Tire Pressure Monitoring Using Hall Effect Sensors

• US 20060212193A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,379,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0425 Means comprising permanent magnets, e.g. Hall-effect or Reed-switches

Abstract

Wheel assembly with a tire pressure monitoring system includes a wheel rim, a tire mounted thereon, a housing having an interior in flow communication with the tire interior such that the same pressure prevails in the tire and in the housing interior, a magnet arranged in the housing and movable in an axial direction of the tire, a Hall effect sensor arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle in a position in which it is in a magnetic field generated by the magnet during rotation of the tire relative to the non-rotating part, and a spring arranged to move the magnet in dependence on pressure in the housing interior. The spring is arranged outside of the magnet. The Hall effect sensor senses magnetic field density of the magnet as the magnet rotates which is convertible into an indication of the pressure in the housing and thus the tire pressure.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly with a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire mounted on said wheel rim;

a housing having an interior in flow communication with an interior of said tire such that the same pressure prevails in said tire and in the interior of said housing;

a magnet arranged in said housing and adapted to be movable in an axial direction of said tire;

a Hall effect sensor adapted to be arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle in a position in which it is in a magnetic field generated by said magnet during rotation of said tire relative to the non-rotating part of the vehicle; and

a spring coupled to said housing and arranged to move said magnet in dependence on pressure in the interior of said housing, said spring being arranged outside of said magnet,

whereby said Hall effect sensor senses magnetic field density of said magnet as said magnet rotates, said magnetic field density being convertible into an indication of the pressure in said housing and thus the pressure in said tire.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring is a cantilevered spring mounted at one end to said housing and having a free opposite end.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said free opposite end of said cantilevered spring contacts an axial surface of said magnet.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said spring is a substantially circular and planar spring washer.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said spring washer is attached around its periphery to said housing and contacts an axial surface of said magnet.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing is attached to said wheel rim.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said Hall effect sensor includes an electromagnet.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said movement means comprise a spring arranged outward of said first magnet and a diaphragm arranged inward of said first magnet and exposed to the interior of said housing.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said spring is a cantilevered spring mounted at one end to said housing and having a free opposite end or a substantially circular and planar spring washer.

11. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said first and second magnets are arranged alongside one another.

12. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said housing is attached to said wheel rim.

13. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said Hall effect sensor includes an electromagnet.

8. A wheel assembly with a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire mounted on said wheel rim;

a housing having an interior in flow communication with an interior of said tire such that the same pressure prevails in said tire and the interior of said housing;

a first, movable magnet arranged in said housing and adapted to be movable in an axial direction of said wheel rim;

a second, fixed magnet fixed to said wheel rim in the same axial position as said first magnet will be in when the pressure in said tire is proper;

a Hall effect sensor adapted to be arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle opposite part of said wheel rim and in a position in which it is in a magnetic field generated by each of said first and second magnets during rotation of said tire relative to the non-rotating part of the vehicle; and

movement means for moving said magnet in an axial direction to vary a distance between said first magnet and said Hall effect sensor in dependence on pressure in the interior of said housing;

whereby said Hall effect sensor senses magnetic field density of said first and second magnets as said first and second magnets rotate, the magnetic field density of said first magnet being comparable to the magnetic field density of said second magnet with any difference being indicative of the pressure in the tire not being proper.

14. A wheel assembly with a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire mounted on said wheel rim;

a housing having an interior in flow communication with an interior of said tire such that the same pressure prevails in said tire and in the interior of said housing;

a magnet arranged in said housing and adapted to be movable in an axial direction of said tire;

a Hall effect sensor adapted to be arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle in a position in which it is in a magnetic field generated by said magnet during rotation of said tire relative to the non-rotating part of the vehicle;

movement means for moving said magnet in an axial direction to vary a distance between said magnet and said Hall effect sensor in dependence on pressure in the interior of said housing; and

magnetic channeling means for channeling magnetic flux generated by said magnet,

whereby said Hall effect sensor senses magnetic field density of said magnet as said magnet rotates, said magnetic field density being convertible into an indication of the pressure in said housing and thus the pressure in said tire.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said magnetic channeling means comprise a metallic cup defining an interior in which said magnet is arranged with the opening of said cup facing said Hall effect sensor.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said magnetic channeling means further comprise an additional metallic cup defining an interior in which said Hall effect sensor is arranged with the opening of said cup facing said magnet.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said magnetic channeling means comprise a metallic cup defining an interior in which said Hall effect sensor is arranged with the opening of said cup facing said magnet.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said Hall effect sensor includes an electromagnet.

19. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said movement means comprise a spring arranged outward of said magnet and a diaphragm arranged inward of said magnet and exposed to the interior of said housing.

20. A wheel assembly with a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising:

a wheel rim;

a tire mounted on said wheel rim;

a housing having an interior in flow communication with an interior of said tire such that the same pressure prevails in said tire and in the interior of said housing;

a non-magnetized piece of metallic material arranged in said housing and adapted to be movable in an axial direction of said tire;

a Hall effect sensor adapted to be arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle;

a magnet adapted to be arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle in a position in which it generates a magnetic field in which said piece of material passes during rotation of said tire relative to the non-rotating part of the vehicle; and

movement means for moving said piece of material in an axial direction to vary a distance between said piece of material and said Hall effect sensor in dependence on pressure in the interior of said housing;

whereby said Hall effect sensor senses magnetic field density of said magnet as said piece of material rotates, said magnetic field density being convertible into an indication of the pressure in said housing and thus the pressure in said tire.