Wave antenna wireless communication device and method

• US 7,373,713 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Terranova, Steven N., Forster, Ian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US11/468,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/795, 343/806, 343/866, 343/867, 343/895, 343/700.MS, 296/00
• US Class Current: 29/600
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• 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: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• 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 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that provides greater increased durability and impedance matching. The wave antenna may be in the form of a polygonal, elliptical curve and/or coil shape. The wireless communication device is coupled to the wave antenna to provide wireless communication. The wireless communication device and wave antenna may be placed on objects, goods, or other articles of manufacture that are subject to forces such that the wave antenna may be stretched or compressed during the manufacture and/or use of such object, good or article of manufacture. The wave antenna, because of its curved structure, is capable of stretching and compressing more easily than other structures, reducing the wireless communication device'"'"'s susceptibility to damage or breakage that might render the wireless communication device coupled to the wave antenna unable to properly communicate information wirelessly.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a polygonal-shaped wave antenna, comprising the steps of:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having a polygonal-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other, wherein said polygonal-shaped peripheries of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate; and

placing alternating segments in said conducting material when said conducting material is passed through said first and second cogs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said polygonal-shape is comprised from a group consisting of a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a nonagon, and a decagon.

3. A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device that is coupled to a polygonal-shaped wave antenna, comprising the steps of:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having a polygonal-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other, wherein said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate;

placing alternating segments in said conducting material when said conducting material passes through said first and second cogs to form a conducting material having a plurality of segments that form a plurality of peaks separated by valleys; and

electrically connecting wireless communication device across opposing sides of one of said plurality of peaks.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising:

re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas after said soldering.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said polygonal-shape is comprised from a group consisting of a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a nonagon, and a decagon.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising cleaning away excess solder after said soldering.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising tinning each side of said one of said plurality of peaks before said soldering.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas;

cleaning away excess solder; and

removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks;

wherein said re-flow soldering, cleaning away, and removing a short are performed after said soldering.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising encapsulating said wireless communication device after said wireless communication device has been electrically connected to said one of said plurality of peaks.

11. The method of claim 3, further comprising electrically connecting multiple wireless communication devices to said conducting material, each said wireless communication device being individually connected across the sides of a peak in said conducting material.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising winding said conducting material with said wireless communication devices connected thereto onto a reel.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising cutting said conducting material between said wireless communication devices to separate the wireless communication devices.

14. A method of manufacturing an elliptical curve-shaped wave antenna, comprising:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having an elliptical curve-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other, wherein said elliptical curve-shaped peripheries of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate; and

placing alternating curves in said conducting material when said conducting material is passed through said first and second cogs.

15. A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device that is coupled to an elliptical curve-shaped wave antenna, comprising:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having an elliptical curve-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other, wherein each of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate;

placing alternating curves in said conducting material when said conducting material passes through said first and second cogs to form a conducting material having a plurality of curves that form a plurality of peaks separated by valleys; and

electrically connecting a wireless communication device across apposing sides of one of said plurality of peaks.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising:

re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas after said soldering.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising cleaning away excess solder after said soldering.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising tinning each side of said one of said plurality of peaks before said soldering.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas;

cleaning away excess solder; and

removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks;

wherein said re-flow soldering, cleaning away, and removing a short are performed after said soldering.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising encapsulating said wireless communication device after said wireless communication device has been electrically connected to said one of said plurality of peaks.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising electrically connecting multiple wireless communication devices to said conducting material, each said wireless communication device being individually connected across the sides of a peak in said conducting material.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising winding said conducting material with said wireless communication devices connected thereto onto a reel.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising cutting said conducting material between said wireless communication devices to separate the wireless communication devices.

25. A method of manufacturing a coil-shaped wave antenna, comprising:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having a coil-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other wherein said coil-shaped periphery in each of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate; and

placing alternating curves in said conducting material when said conducting material is passed through said first and second cogs.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising:

re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas after said soldering.

26. A method of manufacturing a wireless communication device that is coupled to a coil-shaped wave antenna, comprising:

passing a conducting material through a first cog and a second cog each having coil-shaped periphery and placed in proximity to each other, wherein each of said first and second cogs substantially interlock with each other as said first and second cogs rotate;

placing alternating curves in said conducting material when said conducting material is passes through said first and second cogs to form a conducting material having a plurality of curves that form a plurality of peaks separated by valleys; and

electrically connecting a wireless communication device across opposing sides of one of said plurality of peaks.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising cleaning away excess solder after said soldering.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said electrically connecting a wireless communication device comprises soldering, the method further comprising tinning each side of said one of said plurality of peaks before said soldering.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

re-flow soldering said wireless communication device with hot gas;

cleaning away excess solder; and

removing a short formed across said wireless communication device by said one of said plurality of peaks;

wherein said re-flow soldering, cleaning away, and removing a short are performed after said soldering.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising encapsulating said wireless communication device after said wireless communication device has been electrically connected to said one of said plurality of peaks.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising electrically connecting multiple wireless communication devices to said conducting material, each said wireless communication device being individually connected across the sides of a peak in said conducting material.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising winding said conducting material with said wireless communication devices connected thereto onto a reel.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising cutting said conducting material between said wireless communication devices to separate the wireless communication devices.