Radio communication module to be installed on vehicular license plate

• US 20060061456A1
• Filed: 09/21/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Shingo, Tanaka, Yukiomi, Oda, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,535,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0096 Theft prevention of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0098 using electric or electronic means, e.g. alarms, codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0294 Apparatus with multi-functionalities, e.g. radio and telephone

Abstract

A radio communication module to be installed on a license plate of a vehicle has a module body and a removal protector. The module body is provided with a memory device, which stores a vehicle information, and a radio communication portion, which transmits and receives an electromagnetic wave to exchange the vehicle information with an outer apparatus. The removal protector is for protecting the module body from a detachment from the license plate to prevent the vehicle information from being used by a third person.

Claims

1. A radio communication module to be installed on a license plate of a vehicle, the module comprising:

a module body provided with;

a memory device which stores a vehicle information, and

a radio communication portion which transmits and receives an electromagnetic wave to exchange the vehicle information with an outer apparatus; and

a removal protector which protects the module body from a detachment from the license plate to prevent the vehicle information from being used by a third person.

2. The radio communication module according to claim 1, wherein the removal protector includes:

a module base for being screw-fastened together with the license plate to the vehicle by a fastening bolt which is protected from removal by a removal protector, the module base being formed so that the module body is attached thereon; and

a detachment detector which is provided in the module body and detects an attachment of the module body on the module base and a detachment of the module body from the module base; and

a readout protector which is provided in the module body and prohibits the vehicle information from being read in a case that the detachment detector detects the detachment of the module body from the module base.

3. The radio communication module according to claim 2, wherein the readout protector includes a power supply switch which continues a power supply to the radio communication unit while the detachment detector detects the attachment of the module body on the module base and stops the power supply to the radio communication unit when the detachment detector detects the detachment of the module body from the module base.

4. The radio communication module according to claim 1, wherein the removal protector includes a protruding portion which is formed on the module body and swaged to a fixing hole formed on the license plate to protect the module body from removal without a breakage thereof.

5. The radio communication module according to claim 1, wherein the removal protector includes a fixing portion which is integrally formed with the module body to be screw-fastened together with the license plate to the vehicle by a fastening bolt, the fixing portion being formed to be covered by a seal fixed thereon to cover the fastening bolt and having a construction to be broken together with a breakage of the seal.

6. The radio communication module according to claim 5, wherein the fixing portion includes:

a plurality of plate portions which are aligned to surround the fastening bolt; and

a connection portion which connects the plate portions with each other and is formed to engage with the seal.

7. The radio communication module according to claim 1, wherein the removal protector includes:

an insertion portion which is integrally formed with the module body;

a fixing member which is inserted into the insertion portion to interpose the fastening bolt between itself and the module body; and

a hook portion which is integrally formed with the module body to lock the fixing member inserted into the insertion portion and has a construction to be broken when the fixing member is pulled out of the insertion portion.