JP2018004288A - Optical axis adjustment support device and optical axis adjustment method for headlight of railroad vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical axis adjustment support device and an optical axis adjustment method for headlights of a railroad vehicle that need not to secure a wide space in front of the railroad vehicle and can make accurate optical axis adjustments with small variance.SOLUTION: An optical axis adjustment support device comprises: a photographic part (11) for acquiring an image; a fixture (14) capable of fixing a support frame supporting the photographic part to the front of a railroad vehicle having a headlight; a diffusion plate 30 supported by the support frame and diffusing emitted light; and a calculation part which calculates a deviation quantity of the optical axis of the headlight based upon the image, acquired by the photographic part, of the diffusion plate on which the light of the headlight (101) is projected. An optical axis adjustment method comprises adjusting the optical axis based upon the calculation result of the calculation part by using the optical axis adjustment support device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical axis adjustment support device that supports an optical axis adjustment operation of a headlamp in a railway vehicle, and an optical axis adjustment method using the same.

  When the railway vehicle is inspected, the optical axis of the headlamp may be adjusted. The headlamp is stipulated to emit light in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle in the vertical and horizontal directions at a position away from the front by a predetermined distance, and the optical axis of the headlamp is adjusted to comply with this rule.

The distance at which the light irradiation position is defined is relatively long, and in many cases, it is difficult to ensure the distance defined in front of the railway vehicle at the time of inspection. For this reason, conventionally, the optical axis adjustment of the headlight of a railway vehicle may be performed simply. In a simple method, the optical axis was adjusted as follows. First, the worker moves the screen on which the index is drawn and arranges the screen at a predetermined height on a rail that is a predetermined distance away from the railcar. Next, light is irradiated onto the screen from the headlamp, and the operator adjusts the optical axis while visually confirming the focal center position of the irradiated light and the position of the index on the screen.
As a prior art related to the present invention, Patent Document 1 discloses an optical axis adjustment method for an automobile headlight that automatically adjusts an optical axis using a camera.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-267794

  The above-described simple method for adjusting the optical axis of a headlamp has an advantage that it is not necessary to secure a long space in front of the railway vehicle. However, such an optical axis adjustment method has a problem in that the adjustment accuracy is insufficient and the optical axis of the adjusted headlamp has a relatively large variation. One of the reasons for the lack of accuracy is that it is difficult to prepare a large screen because the screen used for adjustment is moved and arranged by the worker, and the light distribution of the headlamps is widened. In some cases, it was impossible to clearly confirm the focal center position illuminated by the light.

In addition, the above-described simple method of adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp has a problem that the work can be performed only in a time zone in which irradiation light can be visually recognized, such as at night.
The present invention provides an optical axis adjustment support apparatus and an optical axis adjustment method for a headlight of a railway vehicle that can perform accurate optical axis adjustment with little variation without securing a wide space in front of the railway vehicle. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
A shooting unit for acquiring images;
A support frame for supporting the imaging unit;
A fixture capable of fixing the support frame to the front surface of a railway vehicle having a headlamp;
A diffusion plate that is supported by the support frame and diffuses the projected light;
A calculation unit that calculates the amount of deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp, based on the image of the light that the headlamp projects onto the diffuser plate, acquired by the photographing unit;
An output unit that outputs information for supporting optical axis adjustment based on the calculated optical axis shift amount;
An optical axis adjustment support device for a headlight of a railway vehicle, comprising:

  According to this configuration, the photographing unit can be fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle by the fixture so that the headlamp and the photographing unit are in a predetermined arrangement relationship. Further, an image of the diffuser plate onto which the headlamp light is projected is acquired by the photographing unit fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle, and the deviation of the optical axis is calculated based on this image. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure a wide space in front of the railway vehicle, and the optical axis of the headlamp can be accurately adjusted with little variation based on the calculated deviation.

Here, the calculation unit is configured to calculate the headlamp based on a difference between a position of a shadow of the bulb of the headlamp projected on the diffusion plate and a position of a reference point set in advance in the video frame. It is good to calculate the amount of deviation of the optical axis.
The shadow of the bulb of the headlamp appears as a clear image in the light image projected in the vicinity of the headlamp. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the amount of deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp can be calculated more accurately based on the position of the shadow of the bulb and the reference point set in the image, and there is little variation. The optical axis can be adjusted.

Furthermore, the optical axis adjustment support device of the present invention is
A classification input unit for inputting the arrangement classification of the headlamps by an input operation from the outside;
A reference point storage unit for storing a plurality of coordinate values of the reference point respectively corresponding to a plurality of arrangement sections of the headlamp;
With
The calculation unit may be configured to calculate a deviation amount of the optical axis of the headlamp using a coordinate value of the reference point corresponding to the input arrangement section.

  For the headlamps of railway vehicles, there are cases in which different illumination ranges are defined for headlamps in different arrangement categories, such as driver-side headlamps and assistant-side headlamps. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the optical axis of the headlamp according to the arrangement category can be obtained by inputting the arrangement category of the headlamp through the category input unit and using the coordinates of the reference point corresponding to this. Adjustments can be made.

More preferably, the optical axis adjustment support device of the present invention is
An adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the position of the photographing unit with respect to the support frame;
The fixture is a plurality of suction cups that can be attracted to the front surface of the railway vehicle,
The adjustment mechanism may include a mechanism that translates the photographing unit in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.
According to this configuration, the support frame of the imaging unit can be easily fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle by the plurality of suction cups, and the configuration including the fixture, the imaging unit, and the support frame can be made compact. Further, the position of the photographing unit and the headlamp can be accurately adjusted by adjusting the position of the photographing unit in the vertical and horizontal directions by the adjusting mechanism.

Further, the optical axis adjustment method according to the present invention includes:
An optical axis adjustment method for a headlight of a railway vehicle using the optical axis adjustment support device,
Fixing the fixture in front of the railway vehicle and in the vicinity of the headlamp;
After obtaining an image by the photographing unit and adjusting the position of the photographing unit so that the fixed frame of the headlamp comes to a predetermined position in the image,
Placing the diffuser plate between the imaging unit and the headlamp;
Turn on the headlamp and project light onto the diffuser,
Obtaining an image of the light projected on the diffuser by the photographing unit;
The calculation unit calculates the amount of deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp based on the image of the diffusion plate,
The optical axis of the headlamp is changed based on the calculated deviation.
According to this method, it is not necessary to secure a wide space in front of the railway vehicle, and accurate optical axis adjustment with little variation is possible.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to secure a wide space in front of the railway vehicle, and an optical axis adjustment support device and an optical axis adjustment method for a headlight of a railway vehicle that can perform accurate optical axis adjustment with little variation. Can provide.

It is a perspective view which shows the optical axis adjustment assistance apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the main body base of the optical axis adjustment assistance apparatus of embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which fixed the main body base to the front surface of a railway vehicle. It is a figure explaining the position adjustment method at the time of fixation of a main body base. It is an image figure explaining the position adjustment method of the camera after fixing a main body base. It is a side view which shows the state of an optical axis measurement process. It is a flowchart which shows the whole procedure of the optical axis adjustment assistance process performed by CPU. It is a figure which shows an example of the image image | photographed by the optical axis measurement process. It is a figure which shows an example of the reference point set in a picked-up image. It is an image figure which shows an example of the adjustment assistance image of an optical axis. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed procedure of the optical axis measurement process of FIG.7 S12. 12 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the upper end calculation process of the black circle image in step S28 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the image after carrying out the binarization process of the picked-up image.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical axis adjustment support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main body base of the optical axis adjustment assisting apparatus.
The optical axis adjustment support device of the present embodiment includes a main body base 10 provided with a camera (corresponding to a photographing unit) 11, a mounting guide 20, a diffusion plate 30, a light shielding cover 40, a weight adjustment plate 50, and an operation device 61. And a computer 60 (corresponding to a calculation unit) having a display 62.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body base 10 includes a camera 11 that acquires a still image or a moving image, a stage (corresponding to an adjustment mechanism) 12 that can move the camera 11 in two axes, and a stage. A support frame 13 that supports the camera 11 via 12 and a plurality of fixtures 14 for fixing the support frame 13 to the front surface of the railway vehicle. In this specification, the front, rear, left, right, and up and down directions are defined with the shooting direction as the front, with the main body base 10 fixed to the railcar.

  The support frame 13 includes a support frame 13a that holds the camera 11, and a fixed frame 13b that extends to the left and right and to which the fixture 14 is fixed. The fixed frame 13b is connected to the front end of the support frame 13a. The support frame 13a is provided with a fixing groove F1 to which the mounting guide 20 can be detachably attached and a fixing portion F2 to which the light shielding cover 40 can be detachably attached. Instead of the mounting guide 20, a diffusion plate 30 can be mounted in the fixed groove F1. Further, a weight adjusting plate 50 can be attached to the fixed portion F2 instead of the light shielding cover 40.

The two fixtures 14 are high-strength suction cups, and are attached to the left front and right front of the fixed frame 13b. The camera 11 is disposed at the center of the support frame 13 in the left-right direction, and the two fixtures 14 are disposed symmetrically about the camera 11.
The stage 12 is configured to be interposed between the support frame 13a and the camera 11 and finely adjust the position of the camera 11. The stage 12 can translate the camera 11 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by a dial operation.

The mounting guide 20 is used to roughly align the main body base 10 when the main body base 10 is fixed to the front of the railway vehicle. The attachment guide 20 is a plate having a circular hole 21 at the center, and is attached to the fixing groove F <b> 1 of the main body base 10. When attached to the fixed groove F <b> 1, the fixed groove F <b> 1 is disposed in front of the camera 11.
The diffusing plate 30 projects and diffuses the light of the headlight of the railway vehicle, and can be composed of, for example, a milky white acrylic plate. The diffusion plate 30 can be attached to the fixing groove F <b> 1 of the main body base 10, and is arranged in front of the camera 11 when attached.

  The light shielding cover 40 is used to reduce external light from being inserted into the shooting location of the camera 11 when the surroundings are bright. When the light shielding cover 40 is attached to the main body base 10, it covers the upper, rear and left and right sides of the camera 11 and blocks light from the outside. The light shielding cover 40 covers the periphery including the diffusion plate 30 in a state where the diffusion plate 30 is fixed to the main body base 10.

  The weight adjusting plate 50 is attached to the main body base 10 when the surroundings are dark and the light shielding cover 40 is unnecessary. The weight adjusting plate 50 has substantially the same weight as the light shielding cover 40, and applies the same load to the main body base 10 when the light shielding cover 40 is attached when the weight adjusting plate 50 is attached to the main body base 10. Since the main body base 10 has a structure in which the front portion is fixed by the fixing tool 14, the levelness changes slightly due to the rear load. Therefore, by using the weight adjusting plate 50, the level of the main body base 10 can be made uniform when the light shielding cover 40 is used and when it is not used.

  The computer 60 includes a storage device in which a program for optical axis adjustment support processing is stored, a CPU (central processing unit) that executes the program, a working memory, an interface that transmits and receives data to and from the camera 11, and uses An operation device 61 such as a keyboard or a pointing device that can be input by a user, and a display (output unit) 62 that displays an image. The interface is connected to the camera 11 by wire or wireless, and can transmit a control command to the camera 11 and receive captured image data.

  In addition, the storage device of the computer 60 is provided with a reference point storage unit that stores the coordinate value of the reference point serving as a reference when calculating the amount of deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp. The reference point storage unit stores coordinate values of a plurality of reference points corresponding to a plurality of headlamp arrangement sections (for example, a driver-side headlight and an assistant-side headlamp).

<Optical axis adjustment processing>
Next, an optical axis adjustment process for a headlight of a railway vehicle using the optical axis adjustment support device of the present embodiment will be described.
First, an overall outline is shown. The optical axis adjustment process mainly includes a fixing process in which the main body base 10 is fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle 100 while the worker performs rough position adjustment, and a position adjustment process in which the worker performs detailed position adjustment of the camera 11. Then, the computer 60 calculates the amount of deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp based on the photographed image of the camera 11, and the operator adjusts the optical axis based on the display for adjustment support of the computer 60. An optical axis adjustment step. The fixing process, the fine position adjustment process, the optical axis measurement process, and the optical axis adjustment process are performed in this order, and the optical axis measurement process and the optical axis adjustment process are repeatedly performed a plurality of times.

Subsequently, details of each of these steps will be described.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the main body base is fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a position adjustment method when the main body base is fixed.
In the fixing process, first, the mounting guide 20 is fixed to the main body base 10, and the worker carries the main body base 10 in this state to the vicinity of the headlamp 101 of the railway vehicle 100. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the position of the main body base 10 is roughly aligned so that the circular holes 21 of the mounting guide 20 and the headlamps 101 are aligned in the photographing direction of the camera 11. At this time, the worker may adjust using a level or the like so that the left and right directions of the support frame 13a of the main body base 10 are horizontal.

Next, the worker hits the suction cup surface of the fixture 14 against the front glass of the railway vehicle 100 and presses a button for increasing the suction force of the suction cup surface several times. Thereby, the fixture 14 is fixed with high strength, and the main body base 10 is fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle 100 at a position where the camera 11 faces the headlamp 101. When the fixing process is completed, the worker removes the mounting guide 20 and shifts the process to a position adjustment process for performing detailed position adjustment of the camera 11.
FIG. 5 is an image diagram illustrating a camera position adjustment method after the main body base is fixed.
In the position adjustment process, first, the worker inputs a position adjustment command to the computer 60. Then, the computer 60 drives the camera 11 to display the captured image on the display 62.

  The headlamp 101 is configured by integrating a lens 101a, a reflecting mirror 101b, and a bulb 101c (see FIG. 6). And these integrated structures are attached to the fixed frame of the railway vehicle 100 so that the angle can be adjusted in two rotational directions centered on two axes, a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. . Further, the fixed frame of the railway vehicle 100 is provided with a window frame 102 provided so that, for example, the lens of the headlamp 101 faces. Therefore, the captured image displayed in the position adjustment step includes an image of the window frame 102 of the fixed frame of the railway vehicle 100 and an image of the lens 101a of the headlamp 101 as shown in FIG. The positions of these images change in the video frame when the camera 11 is moved.

Further, the computer 60 displays a reference circle R1 on the position-adjusted captured image. The reference circle R1 is a mark image embedded in the video, the coordinates are fixed with respect to the video frame, and the position and size do not change even when the camera 11 is moved.
The operator operates the dial on the stage and finely adjusts the position of the camera 11 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction so that the window frame 102 is concentric with the reference circle R1 while viewing such a captured image. . At this time, it is preferable that the camera 11 continuously shoots and the captured image is updated every moment like a moving image. In the fine adjustment, there is no need to worry about the position of the lens 101a of the headlamp 101. By this step, a state in which the camera 11 is fixed in a fixed arrangement relationship with respect to the fixed frame of the headlamp 101 is obtained. When the window frame 102 and the reference circle R1 are concentric, the worker inputs a completion command to the computer 60 to complete the position adjustment process, and shifts the process to the optical axis measurement process.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the state of the optical axis measurement process.
In the optical axis measurement step, first, the worker fixes the diffusion plate 30 to the main body base 10 and attaches the light shielding cover 40 when the surroundings are bright. If the surroundings are dark, a weight adjusting plate 50 may be attached instead of the light shielding cover 40. Thereby, the diffuser plate 30 is disposed between the headlamp 101 and the camera 11, and when the headlamp 101 is not turned on, the periphery of the diffuser plate 30 becomes dark and an environment suitable for photographing is obtained.
When such setting is completed, the worker turns on the headlamp 101, inputs an optical axis adjustment support processing start command to the computer 60, and starts this processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the overall procedure of the optical axis adjustment support process executed by the CPU of the computer. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image captured by the optical axis measurement process. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of reference points set in a captured image. FIG. 10 is an image diagram showing an example of an optical axis adjustment support image.
When the optical axis adjustment support process is started, first, the CPU of the computer 60 executes an input process related to the headlamp arrangement classification (step S11: equivalent to a classification input unit). This process is a process for displaying on the display 62 whether the driver's headlight or the assistant's headlight is selected, and requesting the operator to input a selection via the operation device 61. Since the prescribed direction of the optical axis of the headlight on the driver side is different from the prescribed direction of the optical axis of the headlight on the assistant side, the CPU identifies them here. The worker inputs the headlamp arrangement classification subject to optical axis adjustment via the operation device 61, and the input result is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the memory.

Next, the CPU performs an optical axis measurement process (step S12). In this process, the diffuser plate 30 onto which the headlamp 101 projects light is photographed, and the position of the shadow M1 (see FIG. 8) of the bulb 101c of the headlamp 101 appearing in the photographed image is measured. . Thereby, a coordinate value reflecting the position and orientation of the optical axis of the headlamp 101 is obtained. Details of the optical axis measurement process will be described later.
When the optical axis measurement process ends, the CPU compares the position of the shadow M1 (see FIG. 8) of the bulb 101c with the position of the reference point R0 (see FIG. 9) in the video frame (step S13). The reference point R0 is defined in advance in the video frame D (see FIG. 9) so that it overlaps with the position of the shadow of the bulb 101c, for example, when the optical axis of the headlamp 101 is set according to regulations. It is a point on the image coordinates to be set. As described above, the reference point R0 differs depending on the headlamp arrangement section, and the reference point storage unit of the computer 60 stores coordinate values of a plurality of reference points R0 corresponding to the plurality of headlamp arrangement sections. Is remembered. In step S13, the reference point R0 corresponding to the arrangement section of the headlamp 101 selected in step S11 is read and used for the comparison process.

Subsequently, as a result of the comparison with the reference point, the CPU determines whether or not the deviation of the optical axis is larger than the allowable error (step S14). As a result, if it is equal to or smaller than the allowable error, the optical axis adjustment support process is terminated. When the process is finished, the display 62 may display that the optical axis is correct.
On the other hand, if the deviation of the optical axis is larger than the allowable error, the CPU converts the deviation amount of the optical axis into an adjustment value (step S15). Here, as the adjustment value, for example, rotation angles of a plurality of screws for adjusting the optical axis provided in the headlamp 101 can be adopted. The conversion calculation to the adjustment value may be performed based on a function indicating the relationship between the deviation of the optical axis and the number of rotations of the screw, or may be performed based on a look-up table indicating these relationships. .

  After the conversion to the adjustment value, the CPU outputs an adjustment support image to the display (step S16). As shown in FIG. 10, the adjustment support image is an image of the back part of the headlamp 101 and a character display C1 indicating the rotation angle for adjusting each of the plurality of screws N1 to N3 for adjusting the optical axis provided on the back part. -C3. In the headlamp 101 of FIG. 10, in the example, the optical axis adjustment of the first axis of the headlamp 101 is performed by the screw N1, and the headlamp 101 is rotated by rotating the screws N2 and N3 in the opposite directions by the same angle. The optical axis of the second axis is adjusted. In the adjustment support image of FIG. 10, the character display C1 of “OK” indicating that the first axis related to the screw N1 is correctly adjusted is shown, and the screws N2 and N3 are rotated 35 degrees in the opposite directions with respect to the second axis. The character displays C2 and C3 requesting are shown.

The worker rotates the screws N1 to N3 of the headlamp 101 and performs optical axis adjustment by relying on the display of the adjustment support image.
After outputting the adjustment support image, the CPU waits for completion of the optical axis changing operation (step S17). Here, for example, the CPU may wait until the operation time is counted or an operation end input is performed via the operation device 61.

When the optical axis changing operation is performed, the CPU determines whether or not the series of processes in steps S12 to S17 has been completed a specified number of times (for example, 3 to 5 times). If not, the process returns to step S12. The processing from step S12 is repeated again. The process is repeated because it is assumed that when the screw rotation angle is large, a large error is included in the actual rotation angle, and when the screw rotation angle is small, the error included in the actual rotation angle is small. It is. Such an error can be reduced by performing the adjustment a plurality of times.
On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S18 is that the designated number of times has been completed, the CPU ends the optical axis adjustment support processing. With such an optical axis adjustment support device, an operator can easily adjust the optical axis of the headlamp 101 with little variation.

Next, the optical axis measurement process in step S12 of FIG. 7 will be described in detail.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the optical axis measurement process. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the upper end calculation process of the black circle image in step S28 of FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image after the captured image is binarized.

  When the process shifts to the optical axis measurement process, the CPU first performs exposure adjustment and shooting process of the camera 11 to acquire a shot image with suitable luminance (step S21). The photographing object of the camera 11 is the diffusion plate 30 onto which the light from the headlamp 101 is projected. Even if the light shielding cover 40 is provided, the ambient brightness is not completely constant. For this reason, brightness adjustment is important. In step S21, first, the CPU causes the camera 11 to perform photographing with standard exposure, and counts the luminance of all pixels of the photographed image to create a luminance histogram. Then, the CPU again adjusts the exposure and causes the camera 11 to perform the photographing process so that the high luminance ratio falls within the specified range. By performing such a process a plurality of times, a captured image in which the high luminance ratio falls within a specified range is acquired.

  When the captured image is acquired, the CPU calculates a luminance threshold value suitable for binarization of the captured image by the discriminant analysis method (step S22). The discriminant analysis method is a method for calculating a luminance threshold so that a black area and a white area are balanced when a captured image is binarized, and is a known technique in the field of image processing. is there.

  Next, the CPU performs binarization of the captured image and labeling and threshold adjustment based on the area of the area once or a plurality of times to obtain a binary image of the captured image suitable for the subsequent analysis (step S23). . The specific process here is performed as follows. First, the CPU binarizes the photographed image using the brightness threshold value calculated in step S22. Next, the CPU labels the binarized captured image. As shown in FIG. 13, labeling is a method of labeling regions (for example, “White No. 1”, “White No. 2”, “Black No. 1”). After labeling, the CPU checks whether the number of labels and the area of each label area are within the specified range, and if they are within the specified range, the binarized image is an image suitable for subsequent analysis. Adopt as. On the other hand, as a result of confirming the number of labels and the area of each label area, if they are not within the specified range, the threshold value is adjusted, and the process of binarization is repeated. By repeating such a process, a binarized image suitable for subsequent analysis can be obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the binarized image, the shadow of the valve 101c (FIG. 6) appears as a black circle image M0 at the center each time, and the irradiation light appears white on a part of the inside of the black circle image M0 and is reflected around it. The image pattern is the same so that the light reflected from the mirror 101b (FIG. 6) appears white and the surroundings appear black. Therefore, the number of labels and the area of each label area do not vary greatly in the case of a binarized image suitable for subsequent analysis.

  After obtaining the binarized image, the CPU counts the white pixels in each column (vertical pixel column) of the image (step S24). Further, the CPU performs the counting result and the pixel search to obtain the coordinates “x1” and “x2” between the left end and the right end of the central black circle image M0 (step S25). As shown in FIG. 13, the binarized image has the same image pattern every time. Therefore, each time the white pixels in each column of the image are counted, the pattern of the counting result is the same each time, and the coordinates in the region of “white No. 1” on the left side of the black circle image M0 can be obtained from this pattern. . Further, when this coordinate is known, the boundary between the black region and the white region is searched from the coordinate toward the right, and thereby the coordinate x1 of the left end of the black circle image M0 can be obtained. The same applies to the right end coordinate x2.

  Subsequently, the CPU counts white images in each row (horizontal pixel column) of the image (step S26). Further, the CPU performs the counting result and the pixel search to obtain the coordinate “y2” of the lower end of the center black circle image M0 (step S27). These processes are the same as the processes in steps S24 and S25, except that the vertical and horizontal directions are different.

  Further, the CPU executes an upper end calculation process for obtaining the coordinate “y1” of the upper end of the black circle image M0 (step S28). Above the black circle image M <b> 0, a shadow of a conducting wire that returns current from the discharge electrode provided on the bulb 101 c of the headlamp 101 is shown in a bar shape. Therefore, the coordinates “y1” of the upper end of the black circle image M0 cannot be obtained by the same process as that for obtaining the coordinates of the left and right ends or the lower end.

  Therefore, when proceeding to the upper end calculation process of FIG. 12, the CPU first initializes each variable of y, xmax, x, and xmin (step S41). y is a variable to which the value of the target row in the binarized image for determining whether or not it is the upper end of the black circle image M0 is input, and the value at the upper end of the area of “white No. 1” is input as an initial value Is done. xmax is a variable representing the total number of pixels in one row (horizontal pixel column) of the photographed image, and a fixed value indicating this is input. x is a variable to which the number of black pixels counted during processing is input. For example, “0” is input as an initial value. xmin is a variable for holding the minimum value of the number of black pixels x counted during the process, and an initial value, for example, xmax is input.

  Next, the CPU shifts the processing to the loop processing from step S42 to step S46 until a row satisfying a predetermined condition is found. That is, the number of black pixels x in the y row is counted (step S42), the black pixel number x is larger than half of the total number of pixels xmax in one row, and the minimum value xmin of the black pixels so far is the total number of pixels in one row. It is determined whether it is smaller than half of the number xmax (step S43).

  If the result is NO, in order to update each variable, it is determined whether or not the number of black pixels x is smaller than the minimum value xmin (step S44), and if it is smaller, the value of the minimum value xmin is changed to the value of the number of black pixels x. Update (step S45), and the process proceeds to the next step. If the result of the determination process in step S44 is NO, the process proceeds to the next step as it is. Subsequently, the CPU updates the value of the variable y by adding “1” in order to lower the target row by 1 (step S46), and returns the process to step S42.

During such loop processing of steps S42 to S46, the determination result of step S43 may be affirmative.
When the number of black pixels x is counted by shifting the target row y by one row from the upper end of the area of the label “white No. 1”, the black pixel number x is initially equal to or more than half of the total pixel number xmax. Decreases from the value to less than half. The number of black pixels is less than half when the target row y is approaching the portion of the black bar that extends above the black circle image M0. Therefore, the case where the condition of “xmin <1/2 xmax” is satisfied in step S43 indicates that the target row has passed through the black bar.

  Subsequently, when the target row y moves downward one by one, the number of black pixels x starts to increase, and again exceeds a value that is half or more of the total number of pixels xmax. The value exceeding the value of more than half is again when the target row y reaches the top of the black circle image M0. That is, this is a case where the condition “x> 1/2 xmax” in step S43 is satisfied.

Therefore, if the determination result in step S43 is affirmative, it means that the target row y has reached the upper end portion of the black circle image M0. Therefore, the upper end portion of the black circle image M0 is determined by the value of the target row y at this time. Will be represented.
Thus, if the determination in step S43 is affirmative, the CPU determines the coordinate of the target row y as the coordinate “y1” of the upper end of the black circle image M0 (step S47), and ends the upper end calculation process.

  Subsequently, returning to the step of FIG. 11, the CPU calculates the coordinates of the center point of the black circle image M0 from the coordinates of the four end portions of the black circle image M0 obtained in steps S25, S27, and S28 (step S29). Next, the CPU determines whether or not the specified number of times has been calculated (step S30). If no, the process returns to step S21, and the processes of steps S21 to S29 are repeated. On the other hand, if the calculation of the designated number of times has been completed, the CPU averages a plurality of coordinates of the center point of the black circle image M0 obtained by the calculation of the designated number of times, and obtains the center coordinate of the final black circle image M0. (Step S31). Then, the optical axis measurement process ends. Through the above optical axis measurement process, the exact coordinates of the shadow of the bulb 101c in the captured image, that is, the center coordinates of the black circle image M0 are obtained. As described above, the optical axis of the headlamp 101 is adjusted based on the center coordinates.

  As described above, according to the optical axis adjustment support device and the optical axis adjustment method using the same according to the present embodiment, the camera 11 is fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle 100 and the light projected from the headlamp 101 onto the diffuser plate 30 is transmitted. The amount of deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp 101 can be calculated from the image. Then, the worker adjusts the optical axis based on the calculated deviation of the optical axis. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure a wide space in front of the railway vehicle, and the optical axis of the headlamp can be accurately adjusted with little variation based on the calculated deviation.

Moreover, in the optical axis adjustment assistance apparatus of embodiment, since the fixing tool 14 is the structure fixed to the front surface of the rail vehicle 100 with a suction cup, an apparatus can be fixed easily and also the whole apparatus can be comprised compactly. Since it can be made compact, it is easy to cover the irradiation range of the camera 11 and the headlamp 101 using the small shading cover 40 even during the daytime. Therefore, the optical axis can be adjusted even in an environment where the surroundings are bright such as during the daytime.
Further, according to the optical axis adjustment support device of the embodiment, the relative positional relationship between the camera 11 and the fixed frame of the headlamp 101 can be accurately adjusted by adjusting the stage 12. Further, in the optical axis adjustment support device, the deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp 101 is calculated based on the difference between the shadow position of the bulb 101c of the headlamp 101 and the reference point R0 in the captured image. As a result, accurate optical axis adjustment with little variation is possible.

  Furthermore, according to the optical axis adjustment support device of the embodiment, the coordinates of a plurality of reference points R0 corresponding to the arrangement division of the headlamp 101 are stored in advance, and the coordinates of the reference point R0 corresponding to the arrangement division are used. Is done. Therefore, it can use for an optical axis adjustment process with respect to several headlamps from which the prescription | regulation of the direction of an optical axis differs.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the main body base 10 is fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle 100 by two fixing tools. However, the front surface of the railway vehicle 100 is used by using an additional fixing tool or a support bar that supports the main body base 10. On the other hand, the main body base 10 may be fixed by three-point support. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the camera 11 is configured to be finely adjustable in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by the stage 12, but an adjustment mechanism for an inclination angle may be added.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the adjustment support image (FIG. 10) in which the rotation angles of the optical axis adjustment screws N1 to N3 are displayed as information for supporting the optical axis adjustment is shown. Numerical display or image display may be employed, or output may be performed by voice or data instead of display. Further, instead of the operator adjusting the optical axis based on the adjustment support information, a configuration in which the drive device adjusts the optical axis based on the optical axis adjustment support data using a servo motor or the like may be employed. . Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structural example which fixes fixture 14 itself to the front surface of a railway vehicle was shown, the fixing position of fixture 14 itself is not restricted to this, For example, fixture 14 is an upper part or side part of a vehicle. The support frame 13 may be fixed to the front surface of the railway vehicle. In addition, the details shown in the embodiments can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

10 Main body base 11 Camera (shooting unit)
12 stages (adjustment mechanism)
13 Support Frame 14 Fixing Tool 20 Mounting Guide 30 Diffusion Plate 40 Shading Cover 50 Weight Adjustment Plate 60 Computer (Calculation Unit)
61 Operation device 62 Display (output unit)

Claims (5)

A shooting unit for acquiring images;
A support frame for supporting the imaging unit;
A fixture capable of fixing the support frame to the front surface of a railway vehicle having a headlamp;
A diffusion plate that is supported by the support frame and diffuses the projected light;
A calculation unit that calculates the amount of deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp, based on the image of the light that the headlamp projects onto the diffuser plate, acquired by the photographing unit;
An output unit that outputs information for supporting optical axis adjustment based on the calculated optical axis shift amount;
An optical axis adjustment support device for a headlight of a railway vehicle, comprising:   The calculation unit is configured to calculate an optical axis of the headlamp based on a difference between a position of a shadow of the bulb of the headlight projected on the diffusion plate and a position of a reference point set in advance in the video frame. The optical axis adjustment support device for a headlight of a railway vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the amount of deviation is calculated. A classification input unit for inputting the arrangement classification of the headlamps by an input operation from the outside;
A reference point storage unit for storing a plurality of coordinate values of the reference point respectively corresponding to a plurality of arrangement sections of the headlamp;
With
3. The front of a railway vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit calculates a shift amount of an optical axis of the headlamp using a coordinate value of the reference point corresponding to the input arrangement section. Optical axis adjustment support device for lighting. An adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the position of the photographing unit with respect to the support frame;
The fixture is a plurality of suction cups that can be attracted to the front surface of the railway vehicle,
The optical axis of the headlight of a railway vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a mechanism that translates the photographing unit in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Adjustment support device. An optical axis adjustment method for a headlight of a railway vehicle using the optical axis adjustment support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Fixing the fixture in front of the railway vehicle and in the vicinity of the headlamp;
After obtaining an image by the photographing unit and adjusting the position of the photographing unit so that the fixed frame of the headlamp comes to a predetermined position in the image,
Placing the diffuser plate between the imaging unit and the headlamp;
Turn on the headlamp and project light onto the diffuser,
Obtaining an image of the light projected on the diffuser by the photographing unit;
The calculation unit calculates the amount of deviation of the optical axis of the headlamp based on the image of the diffusion plate,
An optical axis adjustment method for a headlight of a railway vehicle, wherein the optical axis of the headlamp is changed based on the calculated deviation.

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