JP3617249B2 - Digital image capturing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus for photographing a scene in a monitoring work, a patrol work, and the like, and in particular, photographing a situation in the field by electronic means, and converting the photographed image into digital data and recording the image. Relates to the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when performing a patrol work in which a patrolman patrols and inspects a wide range of patrol target locations, an abnormality is conventionally detected by visual inspection of the inspection patrol locations. For this reason, it takes a lot of manpower and time for operations such as confirmation of the inspection location, recording of inspection results, and organization of the results.
[0003]
The method of shooting the inspection location on photographic film and judging the situation at the site from the photograph taken is excellent for application to inspection work in terms of leaving a record of inspection results accurately, There was a problem in that it took time to classify the film taken.
[0004]
In recent years, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver capable of measuring a position is becoming popular as a navigation system for automobiles. There is a GPS still camera in which this GPS receiver is combined with a still camera using a general silver salt film. The GPS still camera records the photographed position on the film by photosensitive recording the photographed position information on the photographed film. The GPS still camera is effective for recording on a film together with a photographed position, but the effect is limited to the result recording. In addition, since it is recorded on a silver halide photographic film, there are limits to the information that can be recorded and the search method. In addition, it is necessary to set a shooting location in advance and to determine shooting when the location is reached. As these techniques, JP-A-8-95146 and JP-A-8-240854 are known.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional methods, and the object of the present invention is to provide an image capturing device that automatically captures a preset inspection location without user operation. There is to do.
[0006]
Another object of the present invention is to set the exact location of the shooting location based on the name of the device to be imaged or the identification number attached to the device without the user knowing the exact location of the inspection location. An object of the present invention is to provide an image photographing apparatus that can be performed before actual photographing.
[0007]
Still another object of the present invention is to automatically categorize and organize captured images of inspection locations and inspection result records without user operation, thereby making it possible to easily search for inspection records later. To provide an apparatus.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first object is to provide a shooting position database that stores the position of a planned shooting location, a differential global positioning system (DGPS) receiver, and a current position output from the DGPS receiver. Moving the image photographing device comprising means for comparing with the photographing location recorded in the database and determining that it is within the photographing range, and means for digitally converting and recording the image photographed by the photographing element, The determination means is achieved by digitally converting and recording the image captured by the image sensor when it is determined that the image is within the imaging range.
[0009]
By setting a plurality of planned shooting locations in the shooting position database, a plurality of locations are shot and recorded continuously according to the movement of the image shooting apparatus.
[0010]
In positioning by a single GPS receiver, the measurement accuracy is low under various conditions, so the accuracy is generally about 100 m. When the shooting location is specified from the position information, since this accuracy is insufficient, the DGPS with higher accuracy is used. Since DGPS receives and corrects measurement error information from the reference station, the accuracy can be improved to about 3 to 10 m. With this level of accuracy, the location can be specified for a device of a certain size.
[0011]
The second object is to maintain the accurate location information of the device in the inspection database that stores the name, identification number, etc. of the device to be inspected, so that the name or identification number of the device can be obtained from the inspection database. Is used to capture the exact position of the shooting location into the shooting location database.
[0012]
The third object is to additionally record the image taken as a result of the inspection, the time, and other incidental information input at the time of inspection in the field of the inspection target device recorded in the inspection database. This is achieved by being able to call up and refer to images taken at the time of patrol and other incidental information from the name and identification number of the device at the time of search.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
The accuracy of the position that can be measured by a single GPS receiver is said to be approximately 100 m although it varies under various conditions. When determining the allowable range of the shooting position, the accuracy of positioning influences, but if it is an approximate position measurement like car navigation, positioning with a single GPS receiver is sufficient, but for patrol and monitoring applications Since more accurate position information is required regarding the shooting position, a single GPS positioning is not sufficient. In order to increase the accuracy of positioning, there is a method of improving accuracy by obtaining correction information from a reference station known as an accurate position called DGPS, or a high-accuracy GPS positioning method called an interference positioning method. An appropriate method may be selected from the photographing allowable range and the accuracy of positioning. However, since the DGPS method capable of positioning in real time is convenient, in the following description, an example using DGPS will be described.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a hardware configuration for carrying out the present invention, in which an optical lens 10, an image sensor 20, an A / D (analog / digital) converter 30, an image compression circuit 40, a GPS are shown. Main elements are an antenna 45, an FM antenna 46, a DGPS receiver 50, an FM receiver 55, a file device 60, a camera control circuit 80, a display drive circuit 90, a display 100, a peripheral device interface circuit 110, a keyboard 120, and a pointing device 130. Configured as
[0016]
The optical lens 10 forms an image to be photographed on the image sensor 20 and is generally used in an optical camera.
[0017]
The image sensor 20 converts a light beam incident through the optical lens 10 into a signal and extracts it as an image signal. The image pickup device is a general device such as a CCD device.
[0018]
The A / D converter 30 converts analog image data taken out from the image sensor 20 into digital data.
[0019]
The image compression circuit 40 receives the image data converted into digital data by the A / D converter 30 and compresses the image data by a J-PEG compression algorithm with little image degradation. As a compression algorithm, many methods other than the J-PEG compression algorithm have been proposed. However, details are omitted because they are not necessary for understanding the present invention.
[0020]
The FM receiver 55 receives a DGPS error correction signal scheduled to be transmitted superimposed on radio waves of a general FM broadcast via the FM antenna 46, and inputs the received data to the DGPS receiver 50. The DGPS error correction signal has not yet started broadcasting at the time of writing of the present invention, but will be started in the future.
[0021]
The DGPS receiver 50 receives radio waves from a plurality of satellites received by the GPS antenna 45, calculates the current accurate position based on the correction information obtained from the error correction FM receiver 55, and outputs it. To do.
[0022]
The file device 60 is a nonvolatile memory device that stores programs and data. As a specific example of the file device 60, a hard disk device or a flash memory is used. The file device 60 stores a program 62 for controlling the execution of the device, a shooting position database 70, a patrol database 65, and the like.
[0023]
The camera control circuit 80 controls the operation of the entire apparatus according to the present invention.
[0024]
A user's key input operation or pointing operation input from the keyboard 120 or the pointing device 130 is transmitted to the camera control circuit 80 via the peripheral device interface circuit 110. In addition, a display 100 for displaying information and a display driving circuit 90 for displaying on the display 100 are configured as main elements.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing components of the inspection database 65. A record is provided for each device to be inspected or for each location / point. Each record has a device / location / point name (k-name) 701, an identification number (k-id) 702, and position information (po). ) 703, scheduled inspection date (s-date) 704, inspection date (a-date) 705, patrol person (per) 706, inspection result (res) 707, captured image (img) 708, positioning result (pok) 709 , Character memo (tmem) 710, and image memo (imemo) 711.
[0026]
The fields of the device / point (location) name (k-name) 701, identification number (k-id) 702, and position information (po) 703 are set when the database is generated. Patrol implementation date (a-date) 705, patrol person (per) 706, patrol result (res) 707, photographed image (img) 708, positioning result (pok) 709, text memo (tmem) 710, image memo (imemo) Each field 711 is recorded after completion of patrol. Since an image generated by shooting cannot directly enter the field 708, the image is stored in the image file 740, and a pointer to the image file 740 is recorded in the field 708.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing components of the shooting position database 70. A record is provided for each device / point to be imaged during patrol. Each record includes fields of a device / point (location) name (k-name) 721, an identification number (k-id) 722, position information (po) 723, and a photographed mark (mark) 724. The name (k-name) 721, the identification number (k-id) 722, and the position information (po) 723 of the device / point (location) have the same contents as the corresponding field of the same name in the inspection database 65. . In the photographing position database 70, a device / point to be photographed is selected from the inspection database 65, and the contents are copied and recorded from the inspection database in the field of the photographing position database 70, and used for the determination of the photographing position.
[0028]
The user sets the contents of the shooting position database 70 by performing the following operations before patrol. A plan of the target device / point to be imaged by inspection is prepared, and in accordance with the plan, by sequentially selecting the inspection location from the device / point field (k-name) 701 of the inspection database 65, the device of the record concerned / Point name (k-name) 701, identification number (k-id) 702, position information (po) 703 is each field of the photographing position database 70, that is, device / point name (k-name) 721, identification The number (k-id) 722 and the position information (po) 723 are recorded. By this operation, the setting of the shooting position database 70 is completed.
[0029]
Here, a description will be given of an embodiment in the case where the photographing position provided on the railroad track is automatically photographed in accordance with the traveling of the train. A shooting position is prepared by performing an operation of selecting a shooting target from the patrol database 65 and setting it in the shooting position database 70 described above. The shooting position is set along the track. As shown in FIG. 4, a device 5 according to the present invention is mounted on a train 200. In the configuration of FIG. 4, the current position changes as the train 200 travels. Since the position of the train 200 is accurately calculated by the DGPS receiver 50, the position information is updated every moment according to the progress of the train 200 on the track 210. In this state, photographing is automatically performed at the position set in the photographing position database 70 according to the following procedure without the user's hand.
[0030]
Hereinafter, the flow of the photographing process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0031]
The following processing is performed from i = 1 with respect to X (i), where X (i) (i = 1 to n) is the shooting position field (po) 723 recorded in the shooting position database 70 that records the shooting position. Repeat until n. Here, n is the number of records recorded in the shooting position database 70.
[0032]
STEP-1: The initial value “1” is substituted for i.
[0033]
STEP-2: The photographing position X (i) is taken out from the field (po) 723 of the photographing position database 70.
[0034]
STEP-3: Determination of shooting position The shooting position information X (i) and the position information Y output from the DGPS receiver 50 are compared, and it is determined whether or not they are included in the shooting range distance Z. . If it is within the shooting range, go to the next step. If not, wait until it is within range. Here, the distance Z is determined from the accuracy of the position that can be measured by the DGPS receiver 50. The accuracy of general GPS is 100 m, but here it is assumed that the value of Z is about 10 m because of the premise of a highly accurate DGPS receiver.
[0035]
Here, since each of X (i) and Y is three-dimensional information, the comparison between X (i) and Y presupposes the calculation of the distance with a three-dimensional vector.
[0036]
STEP-4: Recording of image data Image data obtained from the imaging device 20 is subjected to J-PEG compression via the image compression circuit 40, and the image generated in the field (img) 708 of the record in the inspection database 65 Record a pointer to file 740. In determining the record, the record of the inspection database 65 having the same k-id is selected using the contents of the field (k-id) 722 in the same record as the field (po) 723 of the shooting position database 70. By doing so, the captured image can be reflected in the inspection database. At the same time, the position information and time data measured by the DGPS receiver 50 are recorded in corresponding fields (pok) 709 and (a-date) 705 in the same record of the inspection database 65.
[0037]
STEP-5: Recording of user additional information The user can set additional information independently for the image stored in STEP-4. The additional information to be set is a character code string input via the keyboard 120 or a freehand image image input via the pointing device 130. The information input by the user is stored in the corresponding fields (tmem) 710 and (imemo) 711 in the same record on the inspection database 65 in which the image is stored in STEP-4.
[0038]
STEP-6: “1” is added to the value of “i”. That is, the calculation of “i = i + 1” is performed, and the next record is taken.
[0039]
STEP-7: Check that the next designated shooting range is entered.
[0040]
When i> n, that is, when shooting of all the records in the shooting position database 70 is completed, shooting ends. If i <= n, it is not completed, so return to STEP-2.
[0041]
Advantages of the present embodiment As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, even if the photographing position is not accurately known, it is only necessary to indicate the device / point to be photographed by name or identifier. It is possible to automatically record an image at the position where it is performed. Furthermore, since the captured image and additional information can be added and recorded as additional information on the device / point to be imaged, there is an effect that the inspection result can be easily classified and organized.
[0042]
Even when patrols are performed along the highway, the route is determined in the same way as the railroad patrol, so recording can be performed in the same manner as the railway system.
[0043]
However, the situation is different when a patrol route is set along a general road network. In the aspect of application to railways and expressways described above, the inspection locations are arranged on a line, so the order of arrival at each inspection location is fixed, but the inspection locations are spread out in a plane. The order of arrival is indefinite. Hereinafter, an embodiment corresponding to a case where inspection places are dispersed in a planar shape will be described. There are many examples in which patrol locations are distributed in a plane. This is an example of inspection of power system facilities such as utility poles, general road networks, and facilities along those road networks.
[0044]
In another embodiment of the present invention, an example will be described in which an apparatus according to the present invention is loaded on an automobile and a traveling route such as a general road has a planar spread. When the photographing apparatus 5 of the present invention is mounted on the automobile 300 and travels on the inspection target road 310, an image is photographed when entering the range of the photographing position set in advance as in the case of the train.
[0045]
When the inspection locations are distributed in a plane, the order of arrival at each inspection location is not uniquely determined. You may pass the same part many times. Therefore, it is necessary to have means for identifying whether or not each position has been shot. In this embodiment, a check mark is added at the end of shooting to prevent double shooting. Hereinafter, the operation flow in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0046]
STEP-1: The photographed mark field (mark) 724 in the initialization photographing position database 70 is set to C (i) (i = 1 ton n), and C (i) is cleared for all records (set to “0”). To do).
[0047]
STEP-2: Judgment of photographing position 1) All X (i) in which the photographed mark field 724 is “0” 1) A field in a record corresponding to i in the photographing position database 70 with the value of the photographing position information X (i). (Po) Remove from 723.
[0048]
2) The value of X (i) taken out is compared with the position information Y output from the DGPS receiver 50, and it is determined whether or not it is included within the range of the shooting range distance Z. If X (i) exists in the range of Z, go to STEP-3.
[0049]
3) If X (i) within the range of Z cannot be detected, STEP-2 is re-executed from the beginning after a certain time interval.
[0050]
Here, the value of Z is 10 m from the positioning accuracy of DGSP.
[0051]
Here, since each of X (i) and Y is three-dimensional information, the comparison between X (i) and Y presupposes the calculation of the distance with a three-dimensional vector.
[0052]
STEP-3: Recording of image data Image data obtained from the imaging device 20 is subjected to J-PEG compression via the image compression circuit 40, and the image generated in the field (img) 708 of the record in the inspection database 65 Record a pointer to file 740. In determining the record, the record of the inspection database 65 having the same k-id is selected using the contents of the field (k-id) 722 in the same record as the field (po) 723 of the shooting position database 70. By doing so, the captured image can be reflected in the inspection database. At the same time, the position information and time data measured by the DGPS receiver 50 are recorded in corresponding fields (pok) 709 and (a-date) 705 in the same record of the inspection database 65.
[0053]
STEP-4: Recording of user additional information The user can set additional information independently for the image stored in STEP-3. The additional information to be set is a character code string input via the keyboard 120 or a freehand image image input via the pointing device 130. The information input by the user is stored in the corresponding fields (tmem) 710 and (imemo) 711 in the same record on the inspection database 65 in which the image is stored in STEP-4.
[0054]
STEP-5: The photographed mark field 724 of the corresponding Xi is set (“1” is set).
[0055]
STEP-6: When all the Xi photographed marks are set to “1”, photographing is terminated. If there is Xi whose photographed mark is “0”, the process returns to STEP-2.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, if the shooting location is set in advance, shooting is automatically performed as soon as the shooting designated location is reached with the movement of the train or the car. It becomes possible to automate. Even if the shooting position is not accurately known, it is possible to set the shooting location by specifying the name of the device or the spot. Furthermore, since the captured image and the information obtained as a result of the patrol can be automatically reflected in the database, the user's own classification and organization can be saved.
[0057]
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically take an image of the inspection location even when the inspection location is spread out in a plane, and automatically classify the captured image into the inspection database. Can be stored. Further, if the product of the present invention is mounted on an aircraft and used for photographing in the air, an aerial photograph at a preset point can be automatically photographed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration for implementing the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a database.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a database.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a railway patrol system.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a road patrol system.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical lens, 20 ... Imaging element, 30 ... A / D (analog / digital) converter, 40 ... Image compression circuit, 45 ... GPS antenna, 46 ... FM antenna, 50 ... DGPS receiver, 55 ... FM receiver , 60 ... file device, 65 ... patrol database, 70 ... shooting position database, 80 ... camera control circuit, 90 ... display drive circuit, 100 ... display, 110 ... peripheral device interface circuit, 120 ... keyboard, 130 ... pointing device.

Claims (3)

A digital image photographing device for recording an image to be inspected with digital data together with an inspection record,
A patrol result recording means for storing an identifier for identifying each patrol target, the name of the patrol target device or point, and the position information thereof, and recording a captured image of the patrol target;
A scheduled shooting position setting means for registering the name of the inspection target device or point selected from the inspection result recording means together with the identifier or position information of the inspection target device or point;
Position measurement means for measuring the current position;
The current position measured by the position measuring means is compared with the position information of each inspection object registered in the scheduled shooting position setting means, and the inspection object whose current position is within the allowable photographing range of the inspection object is determined. Photographing allowable range detecting means for detecting;
With
The planned shooting position setting means provides a check flag for each inspection target registered to check completion of shooting of the inspection target.
When it is determined that the inspection allowable range detection unit detects the inspection target within the inspection allowable range of the inspection target, the image of the inspection target together with the current position and time data measured by the position measurement unit Record in the name of the device or point corresponding to the identifier of the inspection target of the inspection result recording means, and set the check frame of the inspection target corresponding to the scheduled shooting position setting means after capturing the inspection target
A digital image photographing apparatus characterized by that. The position measuring means according to claim 1, wherein the position is measured by receiving radio waves from a satellite, and error correction information from a reference station is acquired and corrected to measurement information obtained from radio wave information from the satellite. A digital image photographing apparatus characterized by using a DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) receiver. The digital image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 is loaded on a vehicle, and a planned shooting position on the road is set in the planned shooting position means, whereby an image of a predetermined location along the route is combined with the traveling of the vehicle. A road patrol system characterized by automatic shooting.

Images