Number plate image detecting apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image detecting apparatus comprising:
- photoelectric conversion means for picking up a scene image including a target image and for outputting a photoelectrically converted image signal;
means for obtaining vertical and horizontal components of the converted image signal, respectively;
first and second means for extracting an image of a continuous region from the vertical and horizontal components, respectively;
measuring means for obtaining shape data representing at least one of size and an area of each continuous region of each component obtained by said obtaining means;
first means for erasing a continuous region, of the horizontal components obtained by said first extracting means, having a size and an area which falls outside a predetermined range to obtain remaining horizontal components;
second means for erasing a continuous region, of the vertical components obtained by said second extracting means, having a size and an area which falls outside a predetermined range to obtain remaining vertical components; and
means for subsequently combining the obtained remaining horizontal and vertical components with each other.
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Abstract
Binary image data is obtained from image data including a number plate of a vehicle which is picked up by a TV camera. Contrast image data of vertical and horizontal components are obtained, respectively, from the binary image data. An image having a continuous region whose size or area falls outside a predetermined range is erased. Subsequently, the vertical and horizontal contrast image components are combined with each other.
65 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An image detecting apparatus comprising:
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photoelectric conversion means for picking up a scene image including a target image and for outputting a photoelectrically converted image signal; means for obtaining vertical and horizontal components of the converted image signal, respectively; first and second means for extracting an image of a continuous region from the vertical and horizontal components, respectively; measuring means for obtaining shape data representing at least one of size and an area of each continuous region of each component obtained by said obtaining means; first means for erasing a continuous region, of the horizontal components obtained by said first extracting means, having a size and an area which falls outside a predetermined range to obtain remaining horizontal components; second means for erasing a continuous region, of the vertical components obtained by said second extracting means, having a size and an area which falls outside a predetermined range to obtain remaining vertical components; and means for subsequently combining the obtained remaining horizontal and vertical components with each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A number plate detecting apparatus comprising:
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photoelectric conversion means for picking up a scene image including a number plate of a vehicle for outputting photoelectrically converted image data; means for separating the converted image data from said photoelectric conversion means into vertical and horizontal components; first and second extracting means for extracting an image of a continuous region from the vertical and horizontal components, respectively; first measuring means for measuring whether or not a size and an area of the horizontal components exceed a predetermined range; second measuring means for measuring whether or not a size and an area of the vertical components exceed a predetermined range; first erasing means for erasing horizontal components exceed a predetermined range; second erasing means for erasing vertical components exceeding the predetermined range; means for combining remaining horizontal components with the remaining vertical components into combined image data; and means for detecting a number on said number plate on the basis of said combined image data from said combining means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A number plate detecting apparatus comprising:
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photoelectric conversion means for picking up a scene image including a number plate of a vehicle for outputting photoelectrically converted image data; first and second separating means for separating the converted image data from said photoelectric conversion means into vertical and horizontal components, respectively; first measuring means for measuring whether or not a size and an area of the horizontal components exceed a predetermined range; second measuring means for measuring whether or not a size and an area of the vertical components exceed a predetermined range; first erasing means for erasing horizontal components exceeding the predetermined range second erasing means for erasing vertical components exceeding the predetermined range; means for combining remaining vertical components with remaining horizontal components into combined image data; and means for detecting a number on said number plate on the basis of said combined image data from said combining means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification