Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions we receive about ALPR, our company, and our products.

Don’t see your question? Contact PIPS.

Why does the Spike+ appear on your website in both the "Camera" and "Processor" areas?

The Spike+ is a unique product in that it is a fully integrated dual channel ALPR camera and ALPR processor in one IP67 sealed housing. It appears in both places, because it is both a camera AND a processor.

I've heard the terms ALPR and ANPR...what is the difference?

These terms are the same. ANPR is Automatic Number Plate Recognition which is the common language in Europe. In North America, the term ALPR is more commonly used for Automated License Plate Recognition.

Where is PIPS headquartered?

PIPS is headquartered in Knoxville, TN with offices in California and the United Kingdom.

Why is infrared (IR) illumination used?

Almost all license plates have a coating that is highly reflective to IR, and therefore will be easily identified by the camera. Additional benefits of IR include the fact that there is not dependant upon the presence of visible light...allowing for excellent performance in bright sunlight, total darkness, and most adverse weather conditions.

Who are the other suppliers of ALPR?

There are a number of other companies involved in one aspect or another of ALPR. Software companies, gate companies, gun manufacturers, and others with an interest in the technology have either entered into joint ventures with other companies, or constructed a solution from components of various suppliers (cameras, software, OCR engines, processors, etc). PIPS is unique in that it is based in the United States, and manufactures all major system components. In fact, a recent independant study by a major market research firm, recognized PIPS as the clear worldside market leader in ALPR.

What makes PIPS Technology unique in the ALPR industry?

Lots of things. PIPS has a very comprehensive product line of fixed and mobile systems, processors, software solutions for various applications, optical character recognition (OCR) engines, and more. Combine PIPS comprehensive product line with its many patents, its unmatched experience in ALPR, and its dedicated manufacturing and support capabilities...and its clear that PIPS is a unique solution provider of ALPR.

What is ALPR and how does it work?

Take a look at our About ALPR page at www.pipstechnology.com/alpr

What is OCR? Does PIPS manufacture its own OCR?

OCR is optical character recognition, or the ability for a machine to recognize printed characters and convert them into data. PIPS develops and maintains its own library of OCR engines. Unlike some others, PIPS does not use a generic OCR engine for all states and regions. PIPS uses a customized OCR engine specific to the state, region, or country of interest. PIPS OCR engines are very tolerant of skewed and off-axis plate reads, various plate sizes, syntax rules, and designs. The engine reads the captured infrared plate image and converts it to a data file.

What are the most severe traffic conditions in which accurate ALPR can take place?

PIPS ALPR is the most advanced in the world and can accurately perform at traffic volumes of up to 3,600 vehicles per hour and speeds of up to 160 mph!

Do weather or lighting conditions affect system accuracy?

Very extreme weather conditions can have a slight impact on system performance, but due to PIPS' use of infrared (IR) illumination and plate capture, accurate system performance will take place in almost all weather and lighting conditions. PIPS uses IR illumination and image capture at a wavelength outside of the visible light spectrum allowing for operation in total darkness or bright sun glare.

Why is color overview important?

The color overview image is a critical piece of context and also helps to create a solid evidenciary record. It provides the user with immediate context (red sedan) of the situation as opposed to the black and white image of the license plate.

Why do you need the dual lens camera...why not \"read\" from the color image?

See the answer to "Why is Infrared Illumination used?" All license plates are highly reflective to IR, the use of IR allows for 24/7 operation regardless of lighting conditions, and the use of IR greatly improves the overall system accuracy.