position, and the deviation of the horizontal line from the center position corresponds to the vertical deviation. It will be.

Considering, for example, the sensor S2, when looking at the display screen of the sensor S2 area on the monitor screen shown in FIG. 7, the brightness difference between the upper part and the lower part is large and the upper part is black, so the left tilted state. You can see that it is installed in. Therefore, in the device shown in FIG.
1 is rotated to the right to tilt the storage portion 20 to the right and adjust it to a substantially vertical position. Further, since the horizontal line PL2 is displayed above the center position, the adjusting screw 15 is rotated to adjust to the center position.

Reference edge portions K1 to K4 and sensors S1 to S
For matching adjustment with 4, while looking at the monitor screen, for example,
The adjusting screws 11 and 13 of FIG. 5 are rotated to move the storage unit 20 in the horizontal direction while maintaining the vertical angle. At this time, when the sensor is adjusted to the proper position (they are substantially the same) with respect to the reference edge portion, the monitor screen becomes a white screen except for the horizontal line, but if it is slightly shifted to the left side,
The screen turns black. Therefore, the border just before the monitor screen is switched from the white screen to the black screen is set as the appropriate position.

Next, another embodiment of the image handling apparatus adjusting system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In the above-described embodiment, the sensor mounting position is adjusted by visually recognizing the difference in brightness depending on the screen position displayed on the monitor screen. However, if the monitor originally has uneven brightness, it is difficult to make a minute adjustment. May become. Therefore, in this embodiment,
In order to enable highly accurate adjustment without being affected by uneven brightness on the monitor screen, multiple corresponding pixel outputs at the same position on multiple line sensors are extracted and the mounting position is determined based on the waveform (level). To adjust.

For example, when a monitor screen as shown in FIG. 8 similar to FIG. 7 is obtained, the pixel output near the top of each line sensor is waveform 1, and the pixel output near the center position is waveform 2. , When the pixel output near the bottom is sent as a waveform 3 to a monitor such as an oscilloscope, a display screen as shown in FIG. 9 is obtained.

In FIG. 9, the vertical axis represents the brightness (%) when pure white is 100% and pure black is 0%. It can be seen from the waveform 1 in FIG. 3A that the upper part of the sensor 2 is black (dark) and the sensor 2 is in the adjacent region. Further, looking at the waveform 2 in FIG. 2B, the sensors 1 and 4 match the pattern portion P because they are set to the center position, and the black portion (0%) shows that the sensors 2 and 3 have the pattern portion P. It is white (bright) because it is out of alignment. Further, looking at the waveform 3 in FIG. 6C, the lower side of the sensor S1 is displaced to the right of the reference edge portion K1 and is therefore slightly black (dark), and the sensor S2 is
And the lower side of S3 is shifted to the right of the reference edge portions K2 and K3 and is white (bright).

As described above, by referring to the waveform level of the corresponding pixel output at the separated position of each sensor as shown in FIG. 9, the sensor mounting position can be adjusted regardless of the brightness unevenness of the monitor screen.

FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. This example is intended to prevent the film in a stationary state from being damaged due to irradiation from a light source. In this embodiment, the amount of light emitted from the light source is controlled to be reduced when adjusting the sensor mounting position. That is, the light source 101 is
A light bulb 101A as a light emitting source, a diaphragm unit 101B that adjusts the transmission of light from the light bulb 101A, and a microcomputer 101C that controls the diaphragm degree of the diaphragm unit 101B.
And a lens 101D and a diffusion unit 101E.

At the time of adjusting the sensor mounting position, a diaphragm control signal is sent from the microcomputer 101C to the diaphragm unit 101B to reduce the amount of light emitted from the electric bulb 101A to the lens 101D, thereby reducing damage to the film. At this time, the decrease in the light amount deteriorates the S / N ratio of the image signal.
Degradation of N ratio is not a problem.

The above-described embodiment can be expressed by the following gist structure. (1) The test chart has a halftone portion in which the degree of saturation generally monotonously changes toward the edge portion, and the line sensor is constantly positioned at the reference position. The image handling apparatus adjusting system according to claim 1, further comprising means for quantitatively displaying a level of an image signal obtained by imaging the test chart. (2) The image handling device adjusting system according to claim 1 or (1), wherein the test chart further has a strip-shaped or linear pattern portion extended in a direction intersecting with the edge portion. (3) It has an edge portion extended along the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion element array of the line sensor when the line sensor whose mounting posture is to be adjusted is in the regular posture at the predetermined reference position. An image obtained by capturing an image of a test chart on which a pattern is drawn by the image capturing device with the line sensor stationary at the reference position is monitored on the screen of the monitor while being monitored by the monitor. A method for adjusting the line sensor attachment state of an image handling device, which adjusts the attachment state of the above line sensor according to the pattern of a test chart. (4) An edge portion extending along the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion element array of the line sensor when the line sensor whose self-installation attitude is to be adjusted is in the normal attitude at the predetermined reference position A test chart in which a pattern having a halftone portion in which the degree of saturation generally changes monotonously toward the edge portion is drawn by an image pickup device with the line sensor stationary at the reference position. While monitoring the displayed image on the screen of the monitor means, the pattern of the test chart monitored by the monitor means is recognized by a value that quantitatively represents the level value of the video signal, and based on this recognition. A method for adjusting the line sensor mounting state of the image handling device for adjusting the mounting state of the above line sensor. (5) When the line sensor whose mounting attitude is to be adjusted is in the normal attitude at the predetermined reference position, the line sensor is extended along the direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the photoelectric conversion element arrays of the line sensor. A test chart in which a band-shaped pattern is drawn, a monitor means for monitoring the image obtained by imaging this test chart with the line sensor stationary at the reference position on the screen, and this monitor means An image handling device adjusting system, comprising: an adjusting unit for adjusting the mounting state of the line sensor according to the pattern of the test chart to be monitored. (6) When the line sensor whose self-installation attitude is to be adjusted is in the normal attitude at the predetermined reference position, a video signal representing an image of a predetermined known form is generated based on the image output by the line sensor. A test chart in which a pattern of a form as obtained is drawn and is mounted on the mounting portion of the imaging target object instead of the original imaging target object, and the imaging target object or the test chart mounted on the mounting part. A light projecting means for projecting light, a monitor means for monitoring an image obtained by imaging the test chart on the screen with the line sensor stationary at the reference position, and the monitor means Adjusting means for adjusting the mounting state of the line sensor according to the pattern of the test chart to be monitored, and the adjusting means for adjusting the mounting state. Image handling apparatus adjustment system comprising a dimming means for reducing than at the time of the original imaging operation projection intensity of light by the light unit.

[0032]

As described above, according to the image handling apparatus adjusting system of the present invention, the mounting positions of a plurality of sensors can be adjusted with high accuracy while visually observing the monitor screen.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a test chart used in an image handling device adjustment system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an image capturing process in which the film is stationary while adjusting the sensor mounting position.

FIG. 3 is a basic configuration block diagram of a high definition image input device showing an embodiment of an image handling device adjustment system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the image input device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an adjusting device for adjusting a sensor mounting position used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for detecting the positional deviation of the line sensor using the test chart of FIG. 1 in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for detecting the positional deviation of the line sensor using the test chart of FIG. 1 in the example of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the image handling device adjusting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the image handling device adjusting system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing still another embodiment of the present invention, showing a structural example of a light source for preventing film damage caused by irradiation of the film in a stationary state from the light source.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera Section 2A-2D Imaging Process Section 3A-3D Main Process Section 4A-4D Display Process Section 5 Display Memory Section 6 Main Memory Section 7 System Controller Section 8 Host Personal Computer (PC) 9 External Storage Medium 101 Light Source 102 Condensing Lens 103 Film Holder 104 Film 105 Stage 106 Linear motor 107 Lens 108 Sensor block

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An edge portion extending along the arrangement direction of a photoelectric conversion element array of the line sensor when the line sensor whose mounting attitude is to be adjusted is in a normal attitude at the predetermined reference position. A test chart on which a pattern having a pattern is drawn, monitor means for monitoring an image obtained by imaging the test chart on the screen with the line sensor stationary at the reference position, and the monitor means. An image handling device adjusting system, comprising: an adjusting unit for adjusting the attachment state of the line sensor according to the pattern of the test chart to be monitored.