Embedded Belt Sensor Antenna Layout for Low-Damping Signal Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic components embedded in elastomeric drive belts face damage from vulcanization processes and are prone to signal damping, leading to reduced signal quality and transmission range due to the elastomeric material's poor conductivity and signal-dampening effects.
Innovation Solution
An electronic unit with a sensor and antenna designed to be embedded within the elastomeric material, featuring a transverse and angled antenna configuration to minimize signal damping, and flexible deformable projections for secure fitting without adhesion promoters, ensuring precise measurement and improved signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic components are embedded in elastomeric drive belts through vulcanization, then the components are protected from environmental influences, but the components are damaged by vulcanization temperature and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The drive belt is divided into distinct layers: an elastomeric base material and a separate polymeric material layer. Electronic components are embedded in the polymeric material layer, which is then bonded to the base material. This segmentation allows components to be protected from environmental influences without exposure to damaging vulcanization processes, as the polymeric material can be attached after component placement.
Solution Approach 2:
Electronic components are embedded in the polymeric material layer before the layer is bonded to the elastomeric base material. This preliminary embedding ensures components are positioned correctly and protected from environmental influences before final assembly, avoiding the need for high-temperature vulcanization that would damage the components.
2Measurement precision
If electronic components are embedded deep within elastomeric material for precise measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but signal transmission quality deteriorates due to signal damping
Solution Approach 1:
The polymeric material layer has different properties than the elastomeric base material - specifically, it provides a more favorable environment for signal transmission while still allowing the sensor to be positioned within the drive belt structure. This local quality difference enables the sensor to maintain close contact with the belt for precise measurement while the polymeric material reduces signal damping compared to deep embedding in elastomeric material.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric material layer acts as an intermediary between the electronic components and the elastomeric drive belt. It provides a interface that allows the sensor to be positioned within the belt structure for accurate measurement while offering better electromagnetic properties for signal transmission, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of measurement precision and signal quality.
3Stability of the object's composition
If electronic components are firmly bonded to elastomeric material for secure positioning, then positioning stability is improved, but mechanical stress causes tears and breakages during stretching and compression
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into the elastomeric base material, the polymeric material layer, and the electronic components. The components are embedded in the polymeric material layer, which is then bonded to the base material. This segmentation allows the components to move with the belt during stretching and compression without experiencing excessive stress, as the polymeric material layer absorbs some of the mechanical deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric material layer has different mechanical properties than the elastomeric base material, including different elasticity and stretching characteristics. This parameter difference allows the layer to accommodate the mechanical stresses of belt operation, reducing the stress transmitted to the electronic components while maintaining their positioning stability.
4Reliability
If drive belts are replaced after short service life to prevent damage, then machine safety is improved, but downtime and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic components including sensors and identification devices provide continuous feedback about the drive belt's operational status, temperature, and condition. This feedback enables condition-based maintenance, allowing the belt to be monitored throughout its service life and replaced only when actually needed, rather than following a fixed replacement schedule. This reduces unnecessary downtime while maintaining machine safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive belt equipped with electronic components performs self-monitoring of its own condition through embedded sensors that detect temperature, stress, and other operational parameters. This self-service capability enables the belt to provide information about its own health status, allowing maintenance to be scheduled based on actual condition rather than predetermined intervals, thus reducing unnecessary replacements and downtime.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic unit (1) with at least one sensor (2) for measuring at least one state variable of a component and with at least one antenna (3) connected to the sensor (2) for wirelessly transmitting the measured value to a receiving unit. The antenna (3) has a first section (4) extending in the transverse direction (Y) from the sensor (2) and an angled second section (5) extending substantially in the vertical direction (Z).