Wireless communication device having conductive elements antenna

• US 7,239,287 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thuy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong; Dieu Hien
• Application Number:
  US10/422,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 343/793, 343/795, 343/711, 343/717, 343/873, 343/702
• US Class Current: 343/795
• 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: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13613 the semiconductor element being formed on a first substrate and thereafter transferred to the final cell substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• 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 19/07764 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 9/28 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

Abstract

An antenna coupled to a wireless communication device that is comprised of a series of conductive elements that form a conductor when placed under a force. The conductor is coupled to a wireless communication device to provide an antenna so that the wireless communication device is capable of communicating at an operating frequency defined by the length and construction of the conductor. The wireless communication device, through its communication using the conductor as an antenna, acts as an indicator of force to an interrogation reader when the wireless communication device is capable of communicating to the interrogation reader using the conductor as an antenna.

Claims

1. A device capable of wirelessly communicating information, comprising:

a wireless communication component; and

a series of conductive elements that couple together in a manner to form a conductor when said series of conductive elements is under a force,

wherein said series of conductive elements does not form a conductor unless said series of conductive elements is under said force, and

wherein at least one conductive element in said series of conductive elements is coupled to said wireless communication component to form an antenna for said component to wirelessly communicate information when said series of conductive elements forms said conductor under said force.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements is comprised of two different series of conductive elements coupled to said wireless communication component to form a dipole antenna.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements is flexible.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said force is comprised from the group consisting of a stretching force, a compression force, a rotation force, and an expansion force.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements is a link chain.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements is comprised of a plurality of hollow conductive spheres each having two orifices and a shaped link confining the distance between each of said plurality of hollow conductive spheres, wherein said shaped link has a narrow center and wider outer edges, wherein said wider outer edges are inside said orifices and are larger in diameter than said orifices so that said shaped link creates a conductive connection between said hollow conductive spheres when said plurality of hollow conductive spheres is stretched, and wherein said shaped link does not create said conductive connection between said hollow conductive spheres unless said plurality of hollow conductive spheres is stretched.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said plurality of hollow conductive spheres is placed inside a tire and said plurality of hollow conductive spheres forms a conductor when the pressure of said tire reaches a threshold pressure level, and wherein said plurality of conductive hollow conductive spheres does not form said conductor unless the pressure of said tire reaches said threshold pressure level.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said plurality of hollow conductive spheres is attached to an object that stretches said plurality of hollow conductive spheres to form a conductor when said object is above a threshold weight level, and wherein said plurality of hollow conductive spheres does not form said conductor unless said object is above said threshold weight level.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said plurality of hollow conductive spheres is attached to an air cargo pallet.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein said plurality of hollow conductive spheres are attached to an axle that stretches said plurality of hollow conductive spheres to form a conductor when said axle rotates above a threshold speed, and wherein said plurality of hollow conductive spheres does not form said conductor unless said axle rotates above said threshold speed.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said axle is on a vehicle.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements is placed inside a tire and said series of conductive elements forms a conductor when the pressure of said tire reaches a threshold pressure level, and wherein said series of conductive elements does not form said conductor unless the pressure of said tire reaches said threshold pressure level.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements are attached to an object that stretches said series of conductive elements to form a conductor when said object is above a threshold weight level, and wherein said series of conductive elements does not form said conductor unless said object is above said threshold weight level.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said series of conductive elements are attached to an air cargo pallet.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements are attached to an axle that stretches said series of conductive elements to form a conductor when said axle rotates above a threshold speed, and wherein said series of conductive elements does not form said conductor unless said axle rotates above said threshold speed.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said axle is on a vehicle.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tuning ring coupled to said series of conductive elements and coupled to said wireless communication component to reduce the strain on said wireless communication component caused by said series of conductive elements being placed under said force.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said tuning ring acts as an antenna apart from said series of conductive elements so that said wireless communication component is capable of operating at more than one frequency.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said tuning ring resonates at an operating frequency of around about 2.45 GHz, and said series of conductive elements resonates at an operating frequency of around about 915 MHz when under said force.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements contains one moveable link and forms a first conductor with a first operating frequency when said moveable link is not under said force, wherein said series of conductive elements forms a second conductor that is longer than said first conductor with a second operating frequency when said force is placed on said moveable link, and wherein said series of conductive elements does not form said second conductor unless said force is placed on said moveable link.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the length of said first conductor is around about 30.6 millimeters and the length of said second conductor is around about 51.4 millimeters.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said first conductor has an operating frequency of around about 2.45 GHz and the second conductor has an operating frequency of around about 915 MHz.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein said first conductor has an operating frequency of around about 2.45 GHz and the second conductor has an operating frequency of around about 915 MHz.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements contains two moveable links and forms a first conductor when a first force is applied to the first of said moveable links and a second conductor of a length greater than said first conductor when a second force is applied to the second of said moveable links so that said series of conductive elements has a frequency operating range between the operating frequency of said first conductor and said second conductor.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the length of said first conductor is around about 30 millimeters and the length of said second conductor is around about 31 millimeters.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said first conductor has an operating frequency of around about 2.4193 GHz and said second conductor has an operating frequency of around about 2.5 GHz.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein said first conductor has an operating frequency of around about 2.4193 GHz and said second conductor has an operating frequency of around about 2.5 GHz.

28. The device of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism adjacent to at least one conductive element in said series of conductive elements that locks said series of conductive elements to form a conductor when a threshold force is placed on said series of conductive elements, and wherein said locking mechanism does not lock said series of conductive elements to form said conductor unless said threshold force is placed on said series of conductive elements.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein said series of conductive elements is a link chain.

30. The device of claim 28, further comprising a conductor that is coupled in between said wireless communication component and said series of conductive elements to form an antenna having a first fixed length to operate at a first operating frequency when said series of conductive elements are unlocked and wherein said series of conductive elements form an antenna having a second length to operate at a second operating frequency when said series of conductive elements are locked.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said first operating frequency is around about 2.45 GHz and said second operating frequency is around about 915 MHz.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements are comprised of a material that expands in relation to temperature.

33. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements are coupled to a temperature sensitive material that expands in relation to temperature thereby causing said series of conductive elements to stretch in relation to temperature.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein said series of conductive elements contains two expansion points, wherein said series of conductive elements forms a first conductor with a first operating frequency at a first temperature and forms a second conductor that is longer in length than said first conductor with a second operating frequency at a second temperature.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the length of said first conductor is around about 30.6 millimeters and the length of said second conductor is around about 51.4 millimeters.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein said first conductor has an operating frequency of around about 2.45 GHz and the second conductor has an operating frequency of around about 915 MHz.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein said first conductor has an operating frequency of around about 2.45 GHz and the second conductor has an operating frequency of around about 915 MHz.

38. A wireless communication system for wirelessly communicating force information, comprising:

an interrogation reader that generates a radiating field to communicate the force information;

a wireless communication device; and

a series of conductive elements that couple together in a manner to form a conductor when said series of conductive elements is under a force, wherein said series of conductive elements does not form said conductor unless said series of conductive elements is under said force;

wherein at least one of said series of conductive elements is coupled to said wireless communication device to form an antenna for communicating with said interrogation reader when said series of conductive elements forms said conductor and when said series of conductive elements is in the range of said field.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said force is comprised from the group consisting of a stretching force, a compression force, a rotation force, and an expansion force.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein said series of conductive elements are coupled to a temperature sensitive material that expands in relation to temperature thereby causing said series of conductive elements to stretch in relation to temperature.

41. The system of claim 38, further comprising a reporting system that receives the force information from said interrogation reader after the force information is received by said interrogation reader from said wireless communication device.

42. The system of claim 38, further comprising a remote system that receives the force information from said reporting system after the force information is received by said interrogation reader.

43. The system of claim 38, further comprising a remote system that receives the force information from said interrogation reader after the force information is received by said interrogation reader from said wireless communication device.

44. A method of wirelessly communicating information, comprising the steps of:

placing a series of conductive elements that couple together under a force to form a conductor and does not form said conductor unless under said force; and

communicating information using said series of conductive elements as an antenna when said series of conductive elements is placed under said force to form said conductor.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said placing comprises placing said series of conductive elements that couple together under said force individually in a manner to form two conductors that form a dipole antenna.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein said placing comprises stretching said series of conductive elements that couple together in a manner to form a conductor.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein said placing comprises compressing said series of conductive elements that couple together in a manner to form a conductor.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein said placing comprises rotating said series of conductive elements that couple together in a manner to form a conductor.

49. The method of claim 44, further comprising placing said force on a tuning ring coupled to said series of conductive elements and to a wireless communication device to reduce the strain on said wireless communication device caused by said series of conductive elements being placed under said force.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising communicating at a first frequency using said tuning ring as a first antenna and communicating at a second frequency using said conductor formed by said series of conductive elements being coupled together under said force to form a second antenna.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein said placing further comprises placing said series of conductive elements that couple together under a first force to form a first conductor length capable of operating at a first frequency in a first mode of operation, and placing said series of conductive elements that couple together under a second force to form a second conductor length capable of operating at a second frequency in a second mode of operation.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said placing further comprises placing said first force on a first of said series of conductive elements and placing said second force on a second of said series of conductive elements that is located adjacent to said first of said series of conductive elements.

53. The method of claim 44, wherein said placing further comprises locking said series of conductive elements that couple together when placed under said force.

54. The method of claim 44, wherein said communicating information further comprises communicating at a first frequency using a conductor coupled between said series of conductive elements and a wireless communication device and communicating at a second frequency after locking said series of conductive elements coupled together when placed under said force.

55. The method of claim 44, wherein placing said series of conductive elements that couple together under said force to form said conductor comprises expanding said series of conductive elements coupled together that expand in relation to temperature to form said conductor.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said expanding further comprises attaching said series of conductive elements to a temperature sensitive material that expands in relation to temperature and thereby causes said series of conductive elements to stretch in relation to temperature.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein said expanding comprises expanding said series of conductive elements coupled together individually in a manner to form two conductors to form a dipole antenna.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein said expanding further comprises expanding said series of conductive elements that couple together under a first force to form a first conductor length capable of operating at a first frequency in a first mode of operation, and expanding said series of conductive elements that couple together under a second force to form a second conductor length capable of operating at a second frequency in a second mode of operation.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said expanding further comprises expanding a first of said series of conductive elements and expanding a second of said series of conductive elements that is located adjacent to said first of said series of conductive elements.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein said expanding further comprises locking said series of conductive elements coupled together when expanded.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein said communicating information further comprises:

communicating at a first frequency using a conductor coupled between a wireless communication device and said series of conductive elements, and

communicating at a second frequency after locking said series of conductive elements that couple together when expanded.

62. The method of claim 44, further comprising reporting the information that is communicated using said series of conductive elements to a reporting system.

63. The system of claim 62, further comprising reporting the force information received by said reporting system to a remote system.

64. The system of claim 44, further comprising reporting the information that is communicated using said series of conductive elements to a remote system.