PRODUCT SUCH AS A TIRE WITH RFID TAG WITH RUBBER, ELASTOMER, OR POLYMER ANTENNA

• US 20150314542A1
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company)
• Inventors: Tucker, Randall L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,701,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0066 Tyre quality control during manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0077 Directly attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization, e.g. microchips
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0061 Accessories, details or auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• 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: B60C 5/00 Inflatable pneumatic tyres or inner tubes B60C1/00, B60C9/00 - B60C17/00 take precedence
• 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: G06K 19/0779 the antenna being foldable or folded
• 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 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: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

A product such as a tire includes a radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly located along an outer sidewalk The RFID assembly has a thin, flexible, substantially planar, elongated non-conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer substrate. First and second thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar first antenna portions formed at least in part of the same conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer are provided on the substrate. Opposite first and second ends of the first antenna portion have different first and second widths. A chip has opposite first and second ends in operative electrical connection with the first and second antenna portions, respectively, and is located between the outer sidewall and the substrate.

Claims

1. A tire comprising:

a tread portion spanning between inner and outer rubber sidewalls; and

a radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly located along an outer sidewall, the RFID assembly including;

a thin, flexible, substantially planar, elongated non-conductive rubber substrate;

a thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar first antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber, opposite first and second ends of the first antenna portion having different first and second widths, and the first antenna portion located between the substrate and the sidewall;

a thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar second antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber, opposite first and second ends of the second antenna portion having different first and second widths, and the second antenna portion located between the substrate and the outer sidewall with the respective first ends of the first and second antenna portions disposed in adjacent, spaced relation to one another; and

a chip having opposite first and second ends in operative electrical connection with the first and second antenna portions, respectively, and located between the outer sidewall and the substrate.

2. The tire of claim 1 wherein the first and second antenna portions each have a tapering portion between the first and second ends that extends over at least an axial extent thereof.

3. The tire of claim 2 wherein each tapering portion extends from the first end toward the second end over only a minor portion of the axial extent of each of the first and second antenna portions.

4. The tire of claim 1 wherein an outer perimeter of the first and second antenna portions are located inwardly from an outer perimeter of the substrate.

5. The tire of claim 1 further comprising a cover member formed of a non-conductive rubber and dimensioned to overlie the first and second antenna portions, the chip, and at least a portion of the substrate, the cover member located between the antenna portions and the sidewall.

6. The tire of claim 5 wherein each of the first and second antenna portions is located between the substrate and the cover member so that an entire perimeter of the first and second antenna portions is covered by both the substrate and the cover member.

7. The tire of claim 5 wherein the cover member extends over substantially an entirety of the substrate.

8. The tire of claim 1 wherein each antenna portion has a generally planar, elongated conformation of a minimal height dimension compared to length and width dimensions thereof, and the first and second antenna portions are disposed in end-to-end relation.

9. The tire of claim 8 wherein the first ends have a smaller width than the second ends of the first and second antenna portions, the first ends of the first and second antenna portions are located in adjacent, spaced relation, and the chip first and second ends operatively engaging the first ends of the first and second antenna portions, respectively.

10. The tire of claim 9 wherein the larger dimension second ends of the first and second antenna portions have a substantially constant width.

11. The tire of claim 1 wherein the first and second antenna portions together form a substantially bowtie conformation.

12. A radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly for a tire comprising:

a non-conductive rubber substrate;

a first antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber and secured to the substrate, the first antenna portion having a reduced dimension first region and a larger dimension second region;

a second antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber and secured to the substrate in spaced arrangement from the first antenna portion, the second antenna portion having a reduced dimension first region and a larger dimension second region; and

a chip having opposite first and second ends interconnecting with the first and second antenna portions, respectively.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion have substantially mirror image configurations.

14. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the chip first end is mechanically and electrically connected to the first region of the first antenna portion, and the chip second end is mechanically and electrically connected to the first region of the second antenna portion.

15. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a rubber cover member dimensioned to completely overlie the first and second antenna portions, and extend over substantially an entirety of the substrate.

16. The assembly of claim 12 wherein each antenna portion has a generally planar, elongated conformation of a minimal height dimension compared to length and width dimensions thereof, and the first and second antenna portions are disposed in end-to-end relation.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein each antenna portion is thin, flexible, substantially planar, and elongated.

18. A method of manufacturing a tire that includes a radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly comprising:

providing a tread portion spanning between inner and outer rubber sidewalls;

locating a radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly along an outer sidewall, including

providing a thin, flexible, substantially planar, elongated non-conductive rubber substrate;

providing a thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar first antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber, where opposite first and second ends of the first antenna portion have different first and second widths;

locating the first antenna portion between the substrate and the outer sidewall;

providing a thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar second antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber, where opposite first and second ends of the second antenna portion have different first and second widths;

locating the second antenna portion between the substrate and the outer sidewall with the respective first ends of the first and second antenna portions disposed in adjacent, spaced relation to one another;

mechanically and electrically connecting first and second ends of a chip with the first and second antenna portions, respectively; and

locating the chip between the outer sidewall and the substrate.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a cover member between the first and second antenna portions and the outer sidewall.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the antenna portion locating steps include orienting the first and second antenna portions so that the first ends thereof are the narrower of the different widths of the first and second ends.

21. A product comprising:

a radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly located along an outer sidewall of the product, the RFID assembly including;

a thin, flexible, substantially planar, elongated non-conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer substrate;

a thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar first antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer opposite first and second ends of the first antenna portion having different first and second widths, and the first antenna portion located between the substrate and the sidewall;

a thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar second antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer opposite first and second ends of the second antenna portion having different first and second widths, and the second antenna portion located between the substrate and the outer sidewall with the respective first ends of the first and second antenna portions disposed in adjacent, spaced relation to one another; and

a chip having opposite first and second ends in operative electrical connection with the first and second antenna portions, respectively, and located between the outer sidewall and the substrate.

22. The product of claim 21 wherein the first and second antenna portions each have a tapering portion between the first and second ends that extends over at least an axial extent thereof.

23. The product of claim 22 wherein each tapering portion extends from the first end toward the second end over only a minor portion of the axial extent of each of the first and second antenna portions.

24. The product of claim 21 wherein an outer perimeter of the first and second antenna portions are located inwardly from an outer perimeter of the substrate.

25. The product of claim 21 further comprising a cover member formed of a non-conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer and dimensioned to overlie the first and second antenna portions, the chip, and at least a portion of the substrate, the cover member located between the antenna portions and the sidewall.

26. The product of claim 25 wherein each of the first and second antenna portions is located between the substrate and the cover member so that an entire perimeter of the first and second antenna portions is covered by both the substrate and the cover member.

27. The product of claim 25 wherein the cover member extends over substantially an entirety of the substrate.

28. The product of claim 21 wherein each antenna portion has a generally planar, elongated conformation of a minimal height dimension compared to length and width dimensions thereof, and the first and second antenna portions are disposed in end-to-end relation.

29. The product of claim 28 wherein the first ends have a smaller width than the second ends of the first and second antenna portions, the first ends of the first and second antenna portions are located in adjacent, spaced relation, and the chip first and second ends operatively engaging the first ends of the first and second antenna portions, respectively.

30. The tire of claim 29 wherein the larger dimension second ends of the first and second antenna portions have a substantially constant width.

31. The tire of claim 30 wherein the first and second antenna portions together form a substantially bowtie conformation.

32. A radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly for a product comprising:

a non-conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer substrate;

a first antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer and secured to the substrate, the first antenna portion having a reduced dimension first region and a larger dimension second region;

a second antenna portion formed at least in part of a conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer and secured to the substrate in spaced arrangement from the first antenna portion, the second antenna portion having a reduced dimension first region and a larger dimension second region; and

a chip having opposite first and second ends interconnecting with the first and second antenna portions, respectively.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion have substantially mirror image configurations.

34. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the chip first end is mechanically and electrically connected to the first region of the first antenna portion, and the chip second end is mechanically and electrically connected to the first region of the second antenna portion.

35. The assembly of claim 32 further comprising a rubber, elastomer, or polymer cover member dimensioned to completely overlie the first and second antenna portions, and formed from substantially the same material as the substrate and extending over substantially an entirety of the substrate.

36. The assembly of claim 32 wherein each antenna portion has a generally planar, elongated conformation of a minimal height dimension compared to length and width dimensions thereof, and the first and second antenna portions are disposed in end-to-end relation.

37. The assembly of claim 36 wherein each antenna portion is thin, flexible, substantially planar, and elongated.

38. A method of manufacturing a product that includes a radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly comprising:

locating a radio frequency identification device (RFID) assembly along an outer sidewall of the product, including

providing a thin, flexible, substantially planar, elongated non-conductive rubber, elastomer, or polymer substrate;

providing a thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar first antenna portion formed at least in part of the same conductive rubber, plastic, or elastomer where opposite first and second ends of the first antenna portion have different first and second widths;

locating the first antenna portion between the substrate and the outer sidewall;

providing a thin, flexible, elongated, substantially planar second antenna portion formed at least in part of the same conductive rubber, plastic, or elastomer where opposite first and second ends of the second antenna portion have different first and second widths;

locating the second antenna portion between the substrate and the outer sidewall with the respective first ends of the first and second antenna portions disposed in adjacent, spaced relation to one another;

mechanically and electrically connecting first and second ends of a chip with the first and second antenna portions, respectively; and

locating the chip between the outer sidewall and the substrate.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising providing a cover member between the first and second antenna portions and the outer sidewall.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the antenna portion locating steps include orienting the first and second antenna portions so that the first ends thereof are the narrower of the different widths of the first and second ends.