Abstract: A sensing apparatus for determining a property of a fuel such as a gasoline and ethanol blend known as flex fuel includes an acetal plastic tube with an inlet, an outlet and a fuel passage in between. One property of the fuel is a dielectric constant. A pair of sensing plates are placed on opposite sides of the tube leaving the fuel passage unobstructed. A processing circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) is located near to and is connected with the sensing plates. The circuit applies an excitation signal, senses a capacitance, and generates an output signal indicative of a property of the fuel. The sensed capacitance will increase with increasing concentration of ethanol in the fuel flowing through the passage. A shield for reducing EMI surrounds and encloses the sensing plates and the PCB. An interface connector allows the sensing apparatus to output the capacitance indicative signal to an engine controller or the like.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus for determining a property of a fuel such as a gasoline and ethanol blend known as flex fuel includes an acetal plastic tube with an inlet, an outlet and a fuel passage in between. One property of the fuel is a dielectric constant. A pair of sensing plates are placed on opposite sides of the tube leaving the fuel passage unobstructed. A processing circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) is located near to and is connected with the sensing plates. The circuit applies an excitation signal, senses a capacitance, and generates an output signal indicative of a property of the fuel. The sensed capacitance will increase with increasing concentration of ethanol in the fuel flowing through the passage. A shield for reducing EMI surrounds and encloses the sensing plates and the PCB. An interface connector allows the sensing apparatus to output the capacitance indicative signal to an engine controller or the like.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus for determining a property of a fuel such as a gasoline and ethanol blend known as flex fuel includes an acetal plastic tube with an inlet, an outlet and a fuel passage in between. One property is a dielectric constant. A pair of semi-circular shaped sensing plates are placed around the tube in concentric relation therewith, leaving the fuel passage unobstructed. A processing circuit on a printed circuit board (PCB) is located near and connected with the sensing plates. The circuit applies an excitation signal, senses a capacitance, and generates an output signal indicative of a property of the fuel. A shield for reducing EMI surrounds and encloses the sensing plates and the PCB. The sensed capacitance will increase with increasing concentration of ethanol in the fuel flowing through the passage. An interface connector allows the sensing apparatus to output the indicative signal to an engine controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating a signal from an external transmitter located in a remote location to a sensor mountable in an interior of a pressure vessel including a vehicle tire. The method and apparatus include disposing a pressure transducer assembly within the pressure vessel or tire in communication with a fluid. The transducer is operably connected to circuitry including a receiver circuit disposed on a PCB. A signal is transmitted from the external transmitter and received with an antenna disposed on the PCB operably connected with said receiver circuit. The antenna is configured as a trace coil disposed on at least two layers of the PCB with each of the trace coils being wound on a corresponding layer in an essentially spiral configuration. Each of the trace coils are on a corresponding layer being and serially connected to a contiguous trace coil disposed on a contiguous layer.

Abstract: A tire pressure sensor unit having a sensor body including a housing and an integral nipple which is upstanding in perpendicular relation to a mounting surface of the housing. The housing has a cavity in which is located a tire air pressure sensor, wherein the nipple has a passage therethrough which communicates with the cavity. The cavity is entirely air tight except for the passage of the nipple. The nipple includes an annular flange at its distal end, forming thereby a reduced cross-section portion between the annular flange and the mounting surface of the housing. The nipple passes sealing through a port hole provided in a wheel rim, and an adhesive is applied to the mounting surface to secure the housing to the hub-side of the wheel rim.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating a signal from an external transmitter located in a remote location to a sensor mountable in an interior of a pressure vessel including a vehicle tire. The method and apparatus include disposing a pressure transducer assembly within the pressure vessel or tire in communication with a fluid. The transducer is operably connected to circuitry including a receiver circuit disposed on a PCB. A signal is transmitted from the external transmitter and received with an antenna disposed on the PCB operably connected with said receiver circuit. The antenna is configured as a trace coil disposed on at least two layers of the PCB with each of the trace coils being wound on a corresponding layer in an essentially spiral configuration. Each of the trace coils are on a corresponding layer being and serially connected to a contiguous trace coil disposed on a contiguous layer.

Abstract: A pressure transducer assembly mountable in an interior of a tire for sensing a pressure of a fluid in the tire comprising: a sensor housing having a first compartment in fluid communication with the fluid; a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a divider slideably engaged with and removable from the sensor housing; the divider having disposed thereon a circuitry; the circuitry including a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the first compartment, and a transmission circuit coupled to the pressure transducer for transmitting a signal responsive to the internal pressure to a remote location; a removable power source coupled to the circuitry contained entirely within the second compartment; and a cover sealingly engaged with the housing and the divider such that the second compartment is not in fluid communication with the first compartment.

Abstract: A pressure transducer assembly mountable in an interior of a tire for sensing a pressure of a fluid in the tire comprising: a sensor housing having a first compartment in fluid communication with the fluid; a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a divider slideably engaged with and removable from the sensor housing; the divider having disposed thereon a circuitry; the circuitry including a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the first compartment, and a transmission circuit coupled to the pressure transducer for transmitting a signal responsive to the internal pressure to a remote location; a removable power source coupled to the circuitry contained entirely within the second compartment; and a cover sealingly engaged with the housing and the divider such that the second compartment is not in fluid communication with the first compartment.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system connectable to a valve stem for supplying air to a respective tire is provided. The system includes a pressure sensing device. A circuit board is configured to receive one or more circuit components associated with the pressure sensing device. A flex circuit is electrically coupled to the circuit board and the pressure sensing device to pass electrical signals between one another. A joining structure is provided for electromechanically connecting the circuit board to a respective valve stem end disposed within the tire. The valve stem may receive one electrical signal indicative of the level of pressure sensed by the pressure sensing device and may radiate the electrical signal to the surrounding environment. The foregoing embodiment may be adapted to applications that do not use any coupling to the valve stem and/or avoid use of any circuit board. In such an adaptation, the antenna may be configured in the flex circuit.