ANTENNA CONSTRUCTIONS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH ANTENNA CONSTRUCTIONS

• US 20080158072A1
• Filed: 12/30/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Benedict, Robert Leon, Logan, Brian Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,453,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/711
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

Antenna constructions for electronic devices and methods of manufacturing such antenna constructions. The electronic device comprises a transponder and an antenna electrically coupled with the transponder. The antenna has a core of a first material and a coating of a second material on the core. The second material has a higher electrical conductivity than the first material and/or a lower permeability than the first material. The coating on the core also has a predetermined thickness. The electronic devices may be used in tires.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a transponder; and

an antenna electrically coupled with the transponder, the antenna comprising a core of a first material and a coating of a second material on the core, the second material having at least one of a higher electrical conductivity than the first material or a lower permeability than the first material, and the coating having a predetermined thickness.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a plurality of microparticles, a plurality of nanoparticles, or a blend thereof.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second material has a lower permeability than the first material.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second material has a higher conductivity than the first material.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first material is a polymer resin or an engineered material.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a coil with a plurality of helically wound turns.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined thickness is approximately equal to a skin depth in which alternating current flows through the antenna.

8. An apparatus for mounting on a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a tire; and

an electronic device comprising a transponder mounted to the tire and an antenna electrically coupled with the transponder, the antenna comprising a core of a first material and a coating of a second material on the core, the second material having at least one of a higher electrical conductivity than the first material or a lower permeability than the first material, and the coating having a predetermined thickness.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the coating comprises a plurality of a plurality of microparticles, a plurality of nanoparticles, or a blend thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second material has a lower permeability than the first material.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second material has a higher conductivity than the first material.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first material is a polymer resin or an engineered material.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the antenna comprises a coil with a plurality of helically wound turns.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tire includes a sidewall, and the transponder is adhesively bonded to the sidewall.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tire includes an air cavity.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the transponder communicates with the air cavity.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the predetermined thickness is approximately equal to a skin depth in which alternating current flows through the antenna.

18. A method of manufacturing an antenna for use with an electronic device, the method comprising:

forming a core of a first material to a near net geometrical shape of the antenna; and

coating the core of the antenna with a coating having a predetermined thickness of a second material with at least one of a higher electrical conductivity than the first material or a lower permeability than the first material.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein coating the core further comprises:

performing a chemical deposition process that deposits the predetermined thickness of the coating.