GB1440621A - Automatic cameras - Google Patents

Abstract

1440621 Photographing vehicles NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORP 13 Feb 1974 [16 Feb 1973] 7734/73 Heading G2A [Also in Division G4] A composite photograph of a speeding vehicle (which has passed two spaced sensors within a given time) and information relating thereto (e.g. speed of vehicle, time, date and place) is produced using a box 14 containing a camera 15 having front and rear projection systems (for photographing the vehicle and information respectively), an information indicator 44, two xenon flash tubes 32, bundles 46 and 47 of optical fibres for illuminating indicator 44 by means of tubes 32, and trigger means 53 for operating the camera shutter and the flash tubes and for resetting the apparatus. Camera 15 and tubes 32 may have filters 56 and 57 respectively for operation with light of a wavelength of 650-700 millimicrons (outside the range of the human eye). A photograph is preferably taken when the angle subtended at the vehicle number plate by the line between the optical centres of the light source and the camera is 3 degrees. The sensors may be induction loops or pneumatic tubes. The trigger means may include a monostable circuit and an AND gate and the speed determining device may include a bi-stable circuit and a digital voltmeter Fig. 2 (not shown). A video recording camera may be employed for producing an immediate display ahead of the vehicle in addition to photographic information for later use. The display may be on a cathode ray tube or in the form of a polaroid print.