Transponder configuration, tire including a transponder, and method of producing a tire having a transponder
View Patent ↗A transponder to be fitted in or on a surface of an article which is substantially formed of a rubber product, in particular a transponder to be fitted in a tire, has a dipole antenna. The antenna length L air , wherein air is exclusively present as the transmission medium, is calculated with the equation L air =0.5×c/f, wherein c is the speed of light and f is the transmission frequency. In order to achieve a long transmission range, the transponder in the rubber product has an antenna length L kp between 0.45×L air and 0.90×L air , preferably substantially between 0.61×L air and 0.71×L air .
1. A transponder configuration, comprising:
a transponder configured to be fitted in a location selected from the group consisting of a location in an article substantially formed of a rubber product and a location on a surface of an article substantially formed of a rubber product;
said transponder having a dipole antenna, said dipole antenna defining a calculated antenna length L air for a case when only air is present as a transmission medium, the calculated antenna length L air resulting from an equation L air =0.5×c/f, where c is a speed of light and f is a transmission frequency; and
said dipole antenna having an antenna length L kp between 0.45×L air and 0.90×L air .
2. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said dipole antenna has an antenna length L kp substantially between 0.61×L air and 0.71×L air .
3. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission frequency f is between 868 Mhz and 928 MHz.
4. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said dipole antenna is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a steel and a steel alloy.
5. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said dipole antenna is formed of a beryllium-copper alloy.
6. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said dipole antenna has a surface coated with brass.
7. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein:
said dipole antenna is substantially formed of steel;
a brass layer covers said dipole antenna; and
a silver layer is disposed between said steel and said brass layer.
8. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein:
said transponder includes a transponder chip; and
said dipole antenna is connected to said transponder chip via welded connections.
9. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein:
said transponder includes a transponder chip having a connection region for connecting said dipole antenna to said transponder chip; and
said transponder chip and said connection region is disposed in one of a housing and a protective material.
10. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said dipole antenna includes a plurality of filaments selected from the group consisting of elastically deformable filaments and plastically deformable filaments.
11. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , including:
an electrically conductive material selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive rubber blend and an electrically conductive elastomer blend;
said dipole antenna including a plurality of filaments; and
said filaments being in connection with one another via said electrically conductive material.
12. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , including:
an electrically nonconductive material; and
said transponder being entirely embedded in said electrically nonconductive material.
13. The transponder configuration according to claim 12 , wherein said electrically nonconductive material is a material selected from the group consisting of a rubber blend and a thermoplastic elastomer.
14. The transponder configuration according to claim 1 , wherein said dipole antenna has a surface coated with a nonconductive varnish.
15. A tire configuration, comprising:
a tire having a surface;
a transponder disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a location in said tire and a location on said surface of said tire;
said transponder having a dipole antenna, said dipole antenna defining a calculated antenna length L air for a case when only air is present as a transmission medium, the calculated antenna length L air resulting from an equation L air =0.5×c/f, where c is a speed of light and f is a transmission frequency; and
said dipole antenna having an antenna length L kp between 0.45×L air and 0.90×L air .
16. The tire configuration according to claim 15 , wherein:
said tire has a tire bead region; and
said transponder is disposed in said tire bead region.
17. The tire configuration according to claim 15 , wherein:
said tire has an apex region; and
said transponder is disposed in said apex region.
18. The tire configuration according to claim 15 , wherein said dipole antenna has an antenna length L kp substantially between 0.61×L air and 0.71×L air .
19. The tire configuration according to claim 15 , wherein the transmission frequency f is between 868 Mhz and 928 MHz.
20. A method of producing a tire configuration, the method which comprises:
providing a transponder with a dipole antenna having an antenna length L kp between 0.45×L air and 0.90×L air , with L air being a calculated antenna length for a case when only air is present as a transmission medium, the calculated antenna length L air resulting from an equation L air =0.5×c/f, where c is a speed of light and f is a transmission frequency; and
disposing the transponder in an apex region of a tire when building the tire on an apexing machine.