Vehicle camera system

• US 5,805,209 A
• Filed: 04/07/1997
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Nishino, Masaharu, Yuge, Junjiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US08/833,465
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/149, 348/143, 346/107 VP, 340/937
• US Class Current: 348/149
• 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 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

A vehicle camera system for obtaining picture data of a runaway vehicle is provided in a toll road system. A vehicle passing a tollgate (4) is picked up by a camera (6). As a license plate of a vehicle is detected, picture data are cyclically and subsequently stored in a pluarlity of fram memories (20). When the vehicle dishonestly leaves without paying a toll, a tollbooth attendant (m) depresses a push button (3) to generate an instruction signal so that one or a plurality of picture data just before the timing of such depression can be read out from the frame memory (20) to be transmitted to a central unit for separate storage. The instruction signal may also be generated automatically based on detection of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up picture data,

a picture storage memory for storing a plurality of said picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out from said picture storage memory one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

2. A camera system according to claim 1 in which said read out picture storage memory is composed of a plurality of frame memories each storing picture data for one frame.

3. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up picture data,

a picture storage memory for storing a plurality of said picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out from said picture storage memory one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data, said read out picture storage memory being adapted to subsequently revise and store the oldest one of the read out picture data.

4. A vehicle camera system according to claim 3, in which said picture storage memory is composed of plurality of frame memories each storing picture data for one frame.

5. A camera system comprising:

camera for picking up picture data,

a picture storage memory consisting of a plurality of frame memories each storing said picture data picked up by said camera for one frame,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out from said picture storage memory one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal,

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data, and

a write instructor for applying a cyclic writing instruction of picture data to the plurality of frame memories, said write instructor being adapted to apply a writing instruction to a subsequent frame memory at several frame periods.

6. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a vehicle passing a gate,

a picture storage memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

a dishonest vehicle detector for detecting a vehicle dishonestly passing said gate,

a reader responsive to the detection of said dishonestly passing vehicle by said dishonest vehicle detector for reading out from said picture storage memory one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of said detection, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

7. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a vehicle passing a gate,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out from said buffer memory one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

8. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, in which said buffer memory is composed of a plurality of frame memories each storing picture data for one frame.

9. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, in which said camera is disposed on a road ahead of said gate.

10. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, in which said camera is mounted on an arm crossing a road of said gate.

11. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, in which said camera is mounted on a pole standing on an island of said gate.

12. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, in which said camera has a view range capable of picking up at least a license plate of a vehicle which stops at a stop position of said gate, and at least the license plate and a driver of the vehicle which is positioned at a forward position of said stop position.

13. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, further comprising a vehicle detector for detecting a vehicle passing said gate and a writing instructor for instructing writing picture data on said buffer memory.

14. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a detector for detecting that a vehicle passing the gate has arrived at a first detection point and a second detection point, and

an instructor for instructing said buffer memory to write picture data from a time when the vehicle reaches said first detection point until a time when the vehicle reaches said second detection point, said camera being able to pick up at least a license plate of the vehicle at said first detection point and a license plate and a driver of the vehicle at said second detection point.

15. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, in which said gate is disposed at a tollgate of a toll road.

16. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, in which said gate is disposed in a parking lot.

17. A vehicle camera system according to claim 7, further comprising

a monitor for displaying a plurality of picture data read out from said buffer memory, and

a selector switch for selecting which picture data should be separately stored from the plurality of said displayed picture data.

18. A vehicle camera system according to claim 17, further comprising a dishonest vehicle picture storage memory for storing all of the plurality of picture data, said monitor displaying picture data stored in said dishonest vehicle picture storage memory.

19. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up picture data of a vehicle passing a gate,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data, said buffer memory subsequently revising and storing the oldest one of the plurality of picture data.

20. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, in which said buffer memory is composed of a plurality of frame memories each storing picture data for one frame.

21. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, in which said camera is disposed on a road ahead of said gate.

22. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, in which said camera is mounted on an arm crossing a road of said gate.

23. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, in which said camera is mounted on a pole standing on an island of said gate.

24. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, in which said camera has a view range capable of picking up at least a license plate of a vehicle which stops at a stop position of said gate, and at least the license plate and a driver of the vehicle which is positioned at a forward position of said stop position.

25. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, further comprising:

a monitor for displaying a plurality of picture data read out from said buffer memory, and

a selector switch for selecting which picture data should be separately stored from the plurality of said displayed picture data.

26. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, further comprising vehicle detector for detecting a vehicle passing said gate and means for instructing writing picture data on said buffer memory.

27. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, further comprising:

a detector for detecting that a vehicle passing the gate has arrived at a first detection point and a second detection point, and

an instructor for instructing said buffer memory to write picture data from a time when said vehicle reaches said first detection point until a time when the vehicle reaches said second detection point, said camera being able to pick up at least a license plate of the vehicle at said first detection point and a license plate and a driver of the vehicle at said second detection point.

28. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, in which said gate is disposed at a tollgate of a toll road.

29. A vehicle camera system according to claim 19, in which said gate is disposed in a parking lot.

30. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up picture data,

a buffer memory including a plurality of frame memories each storing one frame of said picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal,

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data, and

a write instructor for applying a cyclic writing instruction of picture data to the plurality of frame memories of said buffer memory, said write instructor being adapted to apply a writing instruction to a subsequent frame memory at several frame periods.

31. A vehicle camera system according to claim 30, in which said read out instruction signal entered into said read out picture storage memory for reading out picture data from said buffer memory is based on a manual operation.

32. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up picture data of a vehicle passing a gate,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of said picture data picked up by said camera,

a dishonest vehicle detector for detecting a vehicle dishonestly passing said gate,

a reader responsive to the detection of a dishonest pass vehicle for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of the detection, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

33. A vehicle camera system according to claim 32, in which said gate is disposed at a tollgate of a toll road, and said dishonest vehicle detection means detects a dishonestly passing vehicle based on a payment completion signal from a toll collector and a vehicle start signal generated from a start detector detecting start of a vehicle at a stop position of the gate.

34. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a vehicle passing a gate,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

a dishonest vehicle detector for detecting a vehicle dishonestly passing said gate,

a reader responsive to the detection of a dishonest pass vehicle by said dishonest vehicle detection means or entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of said detection or said entry, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

35. A vehicle camera system according claim 34, in which said read out instruction signal entered into said read out picture storage memory for reading out picture data from said buffer memory is based on an operation.

36. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up picture data of a vehicle passing a gate,

a detector for detecting a license plate of a vehicle based on the picture data picked up by said camera,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

means for making storage of picture data effective on said buffer memory based on entry of detection signal representing detection of said license plate,

a reader responsive to a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

37. A vehicle camera system according to claim 36, in which said license plate detector differentiates an input picture data in a horizontal scanning direction to be digitized to detect an edge thereof along a vertical scanning direction to recognize a plate candidate line when the number of the detected edges within a predetermined width in a horizontal direction is within a predetermined range and detect a license plate when a consecutive predetermined number of the plate candidate lines are recognized in the vertical scanning direction.

38. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up picture data of a vehicle passing a gate disposed in a parking lot,

a detector for detecting whether said vehicle moved forward or backward from a stop position,

a fee collector for generating a fee payment completion signal representing that said vehicle passing said gate paid a fee,

a signal generator for generating a read out instruction signal based on said fee payment completion signal and an output from said detector, and

a storage memory for storing a picture picked up by said camera upon entry timing of said read out instruction signal.

39. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up picture data of a vehicle passing a gate disposed in a parking lot,

a license plate detector for detecting a license plate of said vehicle based on picture data picked up by said camera,

a detector for detecting whether said vehicle moved forward or backward from a stop position,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

means for instructing said buffer memory to write picture data therein based on entry of a detection signal representing detection of said license plate,

means for generating a read out instruction signal based on fee payment and an output from said detector,

a reader responsive to said read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

40. A vehicle camera system according to claim 39, in which said license plate detector differentiates an input picture data in a horizontal scanning direction to be digitized and detect an edge thereof along a vertical scanning direction to recognize a plate candidate line when the number of the detected edges within a predetermined width in a horizontal direction is within a predetermined range and detect a license plate when a consecutive predetermined number of the plate candidate lines are recognized in the vertical scanning direction.

41. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a predetermined picture detector for detecting a predetermined picture based on picture data picked up by said camera,

a buffer memory including a plurality of frame memories each one frame of picture data picked up by said camera,

a write instructor for instructing said buffer memory to write picture data therein based on entry of a detection signal representing detection of said predetermined picture,

a reader responsive to a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

42. A camera system according to claim 41, in which said write-instructor instructs each of said frame memories to sequentially and cyclically write one frame of picture data therein when a detection signal representing the existence of a predetermined picture is entered from said predetermined picture detector but does not generate of any write instruction and stops switching of said frame memories when a detection signal representing nonexistence of any predetermined picture is entered from said predetermined picture detector.

43. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal, and

a memory for separately storing said read out picture data, in which said read out instruction signal entered into said reader for reading out said picture data from said buffer memory is based on an operation.

44. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a predetermined picture detector for detecting a predetermined picture based on picture data picked up by said camera,

a buffer memory including a plurality of frame memories each storing one frame of picture data picked up by said camera,

writing means for instructing a cyclic writing of picture data to the plurality of frame memories of said buffer memory based on entry of a detection signal representing detection of said predetermined picture generated from said predetermined picture detector, and

an operation unit disposed in said gate for generating a read out instruction signal to read picture data from said buffer memory, whereby one or a plurality of picture data are read out from a corresponding frame memory at least just before an operation timing in said operation unit.

45. A camera system comprising:

an object detector for detecting a object,

a camera for picking up the object passing,

a buffer memory including a plurality of frame memories each storing one frame of picture data picked up by said camera, and

an operation unit for generating a read out instruction signal to read picture data from said buffer memory, whereby picture data of the object is cyclically stored in said respective frame memories when the object is detected by said object detector and upon an operation in said operation unit picture data are read out from a corresponding frame memory at least just before an operation timing in said operation unit.

46. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a predetermined picture detector for detecting a predetermined picture based on the picture data picked up by said camera,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

writing means for instructing said buffer memory to write picture data therein based on entry of a detection signal representing detection of said predetermined picture,

a reader responsive to a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal, and

a transmitting unit for transmitting said read out picture data to a central unit, said central unit including a receiving section for receiving picture data transmitted and a memory for separately storing the received picture data.

47. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a predetermined picture detector for detecting a predetermined picture based on the picture data picked up by said camera,

a buffer memory including a plurality of frame memories in which picture data picked up by said camera is alternately switched to be stored,

a picture compressor for compressing the picture data read out from said buffer memory based on entry of a detection signal of said license plate from said predetermined picture detector,

a mass storage unit for storing picture data compressed by said picture compressor,

an operation unit disposed at said gate for manually generating a read out instruction signal to read said compressed picture data from said buffer memory, and

a transmitting unit responsive to an operation in said operation unit for transmitting to a central unit said compressed picture data from said mass storage unit before the timing of said operation, said central unit including a receiving section for receiving said read out compressed picture data and a memory for separately storing the received compressed picture data.

48. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a predetermined picture detector for detecting a predetermined picture based on the picture data picked up by said camera,

a character recognizor for recognizing a character on said detected predetermined picture,

a buffer memory including a plurality of frame memories storing picture data picked up by said camera,

a storage unit for reading out picture data corresponding to a picture of a previously recognized predetermined picture from said buffer memory to be stored when said recognized character of the detected predetermined picture differs from the character of said previously recognized picture,

a reader responsive to a read out instruction signal for reading out picture data from said storage unit before the entry timing of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

49. In a vehicle camera system applied to a road pricing system in which a charge data is by wireless written into a storage carried by a vehicle running on a road within a predetermined toll area, the improvement comprising:

a vehicle detector for detecting a vehicle running on said road,

a camera for picking up the vehicle running on said road,

a picture storage memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said picture storing means at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal,

a read picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data, and

an instructor for instructing said picture storage memory to write picture data therein based on entry of a detection signal of the vehicle.

50. A vehicle camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a vehicle passing a gate,

a picture memory for storing picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out said picture data from said picture storage memory at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data.

51. A method comprising the steps of:

picking up a picture by a camera,

temporarily storing said picked up picture data into a buffer memory,

reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of a read out instruction, and

separately storing said read out picture data.

52. A method comprising the steps of:

picking up a picture of a vehicle passing a gate by a camera,

temporarily storing said picked up picture data into a memory,

reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of a read out instruction, and

separately storing said read out picture data.

53. A method comprising the steps of

picking up a vehicle passing a gate by a camera, storing picture data picked up by said camera in a memory,

reading out said stored picture data at least just before the timing of entry of a read out instruction signal from said memory in response to the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

storing means for separately storing said read out picture data in a media.

54. A method according to claim 53, in which said reading out is in response to a manual operation by an attendant at said gate.

55. A method according to claim 53, in which said reading out is in response to detection of a dishonest pass vehicle in said gate.

56. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a buffer memory a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

storing means for separately storing said read out picture data.

57. A camera system according to claim 56, in which said buffer memory is composed of a plurality of frame memories each storing picture data for one frame.

58. A camera system according to claim 56, further comprising:

a monitor for displaying a plurality of picture data read out from said buffer memory, and

a selector switch for selecting which picture data should be separately stored from the plurality of said displayed picture data.

59. A vehicle camera system according to claim 56, further comprising object detector for detecting a object whose image is picked up by said camera and writing instructor for instructing writing picture data on said buffer memory.

60. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

a reader responsive to the entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage memory for separately storing said read out picture data, said buffer memory subsequently revising and storing the oldest one of the plurality of picture data.

61. A camera system according to claim 60, in which said buffer memory is composed of a plurality of frame memories each storing picture data for one frame.

62. A camera system according to claim 60, further comprising:

a monitor for displaying a plurality of picture data read out from said buffer memory, and

a selector switch for selecting which picture data should be separately stored from the plurality of said displayed picture data.

63. A vehicle camera system according to claim 60, further comprising object detector for detecting a object whose picture is picked up by said camera and writing instructor for instructing writing picture data on said buffer memory.

64. A camera system comprising:

a camera for picking up a picture,

a detector for detecting a predetermined picture based on the picture data picked up by said camera,

a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera,

means for making storage of picture data effective on said buffer memory based on entry of detection signal representing detection of said predetermined picture,

a reader responsive to a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data from said buffer memory at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal, and

a read out picture storage unit for separately storing said read out picture data.

65. A method comprising the steps of:

picking up a picture by a camera, storing picture data picked up by said camera in a memory,

reading out said stored picture data from said memory at least just before the timing of entry of a read out instruction signal responsive to the entry of said read out instruction signal, and

separately storing said read out picture data in a media.

66. A method according to claim 65, in which said reading out is responsive to detection of a predetermined pass picture.