JPH10108222A - Check method for image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a check method for an image processing unit by which the processing unit is checked with high accuracy and excellent reproducibility. SOLUTION: An image procession unit 1 is constituted of a synchronizing signal generator 11 that generates a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal used to control an output image of a camera 2, an A/D converter 12 that converts a video signal of an output image synchronously with the synchronizing signals into a digital signal, an image memory 13 that stores image data of the output image, an application memory 14, and a central processing unit 15 that carries out arithmetic operation to the image data. In this case, a test pattern signal generator 3 that generates a test pattern image signal outputs a pattern image signal synchronously with the video signal and pattern image data of the pattern image signal are stored in the image memory 13, picture element information of each of picture elements being components of the image of the test pattern is stored in the picture element information memory. The central processing unit 15 compares, collates and checks each of pixel data with the picture element information to check the processing unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for inspecting an image processing apparatus to which a camera is connected by an external synchronization system for outputting a synchronization signal for controlling an image from the image processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following methods exist as inspection methods for this type of image processing apparatus. An A / D converter for converting an analog video signal to a digital signal, and a digital signal being input when a camera is connected to actually capture a test pattern, display the contents of the image memory on a monitor and visually check the content, The entire system of the image memory and the image processing apparatus for storing the image data of the output image has been inspected.

[0003]

In the above-described method of inspecting an image processing apparatus, the contents of an image memory storing a captured test pattern are displayed on a monitor and visually checked to inspect the image processing apparatus. be able to.

However, even if the same test pattern is imaged, the output image output from the camera fluctuates due to variations in the illumination system, variations in the sensitivity of the camera, and variations in the aperture of the lens. Therefore, the inspection method of actually imaging a test pattern with a camera has problems in reproducibility and accuracy.

On the other hand, there is a test pattern signal generator for generating a test pattern image signal, which is used for inspection of a cathode ray tube or the like. Compared with a test pattern captured by a camera, an image signal of a test pattern generated from the test pattern signal generator has high reproducibility and is suitable as a reference for inspection. However, there are few external synchronizing systems which receive a synchronizing signal from the outside and generate an image signal in accordance with the synchronizing signal. Nothing can be used by giving a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal.

Therefore, even when the test pattern signal generator is connected to the image processing apparatus, the image signal output from the test pattern signal generator cannot be synchronized with the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal output from the image processing apparatus. In addition, the test pattern signal generator cannot be used as a reference for inspection.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable an image processing apparatus to be inspected with high reproducibility and high accuracy by using a test pattern signal generator. An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection method for an image processing apparatus.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for inspecting an image processing apparatus, comprising: generating a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal for controlling an output image of a connected camera; A synchronizing signal generator, an A / D converter for converting a video signal of an output image synchronized with the synchronizing signal into a digital signal, an image memory receiving a digital signal and storing image data of the output image, An image processing apparatus comprising: an application memory storing an application program in which a processing procedure is described; and a central processing unit that performs arithmetic processing on image data based on the application program and controls the entirety. A test pattern signal generator which is connected between the A / D converter and generates an image signal of a test pattern is provided. A pattern image signal synchronized with a video signal is output, and the pattern image data of the pattern image signal converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter is stored in the image memory to form an image of the test pattern. The pixel information of each pixel to be stored is stored in a pixel information memory, and the central processing unit compares and checks each pixel data of the pattern image data with the pixel information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the inspection method of the first aspect, the pixel information memory is the application memory.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. First, the configuration of the image processing device will be described.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an image processing apparatus, and a synchronizing signal generator 11
, An A / D converter 12, an image memory 13, an application memory 14, a central processing unit 15 (CPU), and image processing hardware 16.

The synchronization signal generator 11 outputs a horizontal synchronization signal (H
D) and a vertical synchronizing signal (VD) are generated, and a camera 2 to be described later is connected to control so that an output image of the camera 2 is synchronized with the synchronizing signal. A / D converter 12
Converts an analog signal into a digital signal, is connected to the camera 2, and converts a video signal of an output image from the camera 2 into a digital signal.

An image memory 13 is connected to the A / D converter 12, receives a digital signal, and stores image data of an output image. The application memory 14
M stores an application program in which the processing procedure of the image is described.

The central processing unit 15 is a so-called CPU
And the image memory 13 by the microcomputer.
And an application memory 14, which performs arithmetic processing on the image data stored in the image memory 13 based on the application program and controls the whole.

The image processing hardware 16 is connected to the image memory 13 and the central processing unit 15, takes in the image data stored in the image memory 13, performs the image processing, and converts the result into the central processing unit 15. Output to

The camera 2 comprises a charge-coupled device, a so-called CC
D, which is connected to the synchronizing signal generator 11 of the image processing apparatus 1 to output an image, and controls the output image to be synchronized with the synchronizing signal of the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal from the synchronizing signal generator 11 Then, a video signal of a synchronized output image is output.

An inspection method of the image processing apparatus 1 will be described. First, a test pattern signal generator 3 for generating an image signal of a test pattern includes a camera 2 and an A / D converter 12.
And outputs a pattern image signal synchronized with a video signal from the camera 2 in an analog manner. That is, since the video signal is synchronized with the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal generator 11, the pattern image signal output from the test pattern signal generator 33 is also synchronized with the synchronization signal.

Next, the pattern image signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 12, and the pattern image data of the pattern image signal is stored in the image memory 13. Here, since the pattern image signal is synchronized with the synchronization signal,
The image processing apparatus 1 can write the test pattern into the image memory 13 at a correct timing.

Next, the test pattern signal generator 3 has a built-in pattern setting device 31 for setting a test pattern in accordance with the content to be inspected, and the pixel information of each pixel constituting the image of the set test pattern is converted into a pattern. The pixel information is output from the setting device 31 to the pixel information memory, and the pixel information memory stores the pixel information of each pixel. Here, as the pixel information memory, the application memory 14 provided in the image processing apparatus 1 is also used.

Next, the central processing unit 15 fetches each pixel data of the pattern image data stored in the image memory 13 from the image memory 13 and stores each pixel data and the pixel information stored in the application memory 14. After comparing and collating, the A / D converter 12, the image memory 13
Then, the entire system of the image processing apparatus 1 is inspected.

In the inspection method of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment, since the test pattern signal generator 3 is connected to the synchronization signal generator 11 via the camera 2 as described above, A pattern image signal synchronized with the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal from the signal generator 11 is output, the image memory 13 stores the pattern image data of the synchronized pattern image signal, and the central processing unit 15 outputs the pattern image data of the pattern image data. Since each pixel data and pixel information of each pixel of the test pattern stored in the application memory 14 are compared and inspected, the test pattern signal generator 3 is provided to the image processing apparatus 1 using the camera 2 in an external synchronization system. To monitor the visualized test pattern on the monitor and visually check it. No change in the output image of the test pattern caused by the imaging condition of the diaphragm or the like 2 of sensitivity and the lens, it is possible to inspect the image processing apparatus 1 with good reproducibility and high accuracy, automation can be easily performed.

Since the pixel information memory is the application memory 14, the application memory 14 stores the pixel information of each pixel of the test pattern and is provided in the image processing apparatus 1 in advance without newly providing a pixel information memory. Inspection can be performed at low cost by using the same memory.

In this embodiment, the central processing unit 15 directly fetches each pixel data from the image memory 13 and stores the fetched pixel data in the application memory 14.
The pixel information stored in the image memory 13 is compared and checked, but each pixel data may be fetched from the image memory 13 via the image processing hardware 16 without any limitation.

In the present embodiment, the pixel information memory for storing the pixel information of each pixel of the test pattern is also used as the application memory 14, but the pixel information memory may be provided separately outside the image processing apparatus 1. Not limited.

[0025]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the test pattern signal generator is connected to the synchronization signal generator via the camera, the horizontal synchronization signal from the synchronization signal generator and the test pattern signal generator are connected. The pattern image signal synchronized with the vertical synchronization signal is output, the image memory stores the pattern image data of the synchronized pattern image signal, and the central processing unit stores each pixel data of the pattern image data and the pixel information stored in the pixel information memory. The test pattern is compared with the pixel information of each pixel in the test pattern for inspection, so a test pattern signal generator is connected to an image processing device that uses a camera in an external synchronization system, and the captured test pattern is displayed on a monitor. Compared to the conventional inspection method that checks visually, the image processing device can be inspected with high reproducibility and high accuracy,
Automation can be easily performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, since the pixel information memory is an application memory, the application memory stores the pixel information of each pixel of the test pattern. Is stored, and the inspection can be performed at low cost by using a memory provided in advance in the image processing apparatus without newly providing a pixel information memory.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image processing device 11 synchronization signal generator HD horizontal synchronization signal VD vertical synchronization signal 12 A / D converter 13 image memory 14 application memory (pixel information memory) 15 central processing unit (CPU) 2 camera 3 test pattern signal generator

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A synchronizing signal generator for generating a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal for controlling an output image of a connected camera, and an A / D for converting a video signal of an output image synchronized with the synchronizing signal into a digital signal. A converter, an image memory that receives the digital signal and stores the image data of the output image, an application memory that stores an application program that describes an image processing procedure, and performs an arithmetic process on the image data based on the application program And a central processing unit for controlling the whole of the image processing apparatus, comprising: a test pattern signal generator connected between the camera and the A / D converter to generate an image signal of a test pattern. Output a pattern image signal synchronized with the video signal, and the digital signal is output by the A / D converter. Storing the pattern image data of the pattern image signal converted into a signal in the image memory; storing pixel information of each pixel constituting the image of the test pattern in a pixel information memory; An inspection method for an image processing apparatus, wherein each pixel data of pattern image data is compared with the pixel information for inspection. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pixel information memory is the application memory.