Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for rapid license plate reading. A first image having a first resolution may be generated. A location of a license plate in the first image may be detected. The license plate may be read from a second image in accordance with the location of the license plate. The second image may have a second resolution greater than the first resolution. In embodiments, reading the license plate may comprise tracking the license plate across a plurality of license plate images.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for capturing license plate (LP) information of a vehicle in relative motion to a camera device. In one example, the camera system detects the LP in multiple frames, then aligns and geometrically rectifies the image of the LP by scaling, warping, rotating, and/or performing other functions on the images. The camera system may optimize capturing of the LP information by executing a temporal noise filter on the aligned, geometrically rectified images to generate a composite image of the LP for optical character recognition. In some examples, the camera device may include an image sensor, such as a high dynamic range (HDR) sensor, modified to set long and short exposures of the HDR sensor to capture frames of a vehicle's LP, but without consolidating the images into a composite image. The camera system may set optimal exposure settings based on detected relative speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A dual mode camera may have a camera module and a light source. The camera module may include a quasi-bandpass filter for passing visible light and passing an attenuated portion of near-infrared light to an image sensor for detection. A processor may determine an ambient lighting condition corresponding with an amount of ambient visible light detected by a photodetector. In response to a first ambient lighting condition, the processor may send a first control signal to an encoder to encode image data in monochrome, and another signal to activate a light source. In response to a second ambient lighting condition, the processor may send a second control signal to the encoder to encode image data in color. The light source may emit a band of near-infrared light corresponding with an atmospheric absorption band. The quasi-bandpass filter may attenuate a portion of near-infrared light corresponding with the same atmospheric absorption band.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for capturing images of one or more moving vehicles (i.e., a target vehicle) from another moving vehicle (i.e., subject vehicle). The disclosed system dynamically adjusts illumination power, exposure times, and/or other settings to optimize image capture that takes into account distance and speed. By optimizing for distances and moving vehicles, the disclosed system improves the probability of capturing a legible, usable photographic image. In one example, the disclosed system may be incorporated into an asymmetric license plate reading (ALPR) system.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for capturing license plate (LP) information of a vehicle in relative motion to a camera device. In one example, the camera system detects the LP in multiple frames, then aligns and geometrically rectifies the image of the LP by scaling, warping, rotating, and/or performing other functions on the images. The camera system may optimize capturing of the LP information by executing a temporal noise filter on the aligned, geometrically rectified images to generate a composite image of the LP for optical character recognition. In some examples, the camera device may include an image sensor, such as a high dynamic range (HDR) sensor, modified to set long and short exposures of the HDR sensor to capture frames of a vehicle's LP, but without consolidating the images into a composite image. The camera system may set optimal exposure settings based on detected relative speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: License plate recognition (“LPR”) systems may encounter degradation in quality and obstructions that negatively impact performance of the LPR systems. A LPR system is configured to apply image processing algorithms to output information describing performance of the system and to monitor the performance of the system over time. Based on the performance of the system over time, the LPR system determines when one or more entities of the system require action to maintain or improve performance and transmits information describing the required action.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for capturing license plate (LP) information of a vehicle in relative motion to a camera device. In one example, the camera system detects the LP in multiple frames, then aligns and geometrically rectifies the image of the LP by scaling, warping, rotating, and/or performing other functions on the images. The camera system may optimize capturing of the LP information by executing a temporal noise filter on the aligned, geometrically rectified images to generate a composite image of the LP for optical character recognition. In some examples, the camera device may include an image sensor, such as a high dynamic range (HDR) sensor, modified to set long and short exposures of the HDR sensor to capture frames of a vehicle's LP, but without consolidating the images into a composite image. The camera system may set optimal exposure settings based on detected relative speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A recording system comprises an auxiliary recording device with a first camera and a (primary) recording device with a second camera. The recording device is configured to determine an activation event and to instruct at least one of the first camera to capture a first image or a second camera to capture a second image. Responsive to an image being captured, the recording device receives and stores the captured image. The recording system may comprise a body-worn battery configured to provide power to the recording system. The recording system may comprise a detachable body configured to detachably couple to a main housing body, wherein a camera of the detachable body is configured to capture images when coupled or when detached.

Abstract: A recording system comprises an auxiliary recording device with a first camera and a (primary) recording device with a second camera. The recording device is configured to determine an activation event and to instruct at least one of the first camera to capture a first image or a second camera to capture a second image. Responsive to an image being captured, the recording device receives and stores the captured image. The recording system may comprise a body-worn battery configured to provide power to the recording system. The recording system may comprise a detachable body configured to detachably couple to a main housing body, wherein a camera of the detachable body is configured to capture images when coupled or when detached.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for capturing license plate (LP) information of a vehicle in relative motion to a camera device. In one example, the camera system detects the LP in multiple frames, then aligns and geometrically rectifies the image of the LP by scaling, warping, rotating, and/or performing other functions on the images. The camera system may optimize capturing of the LP information by executing a temporal noise filter on the aligned, geometrically rectified images to generate a composite image of the LP for optical character recognition. In some examples, the camera device may include an image sensor, such as a high dynamic range (HDR) sensor, modified to set long and short exposures of the HDR sensor to capture frames of a vehicle's LP, but without consolidating the images into a composite image. The camera system may set optimal exposure settings based on detected relative speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for rapid license plate reading. A first image having a first resolution may be generated. A location of a license plate in the first image may be detected. The license plate may be read from a second image in accordance with the location of the license plate. The second image may have a second resolution greater than the first resolution. In embodiments, reading the license plate may comprise tracking the license plate across a plurality of license plate images.

Abstract: A recording system comprises an auxiliary recording device with a first camera and a (primary) recording device with a second camera. The recording device is configured to determine an activation event and to instruct at least one of the first camera to capture a first image or a second camera to capture a second image. Responsive to an image being captured, the recording device receives and stores the captured image. The recording system may comprise a body-worn battery configured to provide power to the recording system. The recording system may comprise a detachable body configured to detachably couple to a main housing body, wherein a camera of the detachable body is configured to capture images when coupled or when detached.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for capturing images of one or more moving vehicles (i.e., a target vehicle) from another moving vehicle (i.e., subject vehicle). The disclosed system dynamically adjusts illumination power, exposure times, and/or other settings to optimize image capture that takes into account distance and speed. By optimizing for distances and moving vehicles, the disclosed system improves the probability of capturing a legible, usable photographic image. In one example, the disclosed system may be incorporated into an asymmetric license plate reading (ALPR) system.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for capturing images of one or more moving vehicles (i.e., a target vehicle) from another moving vehicle (i.e., subject vehicle). The disclosed system dynamically adjusts illumination power, exposure times, and/or other settings to optimize image capture that takes into account distance and speed. By optimizing for distances and moving vehicles, the disclosed system improves the probability of capturing a legible, usable photographic image. In one example, the disclosed system may be incorporated into an asymmetric license plate reading (ALPR) system.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for capturing images of one or more moving vehicles (i.e., a target vehicle) from another moving vehicle (i.e., subject vehicle). The disclosed system dynamically adjusts illumination power, exposure times, and/or other settings to optimize image capture that takes into account distance and speed. By optimizing for distances and moving vehicles, the disclosed system improves the probability of capturing a legible, usable photographic image. In one example, the disclosed system may be incorporated into an asymmetric license plate reading (ALPR) system.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for capturing images of one or more moving vehicles (i.e., a target vehicle) from another moving vehicle (i.e., subject vehicle). The disclosed system dynamically adjusts illumination power, exposure times, and/or other settings to optimize image capture that takes into account distance and speed. By optimizing for distances and moving vehicles, the disclosed system improves the probability of capturing a legible, usable photographic image. In one example, the disclosed system may be incorporated into an asymmetric license plate reading (ALPR) system.

Abstract: A method comprising: selecting one of a plurality of read start positions for an image sensor; during a first auto-focus frame, moving a focused region of an optical system relative to an image sensor in accordance with an auto-focus control signal and then after moving the focused region of the optical system relative to the image sensor and during the first auto-focus frame, starting reading of the image sensor from the read start position. An apparatus that can perform the method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described in which image information is received from an image sensor relating to one image frame, one or more sub-images are produced from the received image information according to given cropping data; and the produced one or more sub-images are forwarded through an output.

Abstract: A method including selecting one or more portions of a scene; controlling an image sensor to capture, at a relatively wide field of view, a wide-field-of-view image of a scene; controlling the image sensor to capture, at a relatively narrow field of view or narrow fields of view, one or more narrow-field-of-view images of the one or more selected portions of the scene.

Abstract: A system for optimized image stabilization, wherein a focus lock of a camera unit having an image stabilizer is detected and in response to this detection, the image stabilization is suspended. A target position for the image stabilizer is determined and the image stabilizer is driven to the target position. In response to a detected shutter release, the image stabilization is continued.