Wave antenna wireless communication device and method

• US 7,093,345 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian James, Horrell, Peter Robert George, Pfeiffer, Michael J., King, Patrick F.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US11/053,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20050193549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 343/793, 343/795, 343/806, 343/895, 296/00, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 731/465
• US Class Current: 29/600
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• 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: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07728 the record carrier comprising means for protection against impact or bending, e.g. protective shells or stress-absorbing layers around the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• 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 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/26 with folded element or elements, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of operating wavelength resonant loop antennas H01Q7/00
• 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: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that provides greater increased durability and impedance matching. The wave antenna is a conductor that is curved in alternating sections. The wireless communication device is coupled to the wave antenna to provide wireless communication. The wireless communication device and wave antenna may be placed on objects, goods, or other articles of manufacture that are subject to forces such that the wave antenna may be stretched or compressed during the manufacture and/or use of such object, good or article of manufacture. The wave antenna, because of its curved structure, is capable of stretching and compressing more easily than other structures, reducing the wireless communication device'"'"'s susceptibility to damage or breakage that might render the wireless communication device coupled to the wave antenna unable to properly communicate information wirelessly.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a sinusoidal-shaped wave antenna, comprising:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having a sinusoidal-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other, wherein said sinusoidal-shaped peripheries of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate; and

placing alternating curves in said conducting material when said conducting material is passed through said first and said second cogs.

2. A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device that is coupled to a sinusoidal-shaped wave antenna, comprising:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having a sinusoidal-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other, wherein said sinusoidal-shaped peripheries of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate;

placing alternating curves in said conducting material when said conducting material passes through said first and second cogs to form a conducting material having a plurality of peaks separated by valleys; and

electrically connecting a wireless communication device across opposing sides of one of said plurality of peaks.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrically connecting the wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising tinning each side of said one of said plurality of peaks before said soldering.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas;

cleaning sway excess solder; and

removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks;

wherein said re-flow soldering, cleaning away, and removing a short are performed after said soldering.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrically connecting the wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas after said soldering.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said electrically connecting the wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising cleaning away excess solder after said soldering.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising encapsulating said wireless communication device after said wireless communication device has been electrically connected to said one of said plurality of peaks.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising electrically connecting multiple wireless communication devices to said conducting material, each said wireless communication device being individually connected across the sides of a peak in said conducting material.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising winding said conducting material with said wireless communication devices attached thereto onto a reel.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising cutting said conducting material between said wireless communication devices to separate the wireless communication devices.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising attaching said wireless communication device to a tire.

13. A method of manufacturing a semicircle-shaped wave antenna, comprising

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having a semicircle-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other wherein said semicircle-shaped peripheries of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate;

and

placing alternating curves in said conducting material when said conducting material is passed through said first and second cogs.

14. A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device that is coupled to a semicircle-shaped wave antenna, comprising:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having a semicircle-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other wherein said semicircle-shaped peripheries of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate;

placing alternating curves in said conducting material when said conducting material passes through said first and second cogs to form a conducting material having a plurality of peaks separated by valleys; and

electrically connecting a wireless communication device across opposing sides of one of said plurality of peaks.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said electrically connecting the wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising tinning each side of said one of said plurality of peaks before said soldering.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

reflow-soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas;

cleaning away excess solder; and

removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks;

wherein said re-flow soldering, cleaning away, and removing a short are performed after said soldering.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said electrically connecting the wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas after said soldering.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said electrically connecting the wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising cleaning away excess solder after said soldering.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising encapsulating said wireless communication device after said wireless communication device has been electrically connected to said one of said plurality of peaks.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising electrically connecting multiple wireless communication devices to said conducting material, each said wireless communication device being individually connected across the sides of a peak in said conducting material.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising winding said conducting material with said wireless communication devices attached thereto onto a reel.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising cutting said conducting material between said wireless communication devices to separate the wireless communication devices.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching said wireless communication device to a tire.