Abstract: A dynamic load estimation system and method is provided, the system including a tire supporting a vehicle; a vehicle-mounted acceleration sensor for determining a vehicle lateral acceleration and a vehicle longitudinal acceleration; a roll angle calculating model for determining a vehicle roll angle; a roll rate calculating model for determining a vehicle roll rate; a static normal load calculation model for calculating a measured static normal load; and a dynamic tire load estimation model for calculating an estimated dynamic load on the tire from the measured static normal load, the vehicle roll angle, the vehicle roll rate, the vehicle lateral acceleration and the vehicle longitudinal acceleration.

Abstract: A dynamic load estimation system is provided including: a vehicle load bearing tire; at least one tire sensor mounted to the tire, the sensor operable to measure a tire deformation of the one tire and generate a raw load-indicating signal conveying measured deformation data; road roughness estimation means for determining a road roughness estimation; filtering means for filtering the measured deformation data by the road roughness estimation; and load estimation means for estimating an estimated load on the one tire from filtered measured deformation data.

Abstract: A slip angle estimation includes a tire having one or more first and second strain sensor(s) affixed to opposite respective first and second tire sidewalls. The sensors measure a tire strain in their respective sidewalls and generate a sidewall strain signal indicative of strain present within the tire sidewalls. A slip angle estimation is made by estimating the difference in the signal slope of the sensors in the opposite sidewalls. A load estimation is further made for the tire from the inner and outer sidewall strain signals and the load estimation is used in the slip angle estimation.

Abstract: A read station and method for a vehicle includes a support pad for admitting and exiting a vehicle onto an upper pad surface; two or more data-receiving systems, one or both of such systems receiving a data transmission from a vehicle situated on the read station pad surface. The data-receiving systems include an identification-data transmission system and a monitored parameter-data transmission system. One or more of the read station data-receiving systems may be configured to effect data transmission from the vehicle as the vehicle moves across the support pad. The information-data transmission system couples a vehicle wheel unit based RFID tag with an electric field established by one or more system antennae disposed on the support pad.

Abstract: Picking apparatus for handling an electronic device having an elongate dipole antenna includes: a support body having an open slot defined by guide fingers; and an antenna positioning mechanism such as a magnet positioned to move the antenna into the slot and holding the antenna within the slot in an elongate condition. The magnet may be switched to an off condition to release the antenna from the slot or mechanically overcome. An apparatus push rod actuator may be deployed to move the antenna from the slot and deposit the antenna on a receiving component surface external of the slot.

Abstract: A method for affixing an electronic device having an elongate dipole antenna to a substrate surface includes: positioning picking apparatus adjacent to the electronic device, the picking apparatus having at least one antenna positioning means such as a magnet positioned adjacent the electronic device; activating the antenna positioning means; moving the opposite antenna ends into a captured relationship with the picking apparatus by means of the antenna positioning means; moving the picking apparatus to a position adjacent the substrate surface; engaging the substrate surface with the picking apparatus; and depositing the electronic device to the substrate surface.

Abstract: A read station and method for a vehicle includes a support pad for admitting and exiting a vehicle onto an upper pad surface; two or more data-receiving systems, one or both of such systems receiving a data transmission from a vehicle situated on the read station pad surface. The data-receiving systems include an identification-data transmission system and a monitored parameter-data transmission system. One or more of the read station data-receiving systems may be configured to effect data transmission from the vehicle as the vehicle moves across the support pad. The information-data transmission system couples a vehicle wheel unit based RFID tag with an electric field established by one or more system antennae disposed on the support pad.

Abstract: A tread depth measurement system for measuring a depth of a tread provided to a tire on a vehicle. The system includes an energy source for emitting a wireless signal to be transmitted to the tire; a sensor for detecting a return wireless signal emitted from the tire to be transmitted in response to the wireless signal from the energy source; and a housing over which the tire is to roll while attached to the vehicle, said housing separating the sensor from the tire while the tread depth is being measured. A control unit is operatively coupled to the sensor for determining the depth of the tread as a function of at least the return wireless signal detected by the sensor.

Abstract: An initiator system and method is provided for a tire pressure monitoring system. The initiator system includes a service station through which the vehicle passes. While situated within the service station, an initiation signal is generated prompting data transmission from wheel unit based tire pressure monitoring device to a receiver. An output device may be employed to visually display information responsive to the transmitted data.

Abstract: A tread depth measurement system for measuring a depth of a tread provided to a tire on a vehicle. The system includes an energy source for emitting a wireless signal to be transmitted to the tire; a sensor for detecting a return wireless signal emitted from the tire to be transmitted in response to the wireless signal from the energy source; and a housing over which the tire is to roll while attached to the vehicle, said housing separating the sensor from the tire while the tread depth is being measured. A control unit is operatively coupled to the sensor for determining the depth of the tread as a function of at least the return wireless signal detected by the sensor.

Abstract: Picking apparatus for handling an electronic device having an elongate dipole antenna includes: a support body having an open slot defined by guide fingers; and an antenna positioning means such as a magnet positioned to move the antenna into the slot and holding the antenna within the slot in an elongate condition. The magnet may be switched to an off condition to release the antenna from the slot or mechanically overcome. An apparatus push rod actuator may be deployed to move the antenna from the slot and deposit the antenna on a receiving component surface external of the slot.

Abstract: A method for affixing an electronic device having an elongate dipole antenna to a substrate surface includes: positioning picking apparatus adjacent to the electronic device, the picking apparatus having at least one antenna positioning means such as a magnet positioned adjacent the electronic device; activating the antenna positioning means; moving the opposite antenna ends into a captured relationship with the picking apparatus by means of the antenna positioning means; moving the picking apparatus to a position adjacent the substrate surface; engaging the substrate surface with the picking apparatus; and depositing the electronic device to the substrate surface.

Abstract: An annular antenna loop is electrically coupled to a transponder. The antenna and the transponder are at least partially embedded into a non-conductive carrier strip to form a ring assembly to render the antenna and transponder package unitarily transportable. The annular assembly affixes to a tire in a post-manufacture attachment procedure and at a location that minimizes exposure of the annular apparatus to strain and to electromagnetic interference from the metallic wheel rim.