Sensor module

• US 20040150499A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Kandler, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 336/40
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor module in a flexible housing with integrated transmission means. A possible application of such a flexible sensor module would be the use as transponder-based tire pressure measuring system. Here, the complete module could be vulcanized into the tire, and the data could be transmitted by means of a standardized receiver unit. The transmission may herein be made by radio or inductively, for example.

Claims

1. A sensor module comprising at least one sensor element that is at least partially surrounded by a housing, wherein the housing of the module is flexible, and a transmission means for wireless data transmission is integrated in the module.

2. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the transmission means contains an antenna and/or an induction coil.

3. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein an operational voltage for the sensor module is inductively coupled in.

4. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the operational voltage for the sensor module is electromagnetically:

coupled in.

5. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the housing consists of one or more flexible foils.

6. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the flexible housing is designed so that it may be vulcanized into a rubber tire.

7. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the flexible housing is adapted to the geometry of the receiving unit.

8. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor module incorporates a memory element.

9. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor element is a pressure sensor and the entire sensor module is inductively operated.

10. The sensor module of claim 9, wherein a gel is introduced between the flexible cover and the pressure sensor.

11. A method for the production of a sensor module with at least one sensor element, wherein the sensor elements are mounted on a flexible support material and are contacted via a flexible cover.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a flexible stand-off is introduced between the support material and the cover.