JPS60169985A - Color extracting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extract a part indicating a specified color approximately simultaneously with image pickup operation by setting up a range corresponding to the specified color in each color component and detecting a part where the size of each color component is entered to the corresponding set range simultaneously. CONSTITUTION:Upper limit values (red) Rmax, (green) Gmax, (blue) Bmax and lower limit values Rmin, Gmin, Bmin are set up to prescribed values to specify a prescribed color to be extracted. An area turning the output of an AND gate 21 to the high level becomes a color part coinciding with the specified color of an object to be photographed by a color photographing device 1. Therefore, gates 7, 8, 9 extract the part indicating the specified colors of respective components R, G, B read out from a picture memory 6 and a color monitor 13 displayes the parts with the specified colors.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a color extraction device for recognizing color patterns, and particularly to a color extraction device that extracts a color portion that matches a specified color in an image. This invention relates to a color extraction device.

[Background of the invention]

One example of the application of color pattern recognition is conventionally testing the presence or absence of electronic components on a printed circuit board. Generally, electronic components such as resistors and capacitors are colored with a specific color or with a combination of colors to indicate their type and value. As part of quality control, printed circuit boards on which a large number of such electronic components are mounted must be checked to see if there are any electronic components to be mounted on them, and whether the correct electronic components are mounted on them. It is done.

Checking of such electronic components is performed based on the colors attached to the electronic components, but since a large number of electronic components are mounted on a printed circuit board, it usually requires a lot of manpower, and pattern recognition is difficult. Automation using technology is desired.

This type of usage of pattern recognition technology involves specifying a color and extracting a colored part of a printed circuit board that matches the specified color, and this type of usage is not limited to printed circuit boards. , which can be implemented for various objects.

In this way, a device that extracts a color portion that matches a specified color of an object, that is, a color extraction device, generally images the object with a color imaging device and extracts this color. It uses color image signals output from an imaging device.

However, conventional color extraction devices separate such color image signals into color components of red (6) and green (0, blue ω) and store them in memory, and then read and analyze these color components with a computer. However, since the color part that closely matches the specified color is extracted (in other words, color extraction), and each color component is analyzed for all pixels on the screen, the processing time is extremely long, and it cannot be done in real time. There is a drawback that color extraction cannot be performed.For example, in the quality control of printed circuit boards mentioned above, the drawback of such a color extraction device obviously hinders speeding up of the checking work of printed circuit boards.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a color extraction device that eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art described above and can quickly perform color extraction.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention stores color image signals from a color imaging device in an image memory for each color component, sets a range corresponding to a designated color for each color component, and sets a range for each color component according to a specified color. A gate signal is formed by detecting a portion where the magnitudes of the components simultaneously fall within a corresponding set range, and the gate signal is written to an extraction area memory and repeatedly read out, thereby gating each of the color components repeatedly read out from the image memory. The present invention is characterized in that a portion representing the designated color of the color image signal can be extracted almost simultaneously with the imaging operation of the color imaging device.

[Embodiments of the invention]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the color extraction device according to the present invention, in which 1 is a color imaging device, 2.3.4 is an analog-to-digital converter, 5 is a timing signal generator, and 6 is an image pickup device. Memory, 61 is a red component memory, 62 is a green component memory, 63 is a blue component memory, 7.8.9 is an AND gate, 10, 11.12 is a digital-to-analog converter, 1
3 is color monitor, 14R, 14R', 14G, 14G
', 14B, 14B are input terminals, 15.16.17, 1
8, 19, 20 are comparators, 21, 22, 23 are AND gates, 24 are extraction area memories, 24s, 24z are memories, 25° 26 are AND gates, 27 are OR circuits, 2
8, 29°30, , 31 are input terminals.

In the same figure, a synchronizing signal S is sent from a timing signal generator 5.
is supplied, the color imaging device 1 images an object (not shown), and outputs color components R, G, and B representing red, green, and blue, respectively, of the color image signal. These color components R, G, and B are converted into, for example, 8-bit digital signals by analog-to-digital converters 2, 3, and 4, respectively. A digital signal of each color component (simply referred to as color component R; hereinafter the same) is stored in the red component memory 61 of the image memory 6, and an analog signal is stored in the red component memory 61 of the image memory 6.
The color components G and B from the digital converters 3 and 4 are similarly stored in a green component memory 6z and a blue component memory 63, respectively.

The image memory 6 writes color components R, G, and B for one screen (one field or one frame), and immediately after this writing is completed, repeated reading starts. The color component hole read from the red component memory 61 is supplied to the AND gate 7, and the color components G and B read from the green component memory 62 and the blue component memory 68 are supplied to AND gates 8 and 9, respectively. supplied to

On the other hand, the color component hole from the analog-to-digital converter 2 is supplied to a comparator 15.16, and the color component G from the analog-to-digital converter 3 is supplied to a comparator 17.18, - color component B from digital converter 4;
is fed to a comparator 19.20. The comparator 15 converts the color component R into a red earth limit value RWL6. from the input terminal 14R. Compared to m, the color component R is at the red clay limit value. Generates high level output when less than The comparator 16 compares the color component R with the red limit from the input terminal 14R', and produces a high level output when the color component R exceeds the red lower limit 'm4%. Similarly, when the color component G is less than the edge upper limit G11 from the input terminal 14G, the comparator 18 uses the comparator 17 to compare the color component G when it exceeds the edge lower limit G11 from the input terminal 14G'. The color component B of the device 19 is the back limit value B from the input terminal 14B. When less than, the comparator 20 selects color component B.
When the value exceeds the lower limit value B1□ from the input terminal 14B', the output of the comparator 17°18.19.20 becomes high level.

The output of the AND gate 21 is at a high level when the outputs of the comparators 15 to 20 are all at a high level, and is supplied as one input to the AND gates 22 and 23. anime game
) 22.23 are connected to input terminals 28.30, respectively.
Enable signals El and Ea are supplied from. enable signal El.

Ea is the color component R of one screen stored in the image memory B
, G, B, and when the enable signal E1 is supplied to the AND gate 22,
AND gate 22 turns on, and AND gate 21
The output of is stored in the memory 241 of the extraction area 24 through the AND gate 22.

Further, when the enable signal 18 is supplied to the AND gate 26, the AND gate 26 is turned on, and the output of the AND gate 21 is stored in the memory 242 of the extraction area memory 24 through the AND gate 26.

The memories 24x and 242 each have 8 memories for one screen, and as soon as the outputs of the AND gate 21 are stored, they are repeatedly read out. The signals read from the memories 241 and 242 are supplied to AND gates 25 and 26, respectively, and the enable signal 12 + from the input terminal 29 and 31
When AND gates 25 and 26 are turned on at E4,
Ant game) 7 as a gate signal through the OR circuit 27
, 8.9.

The image memory 6 and the extraction area memory 24 perform writing and reading in phase synchronization with a write address signal and a read address signal from the timing signal generator 5. For this reason, during the high level period of the gate signal from the OR circuit 27 due to the output of the AND gate 21 becoming high level, the AND gates 7, 8, and 9 are in the on state, and during this period, no data is read from the image memory 6. The respective color components R, G, and B are supplied to digital-to-analog converters 10, 11.12 through AND gates 7.8.9.

The digital-to-analog converters 10, 11, and 12 convert the supplied color components R, G, and B into original analog signals and supply them to the color monitor 13. Therefore, the color monitor 16 displays the color pattern during the period in which the output of the AND gate 21 was at a high level.

In such a configuration, the upper chain pores 'maea, 'wa
s, “mat.

By setting the lower limit values R1□, Gfnin, and Bm□ to predetermined values, a predetermined color to be extracted is designated. When a color is specified by setting each of the above upper and lower limit values, the area where the output of the AND gate 21 is at a high level matches the specified color of the object imaged by the color imaging device δ1. It is a colored part,
Therefore, the gate 7.8.9 extracts a portion representing the specified color of each color component hole G and E read from the image memory 6, and the color monitor 13 displays this portion in the specified color. .

The memories 24s and 242 of the extraction area memory 24 are selectively written to by the enable signal El*E3, and when two different colors are specified, the outputs of the AND gate 21 for each color are stored separately.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained using FIG. 2.

Now, as shown in Figure 2 (α), it is assumed that the object to be imaged by the color imaging device 1 has a color pattern with a yellow Y background, a middle tube color portion B, and a green portion G. , the colors to be extracted are blue and green.

Therefore, the colors to be specified are blue and green, but if you specify blue first, the red earth limit value -1. Red lower limit value 几'tn4n
, edge upper limit value G1. ．． The green lower limit value Gm 4 n is all set to zero, and the tube upper limit value B,. , lower limit value -i, are each set to a predetermined value other than zero. In this way, by setting each upper limit value and lower limit value, the color component J G representing the blue part B of the object in FIG.
, B are supplied to the comparators 15-2o, the outputs of the comparators 15-20 will be at high level, and therefore only then will the output of AND gate 21 be at high level.

At this time, the enable signal E1 is supplied to the AND gate 22, the AND gate 22 is turned on, and the output of the AND gate 21 is stored in the memory 241 of the MItB area 24. When this storage for one screen is completed', the memory 241 starts reading, and at the same time, the AND gate 25 is supplied with the enable signal B2 and turns on. Therefore, as is clear from the above explanation, color monitor 1
3, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the image Q in which the yellow background portion Y6 of the object P (FIG. 2(α)) becomes black Bl and the blue portion B becomes the blue region B is created. Is displayed.

When the above storage operation in the memory 241 of the extraction area memory 24 is completed, next, specify green and set the upper limit value R-a, -a.
, and the lower limit value Rtn i m , -□ are all set to zero, and the edge upper limit value Gtnaaa and the edge lower limit value G
fr, , are each set to a predetermined value that is not zero. By setting these upper and lower limit values, the AND gate 21 outputs color components R and G representing the green portion G of the object P (FIG. 2(a)) from the color imaging device 1.

It goes high only when B is supplied to comparators 15-20.

At this time, the AND gate 2
6 is turned on, and the output of the AND gate 21 is stored in the memory 242 of the extraction area memory 24. Therefore, when the AND gate 26 is turned on by the enable signal E4, the color monitor 13 displays the object P(
The yellow background part Y in FIG.
An image Q with a green area G is displayed.

Of course, if the AND gate 25 is turned off and only the AND gate 26 is turned on, an image Q in which only the green region G appears on the black background Bl is displayed, as shown in FIG. 2(C). You can also do that.

As described above, at the same time as the color imaging device 1 images the object, the comparators 15 to 20 determine whether the size of each color component falls within the range set according to the designated color, and , and the AND gate 21 detects a color portion that matches this specified color, so that color extraction can be performed in real time. Of course, it is not necessary for the image memory 6 and the extraction area memory 24 to start the read operation immediately after the write operation is completed, and the read operation may be started at any arbitrary time. In this case, it goes without saying that the image memory 6, the Nll area memory 24, and the color monitor 16 operate in synchronization with the read address signal and synchronization signal S from the timing signal generator 5.

In the above embodiment, the extraction area memory 24 is made up of two memories 24r and 242, but the number of these memories can be arbitrarily determined depending on the type of color to be extracted. Further, in the above embodiment, the colors to be extracted are explained using the primary colors of blue B and green G, but the upper limit values "ma g , Gtntz" are set according to the colors to be extracted.
l, -1 and the lower limit "mix, Gm4m.

Bmin can be arbitrarily determined,
Any color to be extracted can be specified.

Further, in the above embodiment, color extraction for different specified colors is performed at different times by the comparators 15 to 20 and the AND gate 21, but the time difference between two successive color extractions is calculated by one field of the color imaging device 1. Alternatively, since the scanning period can be set to one frame, even if there is a time difference in color extraction for each specified color, there is almost no difference in the image signals when each color is extracted, and there is no problem.

Note that in this embodiment, the analog-to-digital converter 2,
3.4 color components are supplied to the comparators 15 to 20 to detect the extraction range of the specified color, but the image memory 6
It is also possible to supply each color component read out from the comparators 15 to 20 to perform a similar operation.

Furthermore, each color component R from AND gate 7.8.9
, G, and B can be supplied to the computer to perform desired processing, such as determining the quality of the printed circuit board.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to quickly extract the color of an object with respect to any specified color, and to provide a color extraction device with excellent functions while eliminating the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art. I can do it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

ff11 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the color extraction device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2(α) to 2(d) are explanatory diagrams of its operation. 1... Color imaging device, 6... Image memo +), 7.
8゜9...and gate, 15.16.17,18.
19゜20... Comparator, 21, 22. 23... Ant game-F124... Extraction area memory, 241, 244
...Memory, 25°26...And gate, 27.
...OR circuit. Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a color extraction device that specifies a color and detects a colored part of an object that matches the specified color,
A color imaging device that images the object; an image memory that stores color image signals from the color imaging device for each color component; A detection circuit that detects the entering portion, an extraction area memory that stores the output signal of the detection circuit, each color component that is repeatedly read out from the image memory is supplied, and the signal that is repeatedly read out from the extraction area memory is used as a gate signal. and a gate circuit, wherein the detection circuit is configured such that the range is set according to the designated color, and the gate circuit is configured to extract a portion of the image signal representing the designated color. Characteristic color extraction device. (1) In claim (1), the extraction area memory includes a plurality of memories, and the range set for each color component of the detection circuit is made different by specifying a different color, and By storing the output signal of each of the detection circuits in each of the memories, the gate circuit can extract a portion representing each designated color portion of the image signal that is repeatedly read out from the image memory. A color extraction device λ characterized in that it is configured to be able to