Automatic number plate recognition system
OwnerLawson Noble, Frank Thomson +1inventors
InventorsLawson Noble, Frank Thomson, Nico Bekooy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A handheld automatic number plate recognition system comprising a handheld personal computer and a camera, the camera being operable to capture images and the computer including a processor to identify a number plate from an image captured by the camera.
Claims16
A handheld automatic number plate recognition system comprising a handheld personal computer and a camera, the camera being operable to capture images and the computer comprising a processor to identify a number plate from an image captured by the camera, wherein the processor comprises means to identify rectangular areas, each such identified area comprising a possible number plate to be interpreted.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processor includes means to identify rectangular areas, each such identified area comprising a possible number plate to be interpreted.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processor sets a plate size threshold range outside of which a captured image will not be processed.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer has a memory in which is stored a plurality of known number plates.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the system is portable.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the camera is attached to the computer.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein a single housing holds the camera and the computer.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer includes a display operable to indicate a recognized number plate.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer includes a speaker and a synthesizer to enunciate the characters making up a recognized number plate.
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the camera is operable in the infrared spectrum and the system has at least one infrared source.
16-25. (Canceled).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.