3205 results about "Tire pressure" patented technology

The invention provides a method for correspondingly marking the most protuberant part of the deformed rubber corresponding to the outer side of an automobile tire with a white fluorescent paint line and coating a red fluorescent paint line in the position which is one second distance below from the white line as a safety mark according to the allowable normal inflation pressure standard range calibrated when the tires of sedans and miniature vehicles leave the factory (for example, the allowable normal inflation pressure standard ranges of a 1.5t FIAT sedan, a 0.6t CHANG'AN STAR miniature minibus and a 1.0t LINGYANG sedan are respectively 2.3 to 2.8 Kg / cm<2>, 2.2 to 2.5Kg / cm<2> and 2.2 to 2.6Kg / cm<2>). When the red fluorescent paint line disappears and the most protuberant part of the deformed rubber on the outer side of the tire is above the white fluorescent paint line, the tire pressure is indicated to be too low, and measures, such as inflation, tire repair, etc., should be carried out. When the most protuberant part is below the white fluorescent paint line and above the red fluorescent paint line, the tire pressure is indicated to be too high, and the measure of deflation should be carried out. The method has the advantages of visibility, rapidness, convenience, safety, practicality and low cost, and is easily accepted by drivers and tire manufacturers, completed at one time in the tire manufacturer and easily generalized and applied.

A vehicle tire communication and information system for viewing air psi and other characteristics that affects psi in a tire includes un-obstructive sensors embedded in a silicon substrate and etched in a re-enforced micro-fibered material to enable excellent detection platform, sensitivity, and selectivity within the detection environment. The embedded sensors facilitate detection and communication efficiency and transforms electrical energy into acoustic energy indicative of data transmission to a wireless electronic control module, allowing a nitride membrane to march the acoustic impedance of the air inside the tire to enable pressure waves indicative of the tire pressure.

The invention discloses a helical antenna with a small reflection surface, aiming at improving the helical antenna gain, enlarging the launching coverage range of a launcher and meeting the long-distance communication requirement of a tire pressure monitor system (TPMS). The helical antenna comprises a body and the reflection surface, wherein the body has a spiral structure formed by winding a metal wire or a metal tube, and is a normal mode helical antenna; and the reflection surface is arranged under the body and is connected with a negative pole or a ground wire of a feeding point of the body. The reflection surface meets the condition that (D0-D) / 2 is more than or equal to A-x and less than or equal to A, wherein D is the screw diameter of the body, D0 is the diameter of the reflection surface, A and x are constants, x is more than 0 and less than A, A is more than x and less than or equal to 0.01 lambda, and lambda is the wavelength of a signal transmitted by the launcher within the free space.

In one aspect, the invention is a system and method for improving vehicle operating conditions through the monitoring and adjustment of tire pressure in response to changing conditions. The system improves commercial vehicle productivity by reducing tire and fuel expenses, improving traction when needed, and reducing tire-induced shock-load damage to the vehicle axles and chassis. In another aspect, the invention is a tire management system, comprised of a tire inflation and deflation system positioned onboard said vehicle and operationally controlled by an onboard microprocessor-based control unit or by a remote centralized control-unit.

The present invention provides a tire pressure sensor system that has multiple functions and is integrated into a small package. The system includes one or more Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS)-based sensors, including a MEMS-based pressure sensor; a MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter; and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller processes the data generated by at least one of the MEMS-based sensors, controls at least one of the MEMS-based sensors, and controls the encoding and timing of transmission of data from the wireless signal transmitter. Preferably, the MEMS-based sensors, MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter, and microcontroller are integrated onto one or more chips in one or more packages. The system also preferably includes a MEMS-based motion sensor, a low frequency (LF) receiver, an IC-based voltage sensor, a voltage regulator, a temperature sensor and a polarization voltage generator. Thus, the disclosed tire pressure sensor system is high in functionality, yet small in size.

A hose-type structure is arranged essentially between the tire and the rim, which structure is connected at the end side with the environment and, by way of a valve, with the interior of the tire. The hose-type structure fills the tire during its rotating movement, and is locally squeezed from the environment side toward the tire interior, in which case the hose-type structure is provided in the area between the tire and the rim flange. A duct is provided in the rim flange or in the tire in the area of its bead chamfer, and at least partially receives the hose-type structure in the form of a hose. The geometry of the duct and of the hose-type structure is selected such that this air-conveying squeezing essentially takes place only as long as the internal tire pressure is below a desired value.

A device for powering a load from an ambient source of energy is provided. The device includes an energy harvesting device for harvesting energy from the ambient source of energy wherein the rate energy is harvested from the ambient source of energy is below that required for directly powering the load. A storage device is connected to the energy harvesting device. The storage device receives electrical energy from the energy harvesting device and is for storing the electrical energy. A controller is connected to the storage device for monitoring the amount of electrical energy stored in the storage device and for switchably connecting the storage device to the load when the stored energy exceeds a first threshold. The system can be used for powering a sensor and for transmitting sensor data, such as tire pressure.

A method for operating a tire pressure measuring system uses a transceiver. When triggered, the transceiver transmits an energy signal to a transponder in a tire that then responds with a data signal. So that the energy signals do not interfere with other transceivers on receipt of the data signals, the method makes provision for the repetition rate with which the energy signals are triggered to be a function of the speed of the vehicle. Transmission is more frequent at higher speed than at lower speed.

Energy for in-tire use is generated from the load induced reciprocating deflection of the tire inner walls above the tire-to-road contact patch adjacent to the shoulder of the tire. This energy is used to power in-tire monitoring electronics. For pulsatile energy generation with capacitive capture, the capacitor is optimally selected in real-time as a function of pulse width to maximize energy capture, or as a function of the pulse-captured energy. The resulting energy pulses are also used to measure the time duration of the contact patch from which the contact patch length is determined thus providing real-time tire geometry and, with tire pressure, real time tire load and, with temperature, tire air molar content. The loads on all tires provide real time vehicle mass and mass distribution. For electrical energy generation, magnet-coil, piezo-electric, and other power conversions are applicable. For non-electric energy generation, fluid bellows, rotary pump, and other power conversions are applicable. Further, run flat tires are designed with a cutout to accommodate and protect electronic devices mounted on an inner surface when running flat.

A tire inflation system includes an air supply source in selective fluid communication with a tire via a pneumatic conduit. A method of inflating the system includes providing a tire pressure retention valve in the pneumatic conduit adjacent to the tire. An inflation pressure of the tire is determined with a step-up procedure, in which air bursts are communicated from the air supply source to a portion of the pneumatic conduit between the air supply source and the tire pressure retention valve. The volume of at least one selected communicated air burst is related to a volume of a section of the conduit. The tire is inflated with an extended-pulse procedure, in which extended bursts of air are communicated from the air supply source to the tire. A shut-down sequence is performed once a predetermined target inflation pressure in the tire is reached.

An instantaneous / real-time wireless dynamic tire pressure sensor (DTPS) for characterizing pavement qualities and for detecting surface and subsurface pavement defects under normal driving conditions. Signal processing provides quantitative assessment of surface conditions. DTPS includes a vehicle tire valve stem-mounted pressure sensor and wheel hub-mounted signal conditioning, amplification, and transmitting circuitry. A signal processing computer within the vehicle is wirelessly coupled to the hub-mounted circuitry. Tire pressure changes caused by ground vibration excitation from the interaction between the tire and pavement at normal driving speeds are detected. When acoustic radiation from a surface wave is significantly stronger than acoustic noise, subsurface information can be extracted. An energy harvester based on strong magnetostatic coupling between a high permeability core solenoid, fixed proximate a vehicle wheel, and a bias magnet array, fixedly mounted in conjunction with a dust shield, can provide power the DIPS.

An intelligent tire pressure management system capable of real-time tire pressure monitoring, vehicle load detection, and automatic tire inflation and deflation for maintaining optimal tire pressure in a commercial vehicle. Additional functions include counting tire rotations for calculating and recording distance travelled for each tire, and detecting wheel sliding due to locked-up tires. The system includes a chassis-mounted control box connecting to the vehicle air supply, a hubcap-mounted dual wheel valve apparatus integrated with a rotary union assembly that connects through the vehicle hollowed axles to the air tubes from the control box. The inflation / deflation supporting dual wheel valve apparatus has an embedded electronic unit that monitors individual tire pressure and temperature in real time, and communicates with the control box over the power line. Furthermore a load sensor integrated with the control box provides the system with the current vehicle load information. With readily available real time tire pressure data and current vehicle load information, this system can intelligently adjusts tire pressure to the desired level when necessary and, as a result, prolongs tire life, improves fuel economy, reduces the vehicle maintenance costs, and promptly alerts the driver of low, leaky or flat tire conditions for enabling the driver to take immediate corrective actions.

A device for powering a load from an ambient source of energy is provided. The device includes an energy harvesting device for harvesting energy from the ambient source of energy wherein the rate energy is harvested from the ambient source of energy is below that required for directly powering the load. A storage device is connected to the energy harvesting device. The storage device receives electrical energy from the energy harvesting device and is for storing the electrical energy. A controller is connected to the storage device for monitoring the amount of electrical energy stored in the storage device and for switchably connecting the storage device to the load when the stored energy exceeds a first threshold. The system can be used for powering a sensor and for transmitting sensor data, such as tire pressure.

The disclosure provides a tire pressure sensor assembly that includes a battery and a printed circuit board (PCB) configured with electronics to measure tire pressure and to transmit an electromagnetic signal related to the measured tire pressure. The PCB and battery are contained in a housing that allows the PCB and the battery to be angularly oriented with respect to each other. Such orientation permits the sensor to conform to the curved surface of the rim. An embodiment of the disclosed tire pressure sensor assembly is adapted to fasten to a valve stem via a metal terminal. The attachment configuration permits the valve stem assembly to deform as the valve stem is installed in a rim and also allows the valve stem to function as a portion of the antenna structure to facilitate transmitting the RF signal to a receiver.

A chamber (1) that works as a peristaltic pump for the pressure correction in the tire (4), which is a part of the tire (4) or of an ancillary structure (6) placed between the rim (7) and the tire bead (4) and is connected with the tire (4) internal space at one end and with the external environment at the other end. The chamber (1) is in the shape of a curved hollow channel, where at least one enclosing wall is at least partially formed by at least a pair of surfaces (10) coplanar with the longitudinal direction of the chamber (1). When the tire is mounted on the rim, the pair of surfaces (10) are pressed together thus hermetically closing the chamber (1). When the chamber (1) is closed during rotation of the wheel, the surfaces (10) can slightly slide on one another taking internal wall tensions onto themselves thus decreasing the possibility of wall damage through ripping. A method of producing the chamber (1) is also disclosed.

A self-powered tire pressure sensor device. The sensor device includes a power circuit, an air pressure measurement sensor, a signal circuit and a wireless transmission circuit. The power circuit converts mechanical acceleration experienced by the device into electrical potential using an electromechanical transducer. Mechanical acceleration due to collisions between the mobile sensor device and the wall of the tire while the tire is in motion cause the transducer to emit a small electrical charge. An electrical potential storage element in the power circuit accumulates and stores the charge as electrical potential. Alternatively the power circuit receives and converts electromagnetic energy into electrical potential. The electrical potential powers an air pressure measurement sensor within the tire. A signal circuit and wireless transmission circuit transmit the measurement to a chassis-mounted receiver, which makes the tire pressure measurement available to systems remote from the tire.

A tire pressure display device for a vehicle having several wheels provides each monitored tire with an electronic module including, for example, an integrated pressure sensor with measuring and control electronics which are coupled to a high-frequency transmitter / receiver. Away from the wheels, there is at least another high-frequency transmitter / receiver that is coupled to a microprocessor that exchanges high-frequency radiograms with each wheel's electronic module in an interrogation-response mode. In addition, a remote control locking arrangement activates a locking system on the vehicle. The triggering of a control command effectuated on the remote control locking arrangement also activates the microprocessor, which then initializes the electronic module for each monitored tire.

The present invention provides a tire pressure sensor system that has multiple functions and is integrated into a small package. The system includes one or more Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS)-based sensors, including a MEMS-based pressure sensor; a MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter; and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller processes the data generated by at least one of the MEMS-based sensors, controls at least one of the MEMS-based sensors, and controls the encoding and timing of transmission of data from the wireless signal transmitter. Preferably, the MEMS-based sensors, MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter, and microcontroller are integrated onto one or more chips in one or more packages. The system also preferably includes a MEMS-based motion sensor, a low frequency (LF) receiver, an IC-based voltage sensor, a voltage regulator, a temperature sensor and a polarization voltage generator. Thus, the disclosed tire pressure sensor system is high in functionality, yet small in size.

An automatic tire inflation system including an air pump, a pressure sensor, a microprocessor and a rechargeable battery power supply all housed in a water resistant housing. The housing conforms to the diameter of the rim of a standard vehicle tire and is held to the tire by rim retaining fingers. A recharging jack is mounted inside the housing and is accessed through an aperture on the housing which is sealed by a removable waterproof cover. The microprocessor monitors air tire pressure being sent from the pressure sensor and activates the air pump when the pressure is determined to be too low by the microprocessor. The air pump turns off when the air tire pressure reaches a predetermined set point. The rechargeable battery is recharged by a standard charging device attached by a plug to the recharging jack. Similar automatic tire inflation systems can be mounted to each tire of the vehicle.

A tire pressure monitoring apparatus (10) includes a pressure transducer (14) and a valve stem (12). A support bracket (50) connects the valve stem (12) to the pressure transducer (14) and facilitates pivotal movement between the valve stem and the pressure transducer. The support bracket (50) includes a valve stem biasing member (80) that exerts a spring bias on the valve stem (12) to help maintain a selected angular position of the valve stem relative to the pressure transducer (14).

A system for monitoring and recording vehicle and passenger data constantly during operation, which combines, stores and analyzes data. A recording device connects to systems that may include vehicle status, video, audio or other data sensor and collection interfaces. Data may be selectively retrieved wirelessly and stored encrypted to preserve authenticity. Data collected could also include: temperature (inside / outside); weather conditions; tire slip; roll, yaw, pitch; altitude; speed and changes to speed; GPS data; any available radio signals and the strength and source of those signals; vibration; sound level and changes; air pressure; light and changes; intrusion; moisture; humidity; inertia / gravitational forces; vehicle (OBD) error codes; vehicle weight; tire pressure; location of the device within the vehicle; engine RPM (and other OBD available data); time / date, and passenger embark, riding, and disembark data. These data can be later decrypted to analyze driver performance or verify the existence of a claimed accident.

A wheel end assembly includes a self-contained air pump mechanism that maintains tire pressure at a desired level. The pump mechanism includes a piston and cylinder assembly that rotate with the tire. A linkage assembly drives the piston within the cylinder as the wheel end assembly rotates to pump air into the tire via a valve. The linkage assembly includes a first link fixed to a non-rotating wheel end component and a second link that rotates relative to the first link and which is coupled to drive the piston within the cylinder. The tire valve is in fluid communication with the cylinder and automatically opens when air pressure in the tire falls below a predetermined level and automatically closes when the air pressure achieves the predetermined level. An atmospheric valve is in fluid communication with the cylinder, and automatically opens to recharge the cylinder once the initial pressure charge has been delivered to the tire.

Land transportation vehicles using pneumatic tires loose air over time, including tractor trailers, private vehicles, race cars and other vehicle classifications. Tire pressure is important, but only a small number of attendants are concerned. Our invention is an automatic device which supplies air to tractor trailer tires using an onboard air supply. This air, supplied to the rotary air chamber system can be adjusted to a desired tire air pressure by the individual driver to suitable levels of load weights, climates, travel speed and terrain. Rotating tires at high speeds build up friction raising tire pressure to dangerous levels. This will be corrected by built in relief valves. To maintain and verify tire pressures each tire is protected by check valves and visible pressure gauges. The rotary air chamber automates, corrects continuously the neglect of proper tire maintenance, adds road safety for users and public alike.

A device for powering a load from an ambient source of energy is provided. The device includes an energy harvesting device for harvesting energy from the ambient source of energy wherein the rate energy is harvested from the ambient source of energy is below that required for directly powering the load. A storage device is connected to the energy harvesting device. The storage device receives electrical energy from the energy harvesting device and is for storing the electrical energy. A controller is connected to the storage device for monitoring the amount of electrical energy stored in the storage device and for switchably connecting the storage device to the load when the stored energy exceeds a first threshold. The system can be used for powering a sensor and for transmitting sensor data, such as tire pressure.

A signal processor comprises wheel speed-detecting means for detecting a wheel speed signal including vibrational components of a tire, extraction means for extracting a resonant frequency of the vibrational components of the tire or a tire spring constant based on the wheel speed signals, air pressure-estimating means for estimating a tire air pressure based on the resonant frequency or the tire spring constant, and determining means for determining whether the estimated tire air pressure is abnormal or not by comparing with a determination value. Further, correcting means corrects at least one of the determination value, the estimated tire air pressure, the resonant frequency and the tire spring constant in response to a tire temperature. A temperature-sensing device is mounted inside the signal processor to detect a temperature associated with the tire temperature.

In a tire air pressure estimating apparatus, wheel speeds of respective wheels are successively calculated when a vehicle is running. At least one of a tire resonance frequency and a tire spring constant is extracted from vibration frequency components included in a wheel speed signal with respect to each of tires. Tire air pressures of drive wheels are estimated based on the extracted tire resonance frequencies or the tire spring constants. Rotational state values (e.g. wheel speed values) of driven wheel tires are calculated based on the detected wheel speeds. Tire air pressures of driven wheels are estimated based on a deviation of the rotational state values of the driven wheel tires.

Energy for in-tire use is generated from the load induced reciprocating deflection of the tire inner walls above the tire-to-road contact patch adjacent to the shoulder of the tire. This energy is used to power in-tire monitoring electronics. For pulsatile energy generation with capacitive capture, the capacitor is optimally selected in real-time as a function of pulse width to maximize energy capture, or as a function of the pulse-captured energy. The resulting energy pulses are also used to measure the time duration of the contact patch from which the contact patch length is determined thus providing real-time tire geometry and, with tire pressure, real time tire load and, with temperature, tire air molar content. The loads on all tires provide real time vehicle mass and mass distribution. For electrical energy generation, magnet-coil, piezo-electric, and other power conversions are applicable. For non-electric energy generation, fluid bellows, rotary pump, and other power conversions are applicable. Further, run flat tires are designed with a cutout to accommodate and protect electronic devices mounted on an inner surface when running flat.

A vehicle tire data monitoring method and a monitoring device thereof relate to the technical field of wireless sensing and monitoring. The monitoring device comprises a tire monitoring module and a central module; the tire monitoring module is arranged in the tire; the central module is arranged in the vehicle; the tire monitoring module comprises sensors which comprise a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor and a temperature sensor, a 8-bit RISC which centralizes the various data collected by the sensors and transmits the data to a RF emission module, the RF emission module and a TPMS special battery; the central module comprises a power management module which provides the central module with power for long time working, an EEPROM module, a RF receiving module, an SCM used for processing the data collected by the RF receiving module, a display module, a keyboard, an alarm module and a serial port communication module. The vehicle tire data monitoring method and a monitoring device thereof achieve to know the situation of the tire at any time, reinforce the safety of the vehicle during the running process and avoid a traffic accident from happening.

The invention relates to the field of vehicles, the embedded field, the field of 3G / 4G wireless network communication and the technical field of data collection. Dynamic and static information of a vehicle is stored in a server end, and a series of services and managements with the vehicle as the center can be formed by data sharing. The technical scheme adopted in the invention is as follows: a vehicle service and management system based on an internet of vehicles comprises the following components: a vehicular terminal, which is used for collecting vehicle data in real time, sending the collected real-time vehicle data to a server and storing the same data in a corresponding database, wherein the vehicle data comprise data related to the operation of an engine,namely,a series of data comprising a vehicle speed, a water temperature, an oil volume, oil consumption and a tire pressure; and the server, which is provided with an application program based on data analysis, comprises a C / S structure and a B / S structure and can provide related services by a mobile phone client or a Web access server. The vehicle service and management system provided by the invention is mainly applied to vehicle communication and management occasions.