KR102138019B1 - Vehicle detector invoked a control technology of electro polarizing filter - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle detector using an electron-polarizing filter control technique for reflection light removal and, more specifically, to a vehicle detector using an electron-polarizing filter control technique for reflection light removal which can use the time at which reflection light is created by the azimuth and elevation of the sun as a vulnerable time when a camera arranged on a vehicle detector installed for vehicle detection photographs an object to check the vulnerable time and alleviate the detection failure of the vehicle detector caused by the reflection light by controlling a polarizing filter to turn on in the checked vulnerable time slot based on: information on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle detector; tilt information of the camera; and information on the azimuth and elevation of the sun at a vehicle detector position calculated based on the information on the latitude and longitude.

Description

Vehicle detector with electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light{VEHICLE DETECTOR INVOKED A CONTROL TECHNOLOGY OF ELECTRO POLARIZING FILTER}

The present invention relates to a vehicle detector to which an electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light is applied.

Specifically, information on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle detector installed for vehicle detection; Tilt information of the camera provided in the vehicle detector; Based on information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun at the position of the vehicle detector calculated based on the information on the latitude and longitude;

When the camera photographs an object, the time at which reflected light is generated due to the azimuth and altitude of the sun is set as a vulnerable time, and the vulnerable time is checked, and a polarization filter is turned on to control the identified vulnerable time. The present invention relates to a vehicle detector to which an electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light is applied, which can improve detection failure of the vehicle detector.

In general, a vehicle number is a unique number assigned for identification for each vehicle, and is the same as a resident registration number when viewed as a person. Through these vehicle numbers, it is possible to check basic information such as the vehicle's name/manufacturer/production year/exhaust volume/motor vehicle type, and accident history/maintenance history during operation (in this case, it is insured or limited to repairs at designated maintenance shops)/ It is also possible to check important information such as the status of vehicle registration (invincible vehicles and stolen vehicles can be viewed).

In recent years, a number of devices have been introduced to check the status and entry history of a specific vehicle or an unspecified vehicle for a specific location or an unspecified location.

Various recognition devices (devices) and technologies are applied to such a device. Among them, the vehicle number recognition technology has been applied to theft vehicle search/illegal parking vehicle search/speeding vehicle search/signal violation vehicle search.

However, the conventional vehicle number recognizer has a limitation in use because it is forced to generate a large number of error rates because it cannot quickly respond to the illumination adjustment machine such as the sun and environmental changes.

In the conventional vehicle number recognizer, when the vehicle light is turned on at night, the license plate cannot be photographed, and when the light beyond the vehicle's lighting is illuminated for the license plate, the driver's field of view is obscured. I had no choice but to.

Image elements (CMOS and CCD) used in all electronic cameras can capture light in almost all wavelengths other than visible light, but the human eye can see high-quality visible light because it can see little or no light other than visible light. In order to shorten the lifespan of the imaging device by ultraviolet rays, an infrared cut-off filter that blocks all light other than visible light has been used, and in the device for recognition of vehicle numbers, the infrared cut-off filter is removed and used because of the need to turn on the infrared light at night. Is done.

However, due to this, since the focal length is different due to different refraction angles of visible light and all other light rays during daytime shooting, it is impossible to shoot a clear resolution, and the color recognition rate changes with time, so the recognition rate changes with time. There is a problem.

In addition, the camera lens used in the conventional vehicle number recognizer is used for AUTO-IRIS with automatic iris according to the amount of sunlight. When the sunlight is located in the center of the place where the number recognizer is installed, shadows and reflected light are placed on the license plate position. Since it does not occur, it is possible to take a good image, but since the automatic iris responds slowly to changes in ambient light, the instantaneous illumination change due to clouds at the moment for recognition of the vehicle number or the reflected light from the vehicle depending on where the sunlight is located/ Due to backlight (shadow)/metering (side reflection), a time zone in which image shooting is impossible occurs, and thus the recognition rate of the vehicle number is lowered, or a state in which the vehicle number is not recognized is generated.

So, when a manual lens is used in a conventional vehicle number recognizer, a camera with an electronic aperture is used to calculate the ambient illuminance and open and close the electronic aperture appropriately. When the sunlight is located in the center of the place where the number recognizer is installed, the vehicle itself is used. Due to the absence of shadows or reflected light on the license plate, it is possible to take good images, and accordingly, there is no problem in recognition of the vehicle number, but the electronic iris suddenly changes in the amount of ambient light, such as a mechanical automatic iris (AUTO IRIS LENS). If there is a limit to it, the camera measures the amount of sunlight and estimates the position angle of the sun with the estimated software, and adjusts the iris with the optimal illumination range.However, to some extent, the position of the sun by season or time zone Is different, and sudden change in illuminance due to clouds, snow, rain, etc. also could not prevent the recognition rate from falling.

The present applicant intends to propose a technique to overcome this problem.

On the other hand, as a related technology, artificial intelligence vehicle number recognition system is described in Patent No. 10-1146581.

The above technology is provided in a parking lot for residents/employees of a specific community such as an apartment/company or a parking lot of a customer/citizen of an unspecified community such as a mart/movie theater/public office, and a vehicle number recognition device for recognizing the number of vehicles entering/exiting and It relates to a method, and more specifically, a camera for recognition of a dedicated vehicle number that can be used without errors regardless of day/night and sunlight position changes and sudden environmental changes, and backlight that is a natural phenomenon from sunlight position changes. / Provides a solar/lighting position sensor that can detect metering/reflected light, etc., resulting in a decrease in the vehicle number recognition rate due to sudden environmental changes (clouds, rain, fog), etc. It relates to a vehicle number recognition device and a method for enabling the image recognition while preventing it.

Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1146581 (announced on June 14, 2012) Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1688695 (announced on December 26, 2016) Publication Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0020564 (2014.02.19.) Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0001119 (2015.01.06.)

An object of the present invention, information on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle detector installed for vehicle detection; Tilt information of the camera provided in the vehicle detector; Based on information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun at the position of the vehicle detector calculated based on the information on the latitude and longitude;

When the camera photographs an object, the time at which reflected light is generated due to the azimuth and altitude of the sun is set as a vulnerable time, and the vulnerable time is checked, and a polarization filter is turned on to control the identified vulnerable time. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle detector to which an electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light is applied, which can improve detection failure of the vehicle detector.

A vehicle detector to which the electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light according to the present invention has been devised to achieve the above-described object is applied,

Information on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle detector installed for vehicle detection; Tilt information of the camera provided in the vehicle detector; Based on information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun at the position of the vehicle detector calculated based on the information on the latitude and longitude;

When the camera photographs an object, the time at which reflected light is generated due to the azimuth and altitude of the sun is set as a vulnerable time, and the vulnerable time is checked, and a polarization filter is turned on to control the identified vulnerable time. It is characterized in that it is possible to improve the detection failure of the vehicle detector.

At this time, the vehicle detector,

It characterized in that it comprises a polarizing filter for removing the reflected light incident on the camera and the camera.

In addition, the vehicle detector,

A camera tilt setting unit that sets a tilt of the camera;

A latitude/longitude setting unit for setting latitude and longitude for the installation location where the vehicle detector is installed;

An azimuth/altitude calculation unit for each cycle, which periodically calculates information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun with respect to the installation position of the corresponding vehicle detector based on information on latitude and longitude set by the latitude/longitude setting unit;

Based on information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun calculated by the azimuth/altitude calculation unit for each period and the tilt information set by the camera tilt setting unit, when the camera provided in the vehicle detector detects an object, sunlight is an object A vulnerable time checking unit that checks a vulnerable time, which is a time when reflected light generated by reflection on the light is incident on the camera;

It characterized in that it further comprises a polarization filter on / off control unit to control the polarization filter to be turned on (On) and then off (Off) during the vulnerable time identified by the vulnerable time confirmation unit.

In addition, the tilt of the camera is characterized in that it is set through the sensor.

According to a vehicle detector to which an electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light according to the present invention is applied,

Information on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle detector installed for vehicle detection; Tilt information of the camera provided in the vehicle detector; Based on information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun at the position of the vehicle detector calculated based on the information on the latitude and longitude;

When the camera photographs an object, the time at which reflected light is generated due to the azimuth and altitude of the sun is set as a vulnerable time, and the vulnerable time is checked, and a polarization filter is turned on to control the identified vulnerable time. It has the advantage of improving the detection failure of the vehicle detector.

1 schematically shows a configuration of a vehicle detector to which an electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light according to the present invention is applied.
2 is a view for explaining reflected light for solar altitude.
FIG. 3 illustrates a problem occurring in an image when detecting a vehicle due to the reflected light of FIG. 2.

The terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventor can appropriately define the concept of terms in order to best describe his or her invention in the best way. Based on the principles, it should be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the examples shown in the embodiments and drawings described herein are only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention, and various equivalents can be substituted at the time of this application. It should be understood that there may be water and variations.

Hereinafter, prior to the description with reference to the drawings, not necessary to reveal the gist of the present invention, that is, a known configuration that can be added by those of ordinary skill in the art will not be shown or not specifically described Well, reveal the notes.

The present invention relates to a vehicle detector to which an electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light is applied.

Specifically, information on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle detector installed for vehicle detection; Tilt information of the camera provided in the vehicle detector; Based on information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun at the position of the vehicle detector calculated based on the information on the latitude and longitude;

When the camera photographs an object, the time at which reflected light is generated due to the azimuth and altitude of the sun is set as a vulnerable time, and the vulnerable time is checked, and a polarization filter is turned on to control the identified vulnerable time. The present invention relates to a vehicle detector to which an electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light is applied, which can improve detection failure of the vehicle detector.

Typically, the vehicle detector includes a camera to photograph a passing vehicle. Such a vehicle detector is used as evidence for violations such as speed violations, parking violations, and lane violations. To this end, the main function is to recognize the license plate of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, when reflected light is generated from an object (vehicle) by the sun's altitude and azimuth angle, the camera of the vehicle detector basically has no function to remove the reflected light, resulting in the problem shown in FIG. 3. do.

In order to remove the reflected light, a polarization filter is generally used. However, since the polarization filter has a problem of darkening an image when there is no reflected light, continuous use is impossible.

Accordingly, the present applicant controls the use of a polarization filter on/off, but determines a time zone vulnerable to reflected light at a location where the vehicle detector is installed, and controls the technology to use the polarization filter only in the corresponding time zone. I made a plan.

A vehicle detector to which the electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light according to the present invention is applied will be described through the accompanying drawings.

1 schematically shows a configuration of a vehicle detector to which an electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light according to the present invention is applied.

The vehicle detector according to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings includes a camera; Polarization filter; Camera tilt setting unit; Latitude/longitude setting unit; Azimuth/altitude calculation for each cycle; Vulnerable time confirmation unit; And a polarization filter on/off control unit.

The configuration according to FIG. 1 is a configuration included in the housing of the vehicle detector, and it is natural that a configuration for a normal function of the vehicle detector is further included. This is based on the expertise of the skilled person.

However, it is emphasized in advance that the present invention describes only a configuration that performs a main function in describing the present invention.

The camera uses a camera used to detect a vehicle in a conventional vehicle detector.

The polarization filter is installed on a lens of a camera, and a conventional polarization lens is used to remove reflected light among light sources incident on the camera lens.

The camera tilt setting unit serves to set the inclination of the camera or the vehicle detector itself provided in the vehicle detector. These settings may be set by an administrator input, and further include a position sensor, a gyro sensor, etc. in the vehicle detector. It is possible to set the tilt of the camera using the automatically acquired sensor value.

The latitude/longitude setting unit functions to set latitude and longitude for the installation location where the vehicle detector is installed.

The latitude and longitude may be set by the input of the manager, like the tilt information of the camera, or may be automatically set using the sensor value obtained based on the sensor.

The azimuth/altitude calculation unit for each cycle functions to calculate information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun for the installation position of the corresponding vehicle detector on a periodic basis based on information on latitude and longitude set by the latitude/longitude setting unit.

In this case, the cycle may be in units of days, months, or years, or may be seasonal, quarterly, or semi-annually.

The reason for calculating information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun for each period is because the azimuth and altitude of the sun may vary for each period (season, etc.).

The calculation of the azimuth/altitude is to employ a technique calculated according to the latitude/longitude of a specific specific area.

When the vulnerable time checking unit detects an object, the camera provided in the vehicle detector detects an object based on the information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun calculated by the azimuth/altitude calculation unit for each period and the tilt information set by the camera tilt setting unit. , It functions to check the vulnerable time, which is the time when the reflected light generated by the reflection of sunlight on the object is incident on the camera.

For example, the time at which the incident light of the reflected light is started is stored as the starting azimuth angle and the starting altitude, and the time at which the incident light of the reflected light is terminated is stored at the ending azimuth angle and the ending altitude, thereby confirming the vulnerable time.

The polarization filter on/off control unit controls the polarization filter to be turned on and off during the vulnerable time identified by the vulnerability time checking unit.

Incidentally, when the vulnerable time identified by the vulnerable time checking unit, that is, a time when any one of the starting orientation angle and the visual altitude is satisfied, an electrical signal is supplied to the polarizing filter provided in the vehicle detector to control the polarization filter on. and,

When the time at which any one of the end orientation angle and the end altitude is satisfied is satisfied, the electrical signal of the polarization filter provided in the vehicle detector is cut off to control the polarization filter off.

As described above, when the azimuth and altitude of the sun are at a certain level, the polarizing filter is operated, so that when the reflected light does not exist, the polarizing filter is not used, so that the image can be prevented from being darkened by the polarizing filter. Even when present, it has the advantage of preventing the failure of image acquisition by reflected light.

On the other hand, depending on the design conditions, the vehicle detector may be configured to further include a rain detection sensor that detects rain, an eye detection sensor that detects snowfall, or an illumination detection sensor that checks ambient illumination.

At this time, the rain detection sensor and the eye detection sensor enable the always-on function to be activated, and the illuminance detection sensor can operate only at the vulnerable time identified for the vulnerable time checking unit. However, the rain detection sensor and the eye detection sensor may also be operated only at the vulnerable time identified for the vulnerable time checking unit.

In addition, the polarization filter on/off control unit may not control the polarization filter to be turned on when the sensor value is generated by the rain detection sensor, the eye detection sensor, etc., at the vulnerability time identified by the vulnerability time confirmation unit. have.

This is because, in the case of snow or rain, reflected light is usually less.

In addition, even when the weather is cloudy even when there is no snow or rain, the polarization filter on/off control unit controls that the polarization filter is on when the weather is recognized as dark when compared to a normal vulnerable time zone through the illumination sensor. You may not.

On the other hand, depending on the design conditions, the housing equipped with the camera of the vehicle detector may be configured as shown in [Table 1].

The housing of the vehicle detector according to [Table 1] is formed so that the sunshade plate protrudes in the upward direction of one surface provided with the camera.

In addition, a suppression structure in contact with a lower surface of the sunshade plate and one surface provided with the camera of the housing is configured in a box shape, and the suppression structure has a groove formed concave in a spherical shape on one side.

At this time, the inside of the restraint structure is referred to as a black room based on the curved inner surface of the groove, and the inner wall of the black room is made of a material that allows light to be absorbed without being reflected inside the black room.

In addition, a blocking film extending downward may be formed in one direction of the groove of the suppression structure, and a plurality of through holes may be formed in the inner wall of the groove.

In addition, the inner surface of the groove is formed as a reflective surface that reflects light. In addition, one surface of the blocking film may also be formed as a reflective surface on which light is reflected.

Therefore, as the light source induced to enter the camera enters the suppression structure and is reflected along the curved surface of the reflective surface, and then flows into the black room through the through hole and disappears. Failure can be further prevented.

For example, when the reflected light is generated due to surrounding or environmental requirements even when the vulnerability time is not confirmed by the vulnerability time confirmation unit, it can be resolved.

As described above, preferred embodiments according to the present invention have been described, and the fact that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the embodiments described above is common knowledge in the art. It is obvious to those who have.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the above description and may be modified within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (4)

Information on the latitude and longitude of the vehicle detector installed for vehicle detection; Tilt information of the camera provided in the vehicle detector; Based on information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun at the position of the vehicle detector calculated based on the information on the latitude and longitude;
When the camera photographs an object, the time at which reflected light is generated due to the azimuth and altitude of the sun is set as a vulnerable time, and the vulnerable time is checked. To improve the detection failure of the vehicle detector,
The vehicle detector,
A camera;
A polarization filter that removes reflected light incident on the camera;
A camera tilt setting unit that sets a tilt of the camera;
A latitude/longitude setting unit for setting latitude and longitude for the installation location where the vehicle detector is installed;
An azimuth/altitude calculation unit for each cycle, which periodically calculates information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun with respect to the installation position of the corresponding vehicle detector based on information on the latitude and longitude set by the latitude/longitude setting unit;
Based on information on the azimuth and altitude of the sun calculated by the azimuth/altitude calculation unit for each cycle and the tilt information set by the camera tilt setting unit, when the camera provided in the vehicle detector detects an object, sunlight is an object A vulnerable time checking unit that checks a vulnerable time, which is a time when reflected light generated by reflection on the light is incident on the camera;
And a polarization filter on/off control unit that controls the polarization filter to be on and off during the vulnerable time identified by the vulnerability time confirmation unit.
The camera of the vehicle detector is provided in a housing, the housing is formed so that the sunshade plate protrudes in an upward direction of one side where the camera is provided, and a restraint structure that contacts the one side of the housing provided with the camera and the lower surface of the sunshade plate is provided. Consists of a box shape, the suppression structure has a groove formed concave in a spherical shape on one side,
On the inside of the suppression structure based on the curved inner surface of the groove, a black room with an inner wall is formed of a material that allows light to be absorbed without being reflected,
A blocking film extending downward is formed in one direction of the groove of the suppression structure, and a plurality of through holes are formed in the inner wall of the groove,
The inner surface of the groove is formed of a reflective surface that reflects light, and one surface of the blocking film is formed of a reflective surface that reflects light,
If the reflected light is generated due to surrounding or environmental requirements even though it is not the vulnerable time identified by the vulnerable time confirmation unit,
As the light source induced to enter the camera enters the restraint structure, it is reflected along the curved surface of the reflective surface and then flows into the black room through the through hole and disappears, thereby eliminating unnecessary light sources and preventing the failure of image acquisition by reflected light. Characterized in that, the vehicle detector is applied to the electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light.
delete delete The method according to claim 1,
The tilt of the camera is characterized in that is set through a sensor, a vehicle detector to which the electronic polarization filter control technology for removing reflected light is applied.

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