TIRE PARAMETER SENSING SYSTEM HAVING A MAGNETICALLY CONDUCTIVE RIM AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD
First Claim
1. A tire parameter sensing system for sensing a parameter of a tire of a vehicle, the tire parameter sensing system comprising:
- a power transmitting antenna that is actuatable for producing a magnetic field at a location of the tire;
a rim upon which the tire is mounted, the rim having a circumferential outer surface that is contacted by the tire when the tire is mounted on the rim, at least first and second magnetically conductive surface portions of the rim forming a drop well located within the outer surface, the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions being angled relative to one another; and
a tire-based unit for sensing a parameter of the tire and for providing an indication of the sensed parameter, a coil antenna of the tire-based unit being responsive to the magnetic field for providing energy to the tire-based unit, the coil antenna having a central axis, the tire-based unit being mounted in the drop well of the rim so that the coil antenna is located adjacent to both the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions, the central axis of the coil antenna extending in a direction parallel to the first magnetically conductive surface portion and the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions guiding magnetic flux of the magnetic field to the coil antenna.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire parameter sensing system (12) for sensing a parameter of a tire (16) includes a power transmitting antenna (44) that is actuatable for producing a magnetic field at a location of the tire (16). A rim (140) upon which the tire (16) is mounted includes first and second magnetically conductive surface portions (160 and 168) that form a drop well (156). A tire-based unit (34) is mounted in the drop well (156) so that a coil antenna (96) of the tire-based unit (34) is located adjacent to both the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions (160 and 168). The central axis of the coil antenna (96) extends in a direction parallel to the first magnetically conductive surface portion (160) and the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions (160 and 168) guide magnetic flux of the magnetic field to the coil antenna (96).
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A tire parameter sensing system for sensing a parameter of a tire of a vehicle, the tire parameter sensing system comprising:
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a power transmitting antenna that is actuatable for producing a magnetic field at a location of the tire;
a rim upon which the tire is mounted, the rim having a circumferential outer surface that is contacted by the tire when the tire is mounted on the rim, at least first and second magnetically conductive surface portions of the rim forming a drop well located within the outer surface, the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions being angled relative to one another; and
a tire-based unit for sensing a parameter of the tire and for providing an indication of the sensed parameter, a coil antenna of the tire-based unit being responsive to the magnetic field for providing energy to the tire-based unit, the coil antenna having a central axis, the tire-based unit being mounted in the drop well of the rim so that the coil antenna is located adjacent to both the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions, the central axis of the coil antenna extending in a direction parallel to the first magnetically conductive surface portion and the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions guiding magnetic flux of the magnetic field to the coil antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing energy to a tire-based unit of a tire parameter sensing system of a vehicle, the tire-based unit being associated with a tire of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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producing a magnetic field at a location of the tire;
mounting the tire upon a rim having a circumferential outer surface that is contacted by the tire and at least first and second magnetically conductive surface portions that form a drop well in the outer surface of the rim, the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions being angled relative to one another; and
mounting the tire-based unit in the drop well of the rim so that a coil antenna of the tire-based unit is located adjacent to both the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions and so that a central axis of the coil antenna extends in a direction parallel to the first magnetically conductive surface portions and the first and second magnetically conductive coil portions guide magnetic flux of the magnetic field to the coil antenna. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification