JPS61146078A - Infrared image projection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify overlapping to improve operability in case of overlapping two infrared image data, by pairing one image with its contour pattern and positioning on the other image. CONSTITUTION:The 1st image data of the object 20 photographed at a certain time is stored in an image memory 6 and displayed as it is on a CRT displayer 19, at the same time stored in an outside image memory 8. Also, simultaneously a contour image data to be a pair with the 1st image data is extracted and stored in the contour memory 10. Than after lapse of a prescribed time, the 2nd image data photographing the same part of the same object is used to re-write the contents of the image data 6, and the display image of the CRT displayer 19 is changed over. Then a data selector 15 is synthesized with the contour data of the 1st image stored in the comparison memory 11, and written in the image memory 16. This synthesized image is displayed on the displayer 19.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an improvement in an infrared imaging device that observes the temperature distribution of an object by detecting infrared radiation depending on the surface temperature of the object. In particular, the present invention relates to an infrared imaging device that is convenient for use in observing temporal changes in the surface temperature of a human body.

[Conventional technology]

Infrared imaging devices that detect and visualize the infrared rays emitted by an object to observe the temperature distribution on the surface of an object have been well known for a long time. can be observed, so it is widely used for industrial and medical purposes. By the way, medical infrared imaging devices are required to know not only the temperature distribution on the surface of the human body, but also the amount of change in temperature over time at the same site. As shown, a method has been proposed in which a difference is calculated between two infrared images taken at a predetermined time interval and the result is displayed as a first-order differential image.

However, in order to accurately calculate the difference in the amount of change over time, it is important to accurately overlap the two image data, and conventionally it was necessary to fix the relative position between the subject and the infrared camera. there were.

For this reason, it was unavoidable that it was inconvenient to use, such as restricting the movement of the subject.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an infrared imaging device that does not cause the above-mentioned inconveniences in photographing.
More specifically, the aim is to obtain accurate data and improve operability by providing an infrared imaging device that can easily superimpose two image data for calculating temporal temperature changes. .

[Means for solving problems]

Briefly, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention temporarily stores photographed infrared image data in an external memory, extracts data showing the outline of the image, and stores it in another memory. The infrared image taken after a predetermined period of time and the outline pattern of the preceding image are displayed superimposed, the memory address of the outline pattern is moved and adjusted so that their outlines match, and the information corresponding to the amount of movement is used to display the outline pattern of the preceding image. The feature is that two infrared images are superimposed by moving memory addresses.

[Effect]

That is, in a digital memory type infrared imaging device, an analog video signal from an infrared camera is converted into a digital signal to perform various image processing, and the above-mentioned difference calculation is also performed digitally. In this case, in this invention, instead of fixing the relative position of the object and the camera and photographing it, the contour pattern of the image once photographed is moved in memory and superimposed on the contour of the image photographed after a predetermined period of time. This automatically matches the corresponding positional relationship between the two images. Therefore, the restraint of the subject can be minimized, making it even easier to use.

〔Example〕

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of an infrared imaging device to which the present invention is applied. An infrared camera 1 includes a scanning optical system 2, an infrared detector 3, and a preamplifier 4. The analog video signal from the camera 1 is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 5 and sequentially stored in the image memory 6 for one screen, and simultaneously written into the external image memory 8 through the main control unit 7 including a microcomputer. .

Further, the above digital image data is given to the contour extraction circuit 9, and successive difference calculations are performed between adjacent pixels stored previously, and the difference data exceeding a predetermined darkness value is treated as data indicating the contour pattern and is stored in the contour memo IJ10. can be placed in

On the other hand, a comparison memory 11 is provided in parallel with the image memory 6, into which the contents of the external image memory 8 or the contents of the contour memory 10 are loaded as appropriate. The pattern data loaded into the comparison memory is configured so that its memory address can be moved by operating a movement adjustment means 12 such as a joystick.

Further, an X-axis movement register 13 and a Y-axis movement register 14 are provided to temporarily store the amount of movement of the image by the movement adjustment means.

The outputs of the image memory 6 and comparison memory 11 are written to the screen memory 16 again through a data selector 15 having an arithmetic function. The video signal read from this screen memory is sent to the CRT via the D/A converter 17 and the video control circuit 18.
It is added to a display device such as a cathode ray tube (cathode ray tube), and images are displayed at the normal television frame cycle.

Now, in the above configuration, the first image data of the subject 20 photographed at time tl is first stored in the image memory 6 and displayed as it is on the CRT display 19, and is also stored in the external image memory 8. be done. At the same time, contour data paired with the first image data is extracted and stored in the contour memory 10. Next, at time t2 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the same part of the same subject is imaged and the contents of the image memory 6 are rewritten with the second image data at that time, and the display screen of the CR7 display is switched to the second image.

Further, this second image data is also written to another area of the external image memory 8 through the main control section 7 together with the contour data of the image.

Here, when calculating the difference between the temperature data of the first image and the second image to observe partial temperature change data, the comparison memo January 1 is stored in the contour memory 10 according to the external command signal S1. Data is transferred. and data selector 15
The second image in the image memory 6 and the contour data of the first image stored in the comparison memory are combined and written in the screen memo 6, and the combined image is displayed on the display 19. Then, while observing this composite display screen, the operator adjusts the movement adjusting means 12 for moving the contour so that the contour pattern of the first image matches the contour line of the second image. When the calculation command signal S2 is input by button operation after confirming that the two match, the contents of the comparison memory 11 are rewritten with the first image data of the external image memory 8, which is bare of the previous contour data. At this time, the address of the first image data written to the comparison memory is changed from the initial value by the contents of the X-axis movement register 13 and Y-axis movement register 14 stored in correspondence with the joint amount of the movement adjustment means 12. It is designed to be shifted and memorized. Therefore, after the rewriting is completed, the first image in the comparison memory 11 and the second image in the image memory 6 automatically have corresponding addresses with respect to the imaged part of the subject. There is no need to restrain the subject.

Thus, in the above state, data at corresponding addresses in the image memory 6 and the comparison memory 11 are sequentially read out pixel by pixel, the data selector 15 performs a differential calculation, and the results are sequentially stored in the screen memory 16.

Since the result of the difference calculation indicates the amount of temperature change for each pixel, by displaying the contents of the screen memory 16, it is possible to observe the temporal temperature change amount pattern of the entire imaged area.

FIG. 2 is an image diagram showing the mode of positioning when observing a human hand as the imaging object OJ, and shows the manner of positioning at time t.
The outline pattern H1 of the first image taken earlier at time tl is synthesized and displayed on the second image H2 taken at time 2, and the outline pattern H1 is moved and adjusted as shown by the arrow to create the second image H2.
This is how it overlaps.

In the above embodiment, the image memory 6 and the comparison memory 11
Although the screen memory 16 and screen memory 16 are shown as separate structures, in reality, it is a matter of course that multiple areas of the common memory are used for each function. Further, the contour memory 10 shown as part of the external memory may be omitted depending on the case, and the comparison memory 11 may have this function. In other words, if you read the previous image data from the external image memory, extract the outline, and write the result directly to the comparison memo 1/0 each time you adjust the overlap of images, the same adjustment can be made without an independent outline memory. It is possible. In addition, the target for extracting contour data does not necessarily have to be the preceding image data;
It is also possible to change the memory arrangement so as to adjust the position of the contour pattern of the subsequent image with reference to the preceding image.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above explanation, in short, this invention:
When two infrared image data taken at a predetermined time are superimposed on the same area, one image is paired with the contour pattern of that image extracted for adjustment and aligned with the other image. This eliminates the need to impose extra restraints on the subject, and since positioning is performed using an outline pattern, it is easy to see and extremely easy to operate. Therefore, the present invention is particularly applicable to infrared imaging devices that observe changes in temperature over time, and is highly effective in ensuring data accuracy and improving operability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of essential parts showing a schematic configuration of an example of an infrared imaging device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an image diagram illustrating a mode of positioning operation. In the figure, 1 is an infrared camera, 6 is an image memory, 7 is a main control unit, 8 is an external image memory, 9 is a contour extraction circuit, 1
0 is a contour memory, 11 is a comparison memory, 12 is a movement adjustment means, 13 is an X-axis movement register, 14 is a Y-axis movement adjustment register, 15 is a data selector, 16 is a screen memory, 18
1 is a video control circuit, 19 is a display, and 20 is an object to be imaged.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) a first storage means for storing an infrared image dependent on the temperature distribution of the object; a second storage means for storing a preceding image taken a predetermined time before the time at which the infrared image was taken; a third storage means for extracting the outline of the image and storing the outline pattern at a position corresponding to the address of the image, the outline pattern stored in the third storage means and the first or second a display device is provided for superimposing the other infrared image stored in the storage means on a common screen, and a movement adjustment means for adjusting the position of the contour pattern is connected to the third storage means; After adjusting the movement adjustment means to display the contour pattern of one image superimposed on the other infrared image, movement information corresponding to the amount of movement of the contour pattern set by the movement adjustment means is displayed on the other infrared image. 1. An infrared imaging device characterized in that the positions of two infrared images taken at a predetermined time interval can be matched by applying the information to a first or second storage means that stores an infrared image.