Drive-over stand and antenna assembly

• US 9,183,423 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Batcho, Joseph Paul Sr., Fenkanyn, John Michael, Patel, Amrita, Orosa, Mario Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELLIS, SUEZU Y
• Application Number:
  US13/951,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 235/439, 235/451, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/539.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/933, 340/936, 340/941, 340/947, 340446-448, 731/46, 188/32, 410/30, 211/20, 211 22- 24, 254/88, 248/352, 14/695
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• 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 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres

Abstract

A drive over stand for a TAG reader has a lead-on ramped surface and an exit-off ramped surface aligned and operative to intercept and engage the vehicle tire as the vehicle tire traverses over the upper surface of the stand. One or more pockets are disposed within the stand base, each receiving an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly is positioned within the pocket of the base, seated at a tilt angle operative to direct a read field toward a vehicle approach path to the stand.

Claims

1. A stand and antenna assembly for receiving a data transmission from an electronic transmitting device mounted to a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one tire assembly including a tire, the stand and antenna assembly comprising:

a stand having a substantially convex upper surface, the upper surface comprising a lead-on ramped surface and an exit-off ramped surface aligned and operative to intercept and engage the vehicle tire as the vehicle tire traverses along a tire travel path between the lead-on ramped surface and the exit-off ramped surface over the upper surface of the stand, whereby slowing the rotational rate of the vehicle tire to a targeted reduced rotational read rate as the tire passes over the stand;

the stand further comprising a base having a first pocket disposed therein within a stand underside;

an approach antenna assembly within the first pocket of the base, the approach antenna assembly seated at an approach tilt angle within the first pocket operative to direct an approach read field toward a vehicle approach path to the stand;

the base further having a second pocket disposed within the stand underside;

an exit antenna assembly within the second pocket of the base, the exit antenna assembly seated at an exit tilt angle within the second pocket operative to direct an exit read field toward a vehicle exit path from the stand;

the base further having a third pocket disposed within the stand underside between the first and the second pockets;

a middle antenna assembly seated within the third pocket and directing a middle read field toward an intermediary region of the upper surface disposed between the lead-on ramped surface and the exit-off ramped surface of the stand upper surface; and

wherein the approach read field, the exit read field and the middle read field are aligned along the tire travel path operable to sequentially read the data transmission from the vehicle electronic device.

2. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the intermediary region comprises a V-shaped channel extending transversely across the stand, the V-shaped channel defined by converging ramped surfaces;

the middle antenna assembly directing a read field toward the converging ramped surfaces of the V-shaped channel.

3. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the approach antenna assembly, the exit antenna assembly, and the middle antenna assembly are directed at respective angles toward mutually differentiated regions of the stand upper surface.

4. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 3, wherein the approach antenna assembly and exit antenna assembly are tilted at an acute angle between 13 to 15 degrees with respect to a bottom plane of the stand base.

5. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pocket is defined by an angled floor surface supporting the approach antenna assembly.

6. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the stand comprises a modular array of a plurality of stand components mutually connected together along stand component surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular to the tire travel path.

7. A stand and antenna assembly for receiving a data transmission from an electronic transmitting device mounted to a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one tire assembly including a tire, the stand and antenna assembly comprising:

a stand having an upper surface comprising a forward lead-on ramped surface and a rearward exit-off ramped surface aligned and operative to intercept and engage the vehicle tire as the vehicle tire traverses over the upper surface of the stand, whereby slowing the rotational rate of the vehicle tire to a targeted reduced rotational read rate as the tire passes along a tire travel path over the stand;

the stand further comprising a first pocket and a second pocket disposed within an underside of a base;

an approach antenna assembly and an exit antenna assembly seated respectively within the first and the second pockets at a respective first and a respective second tilt angle;

the approach antenna assembly aiming a directional first read field toward a vehicle approach path to the stand and the exit antenna assembly aiming a directional second read field toward a vehicle exit path from the stand; and

wherein the base comprising a first base component supporting the lead-on ramped surface and housing the first pocket and a second base component supporting the exit-off ramped surface and housing the second pocket, and wherein the first base component and the second base component are interlocked along component surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular to the tire travel path.

8. The antenna and stand assembly of claim 7, wherein the approach antenna assembly and the exit antenna assembly each comprise a planar panel body, a plane of the planar panel body tilting at a prescribed tilt angle toward the vehicle approach path and the vehicle exit path, respectively.

9. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 8, wherein the stand comprises a third pocket disposed within the base between the first pocket and the second pocket;

and a middle antenna assembly seated within the third pocket and aiming a directional middle read field toward an intermediary region of the upper surface disposed between the lead-on ramped surface and the exit-off ramped surface of the stand upper surface; and

wherein the approach read field, the exit read field and the middle read field are aligned along the tire travel path operable to sequentially read the data transmission from the vehicle electronic device.

10. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 9, wherein the intermediary region comprises a V-shaped channel extending transversely across the stand, the V-shaped channel defined by converging ramped surfaces;

wherein the middle antenna assembly directs a directional read field toward a selected converging ramped surface of the V-shaped channel.

11. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 10, wherein the approach antenna assembly, the exit antenna assembly, and the middle antenna assembly each comprise a planar panel body directed at respective angles toward the stand upper surface.

12. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein the approach antenna assembly and the exit antenna assembly each are tilted at an acute angle between 13 to 15 degrees with respect to a bottom plane of the stand base.

13. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 12, wherein the first pocket and the second pocket each are defined by an angled floor surface supporting the approach antenna assembly and the exit antenna assembly, respectively.

14. The stand and antenna assembly of claim 7, wherein the stand comprises a modular array of a plurality of stand components, each component housing a respective pocket and antenna assembly, the array of stand components mutually connected together, wherein a width of the modular array having a width dimension at least as great as a circumference of a vehicle tire.