WO1999008080A1

WO1999008080A1 - Tone discrimination apparatus and tone discrimination diagram

Info

Publication number: WO1999008080A1
Application number: PCT/JP1998/003541
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toshihisa Inoue; Toshihiko Harada
Original assignee: Kyoto Daiichi Kagaku Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-08-12
Filing date: 1998-08-07
Publication date: 1999-02-18
Also published as: AU8561898A

Abstract

A tone discrimination apparatus for identifying the tone of an object (10b) of inspection, comprising: a reflection amount measuring unit (3) which sheds red, green and blue light on the object (10b) and measures, for each color, the amount of light reflected from the object (10b); and a controller (4) that calculates, for each of two selected reflection amounts outputted from the reflection amount measuring unit (3), a ratio of one reflection amount to the other reflection amount and checks the calculated reflection ratio between the two against the tone discrimination diagram prepared beforehand to determine the tone of the object (10b) under test.

Description

Description Color identification device and color identification chart

The present invention relates to a color tone identification device and a color tone identification chart for determining the color tone of an inspection object such as a color tone pad impregnated with urine.

Background art

Conventionally, for example, when identifying the color tone of urine, a laboratory technician has directly visually identified the color tone of urine collected on a test piece. Such visual color discrimination cannot provide objectively consistent results due to individual differences or experience.

Therefore, there is a color tone discriminating apparatus for automatically judging the color tone and objectively judging the color tone. Generally, this kind of color tone discriminating apparatus uses a spectrometer to discriminate the color tone of urine to be discriminated. Specifically, urine absorption spectrum is measured by a spectrometer, chromaticity coordinates are calculated from the measurement results, and the chromaticity coordinates are collated with a previously prepared color tone identification chart to quantitatively determine urine absorption. The color tone is determined.

A color identification chart is a color-coded distribution chart generally known as a CIE colorimetric chromaticity chart defined by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), and is based on the absorption spectrum measured by a spectrometer. It is derived through a complicated calculation process based on this. The chromaticity diagram of the CIE color system expresses all real colors that can be seen, and is widely used because it is simple and easy to handle.

However, in the above color tone discriminating apparatus, an expensive spectrometer must be employed for the measurement. In order to calculate the chromaticity applied to the chromaticity diagram, a long-time spectrum measurement was required, so that there was a problem that the judgment result of the color tone could not be obtained quickly. . Disclosure of the invention

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color tone discriminating apparatus that is inexpensive and can quickly determine a color tone.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a color tone identification chart which is advantageously used in such a color tone identification device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color tone identification device for identifying a color tone of an inspection object, wherein the inspection object is irradiated with three different colors of light, and the inspection object is provided for each color. From the reflection amount measurement unit for measuring the reflection amount from the object and the three reflection amounts from the reflection amount measurement unit, two reflection amount ratios are calculated, and the two reflection amount ratios are calculated. A controller for determining a color tone of the inspection object based on the color tone identification device.

Typically, in order to determine the color tone, the reflection ratio of the first type is plotted on the horizontal axis, the reflection ratio of the second type is plotted on the vertical axis, and a color discrimination chart color-coded for different colors is used. In other words, the controller determines the color tone of the inspection object by referring to the calculated color tone ratio chart in the color tone identification chart. In the color tone discriminator with the above configuration, three different colors of light are irradiated to measure the amount of reflection from the inspection object, so that continuous wavelengths or subdivided wavelengths are used as in spectrum measurement. This eliminates the need to measure reflected light, and eliminates the need for expensive measuring instruments such as spectrometers. Therefore, the cost of the device can be reduced. Moreover, unlike the spectroscopic analysis, the amount of reflection can be measured in a short time, and the color tone can be determined quickly.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reflection measurement unit includes a light source for generating white light, and a filter unit for sequentially and selectively transmitting three different color components of the white light from the light source. It has. In this case, the filter unit includes a red filter, a green filter, and a blue filter, and each of these filters is selectively positioned in an optical path between the light source and the inspection object. Advantageously.

Further, instead of such an embodiment, three types of light sources of red, green and blue (for example, LE) may be used and these light sources may be selectively turned on and off sequentially. For the measurement of the reflection amount, the reflection light amount itself may be directly measured, or the reflectance may be measured. Further, measurement of the absorbance related to the amount of reflection may be applied.

For measuring the amount of reflection, for example, a photoelectric element such as a phototransistor or a photoconductive cell is used. However, the power is not particularly limited to these, and any device capable of converting a change in the amount of reflected light or reflectance into an electric signal may be used.

The controller can be constituted by a dedicated microcomputer including a CPU, for example. The appropriate software may be installed in a short time, a long time, a general-purpose personal convenience store.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller calculates a ratio of the three types of reflection amounts to the selected two other ones, respectively. The test object is, for example, a color pad adhered to a test piece, and the color pad is impregnated with, for example, urine. Furthermore, the color tone identification device may further include a printer for printing the determination result of the controller.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color tone identification device for identifying a color tone of an inspection object, wherein the inspection object is irradiated with red light, green light, and blue light, and each color is The reflection amount measurement unit for measuring the reflection amount from the inspection object and the ratio of the selected two reflection amounts from the reflection amount measurement unit to another reflection amount are calculated. And a controller for comparing the calculated two types of reflection amount ratios with a color tone identification chart created in advance to determine the color tone of the inspection object.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the standard dye and Z or the standard sample are irradiated with red light, green light and blue light, and the amount of reflection from the standard dye and Z or the standard sample is determined for each color. A color tone identification chart created by measurement, with the horizontal axis representing the ratio of the selected one of the above three types of reflection to the other one, and the remaining one A color tone identification chart is provided, in which the vertical axis represents the ratio of the amount of reflection to the other one type of reflection amount, and is color-coded for each different color tone.

In the above color tone identification chart, for example, the ratio of the amount of reflection of red light to the amount of reflection of green light is plotted on the horizontal axis, and the ratio of the amount of reflection of blue light to the amount of reflection of green light is plotted on the vertical axis. Good. The color tone identification chart may be such that the horizontal axis is the ratio of the amount of red light reflected to the amount of blue light reflected, and the vertical axis is the ratio of the amount of green light reflected to the blue light reflection. The ratio of the amount of green light reflected to the amount of light reflected may be on the horizontal axis, and the ratio of the amount of blue light reflected to the amount of red light reflected may be on the vertical axis.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a color tone identification device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing main components of the color tone identification device.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the connections between the main components of the color tone identification device.

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FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller in the color tone identification device. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a color tone identification chart used in the color tone identification device.

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FIG. 6 is a color tone identification diagram in which a part of FIG. 5 is enlarged.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the color tone identification device.

FIG. 8 is another color tone identification chart that can be used in the above color tone identification device. FIG. 9 is another color tone identification chart that can be used in the above color tone identification device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the color tone identification device mainly consists of a reaction table 1, a drive mode 2, a reflection measurement unit 3, a controller 4, a printer 5, a display unit 6, and an operation unit 7. , And a power supply 8. The reaction table 1 is disposed above the support 9a of the apparatus body 9 so as to be partially (about half) exposed. (refer graph1) . Further, the printer 5, the display unit 6, and the operation unit 7 (including a plurality of key switches) are arranged at appropriate portions of the apparatus main body 9.

The reaction table 1 is formed in a disk shape by, for example, resin molding. On the surface of the reaction table 1, a plurality of grooves 1a for accommodating the strip-shaped test pieces 10 are formed radially at regular angular intervals. Each test piece 10 is composed of a plurality of reagent pads (reagent portions) 10a that show a color reaction in response to a sample such as urine, and a color tone pad 1 used to identify the color tone of the sample itself. Ob. Each reagent pad 10a is impregnated with a different reagent that reacts with a different component substance in the sample. The color pad 1 Ob is made of, for example, filter paper (which may be impregnated with a buffer or a binder). Since the present invention is directed to the color tone identification of the color tone pad 1 Ob, a description of the color change of the reagent pad 10a and a method of recognizing the color tone will be omitted. The reaction table 1 is driven to rotate by the drive motor 2. . The drive motor 2 is composed of a stepping motor or the like, and receives power from the power supply 8 to rotate the reaction table 1 by a predetermined step angle under the control of the controller 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reflection measurement unit 3 includes a light source 3a, a lens 3b, a filter unit 3c, an integrating sphere 3d, a light receiving element 3e, a slide mechanism 3f, and a position sensor 3g. It has. Light source 3a is composed of white LED, for example,

Irradiate each test piece 10 via 3b and filter unit 3c. The filter unit 3c includes a red filter 30R, a green filter 30G, and a blue filter 30B, and the drive motor 30a emits light of a specific color filter. It is selectively located in the route. As a result, a light component in a specific wavelength range of the white light from the light source 3a passes through the filter unit 3c and irradiates the color tone pad 10b. That is, when the red filter 30R is selected, a light component having a wavelength of 62 to 680 nm is irradiated on the color tone pad 10b, and when the green filter 30G is selected, A light component of 52 to 580 nm is irradiated. Also, if the blue filter 30B is selected,

A light component of 420 to 480 nm will be irradiated. The drive motor 30a receives electric power from the power supply 8 and selects one of three types of filters 30R, 30G.30B under the control of the controller 4. Although not shown, three types of light sources of red, green, and blue may be provided, and these may be selectively turned on and off sequentially. In this case, the filter unit 3c can be omitted.

The reflected light from the color tone pad 10b of each test piece 10 is diffusely reflected on the inner surface of the integrating sphere 3d and is incident on the light receiving element 3p. The light receiving element 3 e is configured by a photoelectric element such as a phototransistor, for example, and converts the received reflected light (red reflected light R, green reflected light G, and blue reflected light B) into an electric signal and transmits the electric signal to the controller 4. . Each test piece 10 is slid in the longitudinal direction within the groove 1a of the reaction table 1 by the slide mechanism 3ί, whereby the color pad 10b (and each reagent pad 19a) of the test piece 10 is moved. It is brought to an appropriate light irradiation position. The position sensor 3 g detects light via a through hole 1 b formed below each groove 1 a in the reaction table 1. The drive motor 30a, the slide mechanism 3ί, and the position sensor 3g are connected to the controller 4, which allows the controller 4 to operate the drive motors 2, 30a and the slide mechanism 3f. Control.

In the illustrated embodiment, a single light receiving element 3 e sequentially receives red, green, and blue light <three types of light receiving devices each having a red, green, and blue filter. An element may be provided. In this case, the filter unit 3c, which is selectively rotated and driven, is omitted, and the white light from the light source 3a is directly reflected on the surface of the tone pad 10b, and the specific wavelength is determined by the associated filter unit. Only the light component (red, blue or blue) is received by each light receiving element at the same time.

The controller 4 is constituted by a so-called microcomputer and is built in the apparatus main body 9. The controller 4 receives the three reflection amount measurement units and the transmitted measurement reflection amount for each color, and determines the color tone of the color tone pad 1 Ob (that is, the specimen) as described later. Judge based on the program. The controller 4 also has a function of controlling the entire apparatus, such as printing out the calculated determination value on the printer 5 and displaying the operation state of the apparatus on the display unit 6.

The operation unit 7 is used to input various settings such as a date.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the controller 4. As shown in the figure, the controller 4 has a CPU 40, ROM 41, RAM 42, EEPRO M43 and interface 44. The CPU 40, the ROM 1, the RAM 42, the EEPROM 43, and the interface 44 are interconnected by a bus line. The bus lines include an address bus, a data bus, and a control signal line. The interface 44 is connected to the reflection amount measurement unit 3, the printer 5, the display unit 6, and the operation unit 7.

CPU 40 controls the entire color identification device. ROM 41 stores various programs for processing performed by CPU 40. The RAM 42 temporarily stores the program ゃ calculation results and the like. The EEPROM 43 stores a later-described color tone identification chart and various data. The interface 44 has an input / output function of a signal transmitted / received to / from the controller.

More specifically, the EEPROM 43 stores the color tone using the RZG ratio (the ratio of the red reflection amount R to the green reflection amount G) and the BZG ratio (the ratio of the blue reflection amount B to the green reflection amount G) as coordinate axes. A chart is stored, and this color tone identification chart is created in advance based on visual results based on a plurality of dye solutions and sample urine. The CPU 40 calculates the R / G ratio and the BZG ratio from the measured reflection amount for each RGB color light based on the calculation program stored in the ROM 41. Further, the CPU 40 uses the calculated R / G ratio and BZG ratio as X and Y coordinates, respectively, and specifies the coordinate points corresponding to the X and Y coordinates in the color tone identification chart read from the EE PROM 23. To In the color tone identification chart, the color distribution is specified over the entire area. Therefore, the CPU 40 can determine the color tone of the specimen (for example, urine) by specifying the coordinate point including the RZG ratio and the BZG ratio.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an overall outline of a color tone identification chart, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged chart showing a central part of the chart of FIG. In these figures, the horizontal axis (X-axis) represents the RZG ratio, and the vertical axis (Y-axis) represents the BZG ratio. In these color tone identification charts, plot points indicated on the coordinate plane are coordinate points obtained from a plurality of dye solutions and sample urine, and are assumed to be the same color by such plot points. The areas are colored with the same color. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, in the overall color tone identification chart, the origin is a coordinate point where the RZG ratio and the BZG ratio are both 1, and clockwise red, brown, yellow or orange, 綠, blue The colors are set in the order of purple. Further Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, in the partial color tone identification chart shown in an enlarged manner, the color scheme is set by being subdivided locally. Therefore, once the RZG ratio and the BZG ratio of the urine (color tone pad 1 Ob) to be determined are determined, the color tone of the urine can be quickly and accurately determined by referring to these color tone identification charts. . For example, if the R / G ratio and the BZG ratio calculated by the CPU 40 are (1.034, 0.948), respectively, it is determined that the urine is a normal color urine. On the other hand, when the R / G ratio and the B / G ratio are calculated as (1.177, 0.766), respectively, it is determined that the hematuria has a red color.

Next, the operation of the color tone identification device having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the color tone pad 10b of the test piece 10 is irradiated with red light by the reflection amount measurement unit 3 (step S1). At this time, the red filter 30R in the filter unit 3c is located in the light path.

After the irradiation of the red light, the reflection measurement unit 3 measures the reflection of the red light reflected by the color tone pad 10b, and transmits the measured reflection to the controller 4 (step S2).

Next, green light is irradiated on the color tone pad 10b of the test piece 10 by the reflection amount measurement unit 3 (step S3). At this time, the green filter 30G in the filter unit 3c is located in the light path.

After irradiating the green light, the reflection measurement unit 3 measures the reflection of the green light reflected on the color tone pad 10b, and transmits the measured reflection to the controller 4 (step S4). .

Further, blue light is emitted to the color tone pad 10b of the test piece 10 by the reflection amount measurement unit 3 (step S5). At this time, the blue filter 30G in the filter unit 3c is located in the optical path.

After irradiating the blue light, the reflection measurement unit 3 measures the reflection of the blue light reflected on the color tone pad 10b and transmits the measured reflection to the controller 4 (step S6). . When the measured reflection amount of each RGB color light is input to the controller 4, the CPU 40 calculates the RZG ratio and the BZG ratio (step S7).

Next, the CPU 40 sets the calculated RZG ratio and BZG ratio as X and Y coordinates, and specifies a point corresponding to the X and Y coordinates on the coordinate plane of the color tone identification chart stored in the EEPROM 43. At the same time, the color assigned to the area including the specified coordinate point is determined as the color tone of urine to be identified (step S8).

Finally, the CPU 40 causes the printer 5 to print out the color tone of urine, which is the result of the determination, (step S9), and terminates the color tone identification processing routine.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the amount of reflection of each of RGB color lights having a specific wavelength is measured, an expensive measuring instrument such as a spectrometer for spectrum measurement is not required, and inexpensive color tone identification is performed. It can be a device. In addition, since the amount of reflection of each of the R, G, and B color lights, which are the measurement items, can be completed in a short time by three times of measurement, the color tone determination result can be obtained as quickly as possible.

In the above embodiment, a color tone identification chart having the RZG ratio on the horizontal axis and the BZG ratio on the vertical axis is used. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, a color tone discrimination chart with the RZB ratio on the horizontal axis and the GZB ratio on the vertical axis may be used, as shown in FIG. 8, or as shown in FIG. Alternatively, a color tone identification chart with the GZR ratio on the horizontal axis and the BZR ratio on the vertical axis may be used. However, since the regions of the color tone are clear, it is easier to determine the color tone by using a color tone identification chart with the RZG ratio as the horizontal axis and the B / G ratio as the vertical axis, as shown in Figs. Becomes

In the above embodiment, the color tone identification chart is stored in the EEPROM 43, and the CPU 43 automatically determines the color tone according to the calculated ratio of the measured reflection amount. However, printouts of color identification charts are useful as such. For example, based on the RZG ratio and the BZG ratio obtained by the measurement, the user may visually determine the color tone identification chart to determine the color tone of urine.

Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 40 calculates the RZG ratio and the B / G ratio, or the R / B ratio and the BZG ratio, or the GZR ratio and the BZR ratio, and obtains the related color tone identification chart. The color tone is determined with reference to the color tone. Instead of these ratios, (R + G ) Z (R + G + B) ratio, (R + B) / (R + G + B) ratio, (G + B) Z (R + G + B) ratio The corresponding color tone identification chart may be referred to.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A color tone identification device for identifying the color tone of an inspection object,

A reflection amount measurement unit for irradiating the inspection object with light of three different colors and measuring the reflection amount from the inspection object for each color;

A controller that calculates two types of reflection amount ratios from the three types of reflection amounts from the reflection amount measurement unit and determines the color tone of the inspection object based on the calculated two types of reflection amount ratios. When,

A color identification device comprising:

2. It is further provided with a memory for storing a color-tone identification chart color-coded for different color tones with the first type of reflection amount ratio on the horizontal axis and the second type of reflection amount ratio on the vertical axis, The color tone identification device according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines the color tone of the inspection object by referring to the calculated two types of reflection amount ratios in the color tone identification chart.

3. The reflection measurement unit includes a light source that generates white light, and a filter unit that sequentially and selectively transmits three different color components of the white light from the light source. The color tone identification device according to 1.

4. The filter unit includes a red filter, a green filter, and a blue filter, and each of the filters is selectively positioned in an optical path between the light source and the inspection object. The color tone identification device according to claim 1, wherein

5. The color tone identification device according to claim 1, wherein the controller calculates a ratio of two of the three types of reflection amounts to another one of the reflection amounts.

6. The color tone identification device according to claim 1, wherein the inspection target is a color tone pad attached to a test piece.

7. The color tone identification device according to claim 1, wherein the color tone pad is impregnated with urine.

8. The color tone identification device according to claim 1, further comprising a printer for printing the determination result of the controller.

9. A color tone identification device for identifying the color tone of the inspection object,

A reflection amount measuring unit for irradiating the inspection object with red light, green light, and blue light, and measuring an amount of reflection from the inspection object for each color;

The ratios of the two types of reflection amounts selected from the reflection amount measurement unit to the other one reflection amount are calculated, and the calculated two types of reflection amount ratios are calculated in a color tone identification chart created in advance. A controller for collating to determine the color tone of the inspection object;

A color identification device comprising:

10. A color identification chart created by irradiating the standard dye and / or the standard sample with red light, green light and blue light, and measuring the amount of reflection from the standard dye and Z or the standard sample for each color. ,

The horizontal axis represents the ratio of the selected one of the above three types of reflection amount to the other one type of reflection amount, and the ratio of the remaining one type of reflection amount to the other one type of reflection amount Is a color tone identification chart, characterized by the fact that the ratio is plotted on the vertical axis and that the colors are color-coded for different colors.

11. The color tone identification chart according to claim 10, wherein the horizontal axis represents the ratio of the amount of red light reflected to the amount of green light reflected, and the vertical axis represents the ratio of the amount of blue light reflected to the green light reflected. .

12. The color tone identification chart according to claim 10, wherein the horizontal axis represents the ratio of the amount of red light reflected to the amount of blue light reflected, and the vertical axis represents the ratio of the amount of green light reflected to the blue light reflected. .

13. The color tone identification table according to claim 10, wherein a horizontal axis represents a ratio of a green light reflection amount to a red light reflection amount, and a vertical axis represents a ratio of a blue light reflection amount to a red light reflection amount. .