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Camera Setup for License Plate Recognition

  • Updated
 

Camera Setup

Important Note:

LPR should only be enabled for specific cameras which are properly setup to ensure good results.

Hard Constraints

  1. Maximum distance between camera and license plate of 20 feet (15 feet recommended) with minimum 1080p resolution

  2. Maximum vertical and horizontal angle of 20 degrees (ignore the 45 degrees in the images below).  Our testing determined that best results require an angle of no more than 20 degrees.

  3.  

    Screen_Shot_2022-10-26_at_10.50.41_AM.png

  4. Maximum Vehicle Speed of 5 mph (parking lot speeds will work, road speeds will not)

  5. License plate MUST BE visible and human readable in Dashboard for at least 2 full seconds

  6. Required Infrared camera or external Infrared device for LPR at night and in poor weather

    Screen_Shot_2022-10-26_at_10.58.14_AM.png

  7. Disabled Automatic gain control (AGC), digital noise reduction (DNR), autofocus, and back light compensation (BLC)

Tips

  1. If the license plate is not clearly human readable in Dashboard, it will not be readable by LPR.
  2. Focus on a main area of entry or exit where the license plate is likely to come into focus. Wide angles will not work well.
  3. Place as close to the license plate as possible.
  4. Minimize vertical angle and horizontal angle of the camera relative to the license plate.
  5. Minimize camera tilt relative to the license plate.
  6. For LPR at night or in poor weather conditions, Infrared camera or external Infrared light device is required to combat reflections and glare from other light sources (such as headlights, taillights and street lights).
  7. For LPR at night, place camera on an angle so it isn’t pointing directly at headlights to avoid glare.
  8. Minimize vibration/shake of cameras (due to loose mounts or strong winds) as this can cause blurry images.
  9. Point camera at the back of vehicles because many states do not require front license plates (and taillights create less glare than headlights).
  10. Setup camera to capture vehicles where they slow down or, ideally, come to a stop.
  

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