JPH11142249A - Infrared imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an infrared imaging apparatus in which an optimum image can be obtained by a simple operation by a method wherein, when a selectrion operation is not performed within a prescribed time, a control means selectes a function in a predetermined sequence. SOLUTION: An infrared imaging apparatus is provided with an operating system 10, a light processing part 20, a signal processing part 30 and a control means 50. When a filter 22 is selected automatically, the counting operation of the time elapsed is started so as to judge whether a decided time has elapsed or not. When a certain time has elapsed, the filter 22 is selected automatically. When an automatic level control operation is selected, the counting operation of the time elapsed is started. When a certain decided time has elapsed, an automatic level control operation is performed by a level and gain adjusting circuit 33. When an automatic image integrating operation is selected, the counting operation of the time elapsed is started so as to judge whether a certain determined time has elapsed or not. When the certain time has elapsed, an automatic image integrating operation is performed by an image integrating circuit 35. The optimum image of an object, to be observed, which is intended by a user can be displayed on a monitor 70.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an infrared imaging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image adjustment process, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of an operation system, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display unit.

In order to clearly display an image to be observed (obtain an optimal image), a filter selection 101, a focus adjustment 102, a level adjustment 103 for a signal obtained by converting an infrared ray into an electric signal, and a gain adjustment It is necessary to select setting items for the six items 104, the setting of the shutter function 105, and the setting of the image integration function 106 while viewing the screen display (see FIG. 7).

For example, in the case of filter selection 101,
The user inputs the number of the filter while watching the display on the screen, and when the selected filter is appropriate (Yes), it is determined whether or not the image is the optimal image.

Further, when the temperature of the object to be photographed is measured using the infrared imaging apparatus, after the above setting, the temperature measurement mode is first set, and the coordinates of the temperature measurement point are determined on the screen. Thus, the temperature measurement is started.

During the observation, the display of the temperature value of each of the temperature measuring points A, B, and C is performed by using various buttons 110 arranged on the operation system.
20, information such as a display of a temperature scale 121, a display 122 of a measurement date and time, which is a guide for knowing the temperature of the image other than the position where the temperature is being measured indicated by the temperature measuring point, and the like;
30 can be superimposed and displayed (see FIG. 8).

[0007]

The information that can be displayed includes the above-mentioned temperature value 120 and temperature scale 1
21, in addition to the display 122 of the measurement date and time, there are a temperature unit, non-display and the like. Further, additional functions include setting of display gradation of a screen and setting of a warning temperature.

[0008] However, if all information is displayed at once, the information hides the image of the observation target due to the restriction of the screen area. Therefore, it is necessary to display only necessary information out of many information. However, the operation of selecting only necessary items from a large number of items to be set is a troublesome and complicated operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an infrared imaging apparatus capable of reducing setting items and obtaining an optimum image by a simple operation.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying an image to be observed and various functions for clearly displaying the image to be observed. An infrared imaging apparatus comprising: a function selection unit; and a control unit that selects the functions in a predetermined order when a selection operation by the function selection unit is not performed within a predetermined time. I do.

When the selecting operation by the function selecting means is not performed within a predetermined time, a control means for selecting the functions in a predetermined order is provided. The processing is performed in a predetermined order.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the infrared imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means selects the function from a frequently used function to a less frequently used function. I do.

[0013] Since the control means selects functions from the most frequently used functions to the less frequently used functions, the most frequently used functions are automatically set to optimal values sequentially, and the functions that must be set by the user are selected. Decrease.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the infrared imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, a function to be selected within the predetermined time is displayed on the display means.

Since the function to be selected within the predetermined time is displayed on the display means, the user can perform the image adjustment processing according to the display on the display means, and the operability is further improved.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the infrared imaging apparatus.

The infrared imaging apparatus includes an operation system (function selection means) 10, an optical processing unit 20, a signal processing unit 30, a control system (control means) 50, and a monitor (display means) 70.

The infrared rays radiated from the object 60 to be observed are converted into electric signals by the image pickup device 21 of the light processing unit 20,
The signal is output to the signal processing unit 30. This signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 31, and various processes are performed by the control system 50 based on the instruction of the operation system 10. 70 is output.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the image adjustment processing in the infrared imaging apparatus. S1 to S26 show each step of the processing by the control system, and P1 to P5 show the input operation by the user.

The input by the user is performed by pressing a button (not shown).

When the image adjustment processing by the infrared imaging device is started, first, the signal intensity of the image obtained from the observation target 60 is detected (S1).

A filter (FLT) is applied to the signal strength.
It is determined whether to automatically select No. 22 (S2). A guide as to whether or not to automatically select the filter 22 is displayed on the monitor 70.

When the filter 22 is automatically selected (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S3).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), the filter 22 is automatically selected (S4).

Then, it is determined whether the automatically selected filter 22 is appropriate (S5).

When the filter 22 is appropriate (Yes) and when the filter 22 is not automatically selected in S2 (No)
In (P1), it is determined whether or not to switch the observation temperature range automatically (auto level control) in accordance with the signal level converted into the electric signal (S6). A guide as to whether or not to automatically select the auto level control is displayed on the monitor 70.

When the automatic level control is selected (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S7).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), the level and gain adjustment circuit 33 performs automatic level control (S8).

Then, it is determined whether or not the level set by the level and gain adjustment circuit 33 is appropriate (S).
9).

When the level is appropriate (Yes) and S6
When the automatic level control is not selected (No) (P2), it is determined whether or not the automatic gain control is selected (S10). A guide as to whether or not to automatically select the auto gain control is displayed on the monitor 70. By adjusting this gain, the CCD (image sensor 2
The sensitivity of 1) can be changed.

When the automatic gain control is selected (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S11).

When a certain period of time has elapsed (Yes), automatic gain control is performed by the level and gain adjustment circuit 33 (S12).

Then, it is determined whether or not the gain set by the level and gain adjustment circuit 33 is appropriate (S1).
3).

When the gain is appropriate (Yes) and S1
When the auto gain control is not selected at 0 (No) (P3), it is determined whether or not the auto focus is selected (S14). A guide as to whether or not to automatically select auto focus is displayed on the monitor 70.

When the auto focus is selected (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S15).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), auto-focusing by the focus drive system 23 is performed (S
16).

Then, it is determined whether or not the focus set by the focus drive system 23 is appropriate (S1).
7).

When the focus is appropriate (Yes) and when auto focus is not selected in S14 (No)
In (P4), it is determined whether or not the automatic shutter is selected (S18). A guide as to whether or not to automatically select the automatic shutter is displayed on the monitor 70.

When the automatic shutter is selected (Yes), the counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S19).

If a certain time has elapsed (Yes), an automatic shutter is set by the electronic shutter switching circuit 34 (S20).

Then, it is determined whether or not the setting of the automatic shutter is appropriate (S21).

When the setting of the auto shutter is appropriate (Yes) and when the auto focus is not selected in S18 (No) (P5), it is determined whether or not the auto image integration is selected (S22). A guide as to whether or not to automatically select the automatic image integration is displayed on the monitor 70.

When the automatic image integration is selected (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S23).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), automatic image integration is performed by the image integration circuit 35 (S2).
4).

Then, it is determined whether or not the image integration is appropriate (S25).

When the automatic image integration is appropriate (Yes)
And when not selecting auto image integration (No) (P
In 6), it is determined whether or not the image is the optimal image (S2).
6).

By the above processing, the optimum image of the observation object intended by the user can be displayed on the monitor 70.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a direct button.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a menu having a branch structure.

In the menu, in addition to the image adjustment processing described above,
There are a temperature measurement process and a display setting process, and the image adjustment process can be switched except at startup.

When switched, a series of processes can be set independently of each other in the direct button 11 (see FIG. 3) or the menu of the branch structure (see FIG. 4).

Next, the process of measuring the temperature in the menu of the branch structure will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the temperature measurement process. S31 to S37 show the steps of the process by the control system, and P31 to P32 show the user's input.

When performing temperature measurement, first, the user sets the infrared imaging apparatus to the temperature measurement mode.

When the temperature measurement mode is started, first, the coordinates of the temperature measurement point are determined (S31).

Next, it is determined whether or not the emissivity is set (S32). A guide as to whether or not to set the emissivity is displayed on the monitor 70.

When setting the emissivity, (Yes) is selected (P31), and the emissivity is set (S33).

When the emissivity is not set (No), the counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S34).

When the emissivity is set and when it is determined that the time of S34 has elapsed, it is determined whether to set a warning temperature for the temperature measuring point (S3).
5). A guide as to whether to set a warning temperature is displayed on the monitor 70.

When setting the warning temperature, (Yes)
Is selected (P32), and a warning temperature is set (S36).

When the setting of the warning temperature is not performed (No), the counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S37).

When the warning temperature is set and when it is determined that the time of S37 has elapsed, the temperature measurement is started.

The information during observation, such as the temperature value, the temperature scale, the observation date and time, and the display of the video signal processing in operation at each temperature measurement point, are all displayed immediately after the start of the observation, and are displayed at regular time intervals. Each information can be selected by blinking or reverse display.

When the user presses the button for permitting the display during the selection, the selected information is displayed on the monitor 70 while being superimposed on the image data.

Further, display setting processing can be performed in a menu.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the information display setting process. S51 to S74 show the steps of the process by the control system, and P51 to P58 show the user's input.

When the information display setting process is started, it is determined whether or not to display a temperature value (S51). The monitor 70 displays whether or not to display the temperature value.

When the temperature value is displayed (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S52).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), the temperature is displayed on the monitor 70 (S53).

When the temperature is displayed on the monitor 70 and at S5
When display temperature is not selected in step 1 (No) (P5
In 1), it is determined whether or not to display a temperature scale (S54). Monitor 7 whether to display temperature scale
Display at 0.

When the temperature scale is displayed (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S55).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), a temperature scale is displayed on the monitor 70 (S56).

When the temperature scale is displayed on the monitor 70 and when the display of the temperature scale is not selected in S54 (No) (P52), it is determined whether or not the date and time are displayed (S57). Monitor 70 whether to display date and time
To be displayed.

When the date and time are displayed (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S58).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), the date and time are displayed on the monitor 70 (S59).

When the date and time are displayed on the monitor 70 and at S5
When the date and time display is not selected in step 7 (No) (P5
In 3), it is determined whether or not to display a level value (S6).
0). The monitor 70 displays whether or not to display the level value.

When the level value is displayed (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S61).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), the level value is displayed on the monitor 70 (S62).

When the level value is displayed on the monitor 70 and when the display of the level value is not selected in S60 (No) (P54), it is determined whether or not the gain value is displayed (S63). Monitor 7 whether to display gain value
Display at 0.

When the gain value is displayed (Yes), the counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S64).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), the gain value is displayed on the monitor 70 (S65).

When the gain value is displayed on the monitor 70 and when the display of the level value is not selected in S63 (No) (P55), it is determined whether or not the focus information is displayed (S66). Display on the monitor whether or not to display focus information.

When the focus information is displayed (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S67).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), focus information is displayed on the monitor 70 (S68).

When the focus information is displayed on the monitor 70 and when the display of the focus information is not selected in S66 (No) (P56), it is determined whether or not to display the shutter value (S69). The monitor 70 displays whether or not to display the shutter value.

When displaying the shutter value (Yes),
The counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (S70).

If a certain time has elapsed (Yes), the shutter value is displayed on the monitor 70 (S71).

When the shutter value is displayed on the monitor 70 and when the display of the shutter value is not selected in S69 (No) (P57), it is determined whether or not to display the integration information (S72). Whether or not to display the integration information is displayed on the monitor 70.

When the integrated information is displayed (Yes), counting of the elapsed time is started, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S73).

When a certain time has elapsed (Yes), the integrated information is displayed on the monitor 70 (S74).

When the integrated information is displayed on the monitor 70 and when the display of the integrated information is not selected in S72 (No) (P58), the information display setting process ends.

By performing the above processing, it is possible to set to display only designated information in advance, or to set not to display information other than temperature measurement values.

According to this embodiment, after a certain period of time,
If there is no input from the user, the user can automatically perform the processing according to the preset frequently used initial value without selecting the setting order and the setting content,
If the user determines that the process is unnecessary, the user can press the button to skip the process and transition to the next setting.

Therefore, the operation for obtaining the optimum image intended by the user from the image of the observation object can be simplified as compared with the conventional art, and even a user who does not fully understand the usage method or the like can be performed. An optimum image can be easily obtained without looking at the instruction manual.

Further, since the functions are set automatically in order from the most frequently used functions, the number of buttons for setting the functions which must be set by the user can be greatly reduced, and the apparatus can be made compact and inexpensive. .

Further, in the temperature measurement mode processing, the setting time can be shortened by using the central one-point temperature measurement, and the setting of the temperature measurement point can be simplified by fixing the initial position of the temperature measurement point.

In the above embodiment, when a function is selected, a display for prompting a setting is displayed on the monitor, but the display may not be displayed.

Although the temperature measurement has been described as an example in the above embodiment, emissivity measurement and dimension measurement can also be performed.

[0099]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the functions are sequentially selected as time elapses, and the image adjustment processing is performed in a predetermined order. The above operation is simplified, and even a user who does not fully understand how to use can easily obtain the optimum image without looking at the instruction manual.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the functions are set automatically in order from the most frequently used functions, the number of buttons for setting the functions which must be set by the user can be greatly reduced. In addition, the device can be made small and inexpensive.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the user can perform the image adjustment processing according to the display on the display means, and the operability is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an infrared imaging apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image adjustment process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a direct button.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a menu having a branch structure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature measurement process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an information display setting process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image adjustment process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of an operation system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 operation system (function selection means) 50 control system (control means) 70 monitor (display means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An infrared imaging apparatus comprising: display means for displaying an image to be observed; and function selecting means for selecting various functions for clearly displaying the image to be observed. An infrared imaging apparatus comprising: a control unit that selects the function in a predetermined order when the operation is not performed within a predetermined time. 2. The infrared imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects the function from a frequently used function to a less frequently used function. 3. The infrared imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function to be selected within the predetermined time is displayed on the display.