Technical requirements of Regulation No 4 of the United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe referred to in Article 3 and in Annex II, item 2.1 of Commission Directive 97/31/EC (1) adapting to technical progress Council Directive 76/760/EEC relating to the rear registration plate lamps for motor vehicles and their trailers

1. DEFINITION

For the purpose of this Regulation

1.1. 'Rear registration plate lamp` means the device for the illumination of rear registration plates hereinafter called 'illuminating device`, which illuminates the rear registration plate by reflection. For the approval of this device, the illumination of the space to be occupied by the plate is determined.

1.2. The definitions given in Regulation No 48 and its series of amendments in force at the time of application for type approval shall apply to this Regulation.

5. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

5.1. Each sample shall conform to the lighting specifications of paragraph 9.

Illuminating devices must be so designed that the entire surface to be illuminated is visible from the rear within the field of vision indicated in the drawing in annex 4.

5.2. All measurements shall be carried out by adjusting the lamp or lamps of the illuminating device to the minimum light flux prescribed for the test voltage in the specification of the lamp or lamps for the device.

5.2.1. All measurements on lamps equipped with non-replaceable light sources (filament lamps and other) shall be made at 6.75 V, 13.5 V or 28.0 V respectively.

In the case of light sources supplied by a special power supply, the above test voltages shall be applied to the input terminals of that power supply. The test laboratory may require from the manufacturer the special power needed to supply the light sources.

6. COLOUR OF LIGHT

The light of the lamp used in the illuminating device must be sufficiently colourless not to cause any appreciable change in the colour of the registration plate.

7. ANGLE OF INCIDENCE

The manufacturer of the illuminating device shall specify the position in which the device is to be fitted in relation to the space for the registration plate; the device must be so placed that the angle of incidence of the light on the surface of the plate does not exceed 82° at any point on the surface to be illuminated, this angle being measured from the extremity of the device's illuminating area which is furthest from the surface of the plate. If there is more than one illuminating device, the foregoing requirement shall apply only to that part of the plate intended to be illuminated by the device concerned.

The device must be so designed that no light is emitted directly towards the rear, with the exception of red light if the device is combined or grouped with a rear lamp.

8. MEASURING PROCEDURE

Luminance measurements shall be made on a piece of clean white blotting paper with a minimum diffuse reflection factor of 70 per cent, of the same dimensions as the registration plate, placed in the position normally occupied by it and 2 mm in front of its holder.

Luminance measurements shall be made perpendicularly to the surface of the paper, at the points shown in annex 3 according to the type of plate for which the device is intended, each point representing a circular area 25 mm in diameter.

9. PHOTOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS

At each of the points of measurement shown in annex 3, the luminance B shall be at least equal to 2.5 cd/m².

The gradient of the luminance between the values B1 and B2, measured at any two points 1 and 2 selected from among those mentioned above, shall not exceed 2 × Bo/cm, Bo being the minimum luminance measured at the various points, that is to say

>NUM>B2 - B1

>DEN>distance 1 - 2 in cm

≤ 2 × Bo/cm

(1) OJ No L 171, 30. 6. 1997, p. 49.

ANNEX 3

Measurement points for test purposes

(a) devices for illuminating a tall plate (340 × 240 mm)

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(b) devices for illuminating a wide plate (520 × 120 mm)

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a = 25 mmb = 95 mmc = 100 mmd = 90 mme = 70 mm>END OF GRAPHIC>

Note: In the case of devices for illuminating both tall and wide plates the measurement points used are obtained by combining the two drawings above in accordance with the outline indicated by the maker of manufacturer; however, if the two measurement points are less than 30 mm apart, only one shall be used.

ANNEX 4

Minimum field of visibility of the surface to be illuminated

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Vertical section

a and a' should be ≤ 85°

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Horizontal section

b and b' should be ≤ 60°

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1. The field-of-visibility angles shown above relate only to the relative positions of the illuminating device and the space for the registration plate.

2. The field of visibility of the registration plate when mounted on the vehicle remains subject to the relevant national regulations.

3. The angles shown take account of the partial occultation caused by the illuminating device. They must be adhered to in the directions in which there is most occultation. The illuminating devices must be such as to reduce the areas partly occulted to the minimum strictly necessary.

ANNEX 5

Photometric measurement of lamps equipped with several light sources

1. The photometric performance shall be checked:

1.1. For non-replaceable light sources (filament lamps and other):

with the light sources present in the lamp, in accordance with paragraph 5.2.1. of this Regulation;

1.2. For replaceable filament lamps:

when equipped with mass production filament lamps at 6.75 V, 13.5 V or 28.0 V, the luminous intensity values produced shall lie between the maximum limit given in this Regulation and the minimum limit of this Regulation increased according to the permissible deviation of the luminous flux permitted for the type of filament lamp chosen, as stated in Regulation No 37 for production filament lamps; alternatively a standard filament lamp may be used in turn, in each of the individual position, operated at its reference flux, the individual measurements in each position being added together.