Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), also known as Number Plate Recognition (NPR) or License Plate Recognition (LPR), is a camera-based system used to automate the identification of vehicle number plates. There is an increasing requirement to identify vehicles and track their location for a wide number of applications. These include:
Congestion Charging – Several major cities around the world levy a charge to drive within them. Car park management – Using the number plate to identify the time of entry and departure of a vehicle. Counter-terrorism – Monitoring the arrival and departures of vehicles at major ports.
ANPR Hardware Solutions from Amplicon
Amplicon is a supplier of Industrial IT and Networking solutions to customers in the ANPR market. Our Industrial PCs are manufactured in the UK to meet the reliability and environmental requirements of all ANPR systems and are in use on many roads throughout the UK and Europe.
Amplicon’s networking division are specialists in GPRS / 3G communications to remote ANPR sites as well as being able to provide complete Ethernet network solutions for any media – copper, fibre or wireless.
Amplicon has recently launched the NEW Impact-E Core 2 Duo for applications that require a fanless compact design for road-side applications that require a PC to be located close to the camera. The 2 x PCI slots can be used for video capture boards or I/O boards that add access control functionality. A Core 2 Duo processor provides the computing power to run the most complex ANPR algorithms.
Amplicon provides a complete range of 19” rackmount PCs to run your ANPR software in applications where you have the option to mount the system in a 19” rackmount cabinet . The Amplicon Industrial PC systems are built and tested to customers specification and come with a 3 year warranty as standard. There is also the option to upgrade to on-site warranty and have your company colours and logo silk-screened on the front door.
Amplicon now offers a PCI Express version of it’s popular PCI RTV-24 video capture card. The product retails at a very competitive price achieving 30fps per channel making it a popular choice within the ANPR market
For applications requiring connectivity to a remote or mobile ANPR installation, Amplicon is able to provide FREE consultancy and hardware solutions to transmit either number plate data or live video to a central control room over the mobile phone networks.
A popular add-on to any ANPR system is the facility to provide ‘Access Control’ functionality like raising and lowering of a roadside barrier or locking / unlocking a door. Depending on the application Amplicon is able to offer either a plug-in card I/O card for your PC or an Ethernet solution that can be placed close to the device to be controlled and networked back to a controlling PC.
Communication Converters (Variable Message Sign Connectivity)
In conjunction with the ANPR systems in car parks or traffic control applications, the need to connect to variable message signs to control the movement of vehicles is required. Amplicon is able to provide a number of communication converters to assist with the control of serial (RS232/RS422/RS485) based devices.
With the increasing convergence of all ANPR systems to run on an Ethernet backbone, there is an increased requirement for highly reliable and rugged Ethernet networks. A commodity Ethernet switch is not sufficient in roadside / harsh environment applications where reliability is critical. Amplicon’s range of unmanaged and managed Industrial switches have environmental approvals and fault-tolerant configurations that are ideal for all ANPR systems.
Amplicon can advise on all aspects of ANPR solutions. If you would like more information please call sales on 01273 570 220 or email security@amplicon.co.uk
Back to top 
