MXPA00003087A - Dipole antenna for tire tag - Google Patents

Abstract

A pneumatic tire and monitoring device for monitoring an engineering condition of a pneumatic tire includes a pneumatic tire having a sidewall and a plurality of reinforcing cords carried in the sidewall. The monitoring device includes a sensing element that senses at least an engineering condition of a pneumatic tire and transmits the gathered data from the monitoring device to a data gathering device outside of the tire. The transmission occurs through a dipole antenna that is in communication with the sensing element. The dipole antenna is disposed substantially perpendicular to the reinforcing cords in order to maximize the probability of signal propagation through the tire sidewall.

Description

RADIAL ANTENNA FOR NEUM TICO LABEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical field This invention relates in general to monitoring or verification devices for tires and, more particularly, to a monitoring device having a dipole antenna used to monitor at least one engineering condition of a tire and to transmit information regarding the condition of engineering to a device that collects information located outside the tire. Specifically, the present invention relates to a verification device having a dipole antenna mounted inside a tire and placed orthogonal to the electrical interference lines in the side wall of the tire so that the probability of signal propagation to the tire is improved. through the side wall of the tire.

Anteceden-bes Information It is desired in the specialty to monitor the conditions of a tire while the tire is installed and in use in a vehicle. Although it is desirable to monitor engineering conditions of passenger car tires as well as trucks and buses, it is particularly convenient to monitor tire conditions for off-road use due to the relatively high cost of the tires and the desire to avoid non-operational time from a tire failure. Measuring the engineering conditions of a tire preferably occurs while the tire is in use in the vehicle for off-the-road use, without having to remove the tire from the vehicle or specifically locate the tire to take the measurements. Measuring engineering conditions in this way prevents the vehicle from being removed from service and thus increases the efficiency of the vehicle. In addition, by indicating when a tire is under-inflated, it allows rapid inflation at the correct pressure, which increases the useful life of the tire providing an economic benefit. Many types of verification devices are available to perform these measurements. One type of verification device employs a passive integrated circuit embedded within the body of the tire that is activated by radio frequency transmission that energizes the circuit by inductive magnetic coupling. Other prior art devices used to monitor tire conditions include auto-energized circuits that are placed external to the tire, such as in the valve stem. Other active self-energizing programmable electronic devices are discussed in U.S. Patents. Nos. 5,573,610, 5,562,787, and 5,573,611 granted to the assignee of the present application. Each of the active auto-energized programmable electronic devices includes an antenna that is used to transmit the information collected by the verification device to the information collecting device located outside the tire. One of the problems in the technique is locating and configuring the antenna such that the data created by the verification device is transmitted accurately to the information collecting device outside the tire. In many multi-point communication systems, linearly polarized antennas are used to transmit the information collected by the verification device to the device that collects information. It is known in the art that the misalignment between the sensitive access of the antennas will produce an inequality in the polarization and in this way a reduction in communication efficiency of the system. The use of linearly polarized antennas in tires that constantly change position due to the rotation of the wheel, in this way creates problems. It is generally convenient that one of the antennas be circumferentially polarized. It is also known in the art that transmission efficiency is reduced when a transmission must pass from one material to another material. In this way it is desired to locate the antenna as close as possible to the exterior of the tire in order to minimize the number of material changes experienced by the transmission. In the past, the antenna of the verification device generally extended into the interior of the tire chamber such that the radio waves had to first pass through the air within the tire, through the inner liner, through the side wall of the tire, and then through the air to the device that collects the data. It is thus desired in the art to provide an active, auto-energized programmable electronic device antenna, which is positioned and configured to maximize the probability of signal propagation through the side wall of the device. tire. The rim ring and apex filler of the tire tend to interfere with the radially disposed radio transmissions of the verification device. It has also been found that the steel reinforcement cords of the sidewall in a tire for off-the-road use also interfere with signal propagation. Metal reinforcing cords create electrical interference lines that must be considered when designing an antenna for an electronic verification device for a tire. Another problem with transmitting through a side wall of the tire is that the rubber or side wall rubber may include carbon material that degrades signal propagation. Another problem with transmitting through a side wall of the tire is that the power that displaces the transmission is limited by government radio regulations and design considerations. The electronic verification devices are preferably small sources of energy. The amount of energy to displace the transmission is thus limited and the design of the antenna must consider the limited energy of the verification device, to ensure a long service life for that device.

COMPENDIUM OE THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, an objective of the present invention is to provide a configuration of verification and antenna device that maximize the probability of signal propagation through the wall side of the tire. Another object of the present invention is to provide a verification device and antenna configuration for a tire using a dipole antenna connected to an electronic verification device. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a configuration of verification device and antenna, which orients the dipole antenna orthogonally with respect to the electrical interference lines to maximize the probability of signal propagation through the sidewall of the tire. . Another object of the present invention is to provide a configuration of verification device and antenna a tire, wherein the dipole antenna is disposed closely adjacent to the side wall of the tire so that the signal propagates directly within the side wall. Another object of the present invention is to provide a verification device and antenna configuration for a tire, which retains the antenna in a specific orientation and seals the antenna from the interior of the tire.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a configuration of verification device and antenna for a tire, which is of simple construction, which achieves the stated objectives in a simple, efficient, and economical manner, which solves the problems, and satisfies the needs that exist in the art. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are obtained by a tire verification device, which includes at least one element for detecting at least one engineering condition in the tire; and a dipole antenna in electrical communication with the sensing element. Other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the combination of a tire; a verification device for monitoring at least one engineering condition of the tire; the tire has a side wall; the verification device has at least one detection element for at least one engineering condition of the tire; and a dipole antenna in electrical communication with the sensing element. Still other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the combination of a tire and a verification device to at least monitor an engineering condition of the tire; the tire has a side wall and a plurality of reinforcing cords carried on the side wall; a flange ring disposed on the side wall of the tire; the verification device has at least one detection element for at least one engineering condition of the tire; and a dipole antenna in electrical communication with the sensing element; the antenna overlays at least one of the reinforcing cords and is disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the overlying reinforcing cords.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best way in which the applicant has contemplated applying The principles of the invention are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly stated and set forth in the appended claims. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a tire with an electronic verification device mounted on the inner lining of the tire; Fig. 2 is a view of the verification device and side wall of the tire taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the different locations for the verification device with antennas having different curvatures; Fig. 3 is a fragmented top plan view of the antenna configuration and verification device configuration of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a first alternate embodiment of the verification device and antenna configuration of the present invention, with the verification device and antenna removed from a connection patch; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the first alternate embodiment of the verification device and antenna configuration, with the verification device connected to the connection patch and coated with a cover material; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the second alternate embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a third alternate embodiment of the present invention; Y Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 8 showing a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention. Similar numbers refer to similar parties through the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The first embodiment of the combination of the verification device and antenna of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1-4 and is generally indicated by the number 10. In accordance with one of the objects of the invention, the combination of the verification device and antenna 10 includes a dipole antenna 12 connected to a verification device 14. The dipole antenna 12 is mounted on a tire 16 so as to maximize the likelihood of desirable signal propagation through the side wall of the tire 18. The tire 16 includes a rim ring 20 of which the side wall 18 extends outwardly substantially radially. A bundle of reinforcing cords 22 extends around the rim ring 20 and radially outwardly through the side wall 18. The bundle of reinforcing cords 22 can be made from a variety of materials and arranged in a variety of orientations in the sidewall 18. In large off-the-road tires, the bundle of reinforcing cords 22 may include a plurality of metal reinforcing cords 24 each extending externally radially through the sidewall 18. The cords 24 in this way are closer together adjacent the adjacent flange ring 20 that on the outer radius of the side wall 18. The tire 16 further includes an inner liner 26 located on the inner surface of tire 16. The inner liner 26 can be significantly thicker in tires for outside use - Off-road than in passenger car tires. As is known in the art, tire 16 is mounted on an edge and has an internal chamber pressurized when in use. The combination of verification device and antenna 10 is arranged in this pressure chamber as shown in Fig. 1. The verification device 14 can include a board 30 on which a pair of batteries 32, a processing unit are mounted. center (CPU) 34, and at least one detection element 36. Various other elements may also be located on the board 30. This specific configuration of supervisor device 14 shall not limit the scope of the invention since numerous configurations of verification will work with the present invention. The antenna 12 is in electrical communication with the detection element 36 such that the information collected by the detection element 36 can be transmitted through the antenna 12 out of the tire 16. The components 30, 32, 34, and 36 are all encapsulated by an encapsulation material 38 to form an encapsulated monitoring device 40. The encapsulation material 38 provides protection to the components 30, 32, 34, and 36. The encapsulation material 38 can be a suitable epoxy or other material that is substantially rigid after it has encapsulated the components.

The dipole antenna 12 includes a first antenna element 50 and a second antenna element 52 extending away from each other. Each element 50 and 52 may preferably be made of a round metal wire although different materials may be used without departing from the concepts of the invention. Dipole antennas are known in the art and can have various configurations, any of which can be used with the present invention. Each antenna element 50 and 52 is connected to and is in electrical communication with the sensing element 36 by a convenient connector 54 which may be one of a variety of connectors known in the art. The antenna 12 is disposed in a connection patch 60 which is used to mount the encapsulated verification device 40 in the inner liner 26. The connection patch 60 includes a leg portion 62 extending away from the encapsulated verification device 40. The antenna 12 is preferably located on the leg portion 62. The encapsulated verification device 40 is mounted on the connection patch 60 by a convenient connector, such as an adhesive that is known in the art. Similarly, the connection patch 60 is mounted on the inner liner 26 by a convenient connector, such as an adhesive, which is known in the art. As can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the antenna 12 is positioned and configured with respect to the side wall of the tire 18 such that the antenna 12 is on the flange ring 20 and substantially perpendicular or oriented orthogonally to the reinforcing cords 24. According to one of the objects of the invention, the locating antenna 12 substantially perpendicular to the reinforcing cords 24 maximizes the probability of desirable signal propagation through the side wall of the tire 18. When the combination of the verification device and antenna 10 is used with another tire having reinforcing cords 24 derived, the antenna 12 is rotated so that the antenna 12 remains substantially perpendicular to the reinforcing cords 24. It has been found that the signal propagation pattern of the dipole antenna 12 provides a good probability of signal propagation through the wall side 118. Fig. 2 illustrates locations of three combinations of verification devices and antenna 10 as shown in 10A, 10B, and 10C. Each combination 10A, 1033, and 10C includes an antenna 12A, 12B and 12C connected to an encapsulated verification device 40A, 40B, and 40C. The curvature of each antenna 12A, 12B, and 12C corresponds to its location with respect to the side wall 18 such that the antenna curvature 12 is substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the side wall 18. As such, the radius of curvature of the antenna 12A is less than the radius of curvature of the antenna 12B and both radii of curvature for the antennas 12A and 12B are less than the radius of curvature for the antenna 12C. As the radius of curvature of the antenna 12A corresponds to its location in the side wall of the tire 18, each intersection of the antenna 12 with a reinforcing cord 24 is substantially perpendicular or orthogonal. The first alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The components of the first alternate modality are substantially equal to described above and the same numbers are used to refer to the same elements. In this embodiment, the patch 60 includes a slot 70, in which the antenna 12 is positioned when the encapsulated verification device 40 is connected to the connection patch 60. The slot 70 suitably locates the antenna 12 with respect to the connection patch 60. so that a person installing the connection patch 60 and the encapsulated verification device 40 will know that the antenna 12 is oriented in a certain way with respect to the patch 60. After the antenna 12 is disposed within the slot 70 and the device Encapsulated verification 40 is secured to the connection patch 60, a cover material 72 is placed on the antenna 12 and the slot 70 to cover the antenna 12 from inside the tire 16. The cover material 72 also keeps the antenna 12 in position. The cover material 72 may preferably be an epoxy but may be other materials known in the art. The second alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein the antenna 12 is embedded within the inner liner 26- In this embodiment, the antenna 12 is located within the inner liner 26 during the manufacture of the tire 16 such that antenna 12 is substantially perpendicular to the reinforcing cords 24. The tire 16 is then cured with the antenna 12 held in the inner liner 26. The verification device 14 is then connected to the antenna 12 at a later time by known means. A third alternate configuration of the verification and combination device of the antenna of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 8 and is generally indicated by the number 100. The configuration antenna 102 includes the first antenna element 50 and the second antenna element 52 of the dipole antenna 12 discussed above. The antenna 102 further includes a third antenna element 104 spaced apart from the first and second antenna elements 50 and 52. The third antenna element 104 is connected to the first and second elements 50 and 52 by a pair of end elements 106 which are substantially semi circular. In accordance with the objects of the present invention, the antenna elements 50, 52, and 104 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the electrical interference lines in the side wall 18.

A fourth alternative embodiment of the combination of the verification device and antenna of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 9 and is generally indicated by the number 110. The combination 110 includes substantially the same elements as the combination 100 described above. The only difference is that the end elements 112 of the dipole radial antenna 114, each is substantially perpendicular to the end portions of the antenna elements 50, 52 and 104. In accordance with the objectives of the present invention, the antenna radial dipole 114 is located to be substantially perpendicular to the electrical interference lines in the side wall 18. Accordingly, the improved combination of dipole antenna and tire label is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive device, and effective that achieves all the objectives listed, allows to eliminate difficulties encountered with the previous devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the technique. In the previous description, certain terms for brevity, clarity, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitation will be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly considered. Still further, the description and illustration of the invention are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Having described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the combination of dipole antenna and tire label is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction and the new and useful advantageous results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth below in the appended claims.

Claims (39)

1. A verification device for a tire, characterized in that it comprises: at least one detection element for at least one engineering condition of the tire; and a dipole antenna in electrical communication with the sensing element.

2. The verification device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dipole antenna includes first and second antenna elements that extend away from each other; each of the first and second elements of the antenna are in electrical communication with the detection element.

3. The verification device according to claim 2, further characterized in that it comprises: a third element spaced from the first and second elements; first and second end elements; the first end element connects the first antenna element to the third antenna element; and the second element of the end connects the second element of the antenna to the third element of the antenna.

4. The verification device according to claim 3, characterized in that each end element is semicircular.

5. The verification device according to claim 3, characterized in that each element of The extremity is substantially perpendicular to the third element of the antenna.

6. The verification device according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a connection patch; and where the antenna is transported by the connection patch.

7. The verification device according to claim 6, characterized in that the connection patch has a slot; and where the antenna is arranged in the slot.

8. The verification device according to claim 7, further characterized in that it comprises a cover material disposed above the antenna.

9. The verification device according to claim 8, characterized in that the detection element is mounted on the connection patch.

10. The verification device according to claim 9, characterized in that the cover material is arranged on top of the detection element.

11. The verification device according to claim 6, further characterized in that it comprises an encapsulation material that substantially surrounds the detection element.

12. In combination: a tire; a verification device for monitoring an engineering condition of the tire at least; the tire having a side wall; the verification device having a detection element for at least one engineering condition of the tire; and a dipole antenna in electrical communication with the sensing element.

13. The combination according to claim 12, characterized in that the tire includes an inner lining; and wherein the antenna is transported by the inner lining of the tire.

14. The combination according to claim 13, characterized in that the antenna is embedded within the inner lining of the tire.

15. The combination according to claim 12, further characterized in that it includes a connection patch; and where the antenna is transported by the connection patch.

16. The combination of compliance with the claim 15, characterized in that the connection patch has a groove; and where the antenna is arranged in the slot.

17. The combination of compliance with the claim 16, characterized in that the verification device is transported by the connection patch.

18. The combination of compliance with the claim 17, further characterized in that it comprises a cover material disposed above the antenna.

19. The combination of compliance with the claim 18, characterized in that the cover material is also arranged on top of the verification device.

20. The combination according to claim 19, further characterized in that it comprises an encapsulation material that encapsulates the verification device to form an encapsulated verification device.

21. The combination according to claim 12, characterized in that the side wall of the tire has a radius; and wherein the dipole antenna has a radius of curvature that is substantially equal to the radius of the side wall of the tire.

22. The combination according to claim 21, further characterized in that it comprises a plurality of reinforcing cords radially disposed in the side walls.

23. The combination according to claim 12, further characterized in that it comprises a plurality of reinforcing cords disposed within the side wall of the tire; and wherein the antenna overlays at least one of the reinforcing cords and is disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the reinforcing cords that superimposes

24. The combination according to claim 23, characterized in that the dipole antenna includes first and second antenna elements that extend away from each other; and wherein each of the first and second elements of the antenna is connected to the verification device.

25. The combination according to claim 24, further characterized in that it comprises a third antenna element spaced from the first and second elements of the antenna; first and second end elements; the first end element in connecting the first antenna element to the third element of the antenna; and the second end element in connecting the second antenna element to the third antenna element.

26. The combination according to claim 25, characterized in that each end element is semicircular.

27. The combination according to claim 25, characterized in that each end element is substantially perpendicular to the third element.

28. The combination according to claim 12, characterized in that the tire defines a chamber that is pressurized when the tire is in use; and wherein the verification device is arranged in the chamber.

29. In combination, a tire and a verification device for monitoring at least one engineering condition of the tire; the tire having a side wall and a plurality of the reinforcing cords carried on the side wall; a flange ring disposed on the side wall of the tire; the verification device has a detection element for at least one engineering condition of the tire; and a dipole antenna in electrical communication with the sensing element; the antenna superimposes at least one of the reinforcing cords and disposed substantially perpendicular to each of the overlying reinforcing cords.

30. The combination according to claim 29, characterized in that the antenna is arranged on the rim ring.

31. The combination according to claim 30, characterized in that the reinforcing cords are radially disposed in the side wall of the tire.

32. The combination according to claim 31, characterized in that the verification device is mounted on the side wall of the tire.

33. The combination according to claim 31, further characterized in that it comprises a connection patch mounted on the side wall of the tire; and wherein the verification device is mounted on the patch connection.

34. The combination according to claim 33, characterized in that the antenna is mounted on the connection patch.

35. The combination according to claim 29, characterized in that the dipole antenna includes first and second antenna elements extending away from each other; and where each of the first. and second antenna elements are connected to the verification device.

36. The combination according to claim 35, further characterized in that it comprises a third element of the antenna spaced from the first and second elements of the antenna; first and second end elements; the first end element connects the first antenna element to the third antenna element; and the second end element connects the second antenna element to the third antenna element.

37. The combination according to claim 36, characterized in that each end element is semicircular.

38. The combination according to claim 36, characterized in that each end element is substantially perpendicular to the third antenna element.

39. The combination of compliance with the claim 29, characterized in that the tire defines a chamber that is pressurized when in use; and wherein the verification device is disposed within the chamber.