Patent Description:
The invention has been developed with particular regard, though in a non-limiting manner, to positioning, in a readily accessible or visible position of a vehicle, an identification element on which there is reproduced an identification code or data code which is constituted, for example, by a bar code or matrix code, such as a QR code.

It is known to mark the plate glass panes of vehicles, that is to say, the side windows, the windscreen and the rear window, for unique identification thereof for anti-theft purposes. The known marking system is carried out by means of surface abrasion of the plate glass panes and commonly makes use of a marking mask which reproduces in a negative state the marking code to be reproduced on the plate glass pane. The marking mask is supported on the plate glass pane to be marked and there is projected against it the abrasive material which makes the glass opaque in the zones left uncovered by the marking mask, leaving printed at that location the code or the symbol desired. This known methodology is described, for example, in the patent documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> in the name of the same inventor Roberto Muriana.

Other identification systems, such as, for example, the one which was developed by the same Applicant and which is the subject-matter of the European Patent <CIT> make use of high-frequency (shortwave or HF with a frequency between <NUM> and <NUM>) or Ultra High Frequency (UHF with a frequency between <NUM> and <NUM>) RFID components, to which there are written information items which can then be read with a suitable reader, for example, in equipment for authorized repair shops or for enforcement bodies. These identification systems, particularly if integrated with systems for marking plate glass panes or the frame, have a good resistance to tampering.

The same Applicant has carried out additional developments to such an identification system which are described in the European Patent <CIT> in order to make it more difficult to imitate the identification system for the vehicles and to simplify the bureaucratic operations connected with the vehicles, in addition to verifying the history of the maintenance operations and modifications carried out to the motor vehicle. In particular, such an improved identification system comprises the use of a plurality of RFID radiofrequency components. A first RFID component is applied in a readily accessible or visible position of the vehicle for rapid control of the data. Another RFID component is applied to a vehicle registration certificate or other identification document of the vehicle. Another RFID component is positioned in a hidden location on-board the vehicle in order to prevent the location thereof and undesirable tampering. There is then provision for using a smart card which can carry an individual RFID component. All these RFID components can be interrogated and updated by means of a suitable reading and writing radiofrequency device.

In order to reduce the need to produce, distribute and maintain radiofrequency reading devices at high quantities, while ensuring access to the data which represent the vehicle by normal interrogation operations and without for all that reducing the levels of security for preventing counterfeiting and fraud, the Applicant has developed the system described in the European Patent <CIT>. The system provides inter alia for the application of an identification element in a readily accessible or visible position of a vehicle and on which there is reproduced an accessible data code which contains at least one unique identification code. The use of such an identification element allows the data code to be optically read by means of a normal application which can be activated on a common smart phone provided with a video-camera. Advantageously, the smart phone can readily convert the design of the data code into alphanumeric information items and into internet addresses in order to interrogate, for example, a remote information server which can be programmed to carry out specific procedures and programmes, for example, the re-transmission to the smart phone of significant information items regarding the vehicle identified by the unique identification code.

Notwithstanding the system of <CIT> is advantageous and appreciated, there remains a problem to be solved with regard to the positioning on the vehicle of the identification element which carries the data code. In fact, it is found that the application of an adhesive label to the exterior of the vehicle, on the plate glass panes or on the body thereof, can be removed and therefore does not ensure the necessary reliability for permanent and non-removable identification of the vehicle. The application of an adhesive label to the interior of the plate glass panes is further not very recommended because, in accordance with the lighting conditions, it can be not very legible by the video-camera of a smart phone as a result of the diffraction and the reflections on the glass. The normal techniques for abrasion of the plate glass panes do not produce sufficient contrast between the surface of the transparent glass and the zones opacified by the abrasion so that, in this case, the codes are also not very legible by common smart phones.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art by providing an identification code according to claim <NUM> and a process for positioning on a vehicle such identification code according to claim <NUM>, which uses a data code which is readily legible by means of the video-camera of a common smart phone under conditions of ambient lighting which are also very different from each other, for example, in full sun, ensuring the reading of optical codes, such as, for example, a QR code, which are based on the light/dark contrast.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process for positioning a data code on a vehicle, which is economical and easy to carry out, reliable and does not deteriorate over time, and which is difficult if not impossible to alter.

The invention achieves these objects and other objects by means of the positioning process defined in the appended claims.

According to the general principle described in detail below, the positioning of an identification code on a vehicle provides for the identification code to be produced by abrasion of a marking surface, for example, the external surface of the windscreen of the vehicle in a zone of dark colour, for example, the black peripheral strip of the windscreen. The abrasion generates zones of lighter coloration which contrast with the darker zones of the marking surface in order to generally produce a design of identification code for optical reading, for example, a QR code.

According to a first aspect, there is described the positioning of an identification code on a vehicle. The identification code can be produced by abrasion of the external surface of the windscreen of the vehicle, particularly in the zone of the peripheral black strip of the windscreen. Preferably, though in a non-limiting manner, the identification code is produced by abrasion near a corner zone of the windscreen, where it is convenient to be carried out, both for the production thereof and for the subsequent reading, for example, by means of the video-camera of a common smart phone. For this reason, it is advantageous in the motor vehicles to place the identification code in the lower corner zone of the windscreen, near the bonnet of the vehicle.

According to another aspect, the identification code is a two-dimensional data code, by way of non-limiting example a QR code. This type of code may contain a large number of information items which are advantageous for identifying the vehicle and may normally be read by common smart phones.

According to another aspect, the identification code is of the optical reading type based on the contrast between lighter areas, as a result of the abrasion of the external surface of the windscreen, and darker areas, as a result of the black strip of the windscreen. The light/dark contrast for the optical reading of the identification code is obtained simply as a result of the abrasive action without any need to place additional elements or to carry out additional processing operations or treatments on the marking surface.

The positioning of an identification code on a vehicle which comprises a designated marking surface having a dark colouring. The identification code is carried out by abrasion of this marking surface so as to form abraded areas which have a light coloration and which form an optical contrast with the non-abraded areas with a dark coloration. The combination of the abraded areas and non-abraded areas generally configures an identification code of the optical reading type, for example, a QR code. Preferably, though in a non-limiting manner, the marking surface is the peripheral zone of the black strip of a windscreen.

According to another aspect, there is described a process for positioning an identification code on a vehicle, comprising the steps of:.

This process is easy and rapid to carry out with known abrasion techniques and does not require additional processing operations or treatments of the marking surface before or after the abrasion which forms the light areas of the identification code. Preferably, the marking surface identified is the peripheral zone of the black strip of a windscreen.

Additional features and advantages will be appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawing which is given by way of non-limiting example and in which <FIG> is a perspective view of a windscreen portion of a vehicle on which a QR code is positioned according to the present invention.

With reference now to <FIG>, there is illustrated as a perspective view a portion of a windscreen <NUM> of a vehicle <NUM>. The windscreen <NUM> is fixed to the body of the vehicle <NUM> over the entire perimeter thereof. In particular, <FIG> illustrates a portion of the corner A of the windscreen <NUM> which is fixed along a lateral side thereof to a pillar <NUM> and along a lower side thereof to the support structure for the bonnet <NUM>. A commonly used technique for fixing the windscreen <NUM> to the vehicle <NUM> is to use a urethane sealant which maintains the windscreen <NUM> in position and prevents rain from entering the interior of the vehicle <NUM>. In order to protect the urethane sealant from the deteriorating action of UV rays, there is provided along the perimeter of the windscreen <NUM> a black strip <NUM> which, in <FIG>, is depicted with hatching for illustrative purposes. The black strip <NUM> normally has a width of a few centimetres. Along the lower side of the windscreen <NUM>, the black strip <NUM> is particularly accessible in the entirety thereof as a result of the fact that between the bonnet <NUM> and the windscreen there is usually provided a given space, where, for example, the windscreen wipers <NUM> are received. A code <NUM> of the bar code or matrix type, also called a data code, for example, a QR code, is printed on the external face of the windscreen <NUM> so as to be entirely contained within the black strip <NUM>. The printing of the bar code or matrix code is carried out by abrasion of the surface of the windscreen <NUM>. The abraded zones form with the non-abraded zones of the black strip <NUM> a contrast sufficient for the code <NUM> to be read by a normal smart phone by means of the video-camera thereof and a common application for reading data code.

The positioning of the code <NUM> by means of abrasion maintains all the advantages of this type of application, such as, for example, the fact that the structure of the windscreen is not weakened, as it would have been in the case, however, of an incision in the glass. The position of the corner A of the windscreen <NUM> is a convenient location for positioning the code <NUM> because it can readily and conveniently be reached by an operator with a common smart phone. As a result of the opacification of the windscreen <NUM>, which confers on the marking a light coloration, and in contrast to the marking with the black strip <NUM> in the non-opacified zones, the reading of the code <NUM> is not influenced by reflections on the windscreen. The opacification provided by the abrasion remains on the external surface of the windscreen <NUM> so that there is no risk that the reading will be incorrect or difficult as a result of the effects of refraction. The positioning of the code <NUM> by means of abrasion of the windscreen <NUM> is economical to carry out using the techniques which make use of abrasive, such as corundum. Furthermore, this abrasive is not toxic to the health of the operators who can therefore carry out in safety the abrasion of the code <NUM> on the windscreen <NUM>. The positioning of the code <NUM> in the zone of the black strip <NUM> of the windscreen <NUM> is reliable and does not deteriorate over time. The intrinsic correction of the errors of the code <NUM>, for example, of the QR code, ensures that the reading thereof can be carried out without any problems even in the case where the windscreen is marked or scratched in the zone in which the code <NUM> is placed. The code <NUM> is also practically impossible to modify or alter unless the entire windscreen <NUM> is being replaced, with the high cost which results therefrom.

Claim 1:
Identification code on a vehicle comprising a marking surface (<NUM>) having a dark colouring, wherein the identification code (<NUM>) is carried out by abrasion of the marking surface so as to form abraded areas which have a light coloration and which form an optical contrast with the non-abraded areas with a dark coloration, the combination of the abraded areas and non-abraded areas configuring together an identification code of the optical reading type.