Image taking system, image-taking-system control program, and electric-component mounting system

Abstract

In an image taking system including an illuminating device including a light source which emits a light for illuminating an object, a camera which takes an image of the object, and a processing and controlling device which includes a data processing portion that processes image data representing the image of the object taken by the camera, at least one of the camera and the illuminating device includes a brightness controlling device which controls a brightness of an image taken by the camera, and the processing and controlling device includes a brightness detecting portion which detects a brightness of at least a portion of the image of the object taken by the camera, and a control-parameter varying portion which varies, based on the brightness detected by the brightness detecting portion, at least one control parameter of the brightness controlling device so that a brightness of at least a portion of an image taken by the camera is equal to a preset brightness.

1 . An image taking system, comprising: 
 an illuminating device including a light source which emits a light for illuminating an object;    a camera which takes an image of the object;    a processing and controlling device which includes a data processing portion that processes image data representing the image of the object taken by the camera;    at least one of the camera and the illuminating device comprising a brightness controlling device which controls a brightness of an image taken by the camera; and    the processing and controlling device comprising 
 a brightness detecting portion which detects a brightness of at least a portion of the image of the object taken by the camera, and  
 a control-parameter varying portion which varies, based on the brightness detected by the brightness detecting portion, at least one control parameter of the brightness controlling device so that a brightness of at least a portion of an image taken by the camera is equal to a preset brightness.  
   
   
   
       2 . The image taking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the brightness controlling device comprises a camera controlling portion which controls at least one of a shutter speed of the camera, an amount of opening of a diaphragm of the camera, and a gain of an amplifier of the camera.  
   
   
       3 . The image taking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the brightness controlling device comprises a light-source controlling portion which controls at least one of an electric voltage applied to the light source and an electric current supplied to the light source.  
   
   
       4 . The image taking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the illuminating device comprises a back-side illuminating device which illuminates a back side of the object and the camera takes a silhouette image of the object, and wherein the brightness detecting portion detects a brightness of at least a portion of a bright background of the silhouette image taken by the camera.  
   
   
       5 . The image taking system according to  claim 4 , wherein the brightness detecting portion detects an average brightness of the bright background of the silhouette image.  
   
   
       6 . An image taking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the illuminating device comprises a front-side illuminating device which illuminates a front side of the object and the camera takes a front image of the object that is formed by a light reflected from the front side of the object, and wherein the brightness detecting portion detects a brightness of at least a portion of a bright object-corresponding portion of the front image of the object taken by the camera.  
   
   
       7 . The image taking system according to  claim 6 , wherein the brightness detecting portion detects an average brightness of the bright object-corresponding portion of the front image of the object.  
   
   
       8 . The image taking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the brightness detecting portion detects, as said brightness, an average of respective gray-scale values of respective picture elements of said portion of the image of the object taken by the camera.  
   
   
       9 . The image taking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the illuminating device comprises 
 the light source which emits an ultraviolet light; and    a fluorescent surface which is provided in back of the object and which absorbs the ultraviolet light and emits a visible light toward the camera.    
   
   
       10 . The image taking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control-parameter varying portion comprises 
 an inspecting portion which operates the brightness controlling device under each of a plurality of different inspection values of the control parameter, so that the camera takes an image under said each of the different inspection values of the control parameter; and    a relationship determining portion which determines, based on a brightness of at least a portion of each of the respective images taken by the camera under the different inspection values of the control parameter, a relationship between brightness and control parameter,    wherein the control-parameter varying portion determines, according to said relationship, a value of the control parameter of the brightness controlling device so that a brightness of at least a portion of an image taken by the camera under the determined value of the control parameter is equal to the preset brightness.    
   
   
       11 . The image taking system according to  claim 10 , wherein the inspecting portion operates the brightness controlling device under said each of the different inspection values of the control parameter that include a currently effective value of the control parameter and a value that differs by a preset amount from the currently effective value in a direction to increase a brightness of at least a portion of an image taken by the camera.  
   
   
       12 . The image taking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the brightness controlling device comprises a shutter of the camera, and wherein said at least one control parameter comprises a shutter speed of the camera.