Method and apparatus for acquiring images of car license plates

• US 8,704,889 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hi-Tech Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hi-Tech Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Hofman, Yoram
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher S
• Assistant Examiner(s): PICON-FELICIANO, ANA J
• Application Number:
  US13/049,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/E7.085, 382/105
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/625 License plates

Abstract

Apparatus and method for acquiring images of car license plates, the apparatus is configured to be part of an LPR (License Plate Recognition) system. The apparatus includes a camera, a multi band-pass filter, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and an illumination control board. The camera is configured for acquiring the images, having a focus shift corrected lens. The multi band-pass filter is coupled to the focus shift corrected lens, being configured for allowing only wavelengths of multiple predetermined spectrum ranges to reach the lens. Each one of said LEDs is configured for emitting light in at least one of the multiple predetermined spectrum ranges for the purpose of illuminating the car license plates and their vicinity. The illumination control board is coupled to the LEDs and to the camera, for controlling operation thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a camera comprising a lens;

a filter coupled to the lens, the filter to allow only light having a wavelength within a yellow spectrum range and light having a wavelength within a near-infrared (IR) spectrum range to reach the lens, the yellow spectrum range comprising light having a wavelength within 10 nanometers of 590 nanometers and the near-IR spectrum range comprising light having a wavelength within 10 nanometers of 850 nanometers;

a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), one or more of the plurality of LEDs to emit light within the yellow spectrum range and one or more of the plurality of LEDs to emit light within the near-IR spectrum range; and

a control board coupled to the plurality of LEDs to control operation of the plurality of LEDs and the camera.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, configured for vehicle motion detection (VMD).

9. The apparatus of claim 1, configured for vehicle body color recognition.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control board is to configure

(a) the one or more of the plurality of LEDs that are to emit light within the yellow spectrum range, and

(b) the one or more of the plurality of LEDs that are to emit light within the near-IR spectrum range

to emit light simultaneously.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control board is to configure

(a) the one or more of the plurality of LEDs that are to emit light within the yellow spectrum range, and

(b) the one or more of the plurality of LEDs that are to emit light within the near-IR spectrum range

to emit light serially.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a camera comprising a lens;

a filter coupled to the lens, the filter to allow light having a wavelength within 10 nanometers of 590 nanometers and light having a wavelength within 10 nanometers of 850 nanometers to reach the lens;

a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), one or more of the plurality of LEDs to emit light within 10 nanometers of 590 nanometers and one or more of the plurality of LEDs to emit light within 10 nanometers of 850 nanometers; and

a control board coupled to the plurality of LEDs to control operation of the plurality of LEDs and the camera.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control board is to control a timing of operation of the plurality of LEDs and the camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control board is to control illumination levels of the plurality of LEDs.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control board is to select a subgroup of the plurality of LEDs and to control operation of the subgroup.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lens comprises a day/night lens.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, configured for vehicle motion detection (VMD).

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control board is to configure

(a) the one or more of the plurality of LEDs that are to emit light within 10 nanometers of 850 nanometers, and

(b) the one or more of the plurality of LEDs that are to emit light within 10 nanometers of 590 nanometers

to emit light simultaneously.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control board is to configure

(a) the one or more of the plurality of LEDs that are to emit light within 10 nanometers of 850 nanometers, and

(b) the one or more of the plurality of LEDs that are to emit light within the near-IR spectrum range

to emit light serially.

10. A method comprising:

emitting light within a first spectrum range, the first spectrum range comprising light having a wavelength within 10 nanometers of 590 nanometers;

filtering reflected light to allow only light within the first spectrum range and light within a second spectrum range to reach a sensor, the second spectrum range comprising light having a wavelength within 10 nanometers of 850 nanometers;

detecting a change in the light within the first spectrum range that reaches the sensor; and

based on the detecting, emitting light within the second spectrum range.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

acquiring one or more images.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising simultaneously emitting light within the first spectrum range and light within the second spectrum range.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising serially emitting light within the first spectrum range and light within the second spectrum range.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein acquiring one or more images comprises acquiring one or more images corresponding to the first spectrum range and one or more images corresponding to the second spectrum range.