Wave antenna wireless communication device and method

• US 20030080918A1
• Filed: 10/29/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Intellectual Property (US) Inc. (Marconi Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian James, Horrell, Peter Robert George, King, Patrick F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,630,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07764 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier attachable to a tire tire temperature or pressur control arrangements, see B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/378 Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/26 with folded element or elements, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of operating wavelength resonant loop antennas H01Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 : Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49179 : by metal fusion bonding

Abstract

A wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that provides greater increased durability and impedance matching. The wave antenna is a conductor that is bent in alternating sections to form peaks and valleys. The wireless communication device is coupled to the wave antenna to provide wireless communication with other communication devices, such as an interrogation reader. The wireless communication device and wave antenna may be placed on objects, goods, or other articles of manufacture that are subject to forces such that the wave antenna may be stretched or compressed during the manufacture and/or use of such object, good or article of manufacture. The wave antenna, because of its bent structure, is capable of stretching and compressing more easily than other structures, reducing the wireless communication device'"'"'s susceptibility to damage or breaks that might render the wireless communication device coupled to the wave antenna unable to properly communicate information wirelessly.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a RFID chip;

a wave antenna coupled to said RFID chip;

said wave antenna comprised of at least one conductor that is bent in at least one position at an angle less than 180 degrees to form at least two different sections.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said wave antenna is comprised from the group consisting of a monopole wave antenna and a dipole wave antenna.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor is comprised out of two separate conductors that are each bent in at least one position to form an angle and are each coupled to said RFID chip to form a wave dipole antenna.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor is constructed out of a material comprised from the group consisting of copper, brass, steel, and zinc-plated steel.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor is bent in a plurality of positions to form at least one inflection point and three or more different sections in said at least one conductor.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein said two separate conductors are bent in a plurality of positions to form three or more different sections wherein said two separate conductors each contain at least one inflection point.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one conductor is coated with a non-conductive material.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said antenna is designed to operate at a frequency comprised from the group consisting of around about 915 MHz and around about 2.45 GHz.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least two different sections comprise a first section having a first length to form a first antenna designed to operate at a first operating frequency and a second section having a second length to form a second antenna designed to operate at a second operating frequency.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said first section is coupled to said RFID chip, and said second section is coupled to said first section.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said second section is bent into a plurality of subsections each having the same length to form said second antenna.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said first section is bent into a plurality of subsections each having the same length to form said first antenna.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said second section is bent into a plurality of subsections each having the same length to form said second antenna.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a resonating ring coupled to said wave antenna wherein said wave antenna operates at a first operating frequency and said resonating ring forms a second antenna that operates at a second operating frequency.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said resonating ring is capacatively coupled to said wave antenna.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said resonating ring is additionally coupled to said RFID chip so that a force placed on said wave antenna will be placed in whole or in part on said resonating ring to relieve mechanical stress on said RFID chip.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that operates at a first operating frequency comprised of at least one conductor that is bent in at least one position at an angle less than 180 degrees to form at least two different sections; and

a tire wherein said wireless communication device is mounted to the inside of said tire to detect environmental information inside said tire and wirelessly communicates the environmental information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said environmental information is comprised from the group consisting of pressure inside said tire and temperature inside said tire.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said tire comprises:

an outer surface, comprising;

a circular-shaped tread surface having a left outer side and a right outer side and an orifice; and

said left outer side and said right outer side each fold down at an angle substantially perpendicular to said tread surface to form a left outer wall and a right outer wall substantially perpendicular to said tread surface and to form a left inner wall and a right inner wall attached substantially perpendicular to a internal wall on the opposite side of said tread surface; and

wherein said wireless communication device is attached to a wall inside said tire comprised from the group consisting of said left inner wall, said right inner wall, and said internal wall.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said wave antenna expands when said tire is placed under pressure.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said wave antenna operates at a second operating frequency when said wave antenna expands when said tire is placed under pressure.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a resonating ring coupled to said wave antenna wherein said resonating ring forms a second antenna that operates at a second operating frequency.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said resonating ring is capacatively coupled to said wave antenna.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said resonating ring is additionally coupled to said RFID chip so that the pressure placed on said wave antenna when inside said tire will be placed in whole or in part on said resonating ring to relieve mechanical stress on said RFID chip.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said tread surface is comprised out of rubber having a thickness wherein said wave antenna is contained inside said rubber.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said tread surface is comprised out of rubber having a thickness wherein said wireless communication device is contained inside said rubber.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said wave antenna is contained inside said rubber.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said tread surface contains an inner steel belt inside said rubber wherein said wave antenna is coupled to said inner steel belt.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said coupling of said wave antenna to said inner steel belt is comprised from the group consisting of direct coupling, capacitive coupling, and reactive coupling.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said wave antenna is contained inside said tread surface.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said wireless communication device is contained inside said tread surface.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said wave antenna is contained inside said tread surface.

33. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to a pressure sensor contained inside said tire that measures the pressure inside said tire so that said wireless communication device can wirelessly communicate the pressure inside said tire as environmental information.

34. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to a temperature sensor contained inside said tire that measures the temperature inside said tire so that said wireless communication device can wirelessly communicate the temperature inside said tire as environmental information.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said wireless communication device is also coupled to a pressure sensor contained inside said tire that measures the pressure inside said tire so that said wireless communication device can wirelessly communicate the pressure and the temperature inside said tire as environmental information.

36. A system for wirelessly communicating information about a tire, comprising:

an interrogation reader;

a wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that operates at a first frequency and is comprised of at least one conductor that is bent in at least one position at an angle less than 180 degrees to form at least two different sections; and

a tire wherein said wireless communication device is mounted to the inside of said tire to detect environmental information inside said tire and wirelessly communicate the environmental to said interrogation reader.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said information is environmental information comprised from the group consisting of pressure inside said tire and temperature inside said tire.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein said wave antenna expands when said tire is placed under pressure.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said wave antenna operates at a operating frequency that is compatible with said interrogation reader when said wave antenna expands when said tire is placed under a threshold pressure.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein said wave antenna operates at a second operating frequency when said wave antenna expands when said tire is placed under pressure.

41. The system of claim 36, further comprising a resonating ring coupled to said wave antenna wherein said resonating ring forms a second antenna that operates at a second operating frequency.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said resonating ring is capacatively coupled to said wave antenna.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said resonating ring is additionally coupled to said RFID chip so that pressure placed on said wave antenna when inside said tire will be placed in whole or in part on said resonating ring to relieve mechanical stress on said RFID chip.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to a pressure sensor contained inside said tire that measures the pressure inside said tire so that said wireless communication device can wirelessly communicate the pressure inside said tire as environmental information to said interrogation reader.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to a temperature sensor contained inside said tire that measures the temperature inside said tire so that said wireless communication device can wirelessly communicate the temperature inside said tire as environmental information to said interrogation reader.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein said wireless communication device is also coupled to a pressure sensor contained inside said tire that measures the pressure inside said tire so that said wireless communication device can wirelessly communicate the pressure and the temperature inside said tire as environmental information to said interrogation reader.

47. A method for wirelessly communicating with a tire, comprising the steps of:

placing a wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that operates at a first operating frequency comprised of at least one conductor that is bent in at least one position at an angle less than 180 degrees to form at least two different sections inside a tire;

placing an interrogation reader proximate to said tire; and

receiving information wirelessly at a first frequency from said wireless communication device inside said tire.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of sending a wireless communication to said wireless communication device before said step of receiving information.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said information is comprised of environmental information about said tire.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said environmental information is comprised from the group consisting of temperature inside said tire and pressure inside said tire.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising the step of sensing the pressure inside said tire and including the pressure inside said tire in said information.

52. The method of claim 49, further comprising the step of sensing the temperature inside said tire and including the temperature inside said tire in said information.

53. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of placing said wave antenna under pressure by placing said tire under pressure.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising the step of receiving information at a second frequency through wireless communication from said wireless communication device when said tire is placed under a threshold pressure.

55. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of coupling a resonating ring to said wave antenna to form a second antenna that operates at a second frequency.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising the step of coupling said resonating ring to said RFID chip so that pressure placed on said wave antenna when inside said tire will be placed in whole or in part on said resonating ring to relieve mechanical stress on said RFID chip.

57. A method of manufacturing a wave antenna, comprising the steps of:

passing a conducting foil through a first cog and a second cog having a plurality of teeth and placed in a vertical plane with respect to each other wherein said plurality of teeth in said first cog and said second cog substantially interlock with each other as said first cog rotates clockwise and said second cog rotates counterclockwise; and

placing alternating bends in said conducting foil when said conducting foil is passed through said first cog and said second cog.

58. A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device that is coupled to a wave antenna, comprising the steps of:

passing a conducting foil through a first cog and a second cog having a plurality of teeth and placed in a vertical plane with respect to each other wherein said plurality of teeth in said first cog and said second cog substantially interlock with each other as said first cog rotates clockwise and said second cog rotates counterclockwise;

placing alternating bends in said conducting foil when said conducting foil passes through said first cog and said second cogs to form a conducting foil having a plurality of bends that form a plurality of peaks separated by valleys; and

soldering wireless communication chips individually to each side of one of said plurality of peaks using solder.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising the step of tinning each side of said plurality of peaks before said step of soldering.

60. The method of claim 58, further comprising the step of re-flow soldering said wireless communication chips with hot gas after said step of soldering.

61. The method of claim 58, further comprising the step of cleaning away said excess solder away after said step of soldering.

62. The method of claim 58, further comprising removing a short formed across each side of said plurality of peaks after said step of soldering.

63. The method of claim 58, further comprising the step of encapsulating said wireless communication chip after said step of soldering.

64. The method of claim 58, further comprising the step of winding said conductive foil with said wireless communication chips soldered to said conductive foil onto a reel.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising the step of cutting said winding of conductive foil said wireless communication chips soldered to said conductive foil to form individual wireless communication devices.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising the step of attaching said individual wireless communication devices to tires.

67. The method of claim 59, further comprising the steps of:

re-flow soldering said wireless communication chips with hot gas after said step of soldering;

cleaning away said excess solder away after said step of soldering; and

removing a short formed across each side of said plurality of peaks after said step of soldering;

wherein said steps of reflow-soldering, cleaning away, and removing are performed after said step of soldering.

68. A method of testing a wireless communication device that is attached to a tire during the manufacture of the tire, comprising:

attaching a wireless communication device that is coupled to a wave antenna that operates at a first frequency and is comprised of at least one conductor that is bent in at least one position at an angle less than 180 degrees to form at least two different sections to the inside of a tire;

pressurizing said tire; and

communicating with said wireless communication device at the first frequency to determine if said wireless communication device is operating properly.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said step of communicating further comprises communicating with said wireless communication device at the first frequency to obtain the pressure inside the tire.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising comparing the pressure inside the tire received from said wireless communication device to a pressure measurement from a pressure measuring device attached to a needle stem on said tire.