License plate image-pickup device and image exposure adjustment method thereof

• US 9,019,379 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Altek Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Wen-Yan, Yang, Tai-Chang, Hsieh, Chia-Chun, Chao, Shan-Lung, Wang, Hsin-Te, Chou, Hong-Long
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US13/474,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20130250106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/625 License plates
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/63 Scene text, e.g. street names
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

The present invention discloses a license plate image-pickup device and an image exposure adjustment method thereof. The license plate image-pickup device comprises an image-sensing module, a recognition module and a processing module. The license plate image-pickup device takes a scene. The image-sensing module senses the scene to produce an image. The recognition module detects a vehicle object. The processing module adjusts the exposure of the vehicle object to produce an exposure adjusted vehicle object, and then the recognition module detects a license plate object from the exposure adjusted vehicle object, and the processing module adjusts the exposure of the license plate object.

Claims

1. A license plate image-pickup device, taking a scene, and comprising:

an image sensing module, arranged for sensing the scene to produce an image;

a recognition module, arranged for recognizing a vehicle object contained in the image;

a processing module, arranged for adjusting an exposure of the vehicle object to produce an exposure adjusted vehicle object, and the recognition module further recognizing a license plate object contained in the exposure adjusted vehicle object, and the processing module further adjusting the exposure of the license plate object; and

a metering module for metering the scene to produce an image exposure data, metering the license plate object to produce a license plate exposure data, and metering an area other than the license plate object contained in the scene to produce an area exposure data,

wherein the processing module adjusts the exposure of the image according to the image exposure data, the license plate exposure data and the area exposure data, and the license plate exposure data has a different weight value according to a different size of the license plate object or a different position of the license plate object contained in the scene.

2. The license plate image-pickup device of claim 1, wherein the image sensing module is a pixel-based complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (pixel-based CMOS sensor).

3. An image exposure adjustment method, comprising the steps of:

using an image sensing module to sense a scene to produce an image;

using a recognition module to recognizing a vehicle object contained in the image;

using a processing module to adjust an exposure of the vehicle object to produce an exposure adjusted vehicle object;

using the recognition module to recognizing a license plate object contained in the exposure adjusted vehicle object;

using the processing module to adjust the exposure of the license plate object;

providing a metering module to meter the scene to produce an image exposure data;

using the metering module to meter the license plate object to produce a license plate exposure data;

using the metering module to meter an area other than the license plate object contained in the scene to produce an area exposure data; and

using the processing module to adjust the exposure of the image according to the image exposure data, the license plate exposure data and the area exposure data,

wherein the license plate exposure data has a different weight value according to a different size of the license plate object or a different position of the license plate object contained in the scene.

4. The image exposure adjustment method of claim 3, wherein the image sensing module is a pixel-based complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (pixel-based CMOS sensor).

5. A license plate image-pickup device, taking a scene, and comprising:

a photo sensor, arranged for sensing the scene to produce a sensing signal;

an image processing module, arranged for producing an image according to the sensing signal;

a recognition module, arranged for recognizing a vehicle object contained in the image;

a processing module, arranged for adjusting an exposure of the vehicle object to produce an exposure adjusted vehicle object, and the recognition module further recognizing a license plate object contained in the exposure adjusted vehicle object, and the processing module further adjusting the exposure of the license plate object; and

a metering module for metering the scene to produce an image exposure data, metering the license plate object to produce a license plate exposure data, and metering an area other than the license plate object contained in the scene to produce an area exposure data,

wherein the processing module adjusts the exposure of the image according to the image exposure data, the license plate exposure data and the area exposure data, and the license plate exposure data has a different weight value according to a different size of the license plate object or a different position of the license plate object contained in the scene.

6. The license plate image-pickup device of claim 5, wherein the photo sensor is a pixel-based complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor (pixel-based CMOS sensor).