GB2434907A

GB2434907A - Registration number plate for a vehicle, incorporating a code

Info

Publication number: GB2434907A
Application number: GB0602142A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Francis Hart; John Thomas Bell
Original assignee: Retainagroup Ltd
Current assignee: Retainagroup Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-02
Filing date: 2006-02-02
Publication date: 2007-08-08
Also published as: GB0602142D0

Abstract

A registration number plate, with an enhanced degree of security, comprises a plurality of layers 2, 3, 4 laminated and bonded together, the layer 2, 3, 4 including registration number defining parts and an additional code defining part 5. The code 5 is detectable by the human eye, preferably unaided, or by an optical character reader and the code is located either between two of the layers 2, 3, 4 or formed in one of the layers 2, 3, 4. Ideally the code 5 is harder to read that the registration number, for example the code 5 could be smaller than the registration number or have a lower contrast with the background. The code 5 is preferably marked into the number plate using a CO2 or YAG infrared laser.

Description

REGISTRATION NUMBER PLATE FOR A VEHICLE. INCORPORATThIG

A CODE

The present invention relates to a registration number plate for a vehicle, incorporating a code and a method for producing a registration number plate for a vehicle, incorporating a code.

Registration number plates for road vehicles (hereinafter number plates') are very well known throughout the world as a method of identifying motor vehicles. They are sometimes referred to as licence plates.

Two basic types of number plate are known. The first comprises an alpha numeric code embossed into a metal plate. This type of plate is widely used in the United States. The other type of number plate comprises a plurality of layers (often of plastic) which are laminated and bonded together, with registration number defining parts sandwiched between layers of the laminate. For example, the registration numbers may be formed on a layer of carrier film. This kind of number plate is widely used in Europe, for example in the United Kingdom.

Number plates may include further information, for example the state of registration of the vehicle (for example in the European Union and in the United States of America).

Each vehicle registration authority keeps a database which links information such as the registered owner of the vehicle, the vehicle identification number (V[N, an internationally recognised unique identification for each motor vehicle), the make and design of the vehicle and the vehicle registration number.

In theory, this allows the authorities to keep a track of the ownership of a vehicle and to identify stolen vehicles. However, there is a growing problem of "cloning" of number plates or vehicles. Suitable apparatus for manufacturing counterfeit number plates is sometimes illegally obtained and used to manufacture copies of number plates which include registration numbers which have already been assigned to other vehicles. These false number plates can then be placed onto stolen vehicles to make identification harder. Therefore an additional coding system for providing an extra level of security to link vehicle and vehicle registrations is required.

A number of propositions have been made for electronic devices such as chips which are incorporated into the structure of the number plate, for example as in W002/069250. However, these systems have the disadvantage that they are relatively expensive and difficult to implement on a national scale, requiring each number plate manufacturer to have complicated and expensive equipment for coding the chips correctly and including them in number plates. Also, any enforcement authority would need to be supplied with devices which are effective to read the chips. It would be difficult and expensive to ensure that every enforcement officer on the street is equipped with a device for checking vehicles instantly.

Accordingly, there exists a need for an additional code which can be read with the unaided human eye or with an optical character reader and which is easy to include in existing designs of number plate.

Further, it is desired that any code included in this way should be difficult to remove, so that if a vehicle which has a number plate with the additional code is stolen, the additional code cannot be easily removed.

The present inventors have realised that a number plate can be provided which includes the conventional registration number defining parts and an additional code which is readable by at least one of the human eye and an optical character reader but which is included in a laminated structure of the number plate so that it cannot be removed without destroying the plate itself Accordingly, the present invention provides a registration number plate for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of layers, laminated and bonded together, the layers including registration number defining parts, an additional code defining part being provided defining a code which is detectable by at least one of the human eye and an optical character reader, the additional code defining part being located between at least two of the laminated layers or formed in one of the laminated layers.

The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing a registration number plate for a vehicle, comprising the step of laminating together a plurality of layers, the layers including registration number defining parts, an additional code defining part being located between at least two of the layers, or being formed in one of the layers, the additional code defining part defining a code which is detectable by at least one of the human eye and an optical character reader, and bonding the plurality of layers together.

Preferred and optional features of the invention will be described further below.

ADDITIONAL CODE

The additional code may have any suitable format. For example, it may comprise numbers, letters or symbols or any combination of these. It may have the form a PIN number. The series of the characters of the code may be in any suitable array, for example a straight horizontal line, vertical line or a two dimensional array.

The additional code must be readable by at least one of the human eye and an optical character reader. Preferably, it is readable very quickly.

It may readable by a human eye aided by magnifying apparatus, such as a camera.

However, it is particularly preferable that the additional code should be detectable by the unaided human eye.

In order to be detectable by the unaided human eye, it is enough that an adult person of ordinary sight should be able to see and read the code, may be with the assistance of a conventional light such as a torch or even with a simple magnifying glass, but without a specially designed code or chip reader.

The additional code may be readable by an optical character reader, for example 2D matrix code reader, barcode reader or the like. Preferably, the code is capable of being read by the unaided human eye and by an optical character reader.

In practice, in order to be readable, the characters should comprise letters or numbers in an alphabet or number format which is familiar to any person in a particular area who has undergone conventional education. For example, in the United Kingdom, Arabic numerals and roman letters are particularly suitable. The letters may be capital letters or small letters. They may be of any suitable size, being suitably in the range 2mm-2Omm and preferably 3mm-lOmm. It is preferred that they should not exceed 20mm and preferably not 10mm, so that they will not be readily viewed from a distance, making it hard for thieves to compile lists of possible numbers to copy without the labour of close inspection.

The additional code may be of a type which can be used with a conventional security system, for example the ISR or International Security Register (RTM) owned and operated by RETA1NAGROUP LTD. In such a system, the additional code may comprise a PiN number, the name of the security register (for example, Retainagroup's Global Security Gateway (RTM) through which the ISR can be contacted, and a telephone number, for contacting the security register. When a person considers a buying a vehicle, they can ring the telephone number and confirm the registered owner of the vehicle to which the PIN applies. If it is the same as the person offering the vehicle for sale, this will give the purchaser a level of confidence that the vehicle is not stolen.

Systems for applying the additional code will be discussed further below.

Preferably, the additional code is formed so that it is harder to read, particularly from a distance, than the conventional registration number. This means that thieves will not be able to obtain additional codes very easily without close inspection of the vehicle.

For example, the additional code characters may be made smaller or with lower contrast than conventional registration numbers.

The additional code may be located on the same face of the number plate as the conventional registration number or on a different face or part of the number plate.

The additional code may be of any suitable colour or combination of colours. For example, it may be black in the same way as conventional registration numbers, or it may be any suitable colour which offers sufficient contrast to the background colour of the registration number plate to be readable. It may be of a colour which provides a lower level of contrast to the background than the registration number defining parts, so that it is harder to read the additional code from a distance.

NUMBER PLATE CONSTRUCTION

The present invention is applicable to a number plate of the type which is made by laminating together layers of different materials and bonding them together, though it could also be applied to a number plate of the embossed type, if a transparent cover layer is laminated onto the face of the embossed layer, with the additional code defining parts being held between the cover layer and the embossed part.

The registration number plate according to the present invention may have a structure which is very similar to conventional number plates, making it easy to manufacture using existing apparatus.

The present invention is particularly suitable for registration number plates of the type which comprise two or more layers of material which are laminated to one another and bonded together to form an integral flat plate. Typically, these plates are manufactured from thermoplastic materials. They may be bonded together by the use of adhesive materials or by thermal bonding, for example by welding the layers together.

There is a backing layer which may comprise reflective material. The backing layer may be yellow or white. In some countries, it is conventional to use yellow for the rear of the vehicle and white for the front of the vehicle.

The next layer comprises the vehicle registration number defining part. Finally, at least one cover layer of transparent material may be provided to provide protection for the registration number defining part. According to the invention, the additional code defining parts may be inserted between any of these layers or at least one of these layers may comprise the additional code defining parts.

It is however, not intended that the additional code defining parts shall comprise parts located on an outer face of the registration plate in a structure which is smaller than the registration number plate itself. Such a structure would be relatively easy to remove in an undetectable manner. This would make it easier for thieves to remove the additional code from stolen vehicles. However, it is envisaged that the additional code defining part may be included within any of the layers, including the transparent outer layer as long as it is formed at such a depth that is relatively difficult to remove without damaging the number plate. For example, the characters may be located at a depth of at least 1mm and preferably at least 3mm.

The additional code defining part may comprise a section of material which is smaller than the total area of the registration number plate, provided that such a smaller section is contain laminated between two other layers of the registration number plate.

For example, the additional code defining part may be formed by processes, including but not limited to any of the following processes: 1. The additional code may be printed onto a sheet which is of the same size as the registration number plate and laminated between at least two layers of the registration number plate; 2. The additional code may be printed on a sheet which is smaller in extent than the registration number plate and laminated between at least two layers of the registration number plate.

3. The additional code may be formed in a sheet in which the registration number is also defined, 4. At least one layer of the registration number plate may be formed of material which can be marked after the registration number plate has been laminated, to exhibit the additional code.

5. A layer may be provided, which is of smaller extent than the complete registration number plate, which layer can be marked after the registration number plate has been laminated to exhibit the additional code.

In at least cases 1 and 2, the additional code can be printed using a conventional printer, for example a pad printer, before the layers are laminated together. Any suitable adhesive or adhesive layer can be used to fix the part comprising the additional code to the other layers before they are laminated together, to keep the parts in the correct configuration before lamination is complete. For example, a layer with the additional code may be fixed onto the rear side of the cover layer.

In a particularly preferred aspect of the invention, at least one layer of the number plate or at least one layer of material is provided which can be marked by an infrared laser, particularly a near infrared laser.

In particular, it is preferred that the material shall incorporate at least one component which has sufficient absorption of infrared radiation in the region 8-1 5nm so that the material can be heated or otherwise acted upon by a laser emitting in this range. It is found that such a material can be heated with a laser beam sufficiently locally to define an additional code which is readable by the human eye.

Lasers emitting in the infrared region are commercially widely available. For example, carbon dioxide lasers which emit at around 1 Onm or YAG lasers, which emit at a wave length in the range 400-940nm. Further, systems are available for focussing a laser beam onto a surface and deflecting the laser beam across the surface in such a way as to form a two dimensional mark. Suitable apparatus will be described further below.

The infrared laser may be used to mark the additional code carrying part before or after lamination.

In a preferred embodiment, the additional code defining part comprises a laser markable composition selected from the group consisting of a composition comprising a binder and an oxyanion of a multi valent metal, a composition comprising material having a functional group and metal compound or acid that causes an elimination reaction on irradiation with a CO2 or YAG laser to form a reaction product of contrasting colour, a composition comprising an amine compound of molybdenum, tungsten or vanadium that changes colour on irradiation, or a composition comprising a multivalent metal that undergoes a colour change due to a change in oxidation state on irradiation by a YAG or CO2 laser.

These compositions are commercially available from DATALASE LTD (formerly SHERWOOD TECFINOLGY LIMITED) and are described for example in W02005/O 12442, W02005/068207, W02004/043704, WOO2/068205 and It has been found that these materials can be readily used by one of the following techniques: a) incorporation of the material into at least one of the cover layer, registration number defining layer or backing layer of a laminated number plate, or b) inclusion of the material in a sheet of material laminated between at least two layers of a laminated number plate.

If the laser markable material is included in a layer which is located in the laminated structure other than in the cover layer, the cover layer will preferably be substantially transparent to infrared radiation of the marking wavelength. It is found that many conventional coating materials are transparent to this radiation.

In a preferred embodiment, the marking material is formulated with the transparent material of the cover layer. It is found that, when irradiated with marking radiation, the laser markable material undergoes a colour change making a visible mark, the visible mark being formed to a substantial depth in the cover layer material. Preferably, it is formed at a depth of at least 1mm and more preferably at least 3mm.

An apparatus for manufacturing a registration number plate according to the present invention comprises: means for assembling a plurality of layers, for lamination and bonding together; lamination means for laminating and bonding the layers together; at least one of the layers comprising registration number defining parts, additional code defining parts being provided which are capable of defining a code which is detectable by at least one of the human eye and an optical character reader, the additional code defining parts being located between at least two of the layers of the registration number plate or in at least one of the layers; and means for applying code to the additional code defining part.

The means for applying the additional code to the additional code defining part may be located downstream of the assembling means, so that the additional code is included in the layers for lamination. Alternatively, it may be located downstream of the lamination means.

In the method and apparatus of the invention, the number plate may have the additional code marked in it after the number plate has been fitted to a vehicle. It may be marked at the same time as other security marks are made on the vehicle, for example using the apparatus described in international patent application number WO 03/072297 or Preferably, the means for forming the additional code comprises an infrared laser.

Preferably, it is a carbon dioxide laser or a YAG laser. The laser may have any suitable power, but preferably is of approximately 10 watts. The laser suitably comprises a laser emitter, coupled to a marking head, the marking head comprising means for directing the laser beam to define a two dimensional additional code.

The marking head may be a commercially available design of marking head. For example, it may comprise at least one mirror which is rotatable about at least one axis to deflect the laser beam. Preferably, a pair of mirrors in series are used, each intersecting the laser beam and each being rotatable about a respective fixed axis. Preferably, the axes about which the mirrors are rotatable are at right angles to one another. The rotation of the mirrors may be controlled by any suitable means. Preferably, the rotation of the mirrors is controlled by galvanometers. A suitable arrangement is described for example is US529871 7. The marking head preferably comprises a light-tight case for preventing escape of laser radiation, to protect an operator. Preferably a controller is provided. The controller may be configured to control the formation of the registration number as formed in the registration number defining parts. The controller may be configured to control the means for forming the additional code.

The controller preferably comprises an input for receiving data, for example from a vehicle registration authority, linking the type of vehicle with the registration number to be formed. A registration number plate input may be provided whereby the registration number of a registration number plate which has been laminated may be entered to the controller so that the controller can determine the additional code to be formed on the registration number plate.

The registration number input may be a manually operated input, for example a keyboard, or an automated input, for example a barcode reader or optical reader.

The controller may comprise a code input for receiving data from a security database, for example comprising code identifying the security database (for example a telephone number and a name) and a code for identifying the registration number plate may be input.

The controller maybe configured to receive the input for identifying the registration number plate, to confirm that the registration number matches registration number details from the national vehicle registration authority, to determine additional code to be formed on the registration number plate, and to control the laser marking means to form the additional code on the registration number plate. It may additionally confirm to the security database information concerning the registration number plate which has been marked.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a laminated registration number plate according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus for forming a registration number plate according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a sketch isometric view of a vehicle registration number plate according to the present invention. It comprises, in succession, a backing layer 2 which is coloured white (for a front number plate) or yellow (for a rear number plate). The backing layer 2 may include reflective material. There is a layer 3 comprising the registration number defining parts defining the sample registration number "AA54 ABC".

Finally there is a cover layer 4 which is transparent, through which the registration number can be viewed. An additional code is defined in a region of the cover layer 4.

The additional code comprises characters which are readable by the unaided human eye, comprising characters which are up to 10mm in height but which are not as visible as the registration number itself.

Apart from the presence of the additional code and the means for defining the additional code, the registration plate 1 may be substantially the same as a conventional laminated number plates and may be manufactured by a process similar to a conventional laminated number plate.

The layers 2,3,4 are laminated and bonded together in a conventional manner.

The additional code is formed within the material of the cover 4 so that it cannot be removed without removing a substantial quantity of the cover layer 4.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for manufacturing a registration number plate according to the present invention.

There is a means 101 for assembling sheets of material which will form the layers 2,3,4, for forming the registration number plate. The means 101 is of a conventional design.

Once the sheets are assembled together, they are fed to a conventional laminating press 102, where the layers are laminated and bonded together.

The sheets for forming layers 2,3,4 in the means 101 and 102 do not yet comprise the additional code 5. Instead, the cover layer 4 comprises a marking material at least in the part thereof which will appear in the bottom right hand corner of figure 1. When irradiated with infrared radiation from a carbon dioxide laser the marking material will undergo a colour change reaction whereby the additional code 5 can be formed.

A carbon dioxide laser 103 is provided for emitting an infrared laser beam. A marking head is provided 104 for directing the laser beam to define the additional code 5 within the respective part of the cover layer 4 The marking material may comprise a laser marking component available for example from the company DataLase and maybe as substantially described in any of the patent applications referred to above.

Once the additional code has been formed in the registration number plate 1, it is ready for attachment to a vehicle.

A controller 105 is shown for controlling the apparatus. The controller is connected, via a public communication network 106, such as the internet or public switch telephone network, to a vehicle registration authority 107 which maintains, and makes available to authorised persons, a database linking data such as vehicle type, YIN and vehicle registration number. This information can be supplied via the communication network 106 to the controller 105.

The controller 105 is also connected via the network 106 to a private vehicle security database 108, for example the TSR or International Security Register (RTM) owned and operated by RETA1NAGROUP LTD, which maintains a database linking VIN, vehicle type, registered vehicle owner, registration number and any other useful information, for example the additional code for entry on the registration plate 1. There is an input 106, which may comprise an electro optical input or a manually operated input such as a keyboard for identifying to the controller 105 the registration number plate 1 which is intended for marking.

The controller 105 may also control the formation of registration numbers by the apparatus 101.

There is a user interface 110, for example a VDU for allowing an operator to supervise operation of the marking apparatus.

In use, when a laminated registration number plate 1 is ready for marking, the input 109 will be used to identify the plate 1 to the controller 105. The controller 105 will then confirm with the vehicle registration number authority 107 that a correct number plate has been presented for marking. When this has been confirmed, the controller can obtain from the vehicle security database 108 data defining an additional code 5 to be formed on the registration number plate 1.

The additional code 5 suitably comprises: an additional identification number, uniquely identifring the registration number plate; an identification of the vehicle security database 108, for example its name and a telephone number; and any other data which may be required.

Once the controller 105 has received this data from the database 108 it controls the laser 103 and the marking head 104 to form the additional code 5 on the vehicle registration plate 1.

Vehicle registration plate 1 is then ready for attachment to a vehicle. Alternatively, the number plate may be attached to a vehicle after it has been laminated and then marked with the additional code later. The controller may then confirm to one or both of the vehicle registration authority 107 and vehicle security database 108 that the registration number plate has been marked with the additional code 5.

The invention has been described above by way of example only and modifications can be made within the invention. The invention extends to any equivalents of the features described. The invention also consists in any individual features described or implicit herein or shown or implicit in the drawings or any combination of any such features or any generalisation of any such features or combination.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A registration number plate for a vehicle, comprising a

plurality of layers, laminated and bonded together, the layers including registration number defining parts, an additional code defining part being provided defining a code which is detectable by at least one of the human eye and an optical character reader, the additional code defining part being located between at least two of the laminated layers or formed in one of the laminated layers.

2. A registration number plate according to claim 1, wherein the additional code is readable by the unaided human eye.

3. A registration number plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the additional code is formed so that it is harder to read than the registration number.

4. A registration number plate according to claim 3, wherein the additional code characters are smaller or formed with lower contrast to the background than the registration numbers.

5. A registration number plate according to any preceding claim, comprising a backing layer, a layer comprising vehicle registration number defining parts and a cover layer, the additional code defining part being provided between at least two of the layers or forming part of one of the layers.

6. A vehicle registration number plate according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one layer of the number plate or at least one layer of material is provided which can be marked by an infrared laser.

7. A registration number plate according to claim 6, wherein the layer of material or layer of the number plate can be marked by a carbon dioxide or YAG laser.

8. A registration number plate according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the additional code defining part comprises a laser markable composition selected from the group consisting of a composition comprising a binder and an oxyanion of a multi valent metal, a composition comprising material having a functional group and metal compound or acid that causes an elimination reaction on irradiation with a CO2 or YAG laser to form a reaction product of contrasting colour, a composition comprising an amine compound of molybdenum, tungsten or vanadium that changes colour on irradiation, or a composition comprising a multivalent metal that undergoes a colour change due to a change in oxidation state on irradiation by a YAG or CO2 laser.

9. The registration number plate according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the laser markable material forms at least part of a cover layer of the number plate.

10. A method of manufacturing a registration number plate for a vehicle, comprising the step of laminating together a plurality of layers, the layers including registration number defining parts, an additional code defining part being located between at least two of the layers, or being formed in one of the layers, the additional code defining part defining a code which is detectable by at least one of the human eye and an optical character reader, and bonding the plurality of layers together.

11. An apparatus for manufacturing a registration number plate comprising: means for assembling a plurality of layers, for lamination and bonding together; lamination means for laminating and bonding the layers together; at least one of the layers comprising registration number defining parts, additional code defining parts being provided which are capable of defining a code which is detectable by at least one of the human eye and an optical character reader, the additional code defining parts being located between at least two of the layers of the registration number plate, or in at least one of the layers; and means for applying code to the additional code defining part.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for applying the additional code to the additional code defining part is located downstream of the lamination means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for forming the additional code comprises an infrared laser.

14. A registration number plate for a vehicle, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of forming a registration number plate for a vehicle, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. An apparatus for making a registration number plate for a vehicle, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.