Method of manufacturing an electronic device for a pneumatic tyre

• US 9,457,628 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA
• Original Assignee: Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Robert, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischer, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DYE, ROBERT C
• Application Number:
  US13/516,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20120305151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0077 Directly attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization, e.g. microchips
• 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: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An electronic device, which is intended to be incorporated into a tire, includes an electronic comprises, a conductor, and a support for the electronic component. The support and the conductor are joined together by a first part for attachment of the support and a second part for attachment of the conductor. A rigidifying casing of the device is overmoulded over at least the first part for attachment of the support and the second part for attachment of the conductor. At least one intermediate transition layer is at least partially overmoulded over the rigidifying casing.

Claims

1. An electronic device to be incorporated into a tyre, the electronic device comprising:

an electronic component;

a conductor;

a multi-section support for the electronic component, a first section of the multi-section support being in an open-circuit arrangement with a second section of the multi-section support, wherein the first section of the multi-section support and the conductor are joined together by a first part for attachment of the conductor to the multi-section support and a second part for attachment of the first part to the conductor, and wherein the first part and the second part are distinct from the multi-section support;

a rigidifying casing overmoulded over at least the first part and the second part; and

an intermediate transition layer at least partially overmoulded over the rigidifying casing.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rigidifying casing is fully overmoulded over the multi-section support and the electronic component.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic modulus of a material included in the rigidifying casing is greater than or equal to 1000 MPa.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a 10% elongation modulus of a material included in the intermediate transition layer is between 20 and 80 MPa.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an interface layer at least partially overmoulded over the intermediate transition layer.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein a 10% elongation modulus of a material included in the interface layer is below 10 MPa.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rigidifying casing includes a centering part used to center the device in an overmoulding cavity used for overmoulding the intermediate transition layer.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of intermediate transition layers.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein, of the plurality of intermediate transitions layers, a covering intermediate transition layer has a 10% elongation modulus higher than a 10% elongation modulus of a covered intermediate transition layer covered by the covering intermediate transition layer.

10. An electronic device to be incorporated into a tyre, the electronic device comprising:

an electronic component;

a conductor;

a support for the electronic component, wherein the support and the conductor are joined together by a first part for attachment of the conductor to the support and a second part for attachment of the first part to the conductor, and wherein the first part and the second part are distinct from the support;

a rigidifying casing overmoulded over at least the first part and the second part; and

an intermediate transition layer at least partially overmoulded over the rigidifying casing,

wherein the rigidifying casing includes a protector arranged to protect the conductor, the protector including two lugs arranged in an overall V-shape on each side of the first and second parts for attachment of the conductor to the support.

11. A method of manufacturing an electronic device to be incorporated into a tyre, the electronic device including an electronic component, a conductor, and a multi-section support for the electronic component, a first section of the multi-section support being in an open-circuit arrangement with a second section of the multi-section support, wherein the first section of the multi-section support and the conductor are joined together by a first part for attachment of the conductor to the multi-section support and a second part for attachment of the first part to the conductor, and wherein the first part and the second part are distinct from the multi-section support, the method comprising steps of:

overmoulding at least the first part and the second part with a rigidifying casing, the electronic component being supported by the multi-section support, wherein the rigidifying casing includes a protector to protect at least a portion of the conductor, and wherein the protector includes two lugs arranged on each side of the first and second parts; and

,

after the step of overmoulding with the rigidifying casing, overmoulding the rigidifying casing at least partially with an intermediate transition layer.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of, after the step of overmoulding with the intermediate transition layer, overmoulding the intermediate transition layer at least partially with an interface layer.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising steps of:

attaching the electronic component to the multi-section support, which is secured to a precursor of the multi-section support;

attaching the conductor to the multi-section support, which is secured to the precursor of the multi-section support such that the conductor and the electronic component are electrically connected via the precursor of the multi-section support; and

separating the multi-section support from the precursor of the multi-section support such that the conductor and the electronic component are electrically connected via the multi-section support.

14. A tyre comprising an electronic device, the electronic device including:

an electronic component;

a conductor;

a multi-section support for the electronic component, a first section of the multi-section support being in an open-circuit arrangement with a second section of the multi-section support, wherein the multi-section support and the conductor are joined together by a first part for attachment of the conductor to the multi-section support and a second part for attachment of the first part to the conductor, and wherein the first part and the second part are distinct from the multi-section support;

a rigidifying casing overmoulded over at least the first part and the second part; and

an intermediate transition layer at least partially overmoulded over the rigidifying casing.

15. The tyre according to claim 14, further comprising a rubber portion in which the electronic device is embedded,

wherein the electronic device further includes an interface layer at least partially overmoulded over the intermediate transition layer, and

wherein a 10% elongation modulus of a material included in the interface layer is less than or equal to a 10% elongation modulus of a rubber of the rubber portion in which the electronic device is embedded.