JPH10143629A - Picture input controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture input controller for applying an image pickup timing for exactly capturing an object moving at an unequal speed by a camera. SOLUTION: A moving amount counting part 4 counts the moving amount of an object from a relative pulse outputted by a moving amount detector 3, and outputs a moving amount counting signal. An image pickup controlling part 5 outputs a picture inputting command to a camera 6 when a moving amount obtained by the moving distance counting signal since a passage detection signal from a passage detector 2 is inputted reaches the moving amount equivalent to separation between the detection axis of the passage detector 2 and the image pickup axis of the camera 6. Therefore, even when the object moves at an unequal speed, the picture inputting command is outputted when the moving amount equivalent to the separation between the passage detector 2 and the camera 6 is detected. Thus, even when the object moves at an unequal speed, the image pickup by the camera 6 can be made always constant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input control device for accurately executing an image pickup timing for recognizing an image of an object moving at a non-constant speed by using a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to capture an image of a moving object, it is necessary to detect that the object has passed a predetermined position before image input in order to measure the timing of image pickup by a camera.
An image input control device for controlling image input of the camera is provided. FIG. 4 shows a conventional configuration of this image input control device.

In FIG. 4, a conventional image input control device includes a passage detector 21 for detecting that an object has passed a predetermined position before image input, and a passage detector 21 for detecting the passage of the object.
The clock is counted from the time when the passage is detected, and the delay amount until the object moves from the position of the passage detector 21 to the position where the camera 23 is disposed is counted. When the count of the delay amount reaches a predetermined amount. An imaging control device 22 that outputs an image input command to the camera 23 is provided.

[0004]

However, when the movement of the object is not constant speed, there is a problem that an error occurs in the timing of image input because the amount of movement of the object does not match the amount of delay. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an image input control device which can match image input timings even when an object is moving at a non-constant speed. It is intended to provide.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for detecting an image input timing for capturing an image of an object moving at a non-constant speed by a camera. An image input control device that detects that the object has passed a predetermined position, and outputs a passage detection signal by detecting that the object has passed a predetermined position, based on the detection signal; Passage detection means, movement detection means for outputting a relative pulse corresponding to a unit movement amount of the object, and movement amount for outputting a movement distance count signal which counts the movement amount of the object by counting the relative pulses A movement corresponding to a separation distance between the detection axis of the passage detection means and the imaging axis of the camera, wherein the movement amount based on the movement distance counting signal from the input of the passage detection signal is the counting means; And characterized by being provided with an imaging control means for outputting an image input instruction to the camera when it reached.

According to the above arrangement, the moving amount counting means counts the moving amount of the object from the relative pulse output by the moving amount detecting means and outputs a moving amount counting signal. An image input command is output to the camera when the movement amount based on the movement distance count signal reaches a movement amount corresponding to a separation distance between the detection axis of the passage detection unit and the imaging axis of the camera from the time of input. I do. Therefore,
Even if the target is moving at a non-constant speed, the image input command is output when the moving amount corresponding to the separation distance between the passage detection means and the camera is detected, so that the imaging by the camera is always constant. .

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention.
The embodiment described below is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image input control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an image of an object conveyed by a belt conveyor using the image input control device according to the embodiment. It is a perspective view showing the composition applied to recognition.

In FIG. 1, an image input control device 1 detects that an object has passed a predetermined position before image input and outputs a pass detection signal (pass detection means).
2, a movement detector (movement detecting means) 3 for outputting a movement amount relative pulse corresponding to the unit movement amount of the object, and a movement amount of the object by calculating the movement amount of the object by counting the movement amount relative pulse. The shutter camera 6 includes a moving amount counting unit (moving amount counting unit) 4 that outputs a counting signal, and an imaging control unit 5 that determines an imaging timing from the passage detection signal and the moving amount counting signal. Controls the timing of image input.

According to an example in which the above configuration is applied to image recognition of an object conveyed by a belt conveyor shown in FIG.
The operation will be described. FIG. 2 is configured so that the object 10 conveyed by the belt conveyor 9 is imaged by the camera 6 and image recognition is performed, so that the object 6 can be accurately imaged by the camera 6 disposed at a predetermined position. .

In FIG. 2, from an imaging axis 6a of a camera 6 for imaging an object 10 conveyed by a belt conveyor 9,
A passage detector 2 constituted by a transmission sensor is disposed on a passage detection shaft 2a separated by a predetermined distance on the upstream side in the conveying direction by the belt conveyor 9. A predetermined distance between the camera 6 and the passage detector 2 is a delay amount. When the passage detector 2 detects the passage of the object 10 and the object 10 moves by the delay amount, the camera 6 takes an image. If executed, an image input required for image recognition to the camera 6 is accurately made.

As the movement amount detector 3 for detecting the delay amount, a rotary encoder for measuring the rotation amount of the drive shaft of the belt conveyor 9 is provided. Since this rotary encoder outputs a relative pulse corresponding to the rotation amount of the drive shaft of the belt conveyor 9, that is, the movement amount of the belt conveyor 9, the movement amount of the object 10 is counted by the movement amount counting unit 4. Can be detected.

The distance L between the passage detection axis 2a of the passage detector 2 and the imaging axis 6a of the camera 6 corresponding to the delay amount is a known amount that can be measured when the passage detector 2 and the camera 6 are installed. This separation distance L is input to the imaging control unit 5 in advance, and the relative pulse count by the movement amount counting unit 4 corresponds to the separation distance L from the time when the passage detection signal is input from the passage detector 2. When the movement amount is reached, an image input command is output to the camera 6. Therefore, an accurate imaging timing can be obtained even if the moving speed of the belt conveyor 9 is non-constant or extremely stopped.

As shown in FIG. 1, a moving amount setting unit 7 is provided for inputting the separation distance L to the imaging control unit 5, from which a passing detection axis 2a of the passing detector 2 and an imaging axis 6 of the camera 6 are provided.
A known distance between the user and a can be input.

When the separation distance L is input from the movement amount setting unit 7, the imaging control unit 5 starts moving the movement amount from the time when the passage detection signal from the passage detector 2 is inputted, as shown in FIG. The counting unit 4 is a movement detector 3 (rotary encoder)
When the value obtained by counting the number of output pulses becomes a value corresponding to the separation distance L, a capture start pulse for image input is output. Since the camera 6 starts imaging by input of the start pulse, the camera 6 accurately captures the object 10 even if the movement of the object 10 is not uniform, and obtains an accurate image for image recognition. be able to.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the movement amount counting means counts the movement amount of the object from the relative pulse output from the movement amount detection means and outputs a movement amount counting signal, so The control means is configured such that when a movement amount based on the movement distance counting signal reaches a movement amount corresponding to a separation distance between a detection axis of the passage detection means and an imaging axis of the camera from the time when the passage detection signal is input, Outputs an image input command to the camera. Therefore, even if the target is moving at a non-constant speed, the image input command is output when the moving amount corresponding to the separation distance between the passage detecting means and the camera is detected, so that the imaging by the camera is always constant. Therefore, it is possible to accurately capture an image of an object moving at a non-constant speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image input control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of image recognition to which the image input control device is applied.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating an operation of the image input control device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image input control device according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image input control device 2 Passage detector (passage detection means) 3 Movement detector (movement detection means) 4 Movement amount counting part (movement amount counting means) 5 Imaging control part (imaging control means) 6 Camera 10 Object

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for detecting the timing of image input for capturing an object moving at a non-constant speed by a camera, detecting that the object has passed a predetermined position before image input, and detecting a detection signal. An image input control device that causes the camera to perform an image pickup operation based on the following: a passage detection unit that detects that the object has passed a predetermined position and outputs a passage detection signal, and corresponds to a unit movement amount of the object. Movement detection means for outputting a relative pulse,
A movement amount counting unit that outputs a movement distance count signal that counts the movement amount of the object by counting the relative pulse,
When the movement amount based on the movement distance count signal from the input of the passage detection signal reaches the movement amount corresponding to the separation distance between the detection axis of the passage detection means and the imaging axis of the camera, an image is displayed on the camera. An image input control device comprising: an imaging control unit that outputs an input command.