A vehicle camera system

Claim 2

A vehicle camera system comprising camera means (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, picture storing means (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera means (6), reading means (21, 22) in response to entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal from said picture storing means (20), and storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data, said picture storing means (20) being adapted to subsequently revise and store the oldest one of the plurality of picture data.

Claim 3

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 1 or 2, in which said picture storing means (20) is composed of a plurality of frame memories each storing picture data for one frame.

Claim 4

A vehicle camera system comprising camera means (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, picture storing means (20) consisting of a plurality of frame memories each storing picture data picked up by said camera means (6) for one frame, reading means (21, 22) in response to entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal from said picture storing means (20), storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data, and write instruction means (21, 22 and 100) for applying a cyclic writing instruction of picture data to the plurality of frame memories, said write instruction means (21, 22 and 100) being adapted to apply a writing instruction to a subsequent frame memory at several frame periods.

Claim 5

A vehicle camera system comprising camera means (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, picture storing means (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera means (6), dishonest vehicle detection means (22, 101 and 102) for detecting a vehicle dishonestly passing said gate, reading means (21, 22) in response to detection of a dishonest pass vehicle by said dishonest vehicle detection means (22, 101 and 102) for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of said detection from said picture storing means (20), and storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 6

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, a buffer memory (20) a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), reading means (21, 22) in response to entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal from said buffer memory (20), and storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 7

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, a buffer memory (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), reading means (21, 22) in response to entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal from said buffer memory (20), and storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data, said buffer memory (20) subsequently revising and storing the oldest one of the plurality of picture data.

Claim 8

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, in which said buffer memory (20) is composed of a plurality of frame memories each storing picture data for one frame.

Claim 9

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, in which said camera (6) is disposed on a road ahead of said gate.

Claim 10

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, in which said camera (6) is mounted on an arm (5) crossing a road of said gate.

Claim 11

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, in which said camera (6) is mounted on a pole (51) standing on an island of said gate.

Claim 12

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, in which said camera (6) has a view range capable of picking up at least a license plate of a vehicle which stops at a stop position of said gate, and at least the license plate and a driver of the vehicle which is positioned at a forward position of said stop position.

Claim 13

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, further comprising a monitor (27) for displaying a plurality of picture data read out from said buffer memory (20), and a selector switch (29) for selecting which picture data should be separately stored from the plurality of said displayed picture data.

Claim 14

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 13, further comprising a dishonest vehicle picture storage memory (24) for storing all of the plurality of picture data, said monitor (27) displaying picture data stored in said dishonest vehicle picture storage memory (24).

Claim 15

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, further comprising means (55) for detecting a vehicle passing said gate and means (21 and 22) for instructing writing picture data on said buffer (20).

Claim 16

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, further comprising detection means (115 and 116) for detecting that a vehicle passing the gate has arrived a first and a second detection points, and instruction means (21 and 22) for instructing said buffer memory (20) to write picture data therein during a period from a time when said vehicle reaches said first detection point until a time when the vehicle reaches said second detection point, said camera (6) being able to pick up at least a license plate of the vehicle at said first detection point and a license plate and a driver of the vehicle at said second detection point.

Claim 17

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, in which said gate is disposed at a tollgate of a toll road.

Claim 18

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 6 or 7, in which said gate is disposed in a parking lot.

Claim 19

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, a buffer memory (20) including a plurality of frame memories each storing one frame of picture data picked up by said camera (6), reading means (21 and 22) in response to entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal from said buffer memory (20), storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data, and write instruction means (21, 22 and 100) for applying a cyclic writing instruction of picture data to the plurality of frame memories of said buffer memory (20), said write instruction means (21, 22 and 100) being adapted to apply a writing instruction to a subsequent frame memory at several frame periods.

Claim 20

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, a buffer memory (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), dishonest vehicle detecting means (22, 101 and 102) for detecting a vehicle dishonestly passing said gate, reading means (21, 22) in response to detection of a dishonest pass vehicle for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the detection from said buffer memory (20), and storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 21

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 20, in which said gate is disposed at a tollgate of a toll road, and said dishonest vehicle detection means (22, 101 and 102) detects a dishonestly passing vehicle based on a payment completion signal from a toll collector (101) and a vehicle start signal generated from a start detector (102) detecting start of a vehicle at a stop position of the gate.

Claim 22

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, a buffer memory (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), dishonest vehicle detection means (22, 101 and 102) for detecting a vehicle dishonestly passing said gate, reading means (21, 22) in response to detection of a dishonest pass vehicle by said dishonest vehicle detection means (22, 101 and 102) or entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of said detection or said entry from said buffer memory (20), and storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 23

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 19 or 22, in which said read out instruction signal entered into said means (21 and 22) for reading out picture data from said buffer memory (20) is based on a manual operation.

Claim 24

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, detection means (19) for detecting a license plate of a vehicle based on the picture data picked up by said camera (6), a buffer memory (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), means (21 and 22) for making storage of picture data effective on said buffer memory (20) based on entry of detection signal representing detection of said license plate, reading means (21, 22) in response to a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal from said buffer memory (20), and storing means (16 and 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 25

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate disposed in an unmanned parking lot, detection means (121 and 122) for detecting whether said vehicle moved forward or backward from a stop position, a fee collector (101) for generating a fee payment completion signal representing that said vehicle passing said gate paid a fee, means (52) for generating a read out instruction signal based on said fee payment completion signal and an output from said detection means (121 and 122), and storing means (16 and 17) for storing a picture picked up by said camera (6) upon entry timing of said read out instruction signal.

Claim 26

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate disposed in an unmanned parking lot, license plate detecting means (19) for detecting a license plate of said vehicle based on picture data picked up by said camera (6), detection means (121 and 122) for detecting whether said vehicle moved forward or backward from a stop position, a buffer memory (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), means (21 and 22) for instructing said buffer memory (20) to write picture data therein based on entry of a detection signal representing detection of said license plate, means (52) for generating a read out instruction signal based on fee payment and an output from said detection means (121 and 122), reading means (21, 22) based on entry of said read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal from said buffer memory (20), and storing means (16 and 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 27

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 24 or 26, in which said license plate detection means (19) differentiates an input picture data in a horizontal scanning direction to be digitized and to detect an edge thereof along a vertical scanning direction so that a plate candidate line be made when the number of the detected edges within a predetermined width in a horizontal direction is within a predetermined range and a detection of a license plate be produced when a predetermined number of the plate candidate lines continue in the vertical scanning direction.

Claim 28

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, license plate detecting means (19) for detecting a license plate of said vehicle based on picture data picked up by said camera (6), a buffer memory (20) including a plurality of frame memories each one frame of picture data picked up by said camera (6), write instruction means (21 and 22) for instructing said buffer memory (20) to write picture data therein based on entry of a detection signal representing detection of said license plate, reading means (21 and 22) based on entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal from said buffer memory (20), and storing means (16 and 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 29

A vehicle camera system according to Claim 28, in which said write instruction means (21 and 22) instructs each of said frame memories to subsequently and cyclically write one frame of picture data therein when a detection signal representing the existence of a license plate is entered from said license plate detection means (19) but does not generate of any write instruction and stops switching of said frame memories when a detection signal representing nonexistence of any license plate is entered from the same.

Claim 30

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, a buffer memory (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), reading means (21 and 22) based on entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal from said buffer memory (20), and storing means (16 and 17) for separately storing said read out picture data, in which said read out instruction signal entered into said reading means (21 and 22) for reading out said picture data from said buffer memory (20) is based on a manual operation.

Claim 31

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, license plate detection means (19) for detecting a license plate of a vehicle based on picture data picked up by said camera (6), a buffer memory (20) including a plurality of frame memories each storing one frame of picture data picked up by said camera (6), writing means (21 and 22) for instructing a cyclic writing of picture data of a vehicle to the plurality of frame memories of said buffer memory (20) based on entry of a detection signal representing detection of said license plate generated from said license plate detection means (19), and an operation unit (3) disposed in said gate for manually generating a read out instruction signal to read picture data from said buffer memory (20), whereby one or a plurality of picture data at least just before an operation timing in said operation unit (3) are read out from a corresponding frame memory.

Claim 32

A vehicle camera system comprising vehicle detection means (55) for detecting a vehicle passing a gate, a camera (6) for picking up the vehicle passing said gate, a buffer memory (20) including a plurality of frame memories each storing one frame of picture data picked up by said camera (6), and an operation unit (3) disposed in said gate for manually generating a read out instruction signal to read picture data from said buffer memory (20), whereby picture data of the vehicle is cyclically stored in said respective frame memories when the vehicle is detected by said vehicle detection means (55) and upon an operation in said operation unit (3) picture data at least just before an operation timing in said operation unit (3) are read out from a corresponding frame memory.

Claim 33

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, license plate detection means (19) for detecting a license plate of said vehicle based on the picture data picked up by said camera (6), a buffer memory (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), writing means (21 and 22) for instructing said buffer memory (20) to write picture data therein based on entry of a detection signal representing detection of said license plate, reading means (21 and 22) based on entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of said read out instruction signal from said buffer memory (20), and a transmitting unit for transmitting said read out picture data to a central unit, said central unit including a receiving section for receiving picture data transmitted and a memory for separately storing the received picture data.

Claim 34

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, license plate detection means (19) for detecting a license plate of said vehicle based on the picture data picked up by said camera (6), a buffer memory (20) including a plurality of frame memories in which picture data picked up by said camera (6) is alternately switched to be stored, a picture compressor (30) for compressing the picture data read out from said buffer memory (20) based on entry of a detection signal of said license plate from said license plate detection means (19), a mass storage (32) for storing picture data compressed by said picture compressor (30), an operation unit (3) disposed at said gate for manually generating a read out instruction signal to read said compressed picture data from said buffer memory (20), and a transmitting unit upon an operation in said operation unit (3) for reading out said compressed picture data before the timing of said operation from said mass storage (32) to be transmitted to a central unit, said central unit including a receiving section for receiving said read out compressed picture data and a memory for separately storing the received compressed picture data.

Claim 35

A vehicle camera system comprising a camera (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, license plate detection means (19) for detecting a license plate of said vehicle based on the picture data picked up by said camera (6), means (120) for recognizing a character on said detected license plate, a buffer memory (20) including a plurality of frame memories storing picture data picked up by said camera (6), a storage (32) for reading out picture data corresponding to a vehicle of a previously recognized license plate from said buffer memory (20) to be stored when said recognized character of the detected license plate differs from the character of said previously recognized license plate, reading means (21 and 22) upon entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out picture data before the entry timing of said read out instruction signal from said storage (32), and means (16 and 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 36

In a vehicle camera system applied to a road pricing system in which a charge data is by wireless written into a storage (71) carried by a vehicle running on a road within a predetermined toll area, the improvement comprising vehicle detection means (74) for detecting a vehicle running on said road, a camera (6) for picking up the vehicle running on said road, picture storing means (20) for storing a plurality of picture data picked up by said camera (6), reading means (21, 22) in response to entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out one or a plurality of picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal from said picture storing means (20), storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data, and instruction means (21 and 22) for instructing said picture storing means to write picture data therein based on entry of a detection signal of the vehicle.

Claim 37

A vehicle camera system comprising camera means (6) for picking up a vehicle passing a gate, picture storing means (20) for storing picture data picked up by said camera means (6), reading means (21, 22) in response to entry of a read out instruction signal for reading out said picture data at least just before the timing of the entry of said read out instruction signal from said picture storing means (20), and storing means (16, 17) for separately storing said read out picture data.

Claim 41

A method according to Claim 40, in which said reading out is in response to a manual operation (3) by an attendant (m) at said gate.

Claim 42

A method according to Claim 40, in which said reading out is in response to detection of a dishonest pass vehicle in said gate.