Image processing device and method of image processing

Abstract

A control unit shifts an imaging unit relatively with respect to a stage to take an image of a measuring object at a plurality of places by the imaging unit and thereby obtain a plurality of images, and generates a composite image of the measuring object having a range which is wider than an imaging range of the imaging unit by combining the plurality of images. The control unit shifts the imaging unit relatively with respect to the stage such that parts of images adjacent to one another obtained by the imaging unit overlap, and performs an image matching processing that performs image matching of an overlapped portion of the adjacent images. The control unit generates the composite image of the measuring object by joining the adjacent images at a position where the image matching is performed in the image matching processing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing device, comprising:
 an imaging unit for taking an image of a measuring object;   a stage configured to be mountable with the measuring object and to be shiftable relatively with respect to the imaging unit; and   a control unit for shifting the imaging unit relatively with respect to the stage to take an image of the measuring object at a plurality of places by the imaging unit and thereby obtain a plurality of images, and for generating a composite image of the measuring object having a range which is wider than an imaging range of the imaging unit by combining the obtained plurality of images or images obtained by a certain processing from the obtained plurality of images,   the control unit shifting the imaging unit relatively with respect to the stage such that parts of images adjacent to one another obtained by the imaging unit overlap,   the control unit performing an image matching processing that performs image matching of an overlapping portion of the adjacent images, and   the control unit generating the composite image of the measuring object by joining the adjacent images at a position where the image matching is performed in the image matching processing.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit calculates a misalignment amount of coordinates in the image and the stage by the image matching processing, and controls shifting of the imaging unit with respect to the stage based on the misalignment amount.   
     
     
         3 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit performs image compression of the overlapping portion to generate a compressed image, and performs the image matching processing to the compressed image.   
     
     
         4 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit binarizes the overlapping portion to generate a binarized image, and performs the image matching processing to the binarized image.   
     
     
         5 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit extracts an outline of the overlapping portion to generate an edge image, and performs the image matching processing to the edge image.   
     
     
         6 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit performs image compression of the overlapping portion to generate a compressed image, performs image matching of fellow compressed images to obtain a relative position between the compressed images, and executes the image matching processing with the relative position between the compressed images as an initial value.   
     
     
         7 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit binarizes the overlapping portion to generate a binarized image, performs image matching of fellow binarized images to obtain a relative position between the binarized images, and executes the image matching processing with the relative position between the binarized images as an initial value.   
     
     
         8 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit extracts an outline of the overlapping portion to generate an edge image, performs image matching of fellow edge images to obtain a relative position between the edge images, and executes the image matching processing with the relative position between the edge images as an initial value.   
     
     
         9 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit sets a window in an image that includes an edge such that a part of the edge is included in the window, detects a plurality of edge points in the set window from image information in the set window, fits an approximate line to the detected plurality of edge points, and sets a next new window such that a partial region of the new window overlaps a current window along the fitted approximate line, and   the control unit, by repeating sequentially detection of the edge points, fitting of the approximate line, and generation of the new window based on the image information in the new window, extracts required measurement points in the window while shifting the window along the edge of the image.   
     
     
         10 . The image processing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an indenter for making an indentation in the measuring object,   wherein the control unit receives designation of a position for making the indentation based on the composite image.   
     
     
         11 . The image processing device according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a plurality of objective lenses for the imaging unit; and   a turret for disposing the indenter and the plurality of objective lenses at a certain position.   
     
     
         12 . An image processing device, comprising:
 an imaging unit for taking an image of a measuring object;   a stage configured to be mountable with the measuring object and to be shiftable relatively with respect to the imaging unit; and   a control unit for shifting the imaging unit relatively with respect to the stage to take an image of the measuring object at a plurality of places by the imaging unit and thereby obtain a plurality of images,   the control unit shifting the imaging unit relatively with respect to the stage such that parts of images adjacent to one another obtained by the imaging unit overlap,   the control unit performing an image matching processing that per forms image matching of an overlapping portion of the adjacent images, and   the control unit calculating a misalignment amount of coordinates in the image and the stage by the image matching processing, and controlling shifting of the imaging unit with respect to the stage based on the misalignment amount.   
     
     
         13 . The image processing device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the control unit performs image compression of the overlapping portion to generate a compressed image, and performs the image matching processing to the compressed image.   
     
     
         14 . The image processing device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the control unit binarizes the overlapping portion to generate a binarized image, and performs the image matching processing to the binarized image.   
     
     
         15 . The image processing device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the control unit extracts an outline of the overlapping portion to generate an edge image, and performs the image matching processing to the edge image.   
     
     
         16 . A method of image processing, in which an imaging unit for taking an image of a measuring object and a stage configured to be mountable with the measuring object and to be shiftable relatively with respect to the imaging unit are employed to shift the imaging unit relatively with respect to the stage to take an image of the measuring object at a plurality of places by the imaging unit and thereby obtain a plurality of images, and to generate a composite image of the measuring object having a range which is wider than an imaging range of the imaging unit by combining the obtained plurality of images or images obtained by a certain processing from the obtained plurality of images, the method comprising:
 shifting the imaging unit relatively with respect to the stage such that parts of images adjacent to one another obtained by the imaging unit overlap;   performing an image matching processing that performs image matching of an overlapping portion of the adjacent images; and   generating the composite image of the measuring object by joining the adjacent images at a position where the image matching is performed in the image matching processing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of image processing according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 calculating a misalignment amount of coordinates in the image and the stage by the image matching processing, and controlling shifting of the imaging unit with respect to the stage based on the misalignment amount.   
     
     
         18 . The method of image processing according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 performing image compression of the overlapping portion to generate a compressed image, and performing the image matching processing to the compressed image.   
     
     
         19 . The method of image processing according to claim  16 , further comprising:
 binarizing the overlapping portion to generate a binarized image, and performing the image matching processing to the binarized image.   
     
     
         20 . The method of image processing according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 extracting an outline of the overlapping portion to generate an edge image, and performing the image matching processing to the edge image.