Abstract: A pressure monitoring system has a first chamber (11) and a second chamber (12) separated by a diaphragm. The diaphragm carries respective SAW devices on the respective sides thereof, the SAW devices having different resonant frequencies. Variations in pressure within the second chamber (12) relative to the pressure within the first chamber (11) will cause deflection of the diaphragm and the resulting changes in resonant frequency of the SAW devices can be analyzed to indicate the pressure differential between the chambers. The pressure-measuring device is incorporated within a valve assembly for a vehicle tire. When the vehicle tire is inflated, the inflation pressure is trapped within the first chamber (11) as a reference. Any subsequent loss of pressure from the second chamber (12), e.g. as a result of a puncture, will cause deflection of the diaphragm and a corresponding output from the SAW devices.

Abstract: A fluid-filled elastic hollow body 2, includes a pressure sensor 4 for detecting the pressure of the fluid in the elastic hollow body, and an adapter 6 for coupling the elastic hollow body to an external movable member. The elastic hollow body 2, having a hollow sphere portion 2a having a roughly constant wall thickness, is deformed when an external contact load is applied causing a rise in its inner pressure detected by the pressure sensor 4. The invention provides: (1) that the sensor can accurately measure a contact load without being influenced by a change in direction of force measured; (2) that it can be attached easily and measure a load immediately after attachment; (3) that it is resistant against instantaneous shock load; (4) that it can easily model a substance when it comes in contact therewith; and (5) that its sensitivity does not deteriorate.

Abstract: A transmitter device includes a rotational direction sensor that generates a specific pattern signal when a corresponding tire rotates. The pattern signal of the left tires is different from the pattern signal of the right tires. A front reception antenna is near the front tires. A rear reception antenna is near the rear tires. A receiver includes a switch circuit that selectively connects the front reception antenna or the rear reception antenna to a controller. When one transmitter device transmits a radio signal, the controller determines which transmitter device is the source of the radio signal in accordance with the level of the signals from the reception antennas and the pattern signal, which is included in the data transmitted by the transmitter device.

Abstract: A wheel bearing unit that measures the contact forces between the tire and the road under all driving situations including operation of the brake, and provides information for the vehicle operation control systems and for optimizing the braking process, the unit including first sensors arranged on the stationary part of the wheel bearing in order to measure the forces acting in the wheel bearing, and second sensors arranged on a support members for the disk-brake caliper for continuously determining the acting braking forces.

Abstract: A vane designed to get oriented in the axis of an ambient airflow. The vane allows for the intake of differential pressure presenting the aerodynamic incidence &agr; of the vane. According to the invention, the differential pressure intake is balanced when the vane is oriented naturally in the axis of the airflow.

Abstract: A fluid coupling capable of indicating proper tightening includes a fitting body having a flared end with a back side. The fitting body also includes an indicator spaced a predetermined distance away from the back side. A threaded nut is positioned around the fitting body adjacent the flared end and includes a back end and a shoulder portion spaced away a predetermined distance therefrom. The shoulder portion is concentrically aligned with the back side of the flared end. The fluid fitting also includes a belleville washer(s) positioned around the fitting body adjacent the back side of the flared end, which is (are) compressed upon threading and torquing of the nut onto the threaded end of a male fitting. When a predetermined amount of torque has been applied to the nut, the indicator is visible adjacent the back end of the nut.

Abstract: Reconstituting the profile of a pavement consists of moving three contactless distance-measuring sensors over a pavement, the sensors being equidistant and in horizontal alignment in the direction of motion. The sensors deliver signals representative of their respective heights above the pavement. Measuring the distance traveled by the sensors, and measuring twice the height measured by the middle sensor from the sum of the heights of the two end sensors. The apparatus has a horizontal beam fitted with three sensors, a device for measuring the distance traveled, and a computer, the assembly being mounted on a load-carrying chassis or vehicle.

Abstract: An acoustic system has an acoustic sensor and a processing circuit. The acoustic sensor includes a base, a microphone having a microphone diaphragm supported by the base, and a hot-wire anemometer having a set of hot-wire extending members supported by the base. The set of hot-wire extending members defines a plane which is substantially parallel to the microphone diaphragm. The processing circuit receives a sound and wind pressure signal from the microphone and a wind velocity signal from the hot-wire anemometer, and provides an output signal based on the sound and wind pressure signal from the microphone and the wind velocity signal from the hot-wire anemometer (e.g., accurate sound with wind noise removed). The configuration of the hot-wire extending members defining a plane which is substantially parallel to the microphone diaphragm can be easily implemented in a MEMS device making the configuration suitable for miniaturized applications.

Abstract: A tire deflation warning system is based solely on the measured distance traveled by each tire of a: vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a sensor which generates pulses representative of the distance traveled by each wheel such as generated by an ABS brake system. The system accumulates the pulses in the controller to determine whether the vehicle is stable. If the vehicle is stable, it performs a test to cover individual tires, opposing diagonal tires or any combination of three tires using an average of the diagonal ratio. These tests are performed by utilizing the pulses generated by each wheel representing the distance traveled by the wheel.

Abstract: A pressure transducer which has a closed chamber which is full of oil or other non-compressible liquid. Pressure communicates with a diaphragm which defines one side of the closed chamber and the pressure communicates via the oil with a pressure sensor which is mounted within the oil spaced from the diaphragm. The liquid entered the closed chamber through a inlet hole with a selected volume driven into the closed chamber by a ball which is forcefully driven a selected distance into the inlet hole before stopping at the end of the inlet hole against a physical stop.

Abstract: A pressure-measuring cell having a base and a diaphragm positioned on the base is deformed by a pressure being measured. A temperature-measuring sensor is positioned between the diaphragm and the base preferably embedded in a material layer that seals a compartment. The diaphragm is preferably made of a ceramic and the material layer is preferably made of a glass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pressure sensing includes a Bourdon tube connected to a source of fluid pressure for sensing pressure changes therein, the Bourdon tube containing a pressure sensitive medium, a socket having a bore therethrough and positioned to fluidly connect the Bourdon tube with the source of pressure, a diaphragm positioned in the bore between the Bourdon tube and the source of pressure so as to isolate the pressure sensitive medium from the fluid whose pressure is sensed, and a dampener positioned between the diaphragm and the Bourdon tube, the dampener having a porous metallic body effective for substantially dampening transmission of a pressure pulse from the source of pressure to the pressure sensitive medium.

Abstract: A dampening apparatus for a pressure gauge in which a housing secured to the amplifier of the pressure gauge encircles the pointer shaft in a close but loose fit relation so as to define a controlled clearance packed with a high viscosity dampening agent such that it serves to decelerate and cushion any sudden shock or pulsation force that would otherwise be transmitted from the pointer shaft to a pointer registering values of pressure of fluid pressure being monitored.

Abstract: An air data sensor for an aircraft has a flush mounted plate at the outside surface of the aircraft and a housing for the sensor within the aircraft below the plate. A plurality of holes in the plate provide air flow to a pressure sensor in the housing. To prevent water from reaching the sensor, a trap chamber is provided below the holes. Various contorted air flow paths are disclosed. The tube to the pressure sensor may be heated.

Abstract: A device with at least two sensors, especially tire sidewall torsion (SWT) sensors for a motor vehicle control system, wherein the sensors are mounted at varying distances from the tire rotational axis on the chassis or wheel suspension in a stationary manner and wherein the sensors interact with at least one encoder mounted on or in the tire wall or with at least one conventional encoder mounted on or in the tire wall and exhibiting poles. The output signals or output information of the sensors are transmitted to the motor vehicle control system after having been evaluated.

Abstract: Tire air pressure during high speed travel is estimated without a sensor for detecting the tire air pressure directly. An apparatus is constituted by a wheel speed sensor, road surface friction state estimator for estimating a friction state estimation value representing friction between the tire and a road surface from wheel speed detected by the wheel speed sensor, tire air pressure estimator for estimating any reduction in the tire air pressure based on the friction state estimation value, and a display for displaying the estimated reduction in the tire air pressure.

Abstract: Methods for improving vehicle steering performance and robustness of that performance include control of non-uniformities in the vehicle's tires, wheels and tire/wheel assemblies as a way to overcome the tendency of the steering systems in certain vehicle types to undergo “steering performance loss.” While minimizing lateral force variations (e.g., couple imbalance), a controlled amount of radial and/or tangential force variation is induced in one or more tire/wheel assemblies by means of mass non-uniformity, dimensional non-uniformity, and/or stiffness non-uniformity. For dimensional non-uniformity, the preferred method is to impart a controlled amount of dimensional non-uniformity (preferably radial runout) to the tire and/or the wheel in at least one of the tire/wheel assemblies, followed by statically and dynamically balancing all of the vehicle's tire/wheel assemblies.

Abstract: In a load detecting device, a hermetically sealed sensor chamber is constituted by a sensor head, a bellows, a housing and a stem. A sensor chip for detecting pressure is housed in the sensor chamber that is filled up with liquid. When load is applied to the sensor head, the bellows contracts axially to vary pressure of the liquid. The sensor chip senses the pressure of the liquid so that the load applied to the sensor chamber is detected with higher detecting accuracy.

Abstract: An arrangement in which a first contact surface (2) for bonding one end (51) of the bonding wire (5) and a piezoelectric actuator (3) are fixed on a support body (1) and a second contact surface (4) for bonding another end (52) of the bonding wire (5) is fixed to the actuator by an unsupported support body (34). The second contact surface moves back and forth in relation to the support body by means of an actuator, at a frequency of between 0.1 Hz and a few KHz and in one or more directions (31, 31′, 31″). The arrangement is suitable for use in testing the endurance of bonding wire connections.

Abstract: An electronic pressure sensing device includes a pressure sensing/transmitter module including at least one pressure sensor having a pair of opposed sensing elements, and a pair of inlet port on the module to supply fluid under pressure to the sensing elements. A plurality of adapters, each having a pair of outlet ports for connection to the inlet ports on the module, whereby each adapter can be selectively coupled to the module. Each adapter is capable of being connected to a different configuration of pressurized fluid supply to feed the associated supply to at least one of the inlet ports on the module. The module further includes an electronic device for interpreting and transmitting the values of pressure sensed by the sensing elements.