SURFACE J587

REV.
APR97
VEHICLE
400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001
STANDARD Issued 1918-03
Revised 1997-04

Superseding J587 MAR93

Submitted for recognition as an American National Standard

(R) LICENSE PLATE ILLUMINATION DEVICES (REAR REGISTRATION

PLATE ILLUMINATION DEVICES)

1. Scope—This SAE Standard provides test procedures, requirements, and guidelines for vehicular license plate
illumination devices.

2. References

2.1 Applicable Publications—The following publications form a part of this specification to the extent specified
herein. The latest issue of SAE publications shall apply.

2.1.1 SAE PUBLICATIONS—Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

SAE J567—Lamp Bulb Retention System

SAE J575—Tests for Motor Vehicle Lighting Devices and Components
SAE J576—Plastic Materials for Use in Optical Parts Such as Lenses and Reflectors of Motor Vehicle
Lighting Devices
SAE J578—Color Specification
SAE J759—Lighting Identification Code

2.1.2 ASTM PUBLICATION—Available from ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1187.

ASTM E 179—Selection of Geometric Conditions for Measurement of Reflection and Transmission

Properties of Materials

3. Definitions

3.1 A License Plate Illumination Device—A device that illuminates the license plate on the rear of a vehicle.

4. Lighting Identification Code—License plate illumination devices may be identified by the code "L" in
accordance with SAE J759.

SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely
voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”

SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS DOCUMENT: (412) 772-8512 FAX: (412) 776-0243

TO PLACE A DOCUMENT ORDER; (412) 776-4970 FAX: (412) 776-0790

Copyright 1997 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
 SAE J587 Revised APR97

5. Tests

5.1 SAE J575 is a part of this document. The following tests are applicable with modifications as indicated.

5.1.1 VIBRATION TEST

5.1.2 MOISTURE TEST

5.1.3 DUST TEST

5.1.4 CORROSION TEST

5.1.5 WARPAGE TEST ON DEVICES WITH PLASTIC COMPONENTS

5.2 Color Test—SAE J578 is part of this document.

5.3 Photometry Test

5.3.1 TEST EQUIPMENT

5.3.1.1 Test Plate—All luminance measurements shall be made on a rectangular test plate of clean, smooth,
matte white blotting paper or an equivalent material with a diffuse white surface. The test plate shall have
a total reflectance factor of 85% ± 5% when measured in accordance with ASTM E 179 (0/t illumination/
viewing geometry). The size of the test plate is shown in Figure 1 or 2, as applicable. For devices used on
vehicles other than motorcycles, test stations shall be located on the face of the test plate as shown in
Figure 1. For devices used on motorcycles, the test stations shall be located on the face of the test plate
as shown in Figure 2.

FIGURE 1—TEST PLATE FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN MOTORCYCLES

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 SAE J587 Revised APR97

FIGURE 2—TEST PLATE FOR MOTORCYCLES

5.3.1.2 Luminance Meter—A luminance meter shall be used to measure the luminance over the entire area of
each circular test station on the test plate. The meter shall be calibrated to measure luminance in cd/m2.
Measurements shall not include any area beyond that of the test station.

5.3.2 TEST PROCEDURE

5.3.2.1 The test plate shall be mounted in the position ordinarily taken by the license plate. The face of the test
plate shall be located 2 mm from the plane of the license plate holder toward the luminance meter.

5.3.2.2 Luminance measurements shall be made with the optical axis of the luminance meter perpendicular to the
test plate surface within ±5 degrees. Measurements shall be recorded at each of the circular test station
areas specified in Figure 1 or Figure 2, as applicable.

5.3.2.3 Calculate and record the ratio of the maximum to the minimum luminance over all specified test points. For
test plates conforming to Figure 1, the average of the two highest and the two lowest luminance values
recorded at the eight test stations shall be taken as maximum and minimum, respectively. For test plates
conforming to Figure 2, the highest luminance value and the average of the two lowest luminance values
recorded at the six test stations shall be taken as maximum and minimum, respectively.

6. Requirements

6.1 Performance Requirements—A device, when tested in accordance with the test procedures specified in
Section 5, shall meet the following requirements:

6.1.1 VIBRATION—SAE J575

6.1.2 MOISTURE—SAE J575

6.1.3 DUST—SAE J575

6.1.4 CORROSION—SAE J575

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 SAE J587 Revised APR97

6.1.5 WARPAGE—SAE J575

6.2 Color—The color of the light from the license plate illumination device(s) shall be white as specified in SAE
J578.

6.3 Photometry—Upon completion of the photometry test procedure (Reference 5.3), the following requirements
shall apply:

6.3.1 The luminance at each of the test station areas on the applicable test plate shall be at least 2.0 cd/m2.

6.3.2 For tests based on Figure 1, the ratio of maximum to minimum luminance shall not exceed 30/1. For tests
based on Figure 2, the ratio of maximum to minimum luminance shall not exceed 25/1.

6.3.3 If a tail or stop lamp is combined with a license plate illumination device, the combination shall also meet the
requirements for these devices.

6.4 Materials Requirements—Plastic materials used in the optical parts shall meet the requirements of SAE
J576. Since some license plate illumination devices are mounted in shaded or protected locations, attention is
called to the section of SAE J576 which covers exposure time and conditions.

6.5 Design Requirements

6.5.1 License plate illumination devices for vehicles other than motorcycles shall be of such size and design as to
provide illumination on all parts of a 150 x 300 mm test plate, except for a 13 mm wide border around the
plate periphery. License plate illumination devices for motorcycles shall be of such size and design as to
provide illumination on all parts of a 100 x 175 mm test plate.

6.5.2 The design shall be such that, when the plate is mounted on a vehicle as intended and the upper edge of the
license plate is more than 1.2 m from the ground, the angle between the plane of the license plate and a
vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of the ground on which the vehicle stands shall be ±15 degrees. If
the upper edge of the license plate is not more than 1.2 m from the ground, the plate surface bearing the
license numbers shall face between 30 degrees upward and 15 degrees downward from the vertical plane.

6.6 Installation Requirements

6.6.1 The license plate illumination device(s) for vehicles other than motorcycles shall be mounted so as to
illuminate the plate without obstruction from any designed feature unless the device(s) is designed to comply
with the obstructions considered.

6.6.2 Except for a 13 mm wide border around its periphery, visibility of the license plate shall not be obstructed by
any part of the vehicle when any point on the license plate is projected directly to the rear of the vehicle.

6.6.3 The license plate illumination device(s) shall be installed so that no white light is projected from the
illumination device(s) directly to the rear of the vehicle.

6.6.4 The license plate illumination device(s) for vehicles other than motorcycles shall be mounted so as to
illuminate the plate from the top or sides. Illumination from the bottom of the plate is permitted provided other
illumination is also provided from the top or sides of the plate.

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 SAE J587 Revised APR97

7. Guidelines

7.1 Photometry Design Guidelines—Photometry Design Guidelines for license plate lamps, when tested
according to the photometry test procedures (Reference 5.3) are listed as follows:

7.1.1 MINIMUM LUMINANCE AT EACH OF THE TEST STATION AREAS ON THE APPLICABLE TEST PLATE—2.5 cd/m2.

7.1.2 RATIO OF MAXIMUM TO MINIMUM LUMINANCE:

a. 20/1 or less (for tests based on Figure 1)

b. 15/1 or less (for tests based on Figure 2)

7.2 Installation Guidelines—The following apply to license plate illumination devices as used on the vehicle and
shall not be considered part of the requirements.

7.2.1 The license plate holding device shall be designed and constructed to provide a substantial plane surface on
which to mount the plate.

8. Notes

8.1 Marginal Indicia—The (R) is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where technical revisions have
been made to the previous issue of the report. If the symbol is next to the report title, it indicates a complete
revision of the report.

PREPARED AND APPROVED BY THE SAE SIGNALLING AND

MARKING DEVICES STANDARDS COMMITTEE

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 SAE J587 Revised APR97

APPENDIX A

A.1 As a matter of information, attention is called to SAE J567 for requirements and gages to be used in socket
design.

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 SAE J587 Revised APR97

Rationale—The purpose of this revision is to update the content to add photometric performance
requirements which harmonize with European requirements. A new Photometry Design Guideline
section was added which retained the previous photometry performance requirements. Also, the term
“motor-driven cycle” was deleted from the document. Specific revisions in content from SAE J587
MAR93 are listed as follows:

Definition Section was changed to Section 3 to correspond with the new SAE Technical Standards Board
format and ISO. All other section numbers have changed.

Sections 5.3.1.1, 6.5.1, 6.6.1, 6.6.4, and Figures 1 and 2: The term “Motor-Driven Cycles” is not a
currently defined term and was deleted from the titles on Figures 1 and 2 and from several paragraphs to
be compatible with the definition of motorcycles in SAE J213.

Section 6.3: The photometric performance requirements were modified to closely harmonize with the
Conformity of Production (COP) requirements in the European Regulations. The test station area
luminance requirements were reduced 20% and the maximum to minimum ratio requirements were
increased approximately 50%.

Section 6.5: The plane from which the plate angle tolerance is specified was changed from “90 degrees
from the plane of the ground” to a vertical plane perpendicular to the ground. This removes the 90
degree base number in the range specification. This change was made to simplify the specification
number and to be identical to the specification base plane in European Regulations.

The allowable range of the license plate mounting angle was increased to 30 degrees in only the plate
facing upwards direction and when the upper edge of the plate is mounted less than 1.2 m from the
ground. This was done to be compatible with European Regulations which also allow 30 degrees
upwards under the identical conditions. The expanded range also will allow more design flexibility for
lower mounted plates such as on motorcycles.

Section 7.1: The higher photometric performance requirements in the SAE J587 MAR93 were placed
into a new Section 7.1, titled “Photometric Design Guidelines” (under Section 7, Guidelines). This new
section aligns SAE J587 with the format of other SAE exterior lamp technical reports which contain both
photometric performance requirements and photometric design guidelines.

Relationship of SAE Standard to ISO Standard—Not applicable.

Application—This SAE Standard provides test procedures, requirements, and guidelines for vehicular license
plate illumination devices.

Reference Section

SAE J567—Lamp Bulb Retention System

SAE J575—Tests for Motor Vehicle Lighting Devices and Components

SAE J576—Plastic Materials for Use in Optical Parts Such as Lenses and Reflectors of Motor Vehicle
Lighting Devices

SAE J578—Color Specification

SAE J759—Lighting Identification Code

ASTM E 179—Selection of Geometric Conditions for Measurement of Reflection and Transmission

Properties of Materials
 SAE J587 Revised APR97

Developed by the SAE Signalling and Marking Devices Standards Committee

Sponsored by the SAE Lighting Coordinating Committee