Dimming device for inspection

Abstract

This invention provides an inspection dimming device that enables dimming control of the light source and camera shooting control in various combinations of light sources and cameras. [Solution] When a trigger signal St is input to this inspection dimming device 1, for each of the light source control terminals 131, ..., dimming control output is performed from the light source control terminals 131, ..., based on the light source setting values ​​for lighting ON / OFF, lighting time, and lighting brightness for each of the multiple reference periods stored in the light source setting value storage unit 1aa, and also based on the light source setting value for lighting delay time. For each of the camera control terminals 141, ..., shooting control output is performed from the camera control terminal 141, ..., based on the camera setting values ​​for shooting ON / OFF and shooting time for each of the multiple reference periods stored in the camera setting value storage unit 1ab, and also based on the camera setting value for shooting delay time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection dimming device capable of dimming control of a plurality of light sources and shooting control of a plurality of cameras.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in an inspection system for inspecting articles (products) produced in a factory on an inspection line, in order to avoid overlooking defects or foreign matter attachments, light is irradiated from a light source that is dimming-controlled by a dimming device onto the article and it is photographed by a camera.

[0003] A system equipped with such a light source, a camera, and a dimming device can have various configurations, and among them, there is a system in which the dimming device performs dimming control of one or more light sources and shooting control of one or more cameras. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system (portable optical information reading device) in which a plurality of light sources (lighting units), one camera (imaging unit), and a dimming device (computing unit) for controlling them are housed in one housing. In this system, when one trigger signal is input, light is sequentially irradiated from the plurality of light sources onto the article and photographed by one camera, and then light is simultaneously irradiated from the plurality of light sources onto the article and photographed by one camera (see FIG. 31 of Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in an inspection system, it is not uncommon to use a general-purpose inspection dimming device that can handle various combinations of light sources and cameras according to the articles to be inspected.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an inspection dimming device that, when a single trigger signal is input, can control the dimming of a light source and control the shooting of a camera in various combinations of light sources and cameras. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the inspection dimming device according to claim 1 comprises a control unit, a trigger signal terminal unit, a setting signal input unit, a plurality of light source control terminal units, and a plurality of camera control terminal units, wherein the control unit has a light source setting value storage unit that stores light source setting values ​​for lighting ON / OFF, lighting time, and lighting brightness for each of the plurality of light source control terminal units and for each of the plurality of consecutive reference periods of fixed time, and stores the light source setting value for lighting delay time for each of the plurality of light source control terminal units, the control unit has a camera setting value storage unit that stores camera setting values ​​for shooting ON / OFF and shooting time for each of the plurality of camera control terminal units and for each of the plurality of reference periods, and stores the camera setting value for shooting delay time for each of the plurality of camera control terminal units, and the control unit has one trigger signal terminal unit When a trigger signal is input, it is detected, and for each of the multiple reference periods, a dimming control output is performed from the light source control terminal based on the light source setting values ​​for the ON / OFF state, the lighting time, and the lighting brightness stored in the light source setting value storage unit for each of the multiple reference periods, and also based on the light source setting value for the lighting delay time stored in the light source setting value storage unit for each of the light source control terminals. Similarly, for each of the multiple reference periods, a shooting control output is performed from the camera control terminal based on the camera setting values ​​for the ON / OFF state and the shooting time stored in the camera setting value storage unit for each of the multiple reference periods, and also based on the camera setting value for the shooting delay time stored in the camera setting value storage unit for each of the camera control terminals. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the inspection dimming device of the present invention, when a single trigger signal is input, it becomes possible to control the dimming of the light source and the shooting of the camera in various combinations of light sources and cameras. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of an inspection system using an inspection dimming device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This waveform diagram shows an example of input and output when a trigger signal is input to the same inspection dimming device. [Figure 3] This is a circuit diagram showing an example of a light source controlled by the same inspection dimming device. [Figure 4] This waveform diagram shows another example of input and output when a trigger signal is input to the same test dimming device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following describes embodiments for carrying out the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the inspection light control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention can control the dimming of a plurality of light sources 31, 32, 33, ... and control the shooting of a plurality of cameras 41, 42, 43, ... in an inspection system 2. The number of light sources 31, 32, 33, ... that the inspection light control device 1 can control and the number of cameras 41, 42, 43, ... that the inspection light control device 1 can control are not particularly limited, but for example, the number of light sources 31, 32, 33, ... can be set to 8 and the number of cameras 41, 42, 43, ... can be set to 4.

[0011] The inspection dimming device 1 comprises a control unit 1a, an interface unit 1b, a light source control unit 1c, and a camera control unit 1d. It also includes a trigger signal terminal unit 11, a setting signal input unit 12, a plurality of light source control terminal units 131, 132, 133, ... and a plurality of camera control terminal units 141, 142, 143, ... (see Figure 1). The inspection dimming device 1 may also have a power supply unit 1e and a power supply input terminal unit 15. DC (for example, DC 24V) can be input to the power supply unit 1e via the power supply input terminal unit 15.

[0012] The control unit 1a has a light source setting value storage unit 1aa. The light source setting value storage unit 1aa stores the ON / OFF light source setting values ​​A11, A21, A31, A12, A22, A32, A13, A23, A33, A14, A24, A3 for each light source control terminal unit 131, 132, 133, ... (i.e., each light source 31, 32, 33, ...) and for each of multiple consecutive reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ... (see Figure 2) of a fixed time Ta. 4. The light source setting values ​​Tb11, Tb21, Tb31, ..., Tb12, Tb22, Tb32, ..., Tb13, Tb23, Tb33, ..., Tb14, Tb24, Tb34, ... and the light source setting values ​​B11, B21, B31, ..., B12, B22, B32, ..., B13, B23, B33, ..., B14, B24, B34, ... are stored. The maximum number of multiple reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ... can be, for example, 32. Also, the constant time Ta of the reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ... can be, for example, about 20 ms.

[0013] Furthermore, the light source setting value storage unit 1aa stores the light source setting values ​​Tc1, Tc2, Tc3, ... for each light source control terminal unit 131, 132, 133, ... (i.e., each light source 31, 32, 33, ...) for the lighting delay time Tc (see Figure 2). The lighting delay time Tc is the time until the lighting time Tb begins.

[0014] When a trigger signal St is input to the trigger signal terminal 11, the control unit 1a detects it via the interface unit 1b. In response, the control unit 1a stores the light source setting value in the light source setting value storage unit 1aa for each of the multiple reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ... for each of the light source control terminals 131, 132, 133, ... (i.e., each of the light sources 31, 32, 33, ...) and for each of the multiple consecutive reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ... of a fixed time Ta. The light source settings for ON / OFF illumination are A11, A21, A31, ..., A12, A22, A32, ..., A13, A23, A33, ..., A14, A24, A34, ..., and the light source settings for illumination time Tb are Tb11, Tb21, Tb31, ..., Tb12, Tb22, Tb32, ..., Tb13, Tb23, Tb33, ... Based on the light source setting values ​​B11, B21, B31, B12, B22, B32, B13, B23, B33, B14, B24, B34

[0015] The dimming control outputs P1, P2, P3, etc. for dimming control of light sources 31, 32, 33, etc. can be controlled, for example, by applying a pulsed current (PWM current). In this case, the test dimming device 1 will control the dimming of light sources 31, 32, 33, etc., and also supply power to them.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2 (and Figure 4 described later), the dimming control outputs P1, P2, P3, ... of the pulsed current are such that a current flows repeatedly with a predetermined pulse width Tp and a constant period Tq during each lighting time Tb in multiple reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ..., and the ratio of the pulse width Tp to the period Tq determines the brightness of the light. There are no particular limitations, but for example, the constant period Tq can be approximately 8 μs. Note that in Figure 2, the period Tq (and pulse width Tp) are shown enlarged for easier understanding.

[0017] Each of the light sources 31, 32, 33, ... consists of multiple light-emitting elements (such as LEDs) 300 connected in series and / or parallel, as shown in Figure 3, for example. In Figure 3, the element indicated by reference numeral 301 is a current-limiting resistor. The resistor 301 may be omitted depending on the light sources 31, 32, 33, ...

[0018] Light sources 31, 32, 33, ... are connected to light source control terminals 131, 132, 133, ... respectively (see Figure 1). In detail, light source control terminal 131, which supplies pulsed current, consists of two terminals 131a and 131b. Terminal 131a is connected to the anode terminal 31a of light source 31, and terminal 131b is connected to the cathode terminal 31b of light source 31. Similarly, light source control terminal 132 consists of two terminals 132a and 132b. Terminal 132a is connected to the anode terminal 32a of light source 32, and terminal 132b is connected to the cathode terminal 32b of light source 32. Similarly, light source control terminal 133 consists of two terminals 133a and 133b. Terminal 133a is connected to the anode terminal 33a of light source 33, and terminal 133b is connected to the cathode terminal 33b of light source 33. Pulse current P1 flows from terminal 131a to light source 31 and terminal 131b. Pulse current P2 flows from terminal 132a to light source 32 and terminal 132b. Pulse current P3 flows from terminal 133a to light source 33 and terminal 133b.

[0019] In addition, the control unit 1a has a camera setting value storage unit 1ab. In the camera setting value storage unit 1ab, for each of the camera control terminal units 141, 142, 143, ··· (that is, for each of the cameras 41, 42, 43, ···), and for each of a plurality of consecutive reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ··· of a certain time Ta, the camera setting values C11, C21, C31, ···, C12, C22, C32, ···, C13, C23, C33, ···, C14, C24, C34, ··· for shooting ON / OFF, and the camera setting values Td11, Td21, Td31, ···, Td12, Td22, Td32, ···, Td13, Td23, Td33, ···, Td14, Td24, Td34, ··· for the shooting time Td (see FIG. 2) are stored.

[0020] In addition, in the camera setting value storage unit 1ab, for each of the camera control terminal units 141, 142, 143, ··· (that is, for each of the cameras 41, 42, 43, ···), the camera setting values Te1, Te2, Te3, ··· for the shooting delay time Te (see FIG. 2) are stored. The shooting delay time Te is the time until the shooting time Td starts.

[0021] When the control unit 1a receives a trigger signal St as described above and detects it via the interface unit 1b, it responds by setting the camera ON / OFF camera setting values ​​C11, C21, C31, ..., C12, C22, C32, ..., C13, C23, C33, ..., C14, C24, C34, ... for each of the multiple reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ..., for each of the camera control terminals 141, 142, 143, ... (i.e., each of the cameras 41, 42, 43, ...), and for each of the multiple consecutive reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ..., which are stored in the camera setting value storage unit 1ab, when shooting Based on the camera setting values ​​Td11, Td21, Td31, ..., Td12, Td22, Td32, ..., Td13, Td23, Td33, ..., Td14, Td24, Td34, ... for the interval Td, and also based on the camera setting values ​​Te1, Te2, Te3, ... for the shooting delay time Te stored in the camera setting value storage unit 1ab for each camera control terminal unit 141, 142, 143, ... (i.e., each camera 41, 42, 43, ...), the camera control unit 1d provides shooting control outputs S1, S2, S3, ... for shooting control of cameras 41, 42, 43, ... from the camera control terminal units 141, 142, 143, ....

[0022] When the setting signal Ss is input from the setting signal input unit 12, the control unit 1a detects it via the interface unit 1b. Then, the control unit 1a causes the light source setting value storage unit 1aa to store the light source setting values A11, A21, A31, ···, A12, A22, A32, ···, A13, A23, A33, ···, A14, A24, A34, ··· for lighting ON / OFF, the light source setting values Tb11, Tb21, Tb31, ···, Tb12, Tb22, Tb32, ···, Tb13, Tb23, Tb33, ···, Tb14, Tb24, Tb34, ··· for lighting time Tb, the light source setting values B11, B21, B31, ···, B12, B22, B32, ···, B13, B23, B33, ···, B14, B24, B34, ··· for lighting brightness, and the light source setting values Tc1, Tc2, Tc3, ··· for lighting delay time Tc. And it causes the camera setting value storage unit 1ab to store the camera setting values C11, C21, C31, ···, C12, C22, C32, ···, C13, C23, C33, ···, C14, C24, C34, ··· for shooting ON / OFF, the camera setting values Td11, Td21, Td31, ···, Td12, Td22, Td32, ···, Td13, Td23, Td33, ···, Td14, Td24, Td34, ··· for shooting time Td, and the camera setting values Te1, Te2, Te3, ··· for shooting delay time Te. The setting signal input unit 12 may be provided with a terminal to which a signal cable is connected so that the setting signal Ss is input from another device (not shown) through the signal cable, or may be provided with a wireless communicator so that the setting signal Ss is input wirelessly from another device, or may be provided with a mechanism such as a knob shape so that the setting signal Ss is input by manual operation.

[0023] Note that the control unit 1a can be realized with a configuration having a CPU, a program memory, a working memory, and the like.

[0024] In such an inspection dimming device 1, when a trigger signal St is input to the control unit 1a, for a plurality of consecutive reference periods T1, T2, T3, T4, ..., it outputs dimming control output of light from the light source control terminals 131, 132, 133, ... and shooting control output from the camera control terminals 141, 142, 143, ..., thus enabling dimming control of light sources 31, 32, 33, ... and shooting control of cameras 41, 42, 43, ... in various combinations of light sources 31, 32, 33, ... and cameras 41, 42, 43, ....

[0025] For example, set only the ON / OFF light source settings A11, A22, and A33 to ON. Then, set the light source setting Tb11 for the lighting time Tb and the light source setting B11 for the lighting brightness to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 31 and camera 41, set the light source setting Tb22 for the lighting time Tb and the light source setting B22 for the lighting brightness to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 32 and camera 42, set the light source setting Tb33 for the lighting time Tb and the light source setting B33 for the lighting brightness to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 33 and camera 43. Then, set the light source setting Tc1 for the lighting delay time Tc to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 31 and camera 41, set the light source setting Tc2 for the lighting delay time Tc to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 32 and camera 42, and set the light source setting Tc3 for the lighting delay time Tc to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 33 and camera 43. Then, only the camera settings C11, C22, and C33 for ON / OFF shooting are turned ON. Then, the camera setting Td11 for shooting time Td is set to a value suitable for shooting an object with light source 31 and camera 41, the camera setting Td22 for shooting time Td is set to a value suitable for shooting an object with light source 32 and camera 42, and the camera setting Td33 for shooting time Td is set to a value suitable for shooting an object with light source 33 and camera 43. Then, the camera setting Te1 for shooting delay time Te is set to a value suitable for shooting an object with light source 31 and camera 41, the camera setting Te2 for shooting delay time Te is set to a value suitable for shooting an object with light source 32 and camera 42, and the camera setting Te3 for shooting delay time Te is set to a value suitable for shooting an object with light source 33 and camera 43.

[0026] Then, when a single trigger signal St is input, the following dimming control and shooting control can be performed as shown in Figure 2. Specifically, during the reference period T1, the light source 31 illuminates the object with light suitable for photographing the object with the light source 31 and camera 41, and the camera 41 performs shooting suitable for photographing the object with the light source 31 and camera 41. Next, during the reference period T2, the light source 32 illuminates the object with light suitable for photographing the object with the light source 32 and camera 42, and the camera 42 performs shooting suitable for photographing the object with the light source 32 and camera 42. Next, during the reference period T3, the light source 33 illuminates the object with light suitable for photographing the object with the light source 33 and camera 43, and the camera 43 performs shooting suitable for photographing the object with the light source 33 and camera 43.

[0027] Also, for example, only the light source settings A11, A22, A33, A14, A24, and A34 for ON / OFF lighting are set to ON. Then, the light source setting Tb11 for lighting time Tb and the light source setting B11 for lighting brightness are set to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 31 and camera 41, the light source setting Tb22 for lighting time Tb and the light source setting B22 for lighting brightness are set to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 32 and camera 41, the light source setting Tb33 for lighting time Tb and the light source setting B33 for lighting brightness are set to values ​​suitable for photographing an object with light source 33 and camera 41, and the light source setting Tb1 Set the light source setting value B14 for illumination brightness to a value suitable for photographing an object with light sources 31, 32, and 33 and camera 41. Set the light source setting value Tb24 for illumination time Tb and the light source setting value B24 for illumination brightness to a value suitable for photographing an object with light sources 31, 32, and 33 and camera 41. Set the light source setting value Tb34 for illumination time Tb and the light source setting value B34 for illumination brightness to a value suitable for photographing an object with light sources 31, 32, and 33 and camera 41. Then, the light source setting value Tc1 for the lighting delay time Tc is set to a value suitable for photographing an object with light sources 31, 32, and 33 and camera 41, the light source setting value Tc2 for the lighting delay time Tc is set to a value suitable for photographing an object with light sources 31, 32, and 33 and camera 41, and the light source setting value Tc3 for the lighting delay time Tc is set to a value suitable for photographing an object with light sources 31, 32, and 33 and camera 41. Then, only the camera setting values ​​C11, C12, C13, and C14 for shooting ON / OFF are turned ON. Then, the camera setting value Td11 for the shooting time Td is set to a value suitable for photographing an object with light source 31 and camera 41, the camera setting value Td12 for the shooting time Td is set to a value suitable for photographing an object with light source 32 and camera 41, the camera setting value Td13 for the shooting time Td is set to a value suitable for photographing an object with light source 33 and camera 41, and the camera setting value Td14 for the shooting time Td is set to a value suitable for photographing an object with light source 31, light source 32, light source 33 and camera 41. Then, the camera setting value Te1 for the shooting delay time Te is set to a value suitable for photographing an object with light source 31, light source 32, light source 33 and camera 41.

[0028] Then, when a single trigger signal St is input, the following dimming control and shooting control can be performed, as shown in Figure 4. Specifically, during the reference period T1, the light source 31 illuminates the object with light suitable for both the light source 31 and the camera 41 to photograph the object, and the camera 41 performs shooting suitable for both the light source 31 and the camera 41 to photograph the object. Next, during the reference period T2, the light source 32 illuminates the object with light suitable for both the light source 32 and the camera 41 to photograph the object, and the camera 41 performs shooting suitable for both the light source 32 and the camera 41 to photograph the object. Next, during the reference period T3, the light source 33 illuminates the object with light suitable for both the light source 33 and the camera 41 to photograph the object, and the camera 41 performs shooting suitable for both the light source 33 and the camera 41 to photograph the object.

[0029] Next, during the reference period T4, the article is simultaneously illuminated from multiple light sources 31, 32, and 33, respectively, with light suitable for photographing the article with the camera 41, and the camera 41 takes a photograph suitable for photographing the article with the light sources 31, 32, and 33. In this case, when the article is simultaneously illuminated from multiple light sources 31, 32, 33, ... during the reference period T4, the light source setting values ​​B14, B24, and B34 for the illumination brightness of each light source 31, 32, and 33 can be adjusted so that the camera 41 can take a photograph at the desired brightness.

[0030] Although the inspection apparatus and inspection method according to the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those described in the embodiments, and various design modifications are possible within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

[0031] 1. Dimming device for inspection 1a Control Unit 1aa Light source setting value storage unit 1ab Camera setting value storage unit 1b Interface section 1c Light source control unit 1D Camera Control Unit 1e Power supply section 11 Trigger signal terminal section 12 Setting signal input section 131, 132, 133, ... Light source control terminal section 141, 142, 143, ... Camera control terminal section 15 Power input terminal section 2. Inspection System 31, 32, 33,... light source 300 light-emitting elements 301 Resistor 41, 42, 43, ... Camera dc dc power supply A11, A21, A31, ..., A12, A22, A32, ..., A13, A23, A33, ..., A14, A24, A34, ... Light source setting values ​​for ON / OFF illumination B11, B21, B31, ..., B12, B22, B32, ..., B13, B23, B33, ..., B14, B24, B34, ... Light source setting value for illumination brightness C11, C21, C31, ..., C12, C22, C32, ..., C13, C23, C33, ..., C14, C24, C34, ... Camera setting values ​​for shooting ON / OFF P1, P2, P3, ... Dimming control output S1, S2, S3, ... Shooting control output Ss setting signal St trigger signal T1, T2, T3, T4, ... Reference period Ta: Time of the reference period Tb lighting time Tb11, Tb21, Tb31, ..., Tb12, Tb22, Tb32, ..., Tb13, Tb23, Tb33, ..., Tb14, Tb24, Tb34, ... Light source setting value for illumination time Tc lighting delay time Tc1, Tc2, Tc3, ... Light source setting values ​​for the illumination delay time Td shooting time Td11, Td21, Td31, ..., Td12, Td22, Td32, ..., Td13, Td23, Td33, ..., Td14, Td24, Td34, ... Camera settings for shooting time Filming delay time Te1, Te2, Te3, ... Camera setting values ​​for shooting delay time Tp pulse width Tq period

Claims

[Claim 1] Equipped with a control unit, It comprises a trigger signal terminal section, a setting signal input section, multiple light source control terminal sections, and multiple camera control terminal sections. The control unit has a light source setting value storage unit that stores light source setting values ​​for ON / OFF, lighting time, and lighting brightness for each of the plurality of light source control terminals and for each of the plurality of consecutive reference periods of a fixed time, and stores the light source setting value for the lighting delay time for each of the plurality of light source control terminals. The control unit has a camera setting value storage unit that stores camera setting values ​​for shooting ON / OFF and shooting time for each of the plurality of camera control terminals and for each of the plurality of reference periods, and also stores camera setting values ​​for shooting delay time for each of the plurality of camera control terminals. The control unit detects when a trigger signal is input to the trigger signal terminal and, for each of the multiple reference periods, outputs a dimming control output from the light source control terminal based on the light source setting values ​​for ON / OFF lighting, lighting time, and lighting brightness stored in the light source setting value storage unit for each of the multiple reference periods, and also based on the light source setting value for the lighting delay time stored in the light source setting value storage unit for each of the light source control terminals. The camera control terminal outputs a shooting control output from the camera control terminal based on the camera setting values ​​for ON / OFF shooting and shooting time stored in the camera setting value storage unit for each of the multiple reference periods, and also based on the camera setting value for the shooting delay time stored in the camera setting value storage unit for each of the camera control terminals.

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