The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 11, 2003
Filed:
May. 31, 2001
Gene Raymond Starkey, Niwot, CO (US);
Joseph Paul Desimone, II, Ward, CO (US);
Dale Lee Yones, Boulder, CO (US);
Joseph Michael Letkomiller, Thornton, CO (US);
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH (US);
Abstract
A pneumatic tire monitoring system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, preferably in combination with a tire pressurizing and regulating apparatus, comprises a transponder with a transmitting antenna mounted on the wheel for transmitting a signal indicating tire condition, one or more receivers with receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and circuitry for processing the received signals; the system characterized in that: circuitry for each transponder is on a printed circuit board within a protective housing coaxial to the hub of the wheel or wheel carrier; and each transmitting antenna is selected from the group comprising a partial loop antenna, a helical antenna, a circular dipole antenna, and a small coupling coil adjacent to an endless hoop antenna. The partial loop antenna is mounted in each housing affixed around a portion of the circumference of the printed circuit board, having an angular arc length, and comprises a serpentine portion for increasing the effective length of the partial loop antenna without also extending the angular arc length. The angular arc length and the affixed placement are determined for avoiding RF signal interference due to interaction with signal-interfering objects in the housing. Additionally, the partial loop antenna has an end portion that can be trimmed for adjusting the effective length to enable tuning of the antenna for optimum transmission at different radio transmission frequencies.