Image Processing Sensor System, Image Processing Sensor Control Method, And Image Processing Sensor Used In Image Processing Sensor System

• US 20150042788A1
• Filed: 07/11/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Original Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Kaoru
• Granted Patent: US 10,194,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/662 by using master/slave camera arrangements for affecting the control of camera image capture, e.g. placing the camera in a desirable condition to capture a desired image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, an image processing sensor system may include a plurality of image processing sensors each including an imaging device having an imaging unit imaging an inspection target and a lighting unit projecting light onto the inspection target, and an image processing device performing image processing on image data acquired in the imaging device and determining whether the inspection target is defective or non-defective, wherein the image processing sensors being are connected to each other so that data communication of data including the image data can be performed therebetween, and wherein a first image processing sensor transmits a signal relating to the completion of projecting light projecting light to a second image processing sensor, and the second image processing sensor starts projecting light and imaging and projection after receiving the signal relating the completion of projecting light.

Claims

1. An image processing sensor system comprising:

a plurality of image processing sensors each including

an imaging device having an imaging unit imaging an inspection target and a lighting unit projecting light onto the inspection target, and

an image processing device performing image processing on image data acquired in the imaging device and determining whether the inspection target is defective or non-defective,

wherein the image processing sensors are connected to each other so that data communication of data including the image data can be performed therebetween, and

wherein the plurality of image processing sensors includes a first image processing sensor and a second image processing sensor which is adjacently provided to the first image processing sensor,

the first image processing sensor transmits a signal relating to the completion of projecting light to the second image processing sensor, and

the second image processing sensor starts projecting light and imaging after receiving the signal relating the completion of projecting light.

2. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the first image processing sensor transmits the signal relating to the completion of projecting light to the second image processing sensor after completing projecting light and imaging and before starting image processing in the image processing device.

3. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the first image processing sensor starts image processing of an image corresponding to the signal relating to the completion of projecting light after the second image processing sensor starts imaging and projection.

4. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein

the first image processing sensor transmits the signal relating to the completion of projecting light to the second image processing sensor after completing projecting light and imaging and starting image processing, and

the second image processing sensor starts projecting light and imaging after receiving the signal relating to the completion of projecting light.

5. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of groups each including one or a plurality of image processing sensors are formed,

the groups include at least a first group and a second group,

an image processing sensor in the first group transmits the signal relating to the completion of projecting light to another image processing sensor in the first group, and

an image processing sensor in the first group, the image processing sensor being connected to an image processing sensor of the second group, does not transmit the signal relating to the completion of projecting light to another image processing sensor, or

an image processing sensor in the second group, the image processing sensor being connected to an image processing sensor in the first group, starts projecting light and imaging independently of the signal relating to the completion of projecting light transmitted from an image processing sensor connected to the image processing sensor in the first group.

6. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein a third image processing sensor has a communication interface and is configured to transmit the image data acquired in the imaging device of the third image processing sensor to an external computer of display device via the communication interface, and

other image processing sensors than the third image processing sensor are configured to transmit an image data acquired in the imaging device thereof to the external computer of display device via the communication interface of the third image processing sensors.

7. The image processing sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of image processing sensors has an Ethernet switch, respectively, and

the other image processing sensors are configured to transmit the image data to the external computer or display device via the Ethernet switch of the third image processing sensor and the communication interface.

8. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein a power terminal for supplying a power to the image processing sensor is provided in the third image processing sensor and the power is supplied to the other image processing sensors via the power terminal.

9. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the signal relating to the completion of projecting light is transmitted to the second image processing sensor so as to prevent the interference of the light from the first image processing sensor to the inspection target with the imaging of the inspection target from the second image processing sensor.

10. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the signal relating to the completion of projecting light is transmitted such that the second image processing sensor images the inspection target without an interference with light from the first image processing sensor to the inspection target.

11. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the function of transmitting the signal relating to the completion of the projecting light to the second image processing sensor is turned on and off from an operation of a user.

12. The image processing sensor system according to claim 11, wherein the function of transmitting the signal relating to the completion of the projecting light to the second image processing sensor is turned on from the user, if the imaging device of the first image processing sensor and the imaging device of the second image processing sensor are provided adjacently.

13. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device of the first image processing sensor and the imaging device of the second image processing sensor are provided adjacently.

14. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device is provided separately from the imaging device.

15. The image processing sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the first image processing sensor and the second image processing sensor are provided such that a projected light from the first image processing sensor overlap a projected light from the second image processing sensor.

16. An image processing sensor control method that can be performed in the image processing sensor system of claim 1, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal relating the completion of projecting light from a first image processing sensor to a second image processing sensor; and

starting imaging and projection in the second image processing sensor after receiving the signal relating the completion of projecting light.

17. The image processing sensor control method according to claim 16, wherein the first image processing sensor transmits the signal relating to the completion of projecting light to the second image processing sensor after completing projection and before starting image processing in the image processing device.

18. An image processing sensor comprising:

an imaging device having an imaging unit imaging an inspection target and a lighting unit projecting light onto the inspection target, and

an image processing device performing image processing on image data acquired in the imaging device and determining whether the inspection target is defective or non-defective,

wherein the image processing sensor is capable of connecting to an additional image processing sensor so that data communication of data including the image data can be performed therebetween, and

wherein the image processing sensor can transmit a signal relating to the completion of projecting light to the additional image processing sensor.

19. The image processing sensor according to claim 18, wherein

the image processing sensor can be connected between a first additional image processing sensor and a second additional processing sensor so that data communication can be performed with each of the first and second additional image processing sensors,

the image processing sensor can transmit the signal relating to the completion of projecting light to the second additional image processing sensor;

and

the image processing sensor can receive the signal relating to the completion of projecting light from the first additional image processing sensor, and start imaging or projection on the basis of the received signal relating to the completion of projecting light.

20. The image processing sensor system according to claim 18, wherein the image processing device is provided separately from the imaging device.