JPH11167625A - Moving object recognition system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a moving object recognition system which continuously acquires an image to recognize a moving object such as a vehicle to a camera of an image pickup device by continuously irradiating at a speed compatible with the acquisition speed of the image pickup device and also providing a moving object with a flat and sufficient quantity of light without arousing awareness on the emission of infrared rays. SOLUTION: When a controller 3 detects that a vehicle 5 enters a photographable range, it starts shutter operation of a camera 1 and simultaneously irradiates the vehicle with infrared rays by a reflex LED illuminating device 2. Since the infrared rays have a wavelength longer than 730 nm, a driver is not disturbed by the emitted rays. Because an area to be irradiated is sharper than a strobe device and it has a flat characteristic, emission efficiency is satisfactory, sufficient brightness (luminance) is given to an object surface and irradiation is continuously performed for an extremely short time. A static image of the vehicle 5 is photographed to the camera 1 with an image quality to allow a numberplate 6, etc., to be identified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is suitable for recognizing a moving object such as a vehicle, especially for a large number of vehicles passing continuously, or for recognizing each vehicle in a parking lot and managing entry and exit. Moving object recognition system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a system for controlling speed violations on a highway or the like, a strobe device is used as an illuminating device, an infrared ray is passed through an infrared transmission filter, and a vehicle number and a driver are transmitted to a silver halide film camera. Is installed. This system detects a speeding-over vehicle and causes the strobe device to emit light. When a light is emitted once, a certain charging time is required until the next light emission. Therefore, it is difficult to photograph a vehicle that passes continuously from one to the next. In the case of the stroboscopic light emission method, since the infrared light is radiated through an infrared transmission filter, the visible light portion is slightly recognized.

[0003]

On a road or a parking lot, information for recognizing a vehicle is required for various purposes. For example, in a parking lot, when managing the entry and exit times of a vehicle and charging a parking fee, it is conceivable to identify the vehicle by an image. Also, in order to make vehicles flow smoothly at the tollgate on the highway, it is necessary to take measures to avoid stopping the car as much as possible. It is conceivable to withdraw from such as In such a case, there is a demand for a system that can reliably identify the entering vehicle and the passing vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle is photographed, and the types such as the license plate and the vehicle type are grasped.

[0004] In order to recognize a vehicle on the highway or the parking lot, it is necessary to recognize a vehicle passing from one to the next. Therefore, a strobe light emission method used in a system for controlling speed violations and the like described above is used. It is not possible. Also, from the viewpoint of ensuring safety for vehicles,
It is not preferable that any light that confuses the driver leaks.

[0005] As another use purpose, a system for specifying a vehicle and providing predetermined information by a display device at each point where the vehicle passes is considered. For example,
For a specified vehicle passing through a certain point, the display device will indicate "How soon will it arrive at the specified place?"
In order to display and notify such information, it is necessary to recognize the vehicle and to grasp speed information for each point.
In such a case, it is necessary to obtain an image of the vehicle without hindering the driving of the vehicle, and furthermore, it is necessary to obtain images continuously, for example, when a plurality of specified vehicles pass continuously. It is necessary to be able to continuously irradiate these in a very short time in order to photograph them, and to be able to give a sufficient amount of light to the photographing vehicle in a flat manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to recognize a moving object such as a vehicle by continuously irradiating the object at a speed that can correspond to the taking-in speed of the image pickup device and giving a sufficient amount of light to the photographing object. The present invention provides a moving object recognition system that can continuously capture an image of a moving object into a camera using an imaging device without being conscious of emission of infrared light.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a moving object recognition system according to the present invention comprises a camera device having an image pickup section and an infrared LED element for emitting light in an infrared region formed on a concave reflector. A reflective LED illuminating device in which a plurality of reflective LED elements that face each other and reflect light in the infrared region so as to have a predetermined irradiation angle are arranged in a plane on a substrate,
Controlling the light emission timing of the reflective LED lighting device and the photographing timing of the camera device, comprising a control device for acquiring a captured image of the moving object, enabling continuous irradiation without making the moving object conscious of irradiation light, In addition, it is possible to continuously photograph the moving body.

[0008] Further, the moving body in the present invention is intended for a vehicle. Further, the light in the infrared region according to the present invention uses a wavelength longer than 730 nm. Further, in the reflection type LED lighting device of the present invention, an infrared LED element emitting light in the infrared region is disposed so as to face the concave reflector, and the light in the infrared region is emitted at a predetermined irradiation angle. A first LED unit substrate layer in which a plurality of reflective LED elements to be reflected are arranged in a plane on a substrate, and a row of reflective LED elements is provided with a long groove between the rows;
A second reflective LED element is disposed below the ED unit substrate layer and has a plurality of reflective LED elements arranged so as to be seen from the long groove.
LED unit substrate layer.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle recognition device that is a moving object recognition system according to the present invention. A vehicle recognition device including a reflective LED lighting device 2, a camera device 1 using an image sensor, and a control device 3 is provided on the roadside. When the control device 3 detects that the vehicle 5 has entered the photographable range, the control device 3 controls the camera device 1 to start the shutter operation. At the same time, reflection type LE
The D lighting device 2 is controlled to irradiate infrared light to a range that follows the entire vehicle 5. The infrared light preferably has a wavelength of 680 nm or more that does not give a dazzle to the driver. However, it is more preferable to use a wavelength longer than 730 nm as a wavelength at which the driver does not recognize the irradiation light. Therefore, the use wavelength region is determined by the use form.

The reflection type LED illuminating device 2 has a sharper directional characteristic edge in a range to be illuminated than a strobe device.
Moreover, since the irradiation range has a flat characteristic, the luminous efficiency is good, and a sufficient brightness (luminance) for photographing a subject surface at a predetermined distance can be provided. I have. Further, it has a characteristic that irradiation can be continuously performed at an extremely short time, for example, at intervals of 1/30 to 1/15 seconds. A still image of the vehicle 5 is captured in the camera device 1 with image quality that allows the number plate 6 and the like to be identified. Next shooting preparation is 1/15 to 1/30
Since the operation can be performed in seconds, even if another vehicle follows, the photographing can be performed as long as the time interval is equal to or longer than the time interval.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a vehicle recognition device which is a moving object recognition system according to the present invention. A device support 15 with a gate 13 is provided on the road 9, and a high-definition camera 12 is disposed at the center of the device support 15, and reflective LED lighting devices 10 and 11 are disposed on both sides thereof. A travel time measuring terminal device 14 having a built-in high-definition image processing board is attached to a lower part of the gate post 13.

Under the control of the travel time measuring terminal device 14, similarly to FIG. 1, the high-definition camera 12 and the reflection type LED lighting devices 10 and 11 are controlled. The image is captured by the high definition camera 12. In this vehicle recognition device, the travel time measuring terminal device 14 recognizes the passing vehicle, and the travel time measurement terminal device of the next installed vehicle recognition device further recognizes the passing vehicle. Information such as time is obtained.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the system shown in FIG. The LED illuminator 20 constituting the reflective LED illuminating device 10 has a drive circuit 22, a power supply 23, and a number of reflective LED elements 21. Reflective type L
The LED lighting unit 26 included in the ED lighting device 11 has a similar circuit configuration. As shown in FIG. 6, the reflective LED element 21 has an infrared LED element 50 that emits light in the infrared region facing the concave reflection surface 47, and has a predetermined irradiation angle. This reflects the light 52, and this reflection type L
An LED unit is configured by arranging a plurality of ED elements 21, and LED lighting units 20 and 26 are configured by arranging a large number of LED units on a substrate. With this configuration, the boundary of the irradiation range can be sharply set, and the irradiation range can be set to have almost flat irradiation characteristics.

A CCD camera 30 constituting a high-definition camera
Are the infrared transmission filter 28, the lens 29, and the imaging unit 2
7. The AVI main body 31 constituting the travel time measuring terminal device has an image processing board 32, a CPU board 33, a communication board 34, and a power supply 35.
An aperture control signal b is sent from the CPU board 33 to the CCD camera 30, a shutter synchronization signal a is sent to the LED illuminators 20, 26 and the CCD camera 30, respectively, and a video signal c captured and taken by the CCD camera 30 is sent to the image processing board. 32.

The image processing board 32 includes a CPU board 33
The predetermined image processing is performed under the control of. The CPU board 33 transmits / receives all character information, speed information, and information indicating an operation state to / from a remote control center (not shown) via the communication board 34.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of a reflective LED lighting device used in a moving object recognition system according to the present invention. The reflective LED lighting device includes a stabilized power supply 36, a charging capacitor 37, a constant current circuit 39,
It comprises an ED unit 40 and a light emission signal shaping circuit 38. The charging capacitor 37 can charge the LED unit 40 at a speed sufficient to emit light at intervals of 1/15 to 1/30 seconds. Light emission signal shaping circuit 38
Monitors a signal 37a indicating the state of charge of the charging capacitor 37, detects a voltage sufficient to emit light, and upon receiving a light emission command signal, sends out a signal 38a for permitting light emission. Upon receiving the light emission permission signal 38a, the constant current circuit 39 causes a predetermined current to flow to the LED unit 40 and causes the LED unit 40 to emit infrared light.

The light emission amount can be set by determining the light emission time by the light emission signal shaping circuit 38 and setting the LED current supplied by the constant current circuit 39 to a predetermined amount. When the LED is detected to be damaged (for example, due to its life) and is damaged by the set number, an alarm signal 38b is sent out via the signal lines 40a and 39a. Charging capacitor 37, light emission signal shaping circuit 38, constant current circuit 39, and LED unit 4
The unit composed of 0 is called a unit, and one LED
The lighting device is composed of one stabilized power supply and a plurality of units.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the structure of the reflective LED lighting device used in the moving object recognition system according to the present invention. The reflective LED lighting device includes a first LED unit substrate layer 42 arranged in two layers and a second LED unit substrate layer 42.
An ED unit substrate layer 43 is provided. First L
In the ED unit substrate layer 42, the reflection type LED elements 41 are arranged in one line on a substrate 44, and a large number of these lines are arranged. A long groove 44a is provided between each line. The second L
The ED unit substrate layer 43 is also one in which the reflective LED elements 41 are arranged in one line on the substrate 45, and a large number of these lines are arranged. Each line is arranged so as to be seen from the long groove 44a.

When a large number of reflective LED elements are arranged on one substrate in order to increase the light emission density, each reflective LED
Due to the lead frame structure of the element, the density cannot be increased beyond a certain level. By providing the long groove in this way and allowing only the light emitting surface of each reflective LED element arranged on another substrate to be seen above, the light emission density can be further increased. In addition, the reflection type LED element can be configured by arranging a plurality of infrared LED elements.

[0020]

As described above, the present invention relates to a camera device having an image pickup section and an infrared LE emitting light in an infrared region.
A reflection type LED in which a plurality of reflection type LED elements for reflecting light in an infrared region so as to have a predetermined irradiation angle are arranged in a plane on a substrate, wherein a D element is arranged to face a concave reflection plate. Consisting of a lighting device and a control device that controls the light emission timing of the reflective LED lighting device and the imaging timing of the camera device, and acquires a captured image of the moving body, enabling continuous irradiation without causing the moving body to recognize the irradiation light And it is possible to continuously photograph the moving body. Therefore, an image for recognizing a moving object such as a vehicle can be continuously captured by a camera using an image sensor. According to this system, infrared light is continuously emitted at a speed that can correspond to the capture speed of the image sensor, and infrared light with good luminous efficiency is emitted to the imaging mobile body with a sharp rising edge of the irradiation range and flatness. Can be irradiated. In addition, the driver is not made aware of the slight light that hinders driving.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle recognition device that is a moving object recognition system according to the present invention, and illustrates a case where the vehicle recognition device is installed on a road shoulder side.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a vehicle recognition device that is a moving object recognition system according to the present invention, illustrating a case where the vehicle recognition device is installed on a road.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the system in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of a reflective LED lighting device used in a moving object recognition system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a structure of a reflective LED lighting device used in a moving object recognition system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a structure of a reflective LED element constituting the reflective LED lighting device used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera device 2,10,11 ... Reflection type LED lighting device 3 ... Control device 4,9 ... Road 5,8 ... Vehicle 6 ... Number plate 7 ... Person 12 ... High definition camera 13 ... Gate post 14 ... Travel time measurement terminal Apparatus 20, 26 ... LED lighting section 21, 41 ... Reflective LED element 22, 24 ... Drive circuit 23, 25, 35 ... Power supply 27 ... Imaging section 28 ... Infrared transmission filter 29 ... Lens 30 ... CCD camera 31 ... AVI body 32 image processing board 33 CPU board 34 communication board 36 stabilized power supply 37 charging capacitor 38 light emission signal shaping circuit 39 constant current circuit 40 LED unit 42 first LED unit substrate layer 43 2 LED unit substrate layers 44, 45: substrate 47: concave reflection surface 48, 49: lead frame 50: infrared LED element 51: glass

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/33 H04N 5/33 7/18 7/18 D G06F 15/64 325G

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A camera device having an image pickup unit, and an infrared LED element for emitting light in an infrared region are arranged facing a concave reflector, and the light in the infrared region is emitted at a predetermined irradiation angle. A reflective LED illuminating device in which a plurality of reflective LED elements to be reflected are arranged in a plane on a substrate; controlling a light emitting timing of the reflective LED illuminating device and a photographing timing of a camera device; A moving object recognition system, comprising a control device for acquiring an image, wherein the moving object can be continuously irradiated without being conscious of irradiation light, and the moving object can be continuously photographed. 2. The moving object recognition system according to claim 1, wherein the moving object is a vehicle. 3. The moving object recognition system according to claim 1, wherein the light in the infrared region has a wavelength longer than 730 nm. 4. The reflection type LED illuminating device includes: an infrared LED element that emits light in an infrared region, which is arranged to face the concave reflector, and emits light in the infrared region so as to have a predetermined irradiation angle. A first LED unit substrate layer in which a plurality of reflective LED elements to be reflected are arranged in a plane on a substrate, and a long groove is provided between rows of the reflective LED elements; and the first LED unit substrate 4. A second LED unit substrate layer disposed below the layer, wherein a plurality of reflective LED elements are arranged so as to be visible from the long groove. Mobile object recognition system.