Motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device

• US 7,096,102 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harold C. Parker Sr
• Original Assignee: Harold C. Parker Sr
• Inventors: Parker, Harold C. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/787,931
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 342/357.07, 340/426.1, 340/426.18
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner

Abstract

An apparatus that provides for the wireless receiving, storing and dissemination of digital data as part of a motor vehicle license plate is disclosed. The apparatus allows for the querying of data typically associated with driving privileges, such as social security numbers, insurance policy information, addresses, registration information, driving records, driving restrictions and the like. Data would be passed wirelessly upon receipt of a valid request signal from a law enforcement vehicle. Such reporting is viewed as a means to reduce data entry and eliminate errors thus freeing the law enforcement officer to perform other duties, or perform multiple queries in the same time as it takes to perform one in a conventional manner. Remote inputs from alarm systems and panic buttons allow for activation of the transmitter portion to alert law enforcement authorities of a possible crime. Such emergency reporting can only be acknowledged and deactivated by authorized authorities.

Claims

1. An integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna wherein said combination comprises:

a legacy system of vehicle identification including a license plate number and at least one registration sticker location;

a strip antenna projecting from said plate, said strip antenna receiving and transmitting digital information via a radio frequency signal;

an enclosure at an upper rear portion of said plate, said enclosure housing associated circuitry of said plate;

an interface cable operatively coupling said enclosure to an electrical supply system of said motor vehicle wherein operative coupling between said enclosure and said electrical supply system of said motor vehicle comprises;

a battery providing a source of electrical power;

an overcurrent protective device, wherein said battery is routed through said overcurrent protective device and subsequently routed through a conductor of said interface cable to said enclosure;

an emergency notification signal routed from an anti-theft alarm system or a panic alarm in a parallel series through said enclosure;

said enclosure comprising a power supply operatively coupled to a controller, an alarm module, a transmitter, a receiver, a multiplexer and a memory block, wherein generated power bus signals are routed from said power supply to said alarm module, said transmitter, said receiver and said controller; and

a querying antenna provided on at least one law enforcement vehicle, said querying antenna producing a complimentary radio frequency signal interacting with said strip antenna so as to receive and transmit digital information therebetween;

wherein said device provides enhanced efficiency of law enforcement queries.

2. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 1, wherein said controller is operatively coupled between said power supply and said alarm module, said transmitter and said receiver, said controller further coupled to said memory block, and wherein said transmitter is further coupled to said multiplexer, said multiplexer interacting with said strip antenna for transmitting and receiving digital information, and said multiplexer transmits received digital information to said controller.

3. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 1, wherein said emergency notification signal is further routed through said enclosure to said alarm module that is directly coupled to said transmitter.

4. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 1, wherein said memory block stores digital information of said motor vehicle and owner thereof.

5. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 1, wherein said emergency notification signal is transmitted from said motor vehicle to at least one of said law enforcement vehicle.

6. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 1, wherein said emergency notification signal is latched by said plate and reset only by a proper disarming signal incoming from said querying antenna.

7. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 6, wherein said emergency notification signal comprises closure of an anti-theft contact integrally coupled with said anti-theft alarm system and actuated upon unauthorized tampering with said motor vehicle.

8. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 6, wherein said emergency notification signal comprises closure of a panic contact integrally coupled with a panic button and actuated upon a vehicle occupant depressing said panic button.

9. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 8, wherein said panic button is provided in a passenger compartment of said motor vehicle.

10. The integral wireless data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to said motor vehicle in combination with a remote querrying antenna of claim 8, wherein said panic button is provided in a trunk compartment of said motor vehicle.