Abstract: A tire pressure sensor is provided having a housing, a pressure transducer within the housing electronically coupled to a transmitter, a battery within the housing connected to deliver electrical power to the pressure transducer and to the transmitter, and a pressurized compartment within the housing bounded at least partially by a flexible membrane. A first conduit extends from the pressure transducer to the compartment. An inlet port extends through the housing to allow pressurized air within the tire to contact the membrane. In particular embodiments, the pressure transducer, transmitter and battery are rubber coated and encapsulated with epoxy.

Abstract: A terminal encapsulated tire monitoring device electrically connectable with at least one contact of a read-write tool is disclosed to include a housing, a sensor unit mounted in the housing and consisting of a circuit board and a plurality of terminal connection portions, a plurality of conducting terminals partially embedded in the housing each having a first contact end electrically connectable by one contact of the read-write tool and a second contact end electrically connected to one terminal connection portion of the sensor unit.

Abstract: A device for generating electrical energy in a rotating system for the purpose of supplying electric current to electronic components in the system, comprising external forces, acting on the system, that act on piezoelectrically active energy converters in the system, as a result of which electrical energy is generated, and comprising an electronic system for processing the generated electrical energy and transferring it to the components.

Abstract: The invention includes a light assembly which is configured to magnetically mount on a steel belted tire and a method of inspecting the inside of the tire using the light assembly.

Abstract: An adaptive tire utilizing active material actuation to sense and/or modify an excessive and/or low inflation pressure, so as to autonomously maintain proper inflation pressure.

Abstract: A signal transmission device for a tire pressure gauge with a gas nipple, the tire pressure gauge including a circuit board on which a signal transmission circuit is installed and an enclosure for containing the circuit board therein.

Abstract: Method for monitoring the state of a tire, in which at least one analysis value (UR i), from which the state of a tire is determined, is formed from wheel speed signals (?rot i) of the vehicle wheels, wherein the analysis value (UR i) is an absolute rolling circumference of a tire or a variable which represents the absolute rolling circumference of a tire, in particular a dynamic tire radius which is determined by evaluating wheel speed signals (?rot i) and signals from at least one sensor in order to measure the speed of the vehicle over an underlying surface, and the analysis value (UR i) is used to determine a loss of pressure and/or working loads of the tire, as well as a device for monitoring the state of the tire.

Abstract: An oscillating structure is coupled to a crown portion of a tire. The oscillating structure includes a housing and a piezoelectric element coupled to the housing. The piezoelectric element is able to oscillate in an oscillation direction, which could match either a longitudinal or a radial direction of the tire. An electrical signal generated by the piezoelectric element is processed so as to determine at least one operating parameter of the tire. The processing includes determining whether a rotation speed of the tire is greater than a threshold speed; and, in the negative, extracting information for determining the at least one operating parameter of the tire from a low-pass filtered signal. Such low-pass filtered signal is obtained by removing at least frequency components of the electrical signal having a frequency higher than or equal to a resonance peak frequency of the oscillating structure.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining the pressure and the profile depth in a pneumatic vehicle tire which is fitted to a vehicle, wherein the pressure is detected with the aid of an arrangement comprising load sensors, which arrangement supplies force signals for a two-dimensional pattern of the force distribution which is exerted by the vehicle tire in contact with the sensors when the vehicle moves over the arrangement, wherein the tire pressure is determined from the force distribution independently of the method of manufacture or the model of the tire and of the vehicle, is characterized in that the profile depth of the tire is determined before, while or after the pressure is determined.

Abstract: A tyre having a radially internal surface of substantially toroidal conformation, includes: a housing mounted on the internal surface of the tyre and an electronic unit at least partially housed in the housing, the housing including at least two portions, each having a cavity in contact with a respective portion of the electronic unit and housing the same, each portion of the housing being mounted on the internal surface of the tyre, and a fastening element applied to the portions of the housing to maintain a constraint between such portions and the electronic unit. A method of installing the electronic unit into a tyre.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a decrease in a tire air pressure includes; a rotation velocity information detection means for regularly detecting tire rotation velocity information regarding the respective wheels of a vehicle; a resonance frequency estimation means for estimating a resonance frequency of the rotation velocity information based on the rotation velocity information obtained by the rotation velocity information detection means; and a determination means for determining, based on the estimated resonance frequency, a decrease in the tire air pressure. The apparatus includes a data rejecting means for rejecting data of rotation velocity information hindering the estimation of the resonance frequency.

Abstract: A tire module for detecting tire condition variables, the module being mounted on an inside of a tire in an area deformed during tread shuffle and including at least one carrier, on which at least one electronic component is disposed, and at least one piezo-sensitive sensor, the piezo-sensitive sensor being disposed such that it is at least partially deformed during deformation of the tire during tread shuffle, and the deformation of the piezo-sensitive sensor being used to determine at least one shuffle variable, and the tire module including at least one battery for at least partially supplying energy to the at least one electronic component, and to use of the tire module.

Abstract: A micro-power system and a tire pressure monitoring system that includes an energy harvesting module and a computing device are disclosed. In one aspect, the energy harvesting module comprises an energy harvesting unit having a combined vibration energy/RF energy harvester. A single sensing element is used for both vibration energy harvest and for RF communication including RF energy harvesting. Energy harvested is transmitted to power management module which powers components of the energy harvesting module. Data relating to sensor output from the single sensing element is transmitted to a microcontroller and transmitted to a microprocessor unit on the computing device.

Abstract: A passive RFID transponder sensor system includes a sensor assembly having a focused field transponder antenna with a highly magnetically permeable transponder antenna stem, and a reader antenna with an electrical reader coil generating a magnetic field having magnetic flux extending between the reader antenna and a sensor assembly. The electrical transponder coil and the electrical reader coil are coupled by the magnetic field, so that information can be transferred to and from the sensor assembly through the magnetic field by which the electrical transponder coil and the electrical reader coil are coupled.

Abstract: An autonomous energy generation system, in particular designed as an integrated miniaturized energy generation system based on MEMS technology, has a piezoelectric energy converter for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, and has at least one piezoelectric element into which mechanical force (in particular deformation force) induced by a fluid flow can be coupled. The piezoelectric element is excited to vibrate mechanically. An integrated circuit (ASIC) is used for managing the energy provided by the piezoelectric energy converter.

Abstract: A tire pressure information monitoring system includes a pressure sensor (24) for detecting air pressure within a tire, and a temperature sensor (25) for detecting temperature within the tire. The monitoring system further includes a CPU (21) that operates with a high frequency clock to send command to the pressure sensor (24) and the temperature sensor (25) to acquire internal information of the tire, and thereafter operates with a low frequency clock until stabilizing time of the pressure sensor (24) and the temperature sensor (25) elapses. The CPU then operates with a high frequency clock to transmit the internal information of the tire, which has been acquired by the pressure sensor (24) and the temperature sensor (25), to an external receiver at a constant time interval, and thereafter operates with a low frequency clock until the constant time interval elapses.

Abstract: A tire monitoring device may be used in conjunction with a tire monitoring system for a vehicle. The tire monitoring device includes a tire monitoring sensor unit having a state monitoring sensor monitoring a tire state, such as a tire pressure, and a first acceleration sensor and a second acceleration sensor respectively measuring accelerations in first and second directions on a plane perpendicular to a wheel axis, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a wheel is on the left or right side of the vehicle on the basis of a relationship between alternating signals of the first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor and determining whether or not a tire event has occurred with reference to a calculated value based on the accelerations measured by the first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor.

Abstract: A battery operated device includes a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble. A sensor, in a tire, measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter. A microprocessor is coupled to the receiver and the sensor. The microprocessor is configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.

Abstract: A tire condition monitoring system includes a transmission device, a receiving device, and a monitoring section. The transmission device includes a sensor which detects a condition of gas in a tire cavity area surrounded with a tire and a rim as tire information, a transmitter which wirelessly transmits the tire information, and a housing which houses the sensor and the transmitter. An opening portion of an air vent connecting a housing inner space and the cavity area is formed on top of a protruding portion protruding from the surface of the housing. An area of the opening portion is 0.4 mm2 or smaller. An area of contact between the top portion and a contact plane in contact with the top portion and perpendicular to a protruding direction of the protruding portion is not larger than 30% of the opening portion area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of positioning sensors on wheels (200 and 300) installed coaxial to the same end of one and the same axle of a vehicle (C) comprising a receiving module (100) associated with the body of the vehicle, noteworthy in that it consists in positioning the sensors (210 and 310) at an angular interval greater than or equal to ninety (90) degrees of a wheel (200) relative to the other (300) so that, when operating in displacement mode, the distance between the receiving module and the sensor varies according to the wheel rotation, and in using a link of low frequency (LF) type so that the creation of a distance between the points of emission makes it possible to vary the power of the signals received, thus rendering them distinct. The invention also relates to a device making it possible to implement the method described hereinabove. Applications: measurement and transmission of data associated with the wheels of a vehicle.

Abstract: A component having an acceleration sensor having at least one freely oscillatory mass, and a resonator having at least one resonating structure, in which the at least one freely oscillatory mass of the acceleration sensor and the at least one resonating structure of the resonator are disposed on and/or in one chip. A corresponding production method for a component is also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a monitoring device and tire combination wherein an antenna is mounted to the tire in a location spaced from the monitoring device. In one embodiment, the antenna may be mounted to the tire sidewall outside the body cords of the tire. The antenna may be mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall or embedded within the body of the sidewall. The antenna is connected to the monitoring device with a connector. The connector may be electrically coupled to the monitoring device or may be connected to the monitoring device with a plug and socket connection. When the antenna is outside the body cord, the connector may extend from the antenna through the bead filler, over the top of the turn up, or under the bead ring.

Abstract: Identification information for identifying a tire, a tire inner pressure and a tire inner temperature are sent to a tire checking device from a first electronic device provided within a tire and measured results are shown on a display. Groove depth data from a depth meter are also received by the tire checking device and shown on the display. The tire checking device stores received management information such as a tire inner pressure, a tire inner temperature, a groove depth and so on in a memory with associating them with each tire. The stored management information is extracted by a control unit if required and shown on the display. Therefore, a tire inner pressure and a tire inner temperature are detected automatically and groove depth data are stored with being associated with each tire, and thereby the tire inner pressure, the tire inner temperature and the groove depth data can be displayed.

Abstract: A passive RFID transponder sensor system includes a sensor assembly having a focused field transponder antenna with a highly magnetically permeable transponder antenna stem, and a reader antenna with an electrical reader coil generating a magnetic field having magnetic flux extending between the reader antenna and a sensor assembly. The electrical transponder coil and the electrical reader coil are coupled by the magnetic field, so that information can be transferred to and from the sensor assembly through the magnetic field by which the electrical transponder coil and the electrical reader coil are coupled.

Abstract: A wheel electronic system and a method for operating a wheel electronic system. The wheel electronic system interacts with a tire secured to a vehicle and produces and emits, based on a captured trigger signal, a message containing information on at least one tire parameter measured with the wheel electronic system. The wheel electronic system is operated in an operational mode in which the system is configured to periodically capture the trigger signals in a first time period. Based on a predetermined first operational ratio of the vehicle, the wheel electronic system automatically switches to a test mode, in which the wheel electronic system is configured to periodically capture the trigger signals in a second time period which is substantially shorter than the first time period.

Abstract: A wireless tire pressure sensing device, a method for setting a standard tire pressure thereof and a wireless tire pressure sensing activation device adjust the tire pressure of each tire in a vehicle to a standard tire pressure according to a requirement of the vehicle after the wireless tire pressure sensing device is mounted in each tire, maintain each tire at the standard tire pressure for a preset time period or employ the wireless tire pressure sensing activation device to transmit a setup instruction to the wireless tire pressure sensing device to set a current tire pressure as the standard tire pressure. The wireless tire pressure sensing device can be set up with the standard tire pressure and conveniently modified. As no threshold value of tire pressure needs to be pre-stored, wireless tire pressure sensing devices with different threshold values are not necessarily prepared beforehand, thereby effectively lowering the stocking pressure on inventory management.

Abstract: A piezoelectric triggering mechanism (10) includes a piezoelectric element (12), such as the transducer of a SAW device, that is configured to crack or break upon being subjected to excessive levels of mechanical force or other triggering mechanisms, thus generating a burst of electromagnetic energy. The large impulse of energy can then be conditioned (14) through resonant circuits or antennas and modulated (16) with an identification pattern through appropriate structures (such as SAW electrodes) to send a breakage indication signal to a remote receiver (18). Piezoelectric elements (12) may be integrated with a pneumatic tire structure to provide indication upon pressure loss or tire failure. Piezoelectric elements (12) may also be integrated with safety support features of some tire structures to provide indication of tire operation in a run-flat mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a small-sized pressure measuring module suitable for replacement of a tire, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The pressure measuring module detects pressure of air within a tire included in a wheel assembly attached to a vehicle body, and wirelessly transmits data on the detected pressure and a module ID of the pressure measuring module to a pressure monitoring device mounted on the vehicle body. The pressure measuring module has an antenna and an identification code. At least a portion of the antenna protrudes to the outside of the wheel assembly from the surface of a wheel included in the wheel assembly through a through-hole communicating with an inner space of the tire. The antenna wirelessly transmits the detected pressure value and the module ID to the pressure monitoring device. The identifier can be viewed from the outside of the wheel assembly and indicates the module ID.

Abstract: In a tire sensor monitoring system for a motor vehicle, each of a plurality of tire sensors periodically emits an identifying signal and a parameter signal and the monitoring system receives and processes the identifying and parameter signals.

Abstract: The accuracy of a measurement value obtained by a tire pressure detection device is lowered by a centrifugal force and an inertial force during travel. A pressure sensor (30) displaces a diaphragm (20) in its vertical direction (32) according to the pressure. The pressure sensor (30) is arranged in a tire (2) with the vertical direction (32) directed to a direction parallel to a rotation axis (34) instead of the tire circumferential direction or radial direction. The pressure sensor (30) is mounted onto a substrate with the vertical direction (32) of its diaphragm (20) directed in parallel to the substrate surface and the substrate is bonded to a tread portion of the tire (2) and a wheel rim portion while adjusting the vertical direction (32) of the diaphragm (20) with the direction of the rotation axis (34).

Abstract: A device for monitoring tire pressure includes an antenna for transmitting pressure data, a printed circuit board with a circuit for measuring and transmitting pressure data that is connected to the antenna, a power source for supplying the circuit, and a housing surrounding the printed circuit board, According to the invention, the housing is produced by insert-molding the antenna.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring apparatus includes a valve assembly mountable in a vehicle wheel and a housing securable to the end of the valve assembly. A pressure sensor assembly is securable in the housing for monitoring tire pressure and providing an electrical signal indicative thereof. The pressure sensor assembly includes a flexible circuit board, and a battery held within a fold of the flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit board is overmolded.

Abstract: A tire module, for installation on an inner side of a pneumatic tire for vehicles, including a device for measuring and/or monitoring of the air pressure in the tire, a transmitter for transmitting radio signals, which contain information about the air pressure in the tire, a mechanical-electrical converter having a bendable piezoelectric element, which converts into electric energy alternating deformations of the piezoelectric element caused by the rolling tire, and a storage device for the electric energy, which is connected to the converter. The converter includes a circular, disc-shaped, piezoelectric element (piezo disc) on which an electrical voltage generated by the piezo effect is tapped at contact points, which are situated on opposite sides of the piezo disc.

Abstract: A device and a method for distinguishing positions of two tire sensors of a double tire include an LF antenna attached to a vehicle and connected to a central processing unit and one tire sensor each per tire. The tire sensors have a device for measuring field strength of a signal emitted by the LF antenna and the tire sensors report back information on the measured field strength through the LF antenna to the central processing unit. The central processing unit determines the position of the two tire sensors of the double tire from a distribution or course of a current flow during wheel rotation.

Abstract: A transceiver includes a receiver, a signal strength determiner, and a controller. The receiver receives a trigger signal transmitted by a triggering device; the trigger signal indicates both a signal strength range and a command. The signal strength determiner determines the strength of the trigger signal received by the receiver. The controller is configured to: 1) determine whether the strength of the trigger signal determined by the signal strength determiner is within the signal strength range indicated by the trigger signal; 2) and perform a task in accordance with the command indicated by the trigger signal only when the strength of the trigger signal is within the signal strength range.

Abstract: This wheel is equipped with a tyre and an electric device (100), which needs to be supplied with power in order to operate. The device comprises a system (200) for converting the difference in pressure between the pressurized gas inside the tyre and the free air outside the tyre into electric power used for supplying the electric device.

Abstract: A tire pressure warning device having a detection circuit is mounted to an inflation valve on every tire of a car to implement tire pressure detection. First, a microprocessing controller in the detection circuit sends a tire location ID assigned to every tire to a signal receiving circuit provided in a dashboard of the car. Then, the microprocessing controller detects a tire pressure value of the corresponding tire and uses the detected tire pressure value as a standard pressure point for the tire. Thereafter, the microprocessing controller keeps detecting the tire pressure value of the tire. When a detected new tire pressure value is higher or lower than the standard pressure point by a preset percentage, a wireless RF is transmitted to the signal receiving circuit for the latter to identify the tire with high or low tire pressure and emit an alarm while displaying the tire pressure value.

Abstract: Allocates identifiers of units of a tire pressure monitoring system to the positions of ABS-sensors which are each assigned to the wheels of the vehicle. The identifiers are contained in signals that are emitted by the units. Each unit, which is called a wheel electronic, has a pressure sensor, which is sensitive to the tire pressure of the wheel, a motion sensor, which provides information on the rotation speed of the wheel, a memory with the individual identifier of the wheel stored therein, and a transmitter, which transmits signals only containing information on the rotation speed of the respective wheel, to a receiver. An evaluation device receives the transmitted identifier and compares the information on the rotation speed of the wheel transmitted along with the identifier, with rotation speed information, which were acquired by the ABS sensors for the same time span and transferred to the evaluation device.

Abstract: A wheel monitoring apparatus includes a measuring and evaluation unit designed to be fastened to the wheel in the region of at least one wheel nut or bolt of the wheel. The wheel monitoring apparatus includes at least one sensor for detecting a characteristic variable for a state of a wheel bearing and at least one sensor for detecting a tire pressure of a tire of the wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for inductively coupling tire rotations related signals to a tire electronics module associated with a tire are provided. The tire electronics module is configured to receive the tire rotation related signals through inductive transmission from a signal transmission module that includes at least a piezoelectric element and a transmitter inductor. The signal transmitter module and the tire electronics module may be physically separated from each other and may be separately or collectively encased in a protective coating.

Abstract: A tire control system for a vehicle is provided includes an RFID tag mounted to the tire and having a unique tire serial number stored within tag memory accessible to an external reader; a pass-through portal operatively entered and exited by the vehicle; one or more tire-directed antenna positioned within the portal for operatively receiving one or more one data transmissions of the unique tire serial number from the tire-based RFID tag; and one or more tire-directed RFID reader coupled to the tire-directed antennas for operably reading and storing within a tire-based database the unique tire serial number data. A vehicle-based RFID tag is mounted to the vehicle having a unique vehicle serial number stored within tag memory and transmitted to an external reader as the vehicle moves through the portal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring air pressure in vehicle tires using wheel electronics, which comprise a pressure sensor for measuring the air pressure present in the tire, a transmitter for transmitting pressure information, and a receiver for receiving interrogation signals, wherein a transmission activity of the wheel electronics is triggered by the reception of an interrogation signal, which is transmitted as a pulse train comprising a command section that encodes a transmission instruction for the wheel electronics. According to the invention, the pulse train comprises an adjustment section having several pulses before the command section.

Abstract: A method carried out in a wheel unit of a tire pressure monitoring system comprises detecting, using a controller in the wheel unit, increases and decreases in loading of a tire on a wheel associated with the wheel unit during acceleration and deceleration. Front/rear position of the wheel unit on a vehicle mounting the tire pressure monitoring system is determined, using the controller in the wheel unit, based on the loading and unloading of the tire and wheel during acceleration and deceleration. Rotation direction of the wheel in the wheel unit is determined and the controller in the wheel unit determines left/right position of the wheel unit on the vehicle based on the rotation direction of the wheel. An indication of the front/rear and left/right position of the wheel on the vehicle and an identification unique to the transmitting wheel unit are transmitted.

Abstract: Tire module for the detection of tire state quantities which includes a printed circuit board and a piezoelectric transducer with a housing and at least one transducer element, wherein the transducer element is coupled to piezoelectric material or consists of piezoelectric material, and wherein the piezoelectric transducer is executed as a surface-mounted device (SMD) and as such is mounted on the printed circuit board by terminal areas and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Measuring unit with at least a pressure sensor and signal transmission means, intended to be fitted on a tire/wheel assembly, characterized in that it comprises a logic indicator with two states, active and inactive, and in that the logic indicator becomes active each time the pressure measured by the pressure sensor is below a given threshold, close to zero.

Abstract: A tire pressure-monitoring device (TPMD) directly mounted onto an air-pumping inlet-stem on a tire. The TPMD includes a light emitter connected to a battery through an electrical connecting loop wherein the electrical connecting loop comprising a plurality of electrical conductive structural components and at least two of the structural components are physically separated in a normal tire pressure condition and connected in a low pressure tire pressure condition for providing power to the light emitter for emitting a low tire pressure warning light.

Abstract: A method for detecting a pressure loss of a tire in a vehicle equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. The method includes the following steps carried out in the parked state of the vehicle: deactivate the tire pressure monitoring system, which contains at least one electronic wheel device disposed in a vehicle wheel, activate the tire pressure monitoring system after a first defined period of time or upon a vehicle-side request, determine tire-related information of the vehicle wheels associated with the electronic wheel devices by the respective electronic wheel device and generate status signals containing the tire-related information, communicate the status signals to an evaluation device, return to the first method step at the latest after a second period of time.

Abstract: A snap-in tire pressure monitoring system having a valve that deforms to form an annular sealing surface around an opening in a tire rim. A sensor housing having electronics components configured to sense conditions within the tire may be attached to the valve. Data collected by the components may be wireless transmitted for further processing.

Abstract: An object is to provide a method capable of reducing calculation number of times for obtaining a primary regression line of a slip ratio and acceleration, and detecting a decrease in internal pressure of tires with high accuracy even in the case where is no evenness in a road surface.

Abstract: A method for measuring deformation of a tire tread is provided. The method uses a tire tread deformation producing system 10 including a flat, transparent base plate 24 having first and second opposite surfaces 24a and 24b. The method also uses a vision system 12 including a pair of CCD cameras 30-1 and 30-2, which are positioned on the side of the second surface of the base plate. A test tire 14 has a tire tread having tread grooves 16. A portion of the tire tread of the test tire is urged against the first surface of the base plate. The three-dimensional shape of a groove wall surface of a tread groove of the test tire is measured by imaging the tread groove across the base plate by the CCD cameras while the test tire is subject to deformation.