TYRE SENSOR DEVICE

• US 20170001483A1
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Tyre SPA (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Tyre SPA (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: SABATINI, Marco, BOTTA', Alberto, BOULARD, Gaetan
• Granted Patent: US 10,369,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0447 Wheel or tyre mounted circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0461 externally triggered, e.g. by wireless request signal, magnet or manual switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/144 Stacked arrangements of planar printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/148 Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/042 Stacked spaced PCBs; Planar parts of folded flexible circuits having mounted components in between or spaced from each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/055 Folded back on itself
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0026 provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A tyre sensor device including a connecting element for connecting the tyre sensor device to a vehicle tyre, and a tyre sensor device electronics assembly housed in the connecting element, wherein the tyre sensor device electronics assembly comprises a flexible printed circuit board being foldable and including at least two printed circuit board portions each having two surfaces, the at least two printed circuit board portions being suitable for the placement, on at least one surface thereof, of electronic components of the tyre sensor device, wherein the electronic components include at least one sensor for sensing at least one tyre parameter, the printed circuit board being folded so that the tyre sensor device electronics assembly can be inserted in the connecting element with the at least two printed circuit board portions being essentially planar.

Claims

1. A tyre sensor device comprising a connecting element for connecting the tyre sensor device to a vehicle tyre, and a tyre sensor device electronics assembly housed in the connecting element, wherein the tyre sensor device electronics assembly comprises a flexible printed circuit board being foldable and comprising at least two printed circuit board portions each having two surfaces, the at least two printed circuit board portions being suitable for the placement, on at least one surface thereof, of electronic components of the tyre sensor device, wherein said electronic components comprise at least one sensor for sensing at least one tyre parameter, said printed circuit board being folded so that the tyre sensor device electronics assembly can be inserted in the connecting element with the at least two printed circuit board portions being essentially planar.

2. The tyre sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said printed circuit board is folded such that the at least two essentially planar printed circuit board portions lie on substantially vertically stacked planes.

3. The tyre sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises a rubber housing adapted to be attached to an inner liner of the tyre.

4. The tyre sensor device according to claim 3, wherein said rubber housing has a seat for receiving a container having a cavity for accommodating the tyre sensor device electronics assembly.

5. The tyre sensor device according to claim 4, comprising a housing adapted to contain the folded printed circuit board, said housing being accommodated in said container.

6. The tyre sensor device according to claim 5, wherein said housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part joinable to each other, and a cap that closes from above the housing.

7. The tyre sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible PCB is foldable to a generic “

S”

or “

Z”

shape and, when folded, comprises three essentially planar portions suitable for the placement, on at least one surface thereof, of electronic components of the tyre sensor device.

8. The tyre sensor device of claim 1, wherein the flexible PCB comprises two joining portions for joining the three essentially planar portions, said joining portions ensuring flexural mechanical connection between the essentially planar portions and electrical connection among the electronic components placed on the essentially planar portions.

9. The tyre sensor device of claim 8, wherein the flexible PCB has three conductive layers for signals and one conductive layer for a ground potential in the three essentially planar portions, and one conductive layer for the signals and one conductive layer for the ground potential in the joining portions.

10. The tyre sensor device of claim 1, comprising a transmitting antenna, comprising an end portion of the flexible PCB, joined to the one of the essentially flat portions by an antenna joining portion.

11. The tyre sensor device of claim 1, comprising contact terminals for interfacing the tyre sensor electronics assembly to an external terminal.

12. A vehicle tyre comprising an inner liner, and the tyre sensor device according to claim 1 connected to said inner liner through said connecting element.