JPS61251056A - Apparatus for identifying parts direction - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the identification of directional abnormality from the total number of the picture elements included in the areas arranged in the direction crossing the identification direction and the way in which they are arranged, by setting a plurality of divisional areas in a matrix on a screen, and counting the number of the picture elements constituting the symbols and characters in each area. CONSTITUTION:First, a sample IC 1 is photographed by a TV camera 2, and, for instance, the characters on the surface thereof are read. The characters on the surface of the IC 1 are digitized by an image-processing system 3 to produce a matrix 5. Then, with the directional reference for comparison and identification being taken in the longitudinal rows, a row of total of the lateral sequence of numbers 80, 140, 0, 9 is obtained. Next, when a second IC 6 is photographed by the TV camera 2, a matrix 8 of image information 7 is obtained, and a row of total 0, 140, 80, 10 is obtained in a similar manner. By comparing these total rows, it can be identified that the second IC 6 is opposite in direction relative to the IC 1. With this, the number of picture elements is reduced, and the image memory can be made small, so that the image-processing system can be constructed inexpensively. Also, the comparison process time can be shortened, thereby enabling the speed-up after the automatic insertion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a component orientation identification method using an image processing device.

[Technical background of the invention]

In identifying the orientation of a component using a conventional image processing device, for example, it is necessary to read the shape of a sample component, symbols, characters, etc. stamped on the surface, store it as correct data, and compare it with other data. It was customary.

[Problems with background technology]

However, with conventional methods, if the shape is symmetrical, it is impossible to identify the direction based on the shape, and if the symbol or character is complex, the memory capacity to digitize and store it becomes large. Moreover, there was a drawback that the processing time required for comparison was large.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a component orientation identification method that does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks and can be easily applied to electronic component automatic insertion machines and the like that have been widely introduced in recent years.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention does not process the read image information as symbols or characters themselves, but instead sets multiple areas divided into a matrix on the screen and counts the number of pixels that make up the symbol or character in each area. The above object is achieved by making it possible to identify an abnormality in direction from the total number of pixels included in the area lined up in the direction intersecting the identification direction and the way they are lined up.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a block diagram showing the configuration, (B) is a diagram showing an example of reading screen information, (
C) Figure shows an example of a processed matrix. In FIG. 1, (1) is a sample electronic component, and in this example, a DIP type IC is shown.

(2) is a TV left camera (which reads the shape and characters and symbols on the surface of electronic components (IC) and outputs image signals).
3) is an image processing device for digitizing and arithmetic processing the image signal from the TV left camera 2), (4) is image information obtained by reading the characters on the surface of the rc, and (5) is image information (1).
) is divided into segments (areas in which the screen is divided into a matrix), and the number of pixels that make up symbols and characters in each segment is digitized and displayed.
(6) is the second IC compared to IC (1), and (7)
is the image information of IC (6), and (8) is the matrix corresponding to the above-mentioned (5) for image information (7).

Next, the identification operation in FIG. 1 will be explained. First, a sample IC (1,) is imaged with the TV left camera 2), for example, characters on the surface are read and the image processing device (3) is used to image the IC (1).
Digitize the characters on the surface to create a matrix (5). Here, the direction reference for comparison and identification is taken as a vertical column, and the total column (80, 140, Q) (9) of the horizontal numerical columns is obtained. Next, when the second IC (6) is photographed by the TV left camera 2), a matrix (8) of the image information (7) is obtained, and similarly the total column (0, 140, 80) (10) is obtained. A comparison of this resulting summation sequence allows it to be identified that the second IC (6) is opposite in direction to IC (1).

In the above case, if one character or symbol is large or the main part (easily distinguishable part) is enlarged using the optical enlargement function of the TV left camera 2), the number of pixels required for the image processing device (3) will be reduced. Furthermore, since the data comparison is performed segment by segment, compared to the conventional method that checks for geometric matching, the comparison is much rougher, and the processing time can be further reduced. becomes.

Although the above description has been about ICs, other parts (for example, color codes for resistors, etc.) can be processed in a similar way.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention is as described above, and has the following features: 1) The number of pixels is reduced and the memory for each image is small, making it possible to construct an image processing apparatus at a low cost. 2) Also, the comparison processing time can be shortened and the speed of the automatic insertion machine can be increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a block diagram showing the configuration, (B) is a diagram showing an example of reading screen information, (
C) Figure shows an example of a processed matrix. 2: TV left camera 3: Image processing device,
4.7: Reading screen information, 5,8: Matrix. 9.10: Total column.

Claims (1)

[Claims] The part surface image captured by a TV camera is digitized, the read screen information subjected to calculation processing is distributed into segments arranged in a matrix, and the display symbols and characters contained within are formed for each segment. 1. A method for identifying the orientation of a component, characterized in that the orientation of the component is identified by forming a matrix represented by the number of pixels in the matrix, and by comparing the total number of columns intersecting an identification reference direction.