Antenna snow melting device, antenna system, and program

Abstract

To provide an antenna snow melting device that can simplify the calculation of the power required to melt snow.SOLUTION: An antenna snow melting device 400 attached to an antenna reflector 500 includes an imaging unit 401 that images the antenna reflector 500, a measuring unit 402 that acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector 500 from the imaging unit 401 and measures the snow accretion rate, which indicates the rate of snow accretion per unit area of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector 500, on the basis of the acquired imaging data, and a control unit 403 that controls a heating unit 501 installed on the antenna reflector 500 on the basis of the snow accretion rate of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector 500.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an antenna snow melting device, an antenna system, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Antennas installed in snowy regions suffer from degradation of wireless characteristics due to snow accumulation on the antenna surface. To melt the snow that has accumulated on the antenna surface, an antenna snow melting device such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used. The antenna snow melting device disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses multiple sensors that detect the outside air temperature, wind speed, precipitation amount, etc. The antenna snow melting device calculates the power required to melt the snow that has accumulated on the antenna surface based on the detection output of the sensors, and melts the snow by operating a hot air generator consisting of a heater and a blower with the calculated power. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-246822 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, the antenna snow melting device disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs a calculation to calculate the power required to melt snow using multiple factors such as outside temperature, wind speed, precipitation, etc. This calculation involves predicting the state of snow accumulation on the antenna surface from multiple factors detected from the natural environment, and then calculating the power required to melt the snow, which poses a problem of being a complex calculation.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an antenna snow melting device, an antenna system, and a program that solve the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An antenna snow melting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes an imaging unit attached to an antenna reflector for imaging the antenna reflector, a measuring unit that acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector from the imaging unit and measures the degree of snow accretion, which indicates the rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​the antenna surface of the antenna reflector, based on the acquired imaging data, and a control unit that controls a heating unit installed on the antenna reflector based on the degree of snow accretion on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector.

[0007] An antenna system according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises an antenna reflector, a heat generating unit installed on the antenna reflector, and an antenna snow melting device, the antenna snow melting device having an imaging unit that images the antenna reflector, a measuring unit that acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector from the imaging unit and measures the degree of snow accretion indicating the rate of snow accretion per unit area on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector based on the acquired imaging data, and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit based on the degree of snow accretion on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer attached to an antenna reflector to execute an imaging procedure for imaging the antenna reflector, a measurement procedure for acquiring imaging data of the antenna reflector imaged by the imaging procedure and measuring the snow accretion rate, which indicates the rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​the antenna surface of the antenna reflector, based on the acquired imaging data, and a control procedure for controlling a heat-generating element installed on the antenna reflector based on the snow accretion rate on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector, wherein a snow accretion detection mark is formed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector, and the program causes the computer to execute a procedure for acquiring imaging data of the antenna reflector in the imaging procedure so that the color of the snow accretion portion on the snow accretion detection mark is also included, and the program causes the computer to execute a procedure for measuring the color degree formed by the color of the snow accretion portion on the snow accretion detection mark, which is included in the imaging data as the snow accretion rate, and the color of the snow accretion detection mark, in the measurement procedure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the above aspect, the calculation for calculating the power required to melt snow can be simplified. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an antenna system according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of regions defined on an antenna surface according to the present disclosure, heaters assigned to each of the regions, and snow accumulation detection marks displayed in each of the regions. FIG. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of a snow accretion detection mark according to the present disclosure in a state where there is no snow accretion and in a state where there is snow accretion; [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow by the antenna snow melting device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a control device provided in the antenna snow melting device according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format of a power amount table according to the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow by the antenna snow melting device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow by a power adjustment unit of the antenna snow melting device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electric lamp installed near the antenna device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a control device of the antenna snow melting device according to the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an antenna snow melting device according to the present disclosure; [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow by the antenna snow melting device according to the present disclosure. [Figure 13] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an antenna snow melting device according to the present disclosure; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, the same or corresponding components are designated by the same reference numerals, and common descriptions will be omitted.

[0012] First Embodiment An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, an antenna system 1 includes an antenna device 2, an antenna snow melting device 3, and a connection line 30 that electrically connects the antenna device 2 and the antenna snow melting device 3.

[0013] The antenna device 2 is, for example, a parabolic antenna, and includes a parabolic reflector 10, stands 18-1 and 18-2 and a mount 19 that support the parabolic reflector 10, a radiator 12, support rods 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3 that support the radiator 12 above the reflecting mirror surface of the parabolic reflector 10, and a plurality of heaters 6-1, 6-2, and so on that serve as heat sources for heating the reflecting mirror surface. Each of the plurality of heaters 6-1, 6-2, and so on is provided, for example, inside the parabolic reflector 10 and cannot be seen from the outside, so their shapes are generally indicated by dashed lines. Note that, in FIG. 1 , the shapes of two heaters 6-1 and 6-2 are generally shown as an example to avoid cluttering the drawing. Power lines that supply power to each of the heaters 6-1, 6-2, and so on are bundled as a connection line 30 through the mount 19 and connected to the control device 20.

[0014] The antenna snow melting device 3 includes a plurality of snow detection marks 5-1, 5-2, ... displayed on the reflecting mirror surface, a camera 7 serving as a photographing means for taking color photographs, and a control device 20 serving as a control means for performing various controls. The camera 7 is attached to a position near the radiator 12 that has minimal impact on the transmission and reception of radio waves by the antenna device 2 and that can photograph the entire reflecting mirror surface, for example, a spacer of one of the support rods 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3. Note that FIG. 1 shows an example in which the camera 7 is attached to the spacer of the support rod 13-1. The camera 7 is connected to the control device 20 via a control line that is wired along the support rod 13-1 and bundled as a connection line 30 through the mount 19. That is, the connection line 30 includes power lines connected to the plurality of heaters 6-1, 6-2, ... and a control line connected to the camera 7.

[0015] 2 is a front view of the reflecting mirror surface (hereinafter referred to as antenna surface 11) of parabolic reflector 10 of antenna device 2. The area of ​​antenna surface 11 is logically divided in advance into, for example, 24 areas 11-1 to 11-24, with dashed lines as boundary lines. Note that in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dashed lines shown on antenna surface 11 merely indicate the boundaries of the logical areas 11-1 to 11-24, and in reality, no dashed lines are displayed on antenna surface 11.

[0016] The positions where the 24 heaters 6-1 to 6-24 are provided are positions within the ranges of the regions 11-1 to 11-24 having the same sub-numbers of the reference numerals, and are positions inside the parabolic reflector 10. Therefore, each of the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 individually heats the corresponding region 11-1 to 11-24 of the antenna surface 11. In order to avoid cluttering the drawing, in Fig. 2, the outline of the shape of each of the heaters 6-1 to 6-8 provided inside the outermost regions 11-1 to 11-8 is shown by dashed lines and the corresponding reference numerals are shown, while the outline of the shape and the reference numerals for the other heaters 6-9 to 6-24 are omitted.

[0017] One snow accretion detection mark 5-1 to 5-24 is displayed in each of the regions 11-1 to 11-24. The snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 are positioned within the range of the regions 11-1 to 11-24 with the same sub-numbers. To avoid cluttering the illustration, FIG. 2 only indicates the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-8 displayed in the outermost regions 11-1 to 11-8, and omits the reference numbers for the other snow accretion detection marks 5-9 to 5-24. The snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 may be displayed anywhere within the corresponding region 11-1 to 11-24, but are preferably displayed in dispersed positions on the antenna surface 11. The size and shape of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 may be any size and shape as long as they fit within the corresponding region 11-1 to 11-24.

[0018] However, it is desirable that the size of the snow detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 be sufficiently larger than the size of a single snowflake, and that the size and shape be detectable by image processing. Here, snow refers to a single ice crystal or a collection of multiple ice crystals (so-called snowflakes). The size of snowflakes varies depending on the weather, but here we assume that the size of a single snowflake is the size contained within the range of a circle with a diameter of about 30 mm.

[0019] Furthermore, it is desirable that adjacent snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 are spaced a sufficient distance apart so that each of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 can be extracted one by one in image processing. Furthermore, it is further desirable that each of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 has the same or nearly the same size and shape, and that the shape is easy to detect in image processing so that similar image processing can be applied to each of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24.

[0020] The color of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 is different from the color of the antenna surface 11, and is different from the color of the snow-covered area, i.e., the general color of snow, which is white or a color close to white, so that it is possible to determine that snow has accumulated on the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24. The color of the antenna surface 11 may be any color as long as it is different from the color of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24. Note that the following description will be given on the assumption that the color of snow and the color of the antenna surface 11 are white.

[0021] As an example that satisfies the size, shape, color, and other conditions for the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 described above, Figures 1 and 2 show an example in which black, round snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 of the same size and sufficiently spaced apart are displayed near the center of each of the areas 11-1 to 11-24. The snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 may be like stickers that are attached to the antenna surface 11, or may be printed on the antenna surface 11.

[0022] Fig. 3(a) is a diagram showing a state in which no snow has accumulated in any one of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24, and Fig. 3(b) is a diagram showing a state in which snow has accumulated. In Fig. 3(b), the white area indicated by the reference numeral 40 represents a single snowflake, hereinafter referred to as snow 40. Fig. 3(b) shows a state in which multiple snowflakes 40 have accumulated on the snow accumulation detection mark 5. As shown in Fig. 3(a), when there is no snow, the entire snow accumulation detection mark 5 is visible, whereas when there is snow, as shown in Fig. 3(b), part of the snow accumulation detection mark 5 is hidden by the snow 40.

[0023] Returning to FIG. 1, the control device 20 includes an operation unit 21, an image processing unit 22, a snow accretion determination unit 23, a power adjustment unit 24, and an interface unit 25. The operation unit 21 receives various operations from the operator of the control device 20 and performs processes such as outputting instruction signals according to the received operations. The interface unit 25 is connected to a connection line 30. The image processing unit 22 outputs a shooting instruction signal via the interface unit 25 to a control line connected to the camera 7. The image processing unit 22 acquires image data generated by the camera 7 through the control line and the interface unit 25. The image processing unit 22 extracts each portion of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 included in the acquired image data and detects the RGB values ​​of each pixel of the extracted portion.

[0024] The snow accretion determination unit 23 determines whether or not snow has accumulated on each of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 based on the RGB values ​​of each pixel of each of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 detected by the image processing unit 22.

[0025] The power adjustment unit 24 is connected to a power source (not shown) that supplies power used to generate heat from the heaters 6-1 to 6-24. As described above, each of the regions 11-1 to 11-24 is associated with one of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 and one of the heaters 6-1 to 6-24. Therefore, the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 with the same sub-numbers are associated one-to-one with the heaters 6-1 to 6-24. The power adjustment unit 24 supplies power to the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 corresponding to the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 determined by the snow accumulation determination unit 23 to have snow accumulation via the interface unit 25 and power lines to generate heat.

[0026] <Processing of First Embodiment> The processing by the antenna snow melting device 3 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 4. The operator operates the operation unit 21 to start the processing, and performs an operation to set "24", which is the number of area divisions of the antenna surface 11, in the antenna snow melting device 3. When the operation unit 21 receives this operation, it outputs a start instruction signal including the number of area divisions, "24", to the image processing unit 22. When the image processing unit 22 receives the start instruction signal from the operation unit 21, it records the value "24" included in the start instruction signal as the number of area divisions in an internal memory area (Sa1).

[0027] Image processing unit 22 outputs a shooting instruction signal to camera 7 via interface unit 25 and a control line included in connection line 30. Upon receiving the shooting instruction signal, camera 7 performs color shooting at a predetermined angle of view that includes the entire antenna surface 11, and generates image data (Sa2).

[0028] The camera 7 outputs the generated image data to the control line. The interface unit 25 acquires the image data output by the camera 7 through the control line included in the connection line 30. The interface unit 25 outputs the acquired image data to the image processing unit 22. When the image processing unit 22 acquires the image data output by the interface unit 25, it initializes the internal variable A to "1" (Sa3). Note that the internal variable A is a variable indicating a value corresponding to the branch numbers of the symbols for the areas 11-1 to 11-24, the snow detection marks 5-1 to 5-24, and the heaters 6-1 to 6-24.

[0029] The image processing unit 22 extracts and acquires image data of a portion including the snow accretion detection mark 5-A, in this case, the snow accretion detection mark 5-1, from the image data (Sa4). For example, the image processing unit 22 identifies the position of each of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 in the image data based on the number of area divisions, which is "24," and the arrangement pattern of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1, 5-2, ... for each predetermined number of area divisions, and then performs extraction.

[0030] The image processing unit 22 detects the RGB values ​​for each pixel of the acquired image data of the snow accretion detection mark 5-1 (Sa5). Here, the image data generated by the camera 7 through color photography is RGB color image data. The image data includes, for each pixel, a value indicating the intensity of each of the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color components, in other words, the degree of shading of each color component. This value indicating the degree of shading is expressed as an integer in the range of 0 to 255, with the value increasing as the color becomes darker. For example, if the values ​​of the red, green, and blue color components are represented as (R component value, G component value, B component value), then (0,0,0) indicates black, and (255,255,255) indicates white.

[0031] The image processing unit 22 calculates a color judgment value from the R component value, G component value, and B component value for each pixel acquired from the snow accumulation detection mark 5-1. For example, the image processing unit 22 calculates the average value of the R component for each pixel, the average value of the G component for each pixel, and the average value of the B component for each pixel, and calculates an average RGB value including the average values ​​of the RGB values ​​as the color judgment value (Sa6).

[0032] The image processing unit 22 outputs the value of A at the time of this processing, "1," and the calculated color judgment value to the snow accumulation determination unit 23. The snow accumulation determination unit 23 takes in the value of A and the color judgment value output by the image processing unit 22. Using the taken-in color judgment value and a predetermined threshold, the snow accumulation determination unit 23 determines whether or not snow has accumulated in the region 11-1 corresponding to the taken-in value of A, "1" (Sa7).

[0033] For example, the snow accretion determination unit 23 calculates a white component index value based on the average value of the R component, the average value of the G component, and the average value of the B component of the average RGB value, which is the color determination value. The white component index value is an index value that indicates, for example, that the larger the value, the more white the color contains, i.e., the closer the color is to white. A threshold value that is predetermined in the snow accretion determination unit 23 is set to, for example, a value that indicates that the white component is sufficiently contained in the white component index value. Such a white component index value may be, for example, lightness or luminance, but may also be an index value other than lightness or luminance.

[0034] The snow accretion determination unit 23 determines that snow has accumulated in the area 11-1 if the white component index value calculated from the color determination value is equal to or greater than a threshold value. On the other hand, if the condition is not satisfied, the snow accretion determination unit 23 determines that snow has not accumulated in the area 11-1.

[0035] When it is determined that snow has accumulated in area 11-1 (Sa7, snow has accumulated), snow accumulation determination unit 23 outputs a heat generation start instruction signal, which is a signal including the value of A and the calculated white component index value and indicates the start of heat generation, to power adjustment unit 24. When power adjustment unit 24 receives the heat generation start instruction signal from snow accumulation determination unit 23, it reads out the value of A and the white component index value included in the received heat generation start instruction signal. Power adjustment unit 24 calculates the amount of power corresponding to the read white component index value. For example, power adjustment unit 24 calculates the amount of power corresponding to the white component index value using an arithmetic expression that calculates a proportionally larger amount of power as the white component index value increases, and the maximum value of the calculated amount of power becomes the maximum power value that can be supplied to heaters 6-1 to 6-24.

[0036] The power adjustment unit 24 supplies the calculated amount of power to the power line connected to the heater 6-1 corresponding to the read value of A, "1," via the interface unit 25 (Sa8). As a result, the heater 6-1 generates heat using the power supplied through the power line, melting the snow 40 that has accumulated in the area 11-1.

[0037] On the other hand, if the snow accumulation determination unit 23 determines that there is no snow accumulation in the region 11-1 (Sa7, no snow accumulation), it outputs a heat generation stop instruction signal, which is a signal including the value of A and indicates that heat generation should be stopped, to the power adjustment unit 24. When the power adjustment unit 24 receives the heat generation stop instruction signal from the snow accumulation determination unit 23, it reads the value of A from the heat generation stop instruction signal. The power adjustment unit 24 stops the supply of power to the heater 6-1 corresponding to the read value of A, "1." As a result, if the heater 6-1 was generating heat, the heater 6-1 will stop generating heat (Sa9).

[0038] After outputting a heat generation start instruction signal or a heat generation stop instruction signal to power adjustment unit 24, snow accumulation determination unit 23 outputs a processing continuation instruction signal including the value of A to image processing unit 22. When image processing unit 22 receives the processing continuation instruction signal from snow accumulation determination unit 23, it waits for a predetermined time, for example, about one second (Sa10).

[0039] After waiting, the image processing unit 22 determines whether or not it has received an end instruction signal from the operation unit 21 (Sa11). The end instruction signal is an instruction signal that the operation unit 21 outputs to the image processing unit 22 when the operation unit 21 receives an operation to end processing from the operator.

[0040] When the image processing unit 22 determines that it has received an end instruction signal from the operation unit 21 (Sa11, Yes), it outputs an all-heat-generation stop instruction signal to the power adjustment unit 24. When the power adjustment unit 24 receives the all-heat-generation stop instruction signal from the image processing unit 22, it stops the power supply to all heaters 6-1 to 6-24. As a result, all heaters 6-1 to 6-2 stop generating heat (Sa12), and then the processing of the antenna snow melting device 3 ends.

[0041] On the other hand, if the image processing unit 22 determines that it has not received an end instruction signal from the operation unit 21 (Sa11, No), it reads the value of A included in the processing continuation instruction signal received from the snow accumulation determination unit 23, and determines whether the value of A matches "24", which is the number of area divisions stored in an internal storage area (Sa13). Because the value of A at the time of this processing is "1", the image processing unit 22 determines that the value of A does not match "24" (Sa13, No), and sets the value obtained by adding "1" to the value of A as the new value of A (Sa14). Because the value of A at the time of this processing is "1", the new value of A becomes "2".

[0042] Thereafter, the image processing unit 22 performs the process from Sa4 onward again. As a result, the same process as that performed on the snow accumulation detection mark 5-1 is performed on the snow accumulation detection mark 5-2. Thereafter, each time the process from Sa4 onward is repeated, the process is performed on each of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-3 to 5-24. If the image processing unit 22 does not receive an end instruction signal from the operation unit 21 during the process on each of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-2 to 5-24 and the value of A becomes "24," the image processing unit 22 determines in the determination process of Sa13 that the value of A matches the number of area divisions, "24" (Sa13, Yes). This completes the first round of processing on the 24 areas 11-1 to 11-24. Thereafter, the process from Sa2 onward is performed again, starting the second round of processing, and the image processing unit 22 repeats the process until the operation unit 21 outputs an end instruction signal.

[0043] <Effects of the First Embodiment> The antenna snow melting device 3 uses a camera 7 to capture an image of the antenna surface 11. Based on the images of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 included in the image data obtained by the image capture, the control device 20 determines whether snow has accumulated on the antenna surface 11. If snow has accumulated, the control device 20 estimates the power required to melt the snow. In other words, unlike the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, which predicts the snow accretion state on the antenna surface 11 from multiple elements detected in the natural environment, the antenna snow melting device 3 determines the snow accretion state on the antenna surface 11 using a single element, image data captured and generated by the camera 7. Therefore, compared to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the antenna snow melting device 3 simplifies the calculation required to calculate the power required to melt the snow. Furthermore, while Patent Document 1 uses multiple sensors to obtain information about the snow accretion state on the antenna surface 11, the antenna snow melting device 3 uses a single camera 7 as an equivalent of these multiple sensors. Therefore, the antenna snow melting device 3 reduces the number of sensors, thereby reducing equipment and installation costs and simplifying the overall device configuration.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 2, the antenna surface 11 is logically divided into a plurality of regions 11-1 to 11-24 in advance, and a snow accumulation detection mark 5-1 to 5-24 and a heater 6-1 to 6-24 are assigned to each of the divided regions 11-1 to 11-24. This makes it possible to determine whether or not local snow accumulation exists in each of the regions 11-1 to 11-24, and to select and generate heat from the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 corresponding to the region 11-1 to 11-24 for which snow accumulation has been determined. This makes it possible to reduce the power consumed by the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 compared to a configuration in which power is supplied to all heaters 6-1 to 6-24 when snow accumulation exists.

[0045] The control device 20 determines the degree of the white component in the images of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 based on a white component index value calculated from a color judgment value obtained from the images of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 and a predetermined threshold value. That is, if the white component contained in the images of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 is less than a certain value, in other words, if the amount of snow accretion is so small that it does not affect the wireless characteristics of the antenna device 2, the control device 20 does not melt the snow, thereby reducing the power consumed by the heaters 6-1 to 6-24.

[0046] In response to this, the control device 20 supplies power to the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 to generate heat when the white component contained in the images of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 is equal to or greater than a certain value—in other words, when snow accumulation is severe enough to affect the wireless characteristics of the antenna device 2. In this case, the control device 20 supplies an appropriate amount of power corresponding to the white component index value to the corresponding heaters 6-1 to 6-24. Therefore, when melting snow, each of the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 can generate heat with an amount of power corresponding to the amount of snow 40 accumulated in the corresponding area 11-1 to 11-24. This prevents the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 from generating excessive heat, thereby reducing the power consumed by the heaters 6-1 to 6-24.

[0047] Second Embodiment Another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the antenna snow melting device 3 in which the control device 20 included in the antenna system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is replaced with the control device 20a shown in Fig. 5 will be referred to as the antenna snow melting device 3a, and the antenna system 1 in which the control device 20 is replaced with the control device 20a will be referred to as the antenna system 1a.

[0048] The control device 20a includes an operation unit 21, an image processing unit 22, a snow accumulation determination unit 23a, a power adjustment unit 24a, an interface unit 25, and a storage unit 26. The storage unit 26 stores an electric energy table 50 shown in FIG. 6. The electric energy table 50 is a data-format table having the following items: "RGB value range," "parameter," and "electric energy (W)." The "RGB value range" item pre-records eight ranges, "0 to 31," "32 to 63," "64 to 95," "96 to 127," "128 to 159," "160 to 191," "192 to 223," and "224 to 255," which are obtained by dividing integer values ​​between 0 and 255 into predetermined ranges of "32," in the column direction.

[0049] In the "Parameter" field, from the second line onwards, parameter names P0, P1, ..., which are consecutive values ​​with an initial value of "0" and increasing by one, are pre-recorded in the column direction. In the example shown in FIG. 6, there are eight "RGB Value Range" fields, so the names of seven parameters P0 to P6 are recorded. The first line of the "Parameter" field is blank. A numerical value in the unit [W] is recorded in the "Power Amount (W)" field. "0" is pre-recorded in the first line of the "Power Amount (W)" field, and from the second line onwards, an arbitrary numerical value that increases as the value of the "RGB Value Range" in the same line increases is recorded by the operator.

[0050] Like the snow accumulation determination unit 23, the snow accumulation determination unit 23a determines whether or not snow has accumulated on each of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 using the color determination values ​​output by the image processing unit 22. However, unlike the snow accumulation determination unit 23, the snow accumulation determination unit 23a does not calculate a white component index value from the color determination values, but instead determines whether or not snow has accumulated using an average RGB value included in the color determination values.

[0051] Similar to the power adjustment unit 24, the power adjustment unit 24a is connected to a power source (not shown) that supplies the power used to generate heat from the heaters 6-1 to 6-24, and supplies power to the heaters 6-1 to 6-24. Unlike the power adjustment unit 24, the power adjustment unit 24a uses a power amount table 50 to select the amount of power to generate heat from the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 that correspond to the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 determined to have snow accumulation by the snow accumulation determination unit 23a.

[0052] <Processing of the second embodiment> The processing by the antenna snow melting device 3a will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in Figures 7 and 8. As a premise for the processing described below, it is assumed that the R, G, and B component values ​​of each pixel of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 when there is no snow accumulation as shown in Figure 3(a) are (0,0,0), and that the R, G, and B component values ​​of each pixel when the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 are entirely white are (255,255,255).

[0053] The operator performs an operation on the operation unit 21 to set the value in the "electric energy (W)" field of the electric energy table 50 stored in the memory unit 26. When the operation unit 21 receives this operation, it records the value selected by the operator in the second and subsequent lines of the "electric energy (W)" field of the electric energy table 50. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that seven values, "100", "200", "300", "400", "500", "600", and "700", are recorded in the second to eighth lines of the "electric energy (W)" field.

[0054] The operator operates the operation unit 21 to start processing, by setting the number of area divisions of the antenna surface 11 to "24" in the antenna snow melting device 3. When the operation unit 21 receives this operation, it outputs a start instruction signal including the number of area divisions, "24," to the image processing unit 22. When the image processing unit 22 receives the start instruction signal from the operation unit 21, it records the value "24" included in the start instruction signal as the number of area divisions in an internal memory area (Sb1).

[0055] Thereafter, the same processes as Sa2 to Sa6 in Fig. 4 are performed as Sb2 to Sb6 by the camera 7 and image processing unit 22. The image processing unit 22 outputs "1", which is the value of A at the time of this process, and the calculated color judgment value to the snow accumulation judgment unit 23a. Here, for example, it is assumed that the state of the snow accumulation detection mark 5-1 in the area 11-1 is the state shown in Fig. 3(b), and the image processing unit 22 calculates the average RGB value, which is the color judgment value corresponding to the snow accumulation detection mark 5-1, as (100, 100, 100).

[0056] The snow accretion determination unit 23a refers to "0 to 31" in the "RGB value range" field of the record in the first row of the electric energy table 50 stored in the memory unit 26, and reads out the maximum value, "31." The snow accretion determination unit 23a adds "1" to the read "31" to obtain "32," which is set as the threshold value M (Sb7). The reason why the snow accretion determination unit 23a refers to the record in the first row of the electric energy table 50 is that the record in the first row indicates a reference state in which the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 are not allowed to generate heat.

[0057] The snow accumulation determination unit 23a receives the value of A output by the image processing unit 22 and the calculated color determination value. Using the received color determination value and threshold M, the snow accumulation determination unit 23a determines whether or not snow has accumulated in the region 11-1 corresponding to the received value of A, "1" (Sb8).

[0058] As described above, the color judgment value includes average RGB values, i.e., the average value of the R component, the average value of the G component, and the average value of the B component. If the conditions that the value of the R component of the color judgment value is equal to or greater than threshold value M, the value of the G component of the color judgment value is equal to or greater than threshold value M, and the value of the B component of the color judgment value is equal to or greater than threshold value M are met, the snow accumulation judgment unit 23a determines that snow has accumulated in the region 11-1 corresponding to the acquired value of A of "1." On the other hand, if these conditions are not met, the snow accumulation judgment unit 23a determines that there is no snow accumulation in the region 11-1.

[0059] As described above, the values ​​of the R, G, and B components of the color judgment value of the snow accumulation detection mark 5-1 corresponding to the area 11-1 are (100, 100, 100). Therefore, since the values ​​of the R, G, and B components are all equal to or greater than the threshold value M of 32, the snow accumulation judgment unit 23a judges that snow has accumulated in the area 11-1 (Sb8, snow accumulation present).

[0060] The snow accumulation determination unit 23a outputs a heat generation start instruction signal, which is a signal including the value of threshold value M which is "32," the value of A which is "1," and a color determination value, and which indicates the start of heat generation, to the power adjustment unit 24a. When the power adjustment unit 24a receives the heat generation start instruction signal from the snow accumulation determination unit 23a, it reads the value of threshold value M, the value of A, and the color determination value included in the received heat generation start instruction signal, and starts the heater heat generation process subroutine shown in FIG. 8 (Sb10).

[0061] <Heater heat generation processing subroutine> The subroutine processing of the heater heat generation processing will be described below with reference to Figure 8. The power adjustment unit 24a records "32", which is the value of threshold M read from the heat generation start instruction signal, in an internal storage area as the threshold increase number. The power adjustment unit 24a references the parameter "P6" stored in the "Parameter" item of the record in the last row of the power amount table 50 in the storage unit 26, reads the subscript "6" of the referenced parameter "P6", and records the read "6" as the loop count value in an internal storage area. The power adjustment unit 24a initializes an internal variable n to "0" (Sc1).

[0062] The power adjustment unit 24a adds the threshold increase number "32" of the internal storage area to the value of the threshold M, "32," and sets the added value "64" as the new threshold M (Sc2). The power adjustment unit 24a determines whether the conditions that the value of the R component of the color judgment value is equal to or greater than the threshold M, the value of the G component of the color judgment value is equal to or greater than the threshold M, and the value of the B component of the color judgment value is equal to or greater than the threshold M are met (Sc3). At this time, the value of the threshold M is "64," and the values ​​of the R component, G component, and B component of the color judgment value are (100, 100, 100). Therefore, the power adjustment unit 24a determines that the conditions are met (Sc3, Yes). The power adjustment unit 24a sets the added value, obtained by adding "1" to the value of n, as the new value of n (Sc4). Because the value of n at this time is "0," the new value of n becomes "1."

[0063] The power adjustment unit 24a determines whether the value of n matches the loop count value "6" stored in the internal storage area (Sc5). Because the value of n at this time is "1", the power adjustment unit 24a determines that the value of n does not match "6" (Sc5, No) and performs the process of Sc2 again.

[0064] In the second Sc2 process, the power adjustment unit 24a adds the threshold increase number "32" of the internal storage area to the value of threshold M at this time, "64," and sets the added value "96" as the new threshold M (Sc2). The power adjustment unit 24a determines whether the condition that the values ​​of the R component, G component, and B component of the color judgment value are all equal to or greater than threshold M is met (Sc3). The value of threshold M at this time is "96," and the values ​​of the R component, G component, and B component of the color judgment value are (100, 100, 100). Therefore, the power adjustment unit 24a determines that this condition is met (Sc3, Yes). The power adjustment unit 24a adds "1" to the value of n at this time, "1," and sets the added value "2" as the new value of n (Sc4). The power adjustment unit 24a determines whether the value of n matches the loop count value "6" stored in the internal storage area (Sc5). Because the value of n at this time is "2", the power adjustment unit 24a determines that the value of n does not match "6" (Sc5, No) and performs the process of Sc2 again.

[0065] In the third Sc2 process, the power adjustment unit 24a adds the internal storage area threshold increase number "32" to the current value of threshold M, "96," and sets the added value, "128," as the new threshold M (Sc2). The power adjustment unit 24a determines whether the condition that the values ​​of the R, G, and B components of the color judgment value are all equal to or greater than threshold M is met (Sc3). The current value of threshold M is "128," and the values ​​of the R, G, and B components of the color judgment value are (100, 100, 100). Therefore, the power adjustment unit 24a determines that this condition is not met (Sc3, No).

[0066] At this point in the process, the value of n is "2." Therefore, the power adjustment unit 24a reads from the power amount table 50 the value "300" stored in the "Power Amount (W)" field of the record on the fourth line corresponding to the parameter P2, whose subscript is "2." The power adjustment unit 24a supplies 300 W of power via the interface unit 25 to the power line connected to the heater 6-1, which corresponds to "1," the value of A read from the heat generation start instruction signal (Sc6), and ends the heater heat generation processing subroutine. As a result, the heater 6-1 generates heat using the 300 W of power supplied via the power line, which is the amount of power selected by the power adjustment unit 24a, and melts the snow 40 that has accumulated in the area 11-1.

[0067] 7, the snow accumulation determination unit 23a outputs a heat generation start instruction signal or a heat generation stop instruction signal to the power adjustment unit 24a, and then outputs a processing continuation instruction signal including the value of A to the image processing unit 22. Thereafter, the same processing as Sa10 to Sa14 in FIG. 4 is performed by the image processing unit 22 as Sb11 to Sb15.

[0068] For example, if the snow accumulation detection mark 5-2 is in the no-snow state shown in FIG. 3(a), the R, G, and B component values ​​of each pixel of the snow accumulation detection mark 5-2 will be (0,0,0). Therefore, in the process of Sb6, the color judgment value calculated by the image processing unit 22, i.e., the R, G, and B component values ​​of the average RGB value, will be (0,0,0). In this case, in the process of Sb8, the snow accumulation judgment unit 23a determines that there is no snow accumulation in the region 11-2 because the R, G, and B component values ​​of the color judgment value do not all satisfy the condition that they are equal to or greater than the threshold value M of 32 (Sb8, no snow accumulation).

[0069] The snow accumulation determination unit 23a outputs a heat generation stop instruction signal to the power adjustment unit 24a, which is a signal including the value of A at the time of this processing, "2," and which indicates that heat generation should be stopped. When the power adjustment unit 24a receives the heat generation stop instruction signal from the snow accumulation determination unit 23a, it reads the value of A from the heat generation stop instruction signal. The power adjustment unit 24a stops the supply of power to the heater 6-2 corresponding to the read value of A, "2." As a result, if the heater 6-2 was generating heat, the heater 6-2 will stop generating heat (Sb9).

[0070] For example, suppose the state of the snow accumulation detection mark 5-3 is the snow-attached state shown in FIG. 3(b), and the color judgment value is (230, 230, 230). In this case, in the subroutine processing of the heater heat generation processing shown in FIG. 8 corresponding to the snow accumulation detection mark 5-3, the loop processing of Sc2 to Sc5 is repeated five times, and in the sixth processing of Sc2, the power adjustment unit 24a calculates "224" as the threshold value M. Because the color judgment value is (230, 230, 230), in the processing of Sc3, the power adjustment unit 24a determines "Yes," and in the processing of Sc4, calculates "6" as the new value of n. Therefore, in the processing of Sc5, the value of n matches the loop count value "6," so the power adjustment unit 24a determines "Yes," and then performs the processing of Sc6. In processing Sc6, the power adjustment unit 24a supplies the heater 6-3 with 700 W of power, which corresponds to the parameter P6 in the power amount table 50, whose subscript is "6", which is the value of n at the time of this processing.

[0071] <Effects of the second embodiment> By replacing the control device 20 shown in Fig. 1 with the control device 20a shown in Fig. 9, the following effect can be achieved in addition to the above-mentioned effects obtained when using the control device 20. That is, when each of the values ​​of the R component, G component, and B component of the color judgment value, which is the average RGB value, is equal to or greater than the initial value of the threshold M, the control device 20a further performs the heater heat generation process shown in Fig. 8. In this heater heat generation process, the control device 20a detects, from the power amount table 50, the amount of power corresponding to the magnitude of each of the values ​​of the R component, G component, and B component of the color judgment value from among multiple power amounts previously determined in the power amount table 50 by the operator, and can supply the detected amount of power to the corresponding heaters 6-1 to 6-24. Therefore, if the operator records an appropriate amount of power in the "Power Amount (W)" field for each range shown in the "RGB Value Range" field of the power amount table 50, when melting snow, each of the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 can generate heat with an amount of power corresponding to the amount of snow 40 that has accumulated in the corresponding area 11-1 to 11-24. This prevents the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 from generating excessive heat, thereby reducing the power consumed by the heaters 6-1 to 6-24.

[0072] In the power amount table 50 shown in FIG. 6, seven power amounts can be selected based on the values ​​of the R, G, and B components of the color judgment values. However, the number of value ranges shown in the "RGB value range" section of the power amount table 50 may be determined arbitrarily. For example, by dividing the range into "64" ranges, the "RGB value range" section may have four ranges, allowing three power amounts to be selected. Alternatively, by dividing the range into "16" ranges, the "RGB value range" section may have sixteen ranges, allowing fifteen power amounts to be selected. Increasing the number of selectable power amounts, as in the latter case, increases the number of processing steps Sc2 to Sc5 in the heater heat generation process shown in FIG. 8, but on the other hand, more appropriate amounts of power can be supplied to the heaters 6-1 to 6-24.

[0073] Third Embodiment As shown in FIG. 9, the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a may further include a light source 60 that irradiates the antenna surface 11 of the parabolic reflector 10 of the antenna device 2. For example, it is possible that the colors of the image data captured by the camera 7 may not appear clearly due to environmental conditions around the antenna device 2, such as nighttime or bad weather. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the light source 60 is installed in a position that does not affect the transmission and reception of radio waves by the antenna device 2 and where the shadows of the radiator 12, support rods 13-1 to 13-3, camera 7, etc. are not cast on the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24. This ensures that the colors of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24, the color of the snow 40 that has accumulated on the antenna surface 11, and the color of the antenna surface 11 appear clearly in the image data captured by the camera 7, even during nighttime or bad weather. In this state, each of the antenna snow melting devices 3, 3a can melt snow by performing the corresponding processing described above.

[0074] The number of electric lamps 60 may be one or more. The type of light bulb of the electric lamp 60 may be any type, such as an incandescent bulb or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulb, but it is preferable that the light bulb emits light that causes the snow 40 to appear white or close to white when photographed by the camera 7. The light bulb is not limited to the electric lamp 60, and any light source may be used, such as a searchlight, for example.

[0075] <Modifications of the embodiment> (Number of areas) 1 and 2, the division of the antenna surface 11 into 24 regions 11-1 to 11-24 is an example, and the number of regions 11-1 to 11-24 may be more or less than 24. Alternatively, the antenna surface 11 may be a single region 11-1, and one snow detection mark 5-1 may be displayed on the antenna surface 11. The more regions the antenna surface 11 is divided into, the greater the effect of reducing the power consumed by the heaters 6-1 to 6-24. However, the increased number of heaters 6-1 to 6-24 increases the equipment and installation costs. Therefore, the number of regions the antenna surface 11 is divided into must be determined by balancing the reduction in power consumption with the increase in costs.

[0076] (Regarding the size of the snow detection mark) The sizes of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 may be proportional to the areas of the corresponding regions 11-1 to 11-24, for example. That is, the sizes of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 corresponding to the larger areas 11-1 to 11-24 may be larger than the sizes of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 corresponding to the smaller areas 11-1 to 11-24. In this case, if the area of ​​the antenna surface 11 becomes larger and the areas of the regions 11-1 to 11-24 become larger accordingly, the sizes of the corresponding snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 also become larger.

[0077] On the other hand, assuming that snow 40 falls evenly on the antenna surface 11, the amount of snow 40 that accumulates in the large-area regions 11-1 to 11-24 will be greater than the amount of snow 40 that accumulates in the small-area regions 11-1 to 11-24. The greater the amount of accumulated snow 40, the longer it takes to melt the snow, so it is desirable to start melting the snow early. To start melting the snow early, the amount of time that the snow detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 are blocked by snow should be reduced. To achieve this, the size of the snow detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 should be reduced. Therefore, taking this into consideration, the size of the snow detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 corresponding to the large-area regions 11-1 to 11-24 may be made smaller than the size of the snow detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 corresponding to the small-area regions 11-1 to 11-24.

[0078] Incidentally, the color judgment value calculated by the image processing unit 22 for each of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 can also be considered to indicate the rate of snow accretion in each of the regions 11-1 to 11-24 of the antenna surface 11. In particular, if the sizes of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 are the same, the areas of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 will be the same, and therefore the color judgment value can also be considered to indicate the rate of snow accretion per unit area in each of the regions 11-1 to 11-24 of the antenna surface 11. Furthermore, as described above in the section (Regarding the number of regions), if the antenna surface 11 is divided into one region 11-1, the color judgment value can also be considered to indicate the rate of snow accretion per unit area on the antenna surface 11.

[0079] (Regarding the relationship between the area, snow detection mark, and heater) As shown in FIG. 2, each of the regions 11-1 to 11-24 is associated with one snow accretion detection mark 5-1 to 5-24 and one heater 6-1 to 6-24. Here, any one of the regions 11-1 to 11-24 is referred to as a region 11, any one of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 is referred to as a snow accretion detection mark 5, and any one of the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 is referred to as a heater 6. In this case, multiple snow accretion detection marks 5 may be displayed in one region 11, and multiple heaters 6 may be assigned to that region 11. If the region 11 is, for example, region 11-1, the multiple snow accretion detection marks 5 displayed in region 11-1 may be regarded as one snow accretion detection mark 5-1, and the multiple heaters 6 assigned to region 11-1 may be regarded as one heater 6-1. Applying the configurations of the first to third embodiments, therefore, provides the same advantageous effects as those of the first to third embodiments.

[0080] (About image data) The image data captured and generated by the camera 7 is color, and the color components are represented by three RGB values. The image processing unit 22 performs processing such as calculating a color judgment value by referring to the values ​​of the R, G, and B components for each pixel included in the image data. Alternatively, the image processing unit 22 may convert the image data represented by three RGB values ​​into image data represented in another color format, such as CMYK, and calculate a color judgment value using the image data in that color format. For example, in the case of CMYK, the color judgment value calculated by the image processing unit 22 includes the average values ​​of the C component, the average value of the M component, the average value of the Y component, and the average value of the K component. Therefore, if the configuration of the first to third embodiments is modified so that these four values ​​can be processed, the same effects as those of the first to third embodiments can be obtained.

[0081] (About the camera) The camera 7 may generate image data in a color format other than RGB, separated into multiple color components different from RGB. In this case, the image processing unit 22 may separate the image data generated by the camera 7 into the multiple color components contained in the image data, detect the degree of shading for each separated color component, and calculate a color judgment value including an average value for each of the multiple color components. Alternatively, the image processing unit 22 may convert the multiple color components contained in the image data into RGB color components and then calculate a color judgment value similar to the process Sa6 in FIG. 4 and the process Sb6 in FIG. 7.

[0082] The image data captured and generated by the camera 7 may be grayscale image data in which the pixel value for each pixel is represented by an integer value between 0 and 255. In the case of grayscale image data, the image processing unit 22 calculates, for each of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24, the average pixel value of the pixels included in each portion as the color judgment value for each. In this case, one color judgment value contains one value, and this value indicates the degree of shade of the grayscale color that changes from black to gray to white. Therefore, in the case of the processing of FIG. 4, the snow accumulation determination unit 23 does not need to calculate a white component index value from the color judgment value in the processing of Sa7. The snow accumulation determination unit 23 and the power adjustment unit 24 can simply process the color judgment value containing one value as the white component index value. In the case of the processing of Figure 7, the color judgment value contains one value, so the snow accumulation judgment unit 23a and the power adjustment unit 24a perform judgment processing to compare one value contained in the color judgment value with the threshold value M in the judgment processing of Sb8 in Figure 7 and Sc3 in Figure 8.

[0083] If camera 7 is a monochrome camera that generates grayscale image data, it can be obtained more cheaply than a camera that captures color images, and in that respect, adopting grayscale instead of color can reduce equipment costs.

[0084] Although the camera 7 shown in FIG. 1 is assumed to capture the entire antenna surface 11, the camera 7 may be configured to move and change direction to capture an enlarged image so that one of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 is included in a single image data set. In this case, it is preferable that the sizes of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 are approximately the same in each image data set. Since one of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 is included in a single image data set, the image processing unit 22 can easily extract the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24. However, when the image processing unit 22 processes a new snow accretion detection mark 5 that is one of the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24, the image processing unit 22 must perform additional processing, such as including information indicating the position of the snow accretion detection mark 5 in the image capture instruction signal, in order to change the direction of the camera 7.

[0085] Although the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a is shown as having one camera 7, it may also have multiple cameras 7. For example, if the antenna surface 11 is wide and the entire antenna surface 11 cannot be captured within the viewing angle of a single camera 7, one camera 7 may be provided on each of the support rods 13-1, 13-2, and 13-3, so that the entire antenna surface 11 is covered by the viewing angle of the three cameras 7. In this case, the image processing unit 22 performs processing Sa4 in FIG. 3 and Sb4 in FIG. 7 to synthesize image data representing the entire antenna surface 11 from the image data captured by the three cameras 7. However, since increasing the number of cameras 7 physically increases equipment and installation costs, it is necessary to determine the number of cameras 7 taking into account the cost benefits of keeping the number of cameras 7 as small as possible. Note that when generating image data of the entire antenna surface 11 using multiple cameras 7, the set of multiple cameras 7 may be considered a single capturing device rather than each of the multiple cameras 7 being considered an individual capturing device.

[0086] (others) The antenna device 2 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a parabolic antenna, but may be an antenna other than a parabolic antenna, such as a planar antenna, as long as the antenna's radio characteristics are affected by snow accumulation.

[0087] In the above description, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 are components of the antenna device 2 provided inside the parabolic reflector 10. However, for example, the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 may be separable components that can be attached to the parabolic reflector 10 later. If the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 are separable components, the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 may be components of the antenna snow melting devices 3, 3a. In other words, the heaters 6-1 to 6-24, the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24, the camera 7, and the control devices 20, 20a may be distributed on the market as the antenna snow melting devices 3, 3a.

[0088] 1, the camera 7 is shown as a component of the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a, but if a commercially available camera can be used, the components of the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a may not include the camera 7. In other words, the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 and the control device 20, 20a may be distributed on the market as the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a.

[0089] In the above description, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 are shown as components of the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a, but since the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 may be printed on the antenna surface 11 as described above, the owner of the antenna device 2 may print them on the antenna surface 11 himself. Therefore, the snow accretion detection marks 5-1 to 5-24 may not be included as components of the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a. In other words, the camera 7 and the control device 20, 20a may be distributed on the market as the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a.

[0090] That is, the components of the antenna snow melting device 3, 3a may be the control device 20, 20a, or may be configured by arbitrarily combining the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1 to 5-24, the camera 7, and the heaters 6-1 to 6-24 with the control device 20, 20a.

[0091] 4, the process of Sa10 may be performed between Sa11 and Sa13. Similarly, in the process of Fig. 7, the process of Sb11 may be performed between Sb12 and Sb14.

[0092] In the processes of Sa7 in Fig. 4, Sb8 in Fig. 7, and Sc3 in Fig. 8, a determination process of "whether or not it is equal to or greater than" is performed. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a determination process, and the determination process of "whether or not it is equal to or greater than" is merely an example, and may be replaced with a determination process of "whether or not it exceeds" depending on how the threshold is defined.

[0093] <Hardware configuration> FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the control device 20, 20a shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 according to the present disclosure. The control device 20, 20a according to the present disclosure is a computer including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a random access memory (RAM) 102, a read-only memory (ROM) 103, an auxiliary storage device 104, an interface module 105, and an input / output module 106. The CPU 101, the RAM 102, the ROM 103, the auxiliary storage device 104, the interface module 105, and the input / output module 106 are interconnected by a bus 107. The auxiliary storage device 104 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SDD). The interface module 105 is included in, for example, the interface unit 25. The input / output module 106 is included in, for example, the operation unit 21.

[0094] When an application program pre-stored in ROM 103 or auxiliary storage device 104 is executed by CPU 101, an image processing unit 22, snow accumulation determination units 23, 23a, and power adjustment units 24, 24a are configured, and the software parts of interface unit 25 and operation unit 21 are configured. A memory area for memory unit 26 is secured in RAM 102 or auxiliary storage device 104, and an electric energy table 50 is generated in the memory area.

[0095] <Fourth embodiment> An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 11, the antenna snow melting device 200 includes a control means 201 that detects the color density of the portion of the snow accretion detection mark 302 included in image data generated by an imaging means 303 that captures an image of the antenna surface 301 so as to include the color of the snow-covered portion of the antenna surface 301 that is shielded by snow accretion and appears on the antenna surface 301 due to snow accretion, and a snow accretion detection mark 302 that is displayed on the antenna surface 301 in a color different from the color of the antenna surface 301, and supplies power to a heat source 304 that heats the antenna surface 301 based on the detected degree of color density.

[0096] 12 is a flowchart showing the processing flow. A snow accretion detection mark 302 is displayed on the antenna surface 301 in a color different from the color of the antenna surface 301 and the color of the snow-covered portion of the antenna surface 301 that is obscured by snow accretion on the antenna surface 301 (S201). The imaging means 303 captures an image of the antenna surface 301 so that the snow accretion detection mark 302 is included, and generates image data (S202). The control means 201 detects the color density of the portion of the snow accretion detection mark 302 included in the generated image data (S203). The control means 201 supplies power to a heat source 304 that heats the antenna surface 301 based on the detected degree of color density (S204), and the processing ends.

[0097] Fifth Embodiment 13 , an antenna snow melting device 400 is attached to an antenna reflector 500 and includes an imaging unit 401 that images the antenna reflector 500, a measuring unit 402 that acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector 500 from the imaging unit 401 and measures the snow accretion rate indicating the rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​the antenna surface of the antenna reflector 500 based on the acquired imaging data, and a control unit 403 that controls a heating unit 501 provided on the antenna reflector 500 based on the snow accretion rate of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector 500.

[0098] The antenna snow melting device 400 corresponds to, for example, the antenna snow melting devices 3 and 3a. The antenna reflector 500 corresponds to, for example, the parabolic reflector 10, and the antenna surface of the antenna reflector 500 corresponds to, for example, the antenna surface 11. The heat generating unit 501 corresponds to, for example, the heaters 6-1, 6-2, ... In the antenna snow melting device 400, the imaging unit 401 corresponds to, for example, the camera 7, the measuring unit 402 corresponds to, for example, the image processing unit 22, and the control unit 403 corresponds to, for example, a combination of the snow accumulation determination unit 23 and the power adjustment unit 24, or a combination of the snow accumulation determination unit 23a, the power adjustment unit 24a, and the storage unit 26. The imaging data corresponds to, for example, image data generated by the camera 7. The degree of snow accumulation, the color of the snow-adhered portions on the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1, 5-2, . . . , and the color degree formed by the colors of the snow accumulation detection marks 5-1, 5-2, .

[0099] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate.

[0100] Some or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0101] (Appendix 1) An antenna snow melting device comprising: a control means for detecting the shade of color of the snow accretion detection mark contained in image data generated by an imaging means for photographing the antenna surface so as to include the color of the snow-covered portion of the antenna surface that is obscured by snow accretion and that appears on the antenna surface due to snow accretion, and a snow accretion detection mark displayed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface; and for supplying power to a heat source that heats the antenna surface based on the degree of shade detected.

[0102] (Appendix 2) An antenna snow melting device as described in (Appendix 1), wherein the antenna surface is divided into a plurality of regions, there are a plurality of heat sources and a plurality of snow accretion detection marks, a heat source is assigned to each of the regions, a snow accretion detection mark is displayed for each of the regions, and the control means supplies power to the heat source assigned to the region where the snow accretion detection mark from which each of the degrees of shading is detected is displayed, based on each of the degrees of shading detected from each portion of the snow accretion detection mark included in the image data.

[0103] (Supplementary Note 3) The antenna snow melting device described in (Supplementary Note 2), wherein the snow accretion detection mark having a size corresponding to the area size of the region is displayed in each of the regions.

[0104] (Appendix 4) The antenna snow melting device according to any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 3), further comprising a light source that irradiates light onto the antenna surface.

[0105] (Appendix 5) An antenna snow melting device described in any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 4), wherein the photographing means generates the image data separated into multiple color components, and the control means detects the shading of each color component of the portion of the snow accretion detection mark included in the image data, and supplies power to the heat source based on the degree of shading for each detected color component.

[0106] (Appendix 6) An antenna snow melting device described in any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 4), wherein the photographing means generates the image data in grayscale, and the control means detects the shade of color in the grayscale of the part of the snow detection mark included in the image data, and supplies power to the heat source based on the degree of the detected shade.

[0107] (Appendix 7) An antenna snow melting device described in any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 6), wherein the control means supplies the heat source with an amount of power corresponding to the degree of the detected shading.

[0108] (Appendix 8) An antenna snow melting device as described in (Appendix 7), wherein a different amount of power is associated with each of a plurality of different ranges of the degree of shading, and the control means selects the amount of power corresponding to the range that includes the degree of shading to be detected, and supplies the selected amount of power to the heat source.

[0109] (Appendix 9) An antenna snow melting device described in any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 8), wherein the control means determines whether or not to supply power to the heat source based on the degree of shading detected and a predetermined threshold value.

[0110] (Appendix 10) An antenna system comprising: an antenna device; a heat source for heating an antenna surface of the antenna device; an imaging means for imaging the antenna surface; a snow accretion detection mark that is obscured by snow accretion on the antenna surface and is displayed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the snow accretion portion that occurs on the antenna surface due to snow accretion and the color of the antenna surface; and an antenna snow melting device having a control means for detecting the shade of color of the part of the snow accretion detection mark included in image data generated by the imaging means for imaging the antenna surface so that the snow accretion detection mark is included, and for supplying power to the heat source based on the degree of the detected shade.

[0111] (Appendix 11) An antenna system as described in (Appendix 10), wherein the antenna surface is divided into a plurality of regions, there are a plurality of heat sources and a plurality of snow accretion detection marks, a heat source is assigned to each of the regions, a snow accretion detection mark is displayed in each of the regions, and the control means supplies power to the heat source assigned to the region in which the snow accretion detection mark from which each of the degrees of shading is detected is displayed, based on each of the degrees of shading detected from each portion of the snow accretion detection mark included in the image data.

[0112] (Supplementary Note 12) An antenna system as described in (Supplementary Note 11), wherein the snow accretion detection mark having a size corresponding to the area size of the region is displayed in each of the regions.

[0113] (Supplementary Note 13) The antenna system according to any one of (Supplementary Note 10) to (Supplementary Note 12), further comprising a light source that irradiates light onto the antenna surface.

[0114] (Appendix 14) An antenna system described in any one of (Appendix 10) to (Appendix 13), wherein the photographing means generates the image data separated into multiple color components, and the control means detects the shading of each color component of the portion of the snow accretion detection mark included in the image data, and supplies power to the heat source based on the degree of shading for each detected color component.

[0115] (Appendix 15) An antenna system described in any one of (Appendix 10) to (Appendix 13), wherein the photographing means generates the image data in grayscale, and the control means detects the shade of color in the grayscale of the part of the snow detection mark included in the image data, and supplies power to the heat source based on the degree of the detected shade.

[0116] (Appendix 16) An antenna system described in any one of (Appendix 10) to (Appendix 15), wherein the control means supplies the heat source with an amount of power corresponding to the degree of the detected shading.

[0117] (Appendix 17) An antenna system as described in (Appendix 16), wherein a different amount of power is associated with each of a plurality of different ranges of the degree of shading, and the control means selects the amount of power corresponding to the range that includes the degree of shading to be detected, and supplies the selected amount of power to the heat source.

[0118] (Appendix 18) An antenna system described in any one of (Appendix 10) to (Appendix 17), wherein the control means determines whether or not to supply power to the heat source based on the detected degree of shading and a predetermined threshold value.

[0119] (Appendix 19) A method for melting snow on an antenna, comprising: displaying a snow accretion detection mark on the antenna surface, the mark being a color different from the color of the snow-covered portion of the antenna surface that is obscured by snow accretion on the antenna surface and the color of the antenna surface itself; photographing the antenna surface so that the snow accretion detection mark is included in the generated image data; detecting the color shading of the portion of the snow accretion detection mark included in the generated image data; and supplying power to a heat source that heats the antenna surface based on the detected degree of shading.

[0120] (Appendix 20) An antenna snow melting method as described in (Appendix 19), wherein the antenna surface is divided into a plurality of regions, there are a plurality of heat sources and a plurality of snow accretion detection marks, a heat source is assigned to each of the regions, a snow accretion detection mark is displayed in each of the regions, and based on each of the degrees of shading detected from each portion of the snow accretion detection mark included in the image data, power is supplied to the heat source assigned to the region where the snow accretion detection mark from which each of the degrees of shading is detected is displayed.

[0121] (Appendix 21) An antenna snow melting method as described in (Appendix 20), wherein the snow accretion detection mark having a size corresponding to the area size of the region is displayed in each of the regions.

[0122] (Appendix 22) Irradiating light onto the antenna surface using a light source. An antenna snow melting method according to any one of (Appendix 19) to (Appendix 21).

[0123] (Appendix 23) An antenna snow melting method described in any one of (Appendix 19) to (Appendix 22), which generates image data separated into multiple color components, detects the shading of each color component of the snow accretion detection mark portion contained in the generated image data, and supplies power to the heat source based on the degree of shading for each detected color component.

[0124] (Appendix 24) An antenna snow melting method described in any one of (Appendix 19) to (Appendix 22), which generates grayscale image data, detects the grayscale color shading of the snow accretion detection mark portion contained in the generated image data, and supplies power to the heat source based on the detected degree of shading.

[0125] (Appendix 25) An antenna snow melting method according to any one of (Appendix 19) to (Appendix 24), in which an amount of power corresponding to the degree of the detected shading is supplied to the heat source.

[0126] (Appendix 26) An antenna snow melting method as described in (Appendix 25), in which a different amount of power is associated with each of a plurality of different ranges of the degree of shading, the amount of power corresponding to the range that includes the detected degree of shading is selected, and the selected amount of power is supplied to the heat source.

[0127] (Appendix 27) An antenna snow melting method described in any one of (Appendix 19) to (Appendix 26), which determines whether or not to supply power to the heat source based on the detected degree of shading and a predetermined threshold value.

[0128] (Appendix 28) A program for causing a computer to function as a control means for detecting the shade of color of the snow accretion detection mark contained in image data generated by an imaging means for photographing the antenna surface so as to include the color of the snow-covered portion of the antenna surface that is obscured by snow accretion and appears on the antenna surface due to snow accretion, and a snow accretion detection mark displayed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface, and for supplying power to a heat source that heats the antenna surface based on the degree of the detected shade.

[0129] (Appendix 29) A program as described in (Appendix 28), wherein the antenna surface is divided into a plurality of regions, there are a plurality of heat sources and a plurality of snow accretion detection marks, a heat source is assigned to each of the regions, a snow accretion detection mark is displayed in each of the regions, and the control means supplies power to the heat source assigned to the region where the snow accretion detection mark from which each of the degrees of shading is detected is displayed, based on each of the degrees of shading detected from each portion of the snow accretion detection mark included in the image data.

[0130] (Supplementary Note 30) The program described in (Supplementary Note 29), wherein the snow accretion detection mark of a size corresponding to the area size of the region is displayed in each of the regions.

[0131] (Supplementary Note 31) The program according to any one of (Supplementary Note 28) to (Supplementary Note 30), in which light is irradiated onto the antenna surface by a light source.

[0132] (Appendix 32) A program described in any one of (Appendix 28) to (Appendix 31), wherein the photographing means generates the image data separated into multiple color components, and the control means detects the shading of each color component of the portion of the snow detection mark included in the image data, and supplies power to the heat source based on the degree of shading for each detected color component.

[0133] (Appendix 33) A program described in any one of (Appendix 28) to (Appendix 31), wherein the photographing means generates the image data in grayscale, and the control means detects the shade of color in the grayscale of the part of the snow detection mark included in the image data, and supplies power to the heat source based on the degree of the detected shade.

[0134] (Appendix 34) The program described in any one of (Appendix 28) to (Appendix 33), wherein the control means supplies the heat source with an amount of power corresponding to the degree of the detected shading.

[0135] (Appendix 35) A program described in (Appendix 34), in which a different amount of power is associated with each of a plurality of different ranges of the degree of shading, and the control means selects the amount of power corresponding to the range that includes the degree of shading to be detected, and supplies the selected amount of power to the heat source.

[0136] (Appendix 36) A program described in any one of (Appendix 28) to (Appendix 35), wherein the control means determines whether or not to supply power to the heat source based on the detected degree of shading and a predetermined threshold value.

[0137] (Appendix 37) An antenna snow melting device attached to an antenna reflector, comprising: an imaging unit that images the antenna reflector; a measuring unit that acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector from the imaging unit and measures a snow accretion rate indicating the rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​the antenna surface of the antenna reflector based on the acquired imaging data; and a control unit that controls a heating unit installed on the antenna reflector based on the snow accretion rate on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector.

[0138] (Appendix 38) An antenna snow melting device as described in (Appendix 37), in which a snow accretion detection mark is formed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector, the imaging unit acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector so as to include the color of the snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark, and the measuring unit measures the degree of color formed by the color of the snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark included in the imaging data as the snow accretion degree.

[0139] (Appendix 39) An antenna snow melting device as described in (Appendix 38), wherein the antenna surface of the antenna reflector is divided into a plurality of regions, a plurality of the heat generating parts and the snow accretion detection marks are formed, a heat generating part is assigned to each of the regions, one or a plurality of the snow accretion detection marks are formed for each of the regions, the measurement part measures the color degree formed by the color of the snow accretion portion appearing on the snow accretion detection mark and the color of the snow accretion detection mark as the snow accretion degree from each of the snow accretion detection marks included in the imaging data acquired by the imaging part, and the control part controls the heat generating part assigned to each of the regions where the one or a plurality of snow accretion detection marks corresponding to each of the measured color degrees are formed.

[0140] (Supplementary Note 40) The antenna snow melting device according to any one of (Supplementary Note 37) to (Supplementary Note 39), further comprising a light source that irradiates light onto the antenna surface of the antenna reflector.

[0141] (Appendix 41) An antenna snow melting device described in (Appendix 38) or (Appendix 39), wherein the imaging unit acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector in grayscale, and the measurement unit measures the color degree in grayscale.

[0142] (Appendix 42) An antenna system comprising an antenna reflector, a heat generating unit installed on the antenna reflector, and an antenna snow melting device, the antenna snow melting device having an imaging unit that images the antenna reflector, a measuring unit that acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector from the imaging unit and measures the degree of snow accretion indicating the rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​the antenna surface of the antenna reflector based on the acquired imaging data, and a control unit that controls the heat generating unit based on the degree of snow accretion on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector.

[0143] (Appendix 43) An antenna system as described in (Appendix 42), in which a snow accretion detection mark is formed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector, the imaging unit acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector so as to include the color of the snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark, and the measuring unit measures the degree of color formed by the color of the snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark included in the imaging data as the snow accretion degree.

[0144] (Appendix 44) An antenna system as described in (Appendix 43), wherein the antenna surface of the antenna reflector is divided into a plurality of regions, the heat generating portion and the snow accretion detection mark are formed in a plurality of regions, the heat generating portion is assigned and installed for each region, one or more snow accretion detection marks are formed for each region, the measurement portion measures the color degree formed by the color of the snow-adhered portion appearing on the snow accretion detection mark and the color of the snow accretion detection mark as the snow accretion degree from each of the snow accretion detection marks included in the imaging data acquired by the imaging portion, and the control portion controls the heat generating portion assigned and installed in the region where the one or more snow accretion detection marks corresponding to each of the measured color degrees are formed.

[0145] (Supplementary Note 45) An antenna system according to any one of (Supplementary Note 42) to (Supplementary Note 44), comprising a light source that irradiates light onto the antenna surface of the antenna reflector.

[0146] (Appendix 46) An antenna system described in (Appendix 43) or (Appendix 44), wherein the imaging unit acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector in grayscale, and the measurement unit measures the color intensity in grayscale.

[0147] (Appendix 47) A program for causing a computer attached to an antenna reflector to execute an imaging procedure for imaging the antenna reflector, a measurement procedure for acquiring imaging data of the antenna reflector imaged by the imaging procedure and measuring the snow accretion rate indicating the rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​the antenna surface of the antenna reflector based on the acquired imaging data, and a control procedure for controlling a heat-generating unit installed on the antenna reflector based on the snow accretion rate on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector, wherein a snow accretion detection mark is formed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector, and in the imaging procedure, causes a procedure for acquiring imaging data of the antenna reflector so that the color of the snow accretion portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark is also included, and in the measurement procedure, causes a procedure for measuring the color degree formed by the color of the snow accretion portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark included in the imaging data as the snow accretion rate and the color of the snow accretion detection mark.

[0148] (Appendix 48) A program as described in (Appendix 47), wherein the antenna surface of the antenna reflector is divided into a plurality of regions, the heat generating portion and the snow accretion detection mark are formed in a plurality of regions, the heat generating portion is assigned and installed for each region, one or more snow accretion detection marks are formed for each region, the measurement procedure executes a procedure to measure the color degree formed by the color of the snow-adhered portion appearing on the snow accretion detection mark and the color of the snow accretion detection mark as the snow accretion degree from each of the snow accretion detection marks included in the imaging data acquired by the imaging procedure, and the control procedure executes a procedure to control the heat generating portion assigned and installed in the region where the one or more snow accretion detection marks corresponding to each of the measured color degrees are formed.

[0149] (Appendix 49) The program described in (Appendix 47) or (Appendix 48), wherein light is irradiated onto the antenna surface of the antenna reflector by a light source.

[0150] (Appendix 50) A program described in (Appendix 47) or (Appendix 48), wherein, in the imaging procedure, a procedure is executed to obtain imaging data of the antenna reflector in grayscale, and, in the measurement procedure, a procedure is executed to measure the color degree in grayscale. [Explanation of symbols]

[0151] 1 Antenna System 2 Antenna device 3. Antenna snow melting device 5-1~5-24 Snow detection mark 6-1~6-24 Heater 7. Camera 10 parabolic reflector 11 Antenna surface 11-1~11-24 area 12 Radiator 13-1~13-3 Support rod 18-1, 18-2 Stands 19 Mounting stand 20 Control device 21 Control section 22 Image processing section 23 Snow accretion determination section 24 Power adjustment section 25 Interface section 30 connecting wires

Claims

1. In an antenna snow melting device attached to an antenna reflector, an imaging unit that images the antenna reflector; a measuring unit that acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector from the imaging unit and measures a snow accretion degree that indicates a rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​the antenna surface of the antenna reflector based on the acquired imaging data; a control unit that controls a heating unit installed on the antenna reflector based on the degree of snow accumulation on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector; An antenna snow melting device having the same.

2. a snow accretion detection mark is formed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector; the imaging unit acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector so as to include the color of the snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark; the measuring unit measures, as the snow accretion degree, a color degree formed by a color of a snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark included in the imaging data and a color degree formed by a color of the snow accretion detection mark; The antenna snow melting device according to claim 1.

3. The antenna surface of the antenna reflector is divided into a plurality of regions, A plurality of the heat generating portions and the snow accretion detection marks are formed, The heat generating portion is assigned to each of the regions, and one or more snow accumulation detection marks are formed for each of the regions, the measuring unit measures, from each of the snow accretion detection marks included in the imaging data acquired by the imaging unit, a color degree formed by a color of a snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark and a color of the snow accretion detection mark as the snow accretion degree; the control unit controls the heating unit allocated to the area where the one or more snow accretion detection marks corresponding to each of the measured color intensities are formed. The antenna snow melting device according to claim 2.

4. a light source that irradiates light onto the antenna surface of the antenna reflector; 4. The antenna snow melting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

5. the imaging unit acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector in grayscale; the measurement unit measures the color degree on a gray scale; 4. The antenna snow melting device according to claim 2 or 3.

6. an antenna reflector; a heat generating portion disposed on the antenna reflector; and an antenna snow melting device, The antenna snow melting device is an imaging unit that images the antenna reflector; a measuring unit that acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector from the imaging unit and measures a snow accretion degree that indicates a rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​the antenna surface of the antenna reflector based on the acquired imaging data; a control unit that controls the heat generating unit based on the degree of snow accumulation on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector; An antenna system having:

7. a snow accretion detection mark is formed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector; the imaging unit acquires imaging data of the antenna reflector so as to include the color of the snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark; the measuring unit measures, as the snow accretion degree, a color degree formed by a color of a snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark included in the imaging data and a color degree formed by a color of the snow accretion detection mark; 7. The antenna system of claim 6.

8. The antenna surface of the antenna reflector is divided into a plurality of regions, A plurality of the heat generating portions and the snow accretion detection marks are formed, The heat generating portion is assigned to each of the regions, and one or more snow accumulation detection marks are formed for each of the regions, the measuring unit measures, from each of the snow accretion detection marks included in the imaging data acquired by the imaging unit, a color degree formed by a color of a snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark and a color of the snow accretion detection mark as the snow accretion degree; the control unit controls the heating unit allocated to the area where the one or more snow accretion detection marks corresponding to each of the measured color intensities are formed.

8. The antenna system of claim 7.

9. A computer attached to the antenna reflector, an imaging step of imaging the antenna reflector; a measurement step of acquiring imaging data of the antenna reflector imaged by the imaging step, and measuring a snow accretion degree indicating a rate of snow accretion per unit area of ​​an antenna surface of the antenna reflector based on the acquired imaging data; a control procedure for controlling a heating unit provided on the antenna reflector based on the degree of snow accumulation on the antenna surface of the antenna reflector; Execute a snow accretion detection mark is formed on the antenna surface in a color different from the color of the antenna surface of the antenna reflector; In the imaging procedure, a procedure is executed to acquire imaging data of the antenna reflector so as to include the color of the snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark, In the measurement step, a step of measuring a color degree formed by a color of a snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark included in the imaging data as the snow accretion degree and a color degree formed by a color of the snow accretion detection mark, The program to run.

10. The antenna surface of the antenna reflector is divided into a plurality of regions, A plurality of the heat generating portions and the snow accretion detection marks are formed, The heat generating portion is assigned to each of the regions, and one or more snow accumulation detection marks are formed for each of the regions, In the measurement step, a step is executed in which a color degree formed by a color of a snow-adhered portion occurring on the snow accretion detection mark and a color of the snow accretion detection mark is measured as the snow accretion degree from each of the snow accretion detection marks included in the imaging data acquired by the imaging step, In the control procedure, a procedure is executed to control the heating unit allocated to the area where the one or more snow accretion detection marks corresponding to each of the measured color intensities are formed. The program according to claim 9.

Images