Aircraft Tire RFID Antenna Layout for Small-Diameter Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft tires with RFID tags face deteriorated communication performance due to restricted antenna length when the tire diameter is 15 inches or less, limiting effective communication with the RFID reader/writer.

Innovation Solution

The RFID tag antenna is disposed parallel to the tire circumferential direction or intersecting within a predetermined angle, and the belt part in the tread section is made of a non-metal material to reduce electromagnetic wave attenuation, allowing for improved communication performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the antenna is disposed in the axial direction of the tire, then the RFID tag can be embedded in the tire structure, but the antenna length is restricted due to narrow tire width in small tires (15 inches or less), causing deteriorated communication performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidantenna length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the antenna orientation from the axial direction (radial dimension) to the circumferential direction (tangential dimension). This dimensional shift allows the antenna to utilize the tire's circumference length rather than being constrained by the limited radial width, thereby achieving sufficient antenna length for adequate communication performance even in small tires with diameter of 15 inches or less

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If the belt part in the tread section is made of metal material, then the tire structure is strengthened, but electromagnetic wave attenuation between the RFID tag and reader/writer increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire structure strengthVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave attenuation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the metal material from the belt part in the tread section, removing the source of electromagnetic wave attenuation. By eliminating the metal component that interferes with RFID communication, the system achieves reduced signal loss while maintaining tire structural integrity through alternative non-metallic reinforcement materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of metal materials (electromagnetic wave attenuation) into a beneficial configuration by strategically positioning non-metallic belt parts. This allows the tire structure to maintain necessary strength while creating favorable conditions for electromagnetic wave transmission, thereby improving RFID tag communication performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If the antenna length is increased to improve communication performance, then the RFID tag communication distance and sensitivity improve, but the tire width becomes insufficient to accommodate the antenna in small tires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidtire width
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this spatial constraint by reorienting the antenna from the radial dimension (where width is limited) to the circumferential dimension (where length is abundant). This allows the antenna to achieve its required length for good communication performance without being constrained by the limited tire width in small tires

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enables sufficient antenna length for RFID tags even in small tires, enhancing communication distance and sensitivity, and maintaining tire balance.

Implementation Method 1

Contactless RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags configured to write and read information using electromagnetic waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

since the belt part disposed in the tread section is made of a non-metal material, attenuation of electromagnetic waves or the like between the RFID tag and the RFID reader/writer reduces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave attenuation: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4108478B1Tire for aircraft
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP4108478B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4108478B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4108478B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An aircraft tire (T) has a pair of bead sections (100), sidewall sections (104) extending from outer side in a radial direction of the bead sections, and a tread section (106) extending between the sidewall sections; the aircraft tire includes an RFID tag (10) having a tag main body (IC chip) (11) configured to store an information about the aircraft tire and an antenna (A1, A2) extended from the tag main body, wherein, when a diameter size of the aircraft tire is 15 inches or less, in a tread surface view, the antenna is disposed such that the antenna is parallel to a tire circumferential direction or intersects the tire circumferential direction within a predetermined angle range, and a belt part (103) disposed in the tread section (106) is made of non-metal material.