Licence plate

• US 20080042848A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Times-7 Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Times-7 Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Roberts, Arthur, Ehlen, Mathias Martin Ernerst
• Application Number:
  US11/598,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042848A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/105 Licence- or registration plates, provided with mounting means, e.g. frames, holders, retainers, brackets
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to vehicle license plates and a method of making vehicle license plates having an integrated antenna for use with radio frequency identification (RFID) devices. In a preferred form, the license plate 10 of the present invention comprises a conductive sheet 12 forming at least part of the license plate 10, a slot 14 or notch provided on the conductive sheet 12, and a radio frequency transponder operatively coupled to the conductive sheet 12 to use the slot 14 or notch as an antenna.

Claims

1. A license plate comprising:

a conductive sheet forming at least part of the license plate;

a slot or notch provided on the conductive sheet; and

a radio frequency transponder operatively coupled to the conductive sheet to use the slot or notch as an antenna.

2. The license plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot or notch is tuned to the UHF frequency band of 860 MHz to 960 MHz.

3. The license plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the notch is a straight notch or a folded notch, and the slot is a straight slot or a folded slot.

4. The license plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive sheet forms the front of the license plate.

5. The license plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive sheet forms a layer on the license plate.

6. The license plate as claimed in claim 5, wherein the conductive sheet is a metal cladding.

7. The license plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transponder is provided on a dielectric insert that is attached to the conductive sheet.

8. The license plate as claimed in claim 7, wherein the insert includes an extension that is received in the slot or notch.

9. The license plate as claimed in claim 7, wherein the insert is attached to the conductive sheet using one or more of:

a plurality of rivets, adhesive and welding.

10. The license plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the license plate has a solid metal backing.

11. A license plate comprising:

a conductive sheet forming at least part of the license plate; and

a slot or notch provided on the conductive sheet, wherein the slot or notch is adapted to receive a radio frequency transponder operable at a wavelength λ and

to allow the transponder to use the slot or notch as an antenna, wherein if a slot is provided the length of the slot is about λ

/2, and if a notch is provided, the length of the notch is about λ

/4.

12. A license plate comprising:

a conductive sheet forming at least part of the license plate; and

a slot or notch provided on the conductive sheet, wherein the slot or notch is adapted to receive at least part of a dielectric insert containing a radio frequency transponder to allow the transponder to use the slot or notch as an antenna.

13. A method of making a license plate, the method comprising the steps of:

making a slot or notch on a conductive sheet that forms at least part of the license plate; and

placing a radio frequency transponder on the conductive sheet to allow the transponder to use the slot or notch as an antenna.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of placing a radio frequency transponder on the conductive sheet comprises attaching a dielectric insert containing the transponder to the conductive sheet.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the insert includes an extension that is received in the slot or notch.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the step of securing the dielectric insert to the license plate using one or more of:

a plurality of rivets, adhesive and welding.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the slot or notch is tuned to the UHF frequency band of 860 MHz to 960 MHz.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the notch is a straight notch or a folded notch, and the slot is a straight slot or a folded slot.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the conductive sheet forms the front of the license plate.

20. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the conductive sheet forms a layer on the license plate.