System and method for vehicle occupancy detection using smart illumination

摘要

A multi-view imaging system for Vehicle Occupancy Detection (VOD) including a gantry mounted camera and illuminator to view the front seat of vehicles, and a roadside mounted camera and illuminator to view the rear seat of vehicles. The system controls the illuminator units to preserve/maximize bulb life, thus reducing the service cost of the system. In one embodiment, a target vehicle's license plate is read. If the vehicle is on a pre-approved list to use the HOV lane, then no further interrogation of the vehicle is performed. If the vehicle is not on the pre-approved list, then the front seats are interrogated by a camera and illuminator located on an overhead gantry as the vehicle continues down the highway. If the front seat analysis indicates that the passenger seat is not occupied, then the system interrogates the rear seats using a separate camera and illuminator located on the roadside.

主权项

1. A system for vehicle occupancy detection comprising:
at least one vehicle identification scanner for determining the identification of a vehicle; at least one imaging unit for capturing image data used to determine whether a passenger is present in the vehicle; and a central processing unit in communication with the at least one vehicle identification scanner and the at least one imaging unit; wherein the at least one vehicle identification scanner is adapted to transmit information relating to a scanned vehicle to the central processing unit; wherein the central processing unit is configured to:
compare the information received from the vehicle identification scanner to a list of pre-approved vehicles and prevent operation of the at least one imaging unit if a match is found and, if no match is found, enables the trigger of the at least one imaging unit to capture image data pertaining to passenger areas of the vehicle to be used to determine whether a passenger is present in the vehicle.