Telemetry unit
First Claim
1. A telemetry unit for a tire monitoring apparatus, the telemetry unit including a housing having sensor means for measuring data relevant to the local environment of the telemetry unit, transmission means for transmitting measured data to a remote location, a piezoelectric power generator adapted to generate and store an electrical charge in response to rotation of the tire for powering the unit, and control means for controlling the sensor means and transmission means, in which the control means is arranged to vary the rate of transmission of data from the telemetry unit in dependence on the rotary speed of the tire.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telemetry unit (100) is provided for mounting to the inside of a pneumatic tyre, which includes sensors for measuring the pressure and temperature within the tyre and an RF transmitter for transmitting measured data to an on-board display remote location. The unit (100) includes a piezoelectric element (114) supported in a housing (112) with an actuator (136) arranged for contact with the element (114), to deflect the element (114) in response to external forces acting on the actuator (136) during rotation of the tyre. For every rotation of the tyre, cyclic pulses of electrical charge are generated by the deflection of the element (114). The unit (100) includes control means which controls the consumption of stored charge when measuring and transmitting data and is arranged to vary the rate of transmission of data from the unit (100) in dependance on the rotary speed of the tyre.
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Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A telemetry unit for a tire monitoring apparatus, the telemetry unit including a housing having sensor means for measuring data relevant to the local environment of the telemetry unit, transmission means for transmitting measured data to a remote location, a piezoelectric power generator adapted to generate and store an electrical charge in response to rotation of the tire for powering the unit, and control means for controlling the sensor means and transmission means, in which the control means is arranged to vary the rate of transmission of data from the telemetry unit in dependence on the rotary speed of the tire.
Specification