Image observation device and image observation method

Abstract

To provide an image observation device and an image observation method that enable observation of discrimination areas not observable in visible light using image capture means of a mobile terminal device.SOLUTION: An image observation device and an image observation method according to the present invention include a housing 10 that blocks external light and a light source 20 that irradiates light of a specific wavelength enabling observation of a discrimination area 1. The light source 20 is installed inside the housing 10. The housing 10 has a placement surface 11 for placing a mobile terminal device 3. The placement surface 11 has an imaging window 12 formed therein. By placing an object 2 inside the housing 10 and capturing the discrimination area 1 through the imaging window 12 using imaging means 4, the discrimination area 1 can be observed on display means 5 of the mobile terminal device 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image observation device and an image observation method used to confirm latent images that cannot be observed with visible light and are embedded in printed matter used as securities such as banknotes, stock certificates, and bonds, as well as various certificates and important documents. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a counterfeit discrimination device that includes a light-blocking housing, a window provided on the lower flat surface of the light-blocking housing, a light source disposed within the light-blocking housing and irradiating invisible light toward the window, an imaging means disposed within the light-blocking housing and capturing an image of an object to be discriminated through the window, and a display means disposed on the upper flat surface of the light-blocking housing, having a display surface on the outside of the housing, and displaying the image captured by the imaging means.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a number forgery inspection device that has an insertion opening for the object to be inspected in a box body, a placement table for the object to be inspected that corresponds to the insertion opening, a visible light lamp below the placement table, a light source that causes a phosphor to emit color above the placement table, a confirmation window at a position opposite the placement table, and by selectively turning on the lamp and the light source, it is possible to inspect the object to be inspected with visible transmitted light and to inspect the phosphor pattern. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3359149 [Patent Document 2] Microfilm of Utility Model Application No. 55-94322 (Utility Model Application No. 57-20073) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is not possible to observe the discrimination region that cannot be observed with visible light using the image capturing means of the mobile terminal device.

[0006] Light in wavelength ranges other than visible light, including the ultraviolet range, can have adverse effects on the human body, and there has been a demand for an observation method that does not have an adverse effect on the human body.

[0007] Furthermore, since latent images observed at wavelengths other than visible light are also used as elements for determining authenticity, it is important not only to observe them with the human eye but also to save them as images, and there has been a demand for an observation device that can save images while observing them.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an image observation device and an image observation method that can observe a discrimination area that cannot be observed with visible light by using an image capturing means provided in a mobile terminal device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The image observation device of the present invention described in claim 1 is an image observation device that is placed on an object having a discrimination area that can be observed by irradiating it with light of a specific wavelength, and is used to observe the discrimination area, and is characterized in that it comprises a housing that blocks light from outside, and a light source that irradiates light of a specific wavelength onto the discrimination area, the housing having a mounting surface on the top for placing a portable terminal device equipped with an image capturing means, and an opening on the bottom for observing the discrimination area, the light source being located at a position higher than the opening in the housing, and the mounting surface having a photographing window portion for photographing the discrimination area using the image capturing means equipped in the portable terminal device.

[0010] The present invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that in the image observation device according to claim 1, the placement surface has a mobile terminal placement guide portion that indicates the position where the mobile terminal is to be placed.

[0011] The present invention as set forth in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the image observation device as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2, it is provided with an object installation plate on which the housing is to be placed, and the object installation plate has an object installation guide section that indicates the position at which the object is to be placed, and a housing installation guide section that indicates the position at which the housing is to be placed.

[0012] The image observation method of the present invention described in claim 4 is an image observation method using the image observation device described in claim 1, characterized in that external light to the object is blocked, light of a specific wavelength for observing the discrimination area is irradiated onto the discrimination area, and the discrimination area is photographed by an image photographing means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the discrimination area that cannot be observed with visible light can be observed by the image capturing means of the mobile terminal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an image observation device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an image observation device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Photograph showing the discrimination region observed using the image observation device shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An image observation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing that blocks external light and a light source that irradiates light of a specific wavelength that enables the discrimination region to be observed, the light source is installed in the upper part of the housing, the housing has a mounting surface on which a portable terminal is placed, the mounting surface has a photographing window, an object is placed inside the housing, and the discrimination region is photographed through the photographing window by the image capturing means, thereby allowing the discrimination region to be observed on the display means of the portable terminal. According to this embodiment, the discrimination region that cannot be observed with visible light can be observed by the image capturing means of the portable terminal.

[0016] In the second embodiment of the present invention, in the image observation device according to the first embodiment, the housing has an opening on a surface different from the mounting surface, the housing is placed over the object, a discrimination area is placed in the opening, and the discrimination area is photographed through the photographing window by the image photographing means. According to this embodiment, by covering the object with the housing, it is possible to block external light from reaching the object.

[0017] In the third embodiment of the present invention, in the image observation device according to the first and second embodiments, the placement surface has a mobile terminal placement guide portion that indicates the position where the mobile terminal should be placed. According to this embodiment, it is easy to know the position where the mobile terminal should be placed, and photographing can be performed easily.

[0018] A fourth embodiment of the present invention is an image observation device according to the second and third embodiments, which is provided with an object installation plate on which a housing is placed, and the object installation plate has an object installation guide section which indicates the position to place the object, and a housing installation guide section which indicates the position to place the housing. According to this embodiment, it is easy to grasp the positions to place the object and the housing, and photographing can be performed easily.

[0019] The fifth embodiment of the present invention is an image observation device according to the fourth embodiment, in which the object placement guide portion is formed with a concave surface and the housing placement guide portion is formed with a convex surface. According to this embodiment, the object and housing can be placed in the correct positions, and photography can be easily performed.

[0020] The sixth embodiment of the present invention is an image observation method using the image observation device of the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention, in which external light to the object is blocked, light of a specific wavelength that makes the discrimination region observable is irradiated onto the object, and the discrimination region is photographed by image capturing means, thereby observing the discrimination region. According to this embodiment, the discrimination region that cannot be observed with visible light can be observed by the image capturing means of a mobile terminal device. [Example]

[0021] An image observation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an image observation device according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1(a) is a side cross-sectional configuration diagram, FIG. 1(b) is a plan view showing an object, FIG. 1(c) is a view taken along the arrow AA in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 1(d) is a view taken along the arrow BB in FIG. 1(a).

[0023] The image observation device according to this embodiment observes a discrimination area 1 of an object 2 that cannot be observed with visible light by using an image capturing means 4 included in a portable terminal device 3. The portable terminal device 3 has a display means 5.

[0024] The image observation device of this embodiment preferably comprises a housing 10 that blocks light from outside, a light source 20 that irradiates light of a specific wavelength that enables the discrimination area 1 to be observed, and further comprises an object placement plate 30 that covers the housing 10.

[0025] The light source 20 is installed inside the housing 10. A plurality of light sources 20 are fixed to a base 21, which is connected to wiring 22, and power is supplied to the light sources 20 from an external power source via a USB connector 23 or the like. When the discrimination area 1, which cannot be observed with visible light, is an infrared image, the light source 20 irradiates infrared light with a specific wavelength of 780 nm to 1 mm. Note that, considering the wavelength sensitivity characteristics of the image capturing means 4, it is preferable that the light source 20 use infrared light of 780 nm to 900 nm.

[0026] Furthermore, by setting the specific wavelength of the light source 20 to ultraviolet light of 10 nm to 400 nm, an ultraviolet image can be observed.

[0027] Since the light source 20 needs to irradiate the discrimination area 1 with light of a specific wavelength, it is preferable that the light source 20 be installed on the side of the housing 10 at a position higher than an opening 13 (described later). This is because if the light source 20 is installed at approximately the same height as the opening in the housing 10, the discrimination area 1 will not be irradiated with a sufficient amount of light of the specific wavelength.

[0028] The housing 10 has a mounting surface 11 on which the mobile terminal 3 is placed at the top, and the mounting surface 11 has a window 12 for photography formed therein.

[0029] Further, the housing 10 has an opening 13 at the bottom on a surface different from the placement surface 11 .

[0030] The placement surface 11 has a mobile terminal placement guide portion 14 that indicates the position where the mobile terminal 3 is to be placed.

[0031] 1(c) shows a mobile terminal placement guidance section 14a for a mobile terminal 3 in which the image capturing means 4 is arranged in the center of the mobile terminal 3, and a mobile terminal placement guidance section 14b for a mobile terminal 3 in which the image capturing means 4 is arranged to the side of the mobile terminal 3. The mobile terminal placement guidance section 14 may be a mark printed on the placing surface 11, or may be formed by forming an uneven section on the placing surface 11. The mobile terminal placement guidance section 14 may also be formed by varying the height of the placing surface 11, and for example, the mobile terminal placement guidance section 14b may be a surface lower than the mobile terminal placement guidance section 14a, and the mobile terminal placement guidance section 14a may be a surface lower than the other surfaces of the placing surface 11.

[0032] In this way, by providing the mobile terminal device placement guide section 14 on the placement surface 11 that indicates the position where the mobile terminal device 3 should be placed, it is easy to know the position where the mobile terminal device 3 should be placed, and photographing can be performed easily.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1(d), the object placement plate 30 has an object placement guide section 31 that indicates the position where the object 2 is to be placed, and a housing placement guide section 32 that indicates the position where the housing 10 is to be placed.

[0034] For example, the object placement guiding section 31 can be formed with a concave surface that is lower than the other surfaces, and the housing placement guiding section 32 can be formed with a convex surface that is higher than the other surfaces. Note that the object placement guiding section 31 can also be formed with a convex surface that is higher than the other surfaces. When the object placement guiding section 31 or the housing placement guiding section 32 is formed with a convex surface that is higher than the other surfaces, it can also be formed with multiple convex surfaces.

[0035] The two-dot dashed line shown in FIG. 1(d) indicates the outer shape 10A of the surface having the opening 13.

[0036] In this way, by providing the object placement guide section 31 and the housing placement guide section 32 on the object placement plate 30, it is easy to grasp the positions where the object 2 and the housing 10 are to be placed, and photographing can be performed easily.

[0037] By using the image observation device of this embodiment, the object 2 is placed inside the housing 10, and the discrimination area 1 is photographed through the photographing window 12 using the image photographing means 4, so that the discrimination area 1 can be observed on the display means 5 possessed by the mobile terminal device 3.

[0038] By covering the object 2 with the housing 10 and placing the discrimination area 1 in the opening 13, the discrimination area 1 can be photographed through the photographing window 12 by the image photographing means 4.

[0039] In this way, by covering the object 2 with the housing 10, it is possible to block light from entering the object 2 from the outside.

[0040] As described above, according to this embodiment, the discrimination area 1, which cannot be observed with visible light, can be observed by the image capturing means 4 of the mobile terminal device 3, and therefore, there is no effect on the human body.

[0041] Moreover, the image capturing means 4 included in the mobile terminal device 3 also makes it possible to save the observed image.

[0042] Figure 2 is a structural diagram showing an image observation device according to another embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 2(a) is a photograph showing the housing of the image observation device, Figure 2(b) is a photograph showing the state in which the mounting surface 11 of the housing is open, and Figure 2(c) is a photograph showing the light source 20 of the image observation device. The same functional members as those in the image observation device shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and some of the explanations will be omitted.

[0043] The image viewing device shown in FIG. 2 differs from the image viewing device shown in FIG. 1 in the outer shape of the housing 10.

[0044] In the image observation device shown in Figure 1, the housing 10 has a surface 11 on which the portable terminal device 3 is placed that is an inclined surface when observed, whereas in the image observation device shown in Figure 2, the housing 10 has a surface 11 on which the portable terminal device 3 is placed that is a horizontal surface when observed.

[0045] That is, the housing 10 in this embodiment is formed as a rectangular parallelepiped, with the top surface of the housing 10 serving as a mounting surface 11 and an opening 13 on the bottom surface of the housing 10. Although the opening 13 is not shown in Fig. 2, the opening 13 may be provided on the entire bottom surface or on a part of the bottom surface.

[0046] The placement surface 11 is formed with a photographing window 12 and a portable terminal placement guide portion 14, similar to the image observation device shown in FIG.

[0047] 2, the base 21 on which the plurality of light sources 20 are arranged is further attached to a flat plate 24. The flat plate 24 can be arranged inside the housing 10.

[0048] The hole 15 shown in FIG. 2(b) is for passing the wiring 22 through.

[0049] As shown in this embodiment, by forming the housing 10 as a rectangular parallelepiped and making the light source 20 detachable from the housing 10, the housing 10 can be easily made foldable, making it easy to carry.

[0050] Although FIG. 2 does not show the object placement plate 30 described in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the image observation device shown in FIG. 2 also includes the object placement plate 30.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the discrimination region 1 observed using the image observation device shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.

[0052] The two-dimensional barcode shown in FIG. 3 is an example of a discrimination region 1 that cannot be observed with visible light.

[0053] The lens of the image capturing means 4 of the mobile terminal 3 is equipped with a filter that blocks or absorbs infrared rays, one of the purposes of which is to improve image quality, so that the infrared image cannot be clearly observed. The reason why part of the circle appears black below the two-dimensional barcode shown in Figure 3 is due to this filter.

[0054] As explained in the above examples, the image observation method according to the present invention involves blocking external light from reaching the object 2, irradiating the object 2 with light of a specific wavelength that enables the discrimination area 1 to be observed, and photographing the discrimination area 1 using the image capturing means 4 to observe the discrimination area 1. The discrimination area 1, which cannot be observed with visible light, can be observed using the image capturing means 4 possessed by the mobile terminal device 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1 Discrimination area 2. Object 3. Mobile devices 4. Image capture method 5 Display means 10. Cabinet 10A external shape 11 Placement surface 12 Shooting window 13 Opening 14, 14a, 14b Mobile terminal placement guidance unit 15 holes 20 light source 21 Foundation 22 Wiring 23 USB connector 24 flat plate 30 Object installation board 31 Object placement guidance section 32 Housing placement guide section

Claims

1. An image observation device that is placed on an object having a discrimination area that can be observed by irradiating the object with light of a specific wavelength, and is used to observe the discrimination area, a housing that blocks external light and a light source that irradiates the discrimination area with light of the specific wavelength; the housing has an upper surface for placing a mobile terminal device having an image capturing means thereon, and an opening at a lower surface for observing the discrimination area; the light source is provided at a position higher than the opening in the housing, The image observation device is characterized in that the placement surface has an imaging window portion for imaging the discrimination area by the image imaging means provided in the mobile terminal device.

2. 2. The image observation device according to claim 1, wherein the placement surface has a mobile terminal placement guide portion that indicates a position where the mobile terminal is to be placed.

3. an object placement plate for placing the object; 3. The image observation device according to claim 1, wherein the object placement plate has an object placement guide section that indicates a position at which the object is to be placed, and a housing placement guide section that indicates a position at which the housing is to be placed.

4. An image observation method using the image observation device according to claim 1, Blocking external light from reaching the object; irradiating the discrimination region with light of the specific wavelength for observing the discrimination region; An image observation method, comprising the step of photographing the discrimination region by the image photographing means.

Images