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: An air maintenance tire and pump assembly includes a pair of inline valves are positioned on respective opposite sides of an in-tire air passageway inlet junction and a pair of outlet valves positioned at a downstream side of a respective inline valve. A bypass valve is further provided extending between the downstream valve sides of the inline valves, the bypass valve operative to open and bypass the flow of inlet air through the outlet valves to the tire cavity in the event that a tire cavity pressure is greater than a preset pressure level and close when a tire cavity pressure is less than the preset pressure level.

Abstract: An air maintenance tire and pump assembly includes a pair of inline valves are positioned on respective opposite sides of an in-tire air passageway inlet junction and a pair of outlet valves positioned at a downstream side of a respective inline valve. A bypass valve is further provided extending between the downstream valve sides of the inline valves, the bypass valve operative to open and bypass the flow of inlet air through the outlet valves to the tire cavity in the event that a tire cavity pressure is greater than a preset pressure level and close when a tire cavity pressure is less than the preset pressure level.

Abstract: A tire, rim, and rim-mounted measurement device assembly includes a rim having a measurement device circumferential mounting surface; a tire mounted over the rim and having an inner liner region located radially inward from a crown region of the tire; one or more pairs of measurement devices mounted to the rim circumferential surface. Each measurement device has an operatively extending and retracting component attached to a respective attachment position on the inner liner region, and each of the measurement devices cooperatively measuring a designated type of deformation of the tire crown region within a rolling tire footprint.

Abstract: A method of testing an electronic tag includes: embedding the electronic tag within an elongate carrier strip composed of a material having material properties simulating an end product material within which the tag resides embedded during end product use; positioning the embedded tag substantially within the carrier strip at a mid-portion between opposite end portions of the strip; positioning the mid-portion of the strip and the embedded tag over at least one curved support surface; engaging the end portions of the strip; and positioning a reader in a position operative to receive information from the electronic tag during a testing transmission sequence; reciprocally moving the strip mid-portion in a forward direction and a reverse direction over the curved support surface; and rendering the reader operational to receive information transmitted from the electronic tag as the strip mid-portion reciprocally moves in the forward and reverse directions.

Abstract: A testing apparatus includes an elongate carrier strip encapsulating an electronic device such as an RFID tag therein. The apparatus includes multiple rollers positioned in sequence and defining a serpentine path for receiving and supporting a carrier strip mid-portion. A drive mechanism engages the end portions of the strip and reciprocally moves the strip mid-portion in a forward direction and a reverse direction against curved surfaces of the rollers. A reader is further provided and positioned to detect the presence or absence of transmission error by the electronic device as the strip mid-portion reciprocally moves in the forward and reverse directions over the apparatus support surface during a testing sequence.

Abstract: A test fixture and electronic tag assembly includes an electronic tag comprising an electronic device and a half wave dipole antenna of antenna length L. The antenna is configured as first and second coiled dipole antenna segments connecting with and extending in opposite directions from the electronic device. The assembly further includes a support frame; first and second electrically conductive pads positioned in spaced apart relationship within the support frame; and apparatus for fixedly holding end segments of the first and second coiled dipole antenna segments respectively against the first and second conductive pads in an overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A method of reading a data transmission from an electronic transmitting device mounted to a vehicle tire assembly includes: positioning a convex upper surface of a stand to intercept a vehicle tire of the vehicle tire assembly; establishing rotational engagement between the vehicle tire and the convex upper surface of the stand to slow the speed of the vehicle and reduce the rotational rate at which the vehicle tire rotates to a targeted reduced rotational read rate; and directing an antenna field from at least one antenna toward an approach path (and at least one antenna toward the exiting path) of the vehicle tire to the convex upper surface and lower surface of the stand to receive data transmission from the electronic transmitting device as the vehicle tire passes over the stand upper surface then down the lower surface at the reduced rotational read rate.

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: A method of testing an electronic tag includes: embedding the electronic tag within an elongate carrier strip composed of a material having material properties simulating an end product material within which the tag resides embedded during end product use; positioning the embedded tag substantially within the carrier strip at a mid-portion between opposite end portions of the strip; positioning the mid-portion of the strip and the embedded tag over at least one curved support surface; engaging the end portions of the strip; and positioning a reader in a position operative to receive information from the electronic tag during a testing transmission sequence; reciprocally moving the strip mid-portion in a forward direction and a reverse direction over the curved support surface; and rendering the reader operational to receive information transmitted from the electronic tag as the strip mid-portion reciprocally moves in the forward and reverse directions.

Abstract: A testing apparatus includes an elongate carrier strip encapsulating an electronic device such as an RFID tag therein. The apparatus includes multiple rollers positioned in sequence and defining a serpentine path for receiving and supporting a carrier strip mid-portion. A drive mechanism engages the end portions of the strip and reciprocally moves the strip mid-portion in a forward direction and a reverse direction against curved surfaces of the rollers. A reader is further provided and positioned to detect the presence or absence of transmission error by the electronic device as the strip mid-portion reciprocally moves in the forward and reverse directions over the apparatus support surface during a testing sequence.

Abstract: A multi-tire trailer and display system includes a trailer and a tire status display unit externally mounted to the trailer and operative to communicate a visible trailer tire inflation pressure status indicia, the display unit mounted to a forward end of the trailer at a mounting location operatively visible to an operator of a tractor during coupled operation of the tractor and the trailer. The display unit has a display panel operatively illuminated for visibly communicating the inflation status of the trailer tires and the display panel may communicate changes in the inflation status of the trailer tires by differentiated colored light emission. The display unit is at an elevated mounting location at a forward end of the trailer so as to be visible by means of a rear-view tractor mirror to an operator of a tractor coupled to the trailer as well as ground personnel.

Abstract: A tandem tractor and trailer system includes a tractor having a cab and a trailer, each having multiple wheel units, each wheel unit having a mounted tire and a tractor tire pressure measuring device. A first display unit mounts within the cab of the tractor and a second display unit to the exterior of the trailer, each display unit operating to communicate to an operator of the tractor a visible indicia of tractor and trailer tire inflation pressure status, respectively, based upon pressure measurements of the tractor and trailer tire pressure measuring devices, respectively. The second display unit may mount to a forward end of the trailer at a mounting location operatively visible by differentiated colored light emission through a rear view mirror to the operator of the tractor during operation of the tractor and the trailer.

Abstract: A multi-tire vehicle tire monitoring system includes a plurality of tire monitoring units mounted to measure at least one measured tire parameter of a respective tire on a vehicle and transmit measured tire parameter data responsive to the tire parameter measurement. The system further includes antennae for receiving the measured tire parameter data from tire monitoring units within a respectively assigned zone of tires of the vehicle, each zone encompassing a plurality of tires, and communicating the received measured tire parameter data to a data processing unit. Each antenna is fixedly mounted in an operable spatial relationship to a respective assigned zone of tires. A display may be operatively coupled to the vehicle data processing unit to visually indicate to a user a status of measured tire parameters of tires by zone.

Abstract: A test fixture and electronic tag assembly includes an electronic tag comprising an electronic device and a half wave dipole antenna of antenna length L. The antenna is configured as first and second coiled dipole antenna segments connecting with and extending in opposite directions from the electronic device. The assembly further includes a support frame; first and second electrically conductive pads positioned in spaced apart relationship within the support frame; and apparatus for fixedly holding end segments of the first and second coiled dipole antenna segments respectively against the first and second conductive pads in an overlapping relationship.

Abstract: A tire and wheel rim assembly includes a tire supporting rim having an outward facing mounting surface and at least one tire body mounted to the rim and positioning an internal tire cavity over the rim mounting surface. A tire pressure monitoring module assembly mounts to the rim mounting surface and includes a housing having an internal pressure chamber; a pressure sensing device and/or a temperature measuring sensor within the housing pressure chamber; and an elongate connecting member extending through the housing and the rim mounting surface. A crossover pipe connects the housing pressure chamber with a remote portion of the rim. The inflation pressure in the tire cavity is transferred through the axial passageway of the crossover pipe to the pressure chamber within the module housing.

Abstract: A tire and wheel rim assembly includes a tire supporting rim having an outward facing mounting surface; a tire mounted to the rim positioning an internal tire cavity over the rim mounting surface; a passageway extending through the rim for communicating air pressure between the tire cavity and a side of the rim opposite the tire cavity; and means for controllably regulating the flow of air through the passageway. A connecting member such as a bolt may extend through the rim outside mounting surface to affix a tire pressure monitoring housing to the rim and the axial passageway through the rim may be an axial bore through the bolt. Regulation of air flow through the passageway may be effected by setting the diameter of the passageway sufficiently small; or incorporating a needle orifice in the passageway; or incorporating a porous insert body into the passageway. The insert body may be composed of sintered metal and may be fused to the internal sidewalls of the bolt.

Abstract: A tire and wheel rim assembly includes a tire supporting rim having an outward facing mounting surface; a tire mounted to the rim positioning an internal tire cavity over the rim mounting surface; a passageway extending through the rim for communicating air pressure between the tire cavity and a side of the rim opposite the tire cavity; and means for controllably regulating the flow of air through the passageway. A connecting member such as a bolt may extend through the rim outside mounting surface to affix a tire pressure monitoring housing to the rim and the axial passageway through the rim may be an axial bore through the bolt. Regulation of air flow through the passageway may be effected by setting the diameter of the passageway sufficiently small; or incorporating a needle orifice in the passageway; or incorporating a porous insert body into the passageway. The insert body may be composed of sintered metal and may be fused to the internal sidewalls of the bolt.

Abstract: A tire and wheel rim assembly includes a tire supporting rim having an outward facing mounting surface and at least one tire body mounted to the rim and positioning an internal tire cavity over the rim mounting surface. A tire pressure monitoring module assembly mounts to the rim mounting surface and includes a housing having an internal pressure chamber; a pressure sensing device and/or a temperature measuring sensor within the housing pressure chamber; and an elongate connecting member extending through the housing and the rim mounting surface. The connecting member has an axial through-passageway communicating with the internal tire cavity and the housing pressure chamber. The connecting member may be configured as an externally threaded bolt having an axial through-passageway. The bolt is in threaded engagement with a threaded opening in the housing and extends through the rim outside mounting surface to couple the housing to the rim.

Abstract: A tire and wheel rim assembly includes a tire supporting rim having an outward facing mounting surface and at least one tire body mounted to the rim and positioning an internal tire cavity over the rim mounting surface. A tire pressure monitoring module assembly mounts to the rim mounting surface and includes a housing having an internal pressure chamber; a pressure sensing device and/or a temperature measuring sensor within the housing pressure chamber; and an elongate connecting member extending through the housing and the rim mounting surface. A crossover pipe connects the housing pressure chamber with a remote portion of the rim. The inflation pressure in the tire cavity is transferred through the axial passageway of the crossover pipe to the pressure chamber within the module housing.