System for Use in Stations for Road Tolls

• US 20080258937A1
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kapsch TrafficCom AB (Datax Handelsgmbh)
• Original Assignee: Kapsch TrafficCom AG (Datax Handelsgmbh)
• Inventors: Holmberg, Mats, Lofving, Martin, Westroth, Magnus
• Granted Patent: US 7,705,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for use with stations for road tolls, comprising a first optical apparatus for recording images of the roadway and a second apparatus for wireless communication with a vehicle apparatus. The height above the roadway and the angle in a lateral and a vertical direction in relation to the roadway are known for the first apparatus, and the second apparatus can determine coordinates for the vehicle apparatuses in at least two directions through its communication with the vehicle apparatuses. The system comprises means for being able to detect one or more number plates from an image taken using the optical apparatus, and means for calculating the positions of the detected number plates in three directions, and means for being able to determine any associations between number plates and vehicle apparatuses by comparison between the said positions of the number plates and the said positions of the vehicle apparatuses.

Claims

1. A system for use in stations for road tolls, comprising:

a first optical apparatus for recording images of the roadway,

a second apparatus for wireless communication with a vehicle apparatus,

wherein a height above the roadway and an angle in a lateral and a vertical direction in relation to the roadway are known for the first apparatus,

wherein the second apparatus can determine coordinates for the vehicle apparatuses in at least two directions through its communication with the vehicle apparatuses,

means for being able to detect one or more number plates from an image taken using the optical apparatus,

means for calculating the positions of the detected number plates in three directions,

means for being able to determine any associations between number plates and vehicle apparatuses by comparison between the positions of the number plates and the positions of the vehicle apparatuses.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for calculating the position of number plates utilizes an assumed height above the roadway for number plates.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the means for making comparisons utilizes an assumed height above the roadway for the vehicle apparatuses.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the second apparatus communicates with the vehicle apparatuses via radio means.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the second apparatus communicates with the vehicle apparatuses via infra-red means.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the means for making comparisons utilizes an assumed height above the roadway for the vehicle apparatuses.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the second apparatus communicates with the vehicle apparatuses via radio means.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the second apparatus communicates with the vehicle apparatuses via infra-red means.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second apparatus communicates with the vehicle apparatuses via radio means.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second apparatus communicates with the vehicle apparatuses via infra-red means.

11. A road tolling system, comprising:

a first optical apparatus for recording images of the roadway, wherein the first apparatus is at a height above the roadway, is at a lateral angle relative to the roadway, and is at a vertical angle relative to the roadway,

a second apparatus for wireless communication with a vehicle apparatus, wherein the second apparatus is to determine coordinates for the vehicle apparatuses in at least two directions through its communication with the vehicle apparatuses,

a detector in communication with the first apparatus, the detector to detect one or more plates from an image taken using the optical apparatus,

a calculator in communication with the detector and to calculate positions of the detected plates in three directions, and

a comparator in communication with the calculator and the second apparatus and to determine any associations between the plates and the vehicle apparatuses by comparison between the positions of the plates and the positions of the vehicle apparatuses.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second apparatus is to communicate with the vehicle apparatuses via radio frequency.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second apparatus is to communicate with the vehicle apparatuses via infra-red.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the comparator utilizes an assumed height above the roadway for the vehicle apparatuses.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the calculator utilizes an assumed height above the roadway for the plates.