JPH0514314B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the number of objects to be measured by capturing an image using a one-dimensional imaging means such as an image sensor.

[Prior Art and its Problems] Conventionally, no device has been developed for rapidly counting the number of objects to be measured (eg, objects to be measured, etc.).

〔the purpose〕

An object of the present invention is to provide a device that can quickly count the number of objects.

〔Example〕

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an object whose size, number, etc. are to be measured, and 2 is an imaging means that faces the object 1 and takes an image of the object, and is equipped with a light receiving element such as a photodiode array. This imaging means 2
The method projects light from a light source (not shown) onto the surface of the object 1 and captures an image of the reflected light. It is also possible to image the transmitted light of 1.

On the other hand, the object 1 is moved in the direction of arrow A (direction perpendicular to the imaging means) by a moving means such as a belt conveyor. Reference numeral 3 denotes a scan drive circuit which sequentially scans and drives the optical image from the object 1 photographed on the imaging means 2. Thus object 1 is 2
It is imaged dimensionally by the imaging means 2.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an analog amplifier circuit that amplifies the video signal from the imaging means 2 and shapes the waveform.

5 is a measuring means that analyzes the waveform of the video signal from the analog amplifier circuit 4 and sets the part where the object 1 exists as "1" and the part where it does not exist as "0".
In addition to converting the video signal into a binary signal with Count the positions of on the x-axis.

6 is a determining means, and 2 from the measuring means 5.
The position of "1" or "0" in the digitized signal is determined by comparing adjacent scan data from the imaging device 2.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a display means for displaying the judgment output of the judgment means 6.

8 is an external control signal input means, which
It accepts a control signal that defines the interval for imaging by the imaging means 2 and the timing of imaging.

Reference numeral 9 is an external output means, which transmits the judgment output of the judgment means 6 to the outside.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a line means that accepts remote control signals and the like for controlling the imaging means 2 from a remote location and transmits the determination output of the determination means 6 to the remote location.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an internal power supply, which supplies power to internal circuits such as the imaging means 2, the scan drive circuit 3, the analog amplifier circuit 4, the measurement means 5, the determination means 6, and the display means 7.

FIG. 2A shows an object 1 and a video signal obtained by imaging the object 1 by the imaging means 2, which is binarized by the measuring means 5. In the figure, the square blocks indicated by diagonal lines indicate the binarized signals.

Two-dimensional imaging is performed by the imaging means 2 and the moving means, and the number of bits on the y-axis (vertical bit axis) is set to, for example, 14 (that is, the number of scanning lines is set to 14).

FIG. 2B shows an input signal to the determination means 6 and a mode of signal processing within the determination means 6, and the reference point R of each scanning line is used as the origin, and the rising and falling positions are indicated by arrows.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the determining means 6, which includes:
The binary signal from the measuring means 5 is read by the data reading means 33 for each scanning line, and the current data storage means 23
stores the positions of "1" and "0" of the video signal of the scanning line currently being imaged. When scanning progresses to the next scanning line and new data arrives, the data stored in the current data storage means 23 is transferred to the data storage means 20.

Current data storage means 23 and previous data storage means 2
0 is accompanied by a current data number storage means 24 and a previous data number storage means 21, respectively, which store the number of data "1" of the video signal of the scanning line currently being scanned and the data "1" of the video signal of the previous scanning line. The number of "1" is memorized.

The current data marking means 25 and the previous data marking means 22 are also attached to the current data storage means 23 and the previous data storage means 20, respectively, and mark data "1" of the video signal of the scanning line currently being scanned. It operates to attach a mark number to the "1" part of the video signal data of the previous scanning line and the previous scanning line.

The next mark storage means 26 stores the highest value of mark numbers used up to now, and instructs which number to assign next time.

The position comparing means 27 compares the rising position and falling position of the data of the previous scanning line and the data of the scanning line currently being scanned.

The single processing means 28 detects the degree of overlap between the data of the previous scanning line and the data of the scanning line currently being scanned based on the comparison output of the position comparison means 27, and detects the degree of overlap between the data of the previous scanning line and the data of the scanning line currently being scanned. Determine if there is an overlapping portion.

Based on the comparison output of the position comparing means 27, the duplication processing means 29 determines whether the data of the previous scanning line includes a plurality of pieces of data of the scanning line currently being scanned, or conversely, if the data of the scanning line currently being scanned includes the data of the scanning line currently being scanned. It is determined whether a plurality of data of scanning lines are included.

In the current data marking means 25, when attaching a mark number to data, based on the judgment results from the single processing means 28 and the duplicate processing means 29, the next mark storage means is applied to the data appearing for the first time. Attach the memorized mark number to 26. In addition, when multiple pieces of data of the previous scanning line are included in the data of the current scanning line, for example, if the data of the previous scanning line has mark numbers "1", "3", and "4", "1" ” and all of them are included in a certain part of the data of the scanning line currently being scanned, mark that data with the maximum value “4” of the scanning line currently being scanned. Put on. In this case, the mark changing means 30 stores, based on the signals from both the marking means 22 and 25, that mark numbers "1" and "3" have been absorbed into mark number "4".

Based on the signal from the current data marking means 25, the mark number monitoring means 31 counts and stores the number of data to which the same mark number is attached for each scanning line and for each mark number. For example, two mark numbers "1" and one mark number "3" are stored.

The number counting means 32 counts the number of objects 1, and the existence of one object means that the number of any one mark number in the mark number monitoring means 31 becomes "0". is detected and counted as one object 1.

The external input reading means 34 reads an external signal from the external control signal input means 8, the line input reading means 35 reads a signal from the line means 10,
Signals from external control signal input means 8 and line means 10 are supplied to input/output control means 39, respectively.

The display control means 38 supplies the judgment output from the input/output control means 39 to the display means 7, and the external output control means 37 and the line output means 36 supply the input/output stage to the external output means 9 and the line means 10, respectively. A judgment output from the control means 39 is supplied.

The apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above, and operates as described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

A two-dimensional binary signal as shown in FIG.
3 and recorded in the current data storage means 23. The operation of the determining means 6 in each scan will be exemplified below.

[First time] Since the object has not yet been captured and there is no rising or falling edge (data) of the binary signal from the measuring means 5, the previous data marking means 22, the current data marking means 25, There is no data in either mark changing means 30 or mark number monitoring means 31. The number counting means 32 is "0", and the next mark storage means 26 stores the first mark number "1" since no mark number has been used yet.

[Second time] The data of the previous scan line (first scan) (hereinafter referred to as previous data) is transferred to the previous data storage means 20, and the data of the second current scan line (hereinafter referred to as current data) is transferred to the previous data storage means 20. ) is stored in the current data storage means 23. Since the current data has a rising edge and a portion of "1" appears, the current data marking means 25
becomes "1", and the mark number monitoring means 31 also becomes "1". Since the mark number "1" was used, the next time the mark storage means 26 will be "2".

[Third time] Two “1”s appear in the current data. When compared with the previous data, the current data overlaps the "1" portion of the previous data, so the current data marking means 25 indicates "1, 1". In the mark number monitoring means 31, "1" becomes 2.

[Fourth time] Three "1" parts appear in the current data, and from the positional relationship detected by comparison with the previous data (data of the third scan) in the position comparing means 27,
The first "1" and the last "1" overlap with the previous data, but the middle "1" does not overlap.

Therefore, the current data marking means is “1, 2,
1", the mark changing means 30 becomes "1, 2", and the mark number monitoring means 31 changes "1" to 2,
“2” becomes 1.

[Fifth time] Five "1" parts appear in the current data, and by comparison with the previous data (data of the fourth scan) in the position comparison means 27, the first and The third one does not overlap with the previous data,
The current data marking means 25 is “3, 1, 4, 2,
1", and the mark number monitoring means reads "2, 1,
1, 1". Also, the next time the mark recording means 26 adds "3" to the current data, it becomes "4".
Similarly, when you add "4", it becomes "5".

[6th session] Three “1” parts appear in the current data, and the first
The item overlaps with the "3" mark in the previous data, so it is marked with the number "3". 2
The first "1" overlaps the mark part of "1" in the previous data, so it is labeled "1", but it also overlaps with the mark part of the next "4" in the previous data, so , change to the larger number “4”.
At this time, since "1" has been absorbed into "4", the corresponding number "1" in mark change 30 is also changed to "4". The third part of the "1" part of the current data overlaps with the part marked "2" in the previous data, so it is labeled "2", but it also overlaps with the part marked "1" in the previous data. It's summery. Mark changing means 30
In , “1” has already been absorbed into “4”, so the “2” part of this current data is also “4”.
Change to Therefore, "2" has also been absorbed into "4", and the mark changing means 30 has written "1, 2,
3,4” is changed to “4,4,3,4”.

As a result, the contents of the mark number counting means 32 become "2, 1, 1, 2". Here, the number of absorbed marks with mark numbers "1" and "2" remains the same as the previous number of marks.

[No. 12] Two "1" parts appear in the current data. The first one overlaps with the "3" mark part of the previous data, so it is marked "3". Since the corresponding number "3" of the mark changing means 30 has not been absorbed into any other number, "3" is added as is. Since the second one overlaps with the "4" mark part of the previous data, the corresponding number in the mark changing means 30 is referred to and "4" is directly added to this part. The "4" portion of the current data also overlaps with the third "4" marked portion of the previous data. The mark number monitoring means 31 indicates "3".
I remember that there was one "4" and one "4".

[13th time] One part of the current data "1" appears, but since this overlaps with the mark part of "3" of the previous data, refer to the corresponding number on the mark changing means 30 and select " Add 3”. Mark number monitoring means 3
1, the number of "4"s becomes 0, so the number counting means 32 becomes "1". In other words, one target object has been detected.

[No. 14] All current data is gone. Regarding "3" which was recorded last time, when the mark number monitoring means 31 is referred to, it is "0". Therefore, the number counting means 32 becomes "2". In other words, another object has been detected.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, in step 101 "Initial Processing", various means included in the apparatus of the present invention are cleared and input/output information for controlling the present invention is set.

Next, in step 102 "scan drive", 1
The image data is read into the data reading means 33 and stored in the previous data storage means 20.

In step 103 ``number processing'', the number of rising edges and falling edges of the data in the previous data storage means 20 obtained in step 102 is counted and stored in the previous data number storage means.

Next, in step 104 "scan drive", the next (second) scan is performed and new imaging data is stored in the current data storage means 23, and then in step 105, the rising edge and rising edge of the current data are The number of falling pieces is counted and stored in the current data number storage means 24 in step 106.

Next, in step 107 ``Processing Routine'', processes such as comparing the previous data and the current data and adding marks are performed. In step 108, the number of current data is transferred to the previous data number storage means in order to use the number of current data as the number of previous data for the next scan.

In step 109, it is determined whether the scanning has reached the set value, and if it has not reached the set value, the step is continued.
Proceeding to step 110, it is determined whether the external signal is falling, and if it is not falling, the process returns to step 104 and repeats the loop. If the scanning reaches the set value in step 109, the process proceeds to step 111, where the determination result is output to display means, external means, line means, etc.

In step 110, when the external input signal falls, the process proceeds to step 111, where the determination result is similarly output and processed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the number of objects can be quickly counted regardless of the shape of the objects.

Furthermore, since the processing method according to the present invention consists of processing that always moves forward, there is no need to go back, and the processing time can be further shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the object and the signal processing mode according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the object and the signal processing mode according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the determining means, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Target, 2...Imaging means, 3...Scan drive circuit, 4...Analog amplifier circuit, 5...Measuring means, 6...Determination means, 7...Display means, 8...
...External control signal input means, 9...External output means,
10...Line means, 11...Internal power supply, 20...
Previous data recording means, 21... Previous data number recording means, 22... Previous data marking means, 23... Current data recording means, 24... Current data number recording means, 25... Current data marking means, 26 ...Next time mark recording means, 27...Position comparison means, 28
...Single processing means, 29...Double processing means, 30
...Mark changing means, 31... Mark number monitoring means, 32... Number counting means, 33... Data reading means, 34... External input reading means, 35...
Circuit input reading means, 37...external output control means,
38...display control means, 39...input/output control means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Imaging means for one-dimensionally scanning and imaging an object; moving means for moving the object in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the imaging means in response to the scanning; storage means for converting the imaging signal from the imaging means into a signal having a value corresponding to the presence or absence of an object and storing it for each scan; and a comparison means for comparing the positions of the parts indicating the presence of the object, and based on the comparison results of the comparison means, it is determined that there is no overlap with respect to the overlapping state of the parts indicating the presence of the object between mutually adjacent scans. If there is one overlap, a new mark is attached to the part indicating the presence of the object, and if there is one overlap, the same mark as the mark attached to the part indicating the presence of the object in the previous scan is added to the part indicating the presence of the object in the current scan. If the part indicating the existence of an object in the current scan overlaps with the part indicating the existence of an object to which multiple different marks have been attached, a mark that matches the latest mark is attached. A number counting device characterized by comprising: a determining means for marking a part indicating the presence of an object in the current scan, and determining the number of objects by monitoring the continuity of the object using the mark. 2. In the device according to claim 1,
The determining means performs a first determination process of determining whether a portion indicating the presence of an object in the imaging signal in the J+1st scan appears at a position that was not present in the imaging signal in the Jth (J: natural number) scan. and second determination processing means for determining whether the position where the object exists in the imaging signal in the Jth scan includes a plurality of portions indicating the presence of the object in the imaging signal in the J+1st scan. and a third determination for determining whether the positions of the plurality of portions indicating the presence of the object in the imaging signal in the J-th scan are included in the portions indicating the presence of the object in the imaging signal in the J+1-th scan. and a fourth determination processing means for determining whether a portion indicating the presence of an object that was present in the imaging signal in the J-th scan has disappeared from the corresponding position in the imaging signal in the J+1-th scanning. A piece counting device featuring: