Method and Apparatus for Acquiring Images of Car License Plates

• US 20110228085A1
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hi-Tech Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hi-Tech Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Hofman, Yoram
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 for acquiring images of car license plates, the apparatus is configured to be part of an LPR (License Plate Recognition) system, the apparatus comprising:

a. a camera for acquiring the images, having a focus shift corrected lens;

b. a multi band-pass filter coupled to said focus shift corrected lens, configured for allowing only wavelengths of multiple predetermined spectrum ranges to reach said lens;

c. LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), each one of said LEDs is configured for emitting light in at least one of said multiple predetermined spectrum ranges for the purpose of illuminating the car license plates and their vicinity; and

d. an illumination control board coupled to said LEDs and to said camera, for controlling operation of said LEDs and of said camera.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control board is configured to control timing of operation of said LEDs and said camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control board is configured to control illumination levels of said LEDs.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control board is configured to select a subgroup of said LEDs and to control operation of said subgroup.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiple predetermined spectrum ranges include two predetermined spectrum ranges.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiple predetermined spectrum ranges include at least three predetermined spectrum ranges.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the multiple predetermined narrow band spectrums is near IR (Infra Red) and wherein the focus shift corrected lens is a day/night lens.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, useable for Vehicle Motion Detection (VMD).

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the multiple predetermined narrow band spectrums is unseen to a human eye.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the narrow band spectrums unseen to the human eye is near IR (Infra Red).

12. The apparatus of claim 8, useable for Vehicle Motion Detection (VMD).

13. The apparatus of claim 6, useable for vehicle body color recognition.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

d. controlling said emitting light and said acquiring the image.

2. An apparatus for acquiring images of car license plates, the apparatus is configured to be part of an LPR (License Plate Recognition) system, the apparatus comprising:

a. a camera for acquiring the images, having a focus shift corrected lens;

b. a multi band-pass filter coupled to said focus shift corrected lens, configured for allowing only wavelengths of multiple predetermined spectrum ranges to reach said lens;

c. LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), each one of said LEDs is configured for emitting light in at least one of said multiple predetermined spectrum ranges for the purpose of illuminating the car license plates and their vicinity; and

d. an illumination control board coupled to said LEDs and to said camera, for controlling operation of said LEDs and of said camera.

14. A method for acquiring images of car license plates, the method comprising:

a. emitting emitted light in at least one of multiple predetermined spectrum ranges to yield reflected light from a car license plate;

b. filtering reflected light so as to allow only filtered light of wavelengths of said multiple predetermined spectrum ranges to reach a sensor of a camera; and

c. acquiring multiple images of the car, wherein at least one image is acquired for each one of said multiple predetermined spectrum ranges emitted in (a);