GB2441563A

GB2441563A - Elecronic license plate display

Info

Publication number: GB2441563A
Application number: GB0617467A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronny Dance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-07
Filing date: 2006-09-07
Publication date: 2008-03-12
Also published as: GB0617467D0

Abstract

A license plate system for a vehicle and trailer comprises a license plate 13 for attachment in use to a trailer, the plate having an adjustable display portion 16 for displaying a registration number and a registration number signal transmitter for sending a signal indicative of the desired registration number from the vehicle to the license plate for display on the adjustable display portion. The display 16 may be a liquid crystal display. The signal transmitter may be wireless, such as a radio transmitter.

Description

LICENSE PLATE SYSTEM

This invention relates to a license plate system and, in particular, to a system for use with a vehicle and trailer that ensures that the license plate on the trailer can be altered to be consistent with the license plate on the vehicle that pulls the trailer.

Whenever a trailer, such as a caravan, a lorry trailer or other such device is connected to a towing vehicle (prime mover), such as a car, lorry cab (truck) or such like, the trailing vehicle must display the same license plate as that displayed on the towing vehicle.

Whilst this is not a particularly onerous task when an individual is towing, for example, a caravan, as typically the same vehicle tows the same caravan on a regular basis and the caravan can be provided with the correct license plate, significant problems arise when trucks are pulling trailers and, in particular, where the truck is part of a fleet owned by a company or, alternatively, where an individual owns a truck and connects to different trailers depending on the particular job he is doing. In this situation, the truck will not always tow the same trailer.

As an example, the process for unloading trailers in a supermarket depot is as follows. The driver enters the depot and reports to a reception and is allocated a particular dock in which to place the trailer which he is towing. At the point before docking, the driver is supposed to remove the trailer license plate that matches the truck which he is driving. However, this task is frequently omitted or can be easily overlooked, especially if the driver is in a rush or is fatigued at the end of an all night shift.

Then, the driver reverses the trailer into the dock. As the trailer is reversed, an alarm lighting system is triggered, typically illuminating a green light. The driver then has a predetermined amount of time, typically two minutes, to dock and disconnect the trailer. After the two minute limit, a red light comes on and the trailer should no longer be moved. This is to protect personnel working in the dock, as they know that no vehicle should be moving around. Thus, people can safely load and unload at the rear of the trailer, and move in other areas of the dock, without being endangered by other moving vehicles. However, drivers do occasionally carry out manoeuvres after the red light has come on.

If the trailer has been correctly docked, it is now impossible to remove the license plate from the trailer and this means that the truck is out of operation for the remainder of the shift, or until the trailer is reloaded and can be moved by the same truck, as the license plate on the trailer, which is associated with the truck, cannot be reused.

If this occurs, the driver then has to be allocated another truck for the shift, unless there are spare plates carried on the truck, which is not a usual occurrence. If this occurs, either the driver cannot work for the remainder of that shift, or spare trucks have to owned and managed by the company which leads to unnecessary capital outlay and ongoing maintenance expenses.

If the plate has been left on the trailer, then the next driver who uses that trailer, when pulling the trailer out of the dock, has to remove the previous plate and return it to the depot office. It is well known that, at larger depots, there are often many plates returned to the office, typically up to two hundred plates in a week, such that it is time consuming for each driver to find his correct plates when they are required.

The specific problems with the situation described above is that shift and job allocations are disrupted, shifts have to be redesigned on an inefficient and ad-hoc basis because each vehicle has an allocated time slot. It can mean that produce which is on the trailers is not delivered and, if this produce is food, this can often spoil.

Alternatively, produce is delivered late and this can lead to fines and other punishments from the purchase's of the products on the trailers. Finally, and potentially most seriously, there can be scope for misuse of license plates by drivers, either deliberately, in order to avoid speed cameras recording their allocated trucks or accidentally.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a system which overcomes the above problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a license plate system for a vehicle and trailer, the system comprising: a license plate for attachment in use to a trailer, the plate having an adjustable display portion for displaying a registration number; and a registration number signal transmitter for sending a signal indicative of the desired registration number from the vehicle to the license plate for display upon the adjustable display portion.

Thus, the present invention overcomes the problems associated with standard license plate systems in that the license plate attached to the trailer does not need to be removed from the trailer once it has been docked, but the display on the license plate can simply be altered from the vehicle which is to tow the trailer, such that the registration number displayed on the trailer matches that on the towing vehicle.

The registration number signal transmitter may be a radio transmitter, using radio frequency technology or, alternatively, may transmit the signal electronically via electronic wire connectors or the like. Electro-magnetic technology could be used in the adjustable display portion whereby the licence plate contains iron filings, or other magnetic material, and the signal transmitted to the licence plate causes a magnetic field pattern to be created that aligns the magnetic material in the desired letters and/or numerals for the registration number. Alternatively, the adjustable display portion may include a liquid crystal display. The transmitter may have an input device for inputting the desired registration number or, alternatively, the transmitter may be programmed with a predetermined registration number, stored in a memory means and, consistent with the vehicle to which the transmitter is associated, which can only be altered by an authorised user.

The transmitter may send the signal automatically to the license plate or, alternatively, the signal may be transmitted upon activation of a suitable switch.

The license plate preferably includes a manual override mechanism such that, in the event of failure of the transmitter, a user can display the correct registration number on the license plate. The license plate and/or for the transmitter is preferably provided with a means for communicating with a main database storing allowable registration numbers, to ensure that the registration number displayed is one of those permitted. It is particularly important where a company owns a fleet of vehicles, as the license plate should only be permitted to display a registration number of a vehicle from that fleet.

The transmitter may activate an alarm if the registration number shown on the license plate does not match that pre-programmed into the transmitter.

The system preferably includes a mechanism to prevent operation or movement of the vehicle if the registration number on the license plate does not match that in the transmitter.

The system may be provided with a manual override, such that an authorised user can override the transmitter and display a different registration number, upon entry of an authorisation code or device.

The licence plate may also indicate a tracking device which can be detected by either the transmitter or a base station and/or a tachometer to record the movement and location of the trailer.

One example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1A and lB show schematic plan and rear views of a vehicle and trailer combination utilising the system of the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of one form of a trailer license plate for use in the system of the present invention.

In Figure 1A, a lorry 10 comprising a truck 11 and trailer 12 is shown. Within the truck, a registration number transmitter (not shown) is provided and, on the rear of the trailer 12, an adjustable license plate 13 is provided. The transmitter sends a signal indicative of the desired registration number to the license plate 13 either by electronic means 14 or via a radio transmitter 15. As such, upon coupling the truck 11 to the trailer 12, the license plate of the truck is automatically sent to the registration number on the rear of the trailer, thereby avoiding the need for the driver to change manually the license plate on the trailer.

As shown in Figure 1 B, the license plate 13 is located at the centre and bottom of the rear of the trailer, although it could be located in any suitable location.

The license plate 13 or the transmitter (not shown) may be provided with a memory in which a number of allowable registration numbers can be stored, so that these can be recognised as part of the connection and signal sending steps when the truck is connected to the trailer. In this way, the allowable truck numbers of, for example, a fleet of company trucks can be stored so that only these numbers can be displayed on the license plate 13.

The electronic connection 14 and the radio transmitter 15 could both be provided on a truck and trailer combination or, alternatively, only one may be provided.

It is preferable that when the trailer is connected to the truck 11, the transmitter (not shown) automatically sends a signal indicative of the registration number to the license plate 13 on the trailer. The plate will then display the number of the truck, once verified with the fleet management information stored in the license plate if this is provided or activated. A signal will then be sent to the cab to confirm that the rear plate has recognised the truck registration number and has amended the adjustable display (shown in Figure 2) accordingly.

Figure 2 shows one example of a license plate that could be utilised and is provided with a liquid crystal display portion 16 to display the desired registration number. The letters would typically be shown in black upon a yellow background, although other combinations could be utiksed if permitted by national standards. The fleet is provided with a rear light 17 for illuminating the registration number.

The size, shape and colouring of the plates, background and letters will be such that it complies with whatever requirements are necessary under the regulations in the country in which the plate is to be utilised.

The license plate 13 is preferably provided with an alpha numerical keypad 18, in this example shown at one end of the plate 13, so that, in the event of failure of the transmitter or a problem with the transmission of the registration number signal from the truck 11 to the trailer 12, the license plate 13 can be manually altered to display the correct registration number, this is typically done only after authorisation, for example by inputting a personal identification number in order to permit the registration number to be altered.

In addition to the keypad 18 on a plate, the truck 11 may also be provided with a manual system for entering the registration number for sending to the rear trailer plate 13. This again is in the event that the transmitter fails to operate correctly. The manual operation from the truck 11 will only function if the plate 13 recognises the number as a valid number from its memory.

The license plate 15 is provided with a tracking device 19 formed integrally with the license plate and this tracking device can be used an additional security feature.

Preferably, the tracking device uses a combination of a GPS (global positioning system), a GSM (global system for mobile communications) and a radio receiver to enable the trailer to be located at any time. In this example, the tracking device is provided as part of the license plate 13, but, of course, it could be provided as a separate element within the system.

The tracking of the vehicle could be managed by the driver of the truck 11, by the company running the fleet of vehicles, or by a third party such as a dedicated vehicle tracking service. The system is preferably adapted such that an alarm is sounded if the trailer is moved without authority, for example, if it is not connected to an authorised truck, and alternatively or additionally, a user can be notified, for example by text message or activating an alarm at a monitoring point. In addition, the exact location of the trailer can easily be identified, should the trailer be stolen.

In addition to the tracking device 19, the license plate can also be provided with a tachometer 20 which could enable an accurate record to be kept of the mileage which the particular trailer has done. This can be used as additional information on top of the tachometer that is generally fitted to the truck 11.

The tracker and the tachometer would not necessarily be externally visible, to reduce the likelihood of tampering but they could be provided with a display to enable a user to easily see some desired information.

Claims

1. A license plate system for a vehicle and trailer, the system comprising: a license plate for attachment in use to a trailer, the plate having an adjustable display portion for displaying a registration number; a registration number signal transmitter for sending a signal indicative of the desired registration number from the vehicle to the license plate for display on the adjustable display portion.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a radio transmitter.

3. A system according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the signal transmitter includes electronic means for transmitting the signal to the license plate.

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustable display portion includes an electromagnetic system for displaying the desired letters and/or numbers.

5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the adjustable display portion includes a liquid crystal display.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitter has an input device for inputting the desired registration number.

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the license plate is provided with a separate input device for inputting the desired registration number in the event that the transmitter fails.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitter includes a memory means for storing a predetermined registration number, associated with the particular vehicle, which can only be altered by an authorised user.

9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate and/or transmitter includes a manual override mechanism to enable a user to display the correct registration number after entry of a personal identification number for security access.

10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate is provided with means for verifying that the registration number received in the signal is one of a predetermined number of allowable registration numbers.

11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate and/or the transmitter are connectable to a main database of allowable registration numbers for verification purposes.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an alarm arranged to sound if the plate does not verify the correct registration number is displayed.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the licence plate further comprises a tracking device which can be detected by either the transmitter or a base station.

14. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the licence plate includes a tachometer to record the distance travelled by the trailer.