Processing system, soft magnetic material, soft magnetic intermediate material, transformer, processing method, and program

Abstract

A processing device (200) derives, on the basis of a comparison result between a region to be compared and a template image (410), magnetic domain information in pixels (520) to be compared in the region (510) to be compared.

Description

Processing system, soft magnetic material, soft magnetic intermediate material, transformer, processing method, and program

[0001] This disclosure relates to a processing system, a soft magnetic material, a soft magnetic intermediate material, a transformer, a processing method, and a program. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-032148, filed on March 2, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] Conventionally, magnetic domain information for magnetic materials such as grain-oriented electrical steel sheets and non-oriented electrical steel sheets is important for evaluating magnetic materials, as it is used to estimate the properties of the magnetic materials. Magnetic domain information is information that indicates the characteristics of magnetic domains. Magnetic domain information includes, for example, at least one of the width and the direction of extension of the magnetic domain (in the following description, the width of the magnetic domain will be referred to as the magnetic domain width as needed, and the direction of extension of the magnetic domain will be referred to as the magnetic domain direction as needed). For example, the magnetic domain width is a factor that significantly affects the anomalous eddy current loss of a magnetic material. The distribution of the magnetic domain width in a magnetic material can be used to estimate the iron loss of the magnetic material. Such magnetic domain information can also be obtained by analyzing magnetic domain images (see Patent Document 1). A magnetic domain image is an image visualized by converting the measurement results of the magnetic moment direction at each position in the magnetic material to be evaluated into pixel values. This magnetic domain image is usually a striped pattern image. In magnetic domain images, the width of stripes may change depending on the position within the magnetic domain image, the width of stripes may change irregularly within the magnetic domain image, or the magnetic domain image may contain noise such as unclear areas (see Figure 3 below). Obtaining magnetic domain information from such locations within a magnetic domain image is not easy. Therefore, a technology is needed that can obtain magnetic domain information from a magnetic domain image without being affected by these factors as much as possible.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses the following: First, a plurality of partial regions (rectangular regions) corresponding to mutually different positions on the magnetic domain image are cut out from the magnetic domain image. A two-dimensional Fourier transform is then performed on each partial region cut out from the magnetic domain image to calculate the spatial frequency components of each partial region. Then, the magnetic domain width and magnetic domain direction are calculated based on the spatial frequency components.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-169979

[0005] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 performs a Fourier transform, and therefore the accuracy of the magnetic domain information is limited by the resolution due to the Nyquist sampling theorem. Furthermore, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, if pixel values ​​change periodically in the magnetic domain image, there is a possibility that a position that is not a magnetic domain may be recognized as a magnetic domain. Specifically, the width of a stripe that exists locally due to noise or the like may also be calculated as the magnetic domain width (for stripes that exist locally due to noise or the like, see region NR in Figure 6 described later). Therefore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 may be significantly affected by the factors described above. Therefore, there is a problem in that the technology described in Patent Document 1 may not be able to obtain accurate magnetic domain information.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to derive magnetic domain information from a magnetic domain image with higher accuracy.

[0007] The processing system of the present disclosure is a processing system that derives magnetic domain information of a magnetic domain image to be processed, and includes a comparison unit that compares a comparison region in the magnetic domain image to be processed with one or more template images that are images having the magnetic domain information, and a magnetic domain information derivation unit that derives the magnetic domain information in the comparison region based on the results of the comparison, wherein there are multiple template images that the comparison unit can compare with the comparison region, and the multiple template images have different magnetic domain information from each other.

[0008] The processing system according to the present disclosure may also include a processing unit that performs processing based on the magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit. In this case, the magnetic domain information may include a magnetic domain width. The processing unit may also derive information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width derived from one of the magnetic domain images or a plurality of the magnetic domain images as the magnetic domain image to be processed. The processing unit may also perform processing to adjust the magnetic domain width of the soft magnetic material based on the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width. The processing unit may also perform processing to adjust the magnetic domain width of the soft magnetic material based on a representative value of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width. The representative value may be a mode.

[0009] In the soft magnetic material of the present disclosure, the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width is 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width derived by the processing unit included in the processing system.

[0010] The soft magnetic intermediate material of the present disclosure is a soft magnetic intermediate material for manufacturing the soft magnetic material, and in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width derived by the processing unit provided in the processing system, the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width is 700 μm or more.

[0011] The transformer of the present invention includes an iron core having the soft magnetic material.

[0012] The processing method disclosed herein is a processing method for deriving magnetic domain information of a magnetic domain image to be processed, and includes a comparison step of comparing a comparison region in the magnetic domain image to be processed with one or more template images that are images having the magnetic domain information, and a magnetic domain information derivation step of deriving the magnetic domain information in the comparison region based on the results of the comparison, wherein there are multiple template images that can be compared with the comparison region in the comparison step, and the multiple template images have different magnetic domain information from each other.

[0013] The program of the present disclosure causes a computer to function as each part of the processing system.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first example of the configuration of a processing system. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a processing device. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a first example of the functional configuration of a processing device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a magnetic domain image. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of a template image group. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a method for comparing a comparison region with a template image. FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining how a region that is not a magnetic domain is unlikely to be detected as a magnetic domain. FIG. 7A is a flowchart explaining a first example of a processing method. FIG. 7B is a flowchart following FIG. 7A. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second example of a template image group. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second example of the functional configuration of a processing device. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of a histogram of magnetic domain widths. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of a function of the frequency distribution of magnetic domain widths. FIG. 11 is a flowchart explaining a second example of a processing method. FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a magnetic domain image used in this calculation example. FIG. 12B is a diagram showing the calculation results of the magnetic domain width in this calculation example.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the term "same length, position, size, spacing, etc.," as used herein, includes not only cases where the objects to be compared are exactly the same, but also cases where the objects are different within the scope of the present disclosure (for example, cases where the objects are different within the tolerance range determined at the time of design).

[0016] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a processing system. In FIG. 1, the processing system of this embodiment creates a magnetic domain image of a magnetic body S and, based on the magnetic domain image, derives magnetic domain information for a portion of the magnetic body S corresponding to this magnetic domain image. The magnetic domain information is information that indicates the characteristics of the magnetic domain. The magnetic domain information includes, for example, at least one of magnetic domain width and magnetic domain direction. In this embodiment, a case is illustrated in which the magnetic domain information is quantitative information (numeric information). However, the magnetic domain information may also be qualitative information (information other than numerical values ​​(e.g., information indicating the degree of length, such as long or short)). Furthermore, the magnetic domain information may also be information that can be determined at a single point in time. In this embodiment, FIG. 1 illustrates a case in which the processing system includes a magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 and a processing device 200.

[0017] <Magnetic Domain Image Acquisition Device 100> The magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 is a device that acquires a magnetic domain image of a magnetic body S. In the magnetic domain image, the orientation of the magnetic moment measured at each position in a measurement target area of ​​the magnetic body S is converted into a value corresponding to that orientation. The value of each pixel (pixel value) of the magnetic domain image is expressed as a value corresponding to the orientation of the magnetic moment measured at the position corresponding to the pixel. The pixel value of each pixel included in the magnetic domain image takes either two or more values ​​(grayscale values) that can distinguish between different orientations of the magnetic moments, or two or more values ​​(grayscale values) that can distinguish the degree of difference between the orientations of the different magnetic moments. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 includes a light source 110, a polarizer 120, an analyzer 130, an optical system 140, a magneto-optical element 150, and a camera 160.

[0018] The light source 110 includes, for example, a light-emitting diode and outputs light. The polarizer 120 passes light (linearly polarized light L1) with a uniform polarization plane from the light output from the light source 110. The linearly polarized light L1 is irradiated onto the magneto-optical element 150.

[0019] The magneto-optical element 150 is an element (sensor) that detects the structure of the magnetic material S by utilizing the Faraday effect. The magneto-optical element 150 includes, for example, a transparent substrate, a magneto-optical film, and a reflective film. The magneto-optical film and the reflective film are stacked in this order on the transparent substrate. The magneto-optical element is also called an MO sensor.

[0020] The magnetic body S is placed on the reflective film side of the magneto-optical element 150. A leakage magnetic field is generated from the magnetic body S according to the direction of the magnetic moment inside it. This leakage magnetic field is applied to the magneto-optical film of the magneto-optical element 150. The polarization plane of linearly polarized light L1 that enters the magneto-optical element 150 from the transparent substrate side undergoes Faraday rotation in the magneto-optical film at an angle according to the magnitude of the leakage magnetic field from the magnetic body S (this angle is called the Faraday rotation angle). The light with its polarization plane rotated is reflected by the reflective film. The polarization plane of the light reflected by the reflective film is again Faraday rotated by the magneto-optical film. In this way, reflected light L2 whose polarization plane has been rotated according to the magnitude of the leakage magnetic field from the magnetic body S is emitted from the magneto-optical element 150 toward the camera 160.

[0021] The polarizer 120 and the analyzer 130 are installed so that their transmission axes are orthogonal to each other (crossed Nicols). The reflected light L2 is imaged by an optical system 140 including an imaging lens and the like, and then enters the analyzer 130. Of the light incident on the analyzer 130, light with an intensity corresponding to the Faraday rotation angle of the polarization plane of the reflected light L2 passes through the analyzer 130 and enters the camera 160.

[0022] The camera 160 includes, for example, an image sensor and an image processing circuit. In this embodiment, light with an intensity corresponding to the direction of the leakage magnetic field from the magnetic material S is incident on the light receiving elements of the image sensor. The image sensor converts the light incident on the light receiving elements into an electrical signal. The image processing circuit performs known image processing for generating an image signal on the electrical signal corresponding to the light incident on each light receiving element of the image sensor, thereby creating a magnetic domain image having pixel values ​​corresponding to the direction of the magnetic moment of the magnetic material S.

[0023] The image sensor may include a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) image sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, or other image sensors. In this embodiment, the magnetic domain image is illustrated as a two-dimensional image. Therefore, the image sensor included in the camera 160 is preferably an area sensor in which multiple light-receiving elements are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. However, this is not necessarily required. For example, the image sensor included in the camera 160 may be a linear sensor in which multiple light-receiving elements are arranged in a straight line. If the image sensor included in the camera 160 is a linear sensor, the two-dimensional magnetic domain image may be obtained by scanning the linear sensor in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the multiple light-receiving elements.

[0024] A magnetic domain image of a magnetic body (soft magnetic material) from which a magnetic domain image is to be acquired is captured after the magnetic body is demagnetized. In this embodiment, a case where the magnetic flux density in the magnetic body decays according to the following formula (1) during demagnetization is illustrated. In this case, the magnetic body is demagnetized in 30 seconds. Therefore, in this embodiment, a case where the magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 captures (acquires) a magnetic domain image at a timing when 30 seconds have elapsed since the magnetic flux density started to decay according to the following formula (1) is illustrated. In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the magnetic domain image is assumed to be captured at such a timing. B=1.9e －０．２ｔ cos0.75πt (1) where B is the magnetic flux density (T) and t is time (sec).

[0025] The magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 can be realized by known techniques such as those described in Patent Document 1. Therefore, the magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, as long as a magnetic domain image having pixel values ​​corresponding to the orientation of the magnetic moment at each measurement position in a measurement target region such as the magnetic material S can be obtained, it is not necessarily necessary to obtain the magnetic domain image using the principle described with reference to Fig. 1.

[0026] <Processing Device 200> The processing device 200 performs processing including deriving magnetic domain information for part or all of the magnetic material S based on the magnetic domain image acquired by the magnetic domain image acquisition device 100. The magnetic material S is, for example, a soft magnetic material such as a grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet or a non-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet. The shape of the magnetic material S may or may not be plate-shaped. Figure 2 and Figure 2A are diagrams showing an example of the functional configuration of the processing device 200.

[0027] The processing device 200 has, as hardware, one or more hardware processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and one or more memories such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processing device 200 performs various operations by, for example, executing one or more programs stored in the memory using one or more hardware processors.

[0028] Furthermore, an input device 220 and an output device 230 are connected to the processing device 200 so as to be able to communicate with the processing device 200. Communication between the processing device 200 and the input device 220 and the output device 230 may be wired communication or wireless communication. Furthermore, the processing device 200 may be equipped with the input device 220 and the output device 230.

[0029] Furthermore, the processing device 200 may be realized by dedicated hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0030] The hardware of the processing device 200 may be realized, for example, as shown in Fig. 2A . In Fig. 2A , the processing device 200 includes a CPU 2001, a main memory device 2002, an auxiliary memory device 2003, a communication circuit 2004, a signal processing circuit 2005, an image processing circuit 2006, an I / F circuit 2007, and a bus 2008.

[0031] The CPU 2001 controls the entire processing device 200. The CPU 2001 uses the main memory device 2002 as a work area to execute programs stored in the auxiliary memory device 2003. The main memory device 2002 temporarily stores data. The auxiliary memory device 2003 stores various types of data in addition to the programs executed by the CPU 2001.

[0032] The communication circuit 2004 is a circuit for communicating with the outside of the processing device 200. The communication circuit 2004 may perform wireless communication with the outside of the processing device 200, may perform wired communication, or may perform communication via a network.

[0033] The signal processing circuit 2005 performs various signal processing on signals received by the communication circuit 2004 and signals input under the control of the CPU 2001. The image processing circuit 2006 performs various image processing on signals input under the control of the CPU 2001. The signals that have undergone this image processing are output to, for example, the output device 230 (display).

[0034] The I / F circuit 2007 exchanges data with devices connected to the I / F circuit 2007. Examples of devices connected to the I / F circuit 2007 include at least one of the input device 220 and the output device 230 shown in Fig. 2A. However, the devices connected to the I / F circuit 2007 are not limited to these.

[0035] The CPU 2001, main memory device 2002, auxiliary memory device 2003, signal processing circuit 2005, image processing circuit 2006, and I / F circuit 2007 are connected to a bus 2008. Communication between these components is performed via the bus 2008. The hardware of the processing device 110 is not limited to the hardware shown in FIG. 2A as long as it can realize the functions of the processing device 200. For example, a GPU may be used as a processor instead of or in addition to the CPU 2001.

[0036] Next, an example of the functional configuration of the processing device 200 will be described. <<Acquisition unit 211>> The acquisition unit 211 acquires a magnetic domain image to be processed and pre-acquired information. The pre-acquired information is information that needs to be acquired in advance in order for the processing device 200 to derive magnetic domain information of the magnetic body S. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the pre-acquired information includes template setting information and threshold information.

[0037] In this embodiment, a case is exemplified in which the acquisition unit 211 acquires a magnetic domain image created by the camera 160 from the input device 220. In addition, in this embodiment, a case is exemplified in which the camera 160 and the input device 220 perform wired communication via a communication cable.

[0038] In this case, the input device 220 includes a receiving device. In this embodiment, the case where the acquisition unit 211 acquires a magnetic domain image received by the input device 220 is exemplified. However, the acquisition unit 211 does not necessarily need to acquire the magnetic domain image in this manner. For example, the acquisition unit 211 may acquire the magnetic domain image by wirelessly communicating between the camera 160 and the input device 220 using a wireless communication device included in the camera 160 or a wireless communication device (not shown) connected to the camera 160. Furthermore, the processing device 200 may have at least some of the functions of the camera 160. In this case, the acquisition unit 211 may acquire the magnetic domain image by creating it as described above.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a magnetic domain image 300. FIG. 3 illustrates the magnetic domain image 300 in which the magnetic material S is a grain-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet. In the following description, the horizontal direction of the magnetic domain image 300 is the x-axis direction, and the vertical direction is the y-axis direction. For convenience of notation, coordinates are shown in FIG. 3 at a position distant from the magnetic domain image 300. However, in this embodiment, the origin of the coordinate system is illustrated as being located at the lower left corner of the magnetic domain image 300. Each of the figures, including FIG. 3, also shows an x-y two-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system and a polar coordinate system (circular coordinates). The origin of the coordinate system is set at the lower left corner of the image, which is the same for each image other than the magnetic domain image 300 (template images 410 and 810 and a comparison region 510, which will be described later).

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the magnetic domain image 300 is exemplified as a grayscale image (for example, an 8-bit image having pixel values ​​with gradation values ​​of 0 to 255). However, the magnetic domain image 300 is not limited to a grayscale image. For example, the magnetic domain image 300 may be a color image or a binary image.

[0041] The magnetic body S shown in the magnetic domain image 300 of FIG. 3 includes a plurality of magnetic domains. In this embodiment, a case where the plurality of magnetic domains are aligned roughly in the x-axis direction is illustrated. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a case where the orientation of the magnetic moments of the plurality of magnetic domains is roughly in the y-axis direction is illustrated. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a case where the orientation of the magnetic moments of the plurality of magnetic domains is in alternately opposite directions along the x-axis direction is illustrated. In other words, in the magnetic domain image 300 of FIG. 3, each of the plurality of regions with relatively large gradation values ​​(light-density white regions in FIG. 3) and the plurality of regions with relatively small gradation values ​​(dark-density black regions in FIG. 3) is a magnetic domain.

[0042] FIG. 3 also illustrates a case where each magnetic domain extends roughly in the y-axis direction. FIG. 3 also illustrates a case where magnetic domains represented in white and magnetic domains represented in black are alternately arranged roughly along the x-axis direction. In this case, the boundary of the region (region where the concentration is reversed) represents a 180° domain wall. However, due to factors such as the presence of magnetic domains whose magnetic moment orientation is not parallel to the y-axis or noise in the magnetic domain image 300, as shown in FIG. 3, the pixel values ​​of the magnetic domain image 300 may exhibit gradation values ​​other than the minimum and maximum gradation values, or the magnetic domain direction in the magnetic domain image 300 may not be in a specific direction (e.g., parallel to the y-axis). Furthermore, as illustrated by region NR in FIG. 3, there may be regions in the magnetic domain image 300 that appear to be magnetic domains when viewed locally. The magnetic domain image may also include 90° magnetic domains in addition to or instead of 180° magnetic domains.

[0043] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 2B , as described above, this embodiment illustrates a case where the acquisition unit 211 acquires template setting information in addition to the magnetic domain image 300. As will be described later in the section on <<Comparison unit 213>>, this embodiment illustrates a case where the processing device 200 compares the compared region of the magnetic domain image 300 with each of a plurality of template images. The template setting information is information necessary for creating a plurality of template images. Note that there are no limitations on the timing at which the acquisition unit 211 acquires the template information. The acquisition unit 211 may acquire the template information in advance before acquiring the magnetic domain image 300, or may acquire the template information after acquiring the magnetic domain image 300.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a template image group 400 including multiple template images 410. Note that in FIG. 4 , for convenience of notation, only one template image is denoted by the reference numeral ( 410 ). In the following description, a magnetic domain corresponding to a region with a low gradation value (a region with a high density in FIG. 3 ) will be referred to as a first magnetic domain as necessary. Also, in the following description, a magnetic domain corresponding to a region with a high gradation value (a region with a low density in FIG. 3 ) will be referred to as a second magnetic domain as necessary. Note that the first and second magnetic domains do not need to be defined as such magnetic domains as long as their magnetic moments have different orientations. For example, the magnetic domain corresponding to a region with a high gradation value (a region with a low density in FIG. 3 ) may be referred to as the first magnetic domain, and the magnetic domain corresponding to a region with a low gradation value (a region with a high density in FIG. 3 ) may be referred to as the second magnetic domain. In this case, the density (black and white regions) in FIG. 4 may be reversed, and the first magnetic domain may be considered to be a white region in the following description of FIG. 4 .

[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which all template images 410 included in the template image group 400 have the same size and shape. Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which all template images 410 are rectangular with the same long and short sides. The length of the short side of the template image 410 (length in the x-axis direction) may be longer than the maximum width assumed to be the magnetic domain width of the magnetic material S, for example. Furthermore, the length of the long side of the template image 410 (length in the y-axis direction) may be, for example, 1.2 times or more (preferably 1.5 times or more) and 3 times or less (preferably 2 times or less) the maximum width assumed to be the magnetic domain width of the magnetic material S. However, the shape of the template image 410 is not limited to a rectangle and may be, for example, a square.

[0046] In Fig. 4, w is the width of the first magnetic domain (black region) shown in the template image 410. Fig. 4 illustrates a case where the template image group 400 includes multiple template images with the same magnetic domain width but different magnetic domain directions for each first magnetic domain. Specifically, in Fig. 4, w １ Next to it, the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain is w １ 4, multiple template images 410 are shown, each having the same magnetic domain direction but different from each other. ２ , w ３ ,...,w ｐ Next to the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain, ２ , w ３ ,...,w ｐ In FIG. 4, the maximum value of the magnetic domain width of the first magnetic domain shown in the template image 410 is w １ and the minimum value is w ｐ (In FIG. 4, w １ , w ｐ The (max) and (min) shown below indicate this.

[0047] In addition, in FIG. 4, the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain is w １ ~w ｐ1. The magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain is shifted by a predetermined width step Δw within a range of 1 / 100. However, it is not necessary to determine the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain in this manner. For example, the width step Δw does not have to be a constant value. In this embodiment, the resolution of the magnetic domain width w calculated based on the magnetic domain image 300 is determined by the width step Δw. For example, if increasing the accuracy of the magnetic domain width w is prioritized over reducing the computational load, the width step Δw is made small. Conversely, if reducing the computational load of the magnetic domain width w is prioritized over increasing the accuracy of the magnetic domain width w, the width step Δw is made large. Therefore, in this embodiment, the resolution of the magnetic domain width w can be adjusted by an operator and is not limited by computational principles such as the Nyquist sampling theorem described in the "Problems to be Solved by the Invention" section.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain can be adjusted by an operator. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the magnetic domain image 300 includes both magnetic domains with wide magnetic domain widths and magnetic domains with narrow magnetic domain widths, the magnetic domain widths w of these magnetic domains can be derived without changing the settings for deriving magnetic domain information. In contrast, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, when the magnetic domain image 300 includes both magnetic domains with wide magnetic domain widths and magnetic domains with narrow magnetic domain widths, setting a window function corresponding to the magnetic domains with wide magnetic domain widths may result in the magnetic domains with narrow magnetic domain widths being unable to be derived accurately or at all. For this reason, the technology described in Patent Document 1 requires the setting of multiple window functions corresponding to the magnetic domain widths.

[0049] In Fig. 4, θ is an angle representing the magnetic domain direction of the first magnetic domain (black region) shown in the template image 410. The magnetic domain direction is a direction perpendicular to the magnetic domain width direction on the observation surface (the surface of the template image 410) (in other words, the magnetic domain width direction is a direction perpendicular to the magnetic domain direction on the observation surface). In the following description, the angle representing the magnetic domain direction will be referred to as the magnetic domain angle θ as necessary. In Fig. 4, θ １ Below, the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain is θ １Similarly, θ ２ , θ ３ , ..., θ ｑ Below, the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain is θ ２ , θ ３ , ..., θ ｑ 4 illustrates a template image 410 in which the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain is expressed as an angle (right-handed angle) with a line pointing in the positive direction of the x-axis as the starting line and a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the paper as the positive direction. As mentioned above, the origin of the coordinate system shown in FIG. 4 is the position of the lower left corner of each template image 410. Therefore, in FIG. 4, the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain is expressed as an angle (right-handed angle) with a line pointing in the positive direction of the x-axis as the starting line and a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the paper as the positive direction. １ becomes 90° (in FIG. 4, θ １ (The (=90°) next to indicates this).

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain is shifted by a predetermined angle step Δθ within a range of 0° or more and less than 180°. For example, when the angle step Δθ is 5°, the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain is 0°, 5°, 10°, ..., 170°, and 175°. However, the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain does not necessarily have to be determined in this manner. For example, the angle step Δθ does not have to be a constant value. Furthermore, the range of the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain may be narrower than the range of 0° or more and less than 180°. This embodiment illustrates an example in which the resolution of the magnetic domain angle θ calculated based on the magnetic domain image 300 is determined by the angle step Δθ. Therefore, in this embodiment, like the magnetic domain width w, the resolution of the magnetic domain angle θ can be adjusted by an operator, and is not limited by calculation principles such as the Nyquist sampling theorem described in the "Problems to be Solved by the Invention" section. In addition, if the shape of the first magnetic domain in the template image 410 differs between when the magnetic domain angle θ is in the range of 0° or more and 180° or less and when the magnetic domain angle θ is in the range of 180° or more and 360° or less, the magnetic domain angle θ may be in the range of 0° or more and less than 360°.

[0051] FIG. 4 also illustrates a case where the shape of the first magnetic domain (black region) in the template image 410 is rectangular when the magnetic domain angle θ is n×90° (n is 0 or 1), and the center of gravity of the rectangle coincides with the center of gravity of the template image 410. FIG. 4 also illustrates a case where the shape of the first magnetic domain when the magnetic domain angle θ is other than n×90° is a shape obtained by rotating the first magnetic domain in the n×90° (n is 0 or 1) region by θ° around its center of gravity (however, in this case, the end of the magnetic domain direction of the first magnetic domain (black region) coincides with the end of the template image 410). However, the size and shape of the first magnetic domain in the template image are not limited to these. For example, the shape of the first magnetic domain in the template image may be square or elliptical. When the shape of the first magnetic domain in the template image is elliptical, for example, the minor axis of the ellipse may be the magnetic domain width of the first magnetic domain in the template image. The direction of the major axis of the ellipse may also be the magnetic domain direction of the first magnetic domain in the template image.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the pixel value of the first magnetic domain in the template image 410 is the minimum gradation value (=0) and the pixel value of the second magnetic domain is the maximum gradation value (=255). However, the pixels of the first magnetic domain in the template image 410 may include pixels with pixel values ​​greater than the minimum gradation value. Furthermore, the pixels of the second magnetic domain in the template image 410 may include pixels with pixel values ​​less than the maximum gradation value. Furthermore, the pixel values ​​of the first magnetic domain in the template image 410 may be made different depending on the location of the first magnetic domain. Similarly, the pixel values ​​of the second magnetic domain in the template image 410 may be made different depending on the location of the second magnetic domain.

[0053] In addition, this embodiment illustrates a magnetic domain image 300 of a magnetic body S that can have a magnetic domain structure in which magnetic domains whose magnetic moment orientations are reversed in a direction generally parallel to the y-axis are arranged alternately in the x-axis direction, as shown in FIG. 3 . This embodiment also illustrates a case in which multiple template images 410 corresponding to such a magnetic domain image 300 are created, as shown in FIG. 4 . However, the magnetic domain structure of the magnetic body S is not limited to this magnetic domain structure. The magnetic domain image to which this embodiment is applicable may be, for example, a magnetic domain image of a magnetic body S that has a 90° domain wall in addition to or instead of a 180° domain wall. Template images may be prepared according to the magnetic domain structure expected in the magnetic body S.

[0054] Furthermore, at least one of enlarging and reducing may be performed on the template image 410 included in the template image group 400. In this case, it is preferable to perform at least one of enlarging and reducing the template image 410 so that, for example, the lengths of the magnetic domains (first magnetic domain and second magnetic domain) included in the template image 410 in the magnetic domain direction do not become too short.

[0055] Specifically, for example, it is preferable to enlarge the template image 410 so that the magnification rate in the magnetic domain width direction is smaller than the magnification rate in the magnetic domain direction. It is also preferable to enlarge the template image 410 so that the reduction rate in the magnetic domain width direction is smaller than the reduction rate in the magnetic domain direction. For example, this is to make it easier to distinguish between the magnetic domains (first and second magnetic domains) contained in the template image 410 and the noise contained in the magnetic domain image 300. For example, the template image 410 including the first magnetic domain with a magnetic domain angle θ of 0° may be enlarged or reduced in the magnetic domain width direction (x-axis direction in FIG. 4 ) without changing the length of the template image 410 including the first magnetic domain with a magnetic domain angle θ of 0° in the magnetic domain direction (y-axis direction in FIG. 4 ). However, for example, the entire template image 410 may be enlarged at the same magnification rate. Also, for example, the entire template image 410 may be reduced at the same reduction rate.

[0056] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 2B , as described above, the template setting information is information necessary for creating a plurality of template images 410. When creating the template image 410 illustrated in FIG. 4 , the template setting information includes, for example, the maximum value w as information for specifying the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain. １ , minimum value w ｐ , and width step Δw. The template setting information also includes, as information for specifying the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain, information on the maximum value, minimum value, and angle step Δθ of the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain.

[0057] As described above, this embodiment illustrates a case where the acquisition unit 211 acquires threshold information in addition to the magnetic domain image 300 and template setting information. The threshold information is information indicating a threshold used in the comparison unit 213, which will be described later. Details will be described later in the section on <<Comparison Unit 213>>, but the threshold is a threshold for the degree of match between the compared region of the magnetic domain image 300 and the template image 410.

[0058] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which an operator operates the input device 220 to input information indicating template setting information and threshold information. In this case, the input device 220 includes a user interface. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the acquisition unit 211 acquires template setting information and threshold information input by an input operation on the input device 220. However, the manner in which the template setting information and threshold information are acquired is not limited. For example, the input device 220 may receive template setting information and threshold information transmitted from an external device, thereby acquiring the template setting information and threshold information. In this case, the input device 220 includes a receiving device. Alternatively, the acquisition unit 211 may acquire the template setting information and threshold information by reading out the template setting information and threshold information stored in a storage medium included in the input device 220.

[0059] <<Creation Unit 212>> The creation unit 212 creates multiple template images 410 based on the template setting information acquired by the acquisition unit 211. In this embodiment, a case where the creation unit 212 creates multiple template images 410 as illustrated in FIG. 4 is exemplified. In this manner, this embodiment exemplifies a case where the processing device 200 (creation unit 212) creates multiple template images 410. However, this is not necessarily the case. For example, the acquisition unit 211 may acquire multiple template images 410. In this case, the acquisition unit 211 does not need to acquire template setting information. The acquisition form of the multiple template images 410 may be the same as the acquisition form of the template setting information described in the <<Acquisition Unit 211>> section, for example.

[0060] <<Comparing Unit 213>> The comparing unit 213 compares a comparison region 510 of the magnetic domain image 300 with the template image 410 (see FIG. 5 ). The comparison region 510 is at least a partial region of the magnetic domain image 300. The comparison region 510 includes a comparison pixel 520. The comparison region 510 is, for example, a partial region (a partial region) of the magnetic domain image 300 that is compared with the template image 410. The comparison pixel 520 is a pixel at a position where magnetic domain information is obtained. The comparison pixel 520 is set at a predetermined position (e.g., the center of gravity position; hereinafter, referred to as the representative position) in the comparison region 510. The pixel at a position where magnetic domain information is obtained is a pixel in the comparison region 520 that reflects the magnetic domain information obtained by the comparison by the comparing unit 213, among the pixels of the magnetic domain image 300. The size (length and width) of the comparison region 510 may be, for example, a single pixel or a group of multiple pixels. A group of multiple pixels is, for example, multiple pixels contained inside a circle, a rectangle, or a polygon having a predetermined size.

[0061] In this embodiment, a case where the compared pixel 520 is composed of a single pixel is illustrated. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a case where magnetic domain information is obtained for each compared pixel 520 by comparison with multiple template images is illustrated. That is, the comparison unit 213 compares an image portion (comparison region 510) including a pixel (comparison pixel 520) at a position where magnetic domain information is obtained with each of multiple template images 410. FIG. 5 illustrates a case where there are multiple image portions (comparison regions 510) including a pixel (comparison pixel 520) at a position where magnetic domain information is obtained. In this case, the comparison unit 213 compares each of the compared regions 510 including each compared pixel 520 with the template image 410. For example, when magnetic domain information is obtained for the entire magnetic domain image 300, the comparison unit 213 selects all pixels included in the entire magnetic domain image 300 as compared pixels 520, thereby making it possible to obtain magnetic domain information for all pixels included in the entire magnetic domain image 300. For example, the comparison unit 213 may compare the compared region 510 with the template image 410 while shifting the pixels in the magnetic domain image 300 selected as the compared pixels 520 by a predetermined interval (for example, one pixel) so that all pixels that can be selected from the template image 410 are selected as the compared pixels 520. Note that, for example, if it is sufficient to obtain magnetic domain information for a portion of the magnetic domain image 300, it is sufficient to find the magnetic domain information for that portion of the region. In this way, it is not necessarily necessary to find the magnetic domain information for all pixels included in the entire magnetic domain image 300.

[0062] The comparison by the comparison unit 213 provides a comparison result, such as the degree of match, and it is therefore possible to determine the magnetic domain information of the compared pixel 520 from the magnetic domain information of each template image 410 based on the comparison result. In other words, the magnetic domain information of the template image 410 obtained as a result of the comparison between the compared region 510 and the template image 410 is reflected as the magnetic domain information of the compared pixel 520 in the compared region 510, thereby determining the magnetic domain information of the compared region 520. Note that a single template image 410 may be used. In this case, for example, it may be determined whether the magnetic domain information of the template image 410 used in the comparison with the compared region 510 is the same as that of the compared pixel 520. It may also be determined, for example, whether the magnetic domain width of the template image 410 used in the comparison with the compared region 510 is larger or smaller than that of the compared region 510. Generally, the compared region 510 includes the compared pixel 520 and its surrounding pixels. However, the compared region 510 and the compared pixel 520 may coincide with each other.

[0063] In the following description, in this embodiment, the comparison unit 213 calculates the degree of match between the compared region 510 and each of the multiple template images 410 by so-called template matching (note that the degree of match is also referred to as similarity, etc.). More specifically, in this embodiment, the comparison unit 213 moves the compared region 510 within the scanning region 330 set in the magnetic domain image to be processed, and determines which template image 410 matches at each position. For example, the comparison unit 213 may perform processing as follows.

[0064] Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a technique for comparing a comparison region 510 with a template image 410. Fig. 5 illustrates a case where, when the template image 410 is superimposed on the magnetic domain image 300 such that a pixel 411 in the upper left corner of the template image 410 is located at one pixel in a rectangular scanning region 330 having opposite vertices 310 and 320, and the x-axis direction and y-axis direction of the template image 410 are parallel to the x-axis direction and y-axis direction of the magnetic domain image 300, respectively, the region of the magnetic domain image 300 that overlaps with the template image 410 becomes the comparison region 510.

[0065] 5 illustrates an example in which the vertex 310 of the scanning area 330 is the pixel in the upper left corner of the magnetic domain image 300. In this case, the distance Δx in the x-axis direction from the vertex 320 of the scanning area 330 (one of the opposite vertices 310, 320 described above) to the end of the magnetic domain image 300 in the positive direction of the x-axis is the length of the template image 410 in the x-axis direction. Also, the distance Δy in the y-axis direction from the vertex 320 of the scanning area 330 to the end of the magnetic domain image 300 in the negative direction of the y-axis is the length of the template image 410 in the y-axis direction.

[0066] In this manner, the comparison unit 213 sets the comparison region 510 for one pixel in the scanning region 330. The comparison unit 213 also sets the pixel at the representative position of the comparison region 510 as the comparison pixel 520 of the comparison region 510. FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the representative position is the center of gravity. However, the representative position is not limited to the center of gravity. The representative position may be, for example, the upper left corner. FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the comparison region 510 is defined for the pixel at the position of the vertex 310 in the upper left corner of the scanning region 330.

[0067] The comparison unit 213 then calculates the degree of match between the compared region 510 and each of the multiple template images 410. A commonly used index in template matching may be used as the degree of match. For example, the degree of match may be the sum of squared differences (SSD) or absolute differences (SAD). The SAD is the sum of absolute differences between the pixel values ​​of the template image 410 and the compared region 510. The SSD is the sum of squares of the differences between the pixel values ​​of the template image 410 and the pixel values ​​of the compared region 510.

[0068] Note that the comparison unit 213 does not necessarily need to calculate the degree of match as a calculation for comparing the compared region 510 with the template image 410. For example, the comparison unit 230 may calculate the degree of mismatch instead of the degree of match. For example, the degree of mismatch may be calculated by multiplying the SSD or SAD by −1.

[0069] In this manner, the comparison unit 213 sets the comparison region 510 for one pixel in the scanning region 330. The comparison unit 213 then calculates the degree of match between the comparison region 510 and each of the multiple template images 410. The comparison unit 213 calculates this degree of match by selecting all pixels in the scanning region 330 one by one as the comparison pixel 520. This allows the degree of match to be calculated for all pixels in the scanning region 330. Note that selecting all pixels in the scanning region 330 as the comparison pixel 520 is preferable because it allows magnetic domain information to be derived for all pixels in the scanning region 330. However, it is not necessary to select all pixels in the scanning region 330 as the comparison pixel 520.

[0070] Note that there is no limitation on the order in which the comparison unit 213 selects one pixel in the scanning area 330. For example, the comparison unit 213 may select pixels in the top row by shifting them by one pixel in the positive direction of the x-axis, and then select pixels in the row directly below by shifting them by one pixel in the positive direction of the x-axis, so that the vertex 310 in the upper left corner of the scanning area 330 is selected first and the vertex 320 in the lower right corner is selected last, and this process may be performed sequentially from the top row to the bottom row of the scanning area 330.

[0071] When the comparison unit 213 selects one pixel in the scanning area 330, the comparison pixel 520 in the comparison area 510 is set in a partial area 530 of the magnetic domain image 300 (the area 530 is shown in gray), and is not set in the entire area of ​​the magnetic domain image 300. In the following description, this area 530 will be referred to as the comparison pixel setting area 530 as necessary. In general, the magnetic domain image 300 is an image of a partial area of ​​the magnetic material S. Therefore, for areas of the magnetic domain image 300 other than the comparison pixel setting area 530, the comparison unit 213 may calculate the degree of match between the comparison area 510 and each of the multiple template images 410 using another magnetic domain image (not shown) adjacent to the area. However, this is not necessarily required. For example, the comparison unit 213 does not need to calculate the degree of match between the compared region 510 and each of the multiple template images 410 for regions of the magnetic domain image 300 other than the compared pixel setting region 530 .

[0072] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic domain angles θ shown in at least two of the plurality of template images 410 are different. However, this is not necessarily the case. For example, in FIG. 4, １ Only in the case of multiple magnetic domain widths w １ ~w ｐ Alternatively, a plurality of template images 410 representing the first magnetic domains may be prepared as the template image group 400. In this case, the comparison unit 213 may, for example, rotate the compared region 510 by an angle step Δθ without rotating the template image 410. In this case, the comparison unit 213 may make the magnetic domain direction shown in the template image 410 different from the magnetic domain direction shown in the compared region 510 by overlaying the rotated compared region 510 on the template image 410. Note that, for example, in this case, when the magnetic domain angle θ is derived without deriving the magnetic domain width w as magnetic domain information, the number of template images 410 may be one. Furthermore, the comparison unit 213 may, for example, rotate the compared region 510 instead of or in addition to rotating the template image 410.

[0073] <<Magnetic Domain Information Derivation Unit 214>> The magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 derives magnetic domain information for the compared pixels 520 in the compared region 510 based on the comparison results by the comparison unit 213. This embodiment illustrates a case in which the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 determines whether the comparison results between the compared region 510 and each of the multiple template images 410 satisfy a predetermined condition. This embodiment also illustrates a case in which, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 derives magnetic domain information for the compared pixels 520 in the compared region 510 based on the magnetic domain information of the template image 410 that satisfies the predetermined condition. The predetermined condition may be any condition that determines whether there is a template image 410 that matches or is similar to the compared region 510. This embodiment illustrates a case in which the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 determines whether the maximum degree of match between the compared region 510 and each of the multiple template images 410 exceeds a threshold.

[0074] In this case, for example, if there are multiple template images 410 whose degree of match with the compared region 510 exceeds a threshold, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 may derive magnetic domain information for the compared pixel 520 of the compared region 510 based on the template image 410 with the highest degree of match among the multiple template images 410. In this embodiment, a case is illustrated in which the magnetic domain information is the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ. However, the magnetic domain information is not limited to the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ. For example, only one of the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ may be used as the magnetic domain information. In the following description, the magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 will be simply referred to as magnetic domain information as necessary.

[0075] 4 , when information on the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ is associated with the template image 410, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 may derive the magnetic domain information by reading out the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ associated with the template image 410 that has the greatest degree of match with the compared region 510 as the magnetic domain information for the compared pixel 520 of the compared region 510. Furthermore, when information on the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ is not associated with the template image 410, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 may derive the magnetic domain information by calculating the magnetic domain angle θ and the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain based on the pixel value of the template image 410 that has the greatest degree of match with the compared region 510. For example, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 may identify the boundary between the first and second magnetic domains (the region relative to the magnetic domain wall), and calculate the magnetic domain angle θ and magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain based on the direction in which the identified boundary extends and the length of the first magnetic domain in a direction perpendicular to that direction.

[0076] As described above, this embodiment illustrates a case in which the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 derives magnetic domain information (magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ) for the compared pixel 520 in the compared region 510 when the maximum value of the degree of match with the compared region 510 exceeds a threshold. Therefore, magnetic domain information (magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ) is derived for each pixel (compared pixel 520) in the compared pixel setting region 530 shown in Fig. 5. Note that the magnetic domain information may or may not indicate that the magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ are those of the first magnetic domain.

[0077] On the other hand, this embodiment illustrates a case where, if the maximum value of the degree of coincidence with the compared region 510 does not exceed the threshold, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 does not derive magnetic domain information for the compared pixel 520 in the compared region 510. In this case, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 may set the compared pixel 520, for which magnetic domain information has not been derived, as a blank pixel indicating that magnetic domain information has not been derived. In this way, the blank pixel is also a compared pixel, but to distinguish it from the compared pixel 520, the blank pixel is designated by the symbol 520' (see FIG. 6 described later).

[0078] However, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 does not necessarily have to set the blank pixel 520'. For example, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 may derive magnetic domain information as described above based on the template image 410 that has the greatest degree of match with the compared region 510, regardless of whether the degree exceeds the threshold. In this case, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 does not have to compare the maximum degree of match with the threshold. Also, the supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit 215, which will be described later, is not required.

[0079] As described above, in this embodiment, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 calculates the maximum degree of match between the compared region 510 and the multiple template images 410 and determines whether the calculated maximum degree of match exceeds a threshold. However, the determination conditions are not limited to these conditions. For example, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 may determine whether the maximum degree of match is equal to or greater than a threshold, instead of whether it exceeds a threshold. Furthermore, when the comparison unit 213 calculates the degree of mismatch between the compared region 510 and the multiple template images 410, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 may calculate the minimum degree of mismatch and determine whether the calculated degree of mismatch is equal to or less than a threshold (or is below the threshold).

[0080] Template matching is generally used to extract objects within an image. Therefore, in general, template matching techniques require that all of an object within an image be included within a single template image. In this embodiment, all of the magnetic domains in the magnetic domain image 300 (all of the stripes extending generally vertically (in the y-axis direction)) must be included within a single template image. Therefore, even if a general template matching technique could be applied to a magnetic domain image, template matching would merely be performed to extract individual magnetic domains from the magnetic domain image. However, even within the magnetic domain image 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 , the shapes of the magnetic domains are diverse. That is, there are an infinite number of magnetic domain shapes. Therefore, the number of template images would also be infinite. Therefore, it can be generally considered that magnetic domain images are not amenable to template matching techniques.

[0081] In contrast, in this embodiment, template matching technology is used to derive magnetic domain information, rather than to derive all magnetic domains contained in the magnetic domain image. As described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 , magnetic domain information (e.g., magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ) can be quantitatively derived by comparing a partial region (comparison region 510) of the magnetic domain displayed in the magnetic domain image 300 with the template image 410. The partial region (comparison region 510) of the magnetic domain displayed in the magnetic domain image 300 only needs to be large enough to obtain magnetic domain information (e.g., magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ). Multiple magnetic domains with different overall shapes contain regions with partially identical or similar shapes. Furthermore, a single magnetic domain contains multiple regions with partially identical or similar shapes. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare an infinite number of template images 410. As described above, in this embodiment, template matching is not used to extract the magnetic domains contained in the magnetic domain image 300, but rather is used as a method for quantitatively deriving the magnetic domain information contained in the magnetic domain image 300.

[0082] <<Fill-in Magnetic Domain Information Derivation Unit 215>> The fill-in magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 derives magnetic domain information for a blank pixel 520′ based on at least one piece of magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214. As described above, the blank pixel 520′ is a compared pixel 520 for which magnetic domain information has not been derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214. Also, as described above, this embodiment illustrates an example in which the magnetic domain information is the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ. In the following description, the magnetic domain information derived by the fill-in magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 will be referred to as fill-in magnetic domain information as necessary.

[0083] In the template image 410 illustrated in FIG. 4 , the magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain (a region with a low gradation value (a region with a high density in FIG. 3 )) are determined. Therefore, if the compared region 510 is similar to the first magnetic domain, there is a high possibility that the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 will derive magnetic domain information. In other words, if the region of interest 510 is not similar to the first magnetic domain but is similar to the second magnetic domain (a region with a high gradation value (a region with a low density in FIG. 3 )), there is a high possibility that the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 will not derive magnetic domain information. However, the magnetic domain information (in this embodiment, the magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ) of multiple magnetic domains that are located close to each other (for example, adjacent to each other) does not differ significantly regardless of whether they are the first magnetic domain or the second magnetic domain. Therefore, this embodiment illustrates a case where the supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 selects at least one piece of magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 based on the position of the blank pixel 520' and the position of the compared pixel 520 whose magnetic domain information has been derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214. In this case, the supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 may calculate magnetic domain information (supplemental magnetic domain information) for the blank pixel 520' based on the selected magnetic domain information. It is preferable that the positions of the blank pixel 520' and the compared pixel 520 are adjacent to each other.

[0084] For example, the supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 may select the magnetic domain information of the compared pixel 520 having the shortest Euclidean distance to the blank pixel 520′ from among the compared pixels 520 whose magnetic domain information has been derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214. In this case, the supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 may derive the supplemental magnetic domain information by using the magnetic domain information as the magnetic domain information of the blank pixel 520′.

[0085] Furthermore, the supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 may select, from among the compared pixels 520 whose magnetic domain information has been derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214, multiple compared pixels 520 in descending order of distance, such as Euclidean distance, from the blank pixel 520′. The number of the multiple compared pixels 520 may be a predetermined number. The supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 may calculate magnetic domain information for the blank pixel 520′ based on the magnetic domain information for the multiple compared pixels 520. For example, the supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 may calculate, as the magnetic domain width w for the blank pixel 520′, a statistical value such as the average value, mode, or weighted linear sum of the magnetic domain widths w (magnetic domain information) for the multiple compared pixels 520′. In the case of a weighted linear sum, a weighting coefficient for the magnetic domain width w for the compared pixel 520 may be determined according to the Euclidean distance between the compared pixel 520 and the blank pixel 520′. For example, the weighting coefficient for the magnetic domain width w of each compared pixel 520 may be set to be larger as the Euclidean distance from the blank pixel 520' becomes shorter. As with the magnetic domain width w, the supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 may also calculate the magnetic domain angle θ of the blank pixel 520' by calculating the weighted linear sum of the magnetic domain angles θ of the multiple compared pixels 520.

[0086] As described above, this embodiment illustrates a case where supplementary magnetic domain information (magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ) can be derived for each pixel (comparison pixel 520) in the comparison pixel setting region 530 shown in Fig. 5. Note that the supplementary magnetic domain information may or may not indicate that the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ are not those of the first magnetic domain (or that they are those of the second magnetic domain).

[0087] 6 is a diagram illustrating how regions that are not magnetic domains are difficult to detect as magnetic domains in the method of this embodiment. The region NR illustrated in FIG. 3 has a black portion extending along the y-axis direction and white portions on both sides in the x-axis direction, so it may appear to be a magnetic domain when viewed locally. The technology described in Patent Document 1 makes it easy to detect such a region NR as a magnetic domain.

[0088] In contrast, in this embodiment, when the region NR overlaps with the compared pixel 520, the degree of match between the compared region 510 and each template image 410 in the template image group 400 shown in Figure 4 is low. Therefore, it becomes difficult to derive magnetic domain information (i.e., the compared pixel 520 in the region NR is more likely to be set as a blank pixel 520'). In this case, the magnetic domain information (filler magnetic domain information) of the blank pixel 520' in the region NR is derived using the magnetic domain information of the compared pixel 520 located close to the blank pixel 520'.

[0089] For example, let us assume that the compared pixel 520 located at the position shown in FIG. 6 is the compared pixel 520 with the shortest Euclidean distance to the blank pixel 520' in the region NR shown in FIG. 6 , among the compared pixels 520 for which magnetic domain information has been calculated. Also assume that the magnetic domain information for the compared pixel 520 is the magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain 610. Then, let us assume that the magnetic domain information for the compared pixel 520 with the shortest Euclidean distance to the blank pixel 520' is derived as the magnetic domain information (filler magnetic domain information) for the blank pixel 520'. In this case, the magnetic domain information (filler magnetic domain information) for the blank pixel 520' is the magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain 610. Therefore, the region NR is not detected as noise, and the magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ close to the magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ of the second magnetic domain (low-concentration region) surrounding the region NR are derived as the magnetic domain information for the region NR.

[0090] <<Output Unit 216>> The output unit 216 outputs all magnetic domain information including all of the magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 and all of the supplementary magnetic domain information derived by the supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit 215. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the all magnetic domain information includes information including the magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ of each compared pixel 520 in the compared pixel setting region 530. Furthermore, the all magnetic domain information (each piece of magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 and the supplementary magnetic domain information derived by the supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit 215) may be linked to a position in the magnetic domain image.

[0091] In this embodiment, a case is exemplified in which the output unit 216 outputs the total magnetic domain information to the output device 230. In this embodiment, a case is exemplified in which the output device 230 displays the total magnetic domain information. In this case, for example, the output device 230 may include a computer display. Furthermore, the output device 230 may include a storage medium. In this case, for example, the total magnetic domain information stored in the storage medium included in the output device 230 may be used by the processing device 200 and an external device. Furthermore, the output device 230 may include a transmission device. In this case, for example, the output device 230 transmits the total magnetic domain information to the external device. Communication between the output device 230 and the external device may be wired communication, wireless communication, or communication via a network.

[0092] 7A and 7B, an example of a processing method performed using the processing device 200 of this embodiment will be described. The flowcharts of Figures 7A and 7B are implemented, for example, by a processor included in the processing device 200 expanding a program stored in memory into memory and executing the program.

[0093] First, in step S701, the acquisition unit 211 acquires template setting information. The template setting information is information necessary for creating a plurality of template images 410. The template setting information includes, for example, a maximum value w as information for specifying the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain. １ , minimum value w ｐ , and width step Δw. The template setting information also includes, for example, information for specifying the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain, such as the maximum value, minimum value, and angle step Δθ of the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain.

[0094] Next, in step S702, the creation unit 212 creates and stores a plurality of template images 410 based on the template setting information acquired in step S701. Next, in step S703, the acquisition unit 211 acquires the magnetic domain image 300 of the magnetic material S and threshold information. The threshold information is information indicating a threshold that is compared with the maximum degree of match between the comparison region 510 and each of the plurality of template images 410 in step S708 in FIG. 7B , which will be described later.

[0095] Next, in step S704, the comparison unit 213 defines a comparison region 510 for one pixel in the scanning region 330, and sets a pixel at a representative position (for example, the center of gravity) of the comparison region 510 as a comparison pixel 520 of the comparison region 510. In this embodiment, the comparison pixel 520 is set in a comparison pixel setting region 530. In step S704, an area to be compared with the template image 410 read in the next step S705 is set as the comparison region 510.

[0096] Next, in step S705, the comparison unit 213 reads out one of the plurality of template images 410 stored in step S702. Next, in step S706, the comparison unit 213 calculates the degree of match between the comparison region 510 in which the comparison pixel 520 is set in step S704 and the template image 410 read out in step S705.

[0097] Next, in step S707, the comparison unit 213 determines whether all of the multiple template images 410 stored in step S702 (the multiple template images 410 included in the template image group 400) have been read out. If this determination shows that all of the multiple template images 410 stored in step S702 have not been read out (NO in step S707), the process of step S705 is performed again. Then, in step S705, one new template image 410 is read out. Furthermore, in step S706, the degree of match between the comparison region 510 in which the comparison pixel 520 was set in step S704 and the template image 410 is calculated. The processes of steps S705 to S707 are repeated until it is determined in step S707 that all of the multiple template images 410 stored in step S702 have been read out.

[0098] 7B is performed. In step S708, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 determines whether the maximum value of the degrees of match between the comparison region 510 in which the comparison pixel 520 is set in step S704 and each template image 410 read out in step S705 exceeds the threshold value indicated in the threshold value information acquired in step S703.

[0099] If the result of this determination is that the maximum value of the degree of matching between the compared region 510 and each template image 410 exceeds the threshold value (YES in step S708), the process proceeds to step S709.

[0100] In step S709, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 derives magnetic domain information for the compared pixel 520 of the compared region 510 based on the template image 410 that has the highest degree of match with the compared region 510 in which the compared pixel 520 was set in step S704, out of the multiple template images 410 stored in step S702. Then, the processing of step S711, which will be described later, is performed.

[0101] On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S708 is that the maximum value of the degrees of match between the compared region 510 and each template image 410 does not exceed the threshold value (NO in step S708), the process of step S710 is performed. In step S710, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 sets the compared pixel 520 set in step S704 to a blank pixel 520'. Then, the process of step S711 is performed.

[0102] In step S711, the comparator 213 determines whether all pixels in the comparison pixel setting region 530 have been set as comparison pixels 520. If this determination shows that all pixels in the comparison pixel setting region 530 have not been set as comparison pixels 520 (NO in step S711), the process of step S704 in FIG. 7A is performed again. Then, a new comparison pixel 520 is set in step S704, and the processes of steps S705 to S710 are performed again for that comparison pixel 520. The processes of steps S704 to S711 are repeated until it is determined in step S711 that all pixels in the comparison pixel setting region 530 have been set as comparison pixels 520.

[0103] Then, in step S711, when it is determined that all pixels in the compared pixel setting region 530 have been set as compared pixels 520 (YES in step S711), the process of step S712 is performed. In step S712, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 determines whether or not a blank pixel 520' has been set (for at least one compared pixel 520) in step S710. If the result of this determination is that a blank pixel 520' has not been set (NO in step S712), the processes of steps S713 to S715 are omitted, and the process of step S716, which will be described later, is performed.

[0104] On the other hand, in step S712, it is confirmed whether or not a blank pixel 520' has been set in the above-mentioned step S710. If it is determined as a result of this confirmation that a blank pixel 520' has been set (YES in step S712), the process of step S713 is performed. In step S713, the filler magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 sequentially selects one of the blank pixels 520' set in step S710. Next, in step S714, the filler magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 selects at least one piece of magnetic domain information derived in step S709 based on the position of the blank pixel 520' selected in step S712 and the position of the compared pixel 520 set in step S704. Then, the filler magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 calculates magnetic domain information (filler magnetic domain information) for the blank pixel 520' based on the selected magnetic domain information.

[0105] Next, in step S715, the supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 determines whether or not all of the blank pixels 520' set in step S710 have been selected. If the result of this determination is that all of the blank pixels 520' have not been selected (NO in step S715), the process of step S713 is performed again. Then, in step S713, one new blank pixel 520' is selected. Furthermore, in step S714, magnetic domain information (supplementary magnetic domain information) for that blank pixel 520' is calculated. The processes of steps S713 to S715 are repeated until it is determined in step S715 that all of the blank pixels 520' set in step S710 have been selected.

[0106] Then, in step S715, if it is determined that all of the blank pixels 520' set in step S710 have been selected (YES in step S715), the process of step S716 is performed. In step S716, the output unit 216 outputs all magnetic domain information including the magnetic domain information derived in step S709 and the supplementary magnetic domain information derived in step S714. Note that if it is determined in step S712 that no blank pixels 520' have been set (NO) and the process of step S716 is performed, the supplementary magnetic domain information is not included in the all magnetic domain information. When the process of step S716 is completed, the process according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7A and 7B ends.

[0107] <Summary> As described above, in this embodiment, the processing device 200 derives magnetic domain information for the comparison pixel 520 in the comparison region 510 based on the results of comparing the comparison region 510 in the magnetic domain image 300 with one or more template images 410. Each template image 410 is preset with magnetic domain information (values ​​such as the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ) corresponding to the image. By reflecting the results of the comparison between the comparison region 510 and the template image 410 in the comparison pixel 520 in the comparison region 500, the processing device 200 can quantify and determine the magnetic domain information (values ​​such as the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ) of the comparison pixel 520 to be derived using template matching. Therefore, the magnetic domain information for the comparison region 510 can be determined with the desired resolution based on the prepared template image. Furthermore, the magnetic domain information can be derived robustly, being less susceptible to noise and the like. Therefore, the magnetic domain information can be derived with higher accuracy.

[0108] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processing device 200 determines, as the magnetic domain information of the compared region 510, the magnetic domain information of the template image 410 that is determined to correspond to the compared region 510 because the comparison result between the compared region 510 and multiple template images 410 satisfies a predetermined condition. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately select the template image 410 that corresponds to the compared region 510 from the multiple template images 410. Therefore, it is possible to quantify and obtain with even greater accuracy the magnetic domain information (such as the magnetic domain width w and the magnetic domain angle θ) of the compared pixel 520 to be derived by template matching. This makes it possible to derive the magnetic domain information with even greater accuracy.

[0109] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processing device 200 determines that the magnetic domain information of the template image 410, which is determined to correspond to the compared region 510 because the result of the comparison between the compared region 510 and the template image 410 satisfies a predetermined condition, is the magnetic domain information of the compared region 510. In this case, magnetic domain information corresponding to the compared region 510 that does not satisfy the predetermined condition (magnetic domain information of the blank pixel 520') is not derived. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inaccurate information from being derived as magnetic domain information.

[0110] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processing device 200 derives magnetic domain information in the compared region 51 from which magnetic domain information has not been derived (magnetic domain information in the blank pixel 520′ (supplementary magnetic domain information)) based on magnetic domain information from at least one other compared region 510 from which magnetic domain information has already been derived. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of regions from which magnetic domain information is not derived while suppressing a decrease in the accuracy of derivation of magnetic domain information.

[0111] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the processing device 200 selects magnetic domain information for at least one of the other comparison regions 510 based on the position of the comparison region 510 for which magnetic domain information has not been derived (the position of the blank pixel 520') and the other comparison region 510 for which magnetic domain information has already been derived (the position of the comparison pixel 520). In magnetic materials, regions with equivalent magnetic domain widths w are often distributed in clusters within crystal grains. Therefore, for example, the magnetic domain information for the blank pixel 520' can be supplemented using the magnetic domain width w of a comparison pixel 520 in the other comparison region 510 for which magnetic domain information has already been derived that is close to the position of the comparison region 510 for which magnetic domain information has not been derived (the position of the blank pixel 520'). This allows for accurate estimation of the magnetic domain information for the blank pixel 520'.

[0112] In this embodiment, the magnetic domain widths w shown in at least two of the multiple template images 410 are made different from each other. Therefore, by selecting the most matching template image, etc., it is possible to more accurately derive the magnetic domain width w as magnetic domain information. In this embodiment, the magnetic domain extension directions shown in at least two of the multiple template images 410 are made different from each other. Therefore, by selecting the most matching template image, etc., it is possible to more accurately derive the magnetic domain direction (e.g., magnetic domain angle θ) as magnetic domain information without performing processing such as image rotation.

[0113] Furthermore, in this embodiment, at least one of the magnetic domain image 300 and the template image 410 is rotated, and the comparison region 510 is compared with the template image 410. Therefore, by selecting the template image that best matches the target region 510, the magnetic domain direction (for example, the magnetic domain angle θ) can be derived more accurately as magnetic domain information.

[0114] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, magnetic domain information for magnetic domains located close to each other does not differ significantly, regardless of whether they are first or second magnetic domains. Therefore, a case in which information (e.g., magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ) for the first magnetic domain (black region) is defined in the template image 410 is illustrated. In contrast, in the present embodiment, a comparison is made between the compared region 510 and a template image in which information (e.g., magnetic domain width w and magnetic domain angle θ) for the second magnetic domain (white region) is defined in addition to the template image 410. By defining the information for the first and second magnetic domains, more detailed magnetic domain information can be derived with high accuracy. As such, this embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in that an additional template image is added to be compared with the compared region 510. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 7B, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0115] 8 is a diagram showing an example of a template image group 800 including a plurality of template images 810 for which information on the second magnetic domains is defined. As in FIG. 4, for convenience of notation, in FIG. 8, only one template image is denoted by the reference symbol (810).

[0116] The template image 810 is realized by, for example, swapping the first magnetic domain (black region) and the second magnetic domain (white region) with respect to the template image 410. As with the template image 410, the comparison region 510 may be rotated by an angle step Δθ without rotating the template image 810. In this case, by superimposing the rotated comparison region 510 on the template image 810, the magnetic domain direction shown in the template image 810 may be made different from the magnetic domain direction shown in the comparison region 510. Note that the magnetic domain angle θ of the first magnetic domain in the template image 410 ２ , θ ３ , ..., θ ｑ and the magnetic domain angle θ of the second magnetic domain in the template image 810. ２ , θ ３ , ..., θ ｑSimilarly, the magnetic domain width w of the first magnetic domain in the template image 410 １ , w ３ ,...,w ｐ and the second magnetic domain width w in the template image 810. １ , w ３ ,...,w ｐ may be the same or different.

[0117] In this embodiment, template image 410 is an example of a first template image corresponding to a first magnetic domain. Also, in this embodiment, template image 810 is an example of a second template image corresponding to a second magnetic domain. Note that the boundary (domain wall) between the first and second magnetic domains is not limited to a 180° domain wall, as long as the magnetic moments of the first and second magnetic domains are oriented in different directions. Also, when it is assumed that three or more magnetic domains exist in a magnetic domain image, one or more template images may be prepared for each of all or some of the three or more magnetic domains.

[0118] In the processing method (flowchart) of this embodiment, for example, the template images read out in step S705 of Fig. 7 are the template image 410 shown in Fig. 4 and the template image 810 shown in Fig. 8. Furthermore, in step S707, it is determined whether or not all of the template image 410 shown in Fig. 4 and the template image 810 shown in Fig. 8 have been read out.

[0119] As described above, in this embodiment, the processing device 200 compares the compared region 510 with the template images 410 and 810. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of blank pixels 520′, and to further improve the accuracy of deriving magnetic domain information.

[0120] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. This embodiment illustrates a case where processing is performed based on magnetic domain information derived as described in the first and second embodiments. In this way, this embodiment adds configurations and processes for performing processing based on magnetic domain information to the first and second embodiments. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 8, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0121] The processing system of this embodiment not only derives magnetic domain information but also performs processing based on the magnetic domain information. As described in the first and second embodiments, by using the techniques of the first and second embodiments, it is possible to derive magnetic domain information, including magnetic domain width, with high accuracy while reducing the influence of noise. Therefore, by utilizing such magnetic domain width information, it is possible to more effectively improve, for example, the magnetic properties (e.g., iron loss) of the magnetic body S (soft magnetic material).

[0122] Therefore, in this embodiment, a case will be exemplified in which the processing based on the magnetic domain information includes processing for adjusting the magnetic domain width of the magnetic body S. Note that the processing based on the magnetic domain information is not limited to this processing. For example, processing for deriving other manufacturing conditions in addition to or instead of the magnetic domain width may be performed. For example, processing for adjusting the magnetic domain angle may be performed. Note that in the following description, manipulation of magnetic domains, including adjustment of the magnetic domain width, will be referred to as magnetic domain control as necessary.

[0123] Furthermore, processing based on magnetic domain information is not limited to processing for deriving the manufacturing conditions of the magnetic body S. For example, processing may be performed to convert each pixel of the magnetic domain image to a color corresponding to the value of the magnetic domain information corresponding to that pixel. In this way, each position of the magnetic domain image can be displayed in a color corresponding to the value of the magnetic domain information. This allows the operator to more intuitively grasp the distribution of the magnetic domain information. For example, a gradation value (e.g., 0 to 255) indicating one color (e.g., R) of RGB (red, green, blue) may correspond to the value of the magnetic domain width w. Furthermore, a gradation value (e.g., 0 to 255) indicating another color (e.g., G) of RGB (red, green, blue) may correspond to the value of the magnetic domain angle θ. Furthermore, a gradation value indicating the remaining color (e.g., B) of RGB (red, green, blue) may be set to a constant value.

[0124] In this embodiment, a case will be exemplified in which the soft magnetic material in the process of manufacturing a grain-oriented electromagnetic steel strip is the magnetic body S that is the target of magnetic domain image acquisition and magnetic domain control. However, the magnetic body S is not limited to such a soft magnetic material as long as it is a soft magnetic material that allows magnetic domain control.

[0125] 9 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a processing device 900. The hardware of the processing device 900 may be the same as that of the processing device 200 described in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a processing system includes a magnetic domain image acquisition device 100, the processing device 900, and a magnetic domain control device 910.

[0126] <Magnetic domain image acquisition device 100> The magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 may be the same device as the magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 described in the first embodiment. The magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 may acquire a magnetic domain image 300 of a magnetic body S being transported. In this case, the magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 may acquire, for example, a magnetic domain image 300 of a magnetic body S being transported on a production line while being unwound from a coil. The magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 may also acquire a magnetic domain image 300 of a magnetic body S that is not being transported (i.e., a magnetic body S that is not moving). In this case, the magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 may acquire, for example, a magnetic domain image 300 of a magnetic body S that has been cut from a coil.

[0127] <Magnetic domain control device 910> The magnetic domain control device 910 is a device that performs magnetic domain control on a magnetic body S (soft magnetic material). The magnetic domain control device 910 may perform magnetic domain control on a magnetic body S that is being transported. In this case, the magnetic domain control device 910 may perform magnetic domain control on a magnetic body S that is being transported on a production line while being unwound from a coil, for example. The magnetic domain control device 910 may also perform magnetic domain control on a magnetic body S that is not being transported (i.e., a magnetic body S that is not moving).

[0128] In addition, this embodiment illustrates a case where, after an operation command for the magnetic domain control device 910 for the magnetic body S is output from the processing device 900 as described below, the magnetic domain control device 910 performs magnetic domain control on the magnetic body S.

[0129] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a case is exemplified in which the magnetic domain control device 910 is a device that performs magnetic domain control on the magnetic body S by irradiating it with a laser beam or an electron beam. In this case, the magnetic domain control device 910 may irradiate the laser beam or the electron beam in the width direction of the magnetic body S. Furthermore, the magnetic domain control device 910 may irradiate the laser beam or the electron beam onto the entirety of at least one of the front and back surfaces of the plate-shaped or strip-shaped magnetic body S. In the following explanation, a case is exemplified in which the magnetic domain control device 910 includes an irradiation unit that irradiates laser beam. Note that, when the magnetic domain control device 910 irradiates an electron beam, the laser beam will be replaced with the electron beam in the following explanation.

[0130] If the magnetic body S being unwound from a coil and transported along the production line is a soft magnetic material used in the production of grain-oriented electromagnetic steel strips, the magnetic domain control device 910 may irradiate the magnetic body S being transported along the production line with laser light, for example, after the cold rolling process is completed and before the process of forming a coating (e.g., an insulating coating) on ​​the surface of the steel sheet begins. The production line preferably includes, for example, a hot rolling process, a cold rolling process, and a process of forming a coating on the surface of the steel sheet. The hot rolling process is a process of hot rolling a steel material such as a slab. The cold rolling process is a process of cold rolling the steel strip after the hot rolling process. The process of forming a coating on the surface of the steel sheet is a process of forming a coating on the surface of the steel strip after the cold rolling process. In addition to these processes, the production line more preferably includes an annealing process and a pickling process. The annealing process is a process of continuously annealing the steel strip after the cold rolling process. In the annealing process, distortion in the steel strip is reduced (preferably removed). The pickling process is a process in which the steel strip after the annealing process is pickled. In the pickling process, scale formed on the surface of the steel strip is reduced (preferably removed). The hot rolling process, the cold rolling process, and the process of forming a coating on the steel sheet surface may be performed on different production lines. Each process from the cold rolling process to the process of forming a coating on the steel sheet surface may be performed continuously on the same production line. When the annealing process is performed, the laser light irradiation is performed after the annealing process. When the pickling process is performed, the laser light irradiation is preferably performed after the pickling process. The hot rolling process, the cold rolling process, the process of forming a coating on the steel sheet surface, the annealing process, and the pickling process themselves can be realized using known techniques. Therefore, detailed descriptions of these processes will be omitted here.

[0131] The magnetic domain control device 910 is not limited to a device that irradiates a laser beam or an electron beam, as long as it is a device that can perform magnetic domain control on a soft magnetic material so that the magnetic domain width is changed. For example, the magnetic domain control device 910 may be a device that forms grooves in the magnetic material S by physically contacting the magnetic material S. Furthermore, for example, the magnetic domain control device 910 may be a device that performs electric field etching on the magnetic material S.

[0132] <Processing device 900> <<Acquisition unit 211, creation unit 212, comparison unit 213, magnetic domain information derivation unit 214, supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit 215, output unit 216>>

[0133] The acquiring unit 211, creating unit 212, comparing unit 213, magnetic domain information deriving unit 214, supplementary magnetic domain information deriving unit 215, and output unit 216 have the same functions as those described in the first and second embodiments.

[0134] For example, the acquisition unit 211 may acquire one magnetic domain image 300 from one coil, or may acquire multiple magnetic domain images 300 from one coil. When the acquisition unit 211 acquires multiple magnetic domain images 300, the creation unit 212, the comparison unit 213, the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214, and the supplemental magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 may perform the processing described in the first and second embodiments on each of the multiple magnetic domain images 300 acquired by the acquisition unit 211 as a magnetic domain image to be processed.

[0135] In addition, this embodiment illustrates a case where the output unit 216 outputs an operation command to the magnetic domain control device 910 to the output device 230 in addition to or instead of the total magnetic domain information.

[0136] <<Processing Unit 217>> The processing unit 217 performs processing based on the magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214. In this embodiment, a case where the processing unit 217 performs processing based on all magnetic domain information is illustrated. As described in the first embodiment, the all magnetic domain information includes all of the magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214 and all of the supplementary magnetic domain information derived by the supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit 215. For example, when performing processing based on the magnetic domain information, the processing unit 217 may not use some of the magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214. Furthermore, the processing unit 217 may not use all or some of the supplementary magnetic domain information derived by the supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit 215, for example.

[0137] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the processing unit 217 performs processing based on all magnetic domain information for each piece of magnetic domain information derived from one magnetic domain image 300 (i.e., for each magnetic domain image 300). However, this is not necessarily required. The processing unit 217 may perform processing based on all magnetic domain information for each piece of magnetic domain information derived from multiple magnetic domain images 300 (i.e., for each multiple magnetic domain image 300).

[0138] As described above, this embodiment illustrates a case where the processing performed by the processing unit 217 includes processing for adjusting the magnetic domain width of the magnetic body S. However, as described above, the processing based on magnetic domain information is not limited to such processing. If the processing performed by the processing unit 217 does not include processing for adjusting the magnetic domain width of the magnetic body S, the processing system does not need to include the magnetic domain control device 910. Furthermore, a processing device other than the processing device 900 may have the functions of the processing unit 217. In this case, the processing device 900 and the other processing device may communicate with each other.

[0139] An example of processing for adjusting the magnetic domain width of the magnetic body S will be described below. In this embodiment, a case will be illustrated in which the processing unit 217 derives information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width. The information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width may be information indicating the relationship between the value of the magnetic domain width and the number of magnetic domain widths having that value. The information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width may also be information indicating the relationship between a range of the magnetic domain width and the number of magnetic domain widths having a value within that range. The information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width may be, for example, a histogram. The information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width may also be a table. The information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width may also be a function. In this case, the number of magnetic domain widths may be expressed as a function of the value of the magnetic domain width. The order of the function is not limited. The coefficients and constants of the function may also be derived, for example, by using curve fitting.

[0140] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the processing unit 217 derives information representing the frequency distribution of magnetic domain widths contained in the total magnetic domain information by using all magnetic domain information derived from one magnetic domain image 300 as the magnetic domain image to be processed. However, the processing unit 217 may also derive information representing the frequency distribution of magnetic domain widths contained in the total magnetic domain information by using all magnetic domain information derived from multiple magnetic domain images 300 as the magnetic domain images to be processed.

[0141] In one magnetic domain image 300, the magnetic domain widths of the number of partial regions to be compared with the template image 410 (for example, the number of compared regions 510 shown in FIG. 5 ) are derived. When deriving information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths included in the total magnetic domain information using all the magnetic domain information derived for one magnetic domain image 300 as the magnetic domain image to be processed, the processing unit 217 derives the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths using the magnetic domain widths of the number of partial regions.

[0142] In addition, if the supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit 215 does not derive the supplementary magnetic domain information, or if the supplementary magnetic domain information is not derived, the number of magnetic domain widths derived from one magnetic domain image 300 will be the number of magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit 214.

[0143] Note that the processing unit 217 deriving information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths allows the user to more intuitively grasp the distribution of the magnetic domain widths. Therefore, the processing unit 217 may derive information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths when not performing processing to adjust the magnetic domain width of the magnetic body S. Furthermore, the processing unit 217 may derive information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain angles instead of or in addition to the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths.

[0144] In order to adjust the magnetic domain width, the irradiation time and the number of irradiations of the laser light may be adjusted in addition to or instead of the intensity of the laser light. However, doing so may require slowing down the transport speed of the magnetic material S. Therefore, in this embodiment, a case where the processing unit 217 determines the intensity of the laser light to adjust the magnetic domain width will be exemplified.

[0145] When the intensity of the laser beam is changed, the mode of the magnetic domain width in the magnetic body S changes. When the intensity of the laser beam is changed, the average value of the magnetic domain width in the magnetic body S also changes. However, if the magnetic body S contains regions where the magnetic domain width is extremely wide or extremely narrow, the average value of the magnetic domain width in the magnetic body S fluctuates. On the other hand, the iron loss of the magnetic body S is determined by the magnetic domain width distribution over the entire surface of the magnetic body S. Local abnormal values ​​of the magnetic domain width have a significant impact on the average value of the magnetic domain width. However, the area occupied by magnetic domains having magnetic domain widths that show local abnormal values ​​is small relative to the entire surface of the magnetic body S. Therefore, it is not desirable for the indicated value of the laser beam intensity to be affected by local abnormal values ​​of the magnetic domain width. Therefore, it is preferable to manufacture the magnetic body S (soft magnetic material) based on the mode of the magnetic domain width.

[0146] Therefore, in this embodiment, a case will be illustrated in which the processing unit 217 performs processing to adjust the magnetic domain width of the magnetic body S based on the mode of the magnetic domain width in the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width. However, a representative value other than the mode may be used in addition to or instead of the mode. For example, the median may be used as the representative value other than the mode.

[0147] For example, if the information representing the frequency distribution of magnetic domain widths is a function, the one or more magnetic domain width values ​​that maximize the value of the function are the most frequent values ​​of the magnetic domain width.Also, if the frequency distribution of magnetic domain widths is represented by a histogram, the one or more classes (ranges of magnetic domain widths) that maximize the frequency are the most frequent values ​​of the magnetic domain width.

[0148] 10A is a diagram showing an example of a histogram 1010 of magnetic domain widths. ｉ ~W ｉ＋９ indicates the upper and lower limits of each class of the magnetic domain width histogram 1010. ｉ ~W ｉ＋９ The symbol i in the formula is an integer equal to or greater than 1. The symbol (w １ ~w ｐ 10A and 10B, the symbol for the magnetic domain width is a capital letter W to distinguish it from the magnetic domain width W ｉ＋５ ~W ｉ＋６The range (class) of magnetic domain widths shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width in the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths. In this case, the processing unit 217 may specify a representative value (for example, an arithmetic mean value) of the class as the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width.

[0149] 10B is a diagram showing an example of a function 1020 of the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width. In FIG. 10B, the magnetic domain width W ｍａｘ (one value) is the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width in the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width. ｍａｘ is identified as the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width.

[0150] If there are multiple values ​​(multiple classes) as the mode of the magnetic domain width, the processing unit 217 may treat each of the multiple values ​​(multiple classes) as the mode of the magnetic domain width. The processing unit 217 may also select one or more of the multiple values ​​(multiple classes). For example, the processing unit 217 may treat the maximum value (class) of the multiple values ​​(multiple classes) or a value (class) exceeding a predetermined value as the mode of the magnetic domain width.

[0151] Furthermore, if the intensity of the laser beam is high, the effect of subdividing the magnetic domains can be sufficiently obtained. Therefore, the abnormal eddy current loss of the magnetic body S is reduced. However, if the intensity of the laser beam is too high, there is a risk that the hysteresis loss of the magnetic body S will increase due to thermal distortion. Therefore, an excessively high intensity of the laser beam may not be preferable. On the other hand, if the laser intensity is too low, there is a risk that the effect of subdividing the magnetic domains will not be sufficiently obtained. Therefore, there is a risk that the abnormal eddy current loss of the magnetic body S will not be reduced. For these reasons, it is preferable to control the intensity of the laser beam for subdividing the magnetic domains within an appropriate range. Furthermore, the appropriate intensity of the laser beam varies depending on the magnetic domain width of the magnetic body S before controlling the magnetic domain width. By increasing the intensity of the laser beam irradiated onto regions with wide magnetic domain widths and decreasing the intensity of the laser beam irradiated onto regions with narrow magnetic domain widths, it is possible to reduce the iron loss of the magnetic body S.

[0152] From the above viewpoint, in this embodiment, the processing unit 217 calculates the intensity Ua (mJ / mm ２ ) shows an example of determining the intensity of a laser beam (or an electron beam).

[0153]

[0154] Here, W ｍ is the mode (μm) of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width. ｍ is derived before the laser light (or electron beam) is irradiated. The unit of angle expressed by arctan is radian (rad). That is, (W ｍ -400) / 300 and (W ｍ The unit of (-300) / 300 is radians (rad).

[0155] Furthermore, it is preferable that the processing unit 217 determines the intensity Ua of the laser beam so that the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width by the irradiation of the laser beam is 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm. In other words, it is preferable that the processing unit 217 determines the intensity Ua of the laser beam so that the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width derived as the magnetic domain image to be processed of the magnetic body S (soft magnetic material) after the irradiation of the laser beam is 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm. In this way, it is possible to manufacture a soft magnetic material whose most frequent value of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width is 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm.

[0156] The processing unit 217 outputs an operation command indicating that laser light of the intensity determined as described above is to be output to the magnetic domain control device 910 via the output unit 216. The magnetic domain control device 910 irradiates the magnetic body S with laser light of the intensity included in the operation command. At this time, the processing unit 217 may derive operation conditions for the magnetic domain control device 910 and include them in the operation command so that the laser light is irradiated over an irradiation range of the laser light on the magnetic body S (for example, the entirety of at least one of the front and back surfaces of the magnetic body S).

[0157] Furthermore, the magnetic body S after magnetic domain control as described above may be subjected to stress relief annealing. In this case, the magnetic domain image acquisition device 100 may acquire a magnetic domain image 300 of the magnetic body S after the stress relief annealing. The processing device 900 may then derive information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width based on the magnetic domain image 300. In this case, the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width is preferably 700 μm or more. In this case, by subjecting the magnetic body S after magnetic domain control to stress relief annealing, the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width of the magnetic body S changes from, for example, 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm to 700 μm or more. In other words, by subjecting the magnetic body S after magnetic domain control to stress relief annealing, the state of the magnetic domains of the magnetic body S becomes close to the state before the magnetic domain control.

[0158] Stress relief annealing is performed, for example, as follows. First, the temperature of the magnetic body S is set to 800°C. The state in which the temperature of the magnetic body S is kept at 800°C is maintained for 240 minutes or more (the magnetic body S is kept at 800°C for 240 minutes or more). Note that, for reasons such as shortening the time for stress relief annealing, the temperature-keeping time of the magnetic body S may be 240 minutes. Thereafter, the magnetic body S is cooled as follows. First, until the temperature of the magnetic body S drops from 800°C to 200°C, the average cooling rate is set to more than 0°C / h and not more than 25°C / h. Note that, for reasons such as shortening the time for stress relief annealing, the average cooling rate may be 25°C / h. Thereafter, the magnetic body S is cooled to 50°C at an average cooling rate of more than 0°C / h and not more than 100°C / h. Note that, for reasons such as shortening the time for stress relief annealing, the average cooling rate may be 100°C / h.

[0159] By doing this, it is possible to confirm that the magnetic body S (soft magnetic material) after being irradiated with laser light was a magnetic body S (soft magnetic material) in which the most frequent magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of magnetic domain widths was 700 μm or more before being irradiated with laser light.

[0160] Furthermore, a soft magnetic material in which the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width is 700 μm or more may be manufactured as a soft magnetic intermediate material for manufacturing the magnetic body S. This soft magnetic intermediate material may be a soft magnetic material that has been subjected to stress relief annealing. The stress relief annealing may be performed under the above-mentioned conditions, for example. In this case, it is preferable to irradiate the soft magnetic intermediate material with laser light to manufacture a magnetic body S (soft magnetic material) in which the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width is 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm.

[0161] <Transformer> A transformer core may be manufactured using the magnetic material S (in this embodiment, a grain-oriented electromagnetic steel strip) manufactured by performing the magnetic domain control as described above. A transformer including such a core may also be manufactured. For example, multiple soft magnetic plates are manufactured by cutting the magnetic material S into a shape that is substantially the same (preferably the same) as the planar shape of the core. The cutting may be performed by punching or laser processing. A laminated core is manufactured by stacking these multiple soft magnetic plates. Note that the transformer core is not limited to a laminated core. For example, a wound core may be manufactured using the magnetic material S as a transformer core. The manufacturing method for a transformer core itself can be realized using known technology. Therefore, a detailed description of the manufacturing method for a transformer core itself will be omitted here.

[0162] A coil is wound around the transformer core thus manufactured, with an insulating member interposed between them. The coil includes, for example, a primary coil to which a voltage is applied and a secondary coil that generates a transformed voltage. The manufacturing method of the transformer itself can be realized using known techniques. Therefore, a detailed description of the manufacturing method of the transformer itself will be omitted here.

[0163] The magnetic body S does not have to be used for an iron core of a transformer. For example, the magnetic body S may be used to manufacture a stator core (for example, a split core) of a rotating electrical machine.

[0164] <Flowchart> Next, an example of a processing method performed using the processing device 900 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 11. The flowchart of Fig. 11 is realized, for example, by a processor included in the processing device 900 expanding a program stored in memory into memory and executing it.

[0165] First, in step S1101, the acquisition unit 211 acquires template setting information. Next, in step S1102, the creation unit 212 creates and stores multiple template images 410 based on the template setting information acquired in step S1101. Note that the processes in steps S1101 and S1102 may be the same as the processes in steps S701 and S702 in FIG. 7A, respectively.

[0166] Next, in step S1103, a magnetic domain information derivation process is performed. The magnetic domain information derivation process is, for example, the process of steps S703 to S715 in Figures 7A and 7B. The process described in the second embodiment may also be performed in step S1103. Note that here, a case where one magnetic domain image 300 is acquired in step S1103 (step S703) is illustrated as an example.

[0167] Next, in step S1104, the processing unit 217 extracts magnetic domain widths from all magnetic domain information (the magnetic domain information derived in step S709 and the supplementary magnetic domain information derived in step S714), and derives information representing the frequency distribution of the extracted magnetic domain widths.

[0168] Next, in step S1105, the processing unit 217 identifies the mode of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width. For example, if the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width is represented by a histogram 1010, the mode of the magnetic domain width is represented by a class (range of magnetic domain width). In this case, the processing unit 217 may identify a representative value of the class (e.g., an arithmetic mean value) as the mode of the magnetic domain width. Furthermore, for example, if the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width is represented by a function 1020, the processing unit 217 may identify the magnetic domain width at which the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width shows a maximum value in the function 1020 as the mode of the magnetic domain width.

[0169] Next, in step S1106, the processing unit 217 determines the intensity of the laser light based on the value of the magnetic domain width corresponding to the mode of the magnetic domain width.

[0170] At this time, it is preferable that the processing unit 217 determines the intensity of the laser light so as to satisfy the formula (2). It is also preferable that the processing unit 217 determines the entirety of at least one of the front surface and the back surface of the magnetic body S as the irradiation range of the laser light.

[0171] Next, in step S1107, the processing unit 217 derives an operation command instructing to irradiate laser light of the intensity determined in step S1107, and outputs the operation command to the output unit 216. The output unit 216 outputs the operation command to the magnetic domain control device 910. As a result, the magnetic domain control device 910 irradiates the magnetic body S with laser light of the intensity determined in step S1107. The period during which the magnetic domain control device 910 irradiates laser light is, for example, the period during which the magnetic body S, which is the target of magnetic domain control, is present in the irradiation range of the laser light irradiated from the magnetic domain control device 910. The magnetic body S, which is the target of magnetic domain control, may be the magnetic body S, which is the target of acquisition of the magnetic domain image 300. Furthermore, the magnetic body S, which is the target of magnetic domain control, may be the base material of the magnetic body S, which is the target of acquisition of the magnetic domain image 300. For example, if the magnetic body S, which is the target of acquisition of the magnetic domain image 300, is cut from a coil, the base material is the coil.

[0172] (Calculation Example) Next, a calculation example will be shown. Note that this calculation example is not limited to this calculation example. FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing the results of this calculation example. In this calculation example, the magnetic domain width w of the magnetic domain image 1210 shown in FIG. 12A was calculated using the method of the first embodiment. FIG. 12B shows the calculation result of the magnetic domain width w. The pixel of the width visualization image 1220 shown in FIG. 12B is the compared pixel 520. The position of the pixel in the width visualization image 920 corresponds to the position of the pixel in the magnetic domain image 1210 shown in FIG. 12A. For example, the pixel value of the pixel in the first row and first column of the width visualization image 1220 indicates the magnetic domain width w of the pixel in the first row and first column of the magnetic domain image 1210. Furthermore, in the width visualization image 1220 shown in FIG. 12B, a higher density indicates a wider magnetic domain width w (in other words, a lower density indicates a narrower magnetic domain width w).

[0173] 12A and 12B, the density is low in the region of the width visualization image 1220 shown in Fig. 12B that corresponds to the region with narrow width w in the magnetic domain image 1210 shown in Fig. 12A (for example, the region on the positive side of the x-axis). Furthermore, the density is high in the region of the width visualization image 1220 shown in Fig. 12B that corresponds to the region with wide width w in the magnetic domain image 1210 shown in Fig. 12A (for example, the region near the center of the x-axis). Thus, it can be seen that the magnetic domain information of the magnetic body S can be derived with high accuracy by the method of the above-described embodiment.

[0174] (Example) Next, an example will be described. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to this example. In this example, multiple 55 mm square samples were prepared from one coil of grain-oriented electrical steel strip manufactured without performing a magnetic domain control process. By collecting multiple samples from different locations on one coil, multiple samples with different magnetic domain structures can be obtained. In this example, all samples were made to have the same shape and size to satisfy the conditions specified in JIS C 2556:2015.

[0175] In the description of this example, the magnetic domain image was acquired as described in the first embodiment. The magnetic domain image was acquired by photographing the entire surface (one side) of the sample. When photographing the magnetic domain image, the magnetic flux density in the sample was attenuated according to equation (1). The magnetic domain image was then acquired (photographed) 30 seconds after the start of the attenuation.

[0176] In the description of this embodiment, the magnetic domain width histogram, which is an example of information representing the frequency distribution of magnetic domain widths, is a histogram derived as described in the third embodiment. The range of each class in the magnetic domain width histogram was set to 50 μm. In the magnetic domain width histogram, the arithmetic mean value of the class with the highest frequency was set as the mode of the magnetic domain width.

[0177] In this example, each sample was subjected to stress relief annealing under the same conditions. Specifically, the sample was maintained at 800°C for 240 minutes or more, and then cooled. The average cooling rate was 25°C / h or less until the sample temperature decreased from 800°C to 200°C. The average cooling rate was 100°C / h or less until the sample temperature decreased to 50°C.

[0178] In this example, in accordance with JIS C 2556:2015, iron loss was calculated for each sample under the same conditions using a 55 mm square sample by a Single Sheet Tester (SST) method.

[0179] The multiple samples described above were divided into samples in which magnetic domain control was performed using laser light of the same intensity, and samples in which magnetic domain control was performed using laser light of an intensity derived based on equation (2) as described in the third embodiment. In the following description of this embodiment, the former samples will be referred to as comparative samples, and the latter samples will be referred to as inventive samples.

[0180] Before irradiating the sample with laser light, the iron loss of the comparative sample was measured. After that, the intensity Ua was 1.5 mJ / mm ２ Then, a histogram of the magnetic domain width of the comparative sample for which the magnetic domain control was performed was derived.

[0181] Next, the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width was identified from a histogram of the magnetic domain width of the comparative sample that had undergone magnetic domain control. Next, stress relief annealing was performed on the comparative sample that had undergone magnetic domain control.

[0182] Next, a histogram of the magnetic domain widths of the comparative samples that had been subjected to stress relief annealing was derived. Next, the most frequent magnetic domain width was identified from the histogram of the magnetic domain widths of the comparative samples that had been subjected to stress relief annealing. This was done individually for each comparative sample. Table 1 shows the results for the eight comparative samples.

[0183]

[0184] In Table 1, "mode after annealing" is the mode of the magnetic domain width of the comparative sample that underwent stress relief annealing. "Iron loss ratio" is the value obtained by dividing the iron loss of the comparative sample that underwent magnetic domain control by the iron loss of the comparative sample before being irradiated with laser light. "Mode during magnetic domain control" is the mode of the magnetic domain width of the comparative sample that underwent magnetic domain control.

[0185] The iron loss of the inventive sample was also measured before the laser beam was irradiated. The histogram of the magnetic domain width of the inventive sample was derived as explained in the third embodiment. Next, the most frequent value (μm) of the magnetic domain width was determined from the histogram of the inventive sample before the laser beam was irradiated, and the W value of equation (2) was calculated. ｍ It was decided.

[0186] Next, magnetic domain control was performed by irradiating the entire surface of the sample for the invention example with laser light having an intensity Ua that satisfies equation (2). Next, the iron loss of the sample for the invention example that underwent magnetic domain control was calculated. Also, a histogram of the magnetic domain width of the sample for the invention example that underwent magnetic domain control was calculated.

[0187] Next, the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width was identified from a histogram of the magnetic domain width of the sample for the invention example that had undergone magnetic domain control. Next, stress relief annealing was performed on the sample for the invention example that had undergone magnetic domain control.

[0188] Next, a histogram of the magnetic domain widths of the inventive samples that had been subjected to stress relief annealing was derived. Next, the most frequent magnetic domain width was identified from the histogram of the magnetic domain widths of the inventive samples that had been subjected to stress relief annealing. This was done individually for each inventive sample. Table 2 shows the results for the eight inventive samples.

[0189]

[0190] In Table 2, the "mode after annealing" is the mode of the magnetic domain width of the samples for the invention example that underwent stress relief annealing. As explained in the third embodiment, in Tables 1 and 2, the "mode after annealing" corresponds to the mode of the magnetic domain width before magnetic domain control. The "iron loss ratio" is the value obtained by dividing the iron loss of the sample for the invention example that underwent magnetic domain control by the iron loss of the sample for the invention example before it was irradiated with laser light. The "mode during magnetic domain control" is the mode of the magnetic domain width of the sample for the invention example that underwent magnetic domain control.

[0191] As shown in Table 1, when the laser light intensity Ua was kept constant regardless of the magnetic domain structure, if the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width before magnetic domain control was 700 μm or more, it was not possible to make the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width after magnetic domain control (laser light irradiation) fall within the range of 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm (see Nos. 3 to 8 in Table 1, "Most frequent value during magnetic domain control").

[0192] On the other hand, as shown in Table 2, when a laser beam having an intensity Ua satisfying the formula (2) was irradiated, even when the mode of the magnetic domain width before magnetic domain control was 700 μm or more, the mode of the magnetic domain width after magnetic domain control (laser beam irradiation) could be set to a range of 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm (see Nos. 3 to 8 "Mode during magnetic domain control" in Table 2). As a result, when a laser beam having an intensity Ua satisfying the formula (2) was irradiated, iron loss could be reduced compared to when the laser beam intensity Ua was constant, regardless of the magnetic domain structure (see "Iron Loss Ratio" in Nos. 3 to 8 in Tables 1 and 2).

[0193] (Other Embodiments) The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure can be realized by a computer executing a program. Furthermore, a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded and a computer program product such as the program can also be applied as embodiments of the present disclosure. Examples of recording media that can be used include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, and ROMs. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure merely illustrate specific examples of how the present disclosure can be implemented, and the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited by these examples. In other words, the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

[0194] The present disclosure can be used, for example, to obtain magnetic domain information.

Claims

1. A processing system for deriving magnetic domain information of a magnetic domain image to be processed, comprising: a comparison unit that compares a comparison region in the magnetic domain image to be processed with one or more template images that are images having the magnetic domain information; a magnetic domain information deriving unit that derives the magnetic domain information in the compared region based on a result of the comparison, There are a plurality of template images that the comparison unit can compare with the compared region, The plurality of template images have the magnetic domain information different from one another.

2. 2. The processing system according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic domain information derivation unit selects a template image that satisfies a predetermined condition from the one or more template images as a template image corresponding to the compared region, and sets the magnetic domain information of the template image corresponding to the compared region as the magnetic domain information in the compared region.

3. 3. The processing system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition is a condition using a degree of coincidence between the compared region and the template image.

4. the magnetic domain image includes a plurality of the compared regions from which the magnetic domain information is to be derived, The processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit that derives the magnetic domain information in the compared region from which the magnetic domain information has not been derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit, based on the magnetic domain information in at least one other compared region derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit.

5. 5. The processing system according to claim 4, wherein the supplementary magnetic domain information derivation unit selects the at least one other compared area based on a position of the compared area from which the magnetic domain information was not derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit and a position of the compared area from which the magnetic domain information was derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit.

6. the magnetic domain images include images of a first magnetic domain and a second magnetic domain having magnetic moment orientations different from each other; the template images include a first template image corresponding to the first magnetic domain and a second template image corresponding to the second magnetic domain; The processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the comparison unit compares a comparison region of the magnetic domain image with the first template image and compares a comparison region of the magnetic domain image with the second template image.

7. 4. The processing system according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic domain information includes information indicating at least one of a magnetic domain width and an extension direction of the magnetic domain.

8. The processing system according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of a magnetic domain width and an extension direction of the magnetic domain shown in at least two template images of the plurality of template images is different from each other.

9. The processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the comparison unit compares the compared region with the template image after rotating at least one of the magnetic domain image and the template image.

10. 4. The processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a processing unit that performs processing based on the magnetic domain information derived by the magnetic domain information derivation unit.

11. the magnetic domain information includes a magnetic domain width; The processing system according to claim 10 , wherein the processing unit derives information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths derived from one of the magnetic domain images or a plurality of the magnetic domain images as the magnetic domain image to be processed.

12. The processing system according to claim 11 , wherein the processing unit performs processing for adjusting the magnetic domain width of a soft magnetic material based on information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width.

13. The processing system according to claim 12 , wherein the processing unit performs processing for adjusting the magnetic domain width of the soft magnetic material based on a representative value of the magnetic domain width in information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width.

14. the magnetic domain width is adjusted by irradiating the soft magnetic material with a laser beam or an electron beam; 14. The processing system according to claim 13, wherein the processing unit derives information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths derived from the one magnetic domain image or the multiple magnetic domain images of the soft magnetic material before irradiation with a laser beam or an electron beam as the magnetic domain image to be processed, and determines an intensity of the laser beam or the electron beam to be irradiated to the soft magnetic material based on a representative value of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths.

15. an irradiation unit that irradiates a soft magnetic material with a laser beam or an electron beam; The processing system according to claim 14 , wherein the irradiation unit irradiates a laser beam or an electron beam based on a result of the processing by the processing unit.

16. The processing system of claim 13 , wherein the representative value is a mode value.

17. The processing unit calculates the most frequent value of the magnetic domain width in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width as W m (μm), and the unit of angle expressed in arctan is rad, the strength Ua (mJ / mm 2 20. The processing system of claim 16, further comprising: a processor for determining an intensity of the laser light or the electron beam based on the determined intensity. [0010]

18. 17. The processing system according to claim 16, wherein the processing unit determines an intensity of the laser light or the electron beam such that a mode of the magnetic domain width of the soft magnetic material after irradiation with the laser light or the electron beam is 200 μm or more and 400 μm or less in the information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width.

19. 17. The processing system according to claim 16, wherein in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width, a mode of the magnetic domain width of the soft magnetic material before irradiation with a laser beam or an electron beam is 700 μm or more.

20. the processing unit derives information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths derived from one magnetic domain image or a plurality of magnetic domain images in the soft magnetic material that has been irradiated with a laser beam or an electron beam and then stress relief annealed as the magnetic domain image to be processed; 17. The processing system according to claim 16, wherein in the information representing the frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width, the mode of the magnetic domain width is 700 [mu]m or more.

21. 17. A soft magnetic material, wherein in the information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width derived by the processing unit included in the processing system according to claim 16, the mode of the magnetic domain width is 200 μm or more and less than 400 μm.

22. When the soft magnetic material is subjected to stress relief annealing, a mode of the magnetic domain width in information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain width derived by the processing unit is 700 μm or more; The soft magnetic material according to claim 21, wherein the stress relief annealing is performed by holding the soft magnetic material at 800°C for 240 minutes, cooling the soft magnetic material at an average cooling rate of 25°C / h until the temperature of the soft magnetic material drops from 800°C to 200°C, and then cooling the soft magnetic material at an average cooling rate of 100°C / h until the temperature of the soft magnetic material drops from 200°C to 50°C.

23. A soft magnetic intermediate material for producing the soft magnetic material according to claim 21, comprising:

20. A soft magnetic intermediate material, wherein in the information representing a frequency distribution of the magnetic domain widths derived by the processing unit included in the processing system according to claim 19, the mode of the magnetic domain width is 700 μm or more.

24. A transformer comprising a core having the soft magnetic material according to claim 21.

25. A processing method for deriving magnetic domain information of a magnetic domain image to be processed, comprising the steps of: a comparison step of comparing a comparison region in the magnetic domain image to be processed with one or more template images which are images having the magnetic domain information; and a magnetic domain information deriving step of deriving the magnetic domain information in the compared region based on a result of the comparison, There are a plurality of template images that can be compared with the comparison region in the comparison step, The plurality of template images have different magnetic domain information from one another.

26. A program for causing a computer to function as each part of the processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images