Monitoring device and tire combination

• US 20050237170A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Russell W., Wilson, Paul B., Trew, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,132,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/447
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0072 Attaching fasteners to tyres, e.g. patches, in order to connect devices to tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0077 Directly attaching monitoring devices to tyres before or after vulcanization, e.g. microchips
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• 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 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

The invention provides a monitoring device and tire combination wherein an antenna is mounted to the tire in a location spaced from the monitoring device. In one embodiment, the antenna may be mounted to the tire sidewall outside the body cords of the tire. The antenna may be mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall or embedded within the body of the sidewall. The antenna is connected to the monitoring device with a connector. The connector may be electrically coupled to the monitoring device or may be connected to the monitoring device with a plug and socket connection. When the antenna is outside the body cord, the connector may extend from the antenna through the bead filler, over the top of the turn up, or under the bead ring.

Claims

1. A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner, the combination comprising:

a monitoring device having at least one sensor and an antenna electrically connected to the monitoring device;

the antenna adapted to transmit signals from the monitoring device and receive signals transmitted to the monitoring device;

the sensor being adapted to sense at least one engineering condition of the pneumatic tire;

a patch;

the entire antenna being carried by the patch, the patch adapted to mount on the innerliner of the tire; and

the antenna being in electrical communication with the monitoring assembly through close proximity electromagnetic coupling.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the antenna is embedded within the patch.

3. The combination of claim 1, further comprising an attachment patch, the monitoring device mounted on the attachment patch and the attachment patch being mounted on the patch carrying the antenna.

4. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a first coupling element electrically connected to the monitoring device and a second coupling element electrically connected to the antenna;

the first and second coupling elements being aligned and spaced apart to provide the close proximity electromagnetic coupling.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the first and second coupling elements are coils.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the first and second coupling elements are pads.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the patch includes a foot portion that extends away from the monitoring device, a portion of the antenna being carried by the patch at the foot portion.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is encapsulated by an encapsulation material to form an encapsulated monitoring device;

the encapsulated monitoring device having a bottom surface.

9. The combination of claim 8, further comprising a first coupling element electrically connected to the monitoring device and a second coupling element electrically connected to the antenna;

the first and second coupling elements being aligned and spaced apart to provide the close proximity electromagnetic coupling.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the first coupling element is encapsulated by the encapsulation material.

11. A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner, the combination comprising:

a monitoring device having at least one sensing element and an antenna electrically connected to the monitoring device;

a patch adapted to mount on the innerliner of the tire;

the antenna being carried by the patch, the antenna adapted to transmit a signal from the patch;

a first coupling element electrically connected to the monitoring device and a second coupling element electrically connected to the antenna;

the first and second coupling elements being aligned and spaced apart to provide the close proximity electromagnetic coupling; and

the second coupling element being disposed on only a single side of the monitoring device.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the first and second coupling elements are coils.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein the first and second coupling elements are pads.

14. The combination of claim 11, wherein the patch includes a foot portion that extends away from the monitoring device, a portion of the antenna being carried by the patch at the foot portion.

15. The combination of claim 11, wherein the monitoring device is encapsulated by an encapsulation material to form a rigid encapsulated monitoring device;

the encapsulated monitoring device having a bottom surface;

the first coupling element being encapsulated and disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the encapsulated monitoring device.

16. A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner, the combination comprising:

a monitoring device having at least one sensor and an antenna electrically connected to the monitoring device;

the sensor being adapted to sense at least one engineering condition of the pneumatic tire;

a patch adapted to mount on the innerliner of the tire;

at least a major portion of the antenna being carried by the patch;

the portion of the antenna carried by the patch being adapted to transmit signals from the monitoring device and receive signals transmitted to the monitoring device; and

the antenna being in electrical communication with the monitoring assembly through close proximity electromagnetic coupling.

17. The combination of claim 16, further comprising an attachment patch, the monitoring device mounted on the attachment patch and the attachment patch being mounted on the patch carrying the antenna.

18. The combination of claim 16, further comprising a first coupling element electrically connected to the monitoring device and a second coupling element electrically connected to the antenna;

the first and second coupling elements being aligned and spaced apart to provide the close proximity electromagnetic coupling.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the first and second coupling elements are coils.

20. The combination of claim 18, wherein the first and second coupling elements are pads.