Abstract: A photoelectric switch reduces a cost load of a user while ensuring its protection function inherent to safety equipment without impairing its safety function, and an optical scanning type photoelectric switch is provided with a muting function settable by the user, which is a function of temporarily invalidating sensing of part or the whole of a protection area, and is provided with two output systems, with respect to each of which the muting function is settable and on each output of which an inspection signal is superimposed at a different timing in a time-division manner.

Abstract: Inputs of a plurality of images constituting a group of images of items regarded as non-defective items are accepted and stored, and a defect threshold for detecting a defective portion of an inspection object and a determination threshold for making a non-defective/defective determination are set based on the plurality of stored images. A defective item image which is an image of an item determined as a defective item is previously stored and when an input of an image newly acquired by capturing an inspection object is accepted, non-defective item learning processing is performed by use of a plurality of stored images including the image whose input has been accepted, to at least reset the defect threshold. A defective portion is re-detected based on the reset defect threshold, to determine whether or not the stored defective item image is an image of a defective item based on the set determination threshold.

Abstract: Inputs of a plurality of images constituting a group of images of items regarded as non-defective items are previously accepted and stored, and a defect threshold for detecting a defective portion of an inspection object is set based on the plurality of stored images. A defect amount to be compared with a determination threshold for making a non-defective/defective determination on the inspection object is calculated with respect to each of the plurality of stored images based on the set defective threshold, and whether or not each of the calculated defect amounts is an outlier is tested by use of at least one of a parametric technique and a non-parametric technique. Outlier information for specifying an image whose defect amount has been tested to be the outlier is displayed and outputted.

Abstract: A reference image to serve as a reference for a non-defective determination is previously stored in association with identification information for identifying an inspection object. An image of the inspection object is displayed side by side with the reference image of corresponding identification information. A drawn position of the reference image and a drawn position of the acquired image are aligned, adjustment is made so as to make brightness of the reference image coincide with brightness of the acquired image, and adjustment is made so as to make a focus on the reference image coincide with a focus on the acquired image. Adjustment is made so as to make a focus of the reference image coincide with a focus of the acquired image.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus which is capable of easily selecting an optimum focus position for an inspection object even when a plurality of candidate focus positions are present. The image processing apparatus according to the invention includes: an imaging unit for imaging a region including an inspection object; a display unit for displaying an image; a focus adjusting unit for adjusting a focus position with respect to the inspection object; and an image processing unit for executing image processing on image data. A plurality of positions where part of the imaged region comes into a focused state are extracted as candidate focus positions, while the focus position with respect to the inspection object is changed, and candidate focus position information is displayed in the display unit. Selection of a focus position is accepted among the plurality of displayed candidate focus positions.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus which can prevent deterioration in defect detection accuracy. The image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit and an image processing unit. The imaging unit converts a color image imaged by the imaging element to an HDR image based on a conversion characteristic for expanding a dynamic range, to output the HDR image. The image processing unit inversely converts color component values with respect to each pixel of the HDR image outputted from the imaging unit, based on the conversion characteristic, calculates brightness and a ratio of the color component values with respect to each pixel from the inversely converted color component values, and converts the calculated brightness based on the conversion characteristic, to generate a post-correction HDR image based on a ratio of the converted brightness and the calculated color component values.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus capable of viewing even a characteristic portion of an inspection object even if partial image data of the inspection object is used for inspection. The image processing apparatus includes: an imaging portion for imaging an inspection object; a compression processing portion for executing compression processing on image data captured by the imaging portion, to generate compressed image data; and an image processing portion for executing image processing for an inspection. The image processing portion generates partial image data as part of the captured image data, and accepts a selection of any of the compressed image data and the partial image data as the image data for use in the image processing. The image processing portion executes the image processing for the inspection by use of the compressed image data or the partial image data, the selection of which has been accepted.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus which can easily perform focus adjustment only by switching a program in accordance with a kind of an inspection object. The image processing apparatus according to the invention includes: an imaging unit for imaging a region including an inspection object; a focus adjustment mechanism; and a control unit for controlling a operation of the focus adjustment mechanism. A plurality of pieces of inspection condition data are set, the data being made up of a plurality of setting items including a focus position data. When the switching instruction from one inspection condition data to another inspection condition data is accepted, the operation of the focus adjustment mechanism is controlled based on focus position data included in another inspection condition data after switching.

Abstract: Provided is a magnification observation device in which a focus of the imaging unit can be focused on the observation surface of the object in observation object region in a short period of time. An unit region of an observation object is imaged at a plurality of Z-positions by moving a object lens in the light-axis direction, the plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to the unit region are captured. An image of the observation object is displayed in the display unit as a navigation image. Shape data which indicates the position of the surface of the observation object in the unit region is generated. An observation object region on observation object is designated based on the navigation image. Based on the generated shape data, a focus of the object lens is on the surface of the observation object on the observation object region designated.

Abstract: There is provided an illumination setting support apparatus that enables a user to easily set an optimal lighting pattern while visually checking. A schematic diagram of the illumination unit is displayed in the setting screen, so that clicking on a desired area inside this schematic diagram allows the arbitrary area to be selected from eight areas in the circumferential row of the “outermost circumference” of the external illumination unit. Lighting pattern information is transmitted to a bar code reader and is transferred to the external illumination unit. Imaging is performed while executing illumination control in accordance with the lighting pattern to thereby immediately display a live image on a PC.