Piezoelectric generator for sensors inside vehicle tyres

• US 20030146676A1
• Filed: 01/14/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Mancosu, Federico, Matrascia, Giuseppe, Villa, Diego
• Granted Patent: US 6,992,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/60 having a coaxial cable structure

Abstract

A system for generating electrical energy in a vehicle tyre (1) comprises at least one piezoelectric element (9, 109) associated to the tyre (1) which generates electrical energy whenever it is deformed, and this piezoelectric element (9, 109) is elongate, extends along at least a portion of the tyre (1) and is connected electrically to an electrical circuit that is applied to the said tyre (1) and is not in electrical communication with the vehicle. The piezoelectric element (9, 109) preferably comprises a coaxial cable (10) extending along a straight or undulated path of the tyre circumference.

Claims

1. System for generating electrical energy in a vehicle tyre (1) comprising at least one piezoelectric element (9;

109) associated to the said tyre (1) which generates electrical energy whenever it is deformed, the said tyre (1) also comprising a carcass (2) and a tread (3) and being mounted on a vehicle wheel rim (8), characterized in that the said at least one piezoelectric element (9;

109) is elongate, extends along at least a portion of the said tyre (1) and is connected electrically to an electrical circuit that is applied to the said tyre (1) and is not in electrical communication with the vehicle.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the said electrical circuit comprises a sensor (18) for monitoring and controlling the performance of the tyre and/or of the vehicle.

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the said sensor (18) is selected from pressure, temperature, force, velocity sensors and the like.

4. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the said electrical circuit comprises a transmitter (18) that transmits out of the tyre the data collected by the said sensor.

5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the said transmitter (18) is operationally connected to a receiver installed in the vehicle.

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the said transmitter (18) is a radio transmitter.

7. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the said electrical circuit includes a device (15) that stores the electrical energy produced by the said piezoelectric element (9;

109).

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the said storage device (15) is a capacitor/rechargeable battery assembly that acts as a buffer battery.

9. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the said at least one elongate piezoelectric element (9;

109) extends along at least a portion of the circumference of the said tyre (1).

10. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the said elongate piezoelectric element (109) follows an undulated path along the circumference of the said tyre (1).

11. Tyre (1) for a vehicle comprising at least one piezoelectric element (9;

109) that generates electrical energy whenever it is deformed, the said tyre (1) also comprising a carcass (2) and a tread (3) and being characterized in that the said at least one piezoelectric element (9;

109) is elongate, extends along at least a portion of the said tyre (1) and is connected electrically to an electrical circuit that is applied to the said tyre (1) and is not in electrical communication with the vehicle.

12. Tyre (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the said electrical circuit comprises a sensor (18) for monitoring and controlling the performance of the tyre and/or of the vehicle.

13. Tyre (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the said sensor (18) is selected from pressure, temperature, force, velocity sensors and the like.

14. Tyre (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the said electrical circuit comprises a transmitter (18) that transmits out of the tyre the data collected by the said sensor.

15. Tyre (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the said transmitter (18) is operationally connected to a receiver installed in the vehicle.

16. Tyre (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the said transmitter (18) is a radio transmitter.

17. Tyre (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the said electrical circuit includes a device (15) that stores the electrical energy produced by the said piezoelectric element (9;

109).

18. Tyre (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the said storage device (15) is a capacitor/rechargeable battery assembly that acts as a buffer battery.

19. Tyre (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the said at least one elongate piezoelectric element (9;

109) extends along at least a portion of the circumference of the said tyre (1).

20. Tyre (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the said elongate piezoelectric element (109) follows an undulated path along the circumference of the said tyre (1).