Patent ID: 8063742

Claim:
A testing apparatus for an electronic tag of a type that transmits information from a host product to a reader during the course of commercial end product use, the apparatus comprising: 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, the tag being substantially embedded within the carrier strip at a mid-portion between opposite end portions of the strip; at least one apparatus support surface operationally positioned to support the carrier strip mid-portion; strip means engaging the end portions of the strip for reciprocally moving the strip mid-portion in a forward direction and a reverse direction over the apparatus support surface; a reader operationally positioned to receive information transmitted from the electronic tag as the strip mid-portion reciprocally moves in the forward and reverse directions over the apparatus support surface during a testing sequence; wherein the convex outer surface having a radius of curvature sufficient to stress the electronic tag as the strip mid-portion moves over the apparatus support surface; wherein the radius of curvature of the convex outer surface simulates a tire curvature within which the tag resides embedded during tire use; wherein the support roller is mounted within an apparatus frame to reciprocally move against a spring bias in a direction normal to the convex outer surface of the support roller.