RF tire pressure signal sensor antenna and method of packaging

• US 20040155763A1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lin, Yingjie, Sanchez, Manuel S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,958,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/447
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating a signal from an external transmitter located in a remote location to a sensor mountable in an interior of a pressure vessel including a vehicle tire. The method and apparatus include disposing a pressure transducer assembly within the pressure vessel or tire in communication with a fluid. The transducer is operably connected to circuitry including a receiver circuit disposed on a PCB. A signal is transmitted from the external transmitter and received with an antenna disposed on the PCB operably connected with said receiver circuit. The antenna is configured as a trace coil disposed on at least two layers of the PCB with each of the trace coils being wound on a corresponding layer in an essentially spiral configuration. Each of the trace coils are on a corresponding layer being and serially connected to a contiguous trace coil disposed on a contiguous layer.

Claims

14. A pressure transducer assembly mountable in an interior of a tire for sensing a pressure of a fluid in said tire comprising:

a sensor housing having a first compartment in fluid communication with said fluid;

a PCB slideably engaged with and removable from said sensor housing, said PCB separating a second compartment from said first compartment;

circuitry including a transceiver circuit disposed on said PCB and operably coupled to said pressure transducer;

a pressure transducer operably connected to said circuitry, said pressure transducer in fluid communication with said first compartment;

a coil antenna operably connected to said transceiver circuit, said antenna configured to receive said signal from a remote location, said antenna being a trace coil disposed on at least two layers of said multilayered printed circuit board with each said trace coil wound on a corresponding layer in an essentially spiral configuration, each said trace coil on said corresponding layer being serially connected to a contiguous trace coil disposed on a contiguous layer;

a removable power source coupled to said circuitry contained within said second compartment; and

a cover sealing engaged with said housing and said PCB such that said second compartment is not in fluid communication with said first compartment.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said signal is via RF, optical, infrared, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein each said trace coil is disposed proximate an outside edge defining said corresponding layer to increase inductance of the resulting coil antenna.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein each said trace coil is configured to optimize a loop size of each loop forming said spiral configuration of each said trace coil.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein each said coil on said corresponding layer is serially connected to said contiguous trace coil disposed on said contiguous layer by vias disposed in said corresponding layer and said contiguous layer.

19. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said serially connected trace coil is defined by two ends operably connected to two corresponding coils terminals disposed on an outboard first layer of said multilayered PCB, said coil terminals electrically coupled to said receiver circuit.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein a first coil terminal of said two coil terminals is connected to a via on said outboard first layer and a second coil terminal of said two coil terminals is connected to one of a first coil jumper and one end of said serially connected trace coil.

21. A method of communicating a signal from an external transmitter located in a remote location to a sensor disposed inside a tire, the method comprising:

disposing a pressure transducer assembly within said tire in communication with a fluid, said transducer operably connected to circuitry including a receiver circuit disposed on a PCB;

transmitting a signal from said external transmitter located at said remote location;

configuring an antenna as a trace coil disposed on at least two layers of said PCB with each said trace coil wound on a corresponding layer in an essentially spiral configuration, each said trace coil on said corresponding layer being serially connected to a contiguous trace coil disposed on a contiguous layer; and

receiving said signal with said antenna disposed on said PCB and operably connected with said receiver circuit.

1. An apparatus for receiving a remote signal in a tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB);

a receiver circuit operably connected to said PCB;

an antenna operably connected to said receiver circuit, said antenna configured to receive external remote signals, said antenna being a trace coil disposed on at least two layers of said multilayered PCB with each said trace coil wound on a corresponding layer in an essentially spiral configuration, each said trace coil on said corresponding layer being serially connected to a contiguous trace coil disposed on a contiguous layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said trace coil is disposed proximate an outside edge defining said corresponding layer to increase inductance of the resulting coil antenna.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said trace coil is configured to optimize a loop size of each loop forming said spiral configuration of each said trace coil.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said coil on said corresponding layer is serially connected to said contiguous trace coil disposed on said contiguous layer by vias disposed in said corresponding layer and said contiguous layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said serially connected trace coil is defined by two ends operably connected to two corresponding coils terminals disposed on an outboard first layer of said multilayered PCB, said coil terminals electrically coupled to said receiver circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a first coil terminal of said two coil terminals is connected to a via on said outboard first layer and a second coil terminal of said two coil terminals is connected to one of a first coil jumper and one end of said serially connected trace coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said outboard first layer further includes second and third coil jumpers each having a via disposed at either end defining a length thereof, each of said first, second and third coil jumpers are aligned with corresponding vias in subsequent layers, each said trace coil of said corresponding layer connected to a pair of different vias aligned with vias in subsequent layers to connect ends of each said trace coil in a serial fashion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said each trace coil is spirally wound in a same direction spiraling from an inside portion out toward an outside edge defining said corresponding layer.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first coil jumper operably connects an opposite outboard layer trace coil to said second coil terminal, said second coil jumper operably serially connects trace coils of second and third layers while said third coil jumper operably serially connects said trace coil of said third layer with said opposite outboard layer trace coil.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said one end of said serially connected trace coil extends from said second coil terminal forming a first trace coil spirally wound in a first direction spiraling from an inside portion out toward an outside edge defining an outboard first layer, said first trace coil terminating at a first via disposed on said first layer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a second trace coil is electrically connected to said first via and is spirally wound therefrom in said first direction from an outside portion in toward an inside portion defining a second layer contiguous to said first layer, said second trace coil terminating at a second via disposed on said second layer.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a third trace coil is electrically connected to said second via and is spirally wound in said first direction from an inside portion out toward an outside edge defining a third layer contiguous to said second layer, said third trace coil terminating at a third via disposed on said third layer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a fourth trace coil is electrically connected to said third via and is spirally wound in said first direction from an outside portion in toward an inside portion defining a fourth layer contiguous to said third layer, said third trace coil terminating at a fourth via disposed on said second layer and electrically coupled with said first coil terminal on said first layer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said transmitting said signal is via RF, magnetic, ultrasonic, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising disposing each said trace coil proximate an outside edge defining said corresponding layer to increase inductance of the resulting coil antenna.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said serially connected trace coil is defined by two ends operably connected to two corresponding coils terminals disposed on an outboard first layer of said multilayered PCB, said coil terminals electrically coupled to said receiver circuit.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a first coil terminal of said two coil terminals is connected to a via on said outboard first layer and a second coil terminal of said two coil terminals is connected to one of a first coil jumper and one end of said serially connected trace coil.

22-1. The method of claim 21 further comprising configuring each said trace coil to optimize a loop size of each loop forming said spiral configuration of each said trace coil.

23-2. The method of claim 21, wherein each said coil on said corresponding layer is serially connected to said contiguous trace coil disposed on said contiguous layer by vias disposed in said corresponding layer and said contiguous layer.