Registration sign for vehicles and method for the manufacture thereof
The present invention relates to a registration sign for vehicles, where the registration sign ( 2 ) comprises a sign package ( 38 ) consisting of individual plastic film sections ( 6 a , 9 a ), a bottom sheet ( 18 ) and a front panel ( 12 ), and also comprises a frame ( 21 ) which surrounds the sign package. According to the invention, the registration sign ( 2 ) comprises in addition at least one transponder ( 50 ) for receiving and/or transmitting radio signals and the transponder ( 50 ) is embedded in the frame ( 21 ). The present invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of a registration sign whereby at least one transponder ( 50 ) is fastened on and/or in the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) and the transponder 50 is embedded in the frame ( 21 ) when the latter is injection-molded round the edges of the sign package ( 38 ).
1. A registration sign for vehicles, comprising:
a sign package ( 38 ) which exhibits a bottom sheet ( 18 ) made of plastic material, a plastic film section ( 6 a ) which is attached to the upper side of the bottom sheet by an adhesive layer ( 39 ), has a layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material attached to the upper side of the film and has registration symbols ( 3 ) applied to the light-reflecting layer, a transparent plastic film section ( 9 a ) which is disposed on the light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) and has adhesive layers ( 36 , 37 ) on its underside and upper side, and a transparent front panel ( 12 ) made of plastic material, whereby the transparent plastic film section ( 9 a ) is attached to the light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) by the adhesive layer ( 36 ) on its underside and the front panel ( 12 ) is attached to the transparent plastic film section ( 9 a ) by the adhesive layer ( 37 ) on the upper side of the transparent plastic film section, said registration sign further comprising a frame ( 21 ) made of plastic material and adapted to sealing the plastic film section ( 6 a ), the transparent plastic film section ( 9 a ), the front panel ( 12 ), and the bottom sheet ( 18 ) of said sign package ( 38 ) by surrounding the sign package, wherein
at least one transponder ( 50 ) for receiving and/or sending radio signals is disposed on the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ), and
the transponder ( 50 ) is embedded in the frame ( 21 ) after the frame has been injection-molded round the edges of the sign package ( 38 ) in order to seal the frame's plastic film section ( 6 a ), transparent plastic film section ( 9 a ), front panel ( 12 ), and bottom sheet ( 18 ).
2. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ), including those parts thereof which exhibit the transponder ( 50 ), exhibits a light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) with low content of metal material capable of hindering or damping radio signals.
3. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) which exhibit the transponder ( 50 ) exhibit a light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) with low content of metal material capable of hindering or damping radio signals.
4. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) which exhibit the transponder ( 50 ) lack at least said layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material, so that radio signals can pass to and/or from the transponder without being hindered or damped by the light-reflecting layer.
5. A registration sign according to claim 4 , wherein those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) which exhibit the transponder ( 50 ) lack both said layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material and the plastic film section ( 6 a ) to which said light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) is applied.
6. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is disposed on a lower and/or upper longitudinal edge of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) and that the transponder is sealed by the frame ( 21 ).
7. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein:
the registration sign ( 2 ) exhibits at least one recess ( 51 ) in which the transponder ( 50 ) is placed, and
the light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) in way of said recess ( 51 ) and in an edge region close to the recess exhibits low content of metal material capable of hindering or damping radio signals.
8. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein:
the registration sign ( 2 ) exhibits at least one recess ( 51 ) in which the transponder ( 50 ) is placed, and
the light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) or both it and the plastic film section ( 6 a ) to which it is applied are absent in way of said recess ( 51 ) and in an edge region close to the recess.
9. A registration sign according to claim 7 , wherein the recess ( 51 ) with the transponder ( 50 ) is formed in a lower and/or upper longitudinal edge of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) and is sealed by the frame ( 21 ).
10. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is enclosed in a glass ampoule or equivalent.
11. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) exhibits at least one antenna ( 52 ) disposed on and/or in the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ).
12. A registration sign according to claim 11 , wherein those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) which exhibit the antenna ( 52 ) likewise exhibit a light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) with low content of metal material capable of hindering or damping radio signals.
13. A registration sign according to claim 11 , wherein those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) or the registration sign ( 2 ) which exhibit the antenna ( 52 ) likewise lack said layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material or both said layer of light-reflecting material and the plastic film section ( 6 a ) to which said light-reflecting layer is applied.
14. A registration sign according to claim 11 , wherein the antenna ( 52 ) is disposed on and extends along a lower and/or upper longitudinal edge of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) and that the antenna is sealed by the frame ( 21 ).
15. A registration sign according to claim 10 , wherein the antenna ( 52 ) is enclosed in the glass ampoule together with the transponder ( 50 ).
16. A registration sign according to claim 11 , wherein the antenna ( 52 ) is made of copper wire or equivalent.
17. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is of RFID type and operates at a UHF frequency of 860-960 MHz.
18. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is of active type with a battery of its own.
19. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is of passive type without a battery of its own.
20. A registration sign according to claim 1 , wherein the layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material consists of or contains metal material.
21. A method for the manufacture of registration signs ( 2 ) for vehicles, wherein:
a plastic film strip ( 6 ) or a succession of individual plastic film sections ( 6 a ) is fed through a printer ( 24 ) in which a layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material on the plastic film strip or sections is provided with registration symbols ( 3 ),
wherein a transparent plastic film strip ( 9 ) or individual transparent plastic film sections ( 9 a ) respectively are, by means of an adhesive layer ( 36 ), fixed on top of the light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) with registration symbols ( 3 ), transparent front panels ( 12 ) made of plastic material are, by means of an adhesive layer ( 37 ), fixed on top of the transparent plastic film strip ( 9 ) or the transparent plastic film sections ( 9 a ), bottom sheets ( 18 ) made of plastic material are, by means of an adhesive layer ( 39 ), fixed to the plastic film strip ( 6 ) or sections ( 6 a ) with said light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) on the opposite side from that layer, and wherein, where necessary, after said plastic film strips ( 6 , 9 ), some time after being fixed together, have been cut to individual plastic film sections ( 6 a , 9 a ), a frame ( 21 ) of plastic material is injection-molded round the edges of each sign package ( 38 ) which comprises one each of said plastic film sections ( 6 a , 9 a ), bottom sheets ( 18 ) and front panels ( 12 ), for sealing thereof,
wherein at least one transponder ( 50 ) for receiving and/or transmitting radio signals is fastened on the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ), and
the transponder ( 50 ) is embedded in the frame ( 21 ) when the frame is injection-molded round the edges of the sign package ( 38 ).
22. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is fastened on and/or in a sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) which exhibits a light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) with low content of metal material capable of hindering or damping radio signals.
23. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is fastened on and/or in that portion of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) which exhibits a light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) with low content of metal material capable of hindering or damping radio signals.
24. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is fastened on and/or in that portion of the sign package ( 38 ) which lacks the light-reflecting layer ( 22 ), with the result that radio signals can pass to and/or from the transponder without being hindered or damped by the light-reflecting layer.
25. A method according to claim 21 , wherein in those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) on and/or in which the transponder ( 50 ) is intended to be fastened, at least said layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material is removed before said fastening.
26. A method according to claim 25 , wherein in those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) on and/or in which the transponder ( 50 ) is intended to be fastened, both said layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material and the plastic film section ( 6 a ) to which said layer of light-reflecting material is applied are removed before said fastening.
27. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is disposed on a lower and/or upper longitudinal edge of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) and that the frame ( 21 ) is injection-molded around the transponder.
28. A method according to claim 21 , wherein:
at least one recess ( 51 ) is formed in the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ), and
the transponder ( 50 ) is disposed in the recess ( 51 ) and on and/or in that portion of the sign package ( 38 ) which exhibits a light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) with low content of metal material.
29. A method according to claim 21 , wherein:
at least one recess ( 51 ) is formed in the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ), and
the transponder ( 50 ) is disposed in the recess ( 51 ) and on and/or in that portion of the sign package ( 38 ) which lacks said light-reflecting layer ( 22 ).
30. A method according to claim 28 , wherein:
the recess ( 51 ) is formed in a lower and/or upper longitudinal edge of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ), and
the frame ( 21 ) is injection-molded over said recess after the transponder ( 50 ) has been disposed therein.
31. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is provided with an antenna ( 52 ) disposed on and/or in the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ).
32. A method according to claim 31 , wherein at least those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) on and/or in which the antenna ( 52 ) is intended to be disposed are provided with said light-reflecting layer ( 22 ) with low content of metal material capable of hindering or damping radio signals.
33. A method according to claim 31 , wherein said layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material or both said light-reflecting layer and the plastic film section ( 6 a ) to which it is attached is/are removed from those portions of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) on and/or in which the antenna ( 52 ) is intended to be disposed, before it is so disposed.
34. A method according to claim 31 , wherein the antenna ( 52 ) is disposed on and caused to run along a lower and/or upper longitudinal edge of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ), after which the frame ( 21 ) is injection-molded around the antenna.
35. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the transponder ( 50 ) is disposed on and/or in the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) by adhesive bonding.
36. A method according to claim 31 , wherein the antenna ( 52 ) is disposed on and/or in the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) by adhesive bonding.
37. A method according to claim 21 , wherein information from the vehicle register is supplied to the transponder 50 and/or information from the transponder is supplied to the vehicle register after the frame ( 21 ) has been injection-molded round the edges of the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ).
38. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the sign package ( 38 ) for the registration sign ( 2 ) is provided with a layer ( 22 ) of light-reflecting material which consists of or contains metal material.