Wheel arch including an antenna

• US 20050242938A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Huchard, Xavier, Lin, Xing Ping, Tupinier, Mathieu, Juzswik, David L., Brown, Andrew R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,298,341 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 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/405 Radome integrated radiating elements

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle wheel arch (18) of the type including an antenna (20) for interacting with a device (22) carried by an assembly (12) of a wheel (14) and a tire (16) . The wheel arch includes a shield (24) overlying the antenna (20) beside the radially-inner face of the wheel arch (18), said shield (24) being suitable for retaining matter (26) at a certain distance from the antenna (20).

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel arch (18) of the type including an antenna (20) for interacting with a device (22) carried by an assembly (12) of a wheel (14) and a tire (16) , the wheel arch including a shield (24) overlying the antenna (20) beside the radially-inner face of the wheel arch (18), said shield (24) being suitable for retaining matter (26) at a certain distance from the antenna (20).

2. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 1, in which the wheel arch is a front wheel arch, the antenna (20) being located in such a manner that the line segment connecting the center of the antenna (20) to the center of the wheel makes an angle of substantially 45°

with a horizontal plane.

3. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 1, in which the wheel arch is a rear wheel arch, the antenna (20) being placed in such a manner that the line segment connecting the center of the antenna (20) to the center of the wheel is substantially horizontal.

4. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 1, in which the wheel arch is a rear wheel arch, the antenna (20) is placed at one end of the wheel arch.

5. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 2, in which the antenna (20) is carried by the front portion of the wheel arch.

6. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 1, in which the antenna (20) is embedded in the thickness of the wheel arch.

7. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 1, in which the antenna (20) is fitted to a face of the wheel arch.

8. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 1, and made of a material that is not conductive.

9. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 1, in which the shield is fitted to the wheel arch.

10. A wheel arch (18) according to claim 1, in which the shield is molded integrally with the wheel arch.

11. An assembly comprising a wheel arch (18) according to claim 1 and a device (22) carried by an assembly (12) of a wheel (14) and a tire (16).