Antenna constructions for electronic devices and methods for manufacturing such antenna constructions
View Patent ↗Antenna constructions for electronic devices and methods of manufacturing such antenna constructions. The electronic device comprises a transponder and an antenna electrically coupled with the transponder. The antenna has a core of a first material and a coating of a second material on the core. The second material has a higher electrical conductivity than the first material and/or a lower permeability than the first material. The coating on the core also has a predetermined thickness. The electronic devices may be used in tires.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a transponder; and
an antenna electrically coupled with the transponder, the antenna comprising a core of a first material and a coating of a second material on the core, the second material having at least one of a higher electrical conductivity than the first material or a lower permeability than the first material, and the coating having a predetermined thickness and composed of a plurality of microparticles, a plurality of nanoparticles, or a blend thereof.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second material has a lower permeability than the first material.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second material has a higher conductivity than the first material.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first material is a polymer resin or an engineered material.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a coil with a plurality of helically wound turns.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the predetermined thickness is approximately equal to a skin depth in which alternating current flows through the antenna.
7. An apparatus for mounting on a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a tire; and
an electronic device comprising a transponder mounted to the tire and an antenna electrically coupled with the transponder, the antenna comprising a core of a first material and a coating of a second material on the core, the second material having at least one of a higher electrical conductivity than the first material or a lower permeability than the first material, and the coating having a predetermined thickness and composed of a plurality of microparticles, a plurality of nanoparticles, or a blend thereof.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second material has a lower permeability than the first material.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second material has a higher conductivity than the first material.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first material is a polymer resin or an engineered material.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the antenna comprises a coil with a plurality of helically wound turns.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tire includes a sidewall, and the transponder is adhesively bonded to the sidewall.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tire includes an air cavity.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the transponder communicates with the air cavity.
15. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the predetermined thickness is approximately equal to a skin depth in which alternating current flows through the antenna.
16. A method of manufacturing an antenna for use with an electronic device, the method comprising:
forming a core of a first material to a near net geometrical shape of the antenna; and
coating the core of the antenna with a coating having a predetermined thickness of a second material with at least one of a higher electrical conductivity than the first material or a lower permeability than the first material the coating composed of a plurality of microparticles, a plurality of nanoparticles, or a blend thereof.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein coating the core further comprises:
performing a chemical deposition process that deposits the predetermined thickness of the coating.