Combination monitoring device and patch for a pneumatic tire and method of installing the same with a coupled antenna

A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner, the combination comprising:

• a monitoring device having at least one sensing element;
• a patch carrying said monitoring device, said patch adapted to connect the monitoring device to the innerliner of the pneumatic tire;
• an antenna carried by said patch;
• said monitoring device and said antenna being spaced apart and aligned to provide a signal coupling between said monitoring device and said antenna;
• and
• said patch including a foot portion, said antenna carried by said patch in said foot portion.

A method of mounting a monitoring device on an innerliner of a tire comprising the steps of:

• providing a monitoring device having at least one sensing element;
• providing a patch having an antenna;
• connecting the monitoring device to the patch whereby the monitoring device is aligned with and spaced from the antenna to provide a signal coupling between the monitoring device and the antenna;
• connecting the patch to the innerliner of the tire;
• providing a first electrical pad connected to the monitoring device and a second electrical pad connected to the antenna;
• and aligning the electrical pads in a spaced apart disposition to provide the signal coupling between the monitoring device and the antenna.

A method of mounting a monitoring device on the innerliner of a tire comprising the steps of:

• providing a monitoring device having at least one sensing element;
• providing a patch having an antenna;
• curing the patch to the innerliner of the tire;
• and
• connecting the monitoring device to the patch whereby the monitoring device and antenna are aligned and spaced apart to provide a signal coupling between the monitoring device and the antenna.

A method of mounting a monitoring device on the innerliner of a tire, comprising the steps of:

• providing a monitoring device having at least one sensing element;
• providing an antenna adapted to be carried by the innerliner;
• aligning the monitoring device with the antenna;
• attaching the monitoring device to the innerliner whereby the monitoring device is aligned with and spaced from the antenna to provide a signal coupling between the antenna and the monitoring device;
• providing a first electrical pad connected to the monitoring device and aligning the first electrical pad with the antenna to provide the signal coupling between the monitoring device and the antenna.

In combination, a tire and a monitoring device, said tire having an innerliner and an antenna connected to said innerliner;

• said monitoring device having at least one sensing element for sensing an engineering condition of the tire;
• said monitoring device mounted on said innerliner whereby said monitoring device is aligned with and spaced from said antenna to provide a signal coupling between the monitoring device and the antenna;
• and
• said antenna being embedded within said innerliner.

A monitoring device and patch combination used to monitor the conditions of a pneumatic tire having an innerliner, the combination comprising:

• a monitoring device having at least one sensing element;
• an attachment patch carrying said monitoring device;
• an anchoring layer adapted to adhere to the innerliner of the tire;
• an antenna carried by said anchoring layer;
• and
• said attachment patch attached to said anchoring layer with said monitoring device and said antenna being aligned and spaced apart to provide a signal coupling between the monitoring device and the antenna.

In combination, a monitoring device, an antenna, and a pneumatic tire;

• the monitoring device and antenna being carried by the pneumatic tire;
• the monitoring device having at least one sensing element adapted to sense at least one engineering condition of the pneumatic tire;
• the antenna being adapted to send a signal out of the pneumatic tire;
• the antenna being spaced from the monitoring device and being free of a direct physical connection with the monitoring device;
• the antenna having a coupling portion;
• the monitoring device having a coupling portion;
• and
• the coupling portion of the antenna being spaced from and aligned with the coupling portion of the monitoring device to provide signal coupling allows the monitoring device to communicate with the antenna.

In combination, a monitoring device, an antenna, and a pneumatic tire;

• the monitoring device and antenna being carried by the pneumatic tire;
• the monitoring device having at least one sensing element adapted to sense at least one engineering condition of the pneumatic tire;
• the antenna being adapted to send a signal out of the pneumatic tire;
• the antenna being spaced from the monitoring device and being free of a direct physical connection with the monitoring device;
• and
• coupling means for signal coupling the monitoring device with the antenna without creating a direct physical connection between the antenna and the monitoring device.