Tire having radio frequency identification device for monitoring structural health

• US 10,460,226 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Wei, Terence E., Wilson, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhat, Aditya S
• Application Number:
  US15/538,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20170357887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/243 Tread wear sensors, e.g. electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/246 Tread wear monitoring systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/004 Tyre sensors other than for detecting tyre pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/007 triggered by sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• 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: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle

Abstract

A tire includes a plurality of tire components defining a plurality of layers. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is disposed between at least two of the plurality of layers. The RFID tag is in contact with each of the at least two layers and is configured to transmit a response signal in response to receiving a request signal. When no air is in a region surrounding the RFID tag, a first response signal is emitted from the tire at a first frequency and first power. However, when air is in the region surrounding the RFID tag, a second response signal is emitted from the tire at the first frequency and a second power different from the first power.

Claims

1. A tire structural health monitoring assembly comprising:

a tire having a plurality of components including;

a pair of annular beads,

a body ply extending between the annular beads,

a circumferential belt disposed above the body ply and extending axially across a portion of the body ply,

a circumferential tread disposed above the circumferential belt,

a pair of shoulders extending from opposite sides of the circumferential tread, and

a pair of sidewalls, each sidewall extending between one of the annular beads and one of the shoulders;

at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed between two components of the tire, wherein the RFID tag is in contact with each of the two components; and

an RFID reader configured to receive a response signal from the RFID tag,

wherein, when no air is present in a region surrounding the RFID tag, the RFID reader receives a response signal at a first frequency and a first power level, and

wherein, when air is present in the region surrounding the RFID tag, the RFID reader receives a response signal at the first frequency and a second power level different from the first power level; and

a processor configured to identify the power level of a response signal received by the RFID reader at the first frequency, and further configured to transmit a notification when the power level of the response signal is outside a pre-determined range.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

when no air is present in the region surrounding the RFID tag, the RFID reader receives a response signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency and a third power level, and

when air is present in the region surrounding the RFID tag, the RFID reader receives a response signal at the second frequency and a fourth power level different from the third power level.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the processor is part of the RFID reader.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the processor is spaced from the RFID reader.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the tire is mounted to a vehicle and the RFID reader is mounted to the vehicle proximate to the tire.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is a handheld device.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is mounted to a stationary object.

8. A tire comprising:

a plurality of tire components defining a plurality of layers;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed between at least two of the plurality of layers,

wherein the RFID tag is in contact with each of the at least two layers, and

wherein the RFID tag is configured to transmit a response signal in response to receiving a request signal, such that when no air is in a region surrounding the RFID tag, a first response signal is emitted from the tire at a first frequency and first power, and such that when air is in the region surrounding the RFID tag, a second response signal is emitted from the tire at the first frequency and a second power different from the first power.

9. The tire of claim 8, wherein the RFID tag includes a plurality of RFID tags at different locations.

10. The tire of claim 8, wherein the RFID tag is disposed between a first belt and a second belt.

11. The tire of claim 8, wherein the RFID tag is disposed between a belt and a body ply.

12. The tire of claim 8, wherein the RFID tag is disposed between a retread and a carcass.

13. The tire of claim 8, wherein when no air is in the region surrounding the RFID tag, a third response signal is emitted from the tire at a second frequency and a third power, and wherein when air is in the region surrounding the RFID tag, a fourth response signal is emitted from the tire at the second frequency and a fourth power different from the third power.