Antenna for tire pressure monitoring wheel electronic device

• US 7,310,069 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nantz, John S., Tang, Qingfeng, King, Ronald O., Ghabra, Riad
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US11/160,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 343/711, 343/712, 343/713, 343/702, 343/700.MS, 731/465, 731/464, 340/442, 340/445
• US Class Current: 343/711
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• 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 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/326 the resonator being an acoustic wave device, e.g. SAW or BAW device
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 1/46 Modulators with mechanically-driven or acoustically-driven parts

Abstract

An antenna system for a tire pressure monitoring radio frequency (RF) electronic device that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a ground plane, and an active element. The PCB has a top surface and a bottom surface. The ground plane is on the bottom surface. The active element is mounted on the top surface. The active element includes a first segment positioned in a top surface plane and connected to a second segment oriented at an angle to the top surface.

Claims

1. An antenna system for a tire pressure monitoring radio frequency (RF) electronic device, the antenna system for reducing coupling between an active element of the antenna system and a metal object, the system comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a ground plane on the bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is mounted on or near a metal object comprising a wheel rim; and

an active element mounted on the top surface, the active element comprising a first and second segment, the first segment positioned in a top surface plane and connected in series to the second segment, the second segment positioned in a plane oriented at an angle to the top surface, the second segment coupled to the top surface at first and second ends of the second segment such that an air gap is formed between the top surface and a section of the second segment between the first and second ends.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first segment is “

C”

or “

U”

shaped.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second segment is “

C”

or “

U”

shaped.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second segment comprises an arch.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a tuning capacitance connected between the first segment and the ground plane.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises an input/output connection at an end of the second segment opposite the first segment for connection to the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the angle is an obtuse or an acute angle.

7. For use in a vehicle tire pressure monitoring electronic device to reduce coupling between an active element of the electronic device and a wheel rim, an antenna system comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a ground plane on the bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is mounted on or near a wheel rim; and

an active element mounted on the top surface, the active element comprising a first and second segment, the first segment positioned in a top surface plane and connected in series to the second segment, the second segment positioned in a plane oriented at an angle to the top surface, the second segment coupled to the top surface via first and second ends of the second segment such that an air gap is formed between the top surface and a section of the second segment between the first and second ends.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first segment is “

C”

or “

U”

shaped.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the second segment is “

C”

or “

U”

shaped.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the second segment comprises an arch.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the system further comprises a tuning capacitance connected between the first segment and the ground plane.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the system further comprises an input/output connection at an end of the second segment opposite the first segment for connection to the electronic device.

19. The system of claim 7 wherein the angle is an obtuse or an acute angle.

13. For use in a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system, a method of reducing coupling between an antenna and a metal object, the method comprising:

providing a printed circuit board (PCB) having a top surface and a bottom surface;

providing a ground plane on the bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the PCB is mounted on or near a metal object comprising a wheel rim; and

mounting an active element on the top surface, wherein the active element comprises a first and second segment, the first segment is positioned in a top surface plane and is connected in series to the second segment, the second segment is positioned in a plane oriented at an angle to the top surface, and the second segment is coupled to the top surface via first and second ends of the second segment such that an air gap is formed between the top surface and a section of the second segment between the first and second ends.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first segment and the second segment is “

C”

or “

U”

shaped.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the second segment comprises an arch.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing a tuning capacitance connected between the first segment and the ground plane.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing an input/output connection at an end of the second segment opposite the first segment.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the angle is an obtuse or an acute angle.