Novel protection from cameras: IR LEDs?

[binarysleep]

High powered IR diodes are getting very inexpensive. Most digital cameras are washed out by bright sources of infrared.

Has anyone tried placing them around their license plate to blind cameras?

Is is safe to assume that ALL traffic cameras (speed, red light, and police) are digital?

And if so, are all digital cameras blinded by IR?

[binarysleep]

Nevermind.

Just read this informative webpage:
Infrared LEDs make you invisible to CCTV cameras - Boing Boing

[Subie_07]

Well ... you have a few problems with this idea.

One. Light travels in all directions and when its not focused or faced toward a camera the full effect of the IR will not hit the camera.

Two. The other issues is other sun IR interference will cut down on the effectiveness of the IR LEDs

Three. How are you going to arm it? Are you going to leave the LEDs on all the time... possibly effecting other peoples vision behind you?

Four. How would you wire the LEDs to you your Plate?

[binarysleep]

Originally Posted by Subie_07

Well ... you have a few problems with this idea.

One. Light travels in all directions and when its not focused or faced toward a camera the full effect of the IR will not hit the camera.

Two. The other issues is other sun IR interference will cut down on the effectiveness of the IR LEDs

Three. How are you going to arm it? Are you going to leave the LEDs on all the time... possibly effecting other peoples vision behind you?

Four. How would you wire the LEDs to you your Plate?

1. The viewing angle should be wide enough to cover most camera angles.

2. I don't think the IR from the sun would interfere per se, but I just discovered that professional surveylance cameras are not sensitive to IR during the daytime. And many redlight cameras are not digital.

3. Yes the idea was to leave them on while driving. Most IR illuminators are not visible, hence would not be noticed by other drivers.

4. Just make an enclosure, regulated power supply, and place it around the plate.

But anywho, read the blog I posted. It has some very informative posts by industry insiders on why this would not work.

[BG53]

Originally Posted by binarysleep

Is is safe to assume that ALL traffic cameras (speed, red light, and police) are digital?

No

Originally Posted by binarysleep

And if so, are all digital cameras blinded by IR?

No

The You tube video is only effective because the CCTV system it's shown on uses IR. Your idea has merit against camera systems that use Infra Red. The biggest issue is that most photo radar cameras don't operate using IR so won't have any effect.

Good idea though.