1. An image processing device that processes an image constituted as a collection of blocks consisting of a plurality of pixels, the image processing device comprising:
an image data input unit that inputs image data constituted by recording for each of the blocks a coefficient obtained by converting a space area to a frequency area performed using the blocks as a unit;
an edge pattern storage unit that stores correlated to each other a basic edge pattern for which a gradient shape representative of a change in the pixel values within the block is expressed by the coefficient, and a pattern number uniquely allocated to the basic edge pattern;
a coefficient extraction unit that extracts a coefficient group that express frequency elements of a specified direction from each block of the input image data;
a pattern matching unit that selects from the edge pattern storage unit the basic edge pattern similar to the gradient shape expressed by the extracted coefficient group;
a pattern number storage unit that stores the pattern number corresponding to the selected basic edge pattern, wherein the pattern number is associated with the block; and
a blur width detection unit that references the pattern number stored in the pattern number storage unit, and detects the blur width based on a range for which a basic edge pattern gradient direction matches along a series of the blocks within the image.
2. An image processing device according to clam 1, wherein
the edge pattern storage unit further stores correlated to each other the pattern number and a gradient width expressed by the basic edge patterns, and
the blur width detection unit reads from the edge pattern storage unit the gradient width correlated to the pattern number of each block existing in the range that the gradient direction of the basic edge pattern matches, and calculates the blur width by adding the read gradient width.
3. An image processing device according to claim 2, wherein
the blur width detection unit moves a block of interest within the image data along the series of blocks, references pattern numbers associated respectively to the block of interest and adjacent blocks of a movement destination of the block of interest, judges whether or not the gradient direction of the basic edge pattern of the block of interest and of the adjacent block match, and when the gradient direction does match, calculates the blur width by cumulatively adding the gradient width correlated to the block of interest pattern number.
4. An image processing device according to claim 3, wherein
in the image data, the blocks are continuous in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction,
the coefficient extraction unit extracts as the coefficient groups a first coefficient group representing horizontal direction frequency elements and a second coefficient group representing vertical direction frequency elements,
the pattern matching unit selects the basic edge patterns respectively for the first coefficient group and the second coefficient group,
the pattern number storage unit stores the pattern numbers corresponding to the basic edge patterns selected for the first coefficient group and the second coefficient group,
the blur width detection unit calculates the blur width respectively for the horizontal direction and vertical direction, and
the image processing device further comprises a blur determination unit that determines the blur of the image represented by the image data based on the larger of the blur widths of the blur widths respectively calculated for the horizontal direction and vertical direction.
5. An image processing device according to claim 4, wherein
the blur width detection unit saves the gradient width cumulatively added for the horizontal direction in a horizontal cumulative buffer that holds one block, and saves the gradient width cumulatively added for the vertical direction in a vertical cumulative buffer for holding one line of blocks, and when the block of interest is moved, by referencing the horizontal cumulative and vertical cumulative buffers, fetches the gradient widths of the horizontal and vertical directions accumulated in the block before moving by referencing the horizontal cumulative and vertical cumulative buffers.
6. An image processing device according to claim 4, wherein
the pattern number storage unit has a storage area that stores the pattern number for a first line containing the block of interest and a second line containing the adjacent block under the block of interest, and when the block of interest is moved to a right edge of the line in which the block of interest exists, by moving forward the pattern number stored from the second line and thereafter to a respective previous line, the pattern number of the block selected next is stored in an empty space of the storage area.
7. An image processing device according to claim 6, wherein
the blocks are recorded for each n (n is an integer of 1 or greater) lines in the image data, and
the pattern number storage unit is provided with a storage area in which it is possible to store the pattern numbers of (n+1) lines of the block.
8. An image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a block blur determination unit that determines a presence or absence of blur for each of the blocks based on the blur width and a specified threshold value;
a window blur determination unit that tabulates the presence or absence of blur according to the block blur determination unit for all the blocks contained in a specified window area in the image data and that determines whether or not it is blurry within the window area based on the tabulated results and a specified threshold value; and
an image blur determination unit that, as a result of the window area moving within the image data, when there is the window area for which it is judged that there is at least one location that is not blurry, judges that the overall image represented by the image data is not blurry.
9. An image processing device according to claim 8, wherein
the window area is further partitioned by a plurality of sub windows larger than the size of the block,
the block blur determination unit tabulates the presence or absence of blur for each block for each of the sub windows containing the blocks, and
the window blur determination unit, by further tabulating the tabulation values tabulated for the sub windows for all the sub windows contained in the window area, performs the tabulation of the presence or absence of the blur for all the blocks contained in the window area.
10. An image processing device according to claim 9, wherein
the image blur determination unit moves the window area in the image data by a movement distance of a sub window unit.
11. An image processing device according to claim 10, further comprising:
a tabulated value storage unit that stores the tabulated value of the presence or absence of blur for each of the sub windows tabulated by the block blur determination unit,
wherein the tabulated value storage unit has a storage area that stores the tabulated values for a number of lines of the sub windows contained in the window area, and when the window area is moved to a bottom side in the image data, the tabulated values stored for each line of the storage area are moved up to a previous line by a number of moved lines, and the tabulated value for each of the sub windows contained within the moved window area is stored in an empty space of the storage area that occurred with the moving up.
12. An image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a blur determination unit that determines the blur of the image expressed by the image data based on the detected blur width; and
a presentation unit that presents to users images determined not to be blurry by the blur determination unit.
13. An image processing device according to claim 12, further comprising a printing unit that prints images selected by the users from among the presented images.
14. An image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image data is JPEG format image data.
15. A method for processing an image constituted as a collection of blocks consisting of a plurality of pixels, the method comprising:
inputting image data constituted by recording for each of the blocks a coefficient obtained by converting a space area to a frequency area performed using the blocks as a unit;
extracting a coefficient group that express frequency elements of a specified direction from each block of the input image data;
referencing an edge pattern storage unit that stores correlated to each other a basic edge pattern for which a gradient shape representative of a change in the pixel values within the block is expressed by the coefficient, and a pattern number uniquely allocated to the basic edge patterns;
selecting the basic edge pattern similar to the gradient shape expressed by the extracted coefficient group;
storing the pattern number corresponding to the selected basic edge pattern, wherein the pattern number is associated with the block; and
referencing the pattern number stored in the edge pattern storage unit and detecting blur width based on a range for which a basic edge pattern gradient direction matches along a series of the blocks within the image.
16. A non-transitory computer program product for processing an image constituted as a collection of blocks consisting of a plurality of pixels, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium; and
a computer program stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program causing a computer to implement the functions of:
inputting image data constituted by recording for each of the blocks a coefficient obtained by converting a space area to a frequency area performed using the blocks as a unit;
extracting a coefficient group that express frequency elements of a specified direction from each block of the input image data;
referencing an edge pattern storage unit that stores correlated to each other a basic edge pattern for which a gradient shape representative of a change in the pixel values within the block is expressed by the coefficient, and a pattern number uniquely allocated to the basic edge pattern;
selecting the basic edge pattern similar to the gradient shape expressed by the extracted coefficient group;
storing the pattern number corresponding to the selected basic edge pattern, wherein the pattern number is associated with the block; and
referencing the pattern number stored in the edge pattern storage unit and as detecting blur width based on a range for which a basic edge pattern gradient direction matches along a series of the blocks within the image.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A protecting device (14) in which a protection plug (14B) for switching a power supply circuit is detachably mountable to a fixed member (14A) to connect a movable circuit (C2) in the protection plug (14B) and a fixed circuit (C1) of the fixed member (14A) and form a power supply circuit for supplying a power to a load (2), and the power supply circuit is broken by detaching the protection plug (14B), wherein:
an input contact portion (S1), a temporal circuit contact portion (S3) and an output circuit portion (S2) are provided between a terminal in the movable circuit (C2) of the protection plug (14B) and a terminal in the fixed circuit (C1) of the fixed member (14A),
the input contact portion (S1) and the output contact portion (S2) are closed to supply a power to the load (2) and the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) is opened in a normal state where the protection plug (14B) is mounted to the fixed member (14A), and
the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) is closed and connected with the power supply circuit with the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) closed at a first stage (FIG. 3) during the detachment of the protection plug (14B), either one of the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) is opened at a second stage (FIG. 4), the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) is opened at a third stage (FIG. 5), and the other of the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) is opened at a fourth stage (FIG. 6).
2. The protecting device of claim 1, wherein:
one and the other of a movable terminal (t6) for temporal circuit (C3) of the protection plug (14B) and a fixed terminal (t5) for temporal circuit (C3) of the fixed member (14A) forming the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) are provided with a first contact (7A) comprising a long protuberance that is long substantially along a detachment direction of the protection plug (14B) and a second contact (7B) comprising a small protuberance.
3. The protecting device of claim 2, wherein the first and second contacts (7A, 7B) are separated in the normal state where the protection plug (14B) is mounted in or to the fixed member (14A) while being brought into sliding contact with each other during the detachment of the protection plug (14B), enabling a control of on-off periods.
4. The protecting device of claim 1, wherein:
a fixed terminal (t5) for temporal circuit (C3) of the fixed member (14A) forming the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) comprises a spring piece biased in a direction to be brought into contact with a movable terminal (t6) for temporal circuit (C3) of the protection plug (14B) and a second contact (7B) projects from the spring piece.
5. The protecting device of claim 4, wherein a movable terminal (t6) for temporal circuit (C3) of the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) provided in the protection plug (14B) comprises a tab projecting towards the fixed member (14A) from a casing (5) of the protection plug (14B), a first contact (7A) projects from the tab and an insulating guide piece (8A; 8B) projects from the casing (5) at a side of the tab.
6. The protecting device of claim 5, wherein the first and second contacts (7A, 7B) are spaced apart and the insulating guide piece (8A; 8B) biases the spring piece toward the movable terminal (t6) for temporal circuit (C3) in the normal state where the protection plug (14B) is mounted to the fixed member (14A), the first contact (7A) of the movable terminal (t6) for temporal circuit (C3) is moved for contact with the second contact (7B) and the fixed terminal (t5) for temporal circuit (C3) is returned substantially to its original shape by its spring force when the insulating guide piece (8A; 8B) is disengaged therefrom to separate the first and second contacts (7A, 7B) at the first stage (FIG. 3) during the detachment of the protection plug (14B).
7. The protecting device of claim 6, wherein the movable terminal (t6) for temporal circuit (C3) and the fixed terminal (t5) for temporal circuit (C3) are made of an arc resistant material.
8. The protecting device of claim 1, wherein: tabs (t3, t4) form the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) and project toward the protection plug (14B) in the fixed circuit (C1) of the fixed member (14A), the tab (t3) of the input contact portion (S1) projects a longer distance than the tab (t4) of the output contact portion (S2), recesses (5d, 5e) are formed in the mating side end surfaces of projecting portions (5a, 5b) at the opposite sides of a casing (5) of the protection plug (14B), and female terminals (t1, t2) connectable with the corresponding tabs (t3, t4) are mounted in the recesses (5d, 5e).
9. The protecting device of claim 8, wherein the tabs (t3, t4) and the female terminals (t1, t2) at the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) are still connected with each other at the first stage (FIG. 3) during the detachment of the protection plug (14B), the female terminal (t2) of the output contact portion (S2) is separated from the corresponding tab (t4) at the second stage (FIG. 4), and the female terminal (t1) of the input contact portion (S1) is separated from the corresponding tab (t3) to open the input contact portion (S1) at the fourth stage (FIG. 6) after the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) is opened.
10. The protecting device of claim 1, wherein a ground circuit (C4) is branched off from the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) between the terminal of the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) and the output contact portion (S2) in the fixed circuit (Cl) of the fixed member (14A).
11. The protecting device of claim 10, wherein the ground circuit (C4) is branched off between the terminal of the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) and the tab of the output contact portion (S2) in the fixed circuit (C1) of the fixed member (14A).
12. The protecting device of claim 11, wherein the ground circuit (C4) is provided with a ground circuit contact portion (S4) where a spring piece is resiliently brought into contact with a tab.
13. The protecting device of claim 12, wherein an insulating bar (9) projects from the protection plug (14B), and the insulating bar (9) can open the ground circuit contact portion (S4) in the normal state where the protection plug (14B) is mounted to the fixed member (14A) by being insertable between the spring piece and the tab, and the insulating bar (9) can close the ground circuit contact portion (S4) and allow a connection of the load (2) with the ground circuit (C4) by being disengageable from the ground circuit contact portion (S4), after the input contact portion (S1) is opened at the fourth stage (FIG. 6) during the detachment of the protection plug (14B).
14. The protecting device of claim 1, wherein the fixed member (14A) is fixed in an accommodating portion formed in a relay block (10), and an upstream end of the fixed circuit (Cl) of the fixed member (14A) is connectable with a high-voltage battery of 36V to 200V.
15. A method of shutting off a power supply by means of a protecting device (14) in which a protection plug (14B) for switching a power supply circuit is detachably mountable to a fixed member (14A) to connect a movable circuit (C2) in the protection plug (14B) and a fixed circuit (C1) of the fixed member (14A) and form a power supply circuit for supplying a power from the power supply (1) to a load (2), and the power supply circuit is broken by detaching the protection plug (14B), comprising the steps of:
providing an input contact portion (S1), a temporal circuit contact portion (S3) and an output circuit portion (S2) between a terminal provided in the movable circuit (C2) of the protection plug (14B) and a terminal provided in the fixed circuit (C1) of the fixed member (14A),
closing the input contact portion (S1) and the output contact portion (S2) to supply a power to the load (2) and opening the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) in a normal state where the protection plug (14B) is mounted to the fixed member (14A),
closing the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) and connecting it with the power supply circuit with the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) closed at a first stage (FIG. 3) during detachment of the protection plug (14B),
opening one of the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) at a second stage (FIG. 4),
opening the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) at a third stage (FIG. 5), and
opening the other of the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) at a fourth stage (FIG. 6).
16. The method of claim 15, wherein a control of on-off periods is preferably by geometrically shaping the terminals (t5, t6) for temporal circuit (C3) of the protection plug (14B) and for temporal circuit (C3) of the fixed member (14A) differently.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) is opened and closed by means of a fixed terminal (t5) for temporal circuit (C3) of the fixed member (14A) forming the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) and comprising a spring piece biased in a direction for contact with a movable terminal (t6) for temporal circuit (C3) of the protection plug (14B), wherein a second contact (7B) projects from the spring piece.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein tabs (t3, t4) form the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) and project toward the protection plug (14B) in the fixed circuit (C1) of the fixed member (14A), the tabs (t3, t4) and female terminals (t1, t2) at the input and output contact portions (S1, S2) are still connected with each other at the first stage (FIG. 3) during the detachment of the protection plug (14B), the female terminal (t2) of the output contact portion (S2) is separated from the corresponding tab (t4) at the second stage (FIG. 4), and the female terminal (t1) of the input contact portion (S1) is separated from the corresponding tab (t3) to open the input contact portion (S1) at the fourth stage (FIG. 6) after the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) is opened.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:
branching off a ground circuit (C4) from the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) between the terminal of the temporal circuit contact portion (S3) and the output contact portion (S2) in the fixed circuit (C1) of the fixed member (14A).
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a ground circuit contact portion (S4) in the ground circuit (C4), and opening the ground circuit contact portion (S4) by an insulating bar (9) projecting from the protection plug (14B) in the normal state where the protection plug (14B) is mounted to the fixed member (14A) by being insertable between the spring piece and the tab, and closing the ground circuit contact portion (S4) by the insulating bar (9) thus allowing a connection of the load (2) with the ground circuit (C4) by being disengageable from the ground circuit contact portion (S4), after the input contact portion (S1) is opened at the fourth stage (FIG. 6) during the detachment of the protection plug (14B).