JP2773135B2 - Vehicle parking time measuring device and illegal parking monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle parking time measuring device for measuring a parking time of a vehicle and an illegal parking monitoring system using the same.

(Prior Art and its Problems) Vehicles parked illegally on the roadside cause traffic congestion, and in particular, parked vehicles near intersections cause significant obstacles to traffic flow.

The enforcement of such illegally parked vehicles is usually carried out by police patrols, but if a large number of vehicles must be covered in a large patrol area, a very large number of police officers are required. There was a problem that would be.

The conventional method of controlling illegal parking is mainly a method of checking a parked vehicle and detecting an illegally parked vehicle in a state where a driver of the parked vehicle is absent. Because it was not something to eliminate, it was difficult to obtain a substantial crackdown effect to avoid traffic congestion.

Recently, a method of providing a monitoring camera near an illegal parking monitoring area, remotely controlling the monitoring camera at a central control center, and monitoring an image obtained thereby to determine an illegally parked vehicle is also available. Although it is taken, since it is necessary to perform the monitoring of the image and the determination of the illegally parked vehicle by humans, it also takes time and effort,
The effect of the substantial crackdown as described above was not obtained.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an illegal parking monitoring system and an illegal parking monitoring system in which determination of an illegally parked vehicle is automatically and promptly made without human intervention. It is an object of the present invention to provide a suitable vehicle parking time measuring device such as the above.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an illegal parking monitoring system that exhibits a real-time enforcement effect that leads to avoidance of traffic congestion and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an illegal parking monitoring system effective near an intersection.

(Structure and effect of the invention) In order to achieve such an object, in the vehicle parking time measuring device according to the present invention according to claim (1), the vehicle parking time measuring device is based on an image pickup signal from an image pickup means for picking up an image in a predetermined area. hand,
Recognition means for recognizing the vehicle number described on the license plate of the parked vehicle in the area, and the time at which the same vehicle number as the vehicle number recognized by the recognition means is recognized by the recognition means, It is configured to include a measuring unit that measures the parking time of the parked vehicle according to the number.

In the illegal parking monitoring system according to the second aspect of the present invention, an imaging unit that images the inside of the parking prohibition monitoring area, and a license plate of a parked vehicle in the parking prohibition monitoring area based on an imaging signal from the imaging unit. Recognition means for recognizing the vehicle number described in the above, the time when the same vehicle number as the vehicle number recognized by the recognition means is recognized by the recognition means, as the parking time of the parked vehicle related to the vehicle number When the measured parking time is equal to or longer than a required reference time, the vehicle is determined to be an illegally parked vehicle, and output means for outputting the vehicle number is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an illegal parking monitoring system according to the second aspect of the present invention, further including an imaging direction conversion unit configured to change an imaging direction of the imaging unit.

The illegal parking monitoring system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle parking system according to the second aspect of the present invention, which is installed at a position visible from the parking prohibition monitoring area and based on at least an output from the output means. Is displayed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the illegal parking monitoring system according to the second aspect, the parking prohibition monitoring area by the imaging unit is set near an intersection where a signal light is provided, and the reference time of the output unit is set to a reference time. However, it is configured to be set to a time longer than the lighting switching cycle of the signal lamp.

 Next, the operation and effect will be described.

According to the first aspect, the vehicle number of the vehicle parked in the predetermined area is recognized, and the time during which the same vehicle number as the vehicle number is recognized is measured as the parking time of the parked vehicle corresponding to the vehicle number. Therefore, the parking time of the vehicle can be reliably measured, for example, the measurement of the parking time can be performed without fail for the same vehicle.

In the above claim 2, the vehicle number of the vehicle parked in the parking prohibition monitoring area is recognized, and the time during which the same vehicle number as the vehicle number is continuously recognized is determined as the parking time of the parked vehicle related to the vehicle number. As it is determined that the vehicle is illegal parking when the measured time is equal to or longer than the reference time, illegal parking can be reliably determined, for example, the illegal parking time can be correctly measured for the same vehicle. Become like This makes it possible to automatically monitor the presence or absence of illegal parking of the vehicle in the parking prohibition monitoring area, that is, to perform unmanned monitoring.

According to the third aspect, since the imaging direction of the imaging means can be changed, the parking prohibition monitoring area can be expanded.

According to the fourth aspect, the vehicle number of the vehicle that is illegally parked in the parking prohibition monitoring area can be displayed on the display means. As a result, the driver of the vehicle can directly recognize his or her own illegal parking, so that the effect of eliminating illegally parked vehicles, such as forced to stop illegal parking, is increased.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, illegal parking measures in the vicinity of an intersection where traffic jams and traffic accidents are likely to be caused by illegally parked vehicles are effective, and it is possible to contribute to eliminating traffic jams and promoting traffic safety.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of an illegal parking monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement configuration at an intersection according to the embodiment.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a television camera as imaging means, 2 denotes a camera platform as imaging direction conversion means,
The television camera 1 is provided rotatably with respect to the camera platform 2,
When the drive motor provided in the camera platform 2 is driven, the depression angle is changed so that the imaging direction can be changed.

Further, the television camera 1 includes a zoom lens 4 and is configured to be capable of zoom control. The television camera 1 is provided on a signal light 8 provided near the intersection 6, and the imaging of the television camera 1 is performed as described above. By changing the direction, a monitoring area as a predetermined area set at a predetermined distance length from the intersection 6 on the road side of the upstream road on the other side (in the drawing, on the other side) of the intersection 6.
It is configured to capture 10 images.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a processing device attached to the base of the pole 14 of the signal light 8, and an illegal parking corresponding terminal controller 15 that performs a predetermined control operation corresponding to each of the television camera 1 and the camera platform 2; It comprises a signal terminal controller (not shown) corresponding to the signal light 8.

The illegal parking corresponding terminal controller 15 in the processing device 12 converts the imaging signal relating to the image data from the television camera 1 into electric / optical (E / O), and converts the E / O converted imaging signal into a central processing unit 16. Conversion transmitting section 18 for transmitting to the side, a recognition means 2 for recognizing the vehicle number of the parked vehicle based on the imaging signal
0, an output means 22 for judging an illegally parked vehicle and outputting a signal relating to the vehicle number of the illegally parked vehicle as an illegal number signal; a zoom control signal for the television camera 1; A television camera control means 24 for providing a depression angle control signal, and a signal transmission unit 26 for transmitting an illegal number signal from the output means 22 to the central processing unit 16 side
It is composed of In this case, the recognition means 20, the output means
The 22 and the TV camera control means 24 function as a control unit 28 composed of a microcomputer, and operate according to a predetermined procedure based on the input program.

The output unit 22 is a measuring unit that measures the time during which the same vehicle number as the vehicle number recognized by the recognizing unit 20 is recognized by the recognizing unit 20 as the parking time of the parked vehicle related to the vehicle number. It has the function of

Reference numeral 30 denotes an electro-optic information display plate as a display means, which is mounted on a pole 32 erected near the starting point 10a of the monitoring area 10 at the stop line so that its display surface faces the monitoring area 10. A display board controller 34 is attached to the base of the pole 32, and the display board controller 34 is connected to the central processing unit 16 and the processing unit 12, and responds to a display command signal given from each of them to display light-emitting information. A display signal is given to the display panel 30, whereby the electric information display panel 30 performs an appropriate display.

Next, the operation of the above system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the TV camera control means of the illegal parking terminal 15
24 sends zoom control signal to TV camera 1
An image of the parked vehicle in the monitoring area 10 is taken by the TV camera 1 while giving a depression angle control signal to the camera (step S1).
At this time, the TV camera 1 moves the pan head 2 based on the depression angle control signal.
Changes the imaging direction in the depression angle direction over time, whereby the start point 10a to the end point 10b of the monitoring area 10 are changed.
, And continuous imaging from the end point 10b to the start point 10a.

As described above, when the depression angle direction of the television camera 1 is changed, the imaging position is near at the start point 10a position of the monitoring area 10 and is far at the end point 10b position, and the image at the end point 10b position obtained by the television camera 1 is Become smaller. If the size of the image obtained in this way changes, the next operation, the recognition of the vehicle number, cannot be performed normally,
In order to prevent this, a zoom control signal is given to the television camera 1 so that the size of the image does not change, and zoom control is performed along with conversion of the imaging direction.

A zoom control operation performed in conjunction with this imaging direction conversion will be described.

Now, as shown in each of the side view of FIG. 4 and the plan view of FIG. 5, the horizontal separation distance between the television camera 1 and the imaging point 3 is x, the installation height of the television camera 1 is h, The linear separation distance between 1 and the imaging point 3 is y, and the width of the monitoring area 10 is
wa, the pixel length corresponding to the monitoring area width wa of the imaging device of the television camera 1 is wb, the depression angle of the television camera 1 is θ, and the focal length of the television camera 1 is f, the position in the side view of FIG. In the relation, a relational expression of tan θ = h / x and x ² + h ² = y ² is obtained. In the positional relation in the plan view of FIG.
The relational expression of × f = wb × x is obtained. Therefore, finally, from these three equations, f = [wb × (h ² / tan ² θ + h ² ) ^1/2 ]
A relational expression between the depression angle θ and the focal length f is obtained, such as / wa.

That is, in the above final equation, w is constant at the width of the monitoring area 10, and wb is also constant at the pixel length of the image sensor, so that the depression angle θ and the focal length f are determined in a correlated manner. In the correlation, if the focal length f obtained by the calculation is applied to the changing depression angle θ, an image having a desired constant length can always be obtained.

And, for example, the start point 10a of the monitoring area 10 is 10 m from the television camera 1 and the end point 10b is 40 m, the length of the monitoring area 10 is 30 m, the width wa is 1.5 m,
The height h of the TV camera 1 is 6 m, and the image sensor is 2/3
When using a CCD image sensor with an inch length wb, the depression angle θ changes in a range of about 31 ° to 8.5 ° with the direction change of the TV camera, and zoom control is performed in accordance with this change, By changing the focal length f from about 68 mm to a value of 237 mm, an image of a fixed length is always captured at a pixel having a length of 2/3 inch.

In step 1, an image is taken, and the image signal is supplied to the processing device 12. On the other hand, the image signal is electro-optically converted by the conversion output unit 18 and sent to the central processing unit 16 via the optical fiber 36. . The central processing unit 16 stores an image based on the image signal as evidence of illegal parking.

On the other hand, when the imaging signal is given to the recognizing means 20 of the control unit 28, the vehicle number is recognized by comparing with the recognition pattern in the image based on the imaging signal (step S2), and there is no parked vehicle at the imaging position. If the vehicle number cannot be detected (step S3), the process returns to step S1 to continue imaging. On the other hand, when the vehicle is parked at the imaging position and the vehicle number is detected in the image,
The clocking is started (step S4), the direction control and the zoom operation of the television camera 1 are stopped by stopping the zoom control signal and the depression angle control signal, and the television camera is fixed (step S5). Then, imaging is performed in that state (step S6), and the vehicle number is recognized (step S6).
S7), when the same vehicle number as that detected in step S3 is detected (step S8), step 4
It is determined whether or not the set time has elapsed since the start of the time measurement (step S9). If the set time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S6, and if the set time has not elapsed, the process proceeds from step S6 to step S9. Repeat the operation.

If it is determined in step S9 that the set time has elapsed, an illegal number signal is output (step S10), and the illegal number signal is supplied to the central processing unit 16 via the signal transmission unit 26 on the one hand. The processing device 16 registers the vehicle number related to the illegal parking. On the other hand, an illegal number signal is given to the electric information display panel 30 via the display panel controller 34, thereby the electric information panel
30 displays, for example, "warning / parking violation / 12-34" (step S11), and ends the operation.

As the above-mentioned set time, a time longer than at least the switching cycle time of the red / blue indication of the signal lamp 8 is adopted. By doing so, it is possible to prevent a vehicle that waits for a signal and starts by switching of the signal and does not stay in the monitoring area 10 from being determined as an illegally parked vehicle. Are clearly determined.

In the above embodiment, the television camera 1 is connected to the central processing unit.
The traffic flow can be monitored by the remote control from the 16 side and the obtained monitor image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 5 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration of an illegal parking monitoring system, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement configuration at an intersection,
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation, FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the relationship between the depression angle and the focal length, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the same. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... TV camera (imaging means), 2 ... Head head (imaging direction conversion means), 8 ... Signal light device, 20 ... Recognition means, 22 ... Output means, 30 ... Electrical information display board (display means) ).

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recognizing means for recognizing a vehicle number described on a license plate of a parked vehicle in the area based on an image pickup signal from an image pickup means for picking up an image in a predetermined area; Measuring means for measuring the time during which the same vehicle number as the vehicle number is recognized by the recognizing means as the parking time of the parked vehicle according to the vehicle number; and a vehicle parking time measuring device comprising: . 2. An image pickup means for picking up an image of the inside of the parking prohibition monitoring area, and a recognizing means for recognizing a vehicle number described on a license plate of a parked vehicle in the parking prohibition monitoring area based on an image pickup signal from the image pickup means. And measuring the time during which the same vehicle number as the vehicle number recognized by the recognizing means is recognized by the recognizing means as the parking time of the parked vehicle related to the vehicle number. Output means for determining that the vehicle is an illegally parked vehicle when the reference time is equal to or longer than the reference time, and outputting the vehicle number. 3. The illegal parking monitoring system according to claim 2, further comprising an imaging direction changing means for changing an imaging direction of said imaging means. 4. An illegal parking monitor according to claim 2, further comprising a display installed at a position visible from said parking prohibition monitoring area and displaying at least a vehicle number relating to an illegally parked vehicle based on an output from said output means. system. 5. A parking prohibition monitoring area by said imaging means is set near an intersection where a signal light is provided, and a reference time of said output means is a time longer than a lighting switching cycle of said signal light. 3. The illegal parking monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the system is set.