Abstract: A method in which the position of an object pattern in an image can be accurately detected is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a reference pattern which has a pattern and a background which are composed of pixels each having a value regarding the brightness or gradation; (b) dividing the image into a plurality of sections; (c) selecting arbitrarily an area having two or more of the sections; (d) obtaining the brightness data from each of the sections; (e) obtaining a sum of products of the value of each pixel and the brightness data of each section corresponding to the pixel; (f) moving the area to another position in the image; (g) repeating steps (d) to (f); and (h) deciding that the area from which the sum having an extreme value is obtained is the one containing the object pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting image signals into binary signals is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a binarizing section for binarizing image signals; a connectivity distribution section for obtaining connectivities between pixels from binary signals and for producing a connectivity distribution; and a judging section for, from connectivity distributions obtained with different binary levels, judging the level at which the frequencies of maximum and minimum connectivities are highest and the sum of the frequencies of intermediate connectivities is minimal.

Abstract: An X-Y coordinate is set on a video image including a component sucked with a suction tube, then two horizontal reference lines parallel to the Y-axis having a first predetermined length which is shorter than the length of the component and intersecting with the video image of the component are detected, and two vertical reference lines parallel to the X-axis having a second predetermined length which is shorter than the width of the component and intersecting with the video image of the component are also detected, and X-coordinates of the two horizontal reference lines and Y-coordinates of the two vertical reference lines are detected, subsequently, averages of the two X-coordinates and Y-coordinates are calculated, and the central position of the component is recognized on basis of these averages.

Abstract: A lead's position recognizing device including device for detecting positions of maximum points and minimum points on each outline of each region surrounded by adjacent leads or positions of a pair of corners on diagonal of each outline and a device for detecting the lead's position from intersecting point of a straight line connecting midpoints between said maximum point and minimum point taken at a given proportion or midpoints on diagonal of a pair of corners also taken at a given proportion and the outline.It features the possibility of recognizing the lead's position by the use as positional information of the maximum and minimum points of the outline or the positions of a pair of corners on the diagonal of the outline which remain unchanged even if the given IC parts are turned or have changes in shape such as burrs.

Abstract: A boundary of leads of an integrated circuit component shown by binary picture elements on a recognition plane of an image display means is detected by a conventional boundary detecting method, and respective corners of the leads are detected on the basis of variation of an angle between a predetermined axis and a line connecting two picture elements having a predetermined distance from each other on the boundary. Moreover, a shape of the lead is recognized on the basis of the shapes of the corners. Subsequently, a search zone containing a tip portion of one lead is set by referring the midpoint of the tip of the lead, and is scanned by horizonal scanning lines and vertical scanning lines. Then segments of both the scanning lines overlapping on the tip portion are obtained, and a protruding direction of the lead is detected referring to a segment touching on a boundary of a search zone. Furthermore, a midpoint of the tip is calculated from coordinate values of plural segments crossing the tip portion.

Abstract: Image of an electronic part is subdivided into a plurality of segments and is taken in a picture area of a video camera, and picture area is shifted in a predetermined direction along a circumference portion or boundary; a characteristic portion positioned on an end portion of the picture area is also included in the beginning part of a successive picture area, and then the positions and shapes of the respective characteristic portions in the successive picture area are detected on the basis of the image data of characterisitc portion at the end portion of the previous picture area.

Abstract: A shape recognition apparatus for detecting a boundary of an object using a video camera converts an image signal to a binary signal, and detects boundary points showing the boundary from the binary signal, Then, boundary angle and average of boundary angle difference are calculated based on the boundary points, and thereby corners of the boundary are recognized.