Color recognition apparatus

• US 4,797,738 A
• Filed: 05/15/1987
• Issued: 01/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tohken, Tohken Engineering Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tohken
• Inventors: Shimoe, Hiroaki, Kashi, Motofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/050,038
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 358/75, 358/80, 358/22, 358/101, 358/107, 356/402, 356/404, 356/406, 356/407, 364/526
• US Class Current: 348/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/466 Coded colour; Recognition of predetermined colour; Determining proximity to predetermined colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors

Abstract

A color recognition apparatus according to the present invention is arranged so that assigned color differences and brightness signals are separated from a video signal, and these separated signals are determined according to the upper and lower limit values present in a decision circuit so as to output a binary signal, and signals of brightness, chroma and hue are separated from the video signal, and these separated signals are determined according to the limit values so that the hue is automatically determined to confirm it by the screen of a monitor, thereby eliminating individual differences and errors in recognition due to eyesight and being capable of recognizing the hue under a uniform condition and further determining the area of the object to be inspected.

Claims

1. A color recognition apparatus wherein the picture of an assigned color is picked up from NTSC system composite color video signals photographed by a color pick-up apparatus, thereby determining color wherein signal components of brightness, chroma and hue are separated from said composite color video signal, and a decision output means is provided to determine whether or not said signal components of brightness, chroma and hue fall within respective ranges of preset upper and lower limit values, wherein a binary signal is outputted if all of said signal components of brightness, chroma and hue are in their respective set ranges;

and wherein horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals are separated from said composite color video signal, an area decision means being provided to determine whether or not said synchronizing signals fall within ranges of present upper and lower limit values, a binary signal being outputted if said synchronizing signals fall within their respective set ranges.

2. A color recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color pick-up apparatus is a color television camera.

3. A color recognition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color pick-up apparatus is a CCD camera.

4. A color recognition apparatus wherein a picture of hue in an assigned order or arrangement is picked up from a video signal photographed by a pick-up apparatus, thereby determining color codes wherein a color difference signal and a brightness signal are separated from said video signal, and color pick-up means are provided for every color for picking up specific hue information to determine whether or not said color difference and brightness signals fall within ranges of upper and lower limit values present by said color pick-up means, and wherein a binary picture signal is outputted from each of a plurality of said color pick-up means to process the picture if said color difference and brightness signals fall within set ranges of said color pick-up means.

5. A color recognition apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said picture is processed by a computer.

6. A color recognition apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said pick-up apparatus is a color television camera.

7. A color recognition apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said color pick-up apparatus is a CCD camera.

8. A color recognition apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said color difference signal is a difference between red and said brightness signals and a difference between blue and said brightness signals.

9. A color recognition apparatus wherein the picture of an assigned hue is picked up from video signals photographed by a pick-up apparatus, thereby determining color wherein a difference signal and a brightness signal are separated from said video signal, and a decision output means is provided to determine whether or not said difference signal and brightness signal fall within respective ranges of preset upper and lower limit values, wherein a binary signal is outputted if the difference signal and brightness signal are in their respective set ranges;

and wherein horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals are separated from said video signal, an area decision means being provided to determine whether or not said synchronizing signals fall within ranges of preset upper and lower limit value, wherein a binary signal is outputted if said synchronizing signal fall within their respective set range.

10. A color recognition apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said pick-up apparatus is a color television camera.

11. A color discriminating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said pick-up apparatus is a CCD camera.