Electronic license plate

• US 6,404,327 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dean L. Naddeo
• Original Assignee: Dean L. Naddeo
• Inventors: Naddeo, Dean L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/772,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/468, 340/933, 340/539, 340/936, 359/529, 359/530, 359/533
• US Class Current: 340/426.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices

Abstract

An electronic license plate including a housing having a generally rectangular configuration. The housing is mountable to the license plate support of the vehicle and is powered by a vehicle power system. The housing has a front face comprised of a digital display. The digital display displays relevant license plate information of the vehicle. The information relates to a license plate number, a state of issue, and an expiration date. The housing includes a memory chip therein for storing the relevant license plate information thereon. The memory chip is in communication with a main computer system of a selected agency. License plate disabling mechanisms are in communication with the memory chip whereby removal of the housing from the vehicle will disable the memory chip and prevent future use of the electronic license plate. In addition, removal of the license plate disables the vehicle. Special status display mechanisms are in communication with the main computer system and with the memory chip whereby a report of theft entered into the main computer system will display such a status on the digital display.

Claims

1. An electronic license plate for digitally displaying relevant information for a vehicle, the vehicle having a license plate support, a power system, a unique identifying key, and an ignition disruptor connected to the unique identifying key, the electronic license plate comprising, in combination:

a housing having a generally rectangular configuration, the housing being mountable to the license plate support of the vehicle, the housing having a front face comprised of a digital display, the digital display displaying license plate information of the vehicle, the license plate information including a license plate number, a state of issue, and an expiration date, the housing including a memory chip therein for storing the relevant license plate information thereon, the memory chip selectively in communication with a main computer system of a governmental agency, the memory chip being powered through the power system of the vehicle;

disabling means disposed within the housing, the disabling means being in communication with the memory chip whereby removal of the housing from the vehicle will disable the memory chip and prevent future use;

special status display means disposed within the housing, the special status display means being in communication with the memory chip and the main computer system whereby a report of theft entered into the main computer system will display such a status on the digital display;

a receiving means, for receiving data packets from the main computer, and wherein a report of registration suspension entered into the main computer system will be transmitted to the electronic license plate, received by the receiving means, and displayed on the digital display; and

wherein the electronic license plate has a unique identifying key, and wherein the digital display will only display the license plate information if the electronic license plate and the vehicle it is attached to have matching unique identifying keys, wherein if the electronic license plate connected to the vehicle does not have a matching unique identifying key, then the vehicle will be disabled by the ignition disrupter.

2. The electronic license plate as recited in claim 1, wherein a report of criminal activity entered into the main computer system will display such a status on the digital display.

3. The electronic license plate as recited in claim 1, wherein the display further includes an inspection status indicator, wherein an inspection status entered into the main computer is communicated with the electronic license plate and is displayed on the display unit.