Transmitting and/or receiving unit for incorporation into an elastic structure

• US 20030085619A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental AG
• Inventors: Rutter, George J., Strache, Wolfgang, Behrends, Holger, Lehmann, Jorg, Becherer, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,836,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres

Abstract

The invention is directed to a transmitting and/or receiving unit for building into an elastic structure. The transmitting and receiving unit includes one or more electronic circuits or circuit elements and, if needed, sensors and/or signal elements assigned thereto. The transmitting and/or receiving unit has one or several antennas connected to the electronic circuit. The antenna includes one or several filaments which are so arranged in the surface or in space that the main directions of the stresses and forces, which occur within the surrounding elastic structure/matrix, essentially intersect or cross the filament axes.

Claims

1. A transmitting/receiving unit for mounting in an elastic structure wherein stresses and forces develop and act in main directions when said elastic structure is subjected to load, said transmitting/receiving unit comprising:

an electronic circuit;

at least one antenna connected to said electronic circuit;

said antenna including at least one elastically or plastically deformable filament defining a filament axis and surrounded by said elastic structure; and

,

said filament being disposed in a plane or in space so that said main directions intersect or cross said filament axis.

2. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 1, wherein said elastic structure is a tire and said transmitting/receiving unit is a transducer.

3. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna comprises a plurality of said elastically or plastically deformable filaments;

and, said filaments are woven or braided with each other and the individual ones of said filaments are configured to be movable or displaceable relative to each other.

4. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna comprises a plurality of said filaments twisted with each other so as to be displaceable relative to each other.

5. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said filament is configured to have a spiral shape.

6. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 3, wherein said plurality of elastically or plastically deformable filaments electrically are connected to each other.

7. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 6, wherein said filaments are electrically connected to each other by a mechanical slide contact.

8. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna comprises a plurality of said elastically or plastically deformable filaments made of a metal material.

9. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 8, wherein said filaments are configured as thin wires or foils.

10. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 8, wherein said metal is brass.

11. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 8, wherein said filaments made of a metal material are coated with brass.

12. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna comprises a plurality of said elastically or plastically deformable filaments with said filaments being made of conducting material.

13. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 12, wherein said filaments are configured as thin wires or foils and said material contains carbon.

14. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna is connected to said electronic circuit via a tension relief.

15. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of said antennas connected to each other or to said electronic circuit via a tension relief.

16. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna is in the form of a closed ring having ends connected to said electronic circuit.

17. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna is formed as a flat band and includes a plurality of said filaments woven or braided with each other.

18. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna is formed as a hose having a wall and said antenna includes a plurality of said filaments woven or braided to define said wall.

19. The transmitting/receiving unit of claim 2, wherein said antenna is configured as a reinforcement cord of said tire.

20. A transducer for mounting in a tire having an elastic structure wherein stresses and forces develop and act in main directions when said tire is subjected to load, said transducer comprising:

an electronic circuit;

at least one antenna connected to said electronic circuit;

said antenna including elastically or plastically deformable filaments each defining a filament axis and surrounded by said elastic structure of said tire; and

,

said filaments being disposed in a plane or in space so that said main directions intersect or cross said filament axes.