Conductive Ink Tire Identification Unit Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for integrating identification units, such as RFID tags, into tires face challenges with durability and stability, as they can be damaged by tire forces and may impair tire properties, making long-term reliable identification difficult.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of conductive ink to the tire's rubberized surface to form conductive structures that create an identification unit, allowing for contactless reading through alternating fields, without the need for foreign components that could compromise tire stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If RFID tags are integrated into the tire using foil tags or spiral antennas with soldered/welded/adhesive connections, then contactless identification is enabled, but the tire properties are impaired and the RFID tag may be damaged by tire forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and material properties of the conductive structures by using conductive ink that is applied in a liquid state and then cured to form a flexible, integrated conductive pattern. This transformation from liquid to solid state, and from external component to integrated structure, resolves the contradiction by making the identification unit inherently stable within the tire while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the RFID antenna structures directly into the tire layers by applying conductive ink to the rubberized surface of tire plies. The conductive structures become an integral part of the tire construction rather than separate components, eliminating the need for additional fastening mechanisms and ensuring both tire stability and identification reliability work together
2Stability of the object's composition
If conductive ink is applied to form conductive structures in the tire layer, then the identification unit integrates seamlessly with the tire, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the tire building process itself serve the dual function of constructing the tire and integrating the identification unit. The conductive ink application and curing steps are incorporated into the existing tire manufacturing workflow, allowing the same equipment and processes to create both the tire structure and the RFID antenna patterns without requiring separate dedicated manufacturing lines
3Reliability
If additional components are introduced into the tire for RFID tags, then contactless identification is enabled, but foreign body properties develop and long-term functionality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates homogeneity between the tire material and the conductive structures by applying the conductive ink directly to the rubberized surface of the tire plies. The cured conductive ink becomes chemically and physically compatible with the surrounding rubber material, eliminating foreign body interfaces that could lead to degradation, delamination, or functional failure over the tire's lifetime
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 approach enables a durable, contactless identification system that integrates seamlessly with the tire, maintaining its properties and ensuring reliable identification throughout its lifetime without compromising stability.
Implementation Method 1
conductive ink is provided, which is applied to a rubberized surface of a tire ply in such a way that the conductive ink adheres to the tire ply and the conductive ink attaches conductive structures in the tire layer
Implementation Method 2
the reading device interacts in a contact-free manner with the identification section in particular via an input alternating field and a reflected alternating reflection field modified by the identification section is recorded again by the reading device
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for forming a contactlessly readable identification unit (2) in a tire. The identification unit (2) has an identification section for storing a tire identification, and the tire identification can be contactlessly read by means of an interaction between an input alternating field and the identification section. The method has at least the following steps: -providing conductive ink (8); -providing a tire ply (6) with a rubberized surface (6a); -applying the conductive ink (8) onto the rubberized surface (6a) of the tire ply (6) such that the conductive ink (8) remains adhered to the tire ply (6) and conductive structures are formed on and/or in the tire ply (6) by the conductive ink (8), wherein the conductive structures at least partly form the identification section and/or an identification unit (2) antenna section which interacts with the identification section; and -applying at least one additional tire ply (6) onto the tire ply (6) provided with conductive structures and completing the tire in order to form a tire with an integrated contactlessly readable identification unit (2).