WO2008007076A1

WO2008007076A1 - Vehicle identification system

Info

Publication number: WO2008007076A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/002575
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Thomas Bell; Geoffrey Francis Hart
Original assignee: Retainagroup Limited
Priority date: 2006-07-10
Filing date: 2007-07-10
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: GB2440003A; GB2453300A; GB0613668D0; GB0901256D0

Abstract

In order to allow vehicles to be identified at a distance, the present invention provides a vehicle identification system comprising at least one identification pattern, which is suitably a 2-D barcode (1) attached to a vehicle (3), and at least one imaging device (4) for imaging the identification pattern, the imaging device being capable of reading the identification pattern at a range of not less than 30m. According to another aspect of the invention, the machine readable coded identification comprises a two-dimensional bar code comprising a grid of cells, the smallest dimension of the grid being not less than 300mm, the cells having a least dimension not less than 10mm.

Description

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a vehicle identification system.

It is known for certain vehicles, for example police vehicles and emergency vehicles, to carry identifications which can be read at a distance, in order to allow the movements of the police or emergency vehicles to be tracked, to control operations. The identification normally comprises relatively large alphanumeric markings in contrasting colours which can be read visually directly by an observer (for example operating in a helicopter) or by imaging using a camera (mounted in a helicopter or fixed, for example on a gantry adjacent to a road).

There is a need to provide a vehicle identification system, for example for police or emergency vehicles, which can provide more information than the conventional alphanumeric characters. For example it may be desired to indicate vehicle type, vehicle origin, registration number etc.

There is a further, optional, requirement that the identification should be readable at night.

It is conventional to provide many types of article with identification information coded in the form of a barcode. Such codes are conventionally read at very close range by specially adapted readers which are normally integrated into a system for handling the articles which are marked with the barcode.

The present inventors have discovered that a barcode or similar machine readable code can be applied to a vehicle and can be read at a substantial range to provide identification information for the vehicle. Surprisingly, a barcode or similar code can be provided which can be read at distances in excess of 30m, for example, by making the code of sufficient size. In this way, the coding capabilities of machine-readable codes can be exploited in a vehicle identification system for tracking and controlling police and emergency vehicles.

Accordingly, the present invention provide a vehicle identification system, comprising at least one identification pattern, comprising a machine readable coded identification, attachable to or formed on a vehicle, and at least one imaging device for imaging the identification pattern, the imaging device being capable of reading the identification pattern at a range not less than 30m.

hi another aspect, the present invention provides a 2-D barcode, comprising a grid of cells, the smallest dimension of the grid being not less than 300mm, preferably not less than 500mm, the cells having a least dimension not less than 10mm, preferably not less than 25mm.

Preferred and optional features of the invention will be described further below.

The system of the first aspect of the present invention comprises an identification pattern attached to or formed on a vehicle and at least one imaging device.

The second aspect of the invention provides a 2-D barcode. The 2-D barcode maybe used as the identification pattern of the first aspect of the invention. Comments below concerning the identification pattern of the first aspect of the invention may apply equally to the 2-D barcode.

The identification pattern may be formed directly on the vehicle or it may be formed on an image carrier, for example of sheet of material, which is attachable to a vehicle.

For example, the identification pattern may be formed in an identification device comprising a reflective layer and a non-reflective layer laminated together. The pattern may be formed by spaces in the reflective layer or non-reflective layer, the pattern being readable by the contrast in reflection between the two layers. The reflective layer and non-reflective layer have different reflectivies for at least one selected observing waveband, wavelength or wavelength range (hereinafter called the Observing waveband'). The observing waveband may comprise visible light or a suitable waveband of infrared radiation, for example the kind of infrared radiation which is known in the art for night observation. References herein to reflectivity imply reflectivity at a selected observing waveband. The term "waveband" is used herein to indicate a selected range of wavelengths.

The reflective layer may comprise a visually highly reflective layer, for example white material or white print. It may comprise reflective media, such as glass beads embedded in a matrix. Such reflective layers are well known for manufacture of reflective road signs. Reflective layers of this type are manufactured by 3M. The low reflectivity layer may comprise black material or material with low infrared reflectivity in a selected infra red waveband, or material which has been printed with black ink or with a material which has a relatively low infrared reflectivity in a related infrared waveband

The pattern may be imageable using any suitable wave band, wavelength or wavelength range of electromagnetic radiation, for example visible light (including the whole range of visible wavelengths or a selected band of visible wavelengths) or infrared or microwave radiation.

Infrared readable patterns may be used for operations at night. They may be illuminated using an infrared illumination device, (for example a lamp or flare) during covert operations at night.

A suitable infrared pattern medium comprises MIRAGE (trade mark) available from QinetiQ.

The identification pattern will comprise machine readable coded information. It is coded in the sense that it must be read using a device and cannot be read by the human eye alone. The information which is readable by a device may itself, when presented to a user, comprise an identification code which will provide information about the vehicle but will require interpretation by a user or by an information processing system used by a user. For example, the identification code may identify a particular vehicle or unit, a particular vehicle type or unit type, the owner or user of the vehicle or any other suitable information.

Preferably, the identification code comprises at least four alphanumeric characters, preferably five or more alphanumeric characters.

The identification pattern of the present invention can be formed by providing a first layer of material having a first reflectivity at the observing waveband and a second layer having a different reflectivity at the observing waveband, forming a code in at least one of the layers and laminating the layers together.

At least one of the layers may comprise a self-adhesive layer, for attaching it to a vehicle. The other layer may be self-adhesive layer to allow the layers to be laminated together.

The imaging device may comprise illumination means, for example a search light, infrared illuminating lamp or flash.

The imaging device preferably comprises a camera. It may be a still camera but is preferably a video camera. It is preferably a digital camera. It may be any conventional design of digital camera, for example having at least one-mega pixel, more preferably at least 3 -mega pixels. It may have any suitable magnification, being preferably 1 OX or more, preferably 2OX or more, most preferably 30X or more. The magnification may be up to 200X, preferably up to 150X.

An imaging device which can form an image of a conventional car number plate at a range of 150metres is suitable.

If a digital camera is used, the resolution is preferably at least 0.5 mega pixels per inch, more preferably at least 1.0 mega pixels per inch. Preferably, the imaging device can form an image of the pattern at a range of at least 50m, more preferably at least 70m , more preferably at least 100m. The invention extends to cases where the imaging device can form an image at a range of up to 500m or more.

The imaging device may be mounted on an aircraft, as described below and the pattern may be mounted on a part of a vehicle visible from above, for example the top.

The imaging device may comprise a decoding device. The decoding device may be integral to the imaging device or it may be provided separately.

The imaging device may comprise storing means for storing images or data captured, for example electronic data storage means or video data recording means.

The imaging device may comprise communication means, for communicating with a central processor, for example for communicating the results of observations made. The communication may be wireless or any other suitable means.

The imaging device may be mounted on any suitable imaging system, for example a fixed device such as a structure adjacent a road. For example, it may be mounted on gantry adjacent a road. The imaging device may be mounted on a vehicle, for example a road vehicle, water borne vessel, aircraft or satellite. The imaging device is preferably mounted on a helicopter. If the imaging device is mounted on a vehicle, it may be provided with stabilising means.

The present invention may be used with any type of vehicle, including road vehicles, ships, boats, rail vehicles, aircraft, off-road vehicles, trailers, motor cycles etc.

The identification pattern may provide information about the type of load. For example, it may indicate that if the load is flammable or hazardous.

By "machine readable code" it is meant that the code is only readable by a corresponding optical scanner and image processing device, and not by human visual reading. The imaging device may comprise a display for indicating to a user the information content of the machine-readable code. For example, it may comprise a screen, for example the screen of a personal computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a 2-D barcode.

Figure 2 shows the positioning of a 2-D barcode on a vehicle, according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure is a schematic view of a 2-D barcode. In practice, it comprises a square grid 1 comprising 16 cells which may have a first reflective value (represented as black) or a second reflective value (represented as white). In practice, the 2-D barcode would have a very much larger number of cells (typically in excess of 20 X 20 cells). The limited number of cells is shown in figure 1 for illustration only.

Such a 2-D barcode is readable according to known protocols by devices such as digital cameras connected to or incorporating an image reading device, using image reading code.

According to one aspect of the invention, the least dimension of the grid is not less than 100mm and preferably not less than 300mm. The cells are each of a dimension preferably not less than 10mm, preferably not less than 25mm. The grid and the cells are preferably each square. According to the invention, the 2-D barcode can be formed of suitable material (as described further below) and fixed to the roof of a vehicle, for example as shown in Figure 2. In this position, it will be readily viewable by an imaging device such as a digital camera mounted on a gantry or helicopter. As shown in figure 3, the present invention allows the imaging device (shown schematically at 4) to image the vehicle 3 at a distance d which is in excess of 30m, and preferably in excess 100m when the vehicle is located on a road 5.

In a preferred embodiment, the 2-D barcode is formed by taking a first layer comprising a highly reflective material at the observing waveband, for example glass beads embedded in a matrix and applying a second, code carrying layer thereto. The code- carrying layer is preferably formed by printing onto a clear sheet of material, for example polymeric film, an image comprising the 2-D barcode and adhering the film to the face of the reflective material. In the printing operation, only the low reflectivity areas are printed. The high reflectivity areas are left blank so that radiation of the observing waveband can be reflected and detected by the imaging device 4.

Example

A 2-D identification pattern was prepared by taking a first layer comprising reflective glass beads embedded in a matrix and then adhering thereto a film comprising a 2-D barcode printed thereon.

The printed barcode comprised a square grid of 256 cells, the grid having sides of 480mm, the cells being of side 30mm. In a known coding protocol, an identification comprising three letters and two digits was coded into a pattern on a PC. The PC was then used to control a printer which prints onto a sheet of clear film a pattern corresponding to the 2-D barcode. Low reflectivity areas were printed black, high reflectivity areas were left blank. The film is then adhered to the high reflectivity material. A protective coating of clear film was attached to the surface. The resulting identification device was fixed to the roof of a vehicle. The barcode was then observed at a distance of 1000m from a helicopter using a conventional digital camera connected to a PC. The camera comprised an Ultra 4000 available from FLIR Systems inc. The imaging part comprised a SONY ™ DXC 390P 3 chip camera (chip dimension, 0.33 inch, with 430,000 pixels per chip). At this range, it was found that the camera could successfully capture the image and store it on video tape. Then the image data was transferred to the PC where it was decoded and correctly presented on the screen for a user to identify the code.

The present invention has been described above by way of example only and modifications can be made within the invention, which extends to equivalents of the features described. The invention also consists in any individual features described or implicit herein or shown or implicit in the drawings or any combination of any such features or any generalisation of any such features or combination.

Claims

1. A vehicle identification system, comprising at least one identification pattern, comprising machine readable coded information, attachable to or formed on a vehicle, and at least one imaging device for imaging the identification pattern, the imaging device being capable of reading the identification pattern at a range not less than 30m.

2. A vehicle identification system according claim 1, wherein the identification pattern is formed directly on the vehicle.

3. A vehicle identification system according to claim 1, wherein the identification pattern is formed on an image carrier, which is attachable to a vehicle.

4. A vehicle identification system according to any preceding claim, wherein the identification pattern is formed in an identification device comprising a reflective layer and non-reflective layer laminated together.

5. A vehicle identification system according to any preceding claim, wherein the code is imageable using visible light, infrared radiation or microwave radiation.

6. The vehicle identification system according to any preceding claim, wherein the imaging device comprises illumination means.

7. A vehicle identification system according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine-readable coded information comprises a two dimensional barcode.

8. A two dimensional barcode, comprising a grid of cells, the smallest dimension of the grid being not less than 300mm, the cells having a least dimension not less than 10mm, preferably not less than 25mm.

9. A two dimensional barcode according to claim 8, wherein the smallest dimension of the grid is not less than 500mm.

10. A two dimensional barcode according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cells have a least dimension not less than 25mm.

11. A vehicle identification system according to any claims 1 to 6, wherein the machine-readable coded identification comprises a two dimensional barcode according to any of claims 8 to 10.

12. A vehicle identification system, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A 2-D barcode substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.