Abstract:
License plates ( 10 ) and number plates of vehicles are frequently forged or used for altered or stolen vehicles. To prevent this, license plates ( 10 ) are known, with which a contactlessly readable identification means ( 19 ) is associated in a license plate surface ( 12 ). This identification means ( 19 ) contains relevant data of the vehicle to which the license plate ( 10 ) belongs. As the license plate surface ( 12 ) is provided, primarily for motor vehicle identification or as a surface for the lettering ( 15 ), with numbers and digits for identification purposes, only little space or limited space remains for a further identification means ( 19 ). The invention provides a license plate ( 10 ) for a vehicle having an identification means ( 19 ), in which the at least one identification means ( 19 ) is associated with the periphery ( 13 ) of the license plate ( 10 ) which surrounds the license plate surface ( 12 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is the US National Phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/001299 having an international filing date of 27 Jun. 2015, which claims priority from and the benefit of German Patent Application No. 102014012291.3 having a filing date of 22 Aug. 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Technical Field 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a license plate for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle license plate, having a license plate body, which has a license plate surface having a coating, a periphery, which at least partially surrounds the license plate surface, and having at least one identification means. 
         [0004]    Prior Art 
         [0005]    License plates according to the invention are what are commonly referred to as number plates, which are attached at the front and rear of the chassis or the bumper of a vehicle and those that are stuck to a window of a vehicle, in particular as additional license plates. 
         [0006]    License plates of the type mentioned are frequently forged or used for altered vehicles. In order to prevent this, license plates are known which have an identifying means that is contactlessly readable or a data carrier. The latter contains relevant data of the vehicle to which the license plate belongs. Reading said data is effected using an external reader. The comparison of the read data with the vehicle on which the license plate is used allows conclusions regarding manipulations to be drawn, in particular if the license plate is associated with an altered vehicle. 
         [0007]    In the license plates having contactless readable identification means that have been known hitherto, the identification means are associated with a license plate surface of the license plate. Since the license plate surface is provided primarily for the motor vehicle identification or as a surface for providing numbers and digits, only little room or limited room remains for a further identification means. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention is based on the object of providing a license plate having an identification means. 
         [0009]    A license plate, in particular a motor vehicle license plate, for achieving this object has a license plate body, which has a license plate surface having a coating, a periphery, which at least partially surrounds the license plate surface, and having at least one identification means, characterized in that at least one identification means is associated with the periphery. In this license plate, at least one identification means is associated with the periphery of the license plate. Said periphery at least partially surrounds the license plate surface of the license plate. The license plate furthermore has a license plate body having the license plate surface and a coating. 
         [0010]    According to a preferred development of the invention, provision is made for the periphery of the license plate surface to be configured as a mount, preferably as a collar. This mount surrounds the license plate surface at least partially and results in stabilization of the license plate. The mount of the license plate is arranged at a distance from the license plate surface such that no letters or digits are located thereon. 
         [0011]    Provision is preferably made for the periphery to have a deformation, preferably is stamped by a Z-shaped, H-shaped or U-shaped cross section, in particular for the periphery to have no deformation. By stamping the license plate, the latter is given, due to its profiled periphery, a high stability against bending or twisting. 
         [0012]    In addition, stamping brings about a periphery whose front side rises as a convex, roof-type profile over the top side of the license plate surface. The corresponding rear of the periphery has a corresponding convex, roof-type profile, which is a negative of the front side and is therefore suitable for receiving objects, such as for example the identification means. 
         [0013]    Provision is preferably furthermore made for the periphery to be at least partially offset with respect to a plane of the license plate surface, in particular for the periphery to be situated in the same plane as the license plate surface. Especially when stamping the license plate, as a result of which it obtains a U-shaped cross section, a surface of the periphery is at least partially parallel to the plane of the license plate surface. With particular preference, the identification means can be associated with said parallel plane of the periphery. The parallel alignment of the plane facilitates in particular the reading of the identification means. 
         [0014]    A further preferred embodiment of the license plate makes provision for the at least one identification means to be associated with a top side and/or a bottom side of the periphery, in particular at least partially integrated in the license plate body. When assigning the at least one identification means on the top side of the periphery, the identification means can be applied directly onto the top side of the periphery. To this end, the identification means can have a self-adhesive layer on the front side and/or on the rear. When assigning the identification means to the bottom side of the periphery, the identification means is not visible from outside. It is additionally conceivable for the license plate body to have a hollow or a cutout, in which the at least one identification means is, at least partially, inserted. By way of this integration of the identification means in the license plate body, the identification means is affixed at a specific location of the license plate and protected against external influences. 
         [0015]    The invention in particular makes further provision for the at least one identification means to extend over at least an edge region of the deformation of the periphery, preferably around an edge of the license plate body. The identification means can here be attached on the top side and the bottom side of the periphery over a large area, at least partially, for improved contact with the license plate. However, it is likewise conceivable that the identification means is placed in or adhesively bonded to the stamped form of the license plate and is here adhesively bonded to the stamped element. 
         [0016]    It is likewise conceivable for the identification element to have a tab-like extension which protrudes from the attachment, for example having an adhesive. It is likewise conceivable for the tab-like extension to extend around the edge of the license plate body, from the rear to the front side, and to be fixed by the coating, in particular between the coating and the front side of the license plate body. 
         [0017]    According to the invention, provision is furthermore made for the at least one identification means to be associated with a perforation in the periphery of the license plate. This perforation can be in the form of an elongate slot along a longitudinal axis or transverse axis of the license plate. This slot extends parallel to the periphery and can be open on one side. 
         [0018]    The invention furthermore preferably makes provision for the perforation to be covered, preferably by a demetalized strip on the front side of the license plate as part of the coating, in particular in a way such that the at least one identification means is not visible. Due to this covering of the perforation or of the identification means, the latter is protected against environmental influences, while it remains invisible for an outside observer and will thus elude any manipulation attempts. 
         [0019]    The invention furthermore makes provision for the at least one identification means to be cast into the periphery, preferably embedded in a stamped hollow of the periphery by way of encapsulation. To this end, the identification means is preferably brought into contact with the rear of the stamped periphery, or is adhesively bonded into the stamped hollow and is thereupon provided with or embedded in encapsulation, for example epoxide resin. In this way, the identification means is connected fixedly and releasably to the license plate and is protected against any environmental influences. The identification means can additionally be supported by a license plate adhesive frame. 
         [0020]    A further advantageous exemplary embodiment of the invention makes provision for the periphery to be provided in a different color than the license plate surface, in particular with a different paint or coloration, preferably for the at least one identification means to be covered by this paint or coloration. The covering of the identification means by the paint or coloration prevents direct visibility of the identification means. The paint may be a reflective paint or any other paint. 
         [0021]    Further provision is made in particular for the periphery to have a coating or imprint, preferably for the periphery to be formed by way of lettering or an imprint, and for the at least one identification means to be associated with this lettering or imprint. 
         [0022]    Provision is additionally made for a reflective coating which is preferably homogeneous and uniform to be associated with the license plate surface and/or the periphery. The reflective coating can be a reflective film having, for example, glass beads and/or prismatic properties. 
         [0023]    Provision is preferably furthermore made for the at least one identification means to be a data carrier, which in particular has a chip, a coil or a carrier, wherein at least one antenna and/or an amplification element is preferably associated with the data carrier. 
         [0024]    Provision is additionally made for the at least one data carrier to generate a magnetic field and to have an antenna which is formed through the at least one slot in the periphery of the license plate body. The license plate body is, at least partially, made of an electrically conductive material, for example a sheet of aluminum. The data carrier, which generates a magnetic field, and the antenna thus form a license plate having a transponder. The slot in the at least partially conductive license plate body leads to inductive coupling of the data of the data carrier in the license plate body serving as an antenna. The antenna, in particular the slot or the data carrier, here simultaneously serves as an amplifier. The data of the data carrier is thus readable from the license plate without additional components and without connecting the data carrier, even from a relatively large distance. 
         [0025]    Provision is additionally made for the data carrier to be arranged in an electrically insulated fashion at or in the slot, in particular preferably at a closed end of the slot. The data carrier is thus able to be accommodated or integrated in the license plate body, without it requiring additional installation space, and is not perceivable from the outside of the license plate either. Provision is additionally preferably made for the data carrier, in particular for the electrically conducting components thereof, to have no contact with the license plate body of the license plate, in particular no electrically conducting contact. Formed between the conducting components of the data carrier and the slot in the license plate body is a circumferential gap or an interspace, whereby particularly effective contactless coupling of the data carrier to the electrically conductive license plate carrier of the license plate is effected. This coupling is effected inductively by way of the magnetic field generated by the data carrier. 
         [0026]    Provision can furthermore be made for the slot to be provided with at least one perforation, whereby a region-wise extension of the slot is effected. The perforation is preferably associated with an end of the slot, such that the slot end is enlarged by the perforation. By arranging the data carrier in the region of the extension at an end of the slot made by the perforation, sufficient space even for larger data carriers is provided in the license plate body. The data carrier is here located within the outlines of the license plate carrier, specifically without being brought into physical or electrical contact therewith. The data carrier is not perceivable in the interior of the license plate, as a result of which invisible electrical or electronic security of the license plate is provided. 
         [0027]    Provision is furthermore made for the data carrier to be attached in insulated fashion in the stamping hollow, such that the conductive components thereof have no conducting connection to the license plate body which is formed from a conducting material. Thus magnetic or inductive coupling, in particular of a slot of the data carrier to the license plate body, also comes about. Here, the license plate body serves not only as an antenna, but preferably at the same time as an amplifier, as a result of which the data of the data carrier is readable even from a relatively large distance. The bottom of the depression of the stamping hollow can additionally be provided with a through-opening which is smaller than the data carrier, such that the data carrier is fixable despite this opening and the depression. The opening leads to an improvement in the antenna effect and primarily to improved amplification of the transmission power of the chip of the data carrier. 
         [0028]    The identification means or the data carrier preferably has at least one chip, preferably a passive radio-frequency identification chip (RFID chip), at least one electrically conducting coil connected thereto, and a carrier made of an insulating material. The carrier facilitates the fixation of the data carrier in the license plate body. Mainly, the carrier which is formed from an insulator ensures that the chip and the coil of the data carrier are able to be integrated in the license plate so as to be insulated with respect to the license plate body, with the result that inductive and/or magnetic coupling of the signals of the chip to in particular the license plate body of the license plate is effected. It is additionally conceivable according to the invention for the identification means or the data carrier to be a printed or lasered one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode or a digital signature. 
         [0029]    It is furthermore conceivable for the data carrier to be a hologram, a security print or a special UV print. In all these exemplary embodiments, provision is made for the legibility or readability of the identification means or of the data carrier or of a hologram not to be negatively affected by said coatings or colorations. 
         [0030]    Provision is furthermore made for the at least one identification means or the carrier to be plate-like, preferably to be flexurally rigid or limp in the form of a film. This film can additionally be self-adhesive. The flexibility of the film is such that it can be placed into the stamping hollow or around an edge of the license plate body. 
         [0031]    The invention can furthermore provide for the at least one identification means to be arranged only outside the license plate surface. As a result, the surface for the provision of lettering is not limited and the arrangement of the identification means is subject to no limitations due to the lettering on the license plate surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  shows a section of a license plate, 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a cross section through a license plate according to the invention, 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  shows a second exemplary embodiment of a license plate in an illustration according to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a third exemplary embodiment of a license plate in an illustration according to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a license plate in an illustration according to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a license plate in an illustration according to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of a license plate in an illustration according to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0040]      FIG. 8  shows a seventh exemplary embodiment of a license plate in an illustration according to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  shows an eighth exemplary embodiment of a license plate in an illustration according to  FIG. 2 , and 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  shows a ninth exemplary embodiment of a license plate in an illustration according to  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]      FIG. 1  illustrates, by way of example, a section of a license plate  10 , in particular of a motor vehicle license plate, having a plate-type license plate body  11 , a license plate surface  12 , a periphery  13  which surrounds the license plate surface  12 , an edge  14  which surrounds the license plate body  11 , and lettering  15  located on the license plate surface  12 . The license plate  10  has a rectangular configuration, with its dimensions corresponding to those of a typical vehicle license plate. The license plate body  11  is configured at its periphery  13  as a fold. This fold is provided in the license plate body  11  using a forming process, preferably by way of stamping. 
         [0044]    License plates  10  of this type, what are referred to as number plates, are typically placed at the front and rear of the vehicle, specifically at the chassis and/or the bumper. The license plate  10  additionally has a plurality of attachment holes  16 . 
         [0045]    Inside the periphery  13  or a mount, the license plate body  11  has a license plate surface  12 . Located on the license plate surface  12  is the lettering  15  of the license plate  10 . The lettering  15  is preferably provided in the license plate surface  12  likewise by way of stamping ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0046]    The license plate body  11  is made of a metal, preferably aluminum, or a plastic having a thickness of a few millimeters. The license plate body  11  is coated on a front side  17 . This coating is preferably in the form of a self-adhesive, reflective film  18 . The film  18  covers the entire front side  17  of the license plate  10  ( FIG. 2 ). Provided on this film  18  is, according to the exemplary embodiment  2 , an identification means  19  at the periphery  13 . This identification means  19  is attached to the film  18 , preferably adhesively bonded thereto. The identification means  19  is in the form of a transponder and has a, in particular passive, data carrier  20  and an antenna  21 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 2  in cross section and communicates with the data carrier  20 . The data stored on the data carrier  20  is contactlessly readable via the antenna  21 . 
         [0047]    The data carrier  20  and thus the identification means  19  has selected data of the vehicle to which the license plate  10  belongs. The data carrier  20  has a passive chip, which is here in the form of a passive radio-frequency identification chip (RFID chip), a coil which here forms the antenna  21 , and a non-conducting carrier  22  (RFID hardtag). The carrier  22  is made of a non-conducting material, for example a plastic, in the form of a carrier film or a carrier body. The passive RFID chip which is associated with the data carrier  20  operates in a frequency range of between 800 MHz and 1000 MHz. The RFID chip generates a magnetic field which is inductively coupled via the antenna  21 . 
         [0048]    On a top side  23 , the identification means  19  or the carrier  22  has a coloration  24  or a coating. This coloration  24  has the effect that the identification means  19  is not visible and is thus protected against any unauthorized removal. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the identification means  19  is set apart from the license plate surface  12  and is located only on the periphery  13  of the license plate  10 . 
         [0049]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the invention, the identification means  19  is associated with the periphery  13  of the license plate  10 , exactly as in  FIG. 2 , but the periphery  13  in  FIG. 3  has an embossed or milled hollow-type depression  25 , which matches the identification means  19  in terms of shape. The identification means  19  is associated with the depression  25  such that the top side  23  of the data carrier  20  and the front side  17  of the license plate body  11  are located in one plane. Located between the carrier  22  and the periphery  13  is an absorber  26 , which protects the identification means  19 , in particular the data carrier  20 , against mechanical impacts. 
         [0050]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the data carrier  20  and the antenna  21  are associated with the carrier  22  such that they face the film  18 . The top side  23  of the identification means  19  is covered directly by the film  18 . In order to prevent the identification means  19  from being directly visible, the film  18  is provided with a coloration  24 , specifically exactly over the region which corresponds to the identification means  19 . 
         [0051]    The periphery  13  of the license plate  10  that is illustrated in  FIG. 4  has a perforation  28 . This perforation  28  can be in the form of a slot and can extend parallel to the periphery  13  over several centimeters. In the exemplary embodiment of the license plate  10  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the identification means  19  is associated with a rear  29  of the license plate  10 , specifically exactly that periphery region in which the perforation  28  is also located. The carrier  27  of the identification means  19  is, in this exemplary embodiment, in the form of a flexurally rigid carrier film. The carrier  27  here extends over two edge regions  30  of the U-shaped periphery  13 . 
         [0052]    At the front side  17 , exactly where the perforation  28  is located, the film  18  also has a cutout  31 . This cutout  31  in the film  18  is bridged by a strip  32 , preferably a demetalized strip. This strip  32  in turn prevents the identification means  19  from becoming directly visible. In addition, the demetalized strip  32  prevents an electrically conducting connection from forming between the flanks  33  of the perforation  28 . The antenna  21  is associated with the rear  29  exactly such that it corresponds to the flanks  33  of the cutout  31 . The antenna  21  is electrically insulated from the flanks  33  of the perforation  28  by way of a thin layer  34 , in particular an adhesive layer. The antenna  21  can couple to the perforation  28 , which acts as a slot antenna, by way of inductive coupling. The perforation  28 , which is in the form of a slot antenna, here thus acts as an antenna  21  or amplifier for the data carrier  20 . 
         [0053]    The perforation  28  can be open on one side or closed. Due to the amplification of the antenna  21  through the perforation  28  or the slot, the signals of the identification means  19  are amplified, as a result of which the relevant data can be read even at a relatively large distance from the license plate  10 . The exemplary embodiment of the identification means  19  illustrated in  FIG. 4  is in the form of an RFID label. 
         [0054]    The exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 5  differs from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  only in that the identification means  19  has a fixed carrier body  35 , which is cast on the rear  29  of the periphery  13  with an encapsulation  36  which encapsulates the identification means  19 . The identification means  19  is embedded between the edge regions  30  of the periphery  13 . The demetalized strip  32  is located exactly in the cutout  31  of the film  18 . Located above the film  18  and the demetalized strip  32  is, as in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a coloration. 
         [0055]    The exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 6  substantially corresponds to that in  FIG. 5 . In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the identification means  19  in  FIG. 6  has a carrier film  37 . This carrier film  37  extends from the rear  29  of the license plate to the periphery  13 , over both edge regions  30  and the perforation  28 , and is here partially covered by the encapsulation  36 . One end of the carrier film  37  protrudes from the encapsulation  36  ( FIG. 6 ). Such a carrier film  37 , which is placed into the periphery  13  in a self-adhesive manner, can be connected particularly easily to the license plate  10 . The end of the carrier film  37  that is not covered by the encapsulation  36  can be used as a tab of the carrier film  37  or of the RFID label. 
         [0056]    In the exemplary embodiment of the license plate  10  illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the identification means  19  has a carrier film  38  which extends out of the edge region  30  and out of the encapsulation  36  around an external edge  39  from the rear  29  to the front side  17  of the license plate body  11 . The part of the carrier film  38  that extends out of the encapsulation  36  extends on the front side  17  of the license plate  10  between the film  18  and the front side  17 . The identification means  19  or the carrier film  38  is protected against manipulations by way of this cladding of the film  18 . 
         [0057]    The periphery  41  of the license plate  10  illustrated in  FIG. 8  is Z-shaped. The periphery  41 , parallel to the license plate surface  12 , has a peripheral region  42  with which, as described in the previous exemplary embodiments, a perforation  28 , a cutout  31 , a demetalized strip  32 , a coloration  24  are associated. The identification means  19  is applied to the rear  29  of the peripheral region  42  such that the antenna  21  is at least in inductive contact with the flanks  33 . The carrier of the identification means  19  is in the form of a carrier film  40  and extends from the region of the perforation  28  over an edge region  43 . The carrier film  40  is self-adhesive and associated with the rear  29  in an adhesive manner. 
         [0058]    The exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 9  differs from that in  FIG. 8  merely in that the film  18  is limited only to the license plate surface  12  and does not extend to the peripheral region  42  as well. In this exemplary embodiment, the coloration  24  or a varnish extends over the entire peripheral region  42  and also partially over an edge region  44  of the front side  17 . The perforation  28  is thus covered directly by the coloration  24  and no longer requires an additional demetalized strip  32 . 
         [0059]    Furthermore, provision is made according to the invention for a periphery  45  of the license plate  10  to be able to be located in one plane with the license plate surface  12  ( FIG. 10 ). In this exemplary embodiment, as in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the identification means  19  is provided on the film  18 , which is located on the front side  17  of the periphery  45 . The top side  23  of the carrier  27  is provided with a coloration  24  in order to avoid direct visibility of the identification means  19 . This exemplary embodiment is able to be produced particularly simply and to be used universally. 
         [0060]    At this point it should be noted that the license plate according to the invention is not limited to the illustrated exemplary embodiments. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  license plate 
           11  license plate body 
           12  license plate surface 
           13  periphery 
           14  edge 
           15  lettering 
           16  attachment hole 
           17  front side 
           18  film 
           19  identification means 
           20  data carrier 
           21  antenna 
           22  carrier 
           23  top side 
           24  coloration 
           25  depression 
           26  absorber 
           27  carrier 
           28  perforation 
           29  rear 
           30  edge region 
           31  cutout 
           32  strip 
           33  flank 
           34  layer 
           35  carrier body 
           36  encapsulation 
           37  carrier film 
           38  carrier film 
           39  edge 
           40  carrier film 
           41  periphery 
           42  peripheral region 
           43  edge region 
           44  edge region 
           45  periphery