System for providing illuminated displays on a vehicle tire or wheel assembly

• US 20050134475A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Reim, Kevin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,079,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.450
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/728 Decorating or marking the sidewalls after tyre vulcanization protecting, decorating, marking tyre sidewalls B60C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 13/001 Decorating, marking or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/043 supported by tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/045 supported by the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/005 forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation

Abstract

A system for providing illuminated displays on a vehicle or wheel assembly includes one or more tire marking devices for integration with tire sidewalls or vehicle wheels. Such tire marking devices may include a plurality of point lights sources (such as LEDs or OLEDs operating at one or more wavelengths) arranged in a predetermined array configuration, a microprocessor coupled to each of the plurality of point light sources, a power source for powering the microprocessor and/or other device elements, and a timing sensor configured to provide one or more timing signals to the microprocessor. The timing signals generated by the timing sensor preferably include sufficient information to determine the rotational rate and relative position of the plurality of light sources. The microprocessor controls the flash sequence and duration of each point light source in the plurality of point light sources as they travel in a rotational path around the tire or wheel to which they are mounted. The flash sequence and duration of each point light source is determined as a function of the rotational rate and position of the tire or wheel assembly as obtained from the timing sensor.

Claims

1. An illumination device, comprising:

a plurality of point light sources arranged in a predetermined array configuration;

a microprocessor coupled to each of said plurality of light sources, said micprocessor configured to determine one or more illumination sequences for said plurality of light sources;

a power source coupled to and providing power to said microprocessor; and

a timing sensor coupled to and providing one or more timing signals to said microprocessor, said one or more timing signals including information to determine the rotational rate and relative position of the plurality of point light sources.

2. An illumination device as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of point light sources comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. An illumination device as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of point light sources comprise organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).

4. An illumination device as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of point light sources are mounted to a vehicle wheel via mechanical means or adhesive means.

5. An illumination device as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of point light sources are integrated along a tire sidewall.

6. An illumination device as in claim 5, wherein said microprocessor controls the flash sequence and duration of each point light source in said plurality of point light sources as said plurality of point light sources travel in a rotational path around the tire to which they are mounted, and wherein said flash sequence and duration of each point light source is determined as function of rotational rate and position of the tire.

7. An illumination device as in claim 1, further comprising a photoactive element coupled to said microprocessor.

8. An illumination device as in claim 1, further comprising an RF receiver coupled to said microprocessor for wirelessly receiving user input signals to affect the one or more illumination sequences for said plurality of light sources.

9. An illumination device as in claim 1, further comprising a support substrate, wherein said plurality of point light sources are mounted on said support substrate.

10. An illumination device as in claim 1, further comprising one or more flexible wire structures coupled to and providing an electrical connection to each point light source in said plurality of point light sources.

11. An illumination device as in claim 1, wherein said power source comprises one of a battery and a piezoelectric generator.

12. An illumination device as in claim 1, wherein said timing sensor comprises one of an accelerometer and a piezoelectric actuator.

13. An illumination device as in claim 1, further comprising a material layer applied over selected portions of said plurality of point light sources to diffuse the light emitting from said plurality of point light sources.

14. An illumination device as in claim 12, further comprising a network of fiber-optic branches provided between said plurality of point light sources and said material layer.

15. An illumination device as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of point light sources are provided in a linear array.

16. A tire assembly with one or more integrated self-powered lighting assemblies, said tire assembly comprising:

a pneumatic tire structure characterized by a crown having an exterior tread portion for making contact with a ground surface, bead portions for seating said tire to a wheel rim, and exterior sidewall portions extending between each bead portion and the crown; and

at least one tire marking device integrated at selected exterior sidewall locations of said pneumatic tire structure for providing lighted visual display on selected sidewall surfaces of said pneumatic tire structure;

wherein said at least one tire marking device comprises a plurality of point lights sources arranged in a predetermined array configuration.

17. A tire assembly as in claim 16, wherein said at least one tire marking device further comprises:

a microprocessor coupled to each of said plurality of light sources, said micprocessor configured to determine one or more illumination sequences for said plurality of light sources; and

a timing sensor coupled to and providing one or more timing signals to said microprocessor, said one or more timing signals including information to determine the rotational rate and relative position of said pneumatic tire structure; and

wherein said microprocessor controls the flash sequence and duration of each point light source in said plurality of point light sources as said plurality of point light sources travel in a rotational path around the tire to which they are mounted, and wherein said flash sequence and duration of each point light source is determined as a function of rotational rate and position of the pneumatic tire structure.

18. A tire assembly as in claim 17, wherein said at least one tire marking device further comprises a power source coupled to and providing power to selected components of said at least one tire marking device.

19. A tire assembly as in claim 18, wherein said power source comprises one of a battery and a piezoelectric generator.

20. A tire assembly as in claim 17, further comprising a photoactive element coupled to said microprocessor.

21. A tire assembly as in claim 17, further comprising an RF receiver coupled to said microprocessor for wirelessly receiving user input signals to affect the one or more illumination sequences for said plurality of light sources.

22. A tire assembly as in claim 17, wherein said timing sensor comprises one of an accelerometer and a piezoelectric actuator.

23. A tire assembly as in claim 16, further comprising a support substrate, wherein said plurality of point light sources are mounted on said support substrate.

24. A tire assembly as in claim 23, further comprising a foam adhesive layer for attaching said support substrate to said selected exterior sidewall locations of said pneumatic tire structure and for isolating said at least one tire marking device from stresses associated with said pneumatic tire structure.

25. A tire assembly as in claim 16, further comprising a rubber patch provided along selected portions of said at least one tire marking device, and wherein said rubber patch is fused to a selected exterior sidewall location of said pneumatic tire structure.

26. A tire assembly as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of point light sources comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs).

27. A tire assembly as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of point light sources comprise organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).

28. A tire assembly as in claim 16, further comprising one or more flexible wire structures coupled to and providing an electrical connection to each point light source in said plurality of point light sources.

29. A tire assembly as in claim 16, further comprising a material layer applied over selected portions of said plurality of point light sources to diffuse the light emitting from said selected plurality of point light sources.

30. A tire assembly as in claim 29, further comprising a network of fiber-optic branches provided between said plurality of point light sources and said material layer.

31. A tire assembly as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of point light sources are provided in a linear array.

32. A tire assembly as in claim 16, wherein said at least one tire marking device further comprises an input interface configured to accommodate user selection of visual displays for said at least one tire marking device.

33. A control system for interfacing with one or more tire marking devices integrated with a tire or wheel assembly, said control system comprising:

an input interface configured for user selection of visual display options for one or more associated tire marking devices;

a microprocessor coupled to said input interface and configured to control selected other elements of said control system;

a power source coupled to and providing power to selected elements of said control system; and

a transmitter coupled to said microprocessor and configured to transmit RF 10 signals to one or more associated tire marking devices.

34. A control system as in claim 33, wherein said input interface comprises a keypad with one or more functional selection keys.

35. A control system as in claim 33, further comprising a display for providing visual output to a user.

36. A control system as in claim 33, further comprising an audio input for coupling to a vehicle audio head unit.

37. A control system as in claim 33, further comprising an antenna connected to said transmitter for facilitating radiation of RF signals from said control system to one or more associated tire marking devices.