Image analysis – Pattern recognition – Template matching
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-31
2001-09-04
Boudreau, Leo (Department: 2721)
Image analysis
Pattern recognition
Template matching
C382S112000, C382S141000, C382S145000, C382S151000, C382S218000, C382S294000, C250S201300, C358S401000, C358S406000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285787
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image pickup device and method which takes an image of an object in order to inspect or measure the object employing an image processing technique, and to an image processing device and method for judging if the object is good based on the taken image.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
It is well known to employ an image inspection device which takes an image of an object by an image pickup device to execute matching of the taken input image with a model image as a reference for judging based on a result of the matching whether or not the object is good.
FIG. 19
shows a block diagram of such a conventional image inspection device in which a camera
71
takes an image of an object
70
and the taken input image is displayed on a monitor screen
73
a
of an image display device
73
. On setting the device, an operator adjusts the position relation of the object
70
and the camera
71
by watching the image display device
73
so that the input image
70
p
of the object
70
comes within the range of the monitor screen
73
a
, or by visually observing the blurriness of the input image
70
p
so that it may be focused.
The operator simultaneously watches the input image
70
p
and a region designation image
72
p
of a frame shape produced from the controller
72
which are displayed on the monitor screen
73
a
so that the region designation image
72
p
is overlapped with the input image
70
p
by operating a manipulator
74
for specifying a detection object region.
In such a conventional image inspection device, the input picture
70
p
of the object
70
and the region designating image
72
p
have to be displayed on the monitor image
73
a
of the image display device
73
, whereby there are required an image output function and a graphic process function or the like resulting into an expensive system.
A position of the camera
71
has to be adjusted by an operator confirming the focus of the input image
70
p
with the monitor screen
73
a
for a focus adjustment. Accordingly, the focus adjustment is difficult when the installation position of the camera
71
is far from the installation position of the image display device
73
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide an improved image pickup device or method and an improved image processing device or method which directly projects a region designating image on an object to specify and focus a predetermined region without employing any image display unit so as to take an image of the object and judge the quality of the taken image.
According to a first aspect of this invention, there is provided an image pickup device which includes an image pickup means taking an image of an object which is focused through a lens, and a projecting means for projecting an image of a predetermined shape on the object. In this device, a region designating image may be directly projected on the object by the projecting means, and positional and focal adjustment for a predetermined region may be executed by visually watching the projected image without employing any image display device.
According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided an image pickup device which includes an image pickup means taking an image of an object which is focused through a lens, a projecting means for projecting an image of a predetermined shape on the object, and an illumination means disposed around the lens for illuminating the object. In this device, a region designating image may be directly projected on the object by the projecting means, the projected image may be visually watched illuminating a predetermined region of the object by the illumination means, and positional and focal adjustment for the predetermined region may be executed without employing any image display device.
According to a third aspect of this invention, there is provided an image processing device which processes an image taken by an image pickup device, including an image pickup means taking n image of an object which is focused through a lens and a projecting means for projecting an image of a predetermined shape on the object, to be compared with a predetermined reference or a predetermined image stored beforehand to produce its comparison result. This device may allow the judgment of the quality of the object without employing any image display device.
According to a fourth aspect of this invention, there is provided an image pickup method for projecting an image of a predetermined shape from an image pickup device, and focusing an image on an object surface at a predetermined remote position from the object to take an image of the object. In this method, positional and focal adjustment of a predetermined area may be executed by visually watching the projected image without employing any image display device.
According to a fifth aspect of this invention, there is provided an image pickup method for projecting an image of a predetermined shape from an image pickup device, and focusing an image on a surface of an object at a predetermined remote position from the object, taking an image of the object, processing the taken image to be compared with a predetermined reference or a predetermined image stored beforehand, and producing its comparison result. In this method, the quality of the object may be judged without employing any image display device.
According to a sixth aspect of this invention, there is provided an image pickup device including an image pickup mean: taking an image of an object which is focused through a lens, a projecting means for projecting an image of a predetermined shape on the object, and an illumination means around the lens for illuminating the object, in which all of the means are enclosed in a housing and respectively fixed at their positions within the housing. In this device, a region designating image may be directly projected on the object by the projecting means, and positional and focal adjustment for a predetermined region may be executed by visually watching the projected image without employing any image display device.
According to a seventh aspect of this invention, there is provided an image processing device which includes an A/D converter for converting an output from an image pickup device into a digital signal, an image processing unit for image processing the digitized signal, and an output unit for producing a result of the picture processing, which are respectively enclosed within a housing. In this device, the quality of the object may be judged without employing any image display device.
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European Search Report, Jul. 1, 1999.
Kawachi Masahiro
Masaki Toshimichi
Boudreau Leo
Dickstein , Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, LLP
Mariam Daniel G.
Omron Corporation
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