JPH0862044A - Thermal image detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent an insensrtive area from appearing on a thermal image to be detected due to the insulation arrangement between elements required for the arrangement of thermal detection element. CONSTITUTION: Pyroelectric heat thermal detection elements 1a-1h are arranged in zigzag to constitute a pyroelectric thermal detection element group 1 which is rotated about a rotational axis 3, along with an infrared condenser lens 2 disposed in front of the detection element group 1, thus detecting a two-dimensional thermal image. The pyroelectric thermal detection elements 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d are arranged linearly through a predetermined insulation distance. Similarly, the pyroelectric thermal detection elements 1e, 1f, 1g and 1h are arranged linearly through a predetermined insulation distance. The thermal detection elements in each row are arranged in zigzag to correspond with the insulating space parts between thermal detection elements in an adjacent row. The rotational speed is determined depending on the image angle determined by the dimensions of the thermal detection element in the moving direction thereof.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal image detection for detecting a temperature distribution in a living room in a home and a behavior of a human body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to finely control an air conditioner in a home in accordance with the environment, means for detecting the temperature distribution in the living room or the behavior of the human body has been used. Thermal image detection is also one of the means. Is.

A conventional thermal image detecting device will be described below. Conventionally, as non-contact means for measuring temperature, there are means using a quantum infrared sensor and means using a thermal infrared sensor. The quantum infrared sensor has high sensitivity,
Although it has a fast response speed, it needs to be cooled to about -200 ° C and is not suitable for consumer use. On the other hand, the thermal infrared sensor has relatively low sensitivity and slow response speed, but since it does not require cooling, it is used in the consumer market. As the thermal infrared sensor, a pyroelectric infrared sensor utilizing the pyroelectric effect is often used.

The pyroelectric infrared sensor has a differential change output characteristic and generates an output only when the incident temperature changes. This pyroelectric infrared sensor is usually combined with a compound eye lens, and when the human body passes in front of the pyroelectric infrared sensor unit, the radiation temperature of the human body appears and disappears in the pyroelectric infrared element inside. , Appearance, disappearance, ... Therefore, the output of the pyroelectric infrared sensor is output in synchronization with the time-varying input. Also, 2
As a means for obtaining a three-dimensional thermal image, there are means for arranging a pyroelectric infrared sensor in two dimensions, and a method for arranging a pyroelectric heat detecting element in one dimension in the vertical direction and rotating it horizontally. It is considered.

[0005]

When detecting a two-dimensional thermal image in such a conventional thermal image detecting device,
The means for arranging the pyroelectric infrared sensor two-dimensionally has a complicated structure, and the method of arranging the pyroelectric heat detecting element one-dimensionally in the vertical direction and rotating it in the horizontal direction is used in the vertical direction. It is necessary to provide a thermal and electrical insulation distance between the elements arranged in the above, and the gap causes a dead region.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal image detecting device having a relatively simple structure and capable of detecting a thermal image with higher accuracy.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pyroelectric heat detecting element group in which a plurality of pyroelectric heat detecting elements are arranged on a plane, and the pyroelectric heat detecting element. The pyroelectric heat detection element group and the optical system are integrally rotated by an optical system that collects infrared rays on the element group and a rotation axis that is parallel to the plane or inclined by a certain angle, and the temperature is controlled. In a thermal image detection device that obtains a two-dimensional thermal image while measuring,
The pyroelectric heat detecting element group has a plurality of rows in which a plurality of pyroelectric heat detecting elements are arranged at a predetermined interval on a linear axis that is an intersection of the plane including the rotation axis and the plane. In addition, the elements in each row are thermal image detection devices arranged in a staggered manner so as to correspond to the spacing positions of the elements in the adjacent rows.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in the above structure, a plurality of pyroelectric type thin film heat detecting elements are arranged in a zigzag pattern in the vertical direction on a linear axis, so that the pyroelectric type thin film in each row is arranged. A dead area due to the insulation distance existing between the heat detecting elements is not generated.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the thermal image detecting device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a pyroelectric thin film heat detecting element group, 1a to 1h are pyroelectric type heat detecting elements arranged in a staggered pattern, and 2 is an infrared ray focused on the pyroelectric thin film heat detecting element group 1. Lens 3 is a pyroelectric thin film heat detection element group 1
And a lens 2 is a rotation shaft for integrally rotating the lens 2 and the lens 2
The pyroelectric thin film heat detection element group 1 and the lens 2 are integrally arranged on the optical axis 4. In the figure, the reason why the surface of the pyroelectric thin film heat detection element group 1 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis 3 is to deflect the detection direction downward when the rotation axis 3 is vertical. , The direction is not limited.

FIG. 2A shows a pyroelectric thin film heat detecting element A to D.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which is arranged on a linear axis. In this case, the pyroelectric thin film heat detecting elements are arranged at a fixed distance in order to provide an electrical and thermal insulating distance from each other. FIG. 2B schematically shows a two-dimensional detection thermal image obtained when the pyroelectric thin film heat detection element group 1 shown in FIG. 2A is rotated integrally with the optical system including the lens 2. It is a top view. In the figure, A1 to A6 indicate thermal images detected when the pyroelectric thin film heat detection element A shown in FIG. 2A rotates integrally with the optical system, and the same applies to B, C and D. . As can be seen from the figure, the images A1 to A6,
A dead region exists between B1 to B6, C1 to C6, and D1 to D6 due to the vertical insulation distance between the pyroelectric thin film heat detection elements.

In FIG. 3A, two rows of pyroelectric thin film heat detecting elements are arranged on a vertical linear axis, and two rows of pyroelectric thin film heat detecting elements are arranged in each row. Type thin film heat detecting elements are arranged in a zigzag pattern. In FIG. 3B, the vertical length x1 of each pyroelectric thin film heat detecting element and the vertical insulation distance x2 between the pyroelectric thin film heat detecting elements are equalized, that is, x1 = It is located at x2. Also, the horizontal length y of each pyroelectric thin film heat detection element
The insulation distance y2 between 1 and each pyroelectric thin film heat detection element array is arranged to be equal, that is, y1 = y2. FIG.
(B) is a plan view schematically showing a two-dimensional detected thermal image obtained by rotating the pyroelectric thin film heat detecting element group. In the figure, E1 to E7 indicate thermal images detected by the pyroelectric thin film heat detection element E shown in FIG. 3A rotating integrally with the optical system, and the same applies to F to K. By setting the rotation speed at this time to be equal to the horizontal angle of view determined by the width of the pyroelectric thin film heat detection element group, the dead areas in each row can be interpolated with each other.

Further, by arranging four or more rows of the pyroelectric type thin film heat detecting element group shown in FIG. 3A and making the rotation speed equal to the horizontal angle of view, the dead areas between the rows can be interpolated with each other. The detection accuracy can be improved by performing the averaging process by performing the measurement twice or more for each detection area.

As described above, according to the thermal image detecting apparatus of the present embodiment, a plurality of rows in which a plurality of pyroelectric heat detecting elements are arranged at a predetermined interval on the linear axis are provided, and each row is provided. By arranging the elements in a zigzag pattern so as to correspond to the interval positions of the elements in the adjacent rows, it is possible to realize a thermal image detection device having no dead area with a simple configuration.

Further, the rotational speed of the pyroelectric heat detecting element group is
By setting in correspondence with the angle of view determined by the width of the heat detecting element in the rotational movement direction, the insensitive area in the rotational direction can be eliminated.

Although the pyroelectric heat detecting element is made of a thin film in the embodiment, it goes without saying that it is not limited to the thin film element.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a pyroelectric heat detecting element group in which a plurality of pyroelectric heat detecting elements are arranged on a plane, and the pyroelectric heat detecting element group. While measuring the temperature, the pyroelectric thermal detection element group and the optical system are integrally rotated by an optical system that collects infrared rays and a rotation axis that is parallel to the plane or inclined by a certain angle. In the thermal image detection device for obtaining a two-dimensional thermal image, the pyroelectric thermal detection element group has the pyroelectric thermal detection elements on a linear axis that is a line of intersection between the plane including the rotation axis and the plane. By providing a plurality of rows arranged at intervals of, the elements of each row are arranged in a staggered manner so as to correspond to the distance between the elements of adjacent rows With such a configuration, it is possible to realize a thermal image detection device that does not generate a dead area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a thermal image detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a pyroelectric thermal detection element group arranged on a linear axis and a thermal image obtained by the pyroelectric thermal detection element group.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a pyroelectric thermal detection element group arranged in a staggered pattern and a thermal image obtained by the group.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pyroelectric thin film heat detection element group 1a to 1h Pyroelectric heat detection element 2 Lens 3 Rotation axis 4 Optical axis of lens 2

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location G01J 5/48 A G01V 8/12 8/14 H04N 5/33

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pyroelectric heat detecting element group in which a plurality of pyroelectric heat detecting elements are arranged on a plane, an optical system for focusing infrared rays on the pyroelectric heat detecting element group, and a plane parallel to the plane. Alternatively, in a thermal image detection device that integrally rotates the pyroelectric thermal detection element group and the optical system by a rotation axis inclined by a certain angle to obtain a two-dimensional thermal image while measuring the temperature,
The pyroelectric heat detecting element group includes a plurality of rows in which a plurality of pyroelectric heat detecting elements are arranged at predetermined insulation distances on a linear axis that is an intersection line of a plane including the rotation axis and the plane. A thermal image detection device arranged and provided, wherein the elements of each row are arranged in a staggered manner so as to correspond to the insulation positions of the adjacent rows. 2. The thermal image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the size of each pyroelectric thermal detection element in the column direction is set to be equal to the insulation distance between the pyroelectric thermal detection elements of adjacent columns. 3. The thermal image detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the insulation distance between the columns of the thermal detection element group arranged in a plurality of rows is substantially equal to the size of the pyroelectric thermal detection element in the rotational movement direction. 4. The thermal image detection device according to claim 3, wherein the speed at which the thermal detection element group is rotated about the rotation axis is set to be substantially equal to the horizontal field angle at which each element faces each measurement.