JPH0670591B2 - Color order determination device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color order determination device for determining the color order of elements arranged in a predetermined number.

(Prior Art) As a color order determination method used in a color order determination apparatus, the present applicant has already proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-227184 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-74832). This color order determination method makes effective use of a color engineering method to perform the same color order determination as the human visual determination, such as determining the color order by obtaining the hue angle, the hue angle, and the tone length. The color order consisting of a large number of colors, which could not be achieved by the conventional color order judgment based only on the R, G, B light quantity ratios, is very excellent.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-74832 discloses an apparatus to which the above-mentioned color order determination method can be applied. This color order determination device is composed of a sensor head, a controller, and a rotary table for mounting an object to be measured.

This color order determination device is, for example, a wire harness of a connector used in an electronic device, or the color order of a predetermined number of colors such as a color barcode which will be made in the future, although not standardized yet. It can be used for judgment.

A photodiode is often used as a color sensor element for determining the color of an object in the conventional and the above-described color order determination devices.

This photodiode can detect the amount of incident light, but cannot naturally detect the position information of the light, that is, where the light came from.

Therefore, when judging the color order of a plurality of colors, it is necessary to judge the colors one by one. Therefore, the color order determination device, by fixing the sensor head in the circumferential direction on the turntable,
The object to be measured is attached to a rotary table, and this is rotated to allow the object to be measured to pass through the detection range of the sensor head, thereby making color determination for each color.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, by moving the measured object as described above, or conversely, by fixing the measured object and moving the sensor head,
When the sensor head and the object to be measured are moved relative to each other to perform color judgment for each color, various problems occur.

In the above example, since the turntable is provided, it is unavoidable that the apparatus becomes large and the cost increases. This is the same when moving the sensor head.

Even if the turntable is rotated or the sensor head is moved, it is necessary to accurately control these movements in a timely manner for accurate color order determination. Therefore, many sensors are used. Since it has to be provided, the control part is complicated, the determination speed is reduced, and eventually the cost is increased, and a failure or malfunction is likely to occur.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in a color order determination device applicable to various color order determination methods, simplifies the device, reduces the manufacturing cost of the device, and downsizes the device. The purpose is to increase the reliability of the device and to improve the color sequence determination speed.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the color sequence determination device according to the first invention of the present application applies light to each colored portion of the color array provided on the DUT. A plurality of light-projecting optical fibers for projecting light, a plurality of light-receiving optical fibers paired with the respective light-projecting optical fibers so as to receive the reflected light from each colored portion, and a plurality of light-projecting optical fibers. And a light path switching means for selectively connecting each of the light projecting optical fibers to the light projecting light source in a predetermined order, and a pair of light projecting optical fiber and light receiving light. A support block that supports the fiber facing each colored part of the DUT, a common light receiving path that connects the rear ends of the light receiving optical fibers in common, and a reflected light sent through the common light receiving path An optical sensor that performs color separation into the G, B, and B components and a color can be distinguished based on the output of the optical sensor. , Characterized in that a color sequence determination circuit determines the color sequence.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the second aspect of the present application
The color sequence determination device according to the invention of claim 1 receives a plurality of light-projecting optical fibers for projecting light to the individual colored portions of the color array provided on the object to be measured, and the reflected light from each colored portion. As described above, a plurality of light receiving optical fibers paired with each light projecting optical fiber, a light projecting light source provided for the plurality of light projecting optical fibers, and a pair of light projecting optical fibers and light receiving A support block that supports the optical fiber facing each colored part of the DUT and supports the reflected light sent through the optical fiber for receiving light by R,
An optical sensor for color separation into G and B components, an optical path switching means for selectively connecting each of the light-receiving optical fibers to the optical sensor in a predetermined order, and determining the color based on the output of the optical sensor, and A color order determination circuit for determining the arrangement is provided.

(Operation) A light projecting optical fiber and a light receiving optical fiber are provided for each colorimetric section of the object to be measured, and according to the first aspect, light from the light source is selected for the light projecting optical fiber. According to the second aspect of the invention, the reflected light from each colorimetric section is selectively switched to the optical sensor to determine the color order of the colorimetric section of the object to be measured.

(Examples) Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

System Configuration 1 FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of a color order determination apparatus that is an embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

This apparatus includes a sensor head unit 1 and a control unit 2 that performs various controls.
It is basically composed of and.

The sensor head unit 1 according to the present invention receives a light source 4 for illuminating the color measurement units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the DUT 3 whose color order is to be determined, and light from the light source 4. The light receiving section 5, the light projecting optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d for projecting the light received by the light receiving section 5 to the color measuring sections 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, respectively, and the color measuring sections 3a, 3b, 3c. ,
Receiving optical fibers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d for respectively receiving diffused reflected light from 3d, and these receiving optical fibers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d
A common light receiving passage 6 having the rear ends thereof commonly connected, and an optical path switching means for switching the light received by the light receiving portion 5 from the light source 4 so as to selectively and sequentially illuminate the colorimetric portions 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. It consists of 7. Furthermore, the optical fibers for projection 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d
And the light-receiving optical fibers 6a, 6 provided in pairs with these.
A support block B is provided to support b, 6c, and 6d so as to face the colorimetric portions 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d of the measured object. The support block B is made of a light-shielding material such as resin, and if the support block B can be adhered to the periphery of the colorimetric portions 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the DUT 3, the influence of ambient light can be eliminated. It is possible and preferable.

The control unit 2 also receives light from the common light receiving passage 6.
R, G, B color sensor 8 and R, G, B of color sensor 8
Amplifies R, G, B signals output from each detector
R, G, B signal amplification amplifiers 9, 10, 11 and a sample hold circuit 12 for holding the R, G, B signals amplified by the amplifiers 9, 10, 11 for a certain period of time, and the held R, G, A multiplexer 13 for sequentially scanning B signals, and an A / D converter 14 for A / D converting the R, G, B signals sequentially output from the multiplexer 13.
And a microcomputer 15 for reading the A / D converted R, G, B signals and discriminating colors.

The microcomputer 15 is, when functionally classified, a control unit 15A that executes control necessary for color order determination calculation according to a command input from the keyboard 16, and data storage that stores various data required for color order determination. The unit 15B, a calculation unit 15C that executes a calculation program installed in advance for color order determination calculation according to a control signal from the control unit 15A, and the calculation result is converted into a display signal and the calculation result is displayed on the liquid crystal display 17. It can be divided into a display section 15D for displaying and a digital output section 15E for outputting the calculation result as a digital signal to the output terminal 15F.

Optical Path Switching Means 1 A first embodiment of the optical path switching means 7 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b).

FIG. 2A is a schematic configuration diagram of the optical path switching means 7. In the first embodiment, a rotating disk having a central axis connected to a motor 20 near one end surface of light projecting optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d arranged equiangularly on the same circumference on one end surface side. 21 is arranged so that its center coincides with the same circle, and one end forms the light receiving portion 5 of the light source 4 through the opening 22 provided at one point on the same circumference of the rotating disk 21 and the other end is for projecting light. Any of the optical fiber groups arranged on the extension lines of the optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d is optically connected, and the light from the light source 4 reaches the DUT 3.

FIG. 2 (b) is a front view of the rotary disk 21. The rotating disk 21 is provided with the illumination light transmission opening 22 as described above, and the color measurement timing opening 23 is provided outside the opening 22.
Is provided. Further, the rotary disc 21 is provided with an index opening 24 outside the timing opening 23.

As shown in FIG. 2A, photo interrupters 25 and 26 are provided on the circumference of the timing opening 23 and the index opening 24 of the rotary disk 21, respectively, for example, on the diameter of the disk 21. . The photo interrupter 25 detects passage of the timing opening 23. Further, the photo interrupter 26 detects passage of the index opening 24.
The detection signals of the photo interrupters 25 and 26 are input to the control unit 15A of the microcomputer 15 in order to control the timing.

Specific optical path switching is performed as follows, for example. Here, a case will be described in which the position of the opening 22 is adjusted so as to coincide with the light projecting optical fiber 5a at the moment when the index opening 24 passes through the photo interrupter 25.

First, the rotating disk 21 is rotated at a constant speed in advance, and the light source 4 is also turned on. Then, the start of the color order determination is notified from the keyboard 15. Then, at the moment when the photo interrupter 26 detects the passage of the index opening 24, it instructs the control unit 15A that it is the first color of the color order determination, and at the same time, the photo interrupter 25 detects the first passage of the timing opening 23. At that moment, since the opening 22 of the disk 21 is located between one of the optical fiber groups 5 and the light projecting optical fiber 5a, the light from the light source 4 passes through the light projecting optical fiber 5a,
It reaches the colorimetric section 3a, where it is diffusely reflected, passes through the light-receiving optical fiber 6a and reaches the sensor 8. Photo-interrupter
The color signal while the detection signal from 25 is being output, that is,
The control unit 15A controls so that only the color signals for the color measuring unit 3a are held.

Next, the photo interrupter 25 is set to 2 of the timing opening 23.
When the second passage is detected, the opening 22 of the disk 21 is located between one of the optical fiber groups 5 and the light projecting optical fiber 5b at that moment, so that the light from the light source 4 is the light projecting light. fiber
After passing through 5b, it reaches the colorimetric section 3b, where it is diffused and reflected, passes through the light-receiving optical fiber 6b, and reaches the sensor 8. The control unit 15A controls so that only the color signal while the detection signal from the photo interrupter 25 is being output, that is, the color signal for the color measurement unit 3b is held.

Similarly, the opening 22 of the disk 21 is positioned between one of the optical fiber groups 5 and the light projecting optical fiber 5c at the moment when the photo interrupter 25 detects the third passage of the next timing opening 23. Therefore, the light from the light source 4 is emitted from the optical fiber 5c for projection.
And is diffused and reflected by the color measurement unit 3c, and the light receiving optical fiber 6c
To reach the sensor 8. The control unit 15A controls so that only the color signal while the detection signal from the photo interrupter 25 is being output, that is, the color signal for the colorimetric unit 3c is held.

Similarly, the opening of the disk 21 is opened at the moment when the photo interrupter 25 detects the fourth passage of the next timing opening 23.
22 is one of the optical fiber groups 5 and the optical fiber 5d for projecting light.
The light from the light source 4 passes through the light projecting optical fiber 5d, is diffused and reflected by the color measuring unit 3d, passes through the light receiving optical fiber 6d, and reaches the sensor 8. The control unit 15A controls so that only the color signal while the detection signal from the photo interrupter 25 is being output, that is, the color signal for the colorimetric unit 3d is held.

In this way, the colorimetric units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the DUT 3 are successively irradiated with light, and the reflected light reaches the sensor 8 in sequence. The color determination process after reaching the sensor 8 is performed by, for example, the method described in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-227184 by the present applicant.

Further, the light projecting optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5 shown in FIG.
The end faces of the c and 5d on the side of the disk 21 are shown as a plane for convenience, but actually, they are arranged on the same circumference in the order of 5a → 5b → 5c → 5d.

Optical Path Switching Means 2 A second embodiment of the optical path switching means 7 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).

FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram of the optical path switching means 7. In this second embodiment, the rotary disk 21 of the first embodiment is provided with a central shaft extension on the side opposite to the side to which the motor is connected, and the axis is aligned with this extension. One end of the optical fiber 5 constituting the light receiving portion is embedded, one end of the optical fiber 5 is exposed to the outside at the end surface of the extension portion, and the other end is guided from the middle of the extension portion to the outside and provided on the disk 21.
It has a structure that is inserted into 22.

The disk 21 with the extension portion is the same as that of the first embodiment.
A central axis is connected to 20, and the optical fibers for projection 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d arranged on the same circumference are arranged in the vicinity of one end face with the same circle centered. And the rotating disk 21
The optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5 for projecting light are passed through the optical fiber 5 inserted through the opening 22 provided at one point on the same circumference.
One of d is optically connected, and the light from the light source 4 reaches the DUT 3.

FIG. 3B is a front view of the rotating disk 21. The rotating disk 21 is provided with the opening 22 as described above,
A colorimetric timing opening 23 is provided outside the opening 22. Further, the rotary disc 21 is provided with an index opening 24 outside the timing opening 23.

As shown in FIG. 3A, photo interrupters 25 and 26 are provided on the circumference of the timing opening 23 and the index opening 24 of the rotating disk 21, respectively, for example, on the diameter of the disk 21. . The photo interrupter 25 detects passage of the index opening 23. Further, the photo interrupter 26 detects passage of the timing opening 24.
Similar to the first embodiment, the detection signals of the photo interrupters 25 and 26 are detected by the control unit 15A of the microcomputer 15.
It is input to and timed.

The configuration of the rotary disk 21, the timing control of the optical path switching, and the color order determination method in the second embodiment of the optical path switching means described above can be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment of the optical path switching means, and therefore, it is structural. Only the explanation is given, and the detailed explanation on the operation is omitted.

Here, the second embodiment has various advantages as compared with the first embodiment as listed below.

That is, in the second embodiment, the number of optical fibers of the light receiving section is 1.
Since a book is sufficient, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of books as in the first embodiment.

Further, in the light receiving section 5, the light from the light source 4 is emitted from the optical fiber 1
Since it is only necessary to concentrate on the book, it is possible to improve the light collection efficiency, and it is possible to effectively irradiate each colorimetric section with light.

Further, unlike the first embodiment, it is not necessary to sandwich the rotary disk 21 between the optical fiber group of the light receiving section 5 and the light projecting optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d. It is possible to shorten the distance to the light projecting optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, and it is possible to effectively irradiate each colorimetric section with light.

As described above, the optical path switching means 7 is used in both the first and second embodiments.
The first invention of the present application arranged between the light source 4 and the light projecting optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d has been described. However, in the system configuration of the second invention of the present application shown below, the light receiving optical fiber It can be arranged between 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and the control unit 2, and the same effect can be obtained. In this case, FIG.
Instead of the light projecting optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d in FIG. 3 (a), the light receiving optical fibers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are connected from the left side of the figure, and the part corresponding to the light receiving section 5 on the right side is It is connected to the optical sensor 8. The timing control can be performed in exactly the same way.

System Configuration 2 FIG. 4 shows the system configuration of a color order determination apparatus that is an embodiment of the second invention of the present application.

As in FIG. 1, this device is basically composed of a sensor head unit 1 and a control unit 2 for performing various controls.

The sensor head unit 1 according to the present invention receives a light source 4 for illuminating the color measurement units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the DUT 3 whose color order is to be determined, and light from the light source 4. The light receiving section 5, the light projecting optical fibers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d for projecting the light received by the light receiving section 5 to the color measuring sections 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, respectively, and the color measuring sections 3a, 3b, 3c. ,
Receiving optical fibers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d for receiving diffused reflected light from 3d respectively, and diffusing from the color measuring units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d received by the receiving optical fibers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. The optical path switching means 7 switches so as to selectively connect the reflected light to the control unit 2 sequentially. Furthermore, the optical fibers for projection 5a, 5
b, 5c, 5d, and the light-receiving optical fibers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d provided in pairs with these, the colorimetric units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the measured object.
A support block B is provided so as to support it. The support block B is made of a light-shielding material such as resin, and if the support block B can be adhered to the periphery of the colorimetric portions 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d of the DUT 3, the influence of ambient light can be eliminated. It is possible and preferable.

The control unit 2 has the same configuration as the first system configuration shown in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, in the system configuration 1, each light projecting optical fiber is provided with a condenser lens so as not to illuminate the other colorimetric sections at the same time, and an appropriate light emitting fiber between each light projecting optical fiber is provided. A light shielding means may be provided at the position. Further, in the system configuration 2, each light receiving optical fiber is provided with a condenser lens so as not to simultaneously receive the reflected light from another colorimetric section, or a light shielding means is provided at an appropriate position between each light receiving optical fiber. It may be provided.

Further, the light shielding means may be provided at an appropriate position so as not to be affected by the ambient light.

Further, in the above embodiment, the colorimetric part of the measured object is 4
Since the number of apertures is four, the number of the light projecting and receiving optical fibers and the number of the timing openings of the rotating disk are four. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided in accordance with the number of colorimetric units. .

(Effect) According to the present invention, the color determination of each colorimetric section is performed by switching the optical path by the optical path switching means without moving the measured object with respect to the sensor head section in the color order determination. No device for moving the object to be measured, such as a turntable, is required. Therefore, it is possible to obtain various effects such as downsizing of the apparatus, reduction of manufacturing cost, reliability of the apparatus and increase of color order determination speed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the system configuration of the color order determining apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the optical path switching means of the present invention. FIG. 2 (b) is a front view of the rotating disk shown in FIG. 2 (a). FIG. 3 (a) is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the optical path switching means of the present invention. FIG. 3 (b) is a front view of the rotating disk shown in FIG. 3 (a). FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the system configuration of the color order determination apparatus according to the present invention. 3 ... DUT 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d ...... Colorimeter 4 ...... Light source 5 ...... Light receiver 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d ...... Projection optical fiber 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d ...... Optical fiber for receiving light 6 Common light receiving path 7 Optical path switching means 8 Optical sensor 15 Microcomputer B Support block

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of projecting optical fibers for projecting light to individual colored portions of a color array provided on an object to be measured, and each projecting optical fiber so as to receive reflected light from each colored portion. A plurality of light receiving optical fibers paired with the light optical fiber, a light projecting light source provided for the plurality of light projecting optical fibers, and the respective light projecting optical fibers are selectively projected in a predetermined order. An optical path switching means connected to the light source for light, a support block for supporting and supporting the paired light projecting optical fiber and light receiving optical fiber facing each colored portion of the DUT, and a rear block of each light receiving optical fiber. A common light receiving path that connects the ends in common, an optical sensor that separates the reflected light sent through the common light receiving path into R, G, and B components, and the color is determined based on the output of the optical sensor. A color order determination device, comprising: a color order determination circuit for determining an arrangement. 2. A plurality of projecting optical fibers for projecting light to individual colored parts of a color array provided on the object to be measured, and each projecting light fiber so as to receive reflected light from each colored part. A plurality of light receiving optical fibers paired with the optical fiber, a light projecting light source provided for the plurality of light projecting optical fibers, and a light projecting optical fiber and a light receiving optical fiber forming a pair. R, G, and B are used to support the reflected light that is sent through the support block that supports each colored part of the measured object and supports it, and the light-receiving optical fiber.
An optical sensor for color separation into components, an optical path switching means for selectively connecting each light receiving optical fiber to the optical sensor in a predetermined order, a color is determined based on the output of the optical sensor, and a color arrangement is determined. And a color order determining circuit for controlling the color order determining apparatus.