Radio frequency identification tag in a license plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9691014-B2
Application number	US-201615093636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2016
Priority date	Apr 7, 2015
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for the design and manufacturing of a radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled license plate. In one aspect, a proposed RFID-enabled license plate includes a metal plate and a RFID assembly integrated with the metal plate. The RFID assembly further includes a front cover attached to a first side of the metal plate and a back cover attached to a back side of the metal plate opposite to the front cover, and the front cover and the back cover substantially overlap with each other. The RFID assembly additionally includes a RFID tag sandwiched between the front cover and the back cover and is affixed to at least one of the front cover and the back cover. As such, the RFID tag is substantially tamper-proof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled license plate, comprising:
a metal plate comprising a cutout portion defining a hole in the metal plate; and
a RFID assembly integrated with the metal plate, wherein the RFID assembly further comprises:
a front cover attached to a first side of the metal plate and covering the hole defined by the cutout portion;
a back cover attached to a second side of the metal plate opposite to the front cover and covering the hole defined by the cutout portion such that the cutout portion is positioned between the front cover and the back cover, wherein the front cover and the back cover substantially overlap with each other; and
a RFID tag sandwiched between the front cover and the back cover and is affixed to at least one of the front cover and the back cover, wherein the RFID tag is tamper-proof.

2. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is positioned substantially within the cutout.

3. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 1 , wherein the front cover and the back cover join each other inside the cutout at an embossed structure on the front cover.

4. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is affixed to the at least one of the front cover and the back cover using adhesives.

5. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is affixed to the at least one of the front cover and the back cover using very high bond (VHB).

6. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 1 ,
wherein the front cover is affixed to the first side of the metal plate using a first set of adhesives which follow a perimeter of the front cover; and
wherein the back cover is affixed to the second side of the metal plate using a second set of adhesives which follow a perimeter of the back cover,
wherein the first and second sets of adhesives seal off spaces between the front cover and the first side of the metal plate and between the back cover and the second side of the metal plate.

7. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 6 , wherein the first and second sets of adhesives include VHBs.

8. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 1 , wherein the cutout includes a first portion configured to accommodate the RFID tag and a second portion configured as a slot antenna.

9. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 8 , wherein the front cover includes a first portion configured to cover the first portion of the cutout and a second portion configured to cover the second portion of the cutout, wherein the second portion of the front cover has geometry of the slot antenna.

10. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the front cover is configured in a centered position with respect to the first portion of the front cover.

11. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the front cover is configured in an off-centered position with respect to the first portion of the front cover.

12. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag comprises an RFID chip and an antenna loop which is electrically coupled to the RFID chip, wherein the RFID chip and the antenna loop are disposed on a substrate.

13. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 12 , wherein the RFID tag further comprises a protective film layer which is attached to the substrate to form a weather-proof enclosure for the RFID chip and the antenna loop.

14. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 12 , wherein the RFID tag further comprises at least one tear guide.

15. A radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly, comprising:
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising an RFID chip and an antenna loop which is electrically coupled to the RFID chip, wherein the RFID chip and the antenna loop are disposed on a substrate, the substrate comprising a cutout portion defining a hole in the substrate;
a front cover attached to a first side of the substrate and covering the hole defined by the cutout portion; and
a back cover attached to a second side of the substrate opposite to the front cover and covering the hole defined by the cutout portion such that the cutout portion is positioned between the front cover and the back cover,
wherein the RFID tag is sandwiched between the front cover and the back cover and is affixed to at least one of the front cover and the back cover.

16. The RFID assembly of claim 15 , wherein the RFID tag further comprises a protective film layer which is attached to the substrate to form a weather-proof enclosure for the RFID chip and the antenna loop.

17. The RFID assembly of claim 15 , wherein the protective film layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

18. The RFID assembly of claim 15 , wherein the protective film layer is welded to the substrate around the perimeter of substrate.

19. The RFID assembly of claim 18 , wherein the protective film layer is welded to the substrate using one of the following: laser welding and sonic welding.

20. The RFID assembly of claim 15 , wherein one of the front cover and the back cover includes a heat stake.

21. The RFID assembly of claim 20 , wherein the RFID tag is attached to the one of the front cover and the back cover using the heat stake.

22. The RFID assembly of claim 20 , wherein the other of the front cover and the back cover includes an energy director.

23. The RFID assembly of claim 22 , wherein the RFID tag is attached to the other of the front cover and the back cover at the energy director.

24. The RFID assembly of claim 23 , wherein the RFID tag is attached to the energy director included in the other of the front cover and the back cover using one of the following: laser welding and sonic welding.

25. The RFID assembly of claim 15 , wherein the RFID tag further comprises at least one tear guide.

26. The RFID assembly of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the front cover and the back cover comprises an injection molded component.

27. The RFID assembly of claim 15 , wherein the one of the front cover and the back cover comprises an injection molded component, and wherein the other of the front cover and the back cover is cut from a flat sheet.

28. A radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled license plate, comprising:
a license plate comprising a cutout portion defining a hole in the license plate; and
a RFID assembly integrated with the license plate, wherein the RFID assembly further comprises:
a front cover attached to a front side of the license plate and covering the hole defined by the cutout portion;
a back cover attached to a back side of the license plate opposite to the front cover and covering the hole defined by the cutout portion such that the cutout portion is positioned between the front cover and the back cover; and
a RFID tag sandwiched between the front cover and the back cover and is affixed to the back cover and/or the front cover, wherein the RFID tag is tamper-proof.

29. The RFID-enabled license plate of claim 28 , wherein the back cover is affixed to the back side of the license plate using a set of adhesives which follows a perimeter of the back cover, and wherein the set of adhesives seals off spaces between the back side of the license plate and the perimeter of the back cover.

Assignees

• Neology Inc

Inventors

• Nyalamadugu Sheshi
• Mullis Joe

Classifications

• G06K19/07773

  Antenna details (antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22) · CPC title

• G06K19/07771

  the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object · CPC title

• G06K19/073

  Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory (protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14) · CPC title

• G06K19/07758 Primary

  arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag · CPC title

• G06K19/0772 Primary

  Physical layout of the record carrier · CPC title