GB2541209A

GB2541209A - Night time running plates

Info

Publication number: GB2541209A
Application number: GB1514210.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ali Anamul; Bodrul Alam Mohammed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-08-12
Filing date: 2015-08-12
Publication date: 2017-02-15
Also published as: GB201514210D0

Abstract

The number plates comprises of an aluminium base plate 1, a double adhesive layer 2, and a flexible circuit board layer 5. A fret cut aluminium face plate 10 which has a reflective material applied to the surface of the plate and which also has openings to correspond with the aluminium face plate. Both aluminium plates house various internal materials such as vinyl light bleeds 9, light guide plastic and matt black plastic characters layered on top of LEDs 5 which are pushed through the face plate and extrude 1.5 mm above the surface of the face plate creating the 3D effect of the characters.

Description

Title: Night Time Running Plates (NTRP)

Night Time Running Plates (NTRP)

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to night time running plates and particularly, but not exclusively, to a character edge illuminated vehicle number plate for the front and rear.

Background of the invention

In many countries, including the United Kingdom, it is a legal requirement for the rear number plate of a vehicle to be illuminated. Conventionally, this is achieved by mounting one or more bulbs on the boot lid or bumper surrounding the number plate. This method results in a non-uniform illumination across the surface of the number plate because of the one or two point sources of light. The externally mounted bulbs are also vulnerable to breakage and build-up of dirt further reducing the non-uniform illumination of the rear plate during the hours of darkness.

The front number plate does not have a legal requirement to be illuminated during the hours of darkness therefore resulting in the number plate not being visible in low light conditions with the added distraction of the blinding factor of powerful vehicle headlights. A further disadvantage of the non-illumination of the front number plate results in a car being mistaken for a motorbike when one headlight is blown.

Illuminating the number plates by a light source located behind the rear of the characters and the aluminium face plate has been contemplated as a means of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages and as a basis for the creation of a more aesthetically pleasing design for both the rear and front plates. However, in the United Kingdom, any physical modifications to number plates must fall within the scope of the relevant legislation, in particular the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 which came in force on 1 September 2001 and which set out the current legal requirements for the display of the vehicle number plates conforming to the British Standard specifications BS AU 145d.

This Standard provides rules governing the physical characteristics of number plates including their strength, visibility and reflectivity. The current rules state that a number plate (i) must be marked with the British Standard number BS AU 145d; (ii) must identify the plate manufacturer or supplier including their name and postcode; (iii) may optionally include a non-reflective border and nationality indicators; and (iv) must include "no other markings or material". Similar laws govern the required physical characteristics of number plates in other countries.

It is with this final requirement that a number plate should include "no other markings or material" that causes difficulties for other similar inventions that allow the internal structure of the number plate to be visible to the naked eye. For the purposes of BS AU 145d, the visible internal structure of the number plate constitutes "additional markings" and is thus forbidden.

Current LED number plates consist of LED light being omitted through acrylic, Perspex and other translucent materials can cause a number of anomalies which fall foul of the current Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 for vehicle number plates in regards to the characters of the registration mark is; • To be easily distinguishable from every part of a relevant area having the diagonal length of viewing' • 'No reflex-reflecting material may be applied to any part of a registration plate and the plate must not be treated in such a way that the characters of the registration mark become, or are caused to act as, retro reflective characters' • A registration plate must not be treated in any other way which renders the characters of the registration mark less easily distinguishable to the eye or which would prevent or impair the making of a true photographic image of the plate through the medium of camera and film or any other device. • Characters should be black and not-retro-reflex/reflecting on a reflecting surface

With 3D led number plates, the diagonal length of viewing can be obstructed by the first characters due to the 3D raised effect as illustrated in figure 17.

When illuminated the first character nearest to the angle of viewing can cause a shadow effect to fall on the next character causing the number plate to be non-distinguishable, act in a retro/reflex-reflecting manner and impair the making of photographic images as prescribed above.

Too much light from any character will cause the number plate to whitewash over the black character surface, causing the number plate to be unreadable by Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and have a blurry outlook to the naked eye with a blooming footprint on the reflective surface.

The use of any acrylic layers absorb light and allow light to bleed in areas which cause the number plate to act as retro/reflex reflecting.

The above anomalies can be overcome if the procedures listed in the submitted patent are followed, figures 19 and 20 show detailed cross sectional diagrams showing the anomalies and how they have been overcome.

Figure 17 shows Cross Diagonal impaired viewing due to excessive depth of 3D characters when not illuminated, when illuminated the illumination further increases the impaired factor and the illumination of each character creates a shadow. To overcome this issue a maximum tolerance of thickness for characters extruding from the surface is 2.5mm regardless to how many layers of materials make up the overall thickness of characters

Figure 18 shows that to eliminate each illuminated character creating shadows and over blooming light over its neighbouring characters, the area which requires to be illuminated has a maximum tolerance of 0.5mm to extrude outwards from the surface, in effect leaves no shadow and does not create a blooming footprint on the reflective layer. The remaining 2mm top layer 15 described in figure 14 on the character should have a maximum and minimum depth of 2mm, the maximum tolerance overcomes cross diagonal impaired viewing, and the minimum tolerance overcomes light bleeding through the material, in effect acting in a retro/reflex-reflecting manner.

Summary of the invention

The invention is a 3D character edge illuminated number plate to replace the conventional rear number plate which is illuminated via bulbs and also to introduce an illuminated number plate for use on the front of motor vehicles. The said invention known as the NTRP comprising of an aluminium back panel/base plate; a double sided adhesive layer to allow internal components to be fixed in place; flexible circuit board consisting of multiple independent tracks to allow each light emitting diode panel to be independently powered; protective layer to prevent short circuit of the flexible circuit board from the conductive underside of the light emitting diode panel; light emitting diode panels placed in accordance to the corresponding alpha numeric configuration fret cut into the aluminium face plate; anti collapse supports to give structural integrity to the product when fully assembled; optical colour filter changes the colour of the emitted light from standard white light to the desired colour; further double sided adhesive layer fits within the inner perimeter of the anticollapse support frame; vinyl light bleed blocker with a reduced brush stroke of 3mm alpha numeric characters cut into it when compared to the corresponding aluminium face plate the alpha numeric character fret cut openings; aluminium face plate with desired alpha numeric character openings cut into the aluminium with either a white reflective material for front plate or yellow reflective material for rear plate (but not limited to these colours) applied to the surface of the face plate which also has openings to correspond with the aluminium face plate; alphanumeric characters comprising of a light guide plastic layer and matt black plastic layer pushed through the face plate to attach onto the double sided adhesive layer. The final assembly of the layers described can be seen in figure 16.

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described with reference to the following examples which are provided for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to be constructed as being limiting on the present invention. Reference will further be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows the back panel layer 1 formed from a sheet of 1mm aluminium material, not limited to any size, with an outer perimeter consisting of multiple 2.3mm0 holes inset at 4.25mm away from edge to centres; having two 3mm0 holes for water drainage and two 3mm0 heat escape holes, two 5mm0 screw mounting holes, one 6mm0 power input hole, back panel layer 1 not exceeding 1mm in thickness.

Fig. 2 shows the first double sided adhesive layer 2 on top of the back panel layer 1 to allow components to be fixed in place.

Fig. 3 shows a flexible circuit board layer 3 is added on top of the back panel layer 1 and the double sided adhesive layer 2, consisting of multiple independent tracks to allow each light emitting diode panel to be independently powered.

Fig. 4 shows the addition of a protective layer 4 on top of the back panel layer 1, double side adhesive layer 2, and the flexible circuit board layer 3 to prevent short circuit by the conductive underside of the light emitting diode panel.

Fig. 5 shows light emitting diode panels layer 5 on top of the previous four layers mentioned in the fig. 4 description. The light emitting diode panels are placed in accordance to the alpha numeric configuration required and are not limited to a maximum or minimum combination, irrespective of height, width or spacing of alpha numeric characters.

Fig. 6 shows a light emitting diode panel 5 referred to as LED panel herein after, the LED panel has an illuminating area of 50x79mm but not limited to a minimum or maximum thickness of 2mm, with power connection terminals to one side. ll-14volts direct current, 5watts.

Fig. 7 shows anti-collapse support layer 6 on top of the back panel layer 1, double side adhesive layer 2, flexible circuit board layer 3, protective layer 4, LED panels layer 5. The purpose of the anti-collapse is to give structural integrity to the product and fill space between LED panels, the outer perimeter of the frame gives support to the fully assembled product from collapsing inwards and providing supporting strength for screws from crushing the product if screws are over tightened at time of fitting. Inner pillars fill side space between each neighbouring led panel. The entire structure sits 6mm inwards from the outer edge of the back panel. Maximum thickness is 3mm. the anti-collapse supports have adhesive face to allow the front face plate panel 10 illustrated in fig. 11 to stick to.

Fig. 8 shows the optical colour filter layer 7 on top of the previous six layers mentioned in the fig. 7 description. The optical colour filter changes the colour of the emitted light from standard white light to the colour necessary and sharpens the light by means of magnifying. The coverage area of the optical colour filter falls on the inside of the anti-collapse support perimeter bridging over the support pillars.

Fig. 9 shows the second double sided adhesive layer 8 on top of the back panel layer 1, double sided adhesive layer 2, flexible circuit board layer 3, protective layer 4, LED panels layer 5, anti-collapse supports layer 6, and optical colour filter layer 7. This second double sided adhesive layer fits within the inner perimeter of the anti-collapse support frame and does not breech over the walls of the anti-collapse support frame, bridging over the support pillars. This adhesive layer will attach the light guide plastic (LGP) characters on to the product shown in fig. 13.

Fig. 10 shows the light bleed blocker layer 9 on top of the previous 8 layers mentioned in the fig. 9 description. The light bleed blocker has alphanumeric character openings which correspond to the fret cut openings of the face plate layer 10 illustrated in figure 11, but the stroke of the cut is 3mm smaller compared to the brush stroke opening of the face plate.

The combination of alpha-numeric characters are not limited to those used within the illustrations. The light bleed blocker stops light seeping from areas other than through the edges of the light guide plastic characters layer 13 illustrated in figure 13.

Fig. 10.1 and fig. 10.2 shows an example of part of the aluminium face plate layer 10 without and with the light bleed blocker layer 9 illustrated in figure 10 underneath.

Fig. 11 shows the face plate layer 10 on top of the back panel layer 1, double side adhesive layer 2, flexible circuit board layer 3, protective layer 4, LED panels layer 5, anti-collapse supports layer 6, optical colour filter layer 7, second double sided adhesive layer 8, and the light bleed blocker layer 9. The face plate layer 10 is formed from a sheet of 1mm aluminium material, not limited to any size but the exact same size as the back panel. The face plate will have two 5mm0 screw fixing holes in the exact same place as the back panel and alphanumeric characters fret cut into the aluminium to create openings with strokes of 14mm but not limited to 14mm to comply with the specific country regulations again positioned in areas denoted by the specific country regulations the product is being made for or the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 when made for the United Kingdom.

Fig. 12 shows the reflective layer 11 on top of the previous 10 layers mentioned in the fig. 11 description. The reflective layer (where the colour of the reflective will be denoted by the specific countries' display of number plate regulations) will have an adhesive reverse side which is applied to the face plate. The reflective layer will have the exact alpha-numeric character openings as the face plate cut into it, in the same corresponding locations.

Number plates made for the United Kingdom as denoted in the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 the reflective layer will be marked with the British Standard number BS AU 145d and identify the plate manufacturer or supplier including their name and postcode, these details will be permanently etched in by means of laser. Laser markings for other countries will be denoted by the specific countries' display of number plate regulations.

Fig. 13 shows the light guide plastic (LGP) character layer 13 on top of the back panel layer 1, double side adhesive layer 2, flexible circuit board layer 3, protective layer 4, LED panels layer 5, anti-collapse supports layer 6, optical colour filter layer 7, second double sided adhesive layer 8, light bleed blocker layer 9, face plate layer 10, and the reflective layer 11. The LGP character layer 13 with adhesive underside 12 is formed from a specially engineered plastic material at a thickness of 1.5mm that guides light to its edges, characters are laser cut from the LGP material that coincide with the fret cut openings on both the reflective layer and the aluminium face plate. The LGP character layer 13 with the adhesive underside 12 with a combined thickness of 1.5mm will sink 1mm into the openings of the reflective layer 11 and face plate layer 10 bonding onto the second double sided adhesive layer 8, extruding 0.5mm above surface level of the reflective layer 11.

Fig. 14 shows the black plastic top character layer 15 with an adhesive underside 14 on top of the previous 12 layers mentioned in the fig. 13 description. The matt black plastic top character layer 15 will be of 2mm thickness when combined with the adhesive underside 14 and will be cut to exact dimensions of the LGP character layer and will be stuck onto the LGP characters layer 13. The reasoning behind the matt black top character layer is to stop any surface light on the characters and allow the LGP material to guide the light evenly to the edges of the LGP character layer thus creating an edge illuminating glow backlit halo effect.

Fig. 15.1 and fig. 15.2 refers to fret cut characters with and without inner openings; characters 4, 6, 8, 9, 0, A, B, D, Ο, P, Q, R are designed to retain the inner openings. These inner openings will be retained on the layers; light bleed blocker layer, face plate layer, reflective sheet layer, and LGP character layer. The black plastic top character layer will be the only layer that will not retain the inner opening for any characters.

Fig. 19 shows the problems with use of acrylic materials B causing light to absorb into it creating a blooming effect resulting in the face of the plate to light up which can be construed as 'other markings'. Fig. 20 shows NTRPs' solution, the absorption of light into the face plate is overcome by use of aluminium B and the use of light bleed blocker E.

Claims

1. A vehicle registration plate made of characters being cut out and replaced with raised characters. The raised characters will resemble a 3D design. The 3D characters will be made of 2 portions, A backing plate with luminous electric diodes panel will be added to the rear, once affixed together the light will travel and illuminate the bottom portion of characters and be blocked by top portion of the characters, the 3D surface pattern will resemble illuminated character edges when power is supplied to led panels, having integrated printed circuit boards the product will be able to be integrated to vehicle alarm, signalling and communication systems all protected by water proof and damper seals, light blocking materials, sandwiched by a face panel with reflective properties, with snap fit assembly to vehicle and port to port communications hub. The illuminated characters will eliminate the use of light bulbs fixed above the number plate reducing manufacturing and moulding costs for vehicle manufacturers.

2. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1, a backing plate attached with light blocking material will be etched and perforated by machinery from a computer aided design known as matrix, the matrix will bear fixings and locations for communication ports, led panel, printed circuit boards, dual purpose water proof & damper seals, and face panel, with recesses to act as counter sinks, water drain, heat and evaporation escape vents.

3. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1, will have 3 light blocking membranes made of vinyl matt sheets, the first membrane will be attached on the backing panel stop block any light reflecting back from face panel, the second membrane will be attached to the rear side of face panel to stop any light seeping through reflective vinyl of face panel, the 3 membrane will be positioned to corresponding characters and cut smaller 2.5mm around the edges to corresponding characters, this will stop any light directly falling on edges of corresponding character perforations on face plate.

4. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1, the led panel will have outer perforations to allow the mechanical fixing of led panel to backing plate, other perforations will act as recesses to allow screws to be countersunk in backing plate but penetrate through corresponding holes in led panel allowing mechanical fixing of alpha numeric characters to led panel or backing plate, The led panel will have a positive and negative terminals at the top and bottom of which 1 set of terminals will be kept as back up. 1 led panel could be split in 2 half's to accommodate a major curvature on the vertical axis. The led panel will be made in any size or shape within 50mm in width and 94mm in height, but will not exceed this measurement; the illuminated surface cover will not exceed 48.9mm width and 79.1 in height. The input voltage will be 0-14volts and have maximum of 0-5 watts output, the led panel can output any colour.

5. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1, 3D characters will be made in layers, consisting of different materials and properties, translucent in nature made of acrylics, glass or crystal plastics, the bottom layer at a larger thickness will be made in a translucent material to allow light to penetrate through and retain light to give the edges a illuminated appearance, the bottom layer characters of 4,6,9,0,0,0,R,P,A,D will have 1 break and characters B,8 will have 2 breaks, the breaks will be broken so the character still represents its true form but can be slotted into the face plate. The top layer on the characters will have perforated holes to allow recessing screws penetrating through led plate allowing to be mechanically fastened using the screw head or tapped thread as anchor. Characters on the top layer will be made of non retro reflective material, top layer characters such as 4,6, 9,0,Q,R,P,A,D, B, 8 will remain fully intact and hide breaks in bottom layer. The colours of characters are black on orange, black on red, black on blue, black on white.

6. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1 will have a face panel, the face panel will have attached to the rear reflective vinyl, corresponding holes to assemble will be perforated using the matrix, characters will be perforated out, characters with inner perforations will be cut in a stencil type manner, edges to the character perforations will be treated to stop light penetrating on to the reflective surface.

7. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1, 2 seals an outer seal and inner seal, the outer seals main function will be to provide waterproof protection to the entire assembly, with properties of elasticity, much like an elastic band with walls or a square shape with one side missing circular with no start or end matching to the colours of the face panel, the secondary function of outer seal will hide the fixings which hold the assembly together, the inner dual purpose seal will provide waterproofing and act as a damper to stop the backing and face panel collapsing inwards. Both seals will have perforations along the bottom edge for water drainage.

8. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1, A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1 will have the optional feature by means of electronic pcb concealed within the assembly or by an external unit to provide left to right scrolling with vehicle signalling, according to the signalling direction left or right, the characters will illuminate individually according to the signalling direction. The directional illumination will continuous simultaneously till the stop signalling.

9. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1 will have the optional feature by means of electronic pcb concealed within the assembly or by a external unit to provide anti theft protection by means of integration into vehicle alarm system.

10. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1 will have the optional feature by means of electronic pcb concealed within the assembly or by a external unit to communicate with on board or external communication systems, communication systems could control the illumination of the characters, i.e no insurance no illumination, no road tax no illumination.

11. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1 will have the optional feature by means of electronic pcb concealed within the assembly with means of having a connection port, the connection port will eliminate the use of electronic cable connection, the port will have a docking port on the vehicle, power and communications could be served via port to port assembly.

12. A vehicle registration plate made according to claim 1 will have the optional feature of having the screw recesses replaced with sockets, the vehicle will have the ball, this type of ball and socket assembly will eliminate screws or sticking tape to be used the common type of fixing, with the alarm integration the number plate will be quick fit and quick release and still have theft proof measure.