COMBINED WIDE-ANGLE/ZOOM CAMERA FOR LICENSE PLATE IDENTIFICATION
A system for recognizing and identifying at least one object of interest. The system includes a computer, a first camera, electrically coupled to the computer, the first camera having a wide-angle lens, and a second camera electrically coupled to the computer, the second camera operative to focus on coordinates supplied from the computer. The computer detects the at least one object of interest within a field of view of the first camera, and directs the second camera to focus on the at least one object of interest.
1 . A system for recognizing and identifying at least one object of interest, the system comprising:
a computer;
a first camera, electrically coupled to the computer, the first camera having a wide-angle lens;
a second camera electrically coupled to the computer, the second camera operative to focus on coordinates supplied from the computer; and
wherein the computer detects the at least one object of interest within a field of view of the first camera, and directs the second camera to focus on the at least one object of interest.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first camera, the second camera, and the computer are mounted in a vehicle.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second camera is mounted on a pan/tilt mechanism.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second camera is capable of active infrared illumination.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer performs optical character recognition.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second camera transmits high-resolution images to the computer.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least a third camera electrically coupled to the computer.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the computer detects a second object of interest within the field of view of the first camera, and directs the third camera to focus on the second object of interest.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer stores high-resolution images.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer provides coordinates of the at least one object of interest to the second camera.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one object of interest is a vehicular license plate.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cameras are wirelessly connected to the computer.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second cameras are connected to the computer by way of a plurality of cables.
14 . A method for recognizing and identifying vehicular license plates, the method comprising:
receiving an image from a first camera;
detecting at least one object of interest within a field of view of the first camera;
determining a location coordinates of the at least one object of interest;
focusing a second camera to the location coordinates; and
capturing, via the second camera, an image of the at least one object of interest.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first camera is a wide-angle camera.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second camera is a zoom camera.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second camera is mounted on a pan/tilt mechanism.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of focusing the second camera is accomplished by way of a computer electrically coupled to the first camera and the second camera.
19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising detecting, via a computer, the at least one object of interest within the field of view of the first camera.
20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising detecting, via a computer, the coordinates of the license plate.
21 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting, via a computer, the coordinates to the second camera.
22 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising performing, via a computer, optical character recognition.
23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second camera is capable of active infrared illumination.
24 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting a high-resolution image to a computer.
25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one object of interest is a vehicular license plate.
26 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
detecting at least a second object of interest within a field of view of the first camera;
determining a location coordinates of the second object of interest;
driving a third camera to the location coordinates; and
capturing, via the third camera, an image of the second object of interest.
27 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the image is a high-resolution image.