GB2453598A

GB2453598A - A registration plate incorporating a transponder

Info

Publication number: GB2453598A
Application number: GB0720029A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Gould
Original assignee: GOULD AUTOPLATES AND SIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: GOULD AUTOPLATES AND SIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-12
Filing date: 2007-10-12
Publication date: 2009-04-15
Also published as: GB0720029D0

Abstract

A registration plate body (4) has a transponder (6), and the vehicle (2) to which the registration plate body (4) is fitted has transponder (8). When the transponders (6, 8) are close enough to each other, as when the body (4) is on the vehicle (2), at least one of them will emit a signal. The signal can be picked up, for example, by a roadside receiver (10) to verify the registration details of the vehicle. If the transponders (6, 8) move apart, as when the registration plate body (4) is removed from the vehicle, the transponders emit no signal, (or a different signal such as an alarm signal), which enables the receiver (10) to determine that a registration plate anomaly has occurred. Theft of the registration plate may be discouraged.

Description

ANTI THEFT REGISTRATION PLATE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a registration plate system, and is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with such a system that prevents or discourages the theft of registration plates from vehicles.

Background to the Invention

The problems associated with identity fraud of all kinds are well recognised in modern society. In particular, identity fraud in the motor industry is becoming an increasing problem.

The illegal cloning of motor vehicles is a growing concern. Cloning is a process in which a vehicle's registration plate is stolen, or a copy of it is made, and attached to another vehicle of identical make, model and colour to that of the original vehicle.

The original vehicle is said to have been cloned; the vehicle on which the stolen or copy registration plate is attached is called a clone. The consequences of this cloning are that the driver of the clone is able to avoid the usual penalties for illegal actions involving the vehicle, such as speeding, parking offences, entry without payment into a congestion charging zone etc because the registration plate on the clone will trace back to the owner of the original cloned vehicle. Accordingly, owners of cloned vehicles will often receive speeding fines, parking tickets or other notices following road traffic offences that they have not committed. Clones are often stolen vehicles that are subsequently used in other crimes, for example as get away cars etc. Again, the fact that they are clones makes it difficult to trace those using them for criminal purposes.

Electronically tagged registration plates have been proposed to enable remote vehicle monitoring. For example, the registration plates may have electronic Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices attached to or embedded in them. The REID devices are capable of storing information that is specific to the vehicle upon which the registration plate is attached. For example, the Vehicle Identification Number (yIN), which is unique to any particular vehicle, can be recorded on the REID device, along with the registration number of the vehicle at the time of registration. A suitable RFID reader is then able to read the RFID device remotely to establish the identity of the vehicle. For example the reader may be fixed relative to the roadway, for example on a post or gantry, to identify individual vehicles in passing traffic for traffic management purposes. Alternatively, a hand-held reader can be used, for example by the police, to assist in determining whether or not a vehicle has been cloned, by comparing the data from the RFID device with the visible identifying data such as the vehicle yIN.

It is thought that electronically tagged registration plates will be made compulsory over the coming years, as part of a government initiative to increase the security of the vehicle registration process with the overall aim of reducing vehicle related crime.

Even with such electronically tagged registration plates, cloning is still possible.

Thus, a thief may steal electronically tagged registration plates from one vehicle and fit them to another vehicle of the same make, model and colour as the original vehicle. Alternatively, a thief may be able to remove or copy the tag from a registration plate on one vehicle and then produce a replica registration plate for use on a similar vehicle. The increased cost of these electronically tagged registration plates means that their theft will be a serious and growing problem, because the replacement of a stolen registration plate will represent a significant expense to a motorist.

Various registration plate designs have been proposed in order to counter the risk of theft. For example, WO-A-02/1 02626 discloses a registration plate having lines of weakness manufactured into the body of the plate. The force required to remove the plate from the vehicle bumper is substantially less that the force required to snap the body of the plate along the lines of weakness. Accordingly, if an attempt is made to prise the plate from a vehicle the plate body fractures along the lines of weakness. When fracture of the plate body occurs delamination of a film on the front of the plate near the fracture line means that the appearance of the plate is ruined, and it cannot be used again.

Another, perhaps more sophisticated, design is disclosed in WO-A-2004/005749 which relates to signs in general that are able to indicate their removal from an intended location. In one embodiment of WO-A-2004/005749, the sign is a vehicle registration plate which comprises an electronic memory chip, a signal generator and a switch which is actuated when the plate is removed from its intended location.

The registration plate is attached to a vehicle using a magnetic adhesive strip that is more strongly adherent to the vehicle than it is to the registration plate. When a thief attempts to remove the plate, the nature of the adhesive strip ensures that the plate is removed from the vehicle leaving the magnetic strip behind. The resulting absence of the magnet from close proximity to the plate causes the switch to actuate which causes a signal to be sent to the signal generator. This in turn has the effect that a warning signal is generated, to indicate that the plate has been removed.

Alternatively, it is possible for the signal generator, in normal use, to generate a continuous signal corresponding to data held on the memory chip. The data may indicate the proper location of the registration plate or be information pertaining to the registration number on the registration plate. If the registration plate is removed from its intended location, the signal emitted from the signal generator (or the lack of signal generated) may be read by a suitable device to allow a person to determine that the registration plate is improperly or illegally located.

One problem with the anti theft systems of the prior art is that they do not provide a high enough level of security and deterrent against theft. For example, the resourceful thief may easily be able to circumvent the security features of the registration plate system described in WO-A-2004/005749 by bringing along a magnet to keep the switch from actuating as it is removed from the vehicle.

Accordingly, bearing in mind that electronically tagged registration plates can be significantly more expensive than conventional registration plates, it would be advantageous to have a more secure and reliable way of preventing or deterring the theft of registration plates.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a registration plate system comprising a registration plate body for attachment to a vehicle, a first transponder secured to the registration plate body, and a second transponder for attachment to the vehicle, at least one of the transponders being adapted to transmit a first signal when in communicating proximity to the other transponder, and to transmit no signal, or a second signal, when not in communicating proximity with the said other transponder.

In a preferred embodiment of the system described above the first signal contains vehicle identification data of the vehicle in which the vehicle is to be installed.

The term "transponder" as used in this specification is to be interpreted broadly to refer to any device which can communicate with another similar device, or an external signal transmitter and receiver, to transmit data.

The transponders of the registration plate system may be REID tags. In an embodiment, at least one of the RFID tags is an active RFID tag. In another embodiment at least one of the RFID tags is a passive RFID tag. In one embodiment the transponder secured to the registration plate body is an active RFID tag, and the transponder for attachment to the vehicle is a passive RFID tag.

However, it is possible also for the transponder for attachment to the vehicle is an active RFID tag, and for the transponder on the registration plate to be a passive REID tag.

An active RFID tag is one which has its own power supply, or is connected to a power supply, so that it can continuously or intermittently emit a detectable signal. A passive RFID tag has no internal power supply, but instead derives the power to enable it to function from the incoming interrogating signal.

The first transponder may be embedded within the material of the registration plate body. The registration plate body may be mounted on a registration plate backing frame which is attachable to a vehicle, in which case the first transponder may be fixed to the registration plate backing frame.

A visual or audible alert may be generated when the first and second transponders are moved out of communicating proximity with each other.

The visual alert may comprise a light emission, for example a first LED of a first colour may be illuminated to provide the visual alert. A second LED of a second colour may be illuminated when the transponders are in communicating proximity to each other.

The registration plate system may comprises a communication device which transmits an alert message, for example over a mobile telephone network, when the first and second transponders are moved out of communicating proximity with each other.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle having a registration plate system as defined above. The vehicle may be a motor car, a motorcycle, or a commercial vehicle such as a van or lorry. Furthermore, the vehicle may include a trailer or caravan, or an accessory such as a bicycle carrier, on which the registration plate is mounted.

In an embodiment of the vehicle of the present invention, at least one of the transponders has a memory in which identification data of the vehicle is stored. In a preferred embodiment both transponders have a said memory.

In a further embodiment the first signal contains vehicle identification data from the memory of the first transponder which is transmitted only upon receipt from the second transponder of vehicle identification data from the memory of the second transponder.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the present invention may be more completely understood, it will now be explained, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a schematic view of the rear of a car fitted with a registration plate; Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows the car following removal of the registration plate by a thief; Figure 3 shows an exploded schematic view of an assembly for mounting a vehicle registration plate in accordance with a further aspect of the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating a component of the assembly shown in Figure 3 in more detail; Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating a further component of the assembly in Figure 3 in more detail; Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating a yet further component of the assembly in Figure 3 in more detail; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows a vehicle having registration plates at both the front and the back; Figure 8 corresponds to Figure 7 but shows a motorcycle having a registration plate at the rear only; Figure 9 shows a vehicle and a caravan; and Figure 10 shows an articulated lorry.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

In Figure 1 and Figure 2, a vehicle 2 is represented diagrammatically, with only the rear part of the vehicle shown. The vehicle 2 carries a number plate or registration plate 4. It will be appreciated that a registration plate will also be affixed to the front of the vehicle in most cases (as shown in Figure 7), although some vehicles, for example motorcycles (Figure 8), may have a registration plate at one end only (usually the rear in the case of motorcycles).

The registration plate 4 is shown enlarged for the sake of clarity. It may be manufactured in accordance with conventional techniques, for example by applying alphanumeric characters representing the registration number of the vehicle 2 to a reflective backing member. The registration plate 4 may be directly affixed to the bodywork of the vehicle, or it may be secured to the vehicle 2 by means of a backing plate (not shown) which supports the registration plate 4 and is, itself, secured to the bodywork of the vehicle 2. An example of such a backing plate is described below with reference to Figure 3.

The registration plate 4, or the backing plate (if provided), carries a first transponder 6 in the form of an RFID tag. The transponder 6 may be secured to the registration plate 4 in any suitable way. It may be desirable for the precise location of the transponder 6 to be concealed, and consequently, the transponder 6 may be encapsulated within the material of the registration plate 4. Alternatively, it may be secured to a face or edge of the registration plate 4, or situated within a recess formed within the registration plate 4. In Figure 1, the transponder 6 is represented at the upper edge of the registration plate 4, but this is only a schematic representation, and the transponder 6 may be at any position on the registration plate 4.

A second transponder 8 is second to the vehicle 2, for example at an inaccessible or concealed position within the vehicle. The second transponder 8 may also be an RFID tag.

When a vehicle is first registered, or a new registration plate is made up, the appropriate registration number is applied to the registration plate 4 in the usual way. The first transponder 6 may be pre-installed in the body of the registration plate 4, or may be separately attached. In either case, the registration plate 4, with the transponder 6, is affixed to the vehicle 2. Also, the second transponder 8 is secured to the vehicle 2 at an appropriate location. Either before or after affixing the registration plate 4 and of the second transponder 8, the transponders 6, 8 are loaded with appropriate data. For this purpose, each of the transponders 6, 8 includes a memory for storage of the data. The data may, for example, include the registration number of the vehicle 2 as applied to the registration plate 4, the vehicle VIN, and any other data which identifies the vehicle 2. For example, data such as colour, make and model may be stored. In some circumstances, other data may also be stored, such as data relating to the registered owner of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the memory may be able to receive updated data after the initial data loading. For example, the memory may be able to receive data indicating that legal requirements for the vehicle are up-to-date. Such legal requirements may be current insurance, road tax and test certificate (such as an MOT test certificate in the UK).

In many circumstances, it may desirable for the data stored in the memory of the two transponders 6, 8 to be identical, although this is not necessarily the case.

In normal use, with the registration plate 4 correctly affixed to the vehicle 2 to which it relates, the data stored in the memories 6, 8 may be read by a suitable reader by use of conventional RFID technology. Thus, a reader such as a reader 10 can emit an interrogation signal (not shown) which activates the first transponder 6 on the registration plate 4, causing it to emit an interrogation signal 12 to the second transponder 8. If the transponder 8 is within range of the first transponder 6, ie it is in communicating proximity to the first transponder 6, it is activated and transmits a data signal 14 containing some or all of the data contained in its memory.

Alternatively, the signal it transmits may contain a code which is recognisable by the first transponder 6.

When the first transponder 6 receives the data signal 14 from the second transponder 8, it compares the data with data stored in its own memory and, if the data (and/or the code) match, the transponder 6 sends a reply signal 16 to the reader 10. The reader 10 is thus able to establish the identity of the vehicle 2 and, because the signal 16 is emitted by the first transponder 6 only if it remains in communicating proximity to the second transponder 8, can confirm that the registration plate 4 is affixed to the correct vehicle.

In the context of the present invention, the expression "communicating proximity" means that the transponders 6, 8 are sufficiently close together for signals to be transmitted between them. RFID tags have a limited useful signal transmission range, depending on the power of the emitted signal. It is consequently important for the signal strength of both of the transponders 6, 8 to be sufficient to provide a range which is at least equal to the spacing apart of the transponders 6, 8, taking into account intervening parts of the vehicle 2. In many circumstances, the vehicle will have not only the rear registration plate 4 shown in the Figures, but will also have a front registration plate provided with its own transponder 6 (Figure 7). The transponders 6 of both the front and rear registration plates will communicate with the same second transponder 8, and consequently at least one of the signals will need to have a useful range which is at least half the length of the vehicle. If the registration plate 4 is affixed to the rear of a trailer of an articulated vehicle, and the second transponder is in the tractor of the vehicle, a relatively long range will be required. In practice, it is desirable for the useful range of the signal to be not less than 2 metres, although typical ranges might be 3 to 15 metres.

As shown in Figure 2, if the registration plate 4 is removed from the vehicle 2 and taken away, it will eventually move beyond the maximum transmission range, and so the transponder 6 will no longer be in communicating proximity to the second transponder 8. Consequently, an interrogation signal 12 emitted by the first transponder 6 will not trigger a data signal 14. As a result, the transponder 6, if interrogated by a reader 10, will not return a reply signal 16 and consequently the reader 10 will not detect the first transponder 6. Alternatively, if the first transponder 6, when interrogated by a reader 10, fails to receive a data signal 14 from the second transponder 8, it may emit an alarm signal instead of the usual reply signal 16, which will generate an appropriate display on the reader 10 indicating that the registration plate 4 has been stolen.

In some embodiments, the first transponder 6 may be an active RFID tag which continually, or intermittently, transmits an interrogation signal 12 even when not itself interrogated by the reader 10. In these circumstances, if the registration plate 4 is taken from the vehicle 2 and moved out of communicating proximity with the second transponder 8, the transponder 6 will eventually fail to receive a data signal 14.

When this happens, the transponder 6 may generate an alarm signal, for example in the form of a flashing LED or an audible tone. In some embodiments, the registration plate 4 may be provided with two LED's of different colour, for example a green LED which is illuminated when the first transponder 6 is within communicating proximity to the second transponder 8, and a red LED which is illuminated when the first transponder 6 is out of communicating proximity to the second transponder 8.

Furthermore, movement of the first transponder 6 out of communicating proximity to the second transponder 8 may cause the first transponder 6 to become inactive, and so, cease transmitting any signal at all. Consequently, a traffic control officer such as a policeman or traffic warden can employ a hand-held reader which, when placed close to a registration plate 4 on a vehicle 2 will indicate, by the presence of a reply signal 16, that the registration plate is affixed to the correct vehicle or, by the absence of a reply signal 16, or the generation of an alarm signal, that the registration plate 4 has been stolen and affixed to a different vehicle. Similarly, if the vehicle passes a fixed roadside reader, the reader will be able to determine, from the presence or absence of a signal from the vehicle, whether or not the registration plate is on the vehicle it is intended for.

An alternative system can operate without requiring the transmission of signals between the first transponder 6 and the second transponder 8. In such a system, a reader interrogates both the first transponder 6 and the second transponder 8 independently, and compares the data received from them. If, for example, the first transponder 6 transmits one VIN and the second transponder 8 transmits a different yIN, the reader will provide a readout indicating that there is a discrepancy suggesting that the registration plate 4 has been stolen from the correct vehicle and affixed to a different vehicle.

The present invention therefore provides a system which will enable easy detection of stolen or false registration plates using readers 10 which may either be hand-held by traffic control officers or as part of a fixed installation for identifying vehicles while travelling, for example into and out of a road pricing zone. The reader may be able to establish directly, from the data transmitted from the first transponder 6, whether or not the vehicle complies with licensing and other requirements. Alternatively, the reader may be linked by a communication network, to a central database from which this information can be obtained.

As an additional security measure, the second transponder 8 may have a tamper-proof feature. For example, if an attempt to remove or otherwise interfere with the second transponder is detected, the second transponder B may become inactive or emit an alarm signal.

Although the transponders 6 and 8 as described above are in the form of RFID devices, it will be appreciated that other forms of signal transmitting devices may be used, operating at frequencies other than radio frequencies.

Figures 9 and 10 show trailed units towed by a towing vehicle. In the case of Figure 9, the trailed unit is a caravan 20 towed by a towing vehicle 2, which may be a car, van, pick-up or other personal transport vehicle. As described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle 2 has a rear registration plate 4 (and also a front registration plate, not shown) provided with respective first transponders 6 which function in cooperation with a second transponder 8 in the vehicle 2, as described above. Consequently, if one or other of the registration plates 4 is removed, the transponders 6 and/or 8 will become inactive or emit an alarm signal.

Additionally, the caravan 20 has a rear registration plate 4a which includes a further transponder 6a which may be similar to the first transponder 6. An additional transponder 8a is secured within the caravan 20. The further transponder 8a may communicate with the second transponder 8 and/or the further transponder 8a in a variety of ways, depending on the desired outcome. For example, the further transponder 6a may deliver an identifying signal to an external reader only if it is in communicating proximity to the additional transponder in the caravan 20. Thus, if the vehicle 2 is detached from the caravan 20 and driven away, the further transponder 6a will continue to function normally. However, if the registration plate 4a is removed from the caravan 20, the further transponder 6a will become inactive or emit an alarm signal, indicating that it has been stolen.

Alternatively, the further transponder 6a may respond to the first transponder 6 in the vehicle 2, so that it becomes inactive whenever the caravan is away from the vehicle 2, but resumes activity when the vehicle 2 and the caravan 20 are reconnected. Yet again, a switching arrangement may be provided to enable communication between the further transponder 6a and, selectively, either one or both of the second and additional transponders 8 and Ba.

The tractor/trailer combination of Figure 10 may operate in the same manner as the combination of Figure 9. However, the rear registration plate 4b of the trailer will normally be only temporarily affixed to the trailer 22. It is usual for the tractor 2 to be employed to pull many different trailers, possibly under different ownership.

Consequently, if the trailer or trailers 22 are provided with additional transponders Sb, t may be necessary for haulage operators to have provision for programming the additional transponders 8b so that they contain data which enables them to communicate with the first and further transponders 6 and 6b associated with the tractor 2 to which they are coupled.

The additional transponder 8b may be secured to the trailer 22 itself, or to a load, such as a container, boat, etc carried by the trailer, so that theft of the load will be signalled by the further transponder 6b.

Figure 3 shows an assembly 30 for mounting a vehicle registration plate to a vehicle in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention.

In overview, the assembly 30 comprises a backing plate 32 for fixedly mounting a vehicle registration plate (not shown), in conjunction with a nut 34 and bolt 36 for fixedly mounting the backing plate 32 to a mounting panel on a vehicle, as described in more detail below.

The backing plate 32 is a generally rectangular, plastic-moulded plate (as best shown in Figure 4), although other materials may be used to form the backing plate as appropriate, for example depending upon the desired appearance or "finish" of the backing plate and the given shape or material of the vehicle registration plate to be mounted to the backing plate.

Referring to both Figures 3 and 4, a stepped recess 38 is provided in the front face of the backing plate 32, the recess 38 defining an outer frame portion 40, a recessed shoulder portion 42 immediately inside the outer frame portion 40 and a generally flat panel portion 44 bounded by the shoulder portion 42.

A further recess 38a is provided on the rear side of the backing plate 32, in the region of the lower edge of the backing plate 32, for housing a suitable transponder, for example the transponder 6, 6a or 6b described in the previous embodiments.

The lower edge of the outer frame portion 40 is relatively large to provide an area for advertisements or other information as desired, and the overall shape of the outer frame portion 40 is preferably such that it neatly frames a given registration plate (not shown) seated on the shoulder portion 42.

The vehicle registration plate may be, for example, a standard UK, other European or US vehicle registration plate, in particufar a motorcycle registration plate. In any event, the depth of recess of the shoulder portion 42 relative to the outer frame portion 40 is preferably such that when the vehicle registration plate is seated on the shoulder portion 42, the front face of the registration plate sits flush or substantially flush with the front face of the outer frame portion 40 to provide a neat appearance.

It will be appreciated that, with the aforementioned vehicle registration plate seated on the shoulder portion 42, the panel portion 44 and shoulder portion 42 thus define a closed space behind the registration plate.

Two mounting holes 46, 48 are provided at opposite edges of the recessed panel portion 44, as best shown in Figure 4, the function of which will be described below.

Referring to Figure 3, the bolt 36 comprises a low profile, dome shaped head 36a and a screw-threaded body portion 36b. The free end of the body portion 36b (being that end of the body portion 36b opposite the head 36a) is provided with a socket in the form of a slot 36c, best shown in Figure 5, for receiving the tip of a complementary screwdriver (not shown). Of course, the socket may take other convenient forms, for example for cooperation with a cross-head screwdriver or hexagonal key.

The nut 34 comprises a central, internally screw-threaded boss 34a and a peripheral flange 34b. A hole 34c is formed in the peripheral flange 34b, towards the outer edge of the peripheral flange 34b (best shown in Figure 6).

The assembly 30 can be mounted to a mounting panel fixed on a motor vehicle, for example motor panel 50 shown in Figure 3, as follows: Firstly, the backing plate 32 is positioned adjacent the mounting panel 50 with the mounting holes 46, 48 aligned with respective mounting holes formed in the mounting panel 50.

In the case of the hole 46, the bolt 36 is then inserted from the rear side of the mounting panel 50 through the respective hole in the mounting panel and the hole 46, so that the free end of the bolt 36 projects through the hole 46 on the front side of the backing plate 32. The nut 34 is then screw-threadedly engaged with the free end of the body portion 36b of the bolt 36, on the front side of the backing plate 32, and the nut 34 and bolt 36 are screwed towards one another to clamp the backing plate 32 to the mounting panel 50 in the region of the hole 46.

The nut 34 and bolt 36 may be screwed towards one another in a number of ways.

Thus, a user could engage the tip of a suitable screwdriver with the slot 36c and either hold the nut 34 whilst using the screwdriver to turn the bolt 36, relative to the nut 34, or alternatively use the screwdriver to resist turning movement of the bolt 36 whilst turning the nut 34. In the latter case, it is envisaged that the nut 34 is turned using a suitable lever engaged with the hole 34c and extending down alongside the screwdriver, for example a standard Allen Key (not shown), wherein a user may manually lever the nut 34, relative to the bolt 36, using the screwdriver as the fulcrum for the lever.

A corresponding nut and bolt can likewise be used to clamp the backing plate 32 to the mounting panel 50 in the region of the hole 48, thus firmly securing the backing plate 32 to the mounting panel 50.

Once the backing plate 32 is securely clamped to the mounting panel 50, a suitable vehicle registration plate (not shown) can then be fixedly seated on the shoulder portion 42, for example using a suitably strong adhesive, whereby it will be appreciated that the vehicle registration plate will cover the nut 34 and the free end of the bolt 36 (the nut 34 and bolt 36 being accommodated in the closed space behind the vehicle registration plate formed by the panel section 44 and shoulder 42).

It will be appreciated that, with the vehicle registration plate fixedly seated on the shoulder portion 42, access to the nut 34 and free end of the bolt 36 is prevented.

At the same time, the low-profile head 36a of the bolt 36 acts as a "tamper proof" head in that it prevents or significantly reduces the ability of an individual to unscrew the bolt 36 from the rear side of the mounting panel 50 to detach the backing plate 32. Thus, in order to remove the backing plate 32 it will in fact be necessary first to remove the vehicle registration plate, so that removal of the backing plate 32 whilst maintaining the vehicle registration plate in tact is effectively as difficult as removing the vehicle registration plate from the backing plate 32. Therefore, where a tamper-proof vehicle registration plate is used which cannot itself be removed without damaging the registration plate, for example the registration plate described in WO-A-02/1 02626, the assembly 30 acts to also prevent removal of the backing plate 32 without similarly damaging the vehicle registration plate.

Thus, the registration plate may be made from a clear sheet, for example of acrylic, to which a reflective sheet is laminated, with lettering displaying the vehicle registration number sandwiched between the reflective sheet and the clear sheet.

The reflective sheet and/or the lettering may be scored so they comprise regions that can be easily separated from one another.

When bonding the registration plate to the backing plate 32, the reflective sheet is directly bonded to the shoulder portion 42 and possibly the nut 34. If the registration plate is removed, the reflective material, and possibly the lettering, is stripped from the clear sheet, possibly in a random manner, so destroying the registration plate and rendering is unusable.

The depth of the peripheral flange portion 34b of the nut 34 is preferably selected so that the front face of the peripheral flange portion 34b sits flush with the front face of the shoulder portion 42, whereby the front face of the peripheral flange portion 34b forms a mounting surface for the vehicle registration plate (in this case in conjunction with the shoulder 42). In this case, the vehicle registration plate must also be detached from the nut 34, as well as the shoulder portion 42, before the backing plate 32 can be removed from the mounting panel 50.

Whilst in the described embodiment the bolt 36 and nut 34 are screw-threadedly engaged, the invention is not so limited and indeed the bolt and nut can engage one another in any suitable manner which provides a cam-action, provided that the cam-action is sufficient to clamp the backing plate 32 and mounting panel 50 between the nut and bolt.

Claims

1. A registration plate system comprising a registration plate body for attachment to a vehicle, a first transponder secured to the registration plate body, and a second transponder for attachment to the vehicle, at least one of the transponders being adapted to transmit a first signal when in communicating proximity to the other transponder, and to transmit no signal, or a second signal, when not in communicating proximity with the said other transponder.

2. A registration plate system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first signal contains vehicle identification data of the vehicle in which the vehicle is to be installed.

3. A registration plate system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the transponders are RFID tags.

4. A registration plate system as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the RFID tags is an active RFID tag.

5. A registration plate system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein at least one of the RFID tags is a passive REID tag.

6. A registration plate system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the transponder secured to the registration plate body is an active RFID tag, and the transponder for attachment to the vehicle is a passive REID tag.

7. A registration plate system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first transponder is embedded within the material of the registration plate body.

8. A registration plate system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the registration plate body is mounted on a registration plate backing frame which is attachable to a vehicle, and wherein the first transponder is fixed to the registration plate backing frame.

9. A registration plate system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a visual or audible the alert is generated when the first and second transponders are moved out of communicating proximity to each other.

10. A registration plate system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the visual alert comprises a light emission.

11. A registration plate system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a first LED of a first colour is illuminated to provide the visual alert, and a second LED of a second colour is illuminated when the transponders are in communicating proximity to each other.

12. A registration plate system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a communication device which transmits an alert message when the first and second transponders are moved out of communicating proximity to each other.

13. A registration plate system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A vehicle having a registration plate system as claimed in claim 13.

15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of the transponders has a memory in which identification data of the vehicle is stored.

16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein both transponders have a said memory.

17. A vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first signal contains vehicle identification data from the memory of the first transponder and is transmitted only upon receipt from the second transponder of vehicle identification data from the memory of the second transponder.

18. An assembly for mounting a vehicle registration plate on a mounting panel forming part of a vehicle, the assembly comprising: i) a backing plate incorporating a mounting hole; ii) a bolt having a tamper-proof head and having a body portion configured for insertion through the mounting hole from the rear side of the backing plate; and iii) a nut for engaging the free end of the body portion of the bolt on the front side of the backing plate with a cam-action, whereby a relative turning movement of the nut and bolt advances the nut towards the head of the bolt for clamping the backing plate between the head of the bolt, on the rear side of the backing plate, and the nut, on the front side of the backing plate, wherein the mounting hole is positioned such that, with the backing plate clamped in said manner, the vehicle registration plate can be fixedly mounted to the backing plate on the front side of the backing plate to cover the nut and thereby prevent access to the nut unless the vehicle registration plate is removed from the backing plate.

19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein the free end of the body portion is provided with a socket for engagement on the front side of the backing plate by a complementary drive-member configured for turning the bolt.

20. An assembly according to any of claims 18 to 19, wherein the nut has a peripheral flange portion for bearing against the front face of the backing plate.

21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein the front face of the peripheral flange portion is provided with a hole or recess.

22. An assembly according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the peripheral flange portion defines part of a mounting surface for fixedly mounting the vehicle registration plate on the front side of the backing plate.

23. An assembly according to any of claims 18 to 22, wherein the nut and bolt are provided with complementary screw threads for engagement to provide said cam-action.

24. An assembly according to any of claims 18 to 23, wherein the mounting hole is formed in a recessed portion of the backing plate for accommodating the profile of the nut and bolt behind the vehicle registration plate when the vehicle registration plate is mounted to the backing plate.

25. A method of mounting a vehicle registration plate to a mounting panel forming part of a vehicle, the method using an assembly according to claim 18 and comprising aligning said mounting hole with a corresponding mounting hole on the mounting panel, inserting the bolt through the mounting holes from the rear side of the mounting panel, engaging the nut with the free end of the bolt on the front side of the backing plate, progressively turning the nut and bolt relative to one another to clamp the backing plate against the mounting panel and subsequently fixedly attaching the vehicle registration plate on the front side of the panel such that it covers the nut.

26. A method of detaching an assembly from a mounting panel forming part of a vehicle, the assembly being in accordance with claim 21 as dependent upon claim 19 and the backing plate being clamped against the mounting panel, between the head of the bolt on the rear side of the mounting panel and the nut on the front side of the panel, the method comprising engaging said socket with a complementary drive means, engaging the hole in the peripheral flange with a lever, and using the complementary drive means to resist turning movement of the bolt and as a fulcrum for levering the nut relative to the bolt using the lever so as to turn the nut relative to the bolt.