Methods, Apparatus and Products for Image Capture

• US 20060269105A1
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ashton L. Langlinais
• Original Assignee: Ashton L. Langlinais
• Inventors: Langlinais, Ashton L.
• Application Number:
  US10/908,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20060269105A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/105
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/08 Control effected solely on the basis of the response, to the intensity of the light received by the camera, of a built-in light-sensitive device
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/625 License plates

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for obtaining an image of a license plate mounted on a moving vehicle. The methods includes determining, exposure for the image capture based on a meter reading that places greater weight on the license plate portion of the field, than on any portions of the field of view in which the license plate is not positioned. The method also includes adjusting settings for the image capture device based on the meter reading while holding device shutter speed fixed, and then capturing an image of the field of view. The image capture device is adjusted to have a fixed shutter speed appropriate for the speed of the moving vehicle, and its automatic adjustments are based on a meter reading that places greater weight on the license plate portion of the field of view.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining an image with an image capture device of a license plate mounted on a vehicle, wherein the image capture device has a field of view, the method comprising:

determining, while the license plate is in a license plate portion of the field of view, an exposure for the device based on a meter reading that places greater weight the license plate portion of the field, than on any portions of the field of view in the license plate is not positioned, wherein the license plate portion is only a portion of the field of view;

adjusting settings for the image capture device based on the meter reading while holding device shutter speed fixed; and

capturing an image of the field of view.

2. An image capture system comprising:

a vehicle; and

an image capture device mounted on the vehicle, operating at a fixed shutter speed, wherein the image capture device comprises a field of view comprising a license plate portion of the field of view that is only a portion of the field of view, wherein the image capture device generates a meter reading that places greater weight on the license plate portion of the field, than on any portions of the field of view, and wherein the image capture device operates to capture an image based on that meter reading.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is a school bus.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the bus comprises a stop arm, and the image capture device is positioned to include the stop arm in the field of view.

5. A method of obtaining an image with an image capture device of a license plate mounted on a moving vehicle, wherein the image capture device is mounted on a second vehicle and has a field of view, the method comprising:

determining, while license plate is in a license plate portion of the field of view, an exposure for the device based on a meter reading that places greater weight the license plate portion of the field, than on any portions of the field of view in which the license plate is not positioned, wherein the license plate portion is only a portion of the field of view;

adjusting settings for the image capture device based on the meter reading while holding device shutter speed fixed; and

capturing an image of the field of view.

6. A method of obtaining an image with an image capture device of a license plate mounted on a moving vehicle passing a school bus with a stop arm, wherein the image capture device has a field of view, wherein the image capture device is mounted on the school bus, the method comprising:

determining, while license plate is in a license plate portion of the field of view, an exposure for the device based on a meter reading that places greater weight the license plate portion of the field, than on any portions of the field of view in which the license plate is not positioned, wherein the license plate portion is only a portion of the field of view;

adjusting settings for the image capture device based on the meter reading while holding device shutter speed fixed;

capturing an image of the field of view which includes the vehicle and the stop arm.