Mounting transponders in pneumatic tires

A patch suitable for mounting a transponder module having at least a substantial portion of which is generally disc-shaped wherein the disc-shaped portion has a diameter and a height which is substantially less than the diameter, to an inner surface of a pneumatic tire, said patch comprising a body formed of a resilient material and having a first external surface, and a second external surface opposite the first external surface, characterized by:

• a substantially circular opening extending into the patch from the first external surface toward the second external surface, and extending to a cavity in the body of the patch;
• the cavity being generally disc-shaped and sized to be approximately the same diameter and height as the disc-shaped portion of the transponder module;
• and
• the opening has a somewhat smaller diameter than the cavity, thereby forming a resilient annular lip about the opening, the lip thereby being sized to be somewhat smaller in diameter than the disc-shaped portion of the transponder module so that the transponder module may be inserted through the opening into the cavity by deflecting the resilient annular lip and thereby retained within the cavity by the resilient annular lip;
• and
• a coupling coil comprising at least a few turns of wire is disposed within the body of the patch closely adjacent and surrounding the cavity.

A patch suitable for mounting a transponder module having at least a substantial portion of which is generally disc-shaped wherein the disc-shaped portion has a diameter and a height which is substantially less than the diameter, to an inner surface of a pneumatic tire, said patch comprising a body formed of a resilient material and having a first external surface, and a second external surface opposite the first external surface, characterized by:

• a substantially circular opening extending into the patch from the first external surface toward the second external surface, and extending to a cavity in tile body of the patch;
• the cavity being generally disc-shaped and sized to be approximately the same diameter and height as the disc-shaped portion of the transponder module;
• and
• the opening has a somewhat smaller diameter than the cavity, thereby forming a resilient annular lip about the opening, the lip thereby being sized to be somewhat smaller in diameter than the disc-shaped portion of the transponder module so that the transponder module may be inserted through the opening into the cavity by deflecting the resilient annular lip and thereby retained within the cavity by the resilient annular lip;
• and
• a coupling coil comprising at least a few turns of wire is disposed within the body of the patch closely adjacent and underneath the cavity.

A method of mounting a transponder module having at least a substantial portion of which is generally disc-shaped wherein the disc-shaped portion has a diameter and a height which is substantially less than the diameter, to an inner surface of a pneumatic tire, comprising:

• providing a patch having a body formed of a resilient material and having a first external surface, and a second external surface opposite the first external surface;
• and
• affixing the patch to the inner surface of the tire;
• characterized by:
• the provided patch having a substantially circular opening extending into the patch from the first external surface toward the second external surface, and extending to a cavity in the body of the patch, the cavity being generally disc-shaped and sized to be approximately the same diameter and height as the disc-shaped portion of the transponder module;
• and the opening having a somewhat smaller diameter than the cavity, thereby forming a resilient annular lip about the opening, the lip thereby being sized to be somewhat smaller in diameter than the disc-shaped portion of the transponder module and at least one slot in the lip to facilitate deflecting the lip for inserting the transponder module past the lip into the cavity;
• and
• inserting the transponder module through the opening into the cavity by deflecting the resilient annular lip such that the disc-shaped potion of the transponder module is retained within the cavity by the resilient annular lip.