JPH05290235A - Method and deice for charge adjustment of parking lot - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To calculate a parking charge by correctly collating an entry vehicle and a leaving vehicle even when the character of a number plate can not be recognized owing to soiling. CONSTITUTION:The vehicle 16 passing through an entry path is image-picked-up by a TV camera 20 to measure the height and the width of it by an ultrasonic sensor. A vehicle number code preparation device 24 extracts character information of the number plate and vehicle height/width information, gives a vehicle number code for each entry vehicle 16 and stores the vehicle number code in CPU 28 with its every time. Next, a vehicle passing through a going-out path is image-picked-up with a TV camera to measure the height and the width of it by an ultrasonic sensor. A vehicle number code preparation device 32 extracts character information of the number plate and vehicle height/width information and gives a vehicle number code and each going-out vehicle. Every time of this, a corresponding vehicle number code is retrieved from the vehicle number code of the entry vehicle stored in CPU 28 based on the vehicle number code given to the going-out vehicle to calculate a parking lot using time from the entry time stored with the retrieved vehicle number code and a present time to calculate the parking charge.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a parking lot charge adjustment method and apparatus, and more particularly to a parking lot charge adjustment method and apparatus for automatically calculating a parking charge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of parking lot charge settlement device receives a card from an automatic ticket issuing machine when the vehicle is loaded and the card is loaded from the automatic ticket issuing machine. It is done by putting it in the machine. The payment machine has been loaded with a card (delivery)
The parking lot usage time is calculated by subtracting the entering time from the time, and the parking fee is calculated and displayed based on the parking lot usage time.

However, in the fare adjustment device of the parking lot, when the card is received, it has to be temporarily stopped in front of the automatic ticket issuing machine, which is troublesome and the following vehicles cause traffic congestion in a crowded time zone. There is a drawback. Further, if the card is lost, there is a drawback in that the settlement work is delayed. Therefore, by registering various character codes written on the license plate of the vehicle by the image processing device as the ID number of each vehicle, as a parking fee adjusting device for solving such a problem,
A charge adjustment device for adjusting the parking charge has been proposed.

The parking fee adjustment device has a TV on the entrance of the parking lot so that the vehicle does not have to be stopped when the vehicle enters.
A camera is installed to capture an image of the front of a warehousing vehicle passing through an approach road, and from the captured vehicle image, various character information of the warehousing vehicle license plate (Kanji land support code, 2-digit number vehicle type code, hiragana application) Code, 4-digit number vehicle number) is extracted, and this character information is used as a receiving vehicle ID number for CP.
Register in U's database.

At the time of leaving the car, the front surface of the leaving vehicle passing through the exit is imaged by a TV camera installed in the exit of the parking lot, and the various character information of the number plate of the leaving car is extracted from the image, This character information is used as the delivery vehicle I.
Register in the database as a D number. Then, when the parking lot fee is settled, the CPU collates the incoming vehicle ID number and the outgoing vehicle ID number to calculate the parking lot usage time of the vehicle, and automatically calculates the parking fee from the parking lot usage time. Display the charge on the checkout machine installed in front of the exit gate.

As described above, by providing the image processing device in the parking lot, the vehicle can be stored smoothly, and since a card is not required, problems such as loss can be solved.

[0007]

However, in the conventional parking lot toll adjusting device provided with the image processing device, when the license plate is dirty, bent, or removed, the characters on the license plate become unclear. Since some or all of the vehicles cannot be recognized, there is a drawback that the entering vehicle and the leaving vehicle cannot be accurately collated and the parking charge cannot be calculated accurately.

Since such a problem is considered to occur frequently, the charge adjustment device for the parking lot by image processing has not been put into practical use. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even if the characters on the license plate cannot be recognized, the parking fee can be calculated by accurately matching the entering vehicle and the leaving vehicle to calculate the parking fee. It is an object to provide a method and an apparatus thereof.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention takes an image of a vehicle passing through an approaching path and an exiting path of a vehicle in a parking lot, and detects the vehicle from the two imaged images of the vehicle. Extract the character information of the license plate, measure at least one of the height and width of the vehicle passing through the entrance and exit of the vehicle in the parking lot, and measure at least one of the height and width of the measured vehicle A specific vehicle number code is assigned to each incoming vehicle and each outgoing vehicle based on the information and the extracted character information of the license plate, and the vehicle number code of the incoming vehicle and the vehicle of the outgoing vehicle at the time of parking lot charge settlement It is characterized in that the parking lot usage time of the vehicle is calculated by collating with the number code, and the parking charge is calculated based on the parking lot usage time.

[0010]

According to the present invention, first, at the time of entering a parking lot, an image of a vehicle passing through an approach road is taken by the first imaging means, and
At least one of the vehicle height and vehicle width of the vehicle,
It is measured by the first vehicle height measuring means or the first vehicle width measuring means. Then, with the first vehicle number code creating means, the first
The character information of the license plate of the vehicle is extracted from the vehicle image captured by the image capturing means, and at least one of the vehicle height and the vehicle width is extracted, and at least one of the extracted vehicle height and vehicle width is extracted. A specific vehicle number code is given to each incoming vehicle based on the character information of the license plate. Then, the vehicle number code is stored in the memory means together with the entering time of the vehicle.

Next, at the time of leaving the parking lot, the vehicle passing through the exit route is imaged by the second imaging means, and at least one of the vehicle height and the vehicle width of the vehicle is measured by the second vehicle height measuring means or It is measured by the second vehicle width measuring means. Then, the second vehicle number code creating means extracts character information of the license plate of the vehicle from the vehicle image captured by the second image capturing means, and at least one of the vehicle height and the vehicle width. Then, a specific vehicle number code is assigned to each outgoing vehicle based on at least one of the extracted vehicle height or vehicle width and the character information of the license plate.

Next, every time the second vehicle number code creating means creates the vehicle number code by the searching means, the vehicle number code of the arriving vehicle stored in the memory means on the basis of this vehicle number code is used as a corresponding vehicle. Search for the number code. Then, the charge calculation means calculates the parking lot usage time from the stored time and the current time stored together with the retrieved vehicle number code, and calculates the parking charge based on the parking lot usage time. As a result, even if the characters on the license plate cannot be recognized, by combining the unrecognized character information and at least one of the vehicle height and vehicle width to create the vehicle number code, it is possible to store the vehicle in and out. It is possible to accurately match the vehicle. Therefore, the parking charge can be calculated accurately.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A parking lot charge settlement method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1
The top view of the approach road 10 in the parking lot of the charge adjustment device of the parking lot which concerns on this invention is shown. Optical sensors 14a and 14b are attached to both wall surfaces 12a and 12b of the approach road 10 so as to face each other, and it is confirmed by the photo sensors 14a and 14b that the vehicle 16 has entered the approach road 10.
The vehicle 16 passes through the approach road 10 and enters a parking space in a parking lot (not shown).

An illumination light 18 and a TV camera 20 are installed in front of the optical sensors 14a and 14b. The illumination light 18 is provided on the wall surface 12 so that the front surface of the vehicle 16 can be illuminated.
The TV camera 20 is attached to the vehicle 1 at a predetermined position.
It is attached to the wall surface 12b at a predetermined position so that the front surface of the wall surface 6 can be imaged. Further, the illumination light 18 and the TV camera 20 are controlled by a timer device (not shown) connected to the optical sensors 14a and 14b so that the illumination light 18 and the TV camera 20 are irradiated and imaged for a predetermined time when the vehicle 16 passes in front of the optical sensors 14a and 14b. ing.

The TV camera 20 is connected to a vehicle number code creating device 24 via a cable 22, and the TV camera 20
The front image of the warehousing vehicle 16 imaged at is output to the vehicle number code creation device 24. The vehicle number code creating device 24 is connected to the CPU 28 via the cable 26, and the vehicle number code of the warehousing vehicle 16 created by the vehicle number code creating device 24 is the CPU.
It is registered in the storage image database section of 28. CP
Vehicle number code generator 3 to U28 via cable 30
2 is connected, and the vehicle number code creating device 32 is connected to the TV camera 36 shown in FIG.

The TV camera 36 is attached to the wall surface 38a of the exit path 37 of the leaving vehicle 16. Further, the TV camera 36 is attached at a predetermined position where an image of the front surface of the vehicle 16 temporarily stopped in front of the settlement machine 40 installed on the exit path 37 can be captured. Therefore, the front image of the leaving vehicle imaged by the TV camera 36 has the vehicle number code created by the vehicle number code creating device 32 and is registered in the outgoing image database section of the CPU 28. On the other hand, an illumination light 42 is attached to the wall surface 38b facing the TV camera 36, and the illumination light 42 is attached at a predetermined position where the front surface of the vehicle 16 temporarily stopped in front of the adjustment machine 40 can be illuminated. The TV camera 36 and the illuminating light 42 are controlled by a timer device (not shown) connected to the optical sensors 44a and 44b so as to irradiate and take an image for a predetermined time when the exit vehicle 16 stops in front of the settlement machine 40. ..

The optical sensors 44a and 44b are attached to the wall surfaces 38a and 38b in the vicinity of the settlement machine 40, and it can be confirmed that the vehicle 16 has stopped in front of the settlement machine 40. In addition, the settlement machine 40 includes a cable 4
It is connected to the CPU 28 described above via 6. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, on the ceiling surface 10a of the approach road 10,
An ultrasonic sensor 48 for detecting the vehicle height of the vehicle 16 passing through the approach road 10 is attached. This ultrasonic sensor 48
The signal waveform analysis device 52 is connected via a cable 50, and the signal waveform analysis device 52 is connected via a cable 54.
It is connected to the vehicle number code creating device 24 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, an ultrasonic sensor 56 for detecting the height of the vehicle 16 passing through the exit 37 is attached to the ceiling surface 37a of the exit 37, and the ultrasonic sensor 56 is a cable. Signal waveform analyzer 60 via 58
Connected to. This signal waveform analyzer 60 is a cable 6
2 is connected to the vehicle number code creating device 32 shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a vehicle 16 passing through the approach road 10 is provided on both wall surfaces 12a and 12b of the approach road 10.
The ultrasonic sensors 64a and 64b for detecting the vehicle width of the vehicle are attached. The ultrasonic sensors 64 a and 64 b are connected to a signal waveform analysis device 68 via cables 66 a and 66 b, and the signal waveform analysis device 68 is connected to the signal waveform analysis device 68 via a cable 70.
It is connected to the vehicle number code creating device 24 shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle 16 passing through the exit route 10 is provided on both wall surfaces 38a and 38b of the exit route 37.
The ultrasonic sensors 72a and 72b for detecting the vehicle width of the vehicle are attached. The ultrasonic sensors 72a and 72b are connected to a signal waveform analyzer 76 via cables 74a and 74b, and the signal waveform analyzer 76 is connected to the signal waveform analyzer 76 via a cable 78.
It is connected to the vehicle number code creating device 32 shown in FIG. The ultrasonic sensors 64a, 64b, 72a, 72b
As shown in FIG. 7, the mounting positions of the vehicle 16 with respect to the height of the vehicle 16 include front and rear wheel houses 16a of the vehicle 16,
It is attached at a position where 16b passes, that is, at a position where two recesses pass with respect to the body surface of the vehicle 16.

Next, a method of paying a parking charge by the parking lot charge adjusting device configured as described above will be described.
First, at the time of warehousing, as shown in FIG. 1, when the vehicle 16 that has entered the entrance 10 of the parking lot passes the positions of the optical sensors 14a and 14b, the TV camera 20 is activated at a predetermined timing and Capture the front image. The information indicating the front image is output to the vehicle number code creating device 24 via the cable 22, and the vehicle number code creating device 24 extracts the character information of the license plate 80 shown in FIG. 8 described later from the image information. The warehousing vehicle 16 includes the illumination light 1
The image is taken with a constant brightness by 8.

The vehicle height of the entering vehicle 16 is detected by the vehicle height detecting ultrasonic sensor 48 shown in FIG. 3 when passing through the approach road 10. That is, when the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor 48 is reflected by the vehicle 16 and the reflected ultrasonic wave is received by the ultrasonic sensor 48, the information is output to the signal waveform analysis device 52 via the cable 50. .. Then, the signal waveform analysis device 52 creates the waveform shown in FIG. 9 based on the information. A distance T (FIG. 3) from the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface of the ultrasonic sensor 48 to the road surface of the approach path 10 is stored in the signal waveform analysis device 52 in advance, and the ultrasonic sensor 4
The vehicle heights H ₁ , H ₂ , and H _{3 of} the vehicle 16 are calculated by subtracting the distance from the ultrasonic sensor 48 detected in 8 to the vehicle 16 from the distance T.

Here, H ₁ indicates the height of the hood of the vehicle 16, H ₂ indicates the height of the passenger compartment, and H ₃ indicates the height of the luggage compartment. Also, in the figure, L ₁ , L ₂ ,
L ₃ indicates the length of the hood, the passenger compartment, and the luggage compartment, and these lengths are the approach speed V _{1 of the} vehicle 16.
Needless to say, it is inversely proportional to. Since the ultrasonic sensor 48 cannot detect the height of the inclined portion of the windshield, rear glass, etc. of the vehicle 16, in the case of a sedan type vehicle, three linear waveforms are separated as shown in FIG. Will be created.

The signal waveform created by the signal waveform analysis device 52 is output to the vehicle number code creation device 24 via the cable 54 shown in FIG. Further, the vehicle width of the entering vehicle 16 is detected by the vehicle width detecting ultrasonic sensors 64a and 64b shown in FIG. 5 when passing through the approach road 10. That is, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic sensors 64a and 64b are transmitted to the vehicle 1
The ultrasonic waves reflected by both sides of the ultrasonic sensor 6 are reflected by the ultrasonic sensor 6
When the information is received by 4a and 64b, the information is output to the signal waveform analyzer 68 via the cables 66a and 66b. Then, the signal waveform analyzer 68 creates the waveform shown in FIG. 10 based on the information. The signal waveform analysis device 68 stores in advance a distance B from the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface of the ultrasonic sensor 64a to the ultrasonic wave transmitting surface of the ultrasonic sensor 64b shown in FIG.
Ultrasonic sensors 64a and 64b respectively detected by 4b
From the side of the vehicle 16 to the side of the vehicle 16 is the distance B
The vehicle width W of the vehicle 16 shown in FIG. 10 is calculated by subtracting from the vehicle width W. In the figure, L ₁ is the length from the front end of the vehicle shown in FIG. 7 to the front end of the front wheel house 16a, L 1.
Reference numeral ₂ denotes the length from the rear end of the front wheel house 16a to the front end of the rear wheel house 16b, and L ₃ denotes the length from the rear end of the rear wheel house 16b to the rear end of the vehicle. It goes without saying that it is inversely proportional to the approach speed of 16. The ultrasonic sensor 64
When the front wheel house 16a and the rear wheel house 16b pass in front of a and 64b, the width of the vehicle becomes narrower, so that three long linear waveforms are separated as shown in FIG. Will be created.

The signal waveform created by the signal waveform analysis device 68 is output to the vehicle number code creation device 24 via the cable 70 shown in FIG. Next, a method of creating a vehicle number code by the vehicle number code creating device 24 will be described.
The vehicle number code creation device 24 performs masking processing on the front image of the warehousing vehicle 16 other than the license plate of the vehicle 16, and various character information of the license plate 80 shown in FIG. A 2-digit number vehicle type code 84, a hiragana usage code 86, and a 4-digit number vehicle number 88 are extracted. Then, from the signal waveform output from the signal waveform analyzer 52 shown in FIG. 3, the signal waveform information (H ₁ , H ₂ , H ₃ , L ₁ , L ₂ ,
L ₃ ) is extracted, and the signal waveform information and the character information are registered in the storage image database section of the CPU 28 via the cable 26 shown in FIG. In this case, even if there are unrecognizable characters in the license plate 80 due to dirt or the like on the license plate 80, that portion is registered in the stored image database section of the CPU 28 as missing character information. At the same time, the storage time is also stored in the storage image database section of the CPU 28.

Since the character information of the license plate 80 of the warehousing vehicle 16, the signal waveform information, and the warehousing time are the information of the same vehicle 16, the warehousing vehicle database of the CPU 28 is the same as the warehousing vehicle ID number identifying this vehicle 16. Categories are registered in the memory area.
Next, a charge settlement method at the time of delivery will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the vehicle 16 entering the exit 37 stops in front of the settlement machine 40, the TV camera 3
6 operates to capture the front image of the leaving vehicle 16. The information indicating the front image is output to the vehicle number code creation device 32 via the cable 34, and the character information of the license plate 80 shown in FIG. 8 is extracted. The exit vehicle 16 is imaged with a constant brightness by the illumination light 42.

The vehicle height of the leaving vehicle 16 is detected by the vehicle height detecting ultrasonic sensor 56 shown in FIG. 4 when passing through the exit 37, and the information is transmitted through the cable 58 to the signal waveform analyzing apparatus. It is output to 60. Then, the signal waveform analysis device 60 creates the waveform shown in FIG. 11 based on the information. Similar to the above-described signal waveform analysis device 52, the signal waveform analysis device 60 pre-stores a distance T (FIG. 4) from the ultrasonic wave transmission surface of the ultrasonic sensor 56 to the road surface of the exit path 37. By subtracting the distance from the ultrasonic sensor 56 detected by the sound wave sensor 56 to the vehicle 16 from the distance T, the vehicle heights h ₁ (height of the hood), h ₂ (height of the passenger compartment) of the vehicle 16, h ₃ (height of the luggage compartment) is calculated. Further, in the figure, I ₁ , I ₂ , I ₃
Shows the lengths of the hood, the passenger compartment, and the luggage compartment, respectively, but it goes without saying that these lengths are inversely proportional to the exit speed of the vehicle 16. The signal waveform created by the signal waveform analysis device 60 is output to the vehicle number code creation device 32 via the cable 62 shown in FIG.

Further, the exit vehicle 16 is provided with the ultrasonic sensors 72a, 7a for vehicle width detection shown in FIG.
The width of the vehicle is detected by 2b, and the information is transmitted to the cable 74.
It is output to the signal waveform analyzer 76 via a and 74b. Then, the signal waveform analysis device 76 creates the waveform shown in FIG. 12 based on the information. Signal waveform analyzer 7
6 is similar to that of the signal waveform analysis device 68 described above.
The distance B from the ultrasonic wave transmission surface of the ultrasonic sensor 72a to the ultrasonic wave transmission surface of the ultrasonic sensor 72b is stored in advance, and the ultrasonic sensors 72a and 72b detect the distances B from the ultrasonic sensors 72a and 72b, respectively. By subtracting the distances Ia and Ib to the side surface of the vehicle 16 from the distance B, the vehicle width W of the vehicle 16 shown in FIG. 12 is calculated.
In the figure, I ₁ is the length from the front end of the vehicle to the front end of the front wheel house 16a shown in FIG. 7, I ₂ is the length from the rear end of the front wheel house 16a to the front end of the rear wheel house 16b, and I ₃ is the rear wheel house. Although the lengths from the rear end of 16b to the rear end of the vehicle are shown, it goes without saying that these lengths are inversely proportional to the exit speed of the vehicle 16. The front of the ultrasonic sensors 72a and 72b are located in front of the front wheel house 16a and the rear wheel house 16b.
When b passes, the vehicle width of that part becomes narrower, so
As shown in FIG. 12, three long linear waveforms are separated and created.

The signal waveform created by the signal waveform analyzing device 76 is output to the vehicle number code creating device 32 via the cable 78 shown in FIG. Next, a method of creating a vehicle number code by the vehicle number code creating device 32 will be described.
This vehicle number code creating device 32 masks the images other than the license plate of the vehicle 16 from the front image of the leaving vehicle 16 like the vehicle number code creating device 24 installed on the approach road 10 side described above. Various character information of the license plate 80 shown in FIG. 8, that is, the kanji land support code 82,
2-digit number vehicle type code 84, Hiragana usage code 86,
And a car number 88 of a 4-digit number are extracted. Then, FIG. 11 output from the signal waveform analyzer 60 shown in FIG.
Signal wave shape information (h ₁ , h ₂ , h ₃ , I ₁ ,
I ₂ , I ₃ ) is extracted, and the signal waveform information and the character information are extracted by the CPU 28 via the cable 30 shown in FIG.
Registered in the issue image database section of. In this case, even if there are unrecognizable characters in the license plate 80 due to stains on the license plate 80, that part is registered in the delivery image database section of the CPU 28 as missing character information.

Since the character information of the license plate 80 of the leaving vehicle 16 and the signal waveform information are the information of the same vehicle 16, it is stored in the same memory area of the leaving vehicle database of the CPU 28 as the leaving vehicle ID number specifying this vehicle 16. Categories are registered. Next, CPU
28 is the entry vehicle ID registered in the CPU 28 based on the exit vehicle ID number each time the exit vehicle ID number of the exit vehicle 16 is registered, that is, at the time of parking charge settlement.
The corresponding receiving vehicle ID number is searched from the number. At this time, the character information of the license plate 80, the vehicle height information H and h, and the vehicle width information W are not affected by the speed of the vehicle 16, and thus can be easily collated. However, the L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ information and the I ₁ , I ₂ , I ₃ information are often affected by the speed of the vehicle 16 and do not match. Therefore, the CPU 28 corrects it by taking the ratio of the lengths of the L ₁ , L ₂ , and L ₃ waveforms and the lengths of I ₁ , I ₂ , and I ₃ to correct the L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ information and I ₁ , I 3. _2, thereby matching and I ₃ information.

Then, when the entry / exit vehicle ID numbers match, the CPU 28 calculates the parking lot usage time from the entry / exit time stored together with the entry / exit vehicle ID number, and based on the parking lot usage time. Parking fee is calculated automatically. Then, the information indicating the calculated parking charge is shown in FIG.
The parking charge is output to the settlement machine 40 via the cable 46 shown in FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, even if the license plate 48 is dirty and some or all of the characters cannot be recognized, the character information of the license plate 48 (the unrecognized characters are missing information), By combining the vehicle height information of the vehicle 16 and the vehicle width information to create the vehicle ID number, it is possible to accurately check the entering vehicle and the leaving vehicle. Therefore, the parking charge can be accurately calculated as compared with the conventional parking charge adjusting device.

In this embodiment, the license plate 80
Although the vehicle number code was created based on the three types of information of character information, vehicle height information, and vehicle width information, it is not limited to this, and either one of vehicle height information or vehicle width information And the character information may be combined to create a vehicle number code. FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the parking lot charge adjusting apparatus according to the present invention. In this parking lot charge adjusting device, the light emitting elements 90, 90 ... Are arranged in a row at a predetermined interval in the height direction on one side of the wall surfaces of the entrance path 10 and the exit path 37, and the light receiving elements 92, 92 ... Are arranged on the other side of the wall surface so as to face the light emitting elements 90, 90 ... The light emitting elements 90, 90 ... And the light receiving elements 92, 92 ...
When the vehicle 16 passes between the light receiving elements 92, 92 ...
Waveform analyzer 9 connected to the cable via cable 94
14 creates the signal waveform shown in FIG. 14 based on the information output from the light receiving elements 92, 92, ... In other words, the information indicating whether or not the infrared rays emitted from the light emitting elements 90, 90. ..

This signal waveform information is used by the signal waveform analysis device 9
6 is transmitted to a vehicle number code creating device (not shown), and this vehicle number code creating device outputs H ₁ from the signal waveform information,
H ₂ , H ₃ , h ₁ , h ₂ , h ₃ L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ ,
The I ₁ , I ₂ , and I ₃ information is extracted, and the information is output to a CPU (not shown). This CPU performs the same processing as the CPU 28 described above.

With this, the entering vehicle and the leaving vehicle can be accurately collated, so that the parking charge can be accurately calculated.

[0037]

As described above, according to the parking lot charge settlement method and apparatus according to the present invention, the warehousing / discharging is performed based on the character information of the license plate and at least one of the vehicle height and the vehicle width. Create a specific vehicle number code for each vehicle, search for the corresponding vehicle number code from the vehicle number code created at the time of receipt based on the vehicle number code created at the time of vehicle exit, and the entry time and departure of that vehicle Since the parking lot usage time is calculated from the time and the parking fee is calculated based on the parking lot usage time, even if the characters on the license plate cannot be recognized, the unrecognized character information and the vehicle height Alternatively, by creating a vehicle number code by combining at least one of the vehicle width information, it is possible to accurately match the entering vehicle with the leaving vehicle.
Therefore, the parking charge can be calculated accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a parking lot approach road to which a parking lot charge adjusting device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a parking lot exit to which a parking lot charge adjusting device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic sensor for detecting a vehicle height installed in a parking lot approach road.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a vehicle height detecting ultrasonic sensor installed on an exit of a parking lot.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of an ultrasonic sensor for detecting a vehicle width, which is installed in an entrance of a parking lot.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a vehicle width detecting ultrasonic sensor installed on an exit of a parking lot.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a mounting position of a vehicle width detecting ultrasonic sensor on a vehicle.

[Figure 8] Front view of the license plate

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a signal waveform of a vehicle height of a stored vehicle.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a signal waveform for the vehicle height of a leaving vehicle.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of a signal waveform of a vehicle width of a warehousing vehicle.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a signal waveform of a vehicle width of a leaving vehicle.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the parking lot charge adjusting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a signal waveform of a vehicle height of an incoming and outgoing vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Approach road 16 ... Vehicle 18, 42 ... Illumination light 20, 36, ... TV camera 24, 32, ... Car number code creating device 28 ... CPU 37 ... Exit route 48, 56, 64a, 64b, 72a, 72b ... Super Sound wave sensors 52, 60, 68, 76 ... Signal waveform analyzer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image of a vehicle passing through an approach path and an exit path of a vehicle in a parking lot, and character information of a license plate of the vehicle is extracted from the two imaged images of the vehicle, and an approach road of the vehicle in the parking lot. And at least one of the height and width of the vehicle passing through the exit route, and based on the measured information of at least one of the height and width of the vehicle and the extracted character information of the license plate. A specific vehicle number code is assigned to each incoming vehicle and each outgoing vehicle, and the vehicle parking time of the vehicle is calculated by checking the vehicle number code of the incoming vehicle and the vehicle number code of the outgoing vehicle at the time of parking lot charge adjustment. A parking lot charge settlement method characterized in that a parking charge is calculated based on the parking lot usage time. 2. A first image pickup means which is provided on an approach path of a vehicle in a parking lot and which images a vehicle passing through the approach path, and a vehicle which is provided on an exit path of the vehicle at the parking lot and passes through the exit path. Second image pickup means for picking up images, first vehicle height measuring means for measuring the vehicle height of a vehicle passing through the approach road provided in the approach path of the vehicle in the parking lot, and provided for the exit path of the vehicle in the parking lot Second vehicle height measuring means for measuring the vehicle height of the vehicle passing through the exit road, and extracting character information of the vehicle license plate from the vehicle image captured by the first image capturing means. 1
Vehicle height information is extracted from the vehicle height measured by the vehicle height measuring means, and a specific vehicle number code is created for each incoming vehicle based on the character information of the license plate and the vehicle height information. Character information of the license plate of the vehicle is extracted from the code creating means and the vehicle image captured by the second image capturing means, and vehicle height information is extracted from the vehicle height measured by the second vehicle height measuring means. And a second vehicle number code creating means for creating a specific vehicle number code for each outgoing vehicle based on the character information and vehicle height information of the license plate, and the first vehicle number code creating means. Memory means for storing the vehicle number code and the arrival time of the vehicle having the vehicle number code; and each time the second vehicle number code creating means creates the vehicle number code, the memory means based on the vehicle number code From the car number code stored in The parking lot usage time of the vehicle is calculated from the search means for searching the corresponding vehicle number code, the entering time and the search time stored together with the searched vehicle number code, and the parking fee is based on the parking lot usage time. A parking fee adjustment device, comprising: a fee adjustment device that calculates 3. A first image pickup means provided in an approach path of a vehicle in a parking lot and for imaging a vehicle passing through the approach path, and a vehicle provided in an exit path of the vehicle in the parking lot and passing through the exit path. Second image pickup means for picking up images, first vehicle width measuring means provided on the approach road of the vehicle in the parking lot and measuring the vehicle width of the vehicle passing through the approach road, and provided on the exit road of the vehicle in the parking lot Second vehicle width measuring means for measuring the vehicle width of the vehicle passing through the exit road, and extracting character information of the license plate of the vehicle from the vehicle image captured by the first image capturing means. 1
Vehicle width information is extracted from the vehicle width measured by the vehicle width measuring means, and a specific vehicle number code is created for each incoming vehicle based on the character information of the license plate and the vehicle width information. Character information of the license plate of the vehicle is extracted from the code creating means and the vehicle image captured by the second image capturing means, and vehicle width information is extracted from the vehicle width measured by the second vehicle width measuring means. , A second vehicle number code creating means for creating a specific vehicle number code for each outgoing vehicle based on the character information and vehicle width information of the license plate, and the first vehicle number code creating means. Memory means for storing the vehicle number code and the time when the vehicle with the vehicle number code is stored, and the memory means based on the vehicle number code each time the second vehicle number code creating means creates the vehicle number code From the car number code stored in The parking lot usage time of the vehicle is calculated from the search means for searching the corresponding vehicle number code, the entering time and the search time stored together with the searched vehicle number code, and the parking fee is based on the parking lot usage time. A parking lot charge settlement device comprising: a charge settlement means for calculating 4. A first image pickup means provided on an approach path of a vehicle in a parking lot and configured to image a vehicle passing through the approach path, and a vehicle provided on an exit path of the vehicle in the parking lot passing through the exit path. Second image pickup means for picking up images, first vehicle height measuring means for measuring the vehicle height of a vehicle passing through the approach road provided in the approach path of the vehicle in the parking lot, and provided for the exit path of the vehicle in the parking lot Second vehicle height measuring means for measuring the vehicle height of a vehicle passing through the exit road, and a first vehicle provided in the approach road of the vehicle in the parking lot and measuring the vehicle width of the vehicle passing through the approach road From the vehicle image captured by the first image capturing unit, the width measuring unit, the second vehicle width measuring unit that is provided on the exit route of the vehicle in the parking lot, and measures the vehicle width of the vehicle passing through the exit route. Character information of vehicle license plate and the first vehicle height gauge Vehicle height information is extracted from the vehicle height measured by the measuring means and vehicle width information is extracted from the vehicle width measured by the first vehicle width measuring means, and character information of the license plate, vehicle height information, and First vehicle number code creating means for creating a specific vehicle number code for each incoming vehicle based on the vehicle width information, and character information of a vehicle license plate from the vehicle image captured by the second image capturing means The vehicle height information is extracted from the vehicle height measured by the second vehicle height measuring means and the vehicle width information is extracted from the vehicle width measured by the second vehicle width measuring means. Second vehicle number code creating means for creating a specific vehicle number code for each outgoing vehicle based on information, vehicle height information, and vehicle width information; and the above-mentioned second vehicle number code creating means created by the first vehicle number code creating means. Check the car code and the entry time of the vehicle with that car code. Each time the second vehicle number code creating unit creates a vehicle number code, the corresponding vehicle number code is searched from the vehicle number code stored in the memory unit based on the vehicle number code. A charge adjusting means for calculating the parking lot usage time of the vehicle from the retrieval means for performing the retrieval, the entering time and the retrieval time stored together with the retrieved vehicle number code, and calculating the parking fee based on the parking lot usage time. And a parking lot charge adjustment device.