Vehicle identification means

• US 9,836,690 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tonnjes ISI Patent Holding GmbH
• Original Assignee: Tonnjes ISI Patent Holding GmbH
• Inventors: Beenken, Bjrn
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Claude J
• Application Number:
  US14/414,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20150170019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 235488
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/16 the marking being a hologram or diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3283 side-mounted antennas, e.g. bumper-mounted, door-mounted mounted on windscreens H01Q1/1271
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142

Abstract

A vehicle identification means (10) that has an at least partially electrically conductive film (12) and a hologram (36) and/or a reflective film. In addition, at least one data carrier (26), which can be read out in a contactless manner, having an antenna is provided. The hologram (36) is implemented as an antenna for the data carrier (26). A separate antenna is therefore no longer necessary. In addition, multiple antennas can be provided in parallel.

Claims

1. A vehicle identification means, comprising:

an at least partially electrically conductive film (12) which is at least partially implemented as a hologram (36) and/or as a reflective film, the film (12) having an electrically conductive coating (16) for creating the conductivity;

a plurality of data carriers (26) which can be read out in a contactless manner; and

at least one antenna for each of the plurality of data carriers (26),

wherein the hologram (36) and/or the reflective film is implemented as the at least one antenna for each of the plurality of data carriers (26); and

wherein the coating (16) has regions in which electrical conductivity is reduced or interrupted, the regions being in the form of a slot (24), in order to implement at least one antenna structure for the at least one antenna, the at least one antenna structure being selected from the group consisting of a slot antenna, a conductor loop, and a plate antenna.

2. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data carrier (26) can be read out in multiple frequency ranges independently of one another, wherein a separate one of the at least one antenna is implemented for separate readout of each of the multiple frequency ranges.

3. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of the at least one antenna is implemented in an opening (30) of another one of the at least one antenna.

4. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

in addition to the electrically conductive coating (16), the remainder of the film (12) has regions in which electrical conductivity is reduced or interrupted, the regions being in the form of a slot (24), in order to implement at least one antenna structure for the at least one antenna, the at least one antenna structure being selected from the group consisting of a slot antenna, a conductor loop, and a plate antenna.

5. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the film (12) has an adhesive layer (18) on at least one side for fastening the vehicle identification means on a vehicle, wherein the adhesive layer (18) is applied on a side of the electrically conductive coating (16).

6. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of data carriers (26) are placed on the film, or are inserted into an opening of the film (12), wherein the plurality of data carriers (26) are arranged on the side of the film (12) having the adhesive layer (18).

7. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of the film (12), the coating of the film (12), and the hologram (36) has features of destruction, which are visually recognizable to an observer without aids, in the event of detachment or manipulation of the at least one adhesive layer (18).

8. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transmitting and/or receiving power of the at least one antenna is reduced after a detachment of the adhesive layer (18) or a manipulation of the hologram (36) by way of an easily destructible safeguard.

9. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 8, wherein the easily destructible safeguard is a conductor loop (42).

10. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the film has an electrically conductive coating that is a metallic coating (16).

11. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 10, wherein the metallic coating (16) is a vapor deposition coating.

12. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of data carriers (26) are electrically connected to the at least one antenna or to an electrically conductive coating (16) on the film (12), in a galvanic and/or capacitive and/or inductive manner.

13. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the at least one antenna is implemented as a near-field antenna and another one of the at least one antenna is implemented as a far-field antenna, wherein separate structures are provided for each of the at least one antenna.

14. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film (12) has at least one adhesive layer (18) for gluing at least two layers of the film (12) to one another, wherein the film (12) is at least one of (i) folded together at a predetermined bending point, and (ii) implemented as a self-adhesive film (12).

15. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film (12) is inscribed on at least one side, between two layers of the film (12) that are fastened on one another to protect from manipulations.

16. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of data carriers (26) is a radio chip.

17. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film (12) has an adhesive layer (18) on at least one side for fastening the vehicle identification means on a vehicle, wherein the adhesive layer (18) is applied on a side of the reflective film.

35. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the film (12) has an adhesive layer (18) on at least one side for fastening the vehicle identification means on a vehicle, wherein the adhesive layer (18) is applied on a side of the electrically conductive coating (16).

18. A vehicle identification means comprising:

an at least partially electrically conductive film (12) having an electrically conductive coating (16) for creating the conductivity;

a plurality of data carriers (26) which can be read out in a contactless manner, wherein each of the plurality of data carriers (26) can be read out in multiple frequency ranges independently of one another; and

at least one antenna for each of the plurality of data carriers (26),

wherein the film (12) is at least partially implemented as the at least one antenna for each of the plurality of data carriers (26) and for the separate readout of each of the plurality of data carriers (26),

wherein a separate one of the at least one antenna is provided for each of the multiple frequency ranges, is assigned to each of the plurality of data carriers (26), and is implemented as optimized to an associated one of the multiple frequency ranges, and

wherein the coating (16) has regions in which electrical conductivity is reduced or interrupted, the regions being in the form of a slot (24), in order to implement at least one antenna structure for the at least one antenna, the at least one antenna structure being selected from the group consisting of a slot antenna, a conductor loop, and a plate antenna.

19. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one of:

the film (12) is at least partially implemented as a reflective hologram (36), wherein the reflective hologram (36) is implemented as the at least one antenna for each of the plurality of data carriers (26);

the film (12) is at least partially implemented as a reflective film; and

the film (12) is implemented as an embossed hologram.

20. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

in addition to electrically conductive coating (16), the remainder of the film (12) has regions in which electrical conductivity is reduced or interrupted, the regions being in the form of a slot (24), in order to implement at least one antenna structure for the at least one antenna, the at least one antenna structure being selected from the group consisting of a slot antenna, a conductor loop, and a plate antenna.

21. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 20, wherein one of the at least one antenna is implemented in an opening (30) of another one of the at least one antenna.

22. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 20, wherein the film (12) has an adhesive layer (18) on at least one side for fastening the vehicle identification means on a vehicle, wherein the adhesive layer (18) is applied on a side of the electrically conductive coating (16).

23. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 22, wherein the plurality of data carriers (26) are placed on the film, or are inserted into an opening of the film (12), wherein the plurality of data carriers (26) are arranged on the side of the film (12) having the adhesive layer (18).

24. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one of the film (12), the coating of the film (12), and the hologram (36) has features of destruction, which are visually recognizable to an observer without aids, in the event of detachment or manipulation of the at least one adhesive layer (18).

25. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 22, wherein the transmitting and/or receiving power of the at least one antenna is reduced after a detachment of the adhesive layer (18) or a manipulation of the hologram (36) by way of an easily destructible safeguard.

26. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 25, wherein the easily destructible safeguard is a conductor loop (42).

27. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 20, wherein the film has an electrically conductive coating that is a metallic coating (16).

28. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 27, wherein the metallic coating (16) is a vapor deposition coating.

29. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 18, wherein the plurality of data carriers (26) are electrically connected to the at least one antenna or to an electrically conductive coating (16) on the film, in a galvanic and/or capacitive and/or inductive manner.

30. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 18, wherein one of the at least one antenna is implemented as a near-field antenna and another one of the at least one antenna is implemented as a far-field antenna, wherein separate structures are provided for each of the at least one antenna.

31. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 18, wherein the film (12) has at least one adhesive layer (18) for gluing at least two layers of the film (12) to one another, wherein the film (12) is at least one of (i) folded together at a predetermined bending point, and (ii) implemented as a self-adhesive film (12).

32. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 18, wherein the film (12) is inscribed on at least one side, between two layers of the film (12) that are fastened on one another to protect from manipulations.

33. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of data carriers (26) is a radio chip.

34. The vehicle identification means as claimed in claim 18, wherein the film (12) has an adhesive layer (18) on at least one side for fastening the vehicle identification means on a vehicle, wherein the adhesive layer (18) is applied on a side of the reflective film.