GB2272305A

GB2272305A - Vehicle photographing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2272305A
Application number: GB9322994A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yoshio Serikawa; Takehisa Sarayama; Kunihiko Araki; Mikio Kobayashi
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 1992-11-09
Filing date: 1993-11-08
Publication date: 1994-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-08
Also published as: AU659350B2; GB2272305B; GB9322994D0; AU5047293A; NZ250152A; JPH06150188A

Abstract

In a vehicle photographing apparatus, a traffic information detector detects the position and running speed of a vehicle and a judging device compares the traffic information data detected with the reference data. When the judging device judges the violation of the traffic regulations, a photographing operation is prepared. A zooming device changes a focal length of the photographing lens so as to record a number plate of the illegal vehicle and a drivers face at a large photographing magnification. Simultaneously, a photographing direction changing device changes an optical axis of the photographing lens such that the vehicle is located at the center of a screen. Stroboscopic light is emitted to the vehicle to perform the photographing operation. <IMAGE>

Description

VECL PHOTOR9PTN PPS,RATUS The present invention relates to a vehicle photographing apparatus capable or reliably photographing vehicles disregarding and illegally running through a red traffic light signal, and vehicles illegally moving at a speed exceeding the speed limit.

Occasionally a vehicle driving on a road such as a public road disregards and runs through a red traffic light at a crossroads, other intersection or elsewhere.

Automatic systems exist for monitoring such vehicles. In these systems, when a vehicle disregards and runs through the red traffic light, the vehicle is photographed and the driver, owner, etc. will be made aware of this later and may be given a warning and/or fined. In such systems, a vehicle disregarding and running through a red traffic light and going into an intersection is monitored by an unmanned system. Further, a vehicle moving at a speed exceeding a predetermined speed limit is also monitored automatically and is similarly photographed when it is detected to be breaking the law.

In the following examples, a vehicle disregarding and running through a red traffic light and passing into an intersection etc. is monitored automatically and is photographed as an illegal vehicle.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No. 60-150531 describes one such system. In this application a photographing apparatus body is arranged in a position for taking the whole intersection in one view. A vehicle disregarding and running through a red traffic light is photographed as an "illegal" vehicle when it is detected by a suitable detecting means such as a pressure sensor, etc. buried in the road. In this case, three kinds of pictures are simultaneously taken at one time as one photograph.

In a first picture, the vehicle is photographed using a lens having a telescopic focal length, such that the number plate and the driver's face are clearly photographed at a large magnification.

In a second picture, the vehicle is photographed using a lens having a wide angle focal length to photograph a wide range including the "illegal" vehicle and vehicles therearound. This second picture is taken since it is impossible to determine simply that all vehicles running through a red traffic signal light are breaking the law.

For example, when a vehicle goes into an intersection and then turns to the right or left, the vehicle goes into the intersection through a green traffic light. However, when the vehicle goes out of the intersection it runs through a red light. This is not illegal.

The first picture is taken to photograph the number plate of the vehicle and the driver's face.

Simultaneously, a surrounding portion of the vehicle is photographed as the second picture. Thus, it is possible to judge whether or nct the vehicle has cone into the intersection and legally turned right or left.

In a third picture, data such as the day and hour, etc. of the incident are displayed. For example, such displayed data may include data relating to the time for which the traffic light has already been red, at a certain time set by second, minute, hour, day, month and year when a vehicle goes into the intersection ignoring the red light, several seconds after it has turned. Further, such displayed data may also include data such as a number identifying the position of the photographing apparatus, etc.

The above photographing apparatus is continuously operated for a long period in many cases. Accordingly, it is necessary to attach and detach constructional portions of the entire photographing apparatus requiring periodical maintenance easily.

Therefore, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No. 60-150529, it is desirable to attach a shutter mechanism unit detachably, by screws, etc. to keep the maintenance period of the shutter mechanism unit short.

Japanese Patent Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No.

63-58416 describes another vehicle photographing apparatus.

This vehicle photographing apparatus judges whether a "backlight" state is set or not on the basis of the brightness of a photographed body and the luminosity of the surroundinas l hem 2t is n ged thpt no backllaht it state is set, the photographed body is photographed by natural light. In contrast to this, when it is judged that the backlight state is set, the photographed body is photographed under illumination using a stroboscope. In this vehicle photographing apparatus, the number plate of a vehicle and the driver's face can be recorded even in bad light or at night.

When a moving vehicle is photographed, it is necessary to photograph the number plate of the vehicle and the driver's face clearly such that no images of the number plate and the driver's face are blurred. Accordingly, a high shutter speed is used. When brightness of the photographed body is low and no predetermined high shutter speed can be used, the vehicle is photographed in many case by illuminating it using a stroboscope.

The vehicle is photographed by stopping down the lens to increase the depth of field even when a high brightness of the photographed body can be obtained for providing the predetermined high shutter speed. Therefore, the vehicle is photographed by illuminating using the stroboscope at any time.

In this case, when photographing is performed by arranging the stroboscope in the same place as the photographing apparatus, a reference distance for setting a required amount of stroboscopic light must be set to be twice the distance from the position of the photographing apparatus tc the ph ph-tcarrhe bay. Accordingly a large ' amount of light is generally required for the stroboscope.

A large-sized stroboscopic light emitting tube and a main capacitor having a large capacity are required to satisfy the requirement for a large amount of stroboscopic light. Consequently the life of the stroboscope is reduced.

Japanese Patent Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No.

61-217028 describes a stroboscopic structure. In this structure, a stroboscope is located in the vicinity of the body or vehicle where it is to be photographed so that the length of the optical path of stroboscopic light is reduced and the required amount of stroboscopic light is thereby reduced. Thus, the size of a stroboscopic light emitting tube and the capacity of a main capacitor are reduced and the life of the stroboscope is increased.

In a general vehicle photographing apparatus, the photographing operation is performed using a telescopic lens so as to photograph the number plate of the vehicle and the driver's face clearly and under a large magnification. Further, photographing is performed using a wide angle lens to include both the subject vehicle and other vehicles around it.

Photographing screens are separately and independently constructed in these two kinds of photographing optical systems composed of telescopic and wide angle systems so that the construction of the entire 4cl rho+OFraphing anr2ratus rc connliceted. Further it is necessary to provide expensive and highly accurate optical members such as a reflecting mirror, a half mirror etc. for synthesizing images of these optical systems.

Furthermore, the number of adjusting operations of the optical members is increased.

In addition to the construction of the above two kinds of photographing optical systems, it is also necessary to arrange an optical system to photograph simultaneously data of the day and hour, etc. of the incident and therefore the above-mentioned problems become more serious.

Optical axes of the two kinds of photographing optical systems composed of telescopic and wide angle optical systems are fixed in specified positions determined in advance. For example, when the vehicle photographing apparatus is arranged on a road having four lanes on one side thereof, the optical axes must be set in position which cover the four lanes and any one vehicle which is photographed appears small in the photographs.

Accordingly, the number plate of a vehicle and the driver's face are photographed at a small magnification so that clarity of both the number plate and the driver's face are reduced.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle photographing apparatus in which at least some of the drawbacks associated with the prior art are remied. When a vehicle violates traffic regulated and is photographed by a photographing apparatus body, the photographing magnification is to be increased such that the illegal vehicle alone is photographed, and decreased such that the subject vehicle and its surroundings are photographed. In this vehicle photographing apparatus, when a road has a plurality of lanes, the photographing optical axis of the vehicle photographing apparatus is to be set to be in conformity with a particular lane to be photographed.

In accordance with a first structure of the present invention, the above objects can be achieved by a vehicle photographing apparatus having a stroboscopic light emitting portion for irradiating light in a photographing range of a photographing apparatus body arranged along a vehicle passing road; the vehicle photographing apparatus emitting light to a running vehicle from the stroboscopic light emitting portion and photographing the running vehicle by the photographing apparatus body when the running vehicle violates traffic regulations; the vehicle photographing apparatus comprising:: traffic information detecting means for detecting a passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road; reference information inputting means for setting a condition in which the passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road violates the traffic regulations; judging means for comparing outputs of the traffic information detecting means and the reference information inputting means with each other and generating a photographing starting command signal; focusing means started by the photographing starting command signal from the judging means and moving and focusing a focusing lens of a photographing lens arranged in the photographing apparatus body;; photographing direction changing means for moving an optical axis of the photographing lens to a position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the' focusing means; and zooming means for changing a focal length of the photographing lens such that the illegal vehicle can be photographed at a predetermined magnification within a photographing screen on the basis of the position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means.

In accordance with a second structure of the present invention, the above object can be also achieved by a vehicle photographing apparatus taving a stroboscopic light emitting portion for irradiating light in a photographing range of a photographing apparatus body arranged along a vehicle passing road; the vehicle photographing apparatus emitting light to a running vehicle from the stroboscopic light emitting portion and photographing the running vehicle by the photographing apparatus body when the running vehicle violates traffic regulations; the vehicle photographing apparatus comprising:: traffic information detecting means for detecting a passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road, and detecting that the vehicle is located on a plurality of vehicle detecting lines spaced from each other at predetermined distances on the passing road; reference information inputting means for setting a condition in which the passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road violates the traffic regulations; judging means for comparing outputs of the traffic information detecting means and the reference information inputting means with each zither and generating a photographing starting command signal; focusing means started by the photographing starting command signal from the judging means and moving and focusing a focusing lens of a photographing lens arranged in the photographing apparatus body;; photographing direction changing means for moving an optical axis of the photographing lens to a position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means; zooming means for changing a focal length of the photographing lens such that the illegal vehicle can be photographed at a predetermined magnification within a photographing screen on the basis of the position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means; and photographing control means for controlling operations of the focusing means, the photographing direction changing means and the zooming means to completely prepare a photographing operation when the vehicle is located on one of the plural vehicle detecting "lines; the photographing control means controlling the operations of the focusing means, the photographing direction changing means and the zooming means to perform the photographing operation when the vehicle is located on the next vehicle detecting line.

In accordance with a third structure of the present invention, the above object can be also achieved by a vehicle photographing apparatus having a stroboscopic light emitting portion for irradiating light in a photographing range of a photographing apparatus body arranged along a vehicle passing road; the vehicle photographing apparatus emitting light to a running vehicle from the stroboscopic light emitting portion and photographing the running vehicle by the photographing apparatus body when the running vehicle violates traffic regulations; the vehicle photographing apparatus comprising:: traffic information detecting means for detecting a passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road; - reference information inputting means for setting a condition in which the passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road violates the traffic regulations; judging means for comparing outputs'of the traffic information detecting means and the reference information inputting means with each other and generating a photographing starting command signal; focusing means started by the photographing starting command signal from the judging means and moving and focusing a focusing lens of a photographing lens arranged in the photographing apparatus body;; photographing direction changing means for moving an optical axis of the photographing lens to a position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means at a photographing starting time point of the illegal vehicle; and zooming means for changing a focal length of the photographing lens such that the illegal vehicle can be photographed at a predetermined magnification within a photographing screen on the basis of the position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means at the photographing starting time point of the illegal vehicle.

In accordance with a fourth structure of the present invention, the above object can be also achieved by a vehicle photographing apparatus having a stroboscopic light emitting portion for irradiating light in a photographing range of a photographing apparatus body arranged along a vehicle passing road; the vehicle photographing apparatus emitting light to a running vehicle from the stroboscopic light emitting portion and photographing the running vehicle ty the photographing apparatus body when the running vehicle violates traffic regulations; the vehicle photographing apparatus comprising:: traffic information detecting means for detecting a passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road; reference information inputting means for setting a condition in which the passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road violates the traffic regulations; judging means for comparing outputs of the traffic information detecting means and the reference information inputting means with each other and generating a photographing starting command signal; focusing means started by the photographing starting command signal from the judging means and moving and focusing a focusing lens of a photographing lens arranged in the photographjng apparatus body;; photographing direction changing means for moving an optical axis of the photographing lens to a position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means; and zooming means for changing a focal length of the photographing lens such that the illegal vehicle can be photographed at a predetermined magnification within a photographing screen in the position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or a position of the vehicle provided by the focusing means at a photographing starting time point.

In accordance with a fifth structure of the present invention, the above object can be also achieved by a vehicle photographing apparatus having a stroboscopic light emitting portion for irradiating light in a photographing range of a photographing apparatus body arranged along a vehicle passing road; the vehicle photographing apparatus emitting light to a running vehicle from the stroboscopic light emitting portion and photographing the running vehicle by the photographing apparatus body when the running vehicle violates traffic regulations; the vehicle photographing apparatus comprising:: traffic information detecting means for detecting a passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road, and detecting that the vehicle is located on a plurality of vehicle detecting lines spaced from each other at predetermined distances on the passing road; reference information inputting means for setting a condition in which the passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road violates the traffic regulations; judging means for comparing outputs of the traffic information detecting means and the reference information inputting means with each other and generating a photographing starting command signal; focusing means started by the photographing starting command signal from the judging means and moving and focusing a focusing lens of a photographing lens arranged in the photographing apparatus body;; photographing direction changing means for moving an optical axis of the photographing lens to a position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means at a photographing starting time point of the illegal vehicle; zooming means for changing a focal length of the photographing lens such that the illegal vehicle can be photographed at a predetermined magnification within a photographing screen in the position of the illegal vehicle at the photographing starting -time point of the illegal vehicle on the basis of the position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means; and - photographing control means for controlling operations of the focusing means, the photographing direction changing means and the zooming means to completely prepare a photographing operation when the vehicle is located on one of the plural vehicle detecting lines; the photographing control means controlling the operations of the focusing means, the photographing direction changing means and the zooming means to perform the photographing operation when the vehicle is located on the next vehicle detecting line.

In the above vehicle photographing apparatus, the traffic information detecting means detects a passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road. The reference information inputting means sets a condition in which the passing state of the vehicle running on the vehicle passing road violates the traffic regulations. The judging means compares outputs of the traffic information detecting means and the reference information inputting means with each other and generates a photographing starting command signal.

The focusing means started by the photographing starting command signal from the judging means moves and focuses a focusing lens of a photographing lens arranged in the photographing apparatus body. The photographing direction changing means moves an optical axis of the photographing lens to a position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means.

The zooming means changes a focal length of the photographing lens such that the illegal vehicle can be photographed at a predetermined magnification within a photographing screen on the basis of the position of the illegal vehicle detected by the;traffic information detecting means or provided by the focusing means.

Thus, the illegal vehicle violating the traffic regulations is photographed at a predetermined photographing magnification by emitting light to the vehicle from tile stroboscopic light emitting portion for irradiating light in a photographing range of the photographing apparatus body arranged along the vehicle passing road.

When the road as an object is formed by a plurality of lanes, the vehicle is photographed by directing the optical axis of the photographing lens to the vehicle on a specified lane by the photographing direction changing means.

The present invention also provides a method for carrying out the precesses associated with the apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention meant by way of non-limitative example and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the relation between detecting lines of the vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embbdiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation of the vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation of the vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and subsequent to the flow chart shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the relation between lanes and switches of the vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;; Fig. 6 is a view showing one example of a recorded picture obtained by the vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance Wi th nno embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a view showing another example of the recorded picture obtained by the vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of te present invention; Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing an operation of the vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram showing detecting lines of the vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention in association with another photographing example; and Fig. 10 is a waveform diagram showing an output of a detecting circuit shown in Fig. 9.

The preferred embodiments of a vehicle photographing apparatus in the present invention will next be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In embodiments of the present invention, a pedestrian crossing is formed on the way on a straight road. A signal device is arranged in front of this pedestrian crossing. The present invention is applied to a case in which the driver of a vehicle disregards a red signal and violation of traffic regulations about an excess of a limiting speed:is detected and the illegal vehicle is photographed in an arranging position of the signal device.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the coristruction of a vehicle photographing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. A body 22 of the vehicle photographing apparatus has a traffic information detecting means 1, a reference information inputting means 2 and a judging means 3.

As shown in Fig. 2, a stopping line 20 is wormed just before a pedestrian crossing formed on the way on a road having four lanes L1, L2, L3 and L4 on one side thereof. The vehicle photographing apparatus body 22 is arranged in a front position separated from a position of this stopping line 20. A stroboscopic light emitting portion 23 is arranged in front of the vehicle photographing apparatus body 22.

This traffic information detecting means 1 detects a passing state of a vehicle running on the above passing road. Concretely, switches SW1 to SW12 are disposed in the traffic information detecting means 1. The switches SWl to SW4 are constructed by four pressure switches buried in a line in positions separated from the stopping line 20 by a predetermined distance do such that the switches SW1 to SW4 cross the four lanes L1 to L4.

The switches SW5 to SW8 are constructed by four pressure switches buried in a line in positions separated by a predetermined distance d1 from the buried positions of the switches SW1 to SW4. The switches SW9 to SW12 are constructed by four pressure switches buried in a line in positions separated by a predetermined distance d2 from the buried positions of the switches SW5 to SW8.

A A forming line of the switches SW1 to SW4, a forming line of the switches SW5 to SW8 and a forming line of the switches SW9 to SW12 constitute three vehicle detecting lines for detecting a vehicle.

Two reference lines 24 and 25 are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in front of the vehicle detecting line of the switches SW9 to SW12 as a switch forming line. The two reference lines 24 and 25 are formed to judge a running a unt ol the vehicle when the vehicle is photographed.

Distances of the above plural (three) vehicle detecting lines are respectively set such that two vehicles may be-simultaneously located within each of the vehicle detecting lines. Further, the distances of the three vehicle detecting lines are set to be longer than a distance between front and rear wheel axles of a vehicle. These switches SW1 to SW12 are respectively turned on when upper portions of these switches are pushed by a wheel of the running vehicle.

Accordingly, turning-on and turning-off states of the switches SW1 to SWl2 are obtained as output signals of the traffic information detecting means 1. The traffic information detecting means 1 calculates a running speed of the vehicle as described in detail later on the basis of the turning-on and turning-off states of the switches SW1 to SW12. Further, the traffic information detecting means 1 detects a turning-on state of a signal device 21 and outputs data indicative of this turning-on state to the judging means 3.

The reference information inputting means 2 outputs data of a condition of violation of traffic regulations about a passing state of the running vehicle to the judging means 3. For example, the reference information inputting means 2 outputs data of a limiting speed shown by km/hour to the judging means 3. Further, the reference information inputting means 2 outputs data of a condition of operational control methods of respective constructional portions of the entire vehicle photographing apparatus to a photographing control means 4 described in detail later. For example, the reference information inputting means 2 outputs conditional data for setting a shutter time and a film sensitivity to the photographing control means 4.

The above conditional data of the reference information inputting means 2 can be inputted to the judging means 3 and the photographing control means 4 by operating a keyboard switch and a touch-type switch, etc.

The judging means 3 compares outputs of the traffic information detecting means 1 and the reference information inputting means 2 with each other. When violation of traffic regulations is judged from the compared results, the judging means 3 generates and outputs a photographing starting command signal S to the photographing control means 4 at the next stage.

The photographing control means 4 generally controls an entice operation of the vehicle photographing apparatus. The photographing control means 4 is constructed by a microcomputer and a memory.

: A photographing direction changing means.5 is connected to this photographing control means 4.

The photographing direction changing means 5 moves the optical axis of a photographing lens arranged in the photographing apparatus body 22 to the position of an illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means 1 or a focusing means 10 described later. When a road is formed by plural lanes such as four lanes L1 to L4, the photographing direction changing means 5 moves the optical axis of the photographing lens in the vehicle photographing apparatus 22 such that this optical axis is in conformity with a lane to be photographed.

A zooming means 6 is connected to the photographing control means 4. The zooming means 6 changes a focal length of the photographing lens X e ptlotograpning apparatus body 22 such that the illegal vehicle is photographed at a predetermined magnification within a photographing screen on the basis of the position of the illegal vehicle detected by the traffic information detecting means 1 or the focusing means 10 described later.

A film supplying means 7 winds a film therearound at suitable timing on the basis of control of the photographing control means 4. If a screen size is set to a Leica (Trade Mark) size and a used film is constructed by an elongated film having a 35 mm width, several hundred frames can be photographed without film exchange by feeding a predetermined number of film perforations every ,one frame.

A data photographing means 8 records various kinds of data onto a film face. For example, these various data include data relative to violation of traffic regulations about disregard of a red signal light in which the traffic signal light is red at a time shown by second, minute, hour, day, month and year and a vehicle runs along one of the lanes L1 to L4 after several seconds in spite of the red signal lit. Tse above val ou-- data also include data relative to violation of traffic regulations about a limiting speed in which the vehicle runs at a speed exceeding the limiting speed shown by km/hour when the signal light is green at a time shown by second, minute, hour, day, month and year.The above various data further include data such as a number for specifying a place for arranging the signal device 21.

A film exposure means 9 is disposed to suitably expose a film on the basis of commands from the photographing control means 4. The film exposure means 9 controls a stopping-down operation of a photographing lens and a shutter operation. A shutter time is normally set to about 0.001 second to record the running vehicle without blur.

The film exposure means 9 is used in a severe condition of a continuous operation for a long period in consideration of character of the entire photographing apparatus. Accordingly, the film exposure means 9 is constructed by a durable unit such that the film exposure means 9 is easily maintained.

An operation of the focusing meets JO is started through the photographing control means 4 by the photographing starting command signal S outputted from the judging means 3. The focusing means 10 moves and focuses a focusing lens of the photographing lens arranged in the photographing apparatus body 22.

A stroboscopic light emitting means 11 has a stroboscopic light emitting portion 23 for irradiating light in a photographing range of the photographing apparatus body 22 arranged along the road having the four lanes L1 to L4. When a running vehicle violates traffic regulations, the stroboscopic light emitting portion 23 can emit light and this vehicle is photographed by the photographing apparatus body 22.

An operation of the vehicle photographing apparatus in the present invention will next be described with reference to a flow chart of Fig.

3.

When a power source of the vehicle photographing apparatus is turned on in a step SO, an electric current is supplied to each of constructional circuit portions of t-he vehicle photographing apparatus and it proceeds to the next step S1. In this step S1, a digital inputoutput circuit is reset and the other circuits are initialized. Then, it proceeds to the next step S2 for judging whether various kinds of conditions of the reference information inputting means 2 are already set or not.

These conditions include data about a limiting speed shown by km/hour on a lane. These conditions also include data for specifying a lane for.judging violation of traffic regulations. In this case, for example, the specified data are inputted by a keyboard switch, a touch-type switch, etc. When these conditions are not set in the step S2, it proceeds to a step S3. In the step S3, the vehicle photographing apparatus is in a standby state until these conditions are Lnputted by the reference information inputting means 2.

In contrast to this, when the-judgment in the step S2 is YES, it proceeds to a step 54 for judging whether a statistical mode for obtaining traffic amount data is set or not. When the judgment in this step S4 is YES, it proceeds to a step S6 for recording statistical data. In this step S6, the statistical data are constructed by a passing amount of vehicles on each of the lanes L1 to L4 and time data and are recorded to a memory.

In contrast to this, when the judgment in the step S4 is NO, it proceeds to a step S5 for judging whether a photographing mode is set or not. The photographing mode is a mode for photographing a vehicle when the vehicle violates traffic regulations.

When the judgment in the step S5 is NO, it is returned to the step S4. In contrast to this, when the judgment in the step S5 is YES, it proceeds to a step S7 for judging whether a red signal is disregarded or not. When the judgment in the step S7 is NO. the vehicle photographing apparatus is in a standby state until the judgment in the step S7 is YES. In contrast to this, when the judgment in the step S7 is YES, a photographing starting command signal S is transmitted from the judging means 3 to the photographing control means 4.

An operation for judging the signal disregard in the step S7 will next be explained in detail.

An operating state of the signal device 21 is monitored by the traffic information detecting means 1 at any time. A change in signal light is detected simultaneously when red, green and yellow signal lights are changed. This change is inputted to the judging means 3. Turning-on and turning-off states of the switches SW1 to SW12 are checked by a scanning operation by the traffic information detecting means 1 for a very short period at any time and are inputted to the judging means 3.

Delay signal data are generated after a predetermined delay time has passed since the signal light of the signal device 21 was red. The delay signal data are also inputted as preset data from the reference information inputting means 2 to the judging means 3.

This delay time is included in data for judging the signal disregard. When the signal Light is red, it cannot be simply judged that all vehicles running through the red signal light violate traffic regulations. There is actually a case in which no vehicles running through the red signal light violate the traffic regulations.

Therefore, the delay time is included in the data for judging the signal disregard in consideration of such an actual case.

For example, when a front vehicle is running very near a stopping line 20 at changing timing of the signal device 21 from green signal light to yellow signal light, there is a great fear of a rear-end collision of a subsequent vehicle when the front vehicle is suddenly stopped on the stopping line 20. Accordingly, in this case, it is safer to make the front vehicle run as it is in consideration of prevention of the rear-end collision. In this case, such a vehicle legally runs and does not violate the traffic regulations.

Therefore, the delay time is set as follows such that this vehicle is not set to an illegal vehicle. Namely, the delay time is set to include a sufficient time for running the vehicle within a distance do from a position provided at the instant time of a change in signal light of the signal device 21 from yellow to red to a position of the switch SW4 from the stopping line 20 at a predetermined limiting speed.

When the above conditions are respectively set and the signal disregard is judged by the judging means 3, processings in a second operating system provided in three steps S10, Sli and S12 and a first operating system provided in a step S8 are executed in parallel with each other.

In the step S8 constituting the first operating system, a film is fed and supplied and a shutter charging operation and a focusing operation are performed. Concretely, the film is wound by one frame by using the film supplying means 7 to prepare an exposure operation. The shutter charging operation is performed by using the film exposure means 9. The focusing operation is performed by the focusing means 10 to set a focusing state of the photographing lens.

The steps S10, S11 and S12 in the second operating system are completely executed until the film supplying operation and the shutter charging operation in the first operating system are completely performed.

In the step S10 in the second operating system, the vehicle photographing apparatus detects the position of a lane on which a vehicle disregards and runs through a red traffic signal light. A photographing optical axis of the photographing apparatus body 2 is set to be in conformity with a lane direction shown by a detected lane number. Simultaneously, in the step Sll, a zooming operation of the photographing lens is performed by using the zooming means 6.

This zooming operation is Derforrnpd to photograph a number plate of the illegal vehicle and a driver's face at a large photographing magnification.

When the above operations for taking a photograph are completely prepared, the vehicle photographing apparatus is set to be in a standby state until the illegal vehicle runs and the switch SW8 is turned on by a front wheel of this vehicle.

In a step S9, it is judged whether the switch S8 is turned on or not. When the switch SW8 is turned on, it proceeds to a step S13 shown in Fig.

4 through a junction point 01 and a first photograph is taken.

In this photographing operation, a focusing state of the photographing lens is set by using the focusing means 10. The optical axis of the photographing lens is changed by the photographing direction changing means 5 such that an arranging position of the switch SW8 on the lane L4 is located at the center of a photographing screen.

Further, a zoom driving ring of the photographing lens is moved by the zooming means 6 such that the number plate of the illegal vehicle and the driver's face can be photographed at a Large photographing magnification. Further, the film is suitably exposed by the film exposure means 9 in a state in which illuminating light may be emitted to the vehicle from the stroboscopic light emitting portion 23 shown in Fig. 2 by the stroboscopic light emitting means 11. Thus, the number plate of the illegal vehicle and the driver's face are very clearly recorded.

In summary, when the switch SW2 is turned on by a front wheel of the illegal vehicle running on the lane L2 shown in Fig. 5, the signal disregard is detected and preparing operations for taking a photograph are simultaneously started. A first photograph is taken and recorded when the illegal vehicle further runs and the switch SW6 is turned en by the front -wheel of this vehicle.

As shown in Fig. 6, various kinds of data are recorded as a picture in a band-shaped region in an upper portion of the recording screen. These various data include time data of second, minute, hour, day, month and year when the signal light becomes red. These various data also include time data in which the switch SW2 has been turned on after some seconds since the signal light was red.

In other words, these time data show whether the vehicle runs until a detecting line in a position of the switch SW2 by the signal disregard, and further runs at a certain time shown by second, minute, hour until the next detecting line in a position of the-switch SW6. The above various data further include an identification code for specifying peculiar data such as a place for arranging the photographing apparatus body 22, etc: Such various kinds of data are recorded in the above band-shaped region.

In a lower portion of a data recording section of the recording screen, the illegal vehicle running on the lane L2 is photographed at a large photographing magnification in a position reaching the position of the switch SW6 through Whe position of the switch 5W2. Thus, the number plate and the driver's face are clearly photographed.

Thus, after the first photograph has been taken, the steps S14 to S16 shown in Fig. 4 are executed. Processing contents in the step S14 are equal to those in the above step 58 shown in Fig.

3. Namely, the steps S15 and S16 are completely executed until the film supplying operation of the film supplying means 7 and the shutter charging operation of the film exposure means 9 are completely performed.

The photographing optical axis of the photographing apparatus body 22 is set to be in conformity with a lane direction shown by the lane number detected in the above step S10 (see Fig.

3). Simultaneously, in the step S16, the zooming operation of the photographing lens is performed by using the zooming means 6. This zooming operation is performed to move the photographing lens on a wide angle side such that a wide range including a surrounding portion of the illegal vehicle is photographed.

When the preparing operations for taking a photograph are completely performed, the vehicle shotographing apparatus is set to be in a standby state until the switch S10 is turned on by a front wheel of the illegal vehicle.

Namely, in a step S17, it is judged whether the switch S10 is turned on or not. When this judgment in the step S17 is YES, it proceeds to a step S18 for taking a second photograph. In this second photographing operation, a focusing state of the photographing lens is set by using the focusing means 10. Further, the optical axis of the photographing lens is changed by the photographing direction changing means 5 such that a position of the switchSwl0on the lane L2 is located at a center of the screen. Further, in the second photographing operation, a wide range including the illegal vehicle and a surrounding portion thereof can be photographed by the zooming means 6.The second photographing operation is performed in a state in which illuminating light is emitted from the stroboscopic light emitting portion 23 to the vehicle, etc. by the stroboscopic light emitting means 11.

As shown in Fig. 7, in the second recorded photograph or picture, various kinds of data are recorded in a band-shaped region in an upper -portion of the recording screen. These data include the same contents as the recorded photograph or picture explained and shown in Fig.

6. These data also include additional time data showing whether the illegal vehicle runs at a certain time set by second, minute and hour until the position of the switch SW10. Such data are recorded in the band-shaped region.

In other words, the recorded data show that the illegal vehicle runs on the detecting line in the position of the switch SW2 by the signal disregard and runs on the next detecting line in the position of the switch SW6 at a certain time set by second, minute and hour. Further, the recorded data also show that the illegal vehicle further runs on the next detecting line in a position of the switch SW10 at a certain time set by second, minute and hour.

A wide range including the illegal vehicle and a surrounding situation thereof is photographed in a lower portion of a data recording section of the recording screen. In this case, the wide range is photographed in a state in which the illegal vehicle running on the lane L2 reaches the position of the switch SW10 sequentially through the positions of the switches SW2 and SW6.

Reference lines 24 and 25 in front of a vehicle detecting line as a forming line of the switches SW9 to SW12 are also photographed so that it is easy to accurately know states of vehicles in front of the illegal vehicle.

In summary, a first photograph is taken and recorded when the switch SW6 is turned on by a front wheel of the illegal vehicle running on the lane L2 shown in Fig. 5. Preparing operations for taking a second photograph are started immediately after the first photograph is recorded. The second photograph is recorded when the illegal vehicle further runs and the switch SW1O is turned on by the front wheel of this illegal vehicle.

Thus, after the second photograph has been taken, it proceeds to a step S19. In the step Sol9, various kinds of data of the above first and second photographs are recorded onto a recording medium such as a magnetooptic disk, etc.

As shown by the flow chart of Fig. 3, the preparing operations for taking a photograph are started at a photographing starting timing in the above operational explanation when the signal disregard is detected in the step S7. The first photograph is taken and recorded when the illegal vehicle further runs and the switch SW6 is turned on by the front wheel of the illegal vehicle. The second photograph is taken and recorded when the illegal vehicle further runs and the switch SW10 is turned on by the front wheel of the illegal vehicle.However, the first photographing operation may be started by predetermining a time tl sufficient to completely prepare all of the film supplying operation, the shutter charging operation, the focusing operation, the zooming operation and the photographing direction changing operation as in steps S100 and S101 shown by broken lines in-Fig. 3. In this case, a timer starting timing about this time tl is set to a time point at which the signal disregard is detected in the step S7. The first photographing operation is started when it is detected in the step S101 that the time t1 has passed.

Starting timing of the second photographing operation may be set to be similar to the starting timing in each of the steps S100 and S101.

In the above-mentioned operations, two photographs can be recorded when the signal disregard is detected. An operation of the vehicle photographing apparatus will next be explained when the running speed of a vehicle violately exceeds a limiting speed.

In this case, the step 57 shown in Fig. 3 is replaced with steps S20 to S24 shown in Fig. 8.

Further, a switch SWO is buried in a position of the stopping line 20 shown in Fig. 2. Namely, in the step S20, the switch SWO is turned on at a certain time by a front wheel of a vehicle running on one of lanes L1 to L4. This time is stored to a memory in a unit of millisecond (mSec) with high accuracy. It then proceeds to the next step S21.

In this step S21, a standby state of the vehicle photographing apparatus is maintained until the switch SW2 is turned on. When the switch SW2 is turned on at a certain time by the front wheel of the vehicle, this time is recorded to a memory in a utit of millisecond (mSec) with high accuracy.

It then proceeds to the next step S22.

In this step S22, the vehicle photographing apparatus calculates a time difference t between a turning-on time point of the switch SWO in the step S20 and a turning-on time point of the switch SW2 in the step S21. Further, it is judged in this step S22 whether this time difference t is exceeded by a predetermined reference time to or not.

A running speed of the vehicle is provided by dividing a distance do between positions of the switches SWO and SW2 by the time difference t. If a limiting speed is transformed to the reference time t0, the reference time to is equal to a distance between positions of the switches SWO and SW1 divided by the limiting speed. If the running speed and the limiting speed are thus set, it is possible to judge whether the running speed of the vehicle exceeds the limiting speed or not by comparing the time difference t and the reference time t0 with each other.

The limiting speed is desirably set to a high speed to a certain extent in consideration of errors in operations of arithmetic circuits and response delays of the switches SWO to SW12, etc.

When the judgment in the step S23 is YES, data about an excessive running speed of the vehicle are recorded to a memory in the next step S24. These excessive speed data include data about an excess of the running speed (shown by km/hour) of the veh-icle running on one of the lanes L1 to L4. These excessive speed data also include data about a running time set by second, minute, hour, day, month and year and relative to the excessive speed.

Similar to the above signal disregard, when it is judged that the running speed of the vehicle is an excessive speed, preparing operations for taking a photograph are started when the switch SW2 is turned on by a front wheel of the illegal vehicle running on the lane L2 shown in Fig. 5. A first photograph is taken and recorded when the illegal vehicle further runs and the switch SW6 is turned on by the front wheel of this illegal vehicle. A second photographing operation begins to be prepared immediately after the first photographing operation. The second photograph is taken and recorded when the illegal vehicle further runs and the switch SW10 is turned on by the front wheel of the illegal vehicle.

The above traffic information detecting means 1 is constructed by a switch of a pressure sensor type to detect existence and nonexistence of the vehicle. However, the existence and nonexistence of the vehicle may be detected by a photoelectric means. An example of this photoelectric means will next be explained with reference to Fig. 9.

Iz this example, only the lane L1 is used to simplify an explanation of the photoelectric means.

A detecting line P is constructed by a light emitting diode 31 and a light receiving transistor 32 opposite to this light emitting diode 31 as a pair. A detecting line Q is constructed by a light emitting diode 33 and a light receiving transistor 34 opposite to this light emitting diode 33 as a pair. The light emitting diodes and Lhe light receiving transistors are arranged such that the two detecting lines P and Q cross the lane L1 and are spaced from each other at a predetermined distance.

When a vehicle 100 passes and crosses the detecting line P, this passage is detected by a detecting circuit 35. Similarly, when the vehicle 100 passes and crosses the detecting line Q, this passage is detected by the detecting circuit 35.

These detective information are inputted to a judging means 3 as an output of the traffic information detecting means 1 shown in Fig. 1.

A signal P1 shown in Fig. 10 is an output signal of the detecting circuit 35 obtained when the vehicle 100 crosses the detecting line P. A signai P2 shown in Fig. 10 is an output signal of the detecting circuit 35 obtained when the vehicle 100 crosses the detecting line Q.

The existence of the vehicle is detected by using two references. In the case of a first reference, the existence of the vehicle is detected in a front portion thereof. In the case of a second reference, the existence of the vehicle is detected in a rear portion thereof.

When the front portion of the vehicle is set to a reference for detecting the vehicle, it is sufficient to use a time difference TF between a crossing time point of the vehicle on the detecting line P and a crossing time point of the vehicle on the detecting line Q. In contrast to this, when the rear portion of the vehicle is set to a reference for detecting the vehicle, it is sufficient to use a time difference TR between uncrossing time points of the vehicle on the detecting lines P and Q after the vehicle has respectively crossed the detecting lines P and Q.

At this time, when the front portion of the vehicle is set to the vehicle detecting reference, a running speed of the vehicle can be calculated by dividing a distance between positions of the detecting lines P and Q by the time difference TF.

In contrast to this, when the rear portion of the vehicle is set to the vehicle detecting reference, the running speed of the vehicle can be calculated by dividing a distance between positions of the detecting lines P and Q by the time difference TR.

A legal or illegal vehicle can be judged by judging whether the running speed of the vehicle thus calculated exceeds a limiting speed or not.

In the above explanation, the vehicle is photographed by judging violations of the excessive running speed and the signal disregard.

however, it is also possible to detect parking violation and one-way passing violation. For example, the detection of the parking violation is judged as follows.

When the vehicle crosses the detecting lines P and Q shown in Fig. 9, it is judged that the vehicle exists in a detecting position on the basis of an output of the detecting circuit 35 and outputs of the switches SWl to SW12 shown in Fig.

7. The parking violation is detected by judging that no vehicle reaches the next detecting position even when a predetermined time has passed since the existence of the vehicle was judged.

When the vehicle runs in a direction opposite to a one-way passing direction, this illegal vehicle is detected as follows. Namely, in this case, when the vehicle crosses the detecting lines P and Q shown in Fig. 9, the running direction of this vehicle is judged as an opposite direction when no generating order of an output of the detecting circuit 35 and outputs of the switches SWI to SW12 shown in Fig. 7 is a predetermined order.

However, when a plurality of vehicles are running in an approaching state, it is necessary to disregard a signal generated from a rear detecting line when this signal is obtained before a signal is obtained from a front detecting line.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be changed in various kinds of modifications within the scope of the features of the invention.

For example, in the above embodiments, a detecting line is formed in the vicinity of a signal device arranged on the way on a straight road. A first photograph is taken and recorded when violations of signal disregard and an excessive running speed are detected. A second -photograph is taken and recorded when the vehicle reaches the next detecting line. However, the detecting line may be formed in the vicinity of an intersection to detect violations of turning to the right and left in addition to the violations of the signal disregard and the excessive running speed. Further, no-passing violation can be judged by comparing running speeds of plural vehicles running in parallel with each other on plural lanes.

Forms of illegal date and hour, etc. recorded to a recording picture can be arbitrary set suitably in accordance with necessity.

The focusing means moves and focuses the photographing lens every photographing operation.

However, a photographing position showing the distance of a photographed body can be specified in advance. Accordingly, data for specifying the photographing position may be stored to a memory as preset data. In this case, the focusing means is preset and operated in accordance with the photographing position.

The photographing direction changing means and the zooming means are driven every photographing operation. Accordingly, no final driving positions of the photographing direction changing means and the zooming means can specified. However, driving amounts of the photographing direction changing means and the zooming means can be minimized if an initial driving position of each of these means is located in an intermediate position between one side driving end portion and the other side driving end Dortion. Accordingly, a rapid response of the vehicle photographing apparatus can be realized.

1 ame contents can similarly hoìa true in tfle case of the focusing means and the stopping-down means in addition to the photographing direction changing means and the zooming means.

In the above embodiments, an order of the photographing direction changing operation, the zooming operation, the focusing operation and the stopping-down operation is set to an arbitrary order. Accordingly, these operations may be performed in parallel with each other.

As mentioned above, in the vehicle photographing apparatus of the present invention, a running vehicle is photographed by a photographing apparatus body when a traffic violating state of the running vehicle is attained and detected. In this case, a photographing magnification can be increased when only the illegal vehicle is photographed. In contrast to this, the photographing magnification can be reduced when a surrounding portion of the illegal vehicle is also photographed. Further, when a road is formed by a plurality of lanes, a photographing optical axis of the vehicle photographing apparatus can be set to be in conformity with a lane to be photographed.

Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a recorded picture with very high reliability.

The two kinds of photographing optical systems are composed of a telescopic optical system and a wide angle optical system. Screens in these two systems are not separately and independently constructed, but are constructed by using a zoom lens. Accordingly, the entire construction of the vehicle photographing apparatus is simplified and the number of adjusting operations thereof can be reduced.

For example, when the vehicle photographing apparatus is arranged on a road having four lanes on one side thereof, optical axes of the photographing optical systems can be directed to one of the four lanes on which the illegal vehicle is located. Accordingly, only a required portion of the illegal vehicle can be enlarged and photographed at its maximum so that a judging state of a recorded vehicle image can be preferably provided.

Many widely different embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Vehicle photographing apparatus for photographing vehicles when they violate traffic regulations, comprising: traffic information detecting means for detecting a passing state of a vehicle running along a road; reference information inputting means for setting one or more conditions under which the passing state of a vehicle on said road is considered to violate the traffic regulations; judging means for comparing outputs of said traffic information detecting means and said reference information inputting means with each other and generating a photographing operation starting command signal when said vehicle is judged to be violating said traffic regulations; focusing means arranged to be started by the photographing operation starting command signal for focusing a photographic lens arranged in a body of the photographing apparatus;; photograph direction changing means for moving the optical axis of said photographic lens to one or more positions of the traffic regulation violating vehicle detected by said traffic information detecting means or provided by said focusing means; and zooming means for changing the focal length of said photographic lens such that the traffic regulation violating vehicle can be photographed at one or more nred+ermlned magnifications on the backs O r tho said one or more positions of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at a photographing operation starting time point of the regulation violating vehicle said photograph direction changing means moves said optical axis to said one or more positions and said zooming means changes said focal length on the basis of the said one or more positions.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photograph direction changing means moves said optical axis to said one or more positions and said zooming means changes said focal length on the basis of the said one or more positions detected or provided at a photographing operation starting time point of the regulation violating vehicle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the zooming means changes the focal length for said one or more predetermined magnifications at the one or more positions detected by said traffic information detecting means or a position of the vehicle provided by said focusing means.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the traffic information detecting means further detects when a vehicle is located at any of a plurality of vehicle detecting lines spaced from each other at predetermined distances along said road; and further comprising rhotoaranhr control re2nc fcr CrOl 1 inc operations of said focusing means, said photograph direction changing means and said zooming means to prepare the photographing operation when the vehicle is located at a first of said plural vehicle detecting lines.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said photographing control means performs the prepared photographing operation when the vehicle is located at a second of said plural vehicle detecting lines.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said photographing control means performs the prepared photographing operation when a predetermined length of time has passed since said vehicle was located at said first vehicle detecting lines.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said photographing operation comprises taking two or more photographs of said regulation violating vehicle at different magnifications and at different positions.

9. Apparatus according to claims 6 and 8, wherein a first photograph is taken when the vehicle is located at the second vehicle detecting line and a second photograph is taken when the vehicle is detected at a third vehicle detecting line.

10. Apparatus according to claims 7 and 8, wherein a first photograph is taken when said predetermined length of time has passed and the second photograph is taken when a second further predetermined lenath of tire has passed either after said vehicle is located at a third vehicle detecting line or after said first photograph was taken.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10, wherein said vehicle detecting lines comprise pressure sensor means and/or photoelectric means.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a stroboscopic light emitting portion for irradiating light within a photographic range of the photographing apparatus body along the road for emitting light at a vehicle when photographing it.

13. A method of photographing vehicles when they violate traffic regulations, comprising the steps of: detecting a passing state of a vehicle along a road; setting conditions whereby a vehicle can be judged to violate traffic regulations; comparing said passing state with said conditions to determine if a vehicle is judged to violate traffic regulations; starting a photographing operation if said vehicle is judged to violate traffic conditions; said photographing operation comprising the steps of: focusing a lens; moving the optical axis of the lens to a first position of the regulation violating vehicle; photographing the vehicle a first time; changing the magnification of the lens; rWotegrenhinc the vehicle a second time.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step, after photographing the vehicle a first time, of moving the optical axis of the lens to a second position before photographing the vehicle a second time.

15. Apparatus or a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said passing state includes any one or more of the following: the speed of the vehicle, whether the vehicle has passed contrary to a traffic signal such as a red light, a no entry sign, a no left-turn or a no right-turn sign, whether the vehicle has overtaken and whether the vehicle has stopped.

16. Apparatus constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.