车牌识别是利用车辆的动态视频或静态图像进行车牌号码、车牌颜色自动识别的模式识别技术。技术的核心包括车牌定位算法、车牌字符分割算法和光学字符识别算法等。一个完整的车牌识别系统应包括车辆检测、图像采集、车牌识别等几部分。当车辆检测部分检测到车辆到达时触发图像采集单元，采集当前的视频图像。车牌识别单元对图像进行处理，定位出车牌位置，再将车牌中的字符分割出来进行识别，最后组成车牌号码输出。
License plate recognition is a pattern recognition technology that uses dynamic video or static image of vehicle to recognize license plate number and color automatically. The core of the technology includes license plate location algorithm, license plate character segmentation algorithm and optical character recognition algorithm. A complete license plate recognition system should include vehicle detection, image acquisition, license plate recognition and other parts. When the vehicle detection part detects the arrival of the vehicle, it triggers the image acquisition unit to collect the current video image. The license plate recognition unit processes the image, locates the license plate position, divides the characters in the license plate for recognition, and finally forms the license plate number output.
车辆检测部分通常采用地感线圈或雷达，某些车牌识别系统还具有通过视频图像判断是否有车的功能，称之为视频车辆检测。
The vehicle detection part usually uses ground induction coil or radar. Some license plate recognition systems also have the function of judging whether there is a vehicle through video images, which is called video vehicle detection.