Infrared camera system

Abstract

To improve accuracy of detection of a fire source position while inhibiting a search time from increasing.SOLUTION: An infrared camera system comprises: an infrared camera for outputting, as image data, temperature information; a controlling unit for identifying a fire source position on the basis of the temperature information of each of a plurality of pixels in the image data; and a drive mechanism for enabling an orientation direction of the infrared camera to move in three or more orientation directions. The drive mechanism has a configuration capable of moving the infrared camera with a resolution higher than a pixel size of the infrared camera. The controlling unit has a detailed fire source search mode of: controlling the drive mechanism so as to move the infrared camera in each of the three or more orientation directions by a movement amount that is preset as a movement amount smaller than the pixel size; and identify a fire source position with a resolution higher than the pixel size using each temperature information output from the infrared camera before movement and after the movement in each of the three or more orientation directions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an infrared camera system for detecting a fire source position using an infrared camera.

Background Art

[0002] There is a conventional technique that uses an infrared camera to identify the position of a fire source within a fire monitoring area (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, the infrared camera outputs temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels as image data by imaging the area of responsibility.

[0003] In particular, when a large-scale space is used as the fire monitoring area, the fire monitoring area is divided into a plurality of areas, an infrared camera is positioned for each area, and imaging is performed by the infrared camera at a plurality of stop positions. Then, the position within the fire monitoring area corresponding to the pixel with the highest temperature information is extracted from among the plurality of image data captured by the infrared camera at the plurality of stop positions, thereby making it possible to identify the fire source position.

[0004] The image data captured by the infrared camera is acquired as an image projected onto an infrared imaging element via a lens. Therefore, the temperature information at each pixel is not the temperature information at the original position, but is affected by the distortion of the lens. The farther away from the lens center, the more affected by the distortion of the lens, and as image data, the pixels farther away from the center are imaged areas that are displaced from the original position.

[0005] In order to suppress the influence of such lens distortion, in Patent Document 1, fire source exploration is performed in the following two-step process. As the first step, a high-temperature part is roughly explored over the entire monitoring area, and a fire source candidate point with a large amount of infrared rays is identified.

[0006] Next, as a second step, after performing position correction processing so that the pointing direction of the infrared camera coincides with the fire source candidate point, the fire source position is specified based on the image data obtained through the central portion of the lens.

[0007] There are also false alarm sources in the monitoring area. By performing fire source exploration in such a two-step process, it is possible to perform detailed exploration starting from a location with a relatively large amount of infrared rays as much as possible. As a result, it is possible to suppress false alarms, reduce the overall exploration time, and specify the fire source position while suppressing the influence of lens distortion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] However, the prior art has the following problems. An infrared camera that outputs temperature information for specifying the fire source position generally has a low resolution. Therefore, even if fire source exploration is performed in the two-step process described above, the detection accuracy of the fire source position depends on the resolution of the infrared camera.

[0010] In order to increase the resolution of the infrared camera, it is conceivable to adopt a lens with a narrower viewing angle and acquire a narrower area as one piece of image data. However, when the viewing angle is narrowed, the exploration time for the entire monitoring area will be extended.

[0011] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an infrared camera system capable of suppressing an increase in exploration time and improving the detection accuracy of the fire source position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] The infrared camera system according to the present disclosure includes an infrared camera that outputs temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels as image data by imaging a monitoring area, a control unit that identifies a fire source position based on the temperature information of each of the plurality of pixels in the image data output from the infrared camera, and a drive mechanism that can move the pointing direction of the infrared camera to three or more pointing directions according to a command output from the control unit in order to change the imaging position by the infrared camera. The drive mechanism has a configuration capable of moving the infrared camera with a resolution higher than the pixel size of the infrared camera. The control unit controls the drive mechanism to move the infrared camera to each of three or more pointing directions by a movement amount set in advance as a movement amount smaller than the pixel size, and uses the temperature information output from the infrared camera before the movement and after moving to each of the three or more pointing directions to identify the fire source position with a resolution higher than the pixel size, and has a detailed fire source exploration mode. In addition, the infrared camera system according to the present disclosure includes an infrared camera that outputs temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels as image data by imaging a monitoring area, a control unit that specifies a fire source position based on the temperature information of each of the plurality of pixels in the image data output from the infrared camera, and a drive mechanism that enables the pointing direction of the infrared camera to move according to a command output from the control unit in order to change the imaging position by the infrared camera. The drive mechanism has a configuration that enables the infrared camera to move in the pitch angle direction with a resolution higher than the pixel size of the infrared camera. The control unit controls the drive mechanism to move the pointing direction of the infrared camera in the pitch angle direction by a first movement amount set in advance as a movement amount smaller than the pixel size. Before and after moving the infrared camera in the pitch angle direction by the first movement amount, using the respective temperature information output from the infrared camera, the pixel that obtained the highest temperature information before moving the infrared camera and the pixel that obtained the highest temperature information after moving the infrared camera are used to identify the hottest part of the fire source, thereby identifying the Y coordinate position of the root part of the fire source position where the high-temperature state tends to continue stably with less fluctuation at a resolution higher than the pixel size. It has a detailed fire source exploration mode. Furthermore, the infrared camera system according to the present disclosure includes an infrared camera that outputs temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels as image data by imaging a monitoring area, a control unit that identifies a fire source position based on the temperature information of each of the plurality of pixels in the image data output from the infrared camera, and a drive mechanism that enables the pointing direction of the infrared camera to be moved according to a command output from the control unit in order to change the imaging position of the infrared camera. The drive mechanism has a configuration that enables the infrared camera to be moved in the left-right direction with a resolution higher than the pixel size of the infrared camera. The control unit controls the drive mechanism to move the pointing direction of the infrared camera in the left-right direction by a first movement amount set in advance as a movement amount smaller than the pixel size. Using the respective temperature information output from the infrared camera before and after moving the infrared camera in the left-right direction by the first movement amount, the pixel that obtained the highest temperature information before moving the infrared camera and the pixel that obtained the highest temperature information after moving the infrared camera are used to identify the hottest part of the fire source, thereby identifying the X coordinate position of the root part of the fire source position where the temperature is high, stable, and less likely to fluctuate with a resolution higher than the pixel size. It has a detailed fire source exploration mode.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain an infrared camera system that can suppress an increase in exploration time and improve the detection accuracy of the fire source position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the infrared camera system of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The infrared camera system according to the present disclosure is characterized in that it has a detailed fire source search mode in which the infrared camera is moved by a movement amount smaller than the pixel size, and the fire source position is specified with a resolution higher than the pixel size using the respective temperature information output from the infrared camera before and after the movement.

[0016] Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an infrared camera system according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The infrared camera system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged to search for the position of a fire source within a pre-assigned responsible area in a fire monitoring area. The infrared camera system 10 includes a control unit 11, an infrared camera 12, and a drive mechanism 13.

[0017] The infrared camera 12 is configured to output temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels as image data by imaging the responsible area through a lens. Further, the control unit 11 executes a specific process for specifying the position of the fire source within the responsible area based on the image data acquired by the infrared camera 12.

[0018] The drive mechanism 13 is a mechanism for moving the imaging area by the infrared camera 12 and changing the imaging position according to a command output from the control unit 11. Note that if the entire fire monitoring area cannot be covered only by moving the imaging position of one infrared camera 12 by the drive mechanism 13, it is conceivable to install a plurality of sets of the infrared camera 12 and the drive mechanism 13 at different locations.

[0019] Next, specific examples of the viewing angle of the infrared camera 12 and the monitoring area associated with the movement of the infrared camera 12 using the drive mechanism 13 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the vertical monitoring area of the infrared camera 12 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 2, the infrared camera 12 has a vertical viewing angle of 37 degrees, and shows the monitoring area when the pitch angle at the time of initial setting for exploration is set to -20.5 degrees.

[0020] When the infrared camera 12 is installed at a height of 8 m from the floor surface of the monitoring area, an area with a radius of 9.9 m at the feet becomes an unguarded area at the initially set pitch angle. Also, when the infrared camera 12 is installed at a height of 15 m from the floor surface of the monitoring area, an area with a radius of 18.5 m at the feet becomes an unguarded area at the initially set pitch angle.

[0021] As the distance from the infrared camera 12 increases, the area included in one pixel becomes larger. Therefore, for a fire source of the same size, the farther the distance from the infrared camera 12, the fewer the number of pixels in the extracted image data.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining the horizontal monitoring area of the infrared camera 12 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 3, the infrared camera 12 has a horizontal field angle of 50 degrees, and as the horizontal pointing direction, it shows a case where it moves and images in five directions of 70 degrees, 35 degrees, 0 degrees, -35 degrees, and -70 degrees to cover the monitoring range from 95 degrees to -95 degrees.

[0023] That is, the control unit 11 makes the imaging position by the infrared camera 12 movable by controlling the position of the drive mechanism 13, and rotates the infrared camera 12 horizontally by 35 degrees each time. As a result, the infrared camera 12 can obtain detection information including temperature information in the monitoring range from 95 degrees to -95 degrees by imaging the monitoring area with a horizontal field angle of 50 degrees in five directions of 70 degrees, 35 degrees, 0 degrees, -35 degrees, and -70 degrees.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a list summarizing the monitoring positions by the infrared camera 12 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 11 can obtain detection information over the range of -2 degrees to -39 degrees in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 2 and the range of 95 degrees to -95 degrees in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 3 by moving the infrared camera 12 to five monitoring positions of No. 1 to No. 5. Note that depending on the size of the target monitoring area, it is also possible to move the infrared camera in the vertical direction and obtain detection information in a plurality of pointing directions.

[0025] Next, the process of fire source detection based on the monitoring results at five monitoring positions, namely Monitoring Positions No. 1 to No. 5 as shown in FIG. 4, will be described. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the imaging result by the infrared camera 12 in Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 5, as an example, at any one of the five monitoring positions shown in FIG. 4, image data consisting of 320 pixels in the X direction and 240 pixels in the Y direction is captured by the infrared camera 12, and a state where temperature information can be acquired corresponding to each pixel is shown.

[0026] Here, assume that in the control unit 11, the point P1(x1, y1) is specified as a fire source candidate point. In this case, the control unit 11 controls the drive mechanism 13 so that the point P1, which is the fire source candidate point, is at the position of the center Pc(xc, yc) of the image, and performs position correction processing by moving the pointing direction of the infrared camera 12.

[0027] More specifically, the control unit 11 can calculate the horizontal movement angle from the current horizontal position of the drive mechanism and the vertical movement angle from the current vertical position of the drive mechanism by the following formula. Horizontal movement angle = current horizontal position of the drive mechanism +(number of horizontal pixels / 2 - x1) × (horizontal field of view angle / number of horizontal pixels) Vertical movement angle = current vertical position of the drive mechanism +(number of vertical pixels / 2 - y1) × (vertical field of view angle / number of vertical pixels)

[0028] Here, based on the specific examples shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, Horizontal field of view angle = 50 degrees Vertical field of view angle = 37 degrees Number of horizontal pixels = 320 Number of vertical pixels = 240 It becomes as follows.

[0029] After the position correction process is completed, the control unit 11 executes the process of specifying the fire source position again for the fire source candidate points. In this way, after performing the position correction process, by re-specifying the fire source position based on the image data obtained through the central part of the lens, the influence of the lens distortion can be suppressed, and the calculation accuracy of the fire source position can be stabilized.

[0030] The flow of fire source exploration adopts a method of exploring the overall high-temperature part roughly first, and then performing a position correction process as described with reference to FIG. 5 on the fire source candidate points with a large amount of infrared rays to explore the detailed positions. Since there are also false alarm sources, performing a detailed scan from the locations with a large amount of infrared rays as much as possible can lead to a reduction in the overall exploration time.

[0031] However, as described in [Problems to be Solved by the Invention], the infrared camera 12 that outputs temperature information for specifying the fire source position generally has a low resolution. Therefore, even if fire source exploration is performed after performing the position correction process described with reference to FIG. 5, the detection accuracy of the fire source position will depend on the resolution of the infrared camera 12.

[0032] If the position accuracy when detecting the fire source is deviated, the position of the subsequent water discharge will also be deviated, and it is desirable to detect the fire source position with higher accuracy. Therefore, in the infrared camera system according to the present disclosure, the infrared camera is moved by an amount of movement smaller than the pixel size of the image data acquired through the lens, and a detailed fire source exploration mode for specifying the fire source position using the respective temperature information output from the infrared camera before and after the movement is provided, thereby realizing high-precision detection of the fire source position.

[0033] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the positional relationship of image data before and after moving the infrared camera 12 in Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. ΔP in FIG. 6 indicates the pixel size of the image data generated by the infrared camera 12. In FIG. 6, the direction in which the infrared camera 12 is moved in the left-right direction is defined as the X-axis, and the direction in which the infrared camera 12 is moved in the pitch angle direction is defined as the Y-axis.

[0034] Furthermore, the image data captured in the state before moving the infrared camera 12 is shown by a solid line as IMG1. Also, the image data captured in the state after moving the infrared camera 12 by half a pixel in the right direction and half a pixel in the depression angle direction is shown by a dotted line as IMG2.

[0035] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram regarding a detailed fire source search mode for specifying a fire source position based on temperature information in image data before and after moving the infrared camera 12 in Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. In FIG. 7, five states, namely (A1), (A2), (B1), (B2), and (C), are described, each schematically representing the following states.

[0036] FIG. 7(A1) shows IMG1, which is the image data captured in the state before moving the infrared camera 12. In FIG. 7(A1), the temperature information within one pixel is exemplified by being divided into four parts so as to approximate the actual temperature distribution. The case where the hottest part of the fire source is 100, the surrounding is 10, and the further surrounding is 1 is exemplified.

[0037] FIG. 7(A2) shows the temperature information for each pixel unit of IMG1 in FIG. 7(A1). The value obtained by summing the numerical values that were divided into four parts and displayed in FIG. 7(A1) becomes the temperature information for each pixel. Judging only from the temperature information of IMG1 shown in FIG. 7(A2), the pixel position with the temperature information 130 filled in gray will be specified as the fire source position.

[0038] FIG. 7(B1) shows IMG2, which is the image data captured in the state after moving the infrared camera 12 by half a pixel in the right direction and half a pixel in the depression angle direction. In FIG. 7(B1), similar to FIG. 7(A1), the temperature information within one pixel is exemplified by being divided into four parts so as to approximate the actual temperature distribution. The case where the hottest part of the fire source is 100, the surrounding is 10, and the further surrounding is 1 is exemplified.

[0039] Figure 7(B2): This shows the temperature information for each pixel of IMG2 in Figure 7(B1). The value obtained by summing the numerical values that were divided into four parts and displayed in Figure 7(B1) becomes the temperature information for each pixel. Judging only from the temperature information of IMG2 shown in Figure 7(B2), the pixel position with the temperature information of 130 filled in gray will be identified as the fire source position.

[0040] Figure 7(C): This is an image diagram showing the state where the fire source position is identified using the temperature information of IMG1 according to Figure 7(A2) and the temperature information of IMG2 according to Figure 7(B2). As shown in Figure 7(C), the fire source position identified using the pixel showing the highest temperature information in IMG1 and the pixel showing the highest temperature information in IMG2 is indicated as a black square.

[0041] The position of this black square corresponds to the position shown as temperature information 100 in Figures 7(A1) and 7(B1). Therefore, by utilizing the detailed fire source exploration mode that identifies the fire source position based on the temperature information in the image data before and after moving the infrared camera 12, it is possible to identify the fire source position with a resolution higher than the pixel size at the necessary locations.

[0042] That is, when using a wide-angle lens to roughly explore the high-temperature areas across the entire monitoring area and when it is desired to identify the fire source position with high precision, by using the detailed fire source exploration mode in combination, it is possible to suppress an increase in the exploration time and realize an infrared camera system capable of improving the detection accuracy of the fire source position.

[0043] Note that in Figure 7(C), for the purpose of clearly explaining the image with higher resolution, an example of identifying the fire source position by a simple method was described. However, generally, the temperature information obtained in Figure 7(A2) is evenly assigned to the pixels divided into four parts, and similarly, the temperature information obtained in Figure 7(B2) is evenly assigned to the pixels divided into four parts, and by averaging them at the corresponding positions, it is possible to obtain the temperature information for each of the pixels divided into four parts.

[0044] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram regarding a detailed fire source exploration mode for identifying a fire source position based on temperature information in image data before and after moving the infrared camera 12 in Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, and is an explanatory diagram showing a pattern different from FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, five states, (A1), (A2), (B1), (B2), and (C), are described, each schematically representing the following states.

[0045] FIG. 8(A1) shows IMG1, which is image data captured in a state before moving the infrared camera 12. In FIG. 8(A1), the temperature information within one pixel is exemplified by being divided into four parts so as to approximate the actual temperature distribution. A case is exemplified where the hottest part of the fire source is 100 as one pixel and the surroundings are all 0. The part with a temperature information of 100 in one pixel is shown as 25 after being divided into four parts respectively.

[0046] FIG. 8(A2) shows the temperature information for each pixel unit of IMG1 in FIG. 8(A1). The value obtained by summing the numerical values that were divided into four parts and displayed in FIG. 8(A1) becomes the temperature information of each pixel. Judging only from the temperature information of IMG1 shown in FIG. 8(A2), only pixels with a temperature information of 25 or less exist, and the fire source position cannot be identified.

[0047] FIG. 8(B1) shows IMG2, which is image data captured in a state after moving the infrared camera 12 half a pixel to the right and half a pixel in the depression angle direction. In FIG. 8(B1), similar to FIG. 8(A1), the temperature information within one pixel is exemplified by being divided into four parts so as to approximate the actual temperature distribution. A case is exemplified where the hottest part of the fire source is 100 as one pixel and the surroundings are all 0. The part with a temperature information of 100 in one pixel is shown as 25 after being divided into four parts respectively.

[0048] Figure 8(B2): This shows the temperature information for each pixel of IMG2 in Figure 8(B1). The value obtained by summing the numerical values that were divided into four parts and displayed in Figure 8(B1) becomes the temperature information for each pixel. Judging only from the temperature information of IMG2 shown in Figure 8(B2), the pixel position with the temperature information of 100 filled in gray is identified as the fire source position.

[0049] Figure 8(C): This is an image diagram showing the state where the fire source position is identified using the temperature information of IMG1 according to Figure 8(A2) and the temperature information of IMG2 according to Figure 8(B2). Although the fire source position could not be identified in IMG1, since the fire source position could be identified in IMG2, as a result, the same state as Figure 8(B2) is shown as Figure 8(C).

[0050] The state of this Figure 8(C) cannot be obtained from the imaging result according to Figure 8(A1), and it is obtained for the first time as the imaging result according to Figure 8(B1). Therefore, by utilizing the detailed fire source exploration mode that identifies the fire source position based on the temperature information in the image data before and after moving the infrared camera 12, pixels having high-temperature information can be accurately extracted, and the fire source position can be identified without lowering the fire threshold. As a result, the effect of identifying the fire source position with a resolution higher than the pixel size can be realized at the necessary locations.

[0051] That is, when using a wide-angle lens to roughly explore the high-temperature part over the entire monitoring area and wanting to accurately identify the fire source position, by using the detailed fire source exploration mode in combination, it is possible to suppress an increase in the exploration time and realize an infrared camera system capable of improving the detection accuracy of the fire source position.

[0052] Also, in the specific example of the detailed fire source exploration mode described above, the case of moving by half a pixel was explained, but the moving amount is not limited to this. By basing on a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by moving the infrared camera 12 by a first moving amount set in advance as a moving amount smaller than the pixel size, it is also possible to realize the detailed fire source exploration mode that identifies the fire source position with a resolution higher than the pixel size.

[0053] Note that the fire source to be detected by the infrared camera system according to the present disclosure does not sway much at the root part, but has the characteristic of swaying vertically, horizontally, and laterally at parts other than the root. In particular, the output above the flame is unstable due to the breathing action of the flame. Therefore, regarding the case of applying the detailed fire source exploration mode in consideration of such characteristics, it will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0054] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram regarding a fire source position detection method using the characteristics of a fire source in Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As described above, the fire source to be detected has the characteristic that its root is difficult to sway. In other words, the root part of the fire source has little sway and tends to continuously maintain a high-temperature state stably.

[0055] FIGS. 9(A) to 9(C) show image data in a time series capturing a fire source that changes every moment. In FIGS. 9(A) to 9(C), the actual temperature information within one pixel is divided into four parts and represented. The root part of the fire source is stable as temperature information 100, but above and to the left and right of the root part, the temperature information varies due to the swaying of the fire source, indicating a state of variation.

[0056] In such a state of variation, if the detailed fire source exploration mode is simply utilized, the image data before and after movement may have different distributions of temperature information affected by swaying. For example, when the image data in FIG. 9(B) is obtained as IMG1, the image before movement, and the image data in FIG. 9(C) is obtained as IMG2, the image after movement, since the temperature information varies due to the influence of swaying, there is a possibility that the effect described with reference to FIG. 7 above cannot be obtained.

[0057] Therefore, as the first step, the control unit 11 obtains IMG1 and IMG2 by moving in the pitch angle direction, and as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 9(A) to 9(C), the control unit 11 identifies the position having the highest temperature information along the elevation angle direction from IMG1 and IMG2, thereby accurately identifying the Y coordinate position of the root part of the fire source. That is, as the first step, the Y coordinate position of the pixel indicating temperature information of about 100 without fluctuation is identified.

[0058] Next, as the second step, the control unit 11 obtains IMG1 and IMG2 by moving in the left-right direction, and identifies the position having the highest temperature information from IMG1 and IMG2, thereby accurately identifying the X coordinate position of the root part of the fire source. That is, as the second step, the X coordinate position of the pixel indicating temperature information of about 100 without fluctuation is identified.

[0059] In this way, by using the characteristics of the fire source and executing the detailed fire source exploration mode in two steps, as a result, the fire source position can be identified with a resolution higher than the pixel size in the pitch angle direction and the left-right direction.

[0060] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a series of processes related to the fire source position detection method using the characteristics of the fire source in Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. First, in step S1001, the control unit 11 executes a fire source detection process based on the image data output from the infrared camera 12 at one or more monitoring positions within the fire monitoring area.

[0061] Specifically, the control unit 11 determines whether there is a pixel having temperature information exceeding a preset fire threshold among all the image data. If it is determined that there is such a pixel, the pixel having the highest temperature information among them is identified as a fire source candidate point. In the example shown in FIG. 4 above, the control unit 11 identifies the fire source candidate point from among the five pieces of image data at the five monitoring positions of No. 1 to No. 5.

[0062] Next, in step S1002, the control unit 11 determines whether a fire source candidate point has been identified. That is, if there is no pixel having temperature information exceeding the fire threshold, the control unit 11 ends the series of processes assuming that the fire source candidate point has not been identified. On the other hand, if the fire source candidate point is identified in step S1001, the control unit 11 proceeds to the processes after step S1003.

[0063] When proceeding to step S1003, the control unit 11 performs position correction processing so that the fire source candidate point coincides with the pointing direction of the infrared camera. Specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 5 above, the control unit 11 performs position correction processing such that the fire source candidate point P1 is at the position of Pc which is the center of the image.

[0064] Next, in step S1004, the control unit 11 executes the first step described above using the detailed fire source search mode. Specifically, by executing the first step, the control unit 11 identifies the Y coordinate position of the root part of the fire source. As a result, the Y coordinate of the fire source position is identified with a resolution higher than the pixel size.

[0065] Next, in step S1005, the control unit 11 executes the second step described above using the detailed fire source search mode. Specifically, by executing the second step, the control unit 11 identifies the X coordinate position of the root part of the fire source. As a result, the X coordinate of the fire source position is identified with a resolution higher than the pixel size.

[0066] Then, in step S1006, the control unit 11 can finally identify the fire source position having a resolution higher than the pixel size using the Y coordinate identified in step S1004 and the X coordinate identified in step S1005.

[0067] As described above, according to Embodiment 1, the infrared camera is moved by an amount of movement smaller than the pixel size, and the temperature information output from the infrared camera before and after the movement is used to identify the position of the fire source with a resolution higher than the pixel size. In addition, the position of the fire source can be identified without lowering the fire threshold. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in the search time and realize an infrared camera system capable of improving the detection accuracy of the fire source position.

[0068] Also, although the output is unstable above the flame due to the breathing action of the flame, by utilizing the inherent shaking characteristic of the fire source that there is less shaking and it is stable at the root part of the flame, the position in the pitch angle direction is identified first, and then the position in the left - right direction is identified, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the position detection accuracy due to the influence of shaking.

[0069] In Embodiment 1, as the detailed fire source search mode, the case of identifying the position of the fire source with a resolution higher than the pixel size using the temperature information output from the infrared camera in two pieces of image data before and after moving the infrared camera by an amount of movement smaller than the pixel size has been described. However, the detailed fire source search mode according to the present disclosure is not limited to the case of using two pieces of image data.

[0070] It is also possible to acquire the temperature information regarding a plurality of pieces of image data in each of a plurality of pointing directions of 3 or more, and use the acquisition result to identify the position of the fire source with a resolution higher than the pixel size. Further, by controlling the drive mechanism at a constant speed so that the infrared camera moves by an amount of movement smaller than the pixel size in accordance with the frame rate of the infrared camera, it is also possible to configure to sequentially acquire the temperature information of each of a plurality of pieces of image data at equal pitch without stopping the drive mechanism.

[0071] In addition, in Embodiment 1, the case where an infrared camera is used as means for outputting temperature information as image data has been described. However, as long as temperature information can be output as image data, the same effect can be achieved by adopting a configuration other than an infrared camera.

Explanation of Signs

[0072] 10 Infrared camera system, 11 Control unit, 12 Infrared camera, 13 Driving mechanism.

Claims

1. An infrared camera that outputs temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels as image data by imaging a monitoring area, a control unit that identifies a fire source position based on the temperature information of each of the plurality of pixels in the image data output from the infrared camera, and a drive mechanism that can move the pointing direction of the infrared camera in three or more pointing directions according to a command output from the control unit in order to change the imaging position by the infrared camera and comprising, the drive mechanism has a configuration capable of moving the infrared camera with a resolution higher than the pixel size of the infrared camera, the control unit controls the drive mechanism to move the infrared camera in each of the three or more pointing directions by a movement amount set in advance as a movement amount smaller than the pixel size, and uses the temperature information output from the infrared camera before movement and after moving in each of the three or more pointing directions to identify the fire source position with a resolution higher than the pixel size, having a detailed fire source exploration mode infrared camera system.

2. An infrared camera that outputs temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels as image data by imaging a monitoring area, a control unit that identifies a fire source position based on the temperature information of each of the plurality of pixels in the image data output from the infrared camera, and a drive mechanism that can move the pointing direction of the infrared camera according to a command output from the control unit in order to change the imaging position by the infrared camera and comprising, the drive mechanism has a configuration capable of moving the infrared camera in the pitch angle direction with a resolution higher than the pixel size of the infrared camera, The control unit controls the drive mechanism to move the pointing direction of the infrared camera in the pitch angle direction by a first movement amount set in advance as a movement amount smaller than the pixel size, and uses the respective temperature information output from the infrared camera before and after moving the infrared camera in the pitch angle direction by the first movement amount. By identifying the portion with the highest temperature of the heat source from the pixel with the highest temperature information obtained before moving the infrared camera and the pixel with the highest temperature information obtained after moving the infrared camera, the Y coordinate position of the root portion of the heat source position, which has a higher resolution than the pixel size, is less likely to fluctuate, and the high-temperature state tends to continue stably, and has a detailed heat source exploration mode for identifying the Y coordinate position. An infrared camera system.

3. An infrared camera that outputs temperature information corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels as image data by imaging a monitoring area, A control unit that identifies a heat source position based on the temperature information of each of the plurality of pixels in the image data output from the infrared camera, A drive mechanism that can move the pointing direction of the infrared camera according to a command output from the control unit in order to change the imaging position by the infrared camera is provided, The drive mechanism has a configuration capable of moving the infrared camera in the left-right direction with a resolution higher than the pixel size of the infrared camera, The control unit controls the drive mechanism to move the pointing direction of the infrared camera in the left-right direction by a first movement amount set in advance as a movement amount smaller than the pixel size, and uses the respective temperature information output from the infrared camera before and after moving the infrared camera in the left-right direction by the first movement amount. By identifying the portion with the highest temperature of the heat source from the pixel with the highest temperature information obtained before moving the infrared camera and the pixel with the highest temperature information obtained after moving the infrared camera, the X coordinate position of the root portion of the heat source position, which has a higher resolution than the pixel size, is less likely to fluctuate, and the high-temperature state tends to continue stably, and has a detailed heat source exploration mode for identifying the X coordinate position. An infrared camera system.

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