Wireless communication device having conductive elements antenna

• US 7,843,393 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2009
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• 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): Owens; Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, DIEU HIEN
• Application Number:
  US12/489,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20090256768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/795, 343/823
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• 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 for wirelessly communicating information, comprising:

a wireless communication component;

a first conductive element coupled to the wireless communication component;

a second conductive element; and

a moveable linking element configured to conductively couple the second conductive element to the first conductive element when a threshold force is applied to the first and second conductive elements;

wherein the wireless communication component is configured to operate at a first frequency defined by the first conductive element and at a second frequency defined by the first and second conductive elements when the moveable linking element conductively couples the first and second conductive elements.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first conductive element comprises a linked chain or a series of hollow conductive spheres.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second conductive element comprises a linked chain or a series of hollow conductive spheres.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to operate at the first frequency when a force less than the threshold force is applied to the first and second conductive elements.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first operating frequency is around 2.45 GHz and the second operating frequency is around 915 MHz.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third conductive element coupled to the wireless communication component;

a fourth conductive element; and

a second moveable linking element configured to conductively couple the fourth conductive element to the third conductive element when a second threshold force is applied to the third and fourth conductive elements;

wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to operate at a third frequency defined by the third conductive element and at a fourth frequency defined by the third and fourth conductive elements when the second moveable linking element conductively couples the third and fourth conductive elements.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first frequency is defined by the first and third conductive elements and the second frequency is defined by the second and fourth conductive elements when the first and second threshold forces are applied to the first and second moveable linking elements respectively.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third conductive element; and

a second moveable linking element configured to conductively couple the third conductive element to the second conductive element when a second threshold force is applied to the second and third conductive elements;

wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to operate at a third frequency defined by the first, second, and third conductive elements when the second threshold force is applied to the second moveable linking element.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the third conductive element comprises a linked chain or a series of hollow conductive spheres.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to operate at the second frequency when a force greater than the threshold force and less than the second threshold force is applied to the moveable linking element and the second moveable linking element respectively.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the third frequency is around 2.4193 GHz.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to communicate with an interrogation reader at the first, second, and third frequencies.

13. A method comprising:

coupling a first conductive element to a wireless communication component such that the wireless communication component is configured to operate at a first frequency defined by the first conductive element; and

coupling the first conductive element to a second conductive element using a moveable linking element such that the wireless communication component is configured to operate at a second frequency defined by the first and second conductive elements when a threshold force, applied to the first and second conductive elements, is sufficient for the moveable linking element to conductively couple the second conductive element to the first conductive element.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first conductive element comprises a linked chain or a series of hollow conductive spheres.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second conductive element comprises a linked chain or a series of hollow conductive spheres.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication component is further configured to operate at a first frequency defined by the first conductive element when a force less than the threshold force is applied to the first and second conductive elements.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first frequency is around 2.45 GHz and the second frequency is around 915 MHz.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

coupling a third conductive element to the wireless communication component; and

coupling a second moveable linking element to the third conductive element and to a fourth conductive element, wherein the second moveable linking element conductively couples the fourth conductive element to the third conductive element when a second threshold force, applied to the third and fourth conductive elements, is sufficient for the second moveable linking element to conductively couple the fourth conductive element to the third conductive element.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first frequency is defined by the first and third conductive elements.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second frequency is defined by the second and fourth conductive elements when the second threshold force is applied.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

coupling a third conductive element to the wireless communication component; and

coupling the third conductive element to the second conductive element using a second moveable linking element such that the wireless communication component is configured to operate at a third frequency defined by the first, second, and third conductive elements when a second threshold force is applied to the first, second, and third conductive elements, wherein the second threshold force causes the moveable linking element and the second movable linking element to form a conductive connection between the first, second, and third conductive elements.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the third conductive element comprises a linked chain or a series of hollow conductive spheres.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless communication component is configured to operate at the second frequency when a force greater than the threshold force and less than the second threshold force is applied to the moveable linking element and the second moveable linking element respectively.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the third frequency is around 2.4193 GHz.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

communicating with an interrogation reader at the first, second, and third frequencies.