An automatic number plate recognition system, a method of operating an automatic number plate recognition system and an automatic vehicle detection system

Abstract

An Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system 2 comprises an image capture device (e.g. digital camera 4) arranged to capture an image of a vehicle (62,Fig.5) in a designated region (which may be transmitted to a remote server). An activation switch 17 activates the camera and optionally connects it to power when a vehicle enters or leaves the region. The camera may be in a bollard 8, fence post or brick. The switch may be in a speed bump 16 and may be pressure-activated, in response to a force greater than 300kg, by movement of the vehicle. The power source may be a pressure-activated microgenerator or a rechargeable battery which is disconnected from the camera unless activated by a vehicle. In a disconnected state, the system may be in sleep mode and there may be no circuit for power loss from the power source to the camera. Since the camera uses less power, it is feasible to power it by a battery pack.

Claims

1. An automatic ANPR system, comprising:an image capture device arranged to capture an image of a vehicle in a designated region;an activation switch, responsive to an input to trigger the image capture device automatically to connect the image capture device to power when a vehicle enters or leaves the designated region.

2. A system according to claim 1, comprising a power source, for powering the image capture device, the power source being disconnected from the image capture device in normal use unless activated by a vehicle.

3. A system according to claim 2, in which the power source is a rechargeable power source.

4. A system according to claim 3 in which the power source is a rechargeable battery provided within the image capture device.

5. A system according to claim 2 in which the power source is a microgenerator responsive to the activation switch to generate power for provision to the image capture device.

6. A system according to claim 5, in which the microgenerator is provided as a pressure activated generator positioned such that when a vehicle enters or leaves the designated region it engages with the microgenerator to cause it to generate power for the image capture device.

7. A system according to any of claims 2 to 6, in which in a disconnected state there is no circuit for power loss from the power source to the image capture device.

8. A system according to any of claims 1 to 6, in which in a disconnected state the system is in a sleep mode.9 A system according to any of claims 1 to 8, in which the activation switch is a pressure activated switch.

10. A system according to any of claims 1 to 9 in which the pressure activated switch is arranged to be activated by movement of a vehicle, the image of which is to be captured.

11. A system according to claim 10, in which the switch is arranged on a region of ground surface in the vicinity of the image capture device, the switch being arranged to activate the image capture device in response to movement of the vehicle over the region of ground surface.

12. A system according to claim 10 or 11, in which the switch is activated only if a threshold force is applied to the mechanical switch, the threshold force being greater than 300KG.

13. A system according to any of claims 1 to 12, in which the image capture device is arranged to transit a captured image to a remote server.

14. A system according to any of claims 1 to 13, in which the image capture device is a digital camera.

15. A system according to any of claims 1 to 14, in which the image capture device is integrated into a bollard, a fence post, a brick or other feature16. A method of ANPR using a system, comprising an image capture device arranged to capture an image of a vehicle in a designated region and an activation switch, responsive to an input to trigger the image capture device automatically to connect the capture an image when a vehicle enters or leaves the designated region; the method comprising only providing power to the image capture device in response to a vehicle entering or leaving the designated region.

17. An automatic vehicle detection system, comprising:an image capture device arranged to capture an image of a vehicle in a designated region;an activation switch, responsive to an input to trigger the image capture device automatically to connect the image capture device to power when a vehicle enters or leaves the designated region;a weight determination device responsive to an input to trigger weigh a vehicle as it enters or leaves the designated region.

18. The vehicle detection system according to claim 17, in which, responsive to an input to trigger the weight determination device is automatically connected to and triggered to make a weight measurement of the vehicle entering or leaving the designated region.

19. The vehicle detection assembly, comprising a first vehicle detection system according to claims 17 or 18 anda second vehicle detection system according to claims 17 or 18, wherein, vehicle detection assembly is arranged to determine a difference between the weight measurements made by the first and second vehicle detection systems.

20. The vehicle detection assembly according to claim 19, comprising a processor arranged to receive the respective weight measurements from the first and second vehicle detection systems and provide an output independence on the determined difference.

21. The vehicle detection assembly according to claim 20, in which the processor is arranged remote from the first or second vehicle detection systems.

22. An automatic vehicle detection system, comprising:an image capture device arranged to capture an image of a vehicle in a designated region;an activation switch, responsive to an input to trigger the image capture device automatically to capture an image of a vehicle when it enters or leaves the designated region;a weight determination device responsive to an input to trigger weigh a vehicle as it enters or leaves the designated region.18

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