Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for sensing irregular wear of a tire tread. A tire is providing having an innerliner adjacent to a belt package, an undertread adjacent to the belt package opposite the innerliner, and a tread adjacent to the undertread opposite the belt package. The tread includes a plurality of tread elements and a conductive filament disposed laterally within the tread. The conductive filament includes a pair of ends extending radially through the undertread and the belt package to the innerliner and terminates into a corresponding pair of sensor contacts. A sensor adjacent to a radially inward side of the innerliner is also included in the tire, the sensor having a pair of electrical contacts in electrical contact with the sensor contacts.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for sensing wear of a tire tread. A tire comprises an innerliner, a plurality of belts layered adjacent to the innerliner, a tread adjacent to the plurality of belts opposite the innerliner and a treadwear sensor positioned in the innerliner. The treadwear sensor comprises a base plate on an interior side of the innerliner and a tube extending from the base plate through the innerliner and the plurality of belts to a first wear depth in the tread. When the tread is worn to the first wear depth, an end of the tube is exposed through the tire.

Abstract: A tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending from a respective bead area to a tread. The tread is formed with a plurality of tread elements and a radially outer surface, and a chamber is formed in one of the tread elements. A sensor unit is mounted to the tire and includes a pair of electrical contacts. The polymer plug includes a wire disposed in the chamber. The wire includes proximal ends and a distal end near a radially outer surface of the tread. A liquid polymer is injected into the chamber and cured. An electrical circuit is formed by each proximal end of the wire electrically contacts a respective one of the sensor unit electrical contacts. When the tread element wears down to the distal end of the wire, the wire and the circuit break. A notice is transmitted by the sensor unit when the circuit breaks.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples for detecting a displacement of a sensor within a tire. A baseline signal strength is compared to a measured signal strength. When a calculated comparison value (e.g., delta standard deviation) meets or exceeds a threshold value, the sensor is determined to be displaced from the expected location in the tire. When a sensor is determined to be displaced or otherwise loose from the expected location within the tire, an alert can be generated to provide notice to the vehicle driver or other entity of the issue so that the issue can then be remedied.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for monitoring tire sensors. An intermediate data transfer apparatus can communicate with tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensors of tires within a predefined distance of the apparatus to retrieve sensor information. The intermediate data transfer apparatus can generate sensor data records including the retrieved sensor information can be generated and stored on a remote computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of permanent active sensors in a tire achieved by partially embedding a sensor component in a green tire and adding a removable power source after the tire is cured. The printed circuit board can be encapsulated in the rubber of the tire with a power source housing connected to the electronics through the rubber. In another aspect, the printed circuit board can be directly connected to the power source housing. The sensor interlocks with the rubber of the tire. Various structural features of the sensor, such as a flange or channels for the rubber, can be used to secure the sensor in the rubber of the tire.

Abstract: An integrated tread wear sensor and tire pressure monitoring system sensor unit container for a tire includes a tread wear sensor plug and a sensor container. The tread wear sensor plug includes a cylindrical projection extending through an opening formed in a selected tread element of the tire. A flange extends outwardly from the projection and includes a contact surface that is mounted to an innerliner of the tire. A conductive wire is disposed in the tread wear sensor plug and includes proximal ends disposed in the flange and a distal end disposed near a radially outer surface of the projection. The sensor container includes a wall extending radially from the flange of the tread wear sensor plug and terminating in a lip. A container cavity is defined by the flange, the wall, and the lip, and receives a tire pressure monitoring system sensor.

Abstract: A tire sensor attachment structure is provided. The tire includes a pair of bead areas, a sidewall extending from each respective bead area to a tread, a carcass extending toroidally between each of the bead areas, and an innerliner that is disposed radially inwardly of the carcass. A sensor housing is attached to the innerliner, and defines an interior chamber. A sensor is disposed in the chamber. The tire sensor attachment structure includes a compressible body that is disposed in the chamber between the sensor and the innerliner.

Abstract: A sensor retaining system for a vehicle tire is provided. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending from a respective bead area to a tread, which is formed with a plurality of tread elements. A sensor unit is mounted to the tire and includes a pair of electrical contacts. A tread wear sensor extends into one of the tread elements and includes a wire. The wire includes proximal ends, each one of which contacts a sensor unit electrical contact to create an electrical circuit. A flexible container is mounted to an innerliner of the tire. A cup includes a base and a sidewall that cooperate to form a cavity, and a bottom of the tread wear sensor and the sensor unit are received in the cavity. The cup maintains a connection between the electrical contacts and the wire proximal ends, and is disposed in the flexible container.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for sensing wear of a tire tread and for providing for electrostatic discharge of electrostatic charge buildup in a vehicle. Various sensor structures and electrostatic discharge structures are created using conductive rubber compositions and/or other elements to achieve tire tread wear sensing and discharge of electrostatic buildup. Such structures include conductors made of conductive rubber compositions, for example, having an uncured or cured electrical resistance at 23° C. less than about 10 K? when formed into a wire about 254 millimeters long and 2 millimeters in diameter.

Abstract: A tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending from a respective bead area to a tread. The tread is formed with a plurality of tread elements and a radially outer surface. A sensor unit is mounted to the tire and includes a pair of electrical contacts. The tread wear sensor plug includes a cylindrical projection extending through an opening formed in one of the tread elements, a flange, and a wire including proximal ends disposed in the flange and a distal end near a radially outer surface of the projection. An electrical circuit is formed by each proximal end of the wire electrically contacting a respective one of the sensor unit electrical contacts. When the tread element and the cylindrical projection wear down to the distal end of the wire, the wire and the circuit break. A notice is transmitted by the sensor unit when the circuit breaks.

Abstract: A tire sensor container system is provided. A tire includes a carcass toroidally extending from a first bead area to a second bead area, and an innerliner formed on an inner surface of the carcass. The tire sensor container system includes a tire pressure monitoring system sensor, which in turn includes a rigid housing that is formed with an oval shape. A flexible container is mounted to the innerliner. The container includes a base and a wall extending radially outwardly from the base, and the wall terminates in a lip. The container wall is formed with an oval shape that cooperates with the shape of the tire pressure monitoring sensor housing. A cavity is defined by the base, the wall, and the lip, and cavity receives and secures the tire pressure monitoring system sensor. The system reduces sensor rotation and maintains consistent sensor orientation to improve sensor functionality and longevity.

Abstract: A tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending from a respective bead area to a tread. The tread is formed with a plurality of tread elements and a radially outer surface, and a chamber is formed in one of the tread elements. A sensor unit is mounted to the tire and includes a pair of electrical contacts. The polymer plug includes a wire disposed in the chamber. The wire includes proximal ends and a distal end near a radially outer surface of the tread. A liquid polymer is injected into the chamber and cured. An electrical circuit is formed by each proximal end of the wire electrically contacts a respective one of the sensor unit electrical contacts. When the tread element wears down to the distal end of the wire, the wire and the circuit break. A notice is transmitted by the sensor unit when the circuit breaks.

Abstract: An integrated tread wear sensor and tire pressure monitoring system sensor unit container for a tire includes a tread wear sensor plug and a sensor container. The tread wear sensor plug includes a cylindrical projection extending through an opening formed in a selected tread element of the tire. A flange extends outwardly from the projection and includes a contact surface that is mounted to an innerliner of the tire. A conductive wire is disposed in the tread wear sensor plug and includes proximal ends disposed in the flange and a distal end disposed near a radially outer surface of the projection. The sensor container includes a wall extending radially from the flange of the tread wear sensor plug and terminating in a lip. A container cavity is defined by the flange, the wall, and the lip, and receives a tire pressure monitoring system sensor.

Abstract: A tire sensor container system is provided. A tire includes a carcass toroidally extending from a first bead area to a second bead area, and an innerliner formed on an inner surface of the carcass. The tire sensor container system includes a tire pressure monitoring system sensor, which in turn includes a rigid housing that is formed with an oval shape. A flexible container is mounted to the innerliner. The container includes a base and a wall extending radially outwardly from the base, and the wall terminates in a lip. The container wall is formed with an oval shape that cooperates with the shape of the tire pressure monitoring sensor housing. A cavity is defined by the base, the wall, and the lip, and cavity receives and secures the tire pressure monitoring system sensor.

Abstract: A sensor retaining system for a vehicle tire is provided. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending from a respective bead area to a tread, which is formed with a plurality of tread elements. A sensor unit is mounted to the tire and includes a pair of electrical contacts. A tread wear sensor extends into one of the tread elements and includes a wire. The wire includes proximal ends, each one of which contacts a sensor unit electrical contact to create an electrical circuit. A flexible container is mounted to an innerliner of the tire. A cup includes a base and a sidewall that cooperate to form a cavity, and a bottom of the tread wear sensor and the sensor unit are received in the cavity. The cup maintains a connection between the electrical contacts and the wire proximal ends, and is disposed in the flexible container.

Abstract: A tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending from a respective bead area to a tread. The tread is formed with a plurality of tread elements and a radially outer surface. A sensor unit is mounted to the tire and includes a pair of electrical contacts. The tread wear sensor plug includes a cylindrical projection extending through an opening formed in one of the tread elements, a flange, and a wire including proximal ends disposed in the flange and a distal end near a radially outer surface of the projection. An electrical circuit is formed by each proximal end of the wire electrically contacting a respective one of the sensor unit electrical contacts. When the tread element and the cylindrical projection wear down to the distal end of the wire, the wire and the circuit break. A notice is transmitted by the sensor unit when the circuit breaks.

Abstract: A tire sensor attachment structure is provided. The tire includes a pair of bead areas, a sidewall extending from each respective bead area to a tread, a carcass extending toroidally between each of the bead areas, and an innerliner that is disposed radially inwardly of the carcass. A sensor housing is attached to the innerliner, and defines an interior chamber. A sensor is disposed in the chamber. The tire sensor attachment structure includes a compressible body that is disposed in the chamber between the sensor and the innerliner.