Abstract: A reader system for a tire with an integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) and tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor, in which the integrated RFID and TPMS sensor is mounted on the tire, is provided. The reader system includes at least one antenna that is external to the tire. The at least one antenna is mounted on a vehicle on which the tire is mounted in a location proximate the tire. The at least one antenna is in electronic communication with the integrated RFID and TPMS sensor. A reader is mounted on the vehicle and is also in electronic communication with the at least one antenna. The at least one antenna relays a signal from the integrated RFID and TPMS sensor to the reader. A display device is in electronic communication with the reader to receive and display data from the integrated RFID and TPMS sensor.

Abstract: A reader system for a tire with an integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) and tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor, in which the integrated RFID and TPMS sensor is mounted on the tire, is provided. The reader system includes at least one antenna that is external to the tire. The at least one antenna is mounted on a vehicle on which the tire is mounted in a location proximate the tire. The at least one antenna is in electronic communication with the integrated RFID and TPMS sensor. A reader is mounted on the vehicle and is also in electronic communication with the at least one antenna. The at least one antenna relays a signal from the integrated RFID and TPMS sensor to the reader. A display device is in electronic communication with the reader to receive and display data from the integrated RFID and TPMS sensor.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire with a radio frequency identification and tire pressure monitoring system sensor combination includes a pneumatic tire. The tire includes a pair of bead areas, a ground-contacting tread disposed radially outwardly of the pair of bead areas, a pair of sidewalls, in which each sidewall extends from a respective bead area to the tread, a carcass extending toroidally between each of the bead areas radially inwardly of the tread, and an innerliner formed on an inside surface of the carcass. An integrated RFID and TPMS sensor is mounted on the innerliner and includes an RFID tag. The RFID tag includes an integrated circuit carried on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is formed with at least one opening to facilitate secure mounting of the circuit board to the innerliner. The integrated RFID and TMPS sensor also includes a TPMS sensor mounted on the RFID tag.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and radio frequency identification tag combination is provided. The combination includes a ground-contacting annular tread, a central rim and at least one spoke disk disposed between the rim and the tread. The at least one spoke disk includes an inner ring mounted on the central rim, an outer ring, and a plurality of spokes extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring. A shear band is disposed between the outer ring of the at least one spoke disk and the tread. A radio frequency identification tag is attached to the inner ring or the outer ring of the at least one spoke disk.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and radio frequency identification tag combination is provided. The combination includes a ground-contacting annular tread, a central rim and at least one spoke disk disposed between the rim and the tread. The at least one spoke disk includes an inner ring mounted on the central rim, an outer ring, and a plurality of spokes extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring. A shear band is disposed between the outer ring of the at least one spoke disk and the tread. A radio frequency identification tag is attached to the inner ring or the outer ring of the at least one spoke disk.

Abstract: A standalone tire identification tag and standalone sensor module are mounted to a tire and configured to share and store tire identification and tire parameter-measuring sensor data through a common data sharing interface.

Abstract: A standalone tire identification tag and standalone sensor module are mounted to a tire and configured to share and store tire identification and tire parameter-measuring sensor data through a common data sharing interface.

Abstract: A load estimation system and method for estimating vehicle load includes a tire rotation counter for generating a rotation count from rotation of a tire; apparatus for measuring distance travelled by the vehicle; an effective radius calculator for calculating effective radius of the tire from the distance travelled and the rotation count; and a load estimation calculator for calculating the load carried by the vehicle tire from the effective radius of the tire. A center of gravity height estimation may be made from an estimated total load carried by the tires supporting the vehicle pursuant to an estimation of effective radius for each tire and a calculated load carried by each tire from respective effective radii.

Abstract: A drive over stand for a TAG reader has a lead-on ramped surface and an exit-off ramped surface aligned and operative to intercept and engage the vehicle tire as the vehicle tire traverses over the upper surface of the stand. One or more pockets are disposed within the stand base, each receiving an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly is positioned within the pocket of the base, seated at a tilt angle operative to direct a read field toward a vehicle approach path to the stand.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a stand having a convex outer surface positioned to intercept and engage a vehicle tire as the vehicle tire passes over the convex stand surface. The height and contour of the convex stand surface slows the rotational rate of the vehicle tire, and thereby a transmitting device carried by the tire, to a preferred rotational read rate as the vehicle tire passes over the convex surface. One or more antenna members mount to the stand proximal to the convex surface, each antenna having a directionally aimed tilted antenna field positioned to continuously receive data transmission from the electronic transmitting device as the vehicle tire passes over the convex stand surface at the reduced rotational read rate.

Abstract: Estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor for measuring tire inflation pressure and generating a measured tire inflation pressure signal; a deformation measuring sensor mounted in a tire region of the vehicle tire, the deformation measuring sensor in the form of a piezoelectric bending sensor generating a deformation signal estimating a length of a tire contact patch length as the senor rolls through a tire footprint. Tire rolling speed is estimated from the deformation signal and a peak to peak amplitude variation within the deformation signal is detected and measured. An artificial neural network receives the tire rolling speed estimation, the contact patch length estimation, the amplitude variation within the deformation signal, and the measured inflation pressure of the tire. The artificial neural network adaptively interprets the input data and generates an output load estimation based thereon.

Abstract: A product management system and method for reading electronic identification tags from a vertical stack of tires. Each tire has an electronic identification tag secured at a position to operative to electronically transmit data to an antenna element positioned internally within a toroidal opening of each tire in the stack. An elongate read wand is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation within the aligned toroidal openings of the tires. The antenna element is carried by the read wand and is thus positioned by the read wand to receive an electronic transmission from each electronic identification tag in the aligned tire stack. The read wand may be ceiling-mounted, floor mounted, or hand held.

Abstract: A drive over stand for a TAG reader has a lead-on ramped surface and an exit-off ramped surface aligned and operative to intercept and engage the vehicle tire as the vehicle tire traverses over the upper surface of the stand. One or more pockets are disposed within the stand base, each receiving an antenna assembly. The antenna assembly is positioned within the pocket of the base, seated at a tilt angle operative to direct a read field toward a vehicle approach path to the stand.

Abstract: A load estimation system and method for estimating vehicle load includes a tire rotation counter for generating a rotation count from rotation of a tire; apparatus for measuring distance travelled by the vehicle; an effective radius calculator for calculating effective radius of the tire from the distance travelled and the rotation count; and a load estimation calculator for calculating the load carried by the vehicle tire from the effective radius of the tire. A center of gravity height estimation may be made from an estimated total load carried by the tires supporting the vehicle pursuant to an estimation of effective radius for each tire and a calculated load carried by each tire from respective effective radii.

Abstract: A system and method of estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor attached to the tire for measuring a tire cavity inflation pressure level; and one or more piezofilm deformation measuring sensors mounted to one or both of the tire sidewalls. The deformation measuring sensor generates within the tire footprint a deformation signal having signal power level indicative of a level of sidewall deformation within the footprint contact patch. Power-to-load maps adjusted for tire inflation pressure are generated and stored for the tire, the maps correlating a range of load levels to a range of signal power levels whereby operatively enabling a load level to be identified for each signal power level on an inflation pressure adjusted basis.

Abstract: A system and method of estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor attached to the tire for measuring a tire cavity inflation pressure level; and one or more piezofilm deformation measuring sensors mounted to one or both of the tire sidewalls. The deformation measuring sensor generates within the tire footprint a deformation signal having signal power level indicative of a level of sidewall deformation within the footprint contact patch. Power-to-load maps adjusted for tire inflation pressure are generated and stored for the tire, the maps correlating a range of load levels to a range of signal power levels whereby operatively enabling a load level to be identified for each signal power level on an inflation pressure adjusted basis.

Abstract: A product management system and method for reading electronic identification tags from a vertical stack of tires. Each tire has an electronic identification tag secured at a position to operative to electronically transmit data to an antenna element positioned internally within a toroidal opening of each tire in the stack. An elongate read wand is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation within the aligned toroidal openings of the tires. The antenna element is carried by the read wand and is thus positioned by the read wand to receive an electronic transmission from each electronic identification tag in the aligned tire stack. The read wand may be ceiling-mounted, floor mounted, or hand held.

Abstract: A product management system and method for reading an electronic identification tag secured to a manufactured product is provided and includes a portal having a portal opening positioned and dimensioned to permit the product to be transported through the portal opening; a flexible curtain consisting of an array of flexible, transparent strips pivotally suspended at the portal to depend downward into the portal opening, the curtain strips within the portal opening having an antenna incorporated therein. The curtain strips are positioned for contacting engagement with the manufactured product or each product within a stack of such products as the product/stack passes through the portal opening. An intimate contacting engagement by antenna-bearing strips with each product enables receipt of electronic data transmission from the electronic identification tag of each of the products as the products move through the portal opening.

Abstract: Estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor for measuring tire inflation pressure and generating a measured tire inflation pressure signal; a deformation measuring sensor mounted in a tire region of the vehicle tire, the deformation measuring sensor in the form of a piezoelectric bending sensor generating a deformation signal estimating a length of a tire contact patch length as the senor rolls through a tire footprint. Tire rolling speed is estimated from the deformation signal and a peak to peak amplitude variation within the deformation signal is detected and measured. An artificial neural network receives the tire rolling speed estimation, the contact patch length estimation, the amplitude variation within the deformation signal, and the measured inflation pressure of the tire. The artificial neural network adaptively interprets the input data and generates an output load estimation based thereon.

Abstract: A host article and electronic tag assembly includes an article portion of rubber-based material composition. The electronic device and antenna attach to or are embedded within the article portion. The antenna is constructed to be flexible and at least partially composed of a flexible conductive material such as conductive rubber. The flexible antenna conductive material is selected to provide material composition properties substantially equivalent to the rubber-based article portion, whereby rendering the antenna mechanically compatible for incorporation into the article portion. A change in compression within the rubber-based article portion changes compression forces exerted from the article portion on the antenna arms which, in turn, results in a detectable change in signal strength from the tag.