Wave antenna wireless communication device and method

• US 7,420,520 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• 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 J., Terranova, Steven N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US11/468,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 343/752, 343/793, 343/796, 343/806, 343/828, 343/829, 343/830, 343/843, 343/846, 343/848, 343/867, 343/893, 343/895, 343/899, 343/908
• US Class Current: 343/806
• 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 19/07749 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 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• 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 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: 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 may be in the form of a polygonal, elliptical curve and/or coil shape. 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. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one polygonal-shaped antenna having a plurality of sections joined together in a series by a plurality of bends in the antenna, wherein the plurality of sections are configured to touch each other when the antenna is not stretched; and

a wireless communication device communicatively coupled to the antenna.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna is configured to effectively function as a pole antenna when the plurality of sections are touching each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna is comprised of two antennas and the wireless communication device is communicatively coupled to the two antennas, each antenna having a plurality of sections joined together in a series by one or more bends in the antenna, and wherein the plurality of sections of each antenna are configured to touch each other when the antenna is not stretched.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the two antennas are configured to effectively act as a dipole antenna without a plurality of sections when the plurality of sections are touching each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least two sections of the plurality of sections have a different length that operate at different operating frequencies and the wireless communication device is configured to operate at the different operating frequencies.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a resonating ring coupled to the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to operate at a first operating frequency and the resonating ring is configured to operate at a second operating frequency.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the resonating ring is reactively coupled to the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the resonating ring is configured to relieve mechanical stress from a force placed on the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the resonating ring is further configured to absorb at least part of the force that would otherwise decouple the antenna from the wireless communication device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna is looped around the resonating ring.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna is formed of a series of alternating bends in a substantially straight conductor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna includes a coil-shaped antenna.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one polygonal-shaped antenna includes an elliptical curve-shaped antenna.

14. A method of forming an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

bending a conductor at a plurality of locations to form a polygonal-shaped antenna comprised of at least two different sections, wherein the sections of the antenna are configured to touch each other when the antenna is compressed; and

coupling a wireless communication device to the antenna.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising bending the conductor at two or more locations at different angles.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising coupling a resonating ring to the polygonal-shaped antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to operate at a first operating frequency and the resonating ring is configured to operate at a second operating frequency.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the resonating ring is reactively coupled to the antenna.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising looping the conductor around the resonating ring to limit communication of a mechanical force on the antenna to the wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising bending the conductor to form at least one section of the polygonal-shaped antenna having a length that is different than another section of the antenna, such that the different sections of the antenna operate at different frequencies.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

bending a second conductor at a plurality of locations to form a second polygonal-shaped antenna comprised of at least two different sections, wherein the sections of the second antenna are configured to touch each other when the antenna is compressed; and

coupling the wireless communication device to the second antenna.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising compressing the polygonal-shaped antennas so they effectively operate as a dipole antenna without different sections.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless communication component; and

a polygonal-shaped wave antenna communicatively coupled to the wireless communication component,

wherein the wave antenna includes at least two different sections joined contiguously in a series, wherein each of the contiguous sections of the antenna is configured of a polygonally shaped conductor that is bent at an angle such that the sections touch each other when the antenna is not stretched, and wherein an operating frequency of the wave antenna is configured to be adjusted by stretching the wave antenna to change an electromagnetic coupling between the sections.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the polygonal-shaped wave antenna is formed of a series of alternating bends in a substantially straight conductor.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one alternating bend in the polygonal-shaped wave antenna is made at a different angle than another alternating bend in the antenna.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one bend is made at an angle of less than 180 degrees and another bend is made at an angle of 180 degrees.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the wave antenna, when in a compressed state, effectively acts as a pole antenna without different sections.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a small amount of stretching produces a large change in the operating frequency of the wave antenna.

28. A method of forming an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

bending a conductor at a plurality of locations to form a polygonal-shaped wave antenna comprised of sections joined in a series, wherein each of the sections of the polygonal-shaped wave antenna are bent at an angle to touch each other when the wave antenna is not stretched;

coupling the polygonal-shaped wave antenna to a wireless communication component; and

adjusting an operating frequency of the wave antenna by stretching the polygonal-shaped wave antenna to adjust an electromagnetic coupling between the sections.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising making a series of alternating bends in a substantially straight conductor to form the polygonal-shaped wave antenna.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising operating the polygonal-shaped wave antenna as a pole antenna without sections when the sections of the antenna are touching each other.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising coupling a resonating ring to the polygonal-shaped wave antenna, wherein the wave antenna is configured to operate at a first operating frequency and the resonating ring is configured to operate at a second operating frequency.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the resonating ring is reactively coupled to the polygonal-shaped wave antenna.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising looping the conductor around the resonating ring to limit communication of a mechanical force on the wave antenna to the wireless communication component.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising bending the conductor to form at least one section of the polygonal-shaped wave antenna having a length that is different than another section of the wave antenna, such that the different sections of the wave antenna operate at different frequencies.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the wave antenna is a first polygonal-shaped wave antenna, the method further comprising:

bending a second conductor at a plurality of locations to form a second polygonal-shaped wave antenna comprised of sections joined in a series, wherein each of the sections of the second wave antenna are bent at an angle to touch each other when the second wave antenna is not stretched;

coupling the second polygonal-shaped wave antenna to the wireless communication component; and

adjusting an operating frequency of the second wave antenna by stretching the second polygonal-shaped wave antenna to adjust an electromagnetic coupling between the sections of the second wave antenna.

36. The method of claim 35, comprising making a series of alternating bends in a substantially straight conductor to form the second polygonal-shaped wave antenna.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising operating the first wave antenna and the second wave antenna as a dipole antenna when the sections of the first and second wave antenna are touching each other.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising coupling a resonating ring to the first and second polygonal-shaped wave antennas, wherein the first and second wave antennas are configured to operate at a first operating frequency and the resonating ring is configured to operate at a second operating frequency.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the resonating ring is reactively coupled to the first and second polygonal-shaped wave antennas.

40. An apparatus, comprising:

means for bending a conductor at a plurality of locations to form a polygonal-shaped antenna comprised of a plurality of sections joined together in a series, wherein the sections of the antenna are configured to touch each other when the antenna is not stretched; and

means for communicatively coupling the antenna to a wireless communication device.

41. An apparatus, comprising:

means for forming a polygonal-shaped wave antenna that includes at least two different sections joined contiguously in a series, wherein the contiguous sections of the antenna are formed of a conductor that is bent at a plurality of angles such that the sections touch each other when the antenna is not stretched, and wherein an operating frequency of the wave antenna is configured to be adjusted by stretching the wave antenna to change an electromagnetic coupling between the sections.