Electro-Acoustic Sensors
First Claim
1. A direct tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a stationary transceiver configured to be mounted on a non-rotating axle of a suspension system for a wheel on the vehicle, the stationary transceiver comprising;
one or more electroacoustic transmitting elements;
a signal generator;
an amplifier; and
a first antenna;
a movable transponder configured to be mounted on a rim of the wheel, the movable transponder comprising;
one or more electroacoustic receiving elements;
a tire pressure sensor; and
a second antenna;
wherein said first and second antennae are in electromagnetic communication and said electroacoustic transmitting and receiving elements are in ultrasonic communication.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasonic transmitting elements in an electroacoustical transceiver transmit acoustic energy to an electroacoustical transponder, which includes ultrasonic receiving elements to convert the acoustic energy into electrical power for the purposes of powering one or more sensors that are electrically coupled to the electroacoustical transponder. The electroacoustical transponder transmits data collected by the sensor(s) back to the electroacoustical transceiver wirelessly, such as through impedance modulation or electromagnetic waves. A feedback control loop can be used to adjust system parameters so that the electroacoustical transponder operates at an impedance minimum. An implementation of the system can be used to collect data in a vehicle, such as the tire air pressure.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A direct tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a stationary transceiver configured to be mounted on a non-rotating axle of a suspension system for a wheel on the vehicle, the stationary transceiver comprising; one or more electroacoustic transmitting elements; a signal generator; an amplifier; and a first antenna; a movable transponder configured to be mounted on a rim of the wheel, the movable transponder comprising; one or more electroacoustic receiving elements; a tire pressure sensor; and a second antenna; wherein said first and second antennae are in electromagnetic communication and said electroacoustic transmitting and receiving elements are in ultrasonic communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for directly monitoring tire pressure in a vehicle, the method comprising:
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generating ultrasound energy with a stationary transceiver mounted on a non-rotating axle of a suspension system for a wheel in the vehicle; receiving the ultrasound energy with an electroacoustic receiving element in a movable transponder mounted on the wheel; in the movable transponder, converting the ultrasound energy into converted electrical energy; and with a tire pressure sensor coupled to the movable transponder, monitoring the tire pressure of a tire mounted on the wheel, the tire pressure sensor receiving at least some of the converted electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification