RFID Tag Placement in Tire Rubber Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Tires with embedded electronic components, such as RFID tags, face issues due to differences in properties between carcass and side wall materials during vulcanization and use, leading to potential stress and communication quality concerns.

Innovation Solution

Embedding the RFID tag between the side-wall rubber and tread rubber at the tire's outer surface, where stress is minimized and communication quality is maintained, with the option of including a protective rubber member and filling the antenna with rubber to enhance durability and ease of assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electronic component is arranged between the carcass and side wall, then the communication quality is improved, but the electronic component receives stress due to relative movement between members with different properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidstress resistance of electronic component
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A protective member made of rubber or resin is introduced as an intermediary between the electronic component and the surrounding tire structures. This protective member absorbs and distributes stress, preventing direct transmission of mechanical forces to the electronic component while allowing it to maintain its position near the outer surface for optimal communication quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective member is pre-installed around the electronic component before final assembly into the tire. This beforehand cushioning arrangement ensures that the electronic component is already protected against stress and mechanical damage from the outset, preventing relative movement between dissimilar materials during vulcanization and use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Strength

If the electronic component is arranged adjacent to the inner liner, then the stress on the electronic component is reduced, but the distance from the outer surface increases causing communication quality to decline

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress resistance of electronic componentVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective member serves as a mediator that enables the electronic component to be positioned closer to the outer surface without direct exposure to stress. It creates a protected zone that allows the component to maintain optimal communication distance while being shielded from mechanical stresses by the surrounding rubber structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the electronic component is embedded in the tire structure, then the tire manufacturing process is simplified, but the electronic component may not maintain its function due to stress during vulcanization and use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire manufacturing processVSAvoidelectronic component functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective member is integrated into the tire manufacturing process as a standard component, maintaining ease of manufacture. It is positioned around the electronic component during assembly and remains as a permanent protective structure throughout vulcanization and service, ensuring functionality is maintained without complicating the overall manufacturing workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3677453B1Tire and tire manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 TOYO TIRE CORP
  • EP3677453B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3677453B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3677453B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tire is provided in which the performance of an electronic component can be maintained, by arranging the electronic component at a position distanced from components made of metal. A tire includes: a carcass ply (23) which extends from one bead (11) to another bead (11); side-wall rubber (30) which is disposed at an outer side in a tire-width direction of the carcass ply (23); tread rubber (28) which is disposed at an outer side in a tire-radial direction of the carcass ply (23), in which the side-wall rubber (30) and the tread rubber (28) are laminated at a tire outer surface side of a region of at least part of the carcass ply (23), and in which an RFID tag (40) serving as the electronic component is disposed between the side-wall rubber (30) and the tread rubber (28).