Arrangement for generating an operating voltage for an electric sub-assembly of a vehicle

• US 20030011276A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Nowottnick, Juergen
• Application Number:
  US10/188,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011276A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/311
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators

Abstract

An arrangement according to the invention for generating an operating voltage for at least one electric sub-assembly (5) of a vehicle with a wheel/tire comprises a piezoelectric element (3) which is arranged in such a way that it is caused to oscillate as a result of tire pressure fluctuations occurring when the vehicle is in motion. The then occurring alternating output voltage of the piezoelectric element (3) is used for the power supply of the electric sub-assembly (5).

Claims

1. An arrangement for generating an operating voltage for at least one electric sub-assembly (5) which is arranged on a vehicle wheel with a tire (1), the arrangement comprising a piezoelectric element (3) which is arranged in such a way that it is caused to oscillate as a result of tire pressure fluctuations occurring when the vehicle is in motion, and whose alternating output voltage then occurring is usable for the power supply of the electric sub-assembly (5).

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the piezoelectric element (3) is arranged on a valve (2) of the tire (1).

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the piezoelectric element (3) is arranged in the cover of the tire (1).

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the output signal of the piezoelectric element (3) is applied to a processing electronic component (4) such as, for example, a rectifier, a voltage controller or a charge capacitor which ensures the power supply of the electric sub-assembly (5).

5. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the piezoelectric element (3) is also used for measuring the tire pressure.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the arrangement comprises an accumulator which is charged by means of the voltage supplied and rectified by the piezoelectric element (3) and supplies the power supply voltage for the electric sub-assembly.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electric sub-assembly (5) is a tire pressure sensor and/or a tire temperature sensor.