SMART TAG ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING ON AN OBJECT TO BE TRACKED

• US 20160375733A1
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iTire, LLC
• Original Assignee: iTire, LLC
• Inventors: Lesesky, Alan C., Drinkard, Samuel Duke
• Application Number:
  US14/646,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375733A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/004 Tyre sensors other than for detecting tyre pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0483 Wireless routers between wheel mounted transmitters and chassis mounted receivers
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0488 Movement sensor, e.g. for sensing angular speed, acceleration or centripetal force
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04985 using straps surrounding the rims
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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

Abstract

A smart tag assembly is designed for mounting on an object to be tracked. The smart tag assembly comprises a multiple layer RFID laminate adapted for electronically storing and processing data, and wireless communicating data when interrogated by an RFID reader. The laminate comprises an RFID inlay including a microchip and antenna formed with a substrate, and laminated between an outside label cover and backing. A low-profile tag carrier defines a recessed pocket designed for receiving and holding the RFID laminate.

Claims

1. A smart tag assembly designed for mounting on an object to be tracked, said smart tag assembly comprising:

a multiple layer RFID laminate adapted for electronically storing and processing data and wireless communicating data when interrogated by an RFID reader, said laminate comprising an RFID inlay including a microchip and antenna formed with a substrate and laminated between an outside label cover and backing; and

a low-profile tag carrier defining a recessed pocket designed for receiving and holding said RFID laminate.

2. The smart tag assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tag carrier is constructed of a generally flexible elastomeric material.

3. The smart tag assembly according to claim 2, wherein said elastomeric material comprises a natural rubber.

4. The smart tag assembly according to claim 3, wherein said natural rubber has a hardness of between about 50-80 durometer.

5. The smart tag assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tag carrier is substantially disk shaped.

6. The smart tag assembly according to claim 5, wherein said tag carrier comprises an inwardly extending peripheral lip surrounding said recessed pocket and adapted for retaining and protecting said RFID laminate.

7. The smart tag assembly according to claim 6, wherein said peripheral lip comprises a plurality of equally-spaced arcuate sections defining respective chamfered top edges.

8. The smart tag assembly according to claim 5, wherein said tag carrier comprises a continuous rounded outside peripheral edge.

9. The smart tag assembly according to claim 5, wherein said tag carrier has a height dimension less than 0.25 inches and an outside diameter less than 2.0 inches.

10. The smart tag assembly according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of tag carrier is textured to a depth ranging from about 0.00100 and 0.00600.

11. The smart tag assembly according to claim 1, wherein an inside surface of said recessed pocket is textured to a depth ranging from about 0.00100 and 0.00600.

12. The smart tag assembly according to claim 1, wherein an exposed surface of said label cover comprises at least one part identification code.

13. The smart tag assembly according to claim 1, and comprising a spacer attached to a bottom surface of said tag carrier, and adapted for spacing said RFID laminate from the object.

14. The smart tag assembly according to claim 1, wherein said RFID laminate further comprises at least one spacer ring surrounding said RFID inlay and substrate, and laminated between said outside label cover and backing.

15. In combination with a pneumatic vehicle tire adapted for mounting on a wheel hub, a smart tag assembly affixed to said vehicle tire and comprising:

a multiple layer RFID laminate adapted for electronically storing and processing data and wireless communicating data when interrogated by an RFID reader, said laminate comprising an RFID inlay including a microchip and antenna formed with a substrate and laminated between an outside label cover and backing; and

a low-profile tag carrier defining a recessed pocket designed for receiving and holding said RFID laminate.

16. The combination according to claim 15, and comprising indicia located on an exposed surface of said label cover and applicable for orienting said smart tag assembly relative to a center of the wheel hub.

17. The combination according to claim 15, wherein said tag carrier is substantially disk shaped.

18. The combination according to claim 17, wherein said tag carrier comprises an inwardly extending peripheral lip surrounding said recessed pocket and adapted for retaining and protecting said RFID laminate.

19. The combination assembly according to claim 18, wherein said peripheral lip comprises a plurality of equally-spaced arcuate sections defining respective chamfered top edges.

20. In combination with a metal vehicle part, an RFID tag assembly affixed to said vehicle part and comprising:

a multiple layer RFID laminate adapted for electronically storing and processing data and wireless communicating data when interrogated by an RFID reader, said laminate comprising an RFID inlay including a microchip and antenna formed with a substrate and laminated between an outside label cover and backing;

a low-profile tag carrier defining a recessed pocket designed for receiving and holding said RFID laminate; and

a spacer attached to a bottom surface of said tag carrier, and spacing said RFID laminate from said metal vehicle part.