IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,801,787
Granted Patent B2
US 11,801,787 · App. 17/360,816 · Granted Oct 31, 2023

Digital license plate with active response to infrared license plate recognition

Inventors: John Michael Spall (San Ramon, CA); Matthias Thomas Peter Pfeiffer (Boulder, CO)
B60Q1/56B60Q1/2603B60Q1/503B60R13/10B60Q2900/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,801,787
App. No.
17/360,816
Granted
Oct 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A digital license plate includes a display system capable of showing a license number readable by camera systems even under poor external lighting conditions. A light redistribution element is positioned near the display system and a lighting system is positioned to direct light from the light redistribution element and toward the display system. In some embodiments the lighting system includes a non-visible lighting element such as can be provided by an infrared source, and the display system includes an electrophoretic or LCD display.

Claims (41)

1. A digital license plate comprising:

a dynamic display system configured to show a designated information using visible light;

a lighting system comprising:

at least one visible light source for generating the visible light and one non-visible light source for generating non-visible light;

at least one sensor configured to detect or receive a trigger signal;

a controller connected to the sensor to receive the trigger signal and configured to activate the non-visible light source to generate non-visible light whose property is based on at least the trigger signal detected; and

a light redistribution element configured and positioned to receive the visible light from the visible light source and the non-visible light from the non-visible light source, the light redistribution element directs the visible and non-visible light toward the display system, a showing of the designated information is not disrupted by the non-visible light.

2. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the display system further comprises an electrophoretic display.

3. The digital license plate of claim 1 , further comprising an error detection module configured to detect defects on the display.

4. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the non-visible light source is attachable to a vehicle.

5. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the non-visible light source is edge attached to the digital license plate in front of the display system.

6. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the non-visible light source is attached to the digital license element between the light redistribution element and the display system.

7. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the non-visible light source is edge attached to the digital license plate behind the display system.

8. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes a non-visible light source activated in response to a light sensor signal.

9. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes a non-visible light source activated in response to an infrared sensor signal.

10. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes a non-visible light source activated in response to a radio signal.

11. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes a non-visible light source activated in response to the license plate entering a predetermined location.

12. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes a non-visible light source deactivated some duration after activating in response to a light, infrared, radio signal, or location.

13. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes a non-visible light source activated in response to the license plate entering a predetermined location and deactivated when leaving a predetermined location.

14. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source includes a non-visible light source activated and deactivated manually by the user.

15. A method of operating a digital license plate, comprising:

generating visible light using at least one visible light source;

displaying a designated information on a dynamic display system using the visible light;

detecting a trigger signal using at least one sensor;

activating a non-visible light source to generate non-visible light whose property is based on at least the trigger signal detected; and

redistributing light by using a light redistribution element positioned to receive the visible and non-visible light and direct the visible and non-visible light toward the display system without disrupting a showing of the designated information.

16. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , wherein the display system further comprises an electrophoretic display.

17. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , wherein the display system further comprises an LCD display.

18. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising attaching the non-visible light source to a vehicle.

19. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising attaching the non-visible light source to the digital license plate in front of the display system.

20. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising positioning the non-visible light source between the light redistribution element and the display system.

21. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising attaching the non-visible source to the digital license plate behind the display system.

22. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising activating the non-visible light source in response to a light sensor signal.

23. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising activating the non-visible light source in response to an infrared sensor signal.

24. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising activating the non-visible light source in response to a radio signal.

25. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising activating the non-visible light source in response to the license plate entering a predetermined location.

26. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising deactivating the non-visible light source some duration after activating in response to a visible light, infrared, or radio signal.

27. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising deactivating the non-visible light source when leaving a predetermined location.

28. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising manually activating or deactivating the non-visible light source by a user.

29. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , further comprising using an error detection module configured to detect defects on the display.

30. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 15 , wherein the light redistribution element includes a diffuser configured to spread light over a defined illumination area.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2021
From: SPALL, JOHN MICHAEL; PFEIFFER, MATTHIAS THOMAS PETER
To: REVIVERMX, INC.
Reel/Frame 056692/0384 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220410797A1 · Dec 29, 2022