JP2002288629A - Automatic meter information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To automatically reduce the burden of mounting work, it is possible to properly read the meter weighing information while eliminating the need to check the image pickup position of the display body by using images. A reader is provided. An image capturing unit for capturing an image capturing range including a display for displaying weighing information, and a position of the display within the image capturing range is specified based on captured image information of the image capturing unit. And an image processing unit 12 for executing a reading process for reading display information of the display object whose position has been specified by the searching process, and the image processing unit 12 is provided with The image processing apparatus is configured to execute a correction process (for example, a reduction process) for correcting a search target area to be a target of the search process based on a result of the search process executed previously.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup means for picking up an image pickup target area including a display object for displaying weighing information, and the display object in the image pickup target range based on image pickup image information of the image pickup means. The present invention relates to an automatic meter information reading apparatus provided with a search process for specifying the position of the display body and an image processing means for executing a reading process for reading display information of the display body whose position is specified by the search process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The above-mentioned automatic reading device for meter information (hereinafter referred to as "the device")
An automatic meter-reading device) is a meter that measures the amount of electricity, gas, water, etc. installed in each home or facility by an imaging means such as a video camera and processes the captured image to obtain a meter. This automatically reads the weighing information (meter value). The prior art will be described with reference to FIG. 5 using a rotary needle type meter as an example.
1 is an automatic meter reading device, and 2 is a rotary needle type meter to be read. The automatic meter reading device 1 includes an image capturing unit 11 as an image capturing unit and an image processing unit 12 as an image processing unit. In this rotary-needle type meter, one or a plurality of rotary-needle-type indicators 5 for displaying a weighing value (pointer value) according to the rotation angle of the needle are provided as a display for displaying the weighing information. Part 11
However, in order to be able to image a predetermined imaging range including the display body 5 (see FIG. 4A), the automatic meter reading device 1 uses the protrusion 21 (for example, a screw head) on the meter 2 side. Is mounted with mechanical alignment.

At the time of meter reading, the image picked up by the image pick-up unit 11 is processed by the image processing unit 12, the pointer value of the display 5 is read, and the read pointer value (weighing information) is transmitted via a communication line. The data is transmitted to a host computer (not shown) and counted. The image information of the image pickup section 11 can be displayed on the video display device 3 connected to the automatic meter reading device 1 via the communication line 7a and can be visually checked.
In the image processing unit 12, as a search process for specifying the position of the display body 5 within the imaging target range, an image pattern (referred to as a template) of the display body 5 set in advance according to the type of the meter 2 is taken by an imaging unit. While moving within the imaging screen of No. 11, a search process for specifying the position of the display body 5 by searching for the position that most closely matches the template is performed. Next, as a reading process for reading the display information of the display body 5 whose position is specified by the search processing, the needle angle of the needle extending from the center of the rotary needle type display body 5 is determined by pattern matching in the same manner as described above. Then, the pointer angle is finally converted into a weighing value (numerical value) to be used as weighing information of the meter.

Since the automatic pointer device 1 is attached to the meter 2 after mechanical alignment as described above,
Although the position of the display body 5 in the imaging screen can be predicted to be within a certain range, the imaging of the image in the automatic pointer device 1 due to the positional deviation of the projection 21 on the meter side serving as a reference for mounting and the manufacturing variation. As a result of the occurrence of an error such as a change in the position of the unit 11, there is a possibility that the position of the display body 5 in the imaging screen is located in a range wider than the predicted range. As a countermeasure, if the search target area range for pattern matching by moving the template in the search processing is set wide, the search processing time increases and the load of image processing increases. While visually confirming the state where the display body 5 is imaged in the imaging screen, the position information of the display body 5 is notified from the setting device 6 shown in FIG. 5 to the automatic meter reading device 1 side via the communication line 7b, The automatic meter reading apparatus 1 narrows the search target area when performing the search processing using the position information.

[0005]

Conventionally, after a meter information automatic reading device is mounted on a meter, the position of a display body on a picked-up image is displayed on a video and actually confirmed, and the confirmed position information is displayed on the meter. Since it is set on the information automatic reading device side, there is a problem that the burden of checking work of the operator is large. By the way, if this visual confirmation work is not performed, the meter information automatic reading device side has to set a wide range of the captured image as a search target area, so that the burden of image processing becomes large, and at the same time, the meter information There is a possibility that the mounting position of the automatic reading device is greatly shifted, and the mounting abnormality in which the display body is not imaged on the captured image cannot be eliminated.

Then, when the above-mentioned mounting abnormality occurs,
And, in addition to the above, for example, when dust adheres or dew condensation occurs between the image pickup unit and the display unit of the meter, or the meter information for the user of the meter to visually check the indicator value of the meter. When the original reading state is not accurately restored after the automatic reading device is temporarily removed or the like, the position of the display body is normally specified within the imaging target range even if the search processing is executed. In some cases, the metering information cannot be read properly in this state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a confirmation operation for confirming an image pickup position of a display body by using an image so as to reduce a load on an installation operation and to reduce a load on a meter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a meter information automatic reading device capable of properly reading the meter measurement information. If it cannot be performed, it is necessary to take appropriate action.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a meter information automatic reading apparatus for achieving the above object. Wherein the processing means is configured to execute a correction process for correcting a search target area to be subjected to the search process within the imaging target range based on a result of the search process executed previously. It is in.

A second feature of the present invention is that, in addition to the first feature, as described in claim 2 of the claims, the rotating needle rotates the display around a center position. The image processing means, as the correction processing, the center position of the rotary needle type display body whose position is specified by the previously executed search processing, The point is that it is configured to be the center of the search target area.

[0010] In the third feature configuration, as described in claim 3 of the claims, in addition to the first or second feature configuration, the image processing means may further include: The point is that the size of the search target area is reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to third aspects, the search processing by the image processing means is performed as described in claim 4 of the claims. When the result of the above is abnormal, an abnormality notifying means for notifying the abnormality of the search processing result is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth aspect, the image processing means executes the search processing a plurality of times in addition to the fourth aspect. The present invention is characterized in that the abnormality notifying means is configured to notify the abnormality of the search processing result when the obtained variation in the plurality of position data of the display body is larger than a set value.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth or fifth aspect, the image processing means performs the search processing a plurality of times. The present invention is characterized in that the abnormality notifying means is configured to notify an abnormality in the search processing result when a search failure in which the position of the display body cannot be specified occurs more than a set number of times when executed.

According to a seventh feature of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to sixth features, a plurality of the display bodies are provided. ,
The image processing means is configured to execute the search processing and the reading processing for each of the plurality of display objects.

The operation and effect will be described below. According to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, a search process for specifying the position of the display body in the imaging target range including the display body displaying the weighing information, and the position is specified by the search process Image processing means for executing a reading process for reading the display information of the display object, a search target area to be subjected to the search process within the imaging target range including the display object, the search processing of the previously executed search process A correction process for correcting based on the result is executed. That is, the image processing means
A search process is performed by executing the above-described search processing to specify a position of the display object as a search target area within the imaging target range including the display object and reading display information of the specified display object. Then, the search target area when the next search process is executed is corrected so as to have an appropriate range using the position information of the display object specified by the search process executed previously. Therefore, at first, the search target area in the above search processing is set to, for example, a wide range within the imaging target range so that the position of the display body can be reliably specified within the imaging target range, and the previous search processing is repeated as the search processing is repeated. The search target area can be corrected to an appropriate area based on the result of the above. There is provided a meter information automatic reading device capable of reading the information.

[0016] According to the second characteristic configuration, the image processing means includes a rotary needle type display within a range to be imaged including a rotary needle type display body provided with a rotary needle rotating around a center position. As the center of the search target area to be subjected to the search processing for specifying the position of the display object, using the center position of the rotary needle type display body whose position has been specified by the search processing previously executed, Execute search processing. That is,
When the center position of the rotary needle type display body is specified by the above search processing, in the next search processing, the search processing is performed with the center position of the rotary needle type display body as the center of the search target area. Therefore, the rotary display body displays the weighing information by the angle of the needle extending from the center position, but since the center position is the center of the search target area as described above, the angle of the needle changes according to the meter value. Even in this case, the position of the rotary display can be appropriately specified, and the display information can be read properly.

[0017] According to the third characteristic configuration, the image processing means is a search target area to be subjected to a search process for specifying the position of the display within the imaging target range including the display. Is reduced based on the result of the previously executed search processing. That is, the correction processing is performed so as to reduce the size of the search target area while including the display object whose position has been specified by the above-described search processing executed previously in the reduced search target area. Therefore, the correction processing for reducing the size of the search target area can reduce the search processing time as much as possible while reducing the image processing load while appropriately performing the search processing for specifying the position of the display object. Can be.

According to the fourth characteristic configuration, when the result of the search processing by the image processing means is abnormal, the abnormality of the search processing result is notified by the abnormality notification means. That is, as a result of the search processing, when the position of the display body in the imaging target range is in an abnormal state that cannot be normally specified, the abnormality of the search processing result is notified by the abnormality notification unit. Therefore, the search process is executed due to improper attachment of the automatic meter reading device to the meter, adhesion of dust between the image means and the display of the meter, or dew condensation. Also, when the position of the display object cannot be normally specified within the imaging target range, the abnormality of the search processing result is notified, so that the abnormality of the search processing makes it impossible to properly read the weighing information of the meter. Appropriate measures can be taken to resolve the situation.

According to the fifth aspect, when the image processing means executes the search processing a plurality of times, and the plurality of position data of the display body has a variation greater than a set value. Then, the abnormality of the search processing result is notified. That is, when the position data of the display object specified by the plurality of search processes varies more than the set value, the position of the display object within the imaging target range cannot be normally specified. It is determined that the state is abnormal, and the abnormality of the search processing result is notified. Therefore, although the position of the display object is specified by the search processing, if the position data of the display object has a large variation and lacks reliability, the display information of the display object is determined based on such poor reliability data. Without performing an improper reading process for reading erroneously, it is possible to notify an abnormality and execute an appropriate measure.

[0020] According to the sixth aspect, when the image processing means executes the search processing a plurality of times, if a search failure occurs in which the position of the display object cannot be specified occurs more than a set number of times, the search processing is performed. Anomalies in the result are reported. In other words, if the search failure in which the position of the display object cannot be specified occurs in the plurality of search processings more than a set number of times, the search processing result in which the position of the display object within the imaging target range cannot be specified normally Is determined to be in an abnormal state, and an abnormality in the search processing result is notified. Therefore, the position of the display object may be specified by the search process. However, if the number of unsearchable times that cannot be specified is large, the position data of the display object is determined to have poor reliability. Without performing improper reading processing of erroneously reading display information of the display body based on poor position data, it is possible to notify an abnormality and execute an appropriate measure.

According to the seventh characteristic configuration, for each of the plurality of displays provided as the display for displaying the weighing information, the position of each display within the imaging range including the plurality of displays. And a reading process for reading the display information of each display object whose position has been specified by the search process. Therefore, for example, by each display information of a plurality of display bodies formed in the same shape,
In the case of representing the numerical value of each digit of the meter value consisting of a plurality of digits, the search process and the reading process for specifying the position of each display can be performed by the same process. And the image processing means can be configured as simple as possible.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an automatic meter information reading apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an automatic meter reading apparatus) according to the present invention is used as a display for displaying weighing information, as described in the section of the prior art. A case where a meter 2 provided with a rotating needle type display body 5 having a rotating needle rotating around the target is set as a reading target will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic meter reading device 1 includes:
An image pickup unit 11 such as a video camera as an image pickup unit for picking up an image pickup range including two rotating needle type display bodies 5
And a search process for specifying the position of the rotary needle-type display body 5 in the imaging target range based on the captured image information of the image capturing unit 11, and a rotation whose position is specified by the search process. An image processing unit 12 is provided as image processing means for executing reading processing for reading display information on the needle-type display body 5. In this case, the image processing unit 12
Is configured to execute the position identification processing and the reading processing for each of the two rotary needle type display bodies 5. Then, the image processing unit 12 performs a correction process of correcting a search target area to be a target of the search process in the imaging target range based on a result of the search process executed previously. It is configured. The specific contents of the correction processing will be described later.

Further, the automatic meter reading device 1 is provided with a communication means 13 for communicating with an external host computer via the communication line 8 and a buzzer 14 for alarm.
Then, the automatic meter reading device 1 is attached to the meter 2 side by mechanically aligning it with a protrusion 21 such as a screw head on the meter 2 side. After the mounting, the position confirmation operation of the display body 5 by the image as in the related art is not performed.

Further, when the result of the search processing by the image processing section 12 is abnormal, an abnormality notifying means 10 for notifying an abnormality of the search processing result (hereinafter referred to as a search abnormality).
0 is provided. Specifically, the communication unit 13 for transmitting the abnormality information of the search processing result to the external host side
Abnormality notification means 100 is constituted by the buzzer 14 and an alarm operation on the meter 2 side.

Next, the automatic meter reading process by the automatic meter reading device 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the automatic meter reading process (FIG. 2), first, as shown in FIG.
Executes an imaging process of imaging an imaging target range including the two rotary-needle display bodies 5, and then executes a position identification process for identifying the position of each display body 5 within the imaging target range. I do. Then, the presence or absence of the search abnormality is determined based on whether or not the position of each display body 5 is specified in an appropriate state by the position specification process. If the search is not abnormal, the display information of each display body 5 is read. A reading process is performed, and a communication process of transmitting the reading result (weighing data) to the external host is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that a search error has occurred, an error notification operation process for notifying a search error is performed without performing a reading process for reading the display information of each display 5.

In the position specifying process (FIG. 3), after clearing the previous search result, a picked-up image is taken in from the image pick-up unit 11 and a process for reducing noise such as illumination unevenness in the image is performed. Using the prepared needle center search template, a predetermined number of times (a plurality of times) of search processing for searching the position of the rotary needle type display body 5 by pattern patching in a predetermined search target area is executed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, the needle center search template corresponds to an outer peripheral portion of a dial (numbers and the like are omitted in the figure) on which numbers and the like are described. An outer peripheral circle 5a and a circle 5 corresponding to a root portion of the needle 5b rotating at the center of the outer peripheral circle 5a.
A pattern in which b 'is represented by a dark density is used. As described above, since the automatic meter reading device 1 is mounted so as to be aligned with the meter 2 side, the center position of each display body 5 in the captured image is roughly determined (this is set in advance as a default center position). ), The first search target area is set to be a wide range surrounding the default center position of each display body 5 as a reference. Then, the position that best matches the needle center search template in each search target area is recognized as the center position of each display 5.

As a result of the plurality of search processes, if the rate at which the display body 5 cannot be found is greater than or equal to the set rate because the matching degree at the most matching position is low, etc.
Alternatively, if the rate at which the display body 5 cannot be found is not equal to or greater than the set number of times, but the position data of the display body 5 does not fall within the set range A for search abnormality determination, the search is determined to be abnormal and the automatic search is performed. Returning to the meter reading process (FIG. 2), the abnormality notification operation process is executed. That is, the image processing unit 12
When the variation in the plurality of position data of the display body 5 obtained by executing the search processing a plurality of times is larger than a set value (the set range A for the search abnormality determination); and The abnormality notification unit 100 notifies the search abnormality when a search failure in which the position of the display object cannot be specified occurs more than a set number of times (number of times corresponding to the set ratio) when the search processing is performed a plurality of times. It is configured as follows.

If it is not determined that the search is abnormal, it is determined whether or not the position data for each display 5 in the plurality of search processes is within the setting range B for reduction determination. If the position data of each display 5 by the search process is within the setting range B for reduction determination, the position data of each display 5 within the setting range B (for example, the average value) is specified. The center position of each displayed object 5 is changed to the center of the search target area in the next search process. If the position data for each display body 5 obtained by the plurality of search processes is not within the setting range B for reduction determination, the center position of the search target area is not changed.
Note that the setting range B for reduction determination is set to be smaller than the setting range A for search abnormality determination. That is, the image processing unit 12 is configured so that, as the correction processing, the center position of the rotary-needle-type display body 5 whose position has been specified by the previously executed search processing is set as the center of the search target area. Have been.

Further, after the center position of the search target area is changed, it is determined whether the current search target area is wider than the minimum search area, and the current search target area is wider than the minimum search area. In such a case, the area reduction processing for reducing the search target area is executed. If the current search target area is not wider than the minimum search area, the area reduction processing is not executed. As a result, even if a slight change from the initial mounting state of the automatic meter reading device 1 occurs due to the lapse of time after the installation, each display body 5 is positioned within the minimum search area, and search becomes impossible. That is to be avoided. That is, the image processing unit 12 is configured to reduce the size of the search target area as the correction processing to shorten the search processing time.

In the reading process, the image of each display body 5 whose position has been specified is first subjected to a thinning process for eliminating unnecessary characters on the dial, leaving only the image of the hands 5b. Next, binarization processing is performed on the image of the needle 5b using a set threshold value. Then, pattern matching is performed on the binarized image of the needle 5b using a rotating needle template having a shape as shown in FIG. 5C and a slightly different rotation angle, and the most matching template The angle,
The rotation angle of the needle 5b is used. Finally, the rotation angle of the needle 5b is converted into a numerical value to obtain a weighing value. For example, when one round (360 degrees) is divided into ten equal parts and the measured value is represented by a numerical value of 0 to 9, a quotient obtained by dividing the rotation angle of the needle 5b by 60 is obtained as a corresponding numerical value. .

[Another Embodiment] Another embodiment will be described below. In the above embodiment, the meter 2 provided with the rotary needle type display 5 as the display for displaying the weighing information.
Has been described as a reading target of the meter information automatic reading device 1, but in addition to the above-mentioned rotary needle type display body 5,
For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where a meter provided with a meter drum for displaying a plurality of digits is set as a reading target of the automatic meter information reading device 1.

In the above embodiment, the image processing means 12
Changes the center position of the search target area as a correction processing for correcting the search target area to be subjected to the search processing in the imaging target range including the display body 5 based on the result of the previously executed search processing. Although the case where both the correction processing for performing the correction processing and the correction processing for reducing the size of the search target area are performed has been described, only one of the correction processing may be performed, or other appropriate correction processing may be performed. It is also possible to do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a meter information automatic reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an automatic meter reading process.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a display object position specifying process;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing processing contents of image processing;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the entire configuration of a conventional automatic meter information reading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs 5 Display body (rotating needle type display body) 5b Rotating needle 11 Image pickup means 12 Image processing means 100 Abnormality detection means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Ide 4-1-2, Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenichi Shinbo 2-2-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. Mitsubishi Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenji Tanaka 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 2F073 AA07 AA08 AA09 AB02 AB12 FG11 GG01 GG08 5B057 AA01 BA02 CA12 CA16 CC03 CD05 DA07 DA13 DA15 DB02 DC06 DC08 DC33 DC36 5L096 BA03 DA02 DA03 EA13 FA62 FA67 FA69 GA08 JA09

Claims (7)

[Claims] An imaging unit that captures an imaging target range including a display body that displays weighing information; and a position of the display body within the imaging target range based on captured image information of the imaging unit. And an image processing means for executing reading processing for reading display information of the display body whose position has been specified by the search processing. Is configured to execute a correction process for correcting a search target region to be subjected to the search process within the imaging target range based on a result of the search process executed previously. Reader. 2. The display according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises a rotary needle display having a rotary needle which rotates around a center position, and wherein the image processing means performs the search previously executed as the correction processing. 2. The automatic meter information reading device according to claim 1, wherein a center position of the rotary-needle-type display body whose position is specified by the processing is set as a center of the search target area. 3. The meter information automatic reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means is configured to reduce the size of the search target area as the correction processing. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising abnormality notification means for notifying an abnormality in the search processing result when a result of the search processing by the image processing means is abnormal. Automatic meter information reading device described. 5. When the variation of a plurality of position data of the display obtained by the image processing means performing the search processing a plurality of times is larger than a set value, the abnormality notification means sets 5. The automatic meter information reading device according to claim 4, wherein the device is configured to notify an abnormality of a search processing result. 6. When the image processing means executes the search processing a plurality of times, if a search failure in which the position of the display object cannot be specified occurs more than a set number of times, the abnormality notification means sets an abnormality in the search processing result. The automatic meter information reading device according to claim 4, wherein the information is notified. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said display bodies are provided, and said image processing means is configured to execute said search processing and said reading processing for each of said plurality of display bodies. 7. The automatic meter information reading device according to any one of 6.