Pressure monitor

• US 4,494,106 A
• Filed: 02/18/1982
• Issued: 01/15/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guy Le Blanc Smith
• Original Assignee: Grathnail Development Company Limited
• Inventors: Howard, Derik, Smith, Guy L. B., Goedhals, Anton B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/349,757
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 340/58, 340/52 R, 340/60, 340/510, 340/511, 340/588, 340/626, 340/870.01, 340/870.09, 340/870.16, 340/870.17, 340/870.21, 340/870.27, 200/61.22, 73/146, 73/146.2, 73/146.5, 116/34 R, 116/34 A, 116/34 B
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0467 Electric contact means, e.g. slip-rings, rollers, brushes
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/04 of resistance-strain gauges

Abstract

A tire pressure monitor which includes a signal generating section and a signal processing section. The signal generating section has a transducer which produces a first signal which is dependent on the tire pressure, and a transistor the collector current of which is controlled by the first signal. The signal generating section is supplied with power from a battery source and the current so supplied includes the collector current and is therefore dependent on the tire pressure. The signal processing section includes a monitor which monitors the supply current to the signal generating section and a display for providing an indication of the tire pressure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for continuously providing a measurement of pressure in a tire of a vehicle, comprising:

signal generating means;

signal processing means;

current supply means connected to said signal generating means and to said signal processing means;

said current supply means supplying a first electrical current to said signal generating means and a second electrical current to said signal processing means, said current supply means having a circuit connection so that said first and second electrical currents are always in a substantially fixed ratio to each other;

said signal generating means including transducer means for generating a first signal which is dependent on the pressure inside the tire; and

a control means connected to said transducer means and to said current supply means, said control means being responsive to the first signal for varying said first electrical current in dependence on said tire pressure;

said signal processing means monitoring said second electrical current thereby to provide a continuous indication of said tire pressure.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the signal processing means is located outside the tire, and the signal generating means is located inside the tire.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the signal generating means includes voltage regulator means connected to the electrical energy supply means for applying a stabilized power source to the transducer means and to the control means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the signal processing means includes means for detecting at least one limiting value of said second electrical current.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes at least one transistor with a collector current which is drawn from said first electrical current, and a base current which is determined at least partly by the first signal.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said signal processing means includes an analog to digital converter which is responsive to said second electrical current for providing a digital measure of said tire pressure.