JPS6029876A - Keyboard inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speed up inspection by setting a keyboard to be inspected at a specific position and processing a picked-up image of key tops, and comparing the image with standard data which is stored separately and deciding on whether the keyboard is normal or not. CONSTITUTION:A judgement command (k) is received from a file control system 2 (CPU) to drive an X and Y table controller 5 so that an image of specific key top (1) is picked up 31, and an X and Y table 4 is controlled to set the keyboard 6 at the specific position. At the same time, a judgement command part (k) sends measurement condition (j) to respective parts as shown by dotted lines. The output of a camera 31 is converted into a binary signal, which is inputted to a monitor TV8 and also stored in a memory (c) through an image information input control part (b); and the signal is classified (e) by areas after noise is removed (d), and a bit matrix is measured to make a decision (f). Then, the amount of features is measured to make a decision (g), and a total decision (h) is made to transmit (i) the decision result to the CPU2. Consequently, damage to the key top and a defect of a print dot are inspected efficiently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical field to which the invention pertains] The present invention relates to an automatic appearance inspection device for products, and particularly to a keyboard inspection device for checking the mounting state of a keyboard.

[Prior art and its problems]

Currently, the inspection of such keyboard devices is left exclusively to humans, but it is important to note that there are a large number of keycaps, and that there are many patterns (alphabets, numbers, katakana, etc.) on the keycap surface. Because there are so many different types of kanji (kanji, etc.) or their color schemes, their inspection is extremely difficult and usually takes a long time.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention was made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to save labor in testing and improve product quality by providing a testing device that can automatically test keyboards.

[Key points of the invention]

A moving mechanism that moves the keyboard to be inspected to a predetermined position, an imaging device that images patterns such as characters formed on the key top surface, and an image processing system that processes the imaged pattern and converts it into standard data. and a file management system for storing and editing various setting data or standard data necessary for image processing or quality determination by the determination device. This enables automatic keyboard inspection, and makes the management work of various files independent of the determination device, thereby making pattern measurement and determination faster and faster.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of this invention;
The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of the video sensor in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a functional block diagram to explain the operation of Figure 1 or Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an explanation to explain the inspection area of the key top. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a defective key top.

As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard layout inspection device according to the present invention includes, for example, a video sensor 1, a file management system (hereinafter also referred to as L-100 system) 2, an image detection section 3, an XY table 4, an XY table Controller 5, keyboard to be inspected 6, fixing jig 7, monitor TV (
It consists of a monitor television) 8, an alarm unit, and a unit 9. Note that the L-100 system 2 has a printer 201.
, a CRT display section 202, a recording medium 203 such as a floppy disk, a keyboard section 204, and the like.

The video sensor 1 is configured as a multi-information processing system, as shown in detail in FIG.
2B), a program memory 13A via system buses 29A, 29B.

13B, temporary memory 14A, 14B, memory for setting value storage 15A, 15B, and image memory 23A, 23B
is provided. Both CPU12A.

The operating states of the 12Bs are mutually monitored by a bidirectional register 21, and the CPU has a part 17 that controls input/output/interface with the operation panel of the video sensor 1.
．． A section 19 that controls the XY table controller, a section 28 that sets and controls image measurement conditions, and an image memory 23A.

23B, a section 25 for controlling data transfer and data transmission with the L-100 system 2, a section 16 for displaying the operating status on the operation panel, and a section 25 for controlling data transmission with the L-100 system 2. Five parts 15B etc. are provided to exchange data such as values and judgment results,
They are configured to share their functions with each other. In addition,
Judgment of pass/fail can be made by each CPU, but in other than the automatic test mode that tests the keyboard, the CPU
In order to shorten the inspection time in the automatic inspection mode, the CPUA and H execute the discrimination process alternately. Also, in Figure 2, 20
22 is a DMA (direct memory access) switching unit; 24 is an image information extraction unit; 26
27 is a monitor TV selection section, 27 is a binarization control section, and L-
100 system 2, monitor TV8 and controller 5
is the same as in FIG. Note that 31 indicates an imaging device (television camera) built in the image detection section 3 of FIG.

The operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The keyboard layout inspection device according to the present invention is L-100.
There are seven basic modes (A) to (G) as described below.

(A) Dictionary pattern creation mode As methods for determining the patterns of characters, symbols, etc. formed on the surface of the key top, two methods are performed here, for example, bit matrix determination and feature determination as described below. The bit matrix judgment method refers to the following method. That is, when a pattern is imaged by an imaging device such as a television camera, the pattern existing within the observation field of view is determined by a predetermined circumscription of the pattern. Since it can be cut out using a rectangle (called a circumscribing frame), if this circumscribing frame is divided vertically and horizontally, that is, in a mesh-like manner, and there is a character pattern within each section, for example, '1'' of binary logic,
Furthermore, by assigning 0# to each of the bits when they are not present, a predetermined pattern can be expressed as a binary matrix, that is, a bit matrix. Note that this bit matrix is characterized in that it does not depend on the size and position of the pattern. By the way, each element of this bit matrix is probabilistically always 0# element (blank element), an element that is uncertain whether it is 10" or "1" (mask element), and an element that constitutes a deformation chain (deformation element). ), and the expression of a predetermined pattern in this way is called a cluster matrix.In addition, a deformed chain becomes ``1'' when one of the deformed elements becomes ``1''.
This is the result. Therefore, since the bit matrix to be measured can be represented by a cluster matrix, we can compare this with the standard cluster matrix,
A distance is defined by the number of different elements, and when the distance is within a predetermined upper limit value, it is determined to be 1 good.

The above is an overview of the bit matrix determination method. In this case, the standard cluster matrix is created in the dictionary pattern creation mode, and based on the measured values of the bit matrix, keys are Made by hand.

In addition, the created dictionary pattern includes a character code that indicates what kind of character pattern it is, and a character shape that indicates whether the character is a Tonoyo 5 font or a font (Italic, Gothic, etc.). A code and number are assigned, and this is managed as a file. The dictionary pattern file created in this way is called a dictionary file.

(B) Dictionary file editing mode In this mode, a new dictionary file is created by adding, deleting, or changing the order of dictionary files as described above.

(C) Setting file creation mode The keyboard is inspected for each key top, and this mode is for creating files containing various setting values necessary for the inspection. Setting values required at this time include, for example, the following items.

(b) Key top number This is a unique number attached to the key top.

(b) The total area area is a rectangular area circumscribing the pattern of characters, symbols, etc. formed on the surface of the key top. For example, in FIG. 4, the pattern rAJ, l'-tsu""?" of letters, symbols, etc. is formed on the key top KY, but if an area is set for each pattern, the total number of areas becomes 3'' ( RE1, RE2°RE3), and if a region RE is set that combines these, the total number of regions is 1''. In addition, in FIG. 4, BP indicates the effective screen of the imaging device, and MA indicates the mask area. The area can be determined in any way, but it goes without saying that it should be set so that the determination can be made effectively.

(c) Area coordinates This is coordinate position information for determining the area as described above.

(d) Binarization method This is a method of converting the signal obtained by imaging the key top pattern into a binary code. Here, one of the multiple binarization levels is selected and Select either the fixed binarization method or the floating binarization method, which binarizes the difference between the original signal and a signal obtained by delaying the original signal by comparing it with a predetermined level. Assume that the image is to be binarized.

(e) Threshold number Numbers are attached to each of the plurality of levels used in the above-mentioned fixed selection binarization method, and the threshold level is selected based on the number.

(f) Black and White Reversal This is used to indicate whether or not operations such as reversing the polarity of the signal are necessary so that even white characters on a black background or black characters on a white background can be binarized.

(g) Dictionary pattern numbers, character codes, glyph codes, or upper and lower limits of distance for performing bit matrix determination of setting values for each area;
Furthermore, settings are made regarding the feature number and the upper and lower limit values of the feature for performing feature quantity determination. Approximately 30 types are used, including height, height ratio, number of patterns, etc. Each feature is numbered,
By setting the upper and lower limits according to the number,
It is possible to determine the quality of the feature amount obtained as a result of measurement.

(D) Setting file editing mode Depending on the keyboard, only some key tops may be different, and the rest may be exactly the same. In such a case, a new keyboard setting file can be created by making new settings only for the different key tops and using the previous setting values for the others. The unit of setting is just one key top, and setting files are added, deleted, or rearranged using this as a unit, and this is the setting file editing work.

(E) Measurement file creation mode One way to determine whether the keyboard settings file is optimal is to measure the feature amounts and bit matrix according to the measurement conditions based on the settings file, and then combine these measured values with the settings. By comparing, it can be determined whether the set value is correct or not. This measured value is stored as a measurement file.

(F) Measured file editing mode Addition, deletion, etc. of dictionary files or setting files are performed based on the measured values of the measured file.

Note that these files (dictionary file, setting file, and measurement file) are
The information is stored in the floppy disk 203 of the system 2 for each type of keyboard.

CG') Automatic inspection mode In this mode, the keyboard 6 to be inspected is placed in the fixing jig 7.
When the operator positions the machine on the XY table 4, inputs the setting file created as described above from the floppy disk 203, and presses the test start switch, the test is automatically performed as follows. This test start switch is provided on both the keyboard 204 of the L-100 system and the front panel of the video sensor 1, and the test can be started from either of them. The video sensor 1 receives the signal from the test start switch as a determination or measurement command signal via the transmission interface 18 in FIG. 2 (see FIG. 3). The third diagram is included in the measurement command.

As shown in (2), the key top number and various measurement conditions are included. The key top number is from CPUB to CPUA.
to the controller interface 19 via
This starts the XY table controller 5,
The keyboard 6 to be inspected is transported in a predetermined direction. On the other hand, the measurement conditions are used as various information necessary for inspection or determination of the binarization method, bit matrix or feature amount extraction, etc. Note that this measurement condition is given via a floppy disk and is stored in the memory 15B in FIG. 2, and is also stored in the memory 15A from CPUB via CI)UA. Here, when a key top with a predetermined number enters the field of view of the TV camera 31, the pattern formed on the surface of the key top is imaged by the camera 31, and then a binarization blade type ( Selective fixed binarization, floating binarization) and binarization depending on the level (see Figure 3). Note that this operation is performed in the binarization control circuit 27 shown in FIG. The binarized image information is written into the image memories 23A and 23B in DMA (direct memory access) mode via the image information extraction circuit 24 shown in FIG. It is controlled by the write memory switching control circuit 25]
) MA switching circuit 22 (see Fig. 3 @, O). C.P.
In UA or CPUB, first, the noise pattern is removed from the measurement pattern (see FIG. 3O), while the measurement pattern is divided or classified into a predetermined number of regions (see FIG. 3). Thereafter, the bit matrix is measured for each divided turn, and the distance 1iIft is determined by comparing this with the standard one sent from the L-100 system 2. In addition to making a bit matrix judgment based on whether or not it is within the set value (see Figure 3 G), various feature quantities consisting of the area 2 width and height of each pattern, and a combination of these are determined. Characteristics are determined by comparing the values with set values (see FIG. 3). The quality of the key top is judged based on a comprehensive judgment of the bit matrix judgment and the characteristic judgment (see Fig. 3). The results measured and determined in this way are transmitted to the L-100 system 2 via the transmission interface 18 shown in FIG. 2 (see FIG. 3), so in the L-100 system 2, This is displayed on the C11T 202 (see FIG. 1), printed out on the printer 201 if necessary, and various files are edited based on the received data.

An example of a defective key top is as shown in Figure 5.
Different types of keys as shown in (b), upside down keys as shown in (c), (
There are horizontal keys as shown in (d), or keys with no key top mounted (Figure (a) shows the correct key), but such defective key tops are immediately detected by the video sensor 1 and removed as necessary. An alarm is issued from the alarm unit 9 (see FIG. 1). The image of the key top pattern is
It can be observed on the monitor TV8 each time.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a transport mechanism that transports a keyboard to be inspected to a predetermined position, a key top pattern that is imaged, processed as an image, and its special a quantity and bit matrix measured to determine its quality. A video sensor that determines key tops and a file management system that stores and edits setting value data necessary for key top inspection or pass/fail judgment as a file are installed to distribute their functions, making it possible to use a wide variety of keyboard layouts. It is possible to perform the test automatically and quickly (for example, in about 42 seconds with 64 keytops). In other words, by managing approximately 5 large files using a dedicated file management system, the video sensor can be used to focus on pattern measurement or judgment, speeding up inspections. By using multiple CPUs in the sensor, even higher speeds are possible. Furthermore, since the division of functions is clearly defined, the man-machine interface is improved, which has the advantage of improving operability.

It should be noted that the present invention can be applied to various inspections such as inspection of printed circuit board mounting, inspection of printed matter, packaging inspection of food, etc., by simply inspecting the keyboard as described above.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of this invention;
The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of the video sensor in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a functional block diagram to explain the operation of Figure 1 or Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an explanation to explain the inspection area of the key top. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a defective key top. Code explanation 1...Video sensor, 2...File management system (L-100 system), 3...
Image detection unit, 4...XY table, 5...
...Controller, 6゜204...Keyboard, 7...Fixing jig, 8...Monitor TV
, 9... Alarm unit, 12A, 12B...
...Central processing unit (CPU), 13A, 13B...
...Program memory, 14A, 14B...
Temporary storage device, 15A, 15B...Memory for storing setting values, 16...Operation panel operating status display device, 17...Operation panel input/output interface, 18... ...Transmission interface 7 eighth, 19...-
・XY table controller circuit, 23A, 23B...
...Image memory, 24...Image information extraction device, 25...Writing memory switching control device, 26...
...Monitor TV selection circuit, 27...Binarization control circuit, 28...Measurement setting control section, 31
...TV camera, 201...Printer, 202...CRT display unit, 203...
・Floppy disk representative Patent attorney Akio Namiki Patent attorney Kiyoshi Matsuzaki

Claims (1)

[Claims] A moving means for placing a keyboard to be inspected having a plurality of key tops and moving it by a predetermined amount in a predetermined direction, an imaging means for taking an image of a pattern such as a character formed on the key top surface, and the moving means The pattern of each key top obtained through the imaging means is image-processed to measure various feature quantities, and the quality of the key top pattern is determined by comparing the feature quantities with standard ones or predetermined setting values. and a file management system that stores and edits the set value information and standard feature amount information as a file, and stores the file information necessary for the keyboard to be inspected.