Composite antenna for a tire

Abstract

A composite conductor assembly is configured as a core composed of polymeric elastormeric material and a conductive layer in intimate surrounding contact with the core. The polymeric material provides elasticity to the core to enable the core to elongate when subjected to strain forces within a tire. The conductive layer is fabricated from a low impedance material and may be configured as a composite wherein an inner base metal is selected as a strength member and an outer metallic layer is applied to the base for electrical performance enhancement.

1 . A composite conductor assembly comprising: 
 an elongate core formed at least partially from a flexible, high impedance material;    an elongate conductive layer placed at least partially around the core, the conductor assembly flexing in response to externally originating strain on the conductor assembly.    
   
   
       2 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a unitary elongate body composed from at least one polymeric elastomer.  
   
   
       3 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the core is composed from at least one material taken from the group (nylon, polyester, aramid, rubber).  
   
   
       4 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cord is a single mono-filament structure.  
   
   
       5 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cord is a multi-filament structure.  
   
   
       6 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cord is a braided structure.  
   
   
       7 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cord has a diameter that is at least three times the diameter of the conductor layer.  
   
   
       8 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cord is composed from at least one material having an elongation to break characteristic greater than about 5%.  
   
   
       9 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cord is composed from a material that causes no substantial degradation in the conductive layer.  
   
   
       10 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer comprises at least one filament in a helical pattern around the core.  
   
   
       11 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer comprises a plurality of pretwisted strands in a helical pattern around the core.  
   
   
       12 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the helical pattern is alternatively at the election of a user y strands of n×m structure or y strands of n+m+k structure wherein y=1 to 50; n=1 to 7; m=1 to 27; and k=0 to 27.  
   
   
       13 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer comprises at least one filament in a helical pattern around the core, the helix angle measured between a respective form of conductive layer and the core perpendicularly is substantially between 15 and 55 degrees.  
   
   
       14 . A conductor according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer comprises at least one filament in a helical pattern around the core, the helix angle measured between a respective form of conductive layer and the core perpendicularly is substantially between 30 and 55 degrees.  
   
   
       15 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductor layer is composed of at least one conductive metal.  
   
   
       16 . A conductor assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one conductive metal of the conductor layer is coated with a secondary material.