Non-attached tire monitoring device

• US 6,966,221 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Hardman, Gordon E., Rensel, John D., Wilson, Paul B., Merat, Francis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/771,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/464, 731/465, 152/152.1, 340442-447
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• 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 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/083 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/08 Radiating ends of two-conductor microwave transmission lines, e.g. of coaxial lines, of microstrip lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A non-attached monitoring device includes monitoring assembly and an antenna configured to radiate signals from the monitoring assembly. The antenna is configured to radiate through the oriented attenuating body of the tire sidewall regardless of the position of the monitoring device with respect to the tire sidewall. In one embodiment, the antenna has a body that is looped back on itself. The body may be parallel to or perpendicular to the antenna ground plane. In another embodiment, a radiating slot antenna is configured to provide transmissions through the tire sidewall regardless of the position of the monitoring device.

Claims

1. A non-attached monitoring device for monitoring an engineering condition of a tire and transmitting data related to the engineering condition to a reader positioned outside of the tire;

the tire having a sidewall that is an oriented attenuating body for the monitoring device;

the oriented attenuating body having maximum and minimum attenuating levels;

the non-attached monitoring device being loosely disposed within the tire;

the monitoring device including a monitoring assembly and an antenna;

wherein the improvement comprises;

the antenna having an orientation that radiates a transmission pattern;

the transmission pattern having a portion that is attenuated by the oriented attenuating body of the tire sidewall at the minimum attenuating level regardless of the orientation of the monitoring device with respect to the tire sidewall.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes an antenna body that is looped back 180 degrees on itself.

3. The improvement of claim 2, wherein the monitoring assembly defines the ground plane of the antenna;

the body of the antenna being disposed in a reference plane that is perpendicular to the ground plane.

4. The improvement of claim 2, wherein the monitoring assembly defines the ground plane of the antenna;

the body of the antenna being disposed in a reference plane that is parallel to the ground plane.

5. The improvement of claim 2, wherein the monitoring assembly defines the ground plane of the antenna;

the body of the antenna being disposed in a reference plane that is disposed at an angle between zero and 90 degrees to the ground plane.

6. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes an antenna ground plane;

the body of the antenna being disposed in a reference plane that is perpendicular to the ground plane.

7. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes antenna ground plane;

the body of the antenna being disposed in a reference plane that is parallel to the ground plane.

8. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes antenna ground plane;

the body of the antenna being disposed in a reference plane that is disposed at an angle between zero and 90 degrees to the ground plane.

9. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the monitoring assembly and antenna are encapsulated within a rigid encapsulation layer.

10. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a pair of spaced, parallel conductive surfaces.

11. The improvement of claim 10, wherein the monitoring device has a body that defines an outer surface;

each of the conductive surfaces extending to the outer surface of the body of the monitoring device to define a slot.

12. The improvement of claim 10, wherein one of the conductive surfaces is electrically connected to the monitoring assembly.

13. The improvement of claim 12, wherein each of the conductive bodies is disc-shaped and has a center;

the monitoring assembly being electrically connected to the conductive body at the center of the conductive body.

14. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device has a body that defines an outer surface;

the antenna including a pair of spaced conductive bodies that extend to the outer surface of the body to define a slot.

15. The improvement of claim 14, wherein the slot has a serpentine pattern.

16. The improvement of claim 15, wherein one of the conductive surfaces is electrically connected to the monitoring assembly.

17. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes four spaced conductive bodies;

each of the four conductive bodies having first and second planar leg portions with curved outer edges;

the first planar leg portion being disposed perpendicular to the second planar leg portion.

18. The improvement of claim 17, wherein the monitoring assembly is electrically connected to two of the conductive bodies.