KR100940817B1 - Environment-change sensing device, environment-change handling system, and environment-change handling method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An environment change sensing device, an environmental change handling system, and an environmental change handling method is provided to improve reliability of a measure for the environmental change and accurately examine the cause of the environmental change. CONSTITUTION: An image input unit changes an analog image inputted from an image sensor into a digital signal. An image preprocessor(72) deletes the background image of the digital signal and implements an edge detection. An environmental change sensor(73) decides the occurrence of the environmental change from the pre-processed image. A controller(74) controls the overall operation of the environment change sensing device.

Description

Environment-change sensing device, environment-change handling system, and environment-change handling method

The present invention relates to an environment change detector, an environment change response system, and an environment change response method.

There is a situation when there is a need to detect changes in the surrounding environment. A representative example of such a situation is fire. When a fire occurs, it is necessary to take various countermeasures such as operating a fire extinguisher in response to the fire, and also need to quickly detect a corresponding environmental change state.

As a method of detecting a conventional fire when a fire occurs, a smoke detection sensor for detecting smoke generated in a fire, a heat detection sensor for detecting heat, and the like have been used. However, these methods only start working when smoke exceeds a certain threshold, or when a fairly hot amount of heat is detected. Therefore, since a lot of time has already passed, there is a problem in that the use of the urgent quarrel is much less useful in the case of environmental changes such as a general fire.

As an improvement in such a problem, the application number 10-2008-0024539 discloses a method of detecting an environment change, in particular a fire, by analyzing an image. In the cited document, a plurality of cameras are connected to a single fire detection system remotely from each other. In this case, since the occurrence of a fire or the like can be grasped by analyzing the image, it is possible to detect the change of the environment more quickly than to detect heat or smoke.

However, in the above-mentioned invention, the camera is damaged due to the direct / indirect effect of environmental change such as the heat of fire, the power supply is cut off due to the power failure, or the network connecting the camera and the fire detection system. There is a high possibility that the fire detection function may not work properly due to a problem or the like. In particular, such a problem can not be said to cause serious problems in case of accidents such as a fire that must cope with an emergency.

The present invention can detect and respond to environmental changes in response to environmental changes stably even when the environmental changes, and the environmental change detector, which can accurately determine the cause of the environmental change later after the environmental change situation, environmental change We propose a response system and environmental change response method.

The present invention proposes an environment change detector, an environment change response system, and an environment change countermeasure capable of preventing an unstable operation of a device caused by environmental change as a direct cause thereof and coping with a situation.

Environmental change detector of the present invention to solve the above problems, a protective case for providing a predetermined internal space; A substrate in which at least one portion is accommodated in the protective case; A lens provided on the front side of the substrate; An image sensor for capturing light passing through the lens; And a control unit in a chip unit mounted on the substrate, wherein the control unit in a chip unit includes: an environment change detection unit configured to detect whether an environment change has occurred by analyzing image information input from the image sensor; And a storage unit for storing the image information. As a result, the reliability of the detection of environmental changes is high, and the function of the black box can be performed with high reliability.

The protection case may further include a battery for supplying power when the external power is cut off. The storage unit may include: a first storage unit temporarily storing image information from the image sensor; And when it is determined that an environment change has occurred by the determination of the environment change detection unit, image information from the image sensor before the environment change stored in the first storage unit is detected, and after the environment change has occurred. A second storage unit for storing the image information from the image sensor is included, it may be operated in a low power state, but there is an advantage of high reliability for storing the image information, for this purpose, the first storage unit is a RAM, The second storage unit may preferably be a flash memory. The environmental change may be more preferably applied in the case of a fire. The chip-based control element is provided on the rear side of the substrate, thereby increasing the stability of various information stored in the chip. The lens has an advantage of being able to observe a wide area while low price is implemented by using a short focal lens.

Environmental change response system according to another aspect, the control unit for communicating with the environmental change detector; And a counterpart in communication with the environment change detector and / or the control unit, the counterpart performing a corresponding operation corresponding to a type of environmental change, and according to the system, Can respond accurately.

According to yet another aspect, there is provided a method for coping with environmental changes, the method comprising: inputting image information; The image information may be stored as the first image information from a certain time ago to the current time based on a current time by a predetermined amount of time, and determine whether an environment change has occurred by analyzing the image information; And storing the second image information after the environmental change and the first image information together, and performing a corresponding operation corresponding to the type of the environmental change. According to this method, there is an advantage that the reliability of the storage of the image information is high. Here, in the corresponding operation, the operation of the sprinkler for the place where the fire occurred when the environmental change is a fire, or the operation of the alarm system and / or the notification system when the environmental change is an invasion of an outsider, or When the environmental change is a normal return, there is an operation such as lighting has the advantage that can respond to various environmental changes.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably cope with environmental changes, and it is possible to accurately determine the cause of the environmental change after the environmental change is completed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can easily suggest other embodiments included in the same spirit. In addition, in the following embodiment, a description will be given by taking a fire as an example of a changed environment, but this is only one preferred example.

1 is a block diagram of an environment change detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the environmental change detector 1 includes a transparent or semi-transparent protective case 2 and a member accommodated in an inner space of the protective case 2, and includes a substrate 6 and a lens 3. , An image sensor 4, a lens holder 5, a control element 7 in a chip unit, and a battery 8. The protective case 2 is made of a heat resistant resin such as ABS resin or melamine resin, so that even when a fire occurs, heat does not affect the inside of the protective case 2, and of course, other causes of contamination Also block the inflow of foreign objects. The protective case 2 may be completely sealed inside, or may be sufficient to provide a space that is somewhat separated from the outside.

The lens 3 is a short focal length lens is used to implement a wide wide angle so that a wide range of area can be photographed and a separate drive member may not be provided. This makes it suitable for detecting a wide range of changes that occur over a wide range of shooting, rather than implementing complex functions such as zooming and focusing. As such a short focus lens is used as the lens 3, when the environmental change detector 1 according to the embodiment is installed indoors, a single mechanism can cover a wide range. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, one environment change detector 1 is installed in each of the curved regions as shown in the drawing. It is enough as one. Furthermore, if the corresponding area is not divided into each other by the structure of partitioning the corresponding area 10 as shown by the dotted line, for example, a door, the center of the two environmental change detectors 1 shown in FIG. It may be sufficient to install a single environmental change detector 1 in place.

The lens 3 is mounted to the substrate 6 by a lens holder 5, and an image sensor 4 is provided on the right side back side of the lens 3, that is, on the front side of the substrate 6. CCD is preferably used as the image sensor 4, so that the image picked up by the lens 3 is converted into an electrical signal.

Behind the substrate 6, a control element 7 and a battery 8 in units of chips are provided. The chip-shaped control element 7 is a component exemplified by an ASIC, FPGA, SOC, or the like, and includes various functional blocks that are set in advance. An internal configuration of the control element 7 in the chip unit will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

The rear side of the substrate 6, the battery 8 is further installed, so that the power can be supplied for a certain time even when the power supply of the external power that may occur in the event of a fire. In addition, an external power source 9 is supplied to the environment change detector 1, and the environment change detector 1 may be operated by an external power source in normal times. The external power source 9 can be connected in parallel with the battery 8 and other mechanisms such that the battery 8 is always in a charged state.

According to the environmental change detector, there is an advantage that can detect the environmental change on its own, without the external assistance, and record the change. Furthermore, even when the supply of external power is cut off, the normal operation may be performed for a predetermined time.

3 is a block diagram of an environment change response system including detailed blocks of a control unit in a chip unit.

Referring to FIG. 3, an image input unit 71 receives an image input from the image sensor 4, converts an analog signal into a digital signal, and converts the image into a form capable of image processing. The image preprocessing unit 72 receives a digital signal output from the image input unit 71, deletes a background image, and performs edge detection, and the like. The environment change detection unit 73 determining whether a change has occurred or not, receives a state of environmental change determined by the environment change detection unit 73 to perform a series of corresponding operations, or the entire environment change detector 1 A control unit 74 for controlling the operation is included.

A series of components that can detect the occurrence of such environmental changes are provided inside the environmental change detector, so that the environment change detector analyzes the image itself even when not connected to the external system by a network, thereby causing an environment such as a fire. It can detect changes and communicate their status to the outside world.

The above-described configuration may be referred to as a series of configurations for detecting the occurrence of environmental changes, and the description itself may be clear.

However, in detail, the environmental change detection unit 73 is a block to which an environmental change detection algorithm is applied, characterized by a shape in which smoke rises in a fire, and a pattern in which a screen is blurred in a short time, and a characteristic of a flame color in a fire. The fire can be detected by judging whether the pattern, the characteristic pattern of the brightness of the flame at the time of fire, is implemented in the current image.

In addition, as another environmental change state, the outsider roams for a predetermined time or more in a low light state when the outsider invades, it can be determined by the intrusion of the outsider by determining whether the characteristic pattern is implemented in the current image. In another environmental change state, the homeowner normally returns home to a characteristic pattern in which an external object enters a specific area through a front door in a low light condition such as night, and it may be determined that lighting is required. As another environment change state, the illumination may be turned on when the illumination of the captured image becomes dark, and the illumination may be turned off when the illumination of the image increases.

The plurality of environmental changes described above may be carried out in a superimposed manner by the single environmental change detector 1.

As a configuration that is operated under the control of the controller 74, there are a RAM 75, a memory 76, and a data transmitter 77.

In more detail, each control unit 74 controls a predetermined amount of time for an image input through the environment change detection unit 73 or directly from the image preprocessor 72 or the image input unit 71. Store in the RAM (75). That is, on the basis of the current time, the video from a certain time ago is continuously stored in the RAM 75, and the previous video is automatically deleted. The predetermined time may vary depending on the storage capacity of the storage medium such as the RAM 75.

When the controller 74 detects that the environment has changed from the environment change detector 73, the controller 74 transfers the information stored in the RAM 75 to the memory 76, and the image from the current time is displayed. Stored directly in the memory unit 76. The memory of the memory unit 76 uses a flash memory whose contents do not disappear even when the power is cut off, and a stored state such as a fire lasts for a predetermined time, and stored information even if the power supply from the battery 8 is cut off. Can be maintained. As a result, the memory unit 76 may perform a function as a black box that can grasp the cause of the environment change, for example, the occurrence of a fire when the environment changes.

The movement of information from the RAM 75 to the memory unit 76 may be controlled differently according to the type of environmental change. For example, the information should be moved in case of an accident such as a fire or an invasion of an outsider, but it is not necessary because the information needs to be moved in the case of a homeowner's return and change of day and night. There will be no.

As described above, the RAM 75 and the memory unit 76 are the same in terms of storing information, respectively, the RAM 75 stores only the information before a certain time based on the current time, The memory unit 76 may store all image information that has elapsed until the capacity of the memory unit 76 is allowed in the state including the information before a certain time based on the current time. In this regard, the RAM 75 and the memory unit 76 are distinguished from each other, and the RAM 75 may be referred to as a first storage unit and the memory unit 76 as a second storage unit.

When the controller 74 detects that the environment has changed from the environment change detector 73, the controller 74 notifies the controller 80 that an environment change has occurred through the data transmitter 77, and the counter 81 Correspondence operation can be performed through The operation of the counterpart 81 will be described by way of example according to the type of environmental change.

In case of environmental change due to fire, automatic sprinkler can be operated at the place where the fire occurred, and in case of environmental change due to outsider intrusion, alarm system to the user or notification system to the police station can be operated. In the case of environmental changes caused by the homeowner's return and the change of day and night, the lighting can be properly operated, so that the sprinkler, the alarm system, the notification system, and the lighting can be the corresponding units 81. Meanwhile, although the solid line of FIG. 3 illustrates that the signal is transmitted to the counterpart 81 only through the control unit 80, the dotted line of FIG. 3 shows that the signal is not controlled by the controller 74 without passing through the control unit 80. The signal requesting the response may be transmitted to the counterpart 81. In the case of a solid line, the case of a fire / external invasion etc. is illustrated, and in the case of a dotted line, the case of normal return / day / night change can be illustrated. Of course, the solid line and the viscosity may be provided together and used together.

According to the environmental change response system described above, the mechanism for determining the environmental change in the environmental change detector 1 and it can store a certain amount from a certain time before the current time. Therefore, in case of a fire such as fire, even if the line to the outside is damaged, it can be stably stored from the occurrence of the fire to the passage of a certain time after the occurrence of the fire itself, it can perform the function of the black box for the cause of fire. The same is true in the case of invasion of outsiders. In addition, only by analyzing the image taken by operating in conjunction with an external article such as a light, there is an advantage that can be used in combination with other existing items and functions in use.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for responding to environmental changes according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, an image is input (S1), and after preprocessing the input image (S2), the image is analyzed as time passes to detect whether the environment has changed (S3). At this time, the input image is stored in the RAM 75 from a predetermined time before the current time.

If there is no change in the external environment as a result of the detection of the environmental change detection step (S3), the operation shifts to the image input (S1) and repeats the operation up to now. However, as a result of continuously receiving the image in real time and analyzing the image by a predetermined algorithm, a series of operations for detecting an environment change, for example, a fire, and storing the image corresponding to the corresponding environment change are performed. It is performed (S4). In detail, the past image from a certain time before being stored in the RAM 75 is moved to the memory unit 76 and stored, and the image inputted from the current time is also stored in the memory unit 76. For this purpose, unlike the RAM 75, the memory unit 76 may preferably use a nonvolatile flash memory. At this time, even if the communication line or the power line to the outside of the environmental change detector 1 is damaged due to the environmental change, the environment by each component of the memory unit, battery, etc. provided inside the environmental change detector 1 The change detector 1 can be operated reliably and can preserve the image information of the changed environment intact.

Furthermore, in order to transmit the environmental change to the outside, the environmental change state is transmitted to the outside through an external line connected to the environment change detector 1 (S5), and a corresponding action is performed according to the type of environment change. (S6). Here, the order of storing the image (S4), the environmental change state transmission step (S5), the corresponding operation execution step (S7) may be changed in order, the environment change state transmission step (S5), the corresponding operation as necessary The execution step S7 may not be performed.

The corresponding operation can be exemplified by the operation of the sprinkler, the on / off of the lighting, the alarm operation of the alarm system, and the notification operation of the notification system.

According to the above-described environmental change response method, it is possible to reliably store a state in which the environmental change occurs in the image even in the use environment disconnected from the outside. Of course, by additionally being able to connect with the control unit 80, it is possible to inform the facts of the change of the environment to the outside, it is possible to respond more accurately. In addition, it is possible to respond more quickly by being connected to the counterpart 81.

The present invention can be applied to various uses at low cost, so that it is possible to detect and respond to environmental changes accurately and quickly, and to accurately determine the cause of the environmental change after the environmental change is finished.

1 is a block diagram of an environment change detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an example of the area where the environmental change detector is installed.

3 is a block diagram of an environment change response system including a detailed block of a chip unit control element.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for responding to environmental changes according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A protective case providing a predetermined internal space; A substrate in which at least one portion is accommodated in the protective case; A lens provided on the front side of the substrate; An image sensor for capturing light passing through the lens; Mounted to the substrate, An environment change detector configured to analyze image information input from the image sensor to detect whether an environment change has occurred; And Including a storage unit for storing the image information, Chip-based control elements; And Protected by the protective case, when the external power is cut off, the environmental change detector includes a battery for supplying power to at least one of the control element, the image sensor, and the storage unit in the chip unit. delete The method of claim 1, The storage unit, A first storage unit temporarily storing image information from the image sensor; And When it is determined that an environment change has occurred by the determination of the environment change detection unit, the image information from the image sensor before the environment change stored in the first storage unit is detected, and the image after the environment change has occurred. Environmental change detector comprising a second storage unit for storing the image information from the image sensor together. The method of claim 3, wherein And the first storage unit is a RAM and the second storage unit is a flash memory. The method of claim 1, The environmental change is a fire environmental detector. The method of claim 1, The chip-based control element is an environmental change detector provided on the back side of the substrate. The method of claim 1, Wherein the lens is a short throw lens environment change detector. A control unit for communicating with the environmental change detector of claim 1; And An environment change response system comprising a response unit for communicating with the environment change detector of claim 1 and / or the control unit, and performing a corresponding operation capable of responding to a type of environment change. Inputting the image information; The image information may be stored in the volatile memory for a predetermined amount of time as a first image information from a certain time before the current time to the current time on the basis of the current time, and determining whether an environmental change has occurred by analyzing the image information; And When it is determined that an environmental change has occurred, the second image information after the environmental change has occurred and the first image information are stored together in a nonvolatile memory using an internal power source, and correspond to the type of the environmental change. A method for responding to environmental changes in which a step in which a corresponding operation is performed is performed. The method of claim 9, The corresponding operation is, Operation of the sprinkler in the place where the fire occurred when the environmental change is a fire, or When the environmental change is an invasion of an outsider, operation of an alarm system and / or a notification system, or If the environmental change is a normal return home, the operation of responding to environmental changes, such as lighting.

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