Tire Sensor Housing Projections for Stable Piezoelectric Sensing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing functional components installed on tire inner surfaces, such as piezoelectric elements, struggle to accurately acquire tire internal information due to the curvature and irregularities of the tire surface, leading to unstable sensing outputs.

Innovation Solution

A housing body with projections formed on its inner surface is designed to directly or indirectly contact a film-shaped piezoelectric element, ensuring stable sensing by maintaining contact despite tire vibrations and irregularities, with specific dimensions and materials to enhance durability and retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a piezoelectric element is installed on a tire inner surface to acquire tire internal information, then sensing capability is provided, but the sensing output becomes unstable due to curvature and irregularities of the tire surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing output stabilityVSAvoidinfluence from tire curvature and bladders

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A housing body made of elastic material (rubber or elastomer) is introduced as an intermediary between the piezoelectric element and the tire inner surface. The housing body absorbs the irregularities and curvature effects, providing a stable mounting surface for the piezoelectric element while maintaining contact with the tire through projections on its inner surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing body is designed with specific material properties (elastic modulus, hardness) and geometric parameters (projections with specific dimensions and distribution) to optimize the contact pressure and stability. The elastic material allows the housing to deform elastically under tire pressure while maintaining consistent contact with the piezoelectric element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the piezoelectric element is fixed to the housing wall surface, then the element is protected, but contact between the element and housing becomes insufficient due to tire vibrations and impacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoidcontact force between piezoelectric element and housing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Projections with curved surfaces are formed on the inner surface of the housing body. These curved projections conform to the piezoelectric element surface and maintain continuous contact under dynamic conditions, distributing the contact force more evenly compared to flat surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing body is designed to be elastic rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt to tire vibrations and impacts. The elastic material enables the housing to deform and recover, maintaining consistent contact pressure between the projections and the piezoelectric element throughout the tire's operational cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the housing body is made of elastic material to conform to tire surface, then installation flexibility is improved, but the functional component may fall off during travel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation adaptabilityVSAvoidretention force

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Projections with curved surfaces are formed on the inner surface of the housing body. These curved projections conform to the piezoelectric element surface and maintain continuous contact under dynamic conditions, distributing the contact force more evenly compared to flat surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing body is designed to be elastic rather than rigid, allowing it to dynamically adapt to tire vibrations and impacts. The elastic material enables the housing to deform and recover, maintaining consistent contact pressure between the projections and the piezoelectric element throughout the tire's operational cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables accurate acquisition of tire internal information without influence from tire curvature or bladders, while preventing the functional component from falling off during travel, thus improving sensing stability and durability.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric element having a film-shape and being fixed to a wall surface of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20250206083A1Container with functional component, and tire

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD

AI summary

A housing body with a functional component includes a functional component configured to acquire tire information and a housing body adapted to house the functional component. The functional component includes a housing containing an electronic component, and a piezoelectric element having a film-shape and being fixed to a wall surface of the housing. At least one projection is formed on an inner surface of the housing body, and at least a part of the projection and the piezoelectric element are directly in contact with each other or indirectly in contact with each other via the wall surface of the housing in an unloaded state and in a state where the functional component is housed in the housing body.