The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 14, 1992
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1988
Creed F Jones, III, Oliver Springs, TN (US);
Michael A Goldston, Knoxville, TN (US);
David R Patek, Knoxville, TN (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A license plate reader and method for reading the characters of a license plate and for identifying the state which issued the plate utilizes image intensity transition information gathered while scanning the plate. With the gathered intensity transition information, the plate image is identified and the license plate characters are extracted from the plate background with a relatively high degree of accuracy. A chopper isolates the region of the plate containing the character set for character-reading purposes and compensates for rivets in the plate and character appendages. A contour tracer is adapted to trace the exterior edges of each license plate character, and a tilt compensator compensates for the tilted condition of the characters when the plate is tilted relative to the horizontal. Furthermore, intensity transition patterns relating to decorative and non-decorative characteristics of the plate aid in the identification of the state which issued the plate, and an adjuster conforms, when necessary, the identity of an identified character so that the alphanumeric pattern conforms to an acceptable alphanumeric pattern of a plate of the identified plate-issuing state.