COMBINED WIDE-ANGLE/ZOOM CAMERA FOR LICENSE PLATE IDENTIFICATION

• US 20090046157A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enforcement Video Incorporated (Enforcement Technology Group Incorporated), Watchguard Video Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Watchguard Video Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vanman, Robert V., Cilia, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/188,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20090046157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/25 Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/625 License plates
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2627 for providing spin image effect, 3D stop motion effect or temporal freeze effect 2D image animation in general G06T13/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

A system for recognizing and identifying at least one object of interest. The system includes a computer, a first camera, electrically coupled to the computer, the first camera having a wide-angle lens, and a second camera electrically coupled to the computer, the second camera operative to focus on coordinates supplied from the computer. The computer detects the at least one object of interest within a field of view of the first camera, and directs the second camera to focus on the at least one object of interest.

Claims

1. A system for recognizing and identifying at least one object of interest, the system comprising:

a computer;

a first camera, electrically coupled to the computer, the first camera having a wide-angle lens;

a second camera electrically coupled to the computer, the second camera operative to focus on coordinates supplied from the computer; and

wherein the computer detects the at least one object of interest within a field of view of the first camera, and directs the second camera to focus on the at least one object of interest.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first camera, the second camera, and the computer are mounted in a vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second camera is mounted on a pan/tilt mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second camera is capable of active infrared illumination.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer performs optical character recognition.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second camera transmits high-resolution images to the computer.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least a third camera electrically coupled to the computer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer detects a second object of interest within the field of view of the first camera, and directs the third camera to focus on the second object of interest.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer stores high-resolution images.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer provides coordinates of the at least one object of interest to the second camera.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one object of interest is a vehicular license plate.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second cameras are wirelessly connected to the computer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second cameras are connected to the computer by way of a plurality of cables.

14. A method for recognizing and identifying vehicular license plates, the method comprising:

receiving an image from a first camera;

detecting at least one object of interest within a field of view of the first camera;

determining a location coordinates of the at least one object of interest;

focusing a second camera to the location coordinates; and

capturing, via the second camera, an image of the at least one object of interest.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first camera is a wide-angle camera.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second camera is a zoom camera.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second camera is mounted on a pan/tilt mechanism.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of focusing the second camera is accomplished by way of a computer electrically coupled to the first camera and the second camera.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising detecting, via a computer, the at least one object of interest within the field of view of the first camera.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising detecting, via a computer, the coordinates of the license plate.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting, via a computer, the coordinates to the second camera.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising performing, via a computer, optical character recognition.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the second camera is capable of active infrared illumination.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a high-resolution image to a computer.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one object of interest is a vehicular license plate.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting at least a second object of interest within a field of view of the first camera;

determining a location coordinates of the second object of interest;

driving a third camera to the location coordinates; and

capturing, via the third camera, an image of the second object of interest.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the image is a high-resolution image.