KR100991833B1 - Image recognition device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an image recognition apparatus capable of recognizing an image even when strong light and weak light are sequentially incident or when strong light and weak light are mixed. The image recognition apparatus includes a camera module including a light receiving lens to recognize an image, a first optical plate to reduce the amount of transmitted light, and a position of the first optical plate so that the first optical plate does not overlap or overlap the light receiving lens. It includes a drive for adjusting the.

ND filter, LCD panel

Description

Image recognition device

The present invention relates to an image recognition apparatus, and more particularly, to an image recognition apparatus capable of recognizing an image even when a strong light and a weak light are incident or a combination of strong and weak light is incident.

Various welding methods, such as gas welding, arc welding, TIG welding, MIG welding, are used as a method for joining a metal member. This welding method emits a high brightness of light during operation.

Since the light emitted during the welding operation cannot be directly observed by the worker, the worker wears protective glasses or a helmet to reduce the light intensity. Such protective glasses or helmets include a neutral density (ND) filter that reduces the amount of light.

On the other hand, as the welding operation is gradually refined and automated, the equipment for monitoring the welding process on a separate screen is required.

In order to monitor the welding process on a screen, an image must be recognized by a camera and transferred to a monitor. However, in order for a camera capable of recognizing an image to recognize an image, light having a predetermined range of intensities must be incident. Therefore, there is a need for a means that can be adjusted so that light having a certain range of intensity is incident on the camera.

Thus, a means for constantly adjusting the intensity of the light input to the camera to monitor the whole process of the welding is needed. In particular, even when light of various intensities are incident at the same time, a structure capable of capturing all with one camera is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image recognition apparatus capable of recognizing an image even when strong light and weak light are sequentially incident or strong light and weak light are incident.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

An image recognition apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is a camera module including a light receiving lens for recognizing an image, a first optical plate for reducing the amount of transmitted light, and the first optical plate And a driver configured to adjust the position of the first optical plate so as not to overlap or overlap the light receiving lens.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recognition apparatus including a camera module including a light receiving lens to recognize an image, and an optical plate including a plurality of optical surfaces overlapping with the light receiving lens and having different light transmission amounts. It includes.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recognition apparatus including a camera module including a light receiving lens to recognize an image, a first polarizing plate and a second polarizing plate overlapping the light receiving lens, and the first And a driver for rotating at least one of the polarizer and the second polarizer.

According to the image recognition apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention as described above, there are the following effects.

First, when a strong light and a weak light are sequentially incident, or when a strong light and a weak light are incident at different positions, it is possible to take an image using one camera.

Second, even when strong light is partially incident, the surrounding environment and the strong light part can be simultaneously observed.

Third, in the case of using pneumatic pressure to adjust the intensity of the light, it is possible to perform a foreign matter removal and internal cooling function in the welding process.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but will be implemented in various forms, and only the present embodiments are intended to complete the disclosure of the present invention, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims.

Hereinafter, an image input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. 1 is a perspective view of an image recognition apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image recognition apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of an optical plate included in the image recognition apparatus of FIG. 1. to be.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the image recognition apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be used according to the intensity of light even when strong light and weak light are sequentially incident on the camera module 20. An apparatus capable of recognizing an image having excellent quality by adjusting the amount of light incident on the camera module 20, the housing 10, the camera module 20, the first optical plate 50, and the second optical plate ( 30) and a drive unit 40.

Specifically, the camera module 20 is a device capable of recognizing or recording an image by recognizing incident light, and refers to any device capable of recording an image on a film or converting the image into a digital signal. The camera module 20 may record a still picture or a moving picture.

In the present specification, image recognition refers to converting a signal into a signal capable of receiving light, recording it in a form that can be visually identified, or reproducing an image that can be visually identified.

The camera module 20 will be described with an example of a digital camera capable of receiving moving picture information in real time and converting it into a digital signal. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various image input means may be used as necessary.

The light receiving lens 25 is formed at one side of the camera module 20. The light receiving lens 25 serves to focus light reflected from the shooting object, and may be formed by overlapping one or more lenses. As such, the light focused by the light receiving lens 25 may be transmitted to an imaging device (not shown) included in the camera module 20.

The imaging device converts and outputs light input through the light receiving lens 25 into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal converted by the imaging device is converted into a digital signal and output.

The digital signal containing the image information is stored in the memory or sent out through various interfaces. The digital signal may be used as a basic signal for displaying an image through a monitor (not shown) or for controlling the driver 40.

The imaging device may be a device in which a charge coupled device (CCD) method, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) method, or the like is applied.

2 and 3, the camera module 20 may be disposed in the housing 10, and the first optical plate 50 is formed on the front surface of the light receiving lens 25. The first optical plate 30 includes an optical surface 53 formed of a ND (Neutral Density) filter or the like capable of reducing the amount of transmitted light. The optical surface 53 may be fixed to the frame 52, and the frame 52 may be connected to the connection bar 51 to adjust the position.

The first optical plate 50 may be formed to overlap the entire surface of the light receiving lens 25 or may be formed to overlap a portion of the light receiving lens 25. The first optical plate 50 as described above may reduce the light transmission amount of very strong light, such as a welding spark, so that the first optical plate 50 may be visually observed.

The position of the first optical plate 50 may be adjusted by the driver 40. The first optical plate 50 may be moved to overlap the light receiving lens 25 only when strong light is incident on the light receiving lens 25, and when the weak light is incident, the first optical plate 50 may overlap with the light receiving lens 25. Can be removed. The first optical plate 50 may be operated by the driving unit 40 to adjust the position of the first optical plate 50.

The driver 40 adjusts the position of the first optical plate 50 to which the first optical plate 50 is fixed so that the optical surface 53 does not overlap or overlap with the light receiving lens 25. The driving unit 40 adjusts the first optical plate 50 so as not to overlap or overlap the light receiving lens 25 by linearly or rotating the first optical plate 50.

The driving unit 40 may be any drive device capable of adjusting the position of the first optical plate 50. For example, the driving unit 40 may use a pneumatic driver, a hydraulic driver, or the like, or may use an electric or electromagnetic drive device such as a motor or a solenoid. As such, the drive unit 40 may be used in combination of one or more of the above drive method.

In the image recognition device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the use of a pneumatic driver is described, but is not limited thereto.

The driving unit 40 using the pneumatic actuator is disposed inside the housing 10 together with the camera module 20. The driving unit 40 may be formed of a pneumatic cylinder or the like, and the driving rod 42 is operated by the air supplied through the pneumatic tube 41 from the outside of the housing 10.

The driving rod 42 is connected to the connection bar 51 of the first optical plate 50 to linearly move the first optical plate 50. The driving rod 42 is driven by the air supplied into the driving unit 40.

Air used to drive the driving rod 42 in the driving unit 40 is discharged out of the driving unit 40 through the hole 43. Such air is compressed air and may be injected through the hole 43 to increase the air pressure inside the housing 10.

In addition, the air injected from the driving unit 40 may cause a constant flow of air inside the housing 10. As such, the air injected from the driving unit 40 may function to cool various components inside the housing 10. For example, the air injected from the driving unit 40 may function to cool various circuits of the camera module 20, and may remove foreign substances that may be attached to the light receiving lens 25 and the first optical plate 50. Can be removed

Air filled at a high pressure inside the housing 10 is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the nozzle 60 and the discharge ports 61 and 62.

The second optical plate 30 may be formed at one side of the housing 10 overlapping the light receiving lens 25. The second optical plate 30 is formed to transmit light to one side of the housing 10 so that the light receiving lens 25 can effectively collect the light. The second optical plate 30 prevents foreign matter from flowing into the housing 10.

The second optical plate 30 may be formed of a protective glass, and may be formed of a lens that can improve light condensing efficiency or a filter that can adjust optical characteristics. For example, the second optical plate 30 may be formed of an ND filter that may reduce the amount of light transmitted like the first optical plate 50.

On the other hand, the second optical plate 30 is a path through which the light incident to the camera module 20 passes, and exposed to the outside of the housing 10 there is a possibility of contamination by foreign matter. At this time, the high pressure air inside the housing 10 may be used to remove the foreign matter attached to the second optical plate 30.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, as described above, air driving the driving unit 40 is injected into the housing 10, and the air pressure inside the housing 10 may be increased. Therefore, the nozzle 60 may be formed on one side of the housing 10 to inject high pressure air toward the second optical plate 30.

In this case, the nozzle 60 may be formed in a slit form, and may be formed to a length sufficient to simultaneously spray high pressure air onto the second optical plate 30.

The air injected through the nozzle 60 serves as a kind of air curtain, thereby preventing contamination before the foreign matter is attached to the second optical plate 30. As such, the nozzle 60 makes it possible to effectively use the image recognition device 1 in a poor site such as a welding site.

The air injected from the driving unit 40 may be injected out through a nozzle formed at one side of the housing 10 along the path ①, and the air injected along the path ① may be injected onto the surface of the second optical plate 30. Can be.

Meanwhile, the air injected along the path ② serves to cool various circuit components mounted in the camera module 20 or components inside the housing 10 as they are injected toward the camera module 20. Air cooled by each component in the housing 10 is discharged to the outside along the discharge port (61).

In addition, the air injected along the path ③ serves to cool the components inside the housing 10 and is injected through the outlet 62 while maintaining the pressure inside the housing 10 properly. Such nozzles 60 and outlets 61 and 62 may be appropriately formed in consideration of the amount of air discharged from the drive unit 40.

4A and 4B are diagrams for describing an operation process of the image recognition device of FIG. 1.

First, referring to FIG. 4A, before starting a welding operation, the base material P, the welding rod N, and the surrounding environment may be visually observed.

Before starting welding, natural light is reflected, making all objects visible to the naked eye. In this case, the light incident on the camera module 20 may be photographed without being processed by a separate filter.

Next, referring to FIG. 4B, a welding operation is started and sparks are generated between the base material P and the welding rod N, and powerful light is emitted along with the sparks. Light emitted with the flame may be out of the range that the camera module 20 can shoot.

At this time, the first optical plate 50 is used to adjust the intensity of light within the range of light that the camera module 20 can photograph. Specifically, when the welding operation is scheduled, the driving unit 40 is operated to move the first optical plate 50 to overlap with the light receiving lens 25.

Therefore, the camera module 20 photographs the light whose light amount is reduced through the first optical plate 50.

The first optical plate 50 may automatically move the camera module 20 by detecting light. In detail, when a welding operation is started and strong light is emitted, the camera module 20 recognizes this and when the light intensity exceeds a predetermined range, the driving unit 40 is operated to operate the first optical plate 50 to receive the light receiving lens ( Overlap with 25).

The method of operating the first optical plate 50 is not limited to a method of recognizing and controlling light by the camera module 20, and may be variously applied, such as using a separate optical sensor or controlling by manual. There will be.

5 is a plan view of the optical plate of FIG. 3 with the welding sparks blocked.

Referring to FIG. 5, the welding spark F may pass through the first optical plate 50 and be visually observed. In other words, the welding spark F, which has been significantly reduced in light amount by the first optical plate 50, has a reduced light intensity to be observed with the naked eye and can be photographed by the camera module 20.

Hereinafter, an image recognition apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 through 11E. 6 is a plan view of an image recognition apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a plan view of an optical plate included in the image recognition apparatus of FIG. 6, and FIGS. 8A to 8C are image recognition of FIG. 6. A diagram for explaining the operation of the device.

First, referring to FIG. 6, the image recognition device 1 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include the first optical plate 150 and the second optical plate 30 in front of the light receiving lens 25 of the camera module 20. )). In this case, the first optical plate 150 is a multi-stage ND filter or LCD (liquid crystal display) panel. While describing the present embodiment, a separate driving device for adjusting the position of the first optical plate 150 will not be described, but various drivers described in the above-described first embodiment may be used.

The image recognition device 1 ′ includes a camera module 20, a first optical plate 150, a second optical plate 30, and a housing 110.

The camera module 20 is disposed in the housing 110, and the first optical plate 150 is disposed to overlap the light receiving lens 25 of the camera module 20.

The second optical plate 30 is formed at one side of the housing 110 to allow light incident on the camera module 20 to pass therethrough. As such, the housing 110 may be formed in a sealed structure so that foreign matter does not flow into the camera module 20 therein.

As described above, the first optical plate 150 may be driven by the driving unit, and may be fixed to overlap the camera module 20. The first optical plate 150 is divided into a plurality of optical surfaces 153, 154, and 155 and fixed to the frame 52.

When the camera module 20 emits strong light only in a part of an object to be photographed, and weak light is emitted in the remaining part, the first optical body in which the optical surfaces 153, 154, and 155 having different light transmittances are arranged in multiple stages. Plate 150 may be used. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the optical surface 153 having a very small light transmission amount and the optical surfaces 154 and 155 having a relatively large light transmission amount are formed in a portion of the first optical plate 150. Can be deployed. The arrangement and area of the optical surfaces 153, 154, and 155 may be variously modified according to a photographing target. For example, the first optical plate 150 may have optical surfaces 153, 154, and 155 arranged in a stripe shape.

8A to 8C are diagrams for describing an operation process of the image recognition device of FIG. 6.

First, FIG. 8A illustrates an object to be photographed. As the welding rod N is disposed close to the base material P, the welding operation is not started and can be observed with the naked eye.

Next, referring to FIG. 8B, the photographing object is observed through the first optical plate 150 before the welding operation is started. In this case, the first optical plate 150 is divided into a plurality of optical surfaces 153, 154, and 155, and the optical surfaces 153, 154 and 155 having a low light emission amount are formed of the base material P and the welding rod N of the welded portion. ), And the optical surfaces 153, 154, and 155 having a high light emission amount overlap with the rest.

Portions obscured by the optical surfaces 153, 154 and 155 having a low light emission amount are not visually observed, and portions concealed by the optical surfaces 153, 154 and 155 with a high light emission amount can be visually observed.

Next, referring to FIG. 8C, when the welding operation starts, the welding spark F is observed through the first optical plate 150. That is, the welding spark F can be observed to be visually identifiable through the optical surfaces 153, 154, and 155 having low light transmittance due to the strong light intensity, and the optical surfaces 153, 154 and 155 having high light transmittance. Through the environment is observed.

Therefore, the operator can observe the surrounding environment and the object together with the welding spark F of the welding site, and can raise the accuracy of welding.

Meanwhile, the optical surfaces 153, 154, and 155 having a low light emission amount can be adjusted to various sizes and shapes according to the size or shape of the welding spark F. FIG.

8A to 8B described above are applicable to the case where the first optical plate 150 is formed of an ND filter or an LCD panel. That is, when formed with an ND filter, the optical surface having a variety of light transmission characteristics can be formed in advance and arranged in accordance with the welding site, when formed with an LCD panel, divided into a plurality of optical surfaces formed to fit the situation You can adjust the amount of light emitted.

FIG. 9 is a first modified embodiment of the optical plate of FIG. 7.

In the first optical plate 250, a plurality of optical surfaces 253, 254, 255, and 256 may be arranged in a concentric shape. That is, when the first optical plate 250 is used for a point light source that emits strong light, the first optical plate 250 may have optical surfaces 253, 254, 255, and 256 having different light transmittances arranged in concentric circles. Can be. As the optical surfaces 253, 254, 255, and 256 are disposed from the center to the outside, the light emission amount may increase.

Meanwhile, when the first optical plate 250 is formed of an LCD panel, the concentric optical surfaces 253, 254, 255, and 256 may be controlled, respectively, and the optical surfaces 253, 254, 255, and 256 may be controlled. ) Can adjust the light emission amount as needed.

FIG. 10 is a second modified embodiment of the optical plate of FIG. 7.

In the first optical plate 350, a plurality of optical surfaces S11 to Snm may be arranged in a matrix form. The first optical plate 350 may be formed of an ND filter or an LCD panel. When the first optical plate 350 is formed of an LCD panel, each optical surface S11 to Snm may be independently controlled.

11A to 11E are diagrams for describing an image processing method of the image recognition apparatus including the optical plate of FIG. 10.

First, referring to FIG. 11A, an image is input through a first optical plate 350 in which a plurality of optical surfaces S11 to Snm in which light emission amounts are adjusted.

Before the welding operation is started, the base material P and the welding rod N may be observed through the entire optical surfaces S11 to Snm of the first optical plate 350. In this case, the first optical plate 350 may be adjusted to the entire optical surface (S11 ~ Snm) transparent.

Next, referring to FIG. 11B, when light having a luminance greater than or equal to the first optical plate 350 is incident, the light emission amount of the optical surfaces S11 to Snm through which the light is incident is adjusted.

The welding operation is started to adjust the light transmittance of the entire optical surfaces S11 to Snm of the first optical plate 350 to be reduced. In particular, the light transmission amount of the optical surface (S _{i, j} , S _{i + 1, j} ) superimposed with the portion where the welding spark (not shown) is generated can be significantly reduced. In this case, the welding spark may not be observed through the first optical plate 350.

Next, referring to FIG. 11C, the light emission amount of the optical surfaces S _{i, j} , S _{i + 1, j} through which light is directly transmitted among the plurality of optical surfaces S11 to Snm is adjusted.

By adjusting the light emission amount of the optical surface (S _{i, j} , S _{i + 1, j} ) superimposed on the portion where the welding spark (F) is generated, the welding spark (F) can be observed. That is, when the light emission amount of the optical surface (S _{i, j} , S _{i + 1, j} ) is slightly increased, the welding spark F can be visually observed.

Next, referring to FIGS. 11D and 11E, when the portion for welding operation moves, the optical surfaces S _{i, j + 1} , S _{i + 1, j + 1} or overlapping with the welding spark F The amount of light emitted from S _{i, j + 2} , S _{i + 1, j + 2} ) can be adjusted sequentially. That is, when the welding spark F moves sequentially as shown in FIGS. 11D and 11E, the optical surfaces S _{i, j + 1} , S _{i + 1, j + 1} or overlapping with the welding spark F are provided. The light emission amount of S _{i, j + 2} , S _{i + 1, j + 2} ) may be sequentially lowered.

Hereinafter, an image recognition apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 12 to 13B. 12 is a plan view of an image recognition apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams for describing an operation process of the image recognition apparatus of FIG. 12.

The image recognition device 1 ″ according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention uses the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 each including a polarizing plate to receive the light receiving lens 25 of the camera module 20. Overlap with to adjust the amount of light emitted.

Referring to FIG. 12, a first optical plate 450 overlapping the light receiving lens 25 of the camera module 20 is disposed inside the housing 110, and the first optical plate 4 50 is the driving unit 440. Is operated by).

The second optical plate 430 overlapping the light receiving lens 25 and the first optical plate 450 is disposed at one side of the housing 110. As described above, the camera module 20 recognizes light passing through the second optical plate 430, the first optical plate 450, and the light receiving lens 25.

The first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 each include a polarizing plate having a polarization axis in one direction. That is, when the polarization axes of the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 form a right angle, light is blocked, and the polarization axes are parallel to each other or have a predetermined angle to adjust the amount of transmitted light. .

At least one of the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 may be rotated by the driving unit 440.

Referring to FIG. 13A, the polarization axes of the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 remain parallel to each other before the welding operation. In this case, when the polarization axes of the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 are kept parallel, all of the light may be transmitted.

Accordingly, the base material P and the welding rod N may be observed through the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430, and the camera module 20 may recognize the image.

Referring to FIG. 13B, when the welding operation is started, the polarization axes of the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 may be adjusted to be perpendicular to each other. As such, the polarization axes of the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 are adjusted to be substantially perpendicular to each other, such that the amount of light transmitted through the first optical plate 450 and the second optical plate 430 is transmitted. By controlling the welding spark (F) can be visually observed. That is, the camera module 20 can photograph the welding spark (F).

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive.

1 is a perspective view of an image recognition device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image recognition device of FIG. 1.

3 is a plan view of an optical plate included in the image recognition device of FIG. 1.

4A and 4B are diagrams for describing an operation process of the image recognition device of FIG. 1.

5 is a plan view of the optical plate of FIG. 3 with the welding sparks blocked.

6 is a plan view of an image recognition device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an optical plate included in the image recognition device of FIG. 6.

8A to 8C are diagrams for describing an operation process of the image recognition device of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a first modified embodiment of the optical plate of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a second modified embodiment of the optical plate of FIG. 7.

11A to 11E are diagrams for describing an image processing method of the image recognition apparatus including the optical plate of FIG. 10.

12 is a plan view of an image recognition device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

13A and 13B are diagrams for describing an operation process of the image recognition device of FIG. 12.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: Image recognition device 10: Housing

20: camera module 25: light receiving lens

30: second optical plate 40: drive unit

50: first optical plate 60: nozzle

61, 62: outlet

Claims (23)

A camera module including a light receiving lens to recognize an image; A first optical plate for reducing the amount of transmitted light; A driver including a pneumatic driver for adjusting the position of the first optical plate so that the first optical plate does not overlap or overlaps the light receiving lens; A housing accommodating the camera module, the first optical plate, and the driving unit; And And a second optical plate formed on one side of the housing so as to overlap with the light receiving lens, wherein air passing through the pneumatic driver is injected into the second optical plate. The method of claim 1, And the driving unit performs a linear motion or a rotational motion of the first optical plate. delete delete delete The method of claim 1, And a nozzle formed at one side of the housing toward the second optical plate, wherein the air is injected into the second optical plate through the nozzle. The method of claim 6, And the nozzle is a slit nozzle. The method of claim 1, Air passing through the pneumatic actuator is injected into the housing. The method of claim 1, The second optical plate is any one of a transparent glass plate and a light amount control filter. The method of claim 1, The first optical plate is at least one of a Neutral Density (ND) filter and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. The method of claim 10, And the first optical plate includes a plurality of optical surfaces having different light transmission amounts. The method of claim 11, And a plurality of optical surfaces of the optical recognition device. The method of claim 11, And the plurality of optical surfaces are a stripe array, a matrix array, or a concentric array. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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