Systems and methods for a RFID enabled metal license plate

• US 8,344,890 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Zhu, Jeffrey, Yen, Chih-chuan, Liu, Jun, Mullis, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US11/962,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details

Abstract

In the embodiments described herein, a RFID enabled license plate is constructed by using the license plate, or a retro-reflective layer formed thereon as part of the resonator configured to transmit signals generated by and RFID chip integrated with the license plate. Such an RFID enabled license plate can include a metal license plate with a slot formed in the metal license plate, and a RFID tag module positioned in the slot. The RFID tag module can include a chip and a loop, and the loop can be coupled with the metal license plate, e.g., via inductive or conductive coupling. In this manner, the metal license plate can be configured to act as a resonator providing increased performance.

Claims

1. A RFID enabled license plate, comprising:

a metal license plate;

a slot formed in the metal license plate such that the metal license plate functions as a slot antenna;

a RFID tag module positioned in the slot, the RFID tag module

comprising a chip and an antenna loop, the antenna loop operatively coupled with the metal license plate such that the antenna loop and the metal license plate in combination act as a receiving unit with the chip;

a retro-reflective layer over the metal license plate, wherein the retro-reflective layer comprises metal material, and wherein a portion of the retro-reflective layer is selectively removed so as not to interfere with the operation of the RFID tag module; and

posts configured to connect the license plate to a vehicle, wherein the posts short the metal license plate to the vehicle such that the vehicle acts as a ground plane.

2. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 1, wherein the antenna loop is coupled with the metal license plate via inductive coupling.

3. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 1, wherein the antenna loop is coupled with the metal license plate via capacitive coupling.

4. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 1, where the RFID tag module comprises an enclosure.

5. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 4, wherein the enclosure is made from a non-metallic material.

6. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 4, wherein the enclosure includes an air gap.

7. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 4, wherein the RFID tag module further comprises a spacer within the enclosure.

8. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 7, wherein the spacer is made from a dielectric material.

9. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of slots formed in the metal license plate, wherein each slot is configured to resonate at a different frequency, and wherein the RFID tag module is positioned within one of the plurality of slots.

10. A RFID enabled license plate, comprising:

a license plate;

a retro-reflective layer formed over the license plate;

a slot formed in the retro-reflective layer plate such that the retro-reflective layer functions as a slot antenna; and

a RFID tag module positioned in the slot, the RFID tag module comprising a chip and an antenna loop, the antenna loop coupled with the retro-reflective layer such that the antenna loop and the retro-reflective layer act in combination as a receiving unit with the chip.

11. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 10, wherein the antenna loop is coupled with the retro-reflective layer via inductive coupling.

12. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 10, wherein the antenna loop is coupled with the retro-reflective layer via capacitive coupling.

13. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 10, where the RFID tag module comprises an enclosure.

14. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 13, wherein the enclosure is made from a non-metallic material.

15. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 13, wherein the enclosure includes an air gap.

16. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 13, wherein the RFID tag module further comprises a spacer within the enclosure.

17. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 16, wherein the spacer is made from a dielectric material.

18. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of slots formed in the retro-reflective layer, wherein each slot is configured to resonate at a different frequency, and wherein the RFID tag module is positioned within one of the plurality of slots.

19. The RFID enabled license plate of claim 10, wherein the license plate is a metal license plate.