Flexible Tire RFID Patch for Safe Inner-Liner Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID solutions for tires face challenges such as limited information capacity, readability issues, and potential damage to tires due to the embedding of rigid RFID tags, which can cause safety risks during manufacturing and operation.
Innovation Solution
A flexible multilayer planar RFID device is applied to the inner liner of a tire, comprising a substrate, insulating layers, an RFID chip, and antennas designed for near-field and far-field communication, with a rubber substrate and top rubber layer to ensure strong adhesion and prevent damage, and includes self-tuning capabilities for adapting to varying conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a rigid RFID tag is embedded in a tire, then automated identification and information storage are improved, but tire safety deteriorates due to potential layer separation, cord breakage, and structural damage during manufacturing and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid RFID tags with a flexible patch comprising thin film layers including a substrate, insulating layers, antenna elements, and adhesive layers. This flexible construction eliminates the rigidity that causes structural damage to tires while maintaining RFID functionality for automated identification and information storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID patch employs a composite multi-layer structure combining different materials (substrate material, insulating material, adhesive material, conductive materials for antennas) to achieve both functional requirements (RFID operation) and mechanical compatibility with the tire structure, preventing damage while enabling information storage.
2Extent of automation
If a rigid RFID tag is embedded in a tire, then automated identification capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to risks of damage during vulcanization and assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible patch structure with its thin film layers is inherently more compatible with tire manufacturing processes than rigid tags. The flexibility allows the patch to withstand vulcanization and assembly operations without causing damage, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining automated identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible patch acts as an intermediary solution between the tire structure and the RFID functionality requirement. Its compliant nature mediates between the mechanical constraints of tire manufacturing and the electronic requirements of automated identification, reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If traditional RFID tags are used in tires, then identification functionality is achieved, but the device flexibility deteriorates causing potential damage during tire operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally transforms the RFID device from a rigid tag to a flexible patch composed of thin film layers that can conform to the tire's shape and movement. This flexibility ensures the device remains stable and functional throughout tire operation without causing structural damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-layer composite structure combines materials with appropriate mechanical properties to achieve both flexibility and functional stability. The combination of flexible substrate, insulating layers, and adhesive materials creates a device that maintains its composition stability while adapting to tire dynamics.
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
The solution provides enhanced RFID performance without causing tire damage, maintaining communication integrity throughout the tire's lifecycle, optimizing manufacturing efficiency, and ensuring safety by avoiding tire layer separation or cord breakage.
Implementation Method 1
a second antenna (35) that is electromagnetically coupled with the first antenna (35) and that extends, at least partially, on the first insulating layer (13)
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention concerns a patch RFID device (1A, 1B, 2, 3) for tires, designed to be applied to an inner liner of a tire before or after tire vulcanization/curing and comprising an innovative flexible multilayer planar structure.