JPS61231679A - Image pick-up device consecutive recording detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect, for example, the dislocation generated at the consecutive recording of the visual field of two line sensors and to display the dislocation direction so that it can be easily understood by reading the symmetrical test pattern corresponding to the image pick-up device. CONSTITUTION:When an error occurs at the mail automatic reading dividing machine, a test pattern X is described on the carrier path to which the mail is carried and a paper is set. Line sensors 12a and 12b in a scanning part 11 are optically read and scanned on X1 and X2 of the pattern X, the reading signal is digitized by binary coding circuits 14a and 14b and a digitized signal is outputted to an OR circuit 25. An image pick-up device consecutive recording detecting device 26 stores a digitized synthetic signal supplied from the circuit 25 at a memory circuit 27 once, plural stored digitized synthetic signals are optionally read by a control circuit 28 and outputted to an arithmetic circuit 29. By comparing of respective digitized signals of the read synthetic signal, the circuit 29 detects the dislocation of the consecutive recording of the visual field the line sensors 12a and 12b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a postal automatic mail system that connects the fields of view of two line sensors vertically and optically reads the postal code written on the mail being transported. The present invention relates to an imaging device connection detection device that can detect a deviation in the connection between the fields of view of two line sensors based on a read signal from the scanning field of view in a reading and sorting machine.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] Conventionally, automatic mail reading and sorting machines read the postal code on the mail as sorting information and sort the mail according to this postal code.

By the way, the automatic mail reading and sorting machine described above uses a scanning unit, for example, two line sensors connected vertically, in order to efficiently read the address information written in a wide area on the mail. It is being This scanning section scans the mail on the same straight line as one field of view, and classifies the mail based on the postal code read and scanned.

However, in the above-described scanning unit, a setting deviation may occur in the connecting portion between the fields of view of the two line sensors. Such a shift in the field of view is detected by printing out the read signal by -H or by projecting it on an oscilloscope. In other words, a special measuring device is required to detect the setting deviation of the line sensor, and
It was extremely time-consuming. If a deviation from the connection between the visual fields is detected, it is repaired by replacing the scanning unit.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to detect a deviation occurring, for example, between the fields of view of two line sensors by reading a test pattern, and easily determine the direction of the deviation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device connection detection device that can display information in an easy-to-understand manner.

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention scans the patterns 1 to 1 as one field of view using a scanning means consisting of a plurality of imaging devices, and uses the read signal read by the scanning means to -
The reading signal stored in the storage means is arbitrarily sequentially stored, and the determination means determines the deviation in the connection between the visual fields of each imaging device by comparing the stored signals for each imaging device. , the direction of deviation of each imaging device is displayed on a display means in accordance with this determination result so that it can be easily understood.

[Embodiment of the Invention] Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an object to be read according to the present invention, for example, a mail P, on the surface of which a plurality of lines of destination information 1 are written horizontally. In such a postal item P, a postal code (100) 2 to be read is written in the destination information 1. This mail P is conveyed in the direction of arrow a in the figure.

FIG. 1 shows a system that is applied to, for example, an automatic mail reading and sorting machine.
1 schematically shows the configuration of an imaging device connection detection device according to the present invention. That is, reference numeral 11 denotes a scanning section, which is provided along a conveyance path along which mail P, for example as shown in FIG. 2, is conveyed in the direction of arrow a. This scanning unit 11 obtains a pattern signal by optically scanning the entire surface of the mail P and photoelectrically converting it. For example, in order to efficiently scan a wide area, Two line sensors (imaging devices) with vertically connected fields of view
12a, 12b, these line sensors 12a1
Lenses 13a and 13b that image destination information 1 within their field of view on 12b, and these lenses 13
It is composed of binarization circuits 14a, 14b, etc. that digitize the pattern signal (destination information) imaged by a113b.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a recognition determination section, which includes a full-page image memory 16 for storing the pattern signal of the entire surface of the mail P from the scanning section 11, and a block corresponding to a postal code from the pattern signal of the entire surface of the mail P from the scanning section 11; (area) and transfer the pattern signal corresponding to this area to the above-mentioned full image memory 1.
6, a character detection and cutting unit 18 that detects and cuts out each character pattern from the block of postal codes supplied from the postal code area extraction unit 17, one character at a time; Output device 18
a normalization unit 19 that normalizes and samples the character pattern supplied from, that is, the detected and extracted character pattern;
and a recognition section 21 that recognizes characters by matching the character patterns supplied from the character detection and cutting device 18 via the normalization section 19 with reference patterns for numbers in a dictionary 20, for example.

Reference numeral 23 denotes an operation panel, which is provided with various operation buttons (not shown), and allows the user, etc. to display the judgment results of the recognition judgment section 15 and the detection results of the imaging device connection detection device according to the present invention. It is designed to notify the

On the other hand, the binarization circuits 14a and 14b of the scanning section 11
An OR circuit 25 (see FIG. 1) is connected to.

This OR circuit 25 synthesizes the pattern signals read by each of the line sensors 12a and 12b, which have been digitized by the binarization circuit 14a114b, as signals read by one sensor sequentially, and sends them to the imaging device connection detection device 26. It is designed to be output.

This imaging device connection detection device 26 includes, for example, a storage circuit 2 that sequentially inputs and stores the above-mentioned combined signal (synthesized signal).
7. A control circuit 28 for arbitrarily reading out the composite signal stored in this storage circuit 27, comparing the composite signals read out by this control circuit 28 with the digitized signals of the line sensors 12a and 12b, respectively, and comparing the results of the comparison. Line sensor with deviation from one line sensor as a reference,
and an arithmetic circuit 29 that determines the direction in which the sensor is deviated (up, down, left, and right) and outputs a signal in the direction of deviation, and displays the above calculation result by lighting up an element corresponding to the signal in the direction of deviation. It is configured by a display section 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, this display section 30 has a normal display element 40 for the line sensor 12a.
and abnormal direction display elements 41 to 44 are provided, and a normal display element 45 and abnormal direction display elements 46 to 49 are provided for the line sensor 12b, respectively. These elements 40 to 49 are constituted by display elements such as light emitting diodes, for example. Therefore, as a result of the determination in the arithmetic circuit 29, if a setting deviation cannot be detected from the connection between the fields of view of the two line sensors 12a and 12b, only the respective normal display wires 40 and 45 are lit, and the abnormality is detected. It is designed to indicate that there is no such thing. Further, when the display unit 30 receives a display command signal supplied from the arithmetic circuit 29, for example, a signal based on a determination that the field of view of one line sensor is shifted in a certain direction from the field of view of the other sensor, Normal display element 40.45,
By lighting up the abnormal direction display element in the direction in which the deviation has occurred, it is possible to display the direction in which the other line sensor has deviated with one line sensor as a reference. Furthermore, 31.
32 and 33 are control buses, 34 is an address bus, and 35 is a data bus, and the imaging device connection detection device 26 is configured, for example, on one board.

The imaging device connection detection device 26 also transmits the determination result of the arithmetic circuit 29 to the operation panel 23 as a normal signal.
Alternatively, it is output as an abnormal signal via the recognition determination unit 15. By inputting this signal, the operation panel 23 can display whether or not a shift has occurred in the connection between the visual fields of the line sensors 12a and 12b.

By the way, due to this imaging device connection detection 9@26,
In order to determine whether or not a shift has occurred between the visual fields of the two line sensors, a sheet of paper on which a test pattern X as shown in FIG. 4 is written, for example, is used. This paper (test pattern X) is, for example, the line sensor 12a
The line sensor 12b has two patterns: one pattern provided corresponding to the length of the field of view of the line sensor 12b, and two patterns provided corresponding to the length of the field of view of the line sensor 12b. These patterns x 1
and x2, zones Y1 and Y2 of a predetermined width are formed in the connecting part W so as to be line symmetrical about the connecting part W, and from one end of the zones Y1 and Y2 to the other end. One line zl and one line Z2 are each formed at a predetermined angle (θ)-〇-.

For example, zone Y2 and line Z2 formed in one pattern x 2 are formed by line sensor 1 as shown in FIG.
2b reads and scans as shown by arrow E,
A distance b2 from the line Z2 to the zone Y2 and a width a2 from the zone Y2 to the connecting portion W of the patterns XI and X2 are read as a pattern signal. In addition, the line sensor 12a scans the zone Y1 and the line Z1 formed in the pattern x1 along the arrow F in the figure, so that the width a1 of the zone Y1 formed from the connecting portion W of the patterns x1 and x2 is , and the distance b1 from this zone Y1 to the line Z1 are read as a pattern signal. Then, the respective pattern signals read by the line sensors 12a and 12b are digitized by the binarization circuits 14a and 14b, and the OR circuit 25
supplied to This OR circuit 25 combines the above-mentioned respective signals as a signal read by one sensor, and this combined signal is output to the storage circuit 27 of the connection detection device 26. In this memory circuit 27, composite signals read by repeatedly scanning the test pattern X by the line sensors 12a and 12b are sequentially stored. Several composite signals stored in the storage circuit 27 are optionally read out by the control circuit 28 via the control bus 31 or 32, and outputted from the control bus 35 to the arithmetic circuit 29. The arithmetic circuit 29 divides the composite signal read out via the control circuit 28 into read signals of the respective line sensors 12a and 12b, and compares the widths a1, a2 and distances wlb1, b2 of the respective signals.

As a result of this comparison, the widths a1 and a2 are al + a2 = A
If the distances 1i11b1 and b2 match as bi=b2, then the line sensors 12a and 12
b is determined to have been read and scanned as one line on the same straight line, and outputs a signal to that effect, for example, a command signal to turn on the normal display elements 40 and 45, to the display unit 30,
The normal display elements 40 and 45 are turned on, and a normal signal is output to the operation panel 23 via the recognition determining section 15.

In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the line sensor 12a
reads and scans as shown by the arrow H in the figure, and the line sensor 12b
When scanning is performed as shown by arrow G in the figure, the arithmetic circuit 29 of the imaging device connection detection device 26 compares the respective signals to determine whether the field of view of the line sensor 12a is to the left of the field of view of the reference sensor 12b. It is determined that there is a deviation, and the display unit 30 lights up the normal display elements 40, 45 and the abnormal direction display element 44.

Further, when scanning is performed as shown in FIG. 7, it is determined that the line sensor 12b partially covers the sensor 12a, that is, is shifted upward, and the normal display element 40. 45 and the abnormal direction display element 46 are prevented from lighting up.

Next, the operation of the automatic mail reading and sorting machine configured as described above will be explained.

For example, when a malfunction occurs in the automatic mail reading and sorting machine, a maintenance person checks the transport path on which the mail P is transported in order to check whether there is a misalignment between the fields of view of the two line sensors of the scanning unit 11. A sheet of paper with two test patterns X shown in FIG. 4 is set. This paper (test pattern
Arrive at 1. Then, the line sensor 1 in the scanning section 11
2a and 12b optically read and scan the patterns x1 and x2 of the test pattern X, respectively;
Each read signal is digitized by binarization circuits 14a and 14b, and each digitized signal is sent to an OR circuit 2.
Output to 5. As a result, the OR circuit 25 combines the respective digitized signals, and the imaging device connection detection device 2
Supply to 6. Then, this imaging device connection detection device 2
6 temporarily stores the digitized composite signal supplied from the sequential OR circuit 25 in a storage circuit 27 . This memory circuit 27
The plurality of digitized composite signals stored in the control circuit 2
8 and output to the arithmetic circuit 29. Then, the arithmetic circuit 29 detects a shift in the connection between the visual fields of the line sensors 12a and 12b of the scanning section 11 by comparing the digitized signals of the read composite signals. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if the read composite signal is a signal read from the test pattern X by line sensors 128 and 12b as indicated by arrows F and E, respectively, The digitized signal obtained by scanning is compared with the digitized signal obtained by scanning as shown by arrow E. In this case, the distances b1 and b2 of the above respective signals are bl=b2 and match, and the respective widths a1 and a2 are al +82
=A. At this time, the arithmetic circuit 29 determines that there is no deviation between the visual fields of the line sensors 12a and 12b, and outputs a command signal to the display section 30 to turn on only the normal display elements 40 and 45, and
A normal signal is output to the operation panel 23 via the recognition determining section 15 to notify the maintenance personnel. As a result, the maintenance person refers to the instructions on the operation panel 23 to determine whether misclassification is occurring due to misreading due to a shift in the field of view of the two line sensors of the scanning section 11.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the line sensors 12a and 12b read and scan as indicated by arrows H and G, respectively, the arithmetic circuit 29 compares the respective digitized signals and determines the deviation in the connection between the visual fields. . In this case, the widths a1 and a2 of the respective signals are 31 + a2 = A, but the distances b1 and b2 are bl < b2 and do not match. It is determined that the scan is performed in the left direction, that is, the position is shifted to the left, and a command signal is output to the display unit 30 to light up the normal display elements 40, 45 and the abnormal direction display element 44. By supplying this command signal, the display section 30 displays normal display elements 40 and 45, respectively.
At the same time, the abnormal direction display element 44 is turned on to indicate that the field of view of the line sensor 12a is shifted to the left from the field of view of the sensor 12b, and an abnormal signal indicating this is output to the operation panel 23. This will notify the maintainer. Since this imaging device connection detection operation is a repetitive operation, the maintenance person finely adjusts the line sensor 12a by referring to the lit elements of the display unit 30, corrects the deviation, and then determines the reading classification of the mail P. Start.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, line sensors 12a and 1
When 2b is read and scanned as indicated by arrows J and ■, respectively, the arithmetic circuit 29 compares the respective digitized signals and determines the deviation from the comparison result. In this case, the distances 111 ftbt and b2 of the signals read by the respective line sensors 12a and 12b match, b1=b2, but the widths a1 and a2 do not match, since a1+82>A. Therefore, the arithmetic circuit 29 scans the sensor 12a with the line sensor 12b partially covering the sensor 12a.
That is, it is determined that the direction has shifted upward, and a command signal is output to the display section 30 to cause the normal display elements 40, 45 and the abnormal direction display element 46 to light up. By supplying this command signal, the display section 30 lights up the normal display elements 40 and 45, respectively, and lights up the abnormal direction display element 46, thereby indicating that the field of view of the line sensor 12b is shifted upward from the field of view of the sensor 12a. , and outputs an abnormality signal to the operation panel 23 to inform the maintenance personnel. If the instruction on the operation panel 23 is abnormal, the maintenance person finely adjusts the line sensor 12b with reference to the lit elements of the display section 300, corrects the deviation, and then starts reading and sorting the mail P.

That is, the imaging device connection detection device 26 detects a deviation in the connection between the field of view of the line sensor using the test pattern It is now possible to determine the direction in which the sensor is misaligned and notify maintenance personnel. In accordance with this instruction, the maintenance person finely adjusts the sensor that is out of alignment, corrects the connection deviation, and then automatically reads the mail.

For example, when the line sensor 12a is used as a reference, comparison (
7) Conclusion 1 ka a t + a 2 = A te bl>
At the time of b2, the arithmetic circuit 29 determines that the line sensor 12b has scanned to the left of the sensor 12a, that is, has shifted to the left, and displays the normal display elements 40, 45 and the abnormal direction display elements of the display section 30. 49 is lit. In addition, the comparison result is a1+a2 =
When A and bl < b2, the arithmetic port 29 determines that the line sensor 12b scans to the right of the sensor 12a, that is, it is shifted to the right, and displays the normal display element 40.45 of the display section 30. and the abnormal direction display element 47 is turned on, and the comparison result is b1=b2 and al +a2
>A, the arithmetic circuit 29 outputs the line sensor 12t.
) partially covers the sensor 12a, that is, it is determined that the sensor 12a is shifted upward, and the normal display element 4 of the display unit 30 is detected.
0.45 and the abnormal direction display element 46 is turned on, and the comparison result is =b2 and when al +a2 <A,
The arithmetic circuit 29 determines that the line sensor 12b has not scanned to the connection part W, that is, has shifted downward, and lights up the normal display element 40, 45 and the abnormal direction display element 48 of the display section 30. It has become.

Further, when the line sensor 12b is used as a reference, when the comparison result is al + a2 = A and bl>b2, the arithmetic circuit 29 calculates the line sensor 12a scanned in the right direction from the sensor 12b, that is, the line sensor 12a. It is determined that the display element 40 of the display unit 30 is shifted to the right.
．． 45 and the abnormal direction display element 42 are turned on. In addition, the comparison result is al + a2 = A
When bl < b2, the arithmetic circuit 29 determines that the line sensor 12a scans in the left direction from the sensor 12b, that is, it is shifted to the left, and displays the normal display elements 40 and 45 of the display unit 30 and the abnormal direction. The display element 44 is turned on, and the comparison result is b1=b2, and aI 182 >A
At this time, the arithmetic circuit 29 determines that the line sensor 12a has scanned partially covering the sensor 12b, that is, has shifted downward, and displays the normal display elements 40, 45 and the abnormal direction display element 43 of the display section 30. Turn it on and the comparison result is b.
When t-b2 and al + a2 <A, the arithmetic circuit 29 determines that the line sensor 12a has not scanned from the connection portion W, that is, has shifted upward, and displays the display section 3.
0 normal display element 40.45 and abnormal direction display element 4
1 is lit.

The maintenance person refers to the display on the display section 30 and corrects the deviation in the field of view of the two line sensors.

After correcting the deviation in the field of view of the line sensor in this manner, the mail P shown in FIG. Then, line sensors 12a and 12b of this scanning section 11
optically scans the entire surface of the postal item P, performs photoelectric conversion, and sends the pattern signal to the postal code area extraction unit 1.
7 and output to the entire image memory 16. As a result, the postal code area extraction unit 17
A candidate block (area) corresponding to the postal code is extracted from the pattern signal on the entire surface of the mail P from 1, the pattern signal corresponding to this area is read from the entire image memory 16, and output to the character detection cutting device @18. do. For example, a mask is created by outputting this pattern signal, each mask is divided into blocks, several candidate blocks for postal codes are determined from this block pattern, and the pattern signals within the candidate blocks for these determined postal codes are of,
Each of them is output to a character detection and cutting device 18. Then, the character detection and cutting device 18 detects and cuts out each character pattern one character at a time from several candidate blocks of the postal code supplied from the postal code area extraction unit 17. In this way, the character pattern detected and cut out one by one is normalized by the normalization section 19, sampled, and supplied to the recognition section 21.

Then, the recognition unit 21 converts the character pattern for each character for each candidate block, which is supplied from the character detection and extraction device 18 via the normalization unit 19, into a dictionary 20, for example.
Characters are recognized by a method such as matching the digits with a reference pattern, and the correct postal code is determined from the recognition result and output to a subsequent classification section (not shown).

As mentioned above, before reading the mail, a test pattern is used to detect the deviation between the fields of view of the two line sensors, and if any deviation occurs, the deviation is corrected before reading. I made it possible to do this. Therefore, it is possible to prevent misreading during reading scanning by the scanning section.

In the above example, only the application of the imaging device connection detection device according to the present invention to an automatic mail reading and sorting machine, that is, an optical character reading device, has been described, but the present invention is applicable to this. It can be applied to various devices, etc.

Furthermore, since the imaging device connection detection device according to the present invention is constructed on one board, it can be easily attached or removed. Furthermore, by adding a memory or a program, it is also possible to perform a self-diagnosis function such as a recognition determination section, such as a voltage check.

Further, in the above embodiments, only an image pickup device using a line sensor has been described, but an image pickup device that reads two-dimensional images, such as a surface sensor, may also be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by using a test pattern, it is possible to detect, for example, a shift in the connection between the fields of view of two line sensors, and to easily understand the direction of the shift. It is possible to provide an imaging device connection detection device that can display images on the screen.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an automatic mail reading and sorting machine which is an embodiment of the imaging device connection detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of mail, and FIG.
4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a display section, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a test pattern, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the normal operation of the imaging device connection detection device using the above test pattern, and FIG. FIG. 7 and FIG. 7 are diagrams for explaining abnormal operation of the imaging device connection detection device using the above-mentioned test pattern. P... Mail, 2... Postal code, 11... Scanning section, 12a and 12b... Line sensor (imaging device)
, 13a and 13b...lenses, 148 and 1
4b... Binarization circuit, 15... Recognition determination unit, 16.
...Full-page image memory, 17...Postal code area extraction unit, 18...Character detection and cutting device, 20...Dictionary, 21
... recognition unit, 23 ... operation panel, 25 ... OR circuit, 26 ... imaging device connection detection device, 21 ...
Memory circuit, 28... Control circuit, 29... Arithmetic circuit, 30... Display section, 40-49... Display element, X
...Test pattern.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A scanning means for scanning one field of view with a plurality of imaging devices, a storage means for storing a read signal obtained by reading a test pattern on an object to be read by this scanning means, and a storage means for each imaging device in this storage means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a determining means for comparing the stored signals to determine the deviation of the field of view of each imaging device, and a display means for displaying the direction of deviation of each imaging device according to the determination result by the determining means. An imaging device connection detection device. (2) The imaging device connection detection device according to claim 1, wherein the test pattern is a symmetrical pattern corresponding to each of the imaging devices. (3) The determination means determines the deviation of the field of view based on the distance and length from the reference position of each of the imaging devices that read the test pattern. Imaging device connection detection device.