Imaging system using sensor(s) and camera for determining velocity, position and/or timing of an object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026089384-A1
Application number	US-202519406542-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2025
Priority date	Oct 1, 2021
Publication date	Mar 26, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

An imaging system includes a sensor that measures a velocity of a moving object, a camera that is different from the sensor and images the object, and a processing circuit that controls the operations of the sensor and the camera, wherein the processing circuit causes the sensor to generate velocity information on the object and measurement timing information on the velocity by causing the sensor to measure the velocity of the object, generates control data, including imaging timing information on the camera, in accordance with (a) position information on the object or distance information on the object at a time of velocity measurement, (b) the velocity information, and (c) the measurement timing information, and causes the camera to output, in response to the control data, image data including image information on the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method performed by a computer in an imaging system, the method comprising:
causing a sensor to generate velocity information on an object, generating control data, including imaging timing information on a camera different from the sensor, in accordance with (a) position information on the object or distance information on the object, (b) the velocity information, and (c) measurement timing information relating to timings at which the position information, the distance information, or the velocity information has been measured.

2 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer causes the camera to image the object in accordance with the imaging timing information on the camera.

3 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer causes the camera to capture a video of the object and output image data from the video captured by the camera.

4 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein the control data further comprises at least one piece of information determining a Region Of Interest (ROI) included in an image captured by the camera,
information determining a focus position of the camera, or information determining a position of the camera.

5 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein
the sensor measures the position information and the velocity information at the same time.

6 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW)-Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) device.

7 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein the object is a vehicle, and
wherein an image indicated by the image data comprises an image of a license plate of the vehicle.

8 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein
the object is a vehicle, and wherein the computer generates, in accordance with the image data, classification information on the object related to at least one piece of vehicle model, vehicle classification or toll.

9 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein the object is a vehicle, and
wherein an image indicated by the image data comprises an image of a driver or a passenger of the vehicle.

10 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein
the object is a vehicle, and wherein the computer causes a display device to display fee information that is based on the classification information and travel section information.

11 . The imaging method according to claim 1 , wherein
the object is a vehicle, and wherein the computer compares fee classification information referred to ETC vehicular device with fee classification information in accordance with the information included in measurement data output from the sensor or image data to determine whether the two pieces of the information match each other.

12 . A processing device comprising:
a processor and a memory that stores a computer program executed by the processor, wherein the computer program causes the processor to perform a process comprising: causing a sensor to generate velocity information on an object, generating control data, including imaging timing information on a camera different from the sensor, in accordance with (a) position information on the object or distance information on the object, (b) the velocity information, and (c) measurement timing information relating to timings at which the position information, the distance information, or the velocity information has been measured.

13 . An imaging system comprising:
a sensor that measures a velocity of an object, a camera that is different from the sensor and images the object, and a processing circuit that controls operations of the sensor and the camera, wherein the processing circuit: causes the sensor to generate velocity information on the object, generates control data, including imaging timing information on the camera, in accordance with (a) position information on the object or distance information on the object, (b) the velocity information, and (c) measurement timing information relating to timings at which the position information, the distance information, or the velocity information has been measured.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Narumi Kenji
• Inada Yasuhisa
• Kato Yumiko

Classifications

• G07B15/00

  Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points (handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00) · CPC title

• H04N23/6812

  based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors · CPC title

• G06V20/625

  License plates · CPC title

• G06V10/25

  Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI] · CPC title

• G08G1/017

  identifying vehicles (G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence) · CPC title