METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OVERMOLDING A TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SENSOR

• US 20100018302A1
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCS Automotive Interface Solutions US LLC, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Shimokawa, Yoshihiko, Murray, Neil G. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,156,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A tire pressure monitoring apparatus includes a valve assembly mountable in a vehicle wheel and a housing securable to the end of the valve assembly. A pressure sensor assembly is securable in the housing for monitoring tire pressure and providing an electrical signal indicative thereof. The pressure sensor assembly includes a flexible circuit board, and a battery held within a fold of the flexible circuit board, wherein the flexible circuit board is overmolded.

Claims

1. A tire pressure monitoring apparatus comprising:

a valve assembly mountable in a vehicle wheel;

a housing securable to the end of the valve assembly;

a pressure sensor assembly securable in the housing for monitoring tire pressure and providing an electrical signal indicative thereof, said pressure sensor assembly including,

a flexible circuit board, and

a battery held within a fold of the flexible circuit board,

wherein the flexible circuit board is overmolded.

2. The tire pressure monitor apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor assembly further includes circuitry for monitoring the tire pressure and transmitting a signal indicative thereof.

3. The tire pressure monitor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said overmolding includes a first inner layer and a second outer layer.

4. The tire pressure monitor apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first inner layer is a soft material and said second outer layer is a hard material.

5. A tire pressure monitoring apparatus comprising:

a pull-through valve assembly mountable in a vehicle wheel;

a housing securable to the end of the pull-through valve assembly;

a pressure assembly securable in the housing for monitoring tire pressure and providing an electrical signal indicative thereof, said pressure sensor assembly including,

a flexible circuit board, and

a battery held within a fold of the flexible circuit board,

wherein the flexible circuit board is overmolded.

6. The tire pressure monitor apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pressure sensor assembly further includes circuitry for monitoring the tire pressure and transmitting a signal indicative thereof.

7. The tire pressure monitor apparatus of claim 5 wherein said overmolding includes a first inner layer and a second outer layer.

8. The tire pressure monitor apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first inner layer is a soft material and said second outer layer is a hard material.

9. A method of manufacturing a tire pressure monitor comprising the steps of:

folding a flexible tire pressure monitoring circuit board around a battery;

overmolding the folded circuit board;

attaching the overmolded circuit board to the end of a tire valve assembly; and

mounting the valve assembly in a tire.

10. The method of manufacturing a tire pressure monitor of claim 9 further comprising the steps of mounting circuitry for monitoring the tire pressure and transmitting a signal indicative thereof to the circuit board.

11. The method of manufacturing a tire pressure monitor of claim 9 wherein the step of overmolding includes molding a first inner layer and a second outer layer.

12. The method of manufacturing a tire pressure monitor of claim 9 wherein the step of overmolding includes molding a first inner layer of soft material and said second outer layer of hard material.