License plate locating algorithm based on multi-feature in color image

A new method for license plate locating based on multi-feature is introduced in this paper. The method proposed can overcome the shortcoming of early methods based on single feature. At first, the algorithm employs HSV color space to get rid of non-license plate area. Then concomitant color feature, statistical letter frequency and geometry feature are used to detect the possible regions. The algorithm is neither confined to the size and position of the plate, nor limited to the complicated background or illumination condition of the image. Experiments show that the method is effective.