Tire sensor module and method for its manufacture

• US 8,248,225 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Buck, Thomas, Pannek, Thorsten, Scholz, Ulrike, Muchow, Joerg, Klett, Gustav, Knies, Sonja
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US12/227,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 340/447, 340/442, 296/01, 731/46
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A tire sensor module having a circuit carrier, on or in which at least one sensor element is attached for measuring a measured variable, an antenna for transmitting sensor signals to a receiving unit of the vehicle, and a housing, in whose housing inner chamber the circuit carrier is received, the antenna being provided in the housing material of the housing or on a housing side of the housing.

Claims

1. A tire sensor module, comprising:

a circuit carrier, on or in which at least one sensor element is attached for measuring a measured variable;

an antenna for transmitting sensor signals to a receiving unit of the vehicle; and

a housing, in whose housing inner chamber the circuit carrier is received, wherein the housing is configured to be rotationally symmetric and the antenna extends in a circumferential direction of the housing,

wherein at least a part of the housing is manufactured from a laser-activatable plastic and the antenna is provided at a housing side using a laser direct structuring process.

2. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein the antenna is provided on a housing interior side.

4. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein the antenna is an antenna metal layer.

5. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein the antenna is received as a metallic inlay part in the housing material of the housing.

6. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein the antenna is screw-like or helical, and hang wherein the antenna has multiple turns.

7. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein the antenna is in contact with the circuit carrier via at least one of (i) a conductive adhesive bond, (ii) a pressure contact, and (iii) a press-in or clamp connection between the circuit carrier and the housing.

9. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor element is provided on or in the circuit carrier for measuring at least one of the following measured variables of pressure, temperature, and acceleration.

10. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein the tire sensor triggers as a transponder, and the antenna is for receiving query signals and transmitting sensor signals produced from measured signals of the at least one sensor element.

11. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein the tire sensor is introduced into a rubber material of a tire, in an area of the running surface.

20. The tire sensor module of claim 1, wherein the antenna is provided in the housing material of the housing or on the housing side of the housing, and wherein the circuit carrier is connected to the antenna without contact via one of a capacitive and a inductive antenna connection.

3. A tire sensor module, comprising:

a circuit carrier, on or in which at least one sensor element is attached for measuring a measured variable;

an antenna for transmitting sensor signals to a receiving unit of the vehicle; and

a housing, in whose housing inner chamber the circuit carrier is received;

wherein the antenna is provided in the housing material of the housing or on a housing side of the housing, and

wherein at least a part of the housing is manufactured from a laser-activatable plastic and the antenna is provided on a housing side using a laser direct structuring process.

8. A tire sensor module, comprising:

a circuit carrier, on or in which at least one sensor element is attached for measuring a measured variable;

an antenna for transmitting sensor signals to a receiving unit of the vehicle; and

a housing, in whose housing inner chamber the circuit carrier is received;

wherein at least a part of the housing is manufactured from a laser-activatable plastic and the antenna is provided at a housing side using a laser direct structuring process, and

wherein the circuit carrier is connected to the antenna without contact via one of a capacitive and a inductive antenna connection.

12. A vehicle tire, comprising:

a tire sensor module, including;

a circuit carrier, on or in which at least one sensor element is attached for measuring a measured variable;

an antenna for transmitting sensor signals to a receiving unit of the vehicle; and

a housing, in whose housing inner chamber the circuit carrier is received;

wherein;

at least a part of the housing is manufactured from a laser-activatable plastic and the antenna is provided on a housing side using a laser direct structuring process,

the tire sensor module is vulcanized in a rubber material of the tire, in an area of its running surface, and

the housing is configured to be rotationally symmetric and the antenna extends in a circumferential direction of the housing.

21. The vehicle tire of claim 12, wherein the antenna is provided in the housing material of the housing or on the housing side of the housing, and wherein the circuit carrier is connected to the antenna without contact via one of a capacitive and a inductive antenna connection.

13. A method for manufacturing a tire sensor module, the method comprising:

providing an antenna for transmitting sensor signals;

manufacturing a housing or housing part, wherein at least a part of the housing is manufactured from a laser activatable plastic and the antenna is provided at a housing side using a laser direct structuring process; and

inserting a circuit carrier having at least one sensor element, for measuring a measured variable, into the housing or the housing part so that the antenna is in contact with the circuit carrier, wherein the housing is configured to be rotationally symmetric and the antenna extends in a circumferential direction of the housing.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the antenna is in contact with the circuit carrier via a conductive adhesive bond which is implemented between the circuit carrier and the housing.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the antenna is in contact with the circuit carrier via at least one of a clamp connection, a press-in connection, and a pressure contact connection between the circuit carrier and the housing.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the antenna is provided in the housing material of the housing or on the housing side of the housing, and wherein the circuit carrier is connected to the antenna without contact via one of a capacitive and a inductive antenna connection.

14. A method for manufacturing a tire sensor module, the method comprising:

providing an antenna for transmitting sensor signals;

manufacturing a housing or housing part, in whose housing material or on whose housing side the antenna is provided; and

inserting a circuit carrier having at least one sensor element, for measuring a measured variable, into the housing or the housing part so that the antenna is in contact with the circuit carrier;

wherein the manufacturing of the housing having antenna includes at least the following;

manufacturing the housing or housing part from a laser-activatable plastic;

exposing a housing side using a laser; and

applying the antenna as a metal layer in a wet-chemical manner onto the housing side.

15. A method for manufacturing a tire sensor module, the method comprising:

providing an antenna for transmitting sensor signals;

manufacturing a housing or housing part, in whose housing material or on whose housing side the antenna is provided; and

inserting a circuit carrier having at least one sensor element, for measuring a measured variable, into the housing or the housing part so that the antenna is in contact with the circuit carrier;

wherein the manufacturing of the housing having antenna includes at least the following;

inserting the antenna as a metallic inlay part in an injection molding die; and

extrusion coating a housing or housing part around the antenna.

18. A method for manufacturing a tire sensor module, the method comprising:

providing an antenna for transmitting sensor signals;

manufacturing a housing or housing part, in whose housing material or on whose housing side the antenna is provided; and

inserting a circuit carrier having at least one sensor element, for measuring a measured variable, into the housing or the housing part so that the antenna is in contact with the circuit carrier;

wherein the antenna is connected to the circuit carrier without contact, and

the antenna is provided at a housing side using a laser direct structuring process.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least a part of the housing is manufactured from a laser-activatable plastic.