JP2002318197A - Imaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out quality estimation of grains in a short period of time. SOLUTION: The grains, for example, arranged rice grains are lighted up from the lower side by below by a first light source emitting visual light and imaged with its reflected light by a first imaging device. Simultaneously, the rice grains are lighted up from the upper side with infrared light by a second light source and imaged with light transmitting the rice grains by a second imaging device. At this time, a filter placed in front of either of the first imaging device and the second imaging device transmits the infrared light from the second light source. Consequently, the first imaging device images the reflected light and the second imaging device images the transmitted light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging system used for objectively evaluating the quality of a grain by analyzing its appearance image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to determine the quality grade of a grain such as rice, an inspector has made a visual judgment based on certain criteria. However, the visual inspection by the inspector as in the past has placed a great burden on the inspector, and there has been a demand for mechanization.

[0003] In response to this demand, the present applicant has studied a system as shown in FIG. In FIG.
Is a rice grain as a grain arranged in a predetermined matrix (m rows × n columns) for evaluating the quality, and 202 is a tray for arranging the rice grain in a predetermined matrix. Reference numeral 203 denotes a first light source, which is located on one side, that is, below, of a hypothetical surface (which can be assumed to be parallel to the inside of the tray 202) that bisects the arranged rice grains 201, and is one of the trays 202.
It has a length corresponding to a row (or one column), is configured to be movable in the row direction, and emits visible light. Reference numeral 204 denotes a second light source, which is located on a hypothetical surface that bisects the arranged rice grains 201, that is, on the other side of the tray 202, that is, above.
It has a length corresponding to one row (or one column) of the tray 202, is configured to be movable in the row direction, and emits infrared light. 2
Reference numeral 05 denotes a first imaging device, which is located below the tray 202 and is
The imaging devices are arranged for each column of one row (n pieces per row) so as to capture the light reflected by. Reference numeral 206 denotes a second imaging device, which is located below the tray 202 and
The imaging devices are arranged in each column of one row (n pieces per row) so as to capture light transmitted through the rice grains 201 when illuminated by the light source 204. A recording unit 207 records images captured by the first imaging device 205 and the second imaging device 206. Reference numeral 208 denotes an analysis unit, and the recording unit 20
7, the quality of the rice grain 201 is indicated based on the analysis result, or the rice grain 201 is displayed.
Are classified into predetermined categories and evaluated. Reference numeral 209 denotes a monitor device for monitoring an analysis result or an analysis image.

First, in order to capture a reflection image of the rice grain 201 by the first imaging device 205, the first light source 203 is operated to illuminate the rice grain 201 by one of a plurality of rows. The first light source 203 and the first imaging device 205 are simultaneously moved in the row direction at the same speed. At this time, the second light source 204 and the second imaging device 206 are simultaneously moved in the row direction at the same speed at the same time, but the illumination and imaging are not performed. The first light source 203 sequentially illuminates the rice grains 201 for each row, and the first imaging device 205 sequentially captures an image for each row (m rows in total). The reflection image is recorded by the recording unit 207. The analysis means 208 calculates each rice grain 20
The image data of each rice grain 20 is obtained by using predetermined reference data.
Analyze each time.

[0005] In the above-mentioned imaging, in order to evaluate the quality in terms of the appearance of rice grains, an image was obtained by reflected light.
When 01 is a cracked grain having cracks inside, it is necessary to evaluate by the transmitted light passing through the inside of the rice grain. For this reason, the light from the second light source 204 is obliquely applied to the rice grains 201, and the oblique transmitted light is received by the second imaging device 206. Then, the second light source 204 is used to capture the transmission image of the rice grain 201 by the second imaging device 206.
Is operated to illuminate the rice grain 201 by one of a plurality of rows. The second imaging device 206 captures an image of transmitted light of the rice grains 201 for one row. The second light source 204 and the second imaging device 206 are simultaneously moved in the row direction at the same speed. At this time, the first light source 203 and the first imaging device 2
05 is not in the illumination and imaging states, but is simultaneously moved in the row direction at the same speed. The second light source 204 sequentially illuminates the rice grains 201 for each row, and the second imaging device 206 sequentially captures an image for each row (m rows in total). When the rice grain 201 is a broken grain, the transmitted light is irregularly reflected at the crack 301 as shown in FIG. 3 and becomes darker than in the case of grain sizing without defective portions. This transmission image is recorded by the recording unit 207. Analysis means 20
8 analyzes the image data of each rice grain 201 for each rice grain 201 using predetermined reference data.

[0006]

An evaluation device constructed as described above can automatically evaluate rice grains.
If the evaluation uses the reflected light and the transmitted light simultaneously, the reflected light from the first light source 203 enters not only the first imaging device 205 but also the second imaging device 206, and the second light source 20
4 is transmitted not only from the second imaging device 206 but also from the first
And the reflected light and transmitted light cannot be analyzed independently without any other influence. Therefore, the first light source 203 and the first imaging device 20
5, the second light source 204 and the second imaging device 206
Had to be operated separately, which required much time for evaluation.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an imaging system capable of evaluating the quality of grains in a short time.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging system for evaluating a grain based on its appearance. A first light source located on one side, a second light source located on the other side of the hypothetical surface and emitting light having a wavelength of a predetermined length or more more than the first light source, A first imaging device that captures reflected light from the second light source with respect to the kernel, a second imaging device that captures transmitted light from the second or first light source with respect to the kernel, and the first imaging device. A filter that transmits light having a wavelength longer than the predetermined length is provided in front of one of the imaging device and the second imaging device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the light having a wavelength longer than a predetermined length is infrared light.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the imaging system for evaluating a grain based on its external appearance, the imaging system emits visible light by being located on one side of a hypothetical surface that divides the grain into two. A first light source, a second light source that is located on the other side of the hypothetical surface and emits infrared light, a first imaging device that captures reflected light from the first light source with respect to the kernel, A second imaging device that captures light transmitted through the kernel by the second light source, and a filter that transmits the infrared light is provided in front of the second imaging device.

[0011]

The operation of the imaging system according to the first and second aspects is as follows. The first light source illuminates the grain, for example, the arranged rice grains from below, for example, and picks up an image with the first image pickup device using the reflected light. At the same time, the second light source illuminates light having a longer wavelength than that of the first light source from above the rice grain, and captures an image with light transmitted through the rice grain by the second imaging device. At this time, a filter placed in front of either the first imaging device or the second imaging device transmits light from the second light source. Therefore, the first imaging device images the reflected light,
The second imaging device images transmitted light. The second light source may emit infrared light.

The imaging system according to claim 3 operates as follows. The first light source that emits visible light illuminates the grain, for example, the arranged rice grains from below, for example, and picks up an image with the first imaging device using reflected light. At the same time, the second light source illuminates the infrared light from above the rice grain and captures an image with the second imaging device using the light transmitted through the rice grain. At this time, the filter placed in front of either the first imaging device or the second imaging device is
The infrared light from the second light source is transmitted. Therefore, the first
The second imaging device captures reflected light, and the second imaging device captures transmitted light.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating one embodiment.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes rice grains as grains arranged in a predetermined matrix (m rows × n columns) to evaluate the quality;
Reference numeral 2 denotes a tray for arranging the rice grains in a predetermined matrix.
Reference numeral 103 denotes a first light source, and the arranged rice grains 101
Is located on one side or below a hypothetical plane (which can be assumed parallel to it in tray 102),
It has a length of one row (or one column) of the tray 102, is configured to be movable in the row direction, and emits visible light.
104 is a second light source, and the rice grains 101 arranged
Is located on the other side of the tray 102, that is, above the tray 102, has a length of one row (or one column) of the tray 102, and is configured to be movable in the row direction. Emit outside light. 105 is a first imaging device,
The first light source 10 is located below the tray 102.
The imaging devices are arranged for each column of one row (n rows) so as to capture the light reflected by the rice grains 101 illuminated by 3. Reference numeral 106 denotes a second imaging device, and the tray 102
The imaging devices are arranged for each column of one row (n pieces per row) so as to capture light transmitted through the rice grains 101 illuminated by the second light source 104. Reference numeral 107 denotes a filter that transmits infrared light and blocks visible light.
Attached before the lens of the imaging device 106. Reference numeral 108 denotes a recording unit that records images captured by the first imaging device 105 and the second imaging device 106. 109 is an analysis unit that analyzes the recorded image from the recording unit 108, displays quality on the kernel 101 based on the analysis result, or divides the kernel 101 into predetermined categories, evaluate. Reference numeral 110 denotes a monitor device for monitoring an analysis result or an analysis image.

First, the first light source 103 is operated to illuminate the rice grain 101 by one of a plurality of rows in order to capture a reflected image of the rice grain 101 by the first image pickup device 105. The first light source 103 and the first imaging device 105 are simultaneously moved in the row direction at the same speed. At this time, the second light source 104 and the second imaging device 106 are simultaneously moved in the row direction at the same speed. The first light source 103 sequentially illuminates the rice grains 101 for each row, and the first imaging device 105 sequentially captures the reflected light for each row (m rows in total). This reflected light is irregularly reflected by the rice grain 101,
Going in the direction of the second imaging device 106, the filter 10
7 and is not imaged.

On the other hand, the second light source 104 and the second image pickup device 106 are also sequentially moved in the row direction at the same speed, but they are also illuminated and photographed by the first light source 103 and the first image pickup device 105. At the same time, the second light source 104
Then, the rice grains 101 are illuminated with infrared light for one of a plurality of rows from above. The second light source 104 sequentially controls the rice grains 10 for each row.
1, the transmitted light passing through the filter is sequentially imaged by the second imaging device 106 for each line (m lines in total). The first imaging device 105 does not sense this infrared transmitted light.

Rice grain 1 imaged by the first imaging device 105
The image by the reflected light from the surface of the rice grain 01 and the image by the transmitted light passing through the inside of the rice grain 101 imaged by the second imaging device 106 are recorded by the recording means 108. The analysis means 109 analyzes the image data of each rice grain 101 for each rice grain 101 using predetermined reference data.

The transmitted light image is compared with the case where, when the rice grain 101 is a broken grain, the transmitted light passing through the inside of the rice grain is scattered by internal cracks, and the portion ahead of the crack has no defective portion. Then it becomes darker than if it were. The evaluation is made based on whether or not there is a portion determined to be a dark portion when compared with the reference data.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, the reflected light and the transmitted light with respect to the grain can be simultaneously imaged, and the time for evaluation can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a system serving as a premise of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining scattering of light by a body grain.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: rice grain, 102: tray, 103: first light source,
104: second light source, 105: first imaging device, 106
... Second imaging device, 107 filter, 108 recording device, 109 analysis device, 110 monitor device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An imaging system for evaluating a grain based on its appearance, a first light source located on one side of a hypothetical plane that bisects the grain, and a first light source located on the other side of the hypothetical plane. A second light source that emits more light having a wavelength longer than a predetermined length than the first light source, and a first imaging device that captures light reflected by the first or second light source on the kernel.
A second imaging device that captures light transmitted through the kernel by the second or first light source, and a wavelength longer than the predetermined length in front of either the first imaging device or the second imaging device. An imaging system, wherein a filter that transmits the light is provided in front of the imaging system. 2. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the light having a wavelength longer than a predetermined length is infrared light. 3. An imaging system for evaluating a grain based on its appearance, a first light source that emits visible light located on one side of a hypothetical plane that divides the kernel into two, and a first light source that emits visible light. A second light source that is located on the other side and emits infrared light, a first imaging device that captures reflected light from the first light source with respect to the kernel, and a second light source that emits infrared light. An imaging system, comprising: a second imaging device that captures transmitted light; and a filter that transmits the infrared light in front of the second imaging device.