Importance

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Abstract

A pneumatic tire monitoring system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, preferably in combination with a tire pressurizing and regulating apparatus, comprises a transponder with a transmitting antenna mounted on the wheel for transmitting a signal indicating tire condition, one or more receivers with receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and circuitry for processing the received signals; the system characterized in that: circuitry for each transponder is on a printed circuit board within a protective housing coaxial to the hub of the wheel or wheel carrier; and each transmitting antenna is selected from the group comprising a partial loop antenna, a helical antenna, a circular dipole antenna, and a small coupling coil adjacent to an endless hoop antenna. The partial loop antenna is mounted in each housing affixed around a portion of the circumference of the printed circuit board, having an angular arc length, and comprises a serpentine portion for increasing the effective length of the partial loop antenna without also extending the angular arc length. The angular arc length and the affixed placement are determined for avoiding RF signal interference due to interaction with signal-interfering objects in the housing. Additionally, the partial loop antenna has an end portion that can be trimmed for adjusting the effective length to enable tuning of the antenna for optimum transmission at different radio transmission frequencies.

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First Claim