Valve having means for generating a wireless transmittable indicating signal in case of a pressure drop within vehicle tires

• US 5,774,048 A
• Filed: 12/19/1994
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpha-Beta Electronics AG
• Original Assignee: Alpha-Beta Electronics AG
• Inventors: Achterholt, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANNAVA, ASHOK K
• Application Number:
  US08/307,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/443, 340/445, 340/447, 73/146.1, 73/146.3, 73/146.4, 73/146.5, 73/146.8, 116/34 R
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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 23/0423 Photo-electric, infrared or visible light means
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

A valve which includes signal generating means generate a signal representing a pressure drop within a vehicle tire. The valve includes an absolute pressure sensor coupled to measure the pressure within the tire. A microprocessor is provided which upon activation following operation of the valve stores a value of the electric pressure signal from the pressure sensor in a memory. During operation of the vehicle, the stored reference electric pressure signal is compared with periodic measurements of pressure within the tire. The transmitter is activated at periodic intervals, whenever a given ratio between the compared values and a threshold value exceeds an upper or lower limit. The system is activated by a acceleration sensor which can detect when the vehicle is moving, thus avoiding power consumption stopped.

Claims

1. A valve having signal generating means for generating a wireless transmittable indicating signal in response to a pressure drop within a vehicle tire, wherein the valve comprises a valve spud and a valve stem extending from said valve spud which provides a valve means which opens and closes during pressurization of said tire, said signal generating means mounted adjacent said valve spud comprising at least:

an absolute-pressure sensor being coupled to the pressure within the tire and generating an electric pressure signal in accordance with the pressure within the tire;

an electronic storage means;

a transmitter means for telemetric transmission of an indicating signal in case of a pressure drop;

a microprocessor including an arithmetic-logic unit; and

an activating means coupled to said valve means for enabling the absolute-pressure sensor to generate an electric pressure signal corresponding to the actually prevailing tire pressure in response to operation of said valve means;

said electric pressure signal being stored into the electronic storage means after each operation of said valve means and is available as a reference pressure signal;

and wherein the arithmetic-logic unit;

compares an electric pressure signal generated by said absolute-pressure means with said stored reference pressure signal and generates a compare signal;

refers said compare signal to a given threshold value; and

activates said transmitter means at least then, whenever a given ratio between the threshold value and the compare signal is outside upper and lower limits.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating means further comprises an acceleration sensor.

3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said absolute-pressure sensor is maintained in a deactivated status, and senses a tire pressure to generate an electric pressure signal only on a selective activation.

4. The valve according to claim 2, wherein a periodical activation of the absolute-pressure sensor is effected when the acceleration sensor has sensed a rotation of said tire.

5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said absolute-pressure sensor comprises a piezoresistive transducer or a capacitive bridge circuit.

6. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating means additionally comprises an analog to digital converter, which transforms the analog pressure signals into digital signals.

7. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said electronic storage means comprises a digital storage means enabled to store at least an 8-bit word.

8. The valve according to claim 7, wherein said electronic storage means comprises a RAM (random access memory) requiring a continuous power demand less than 1 micro Ampere.

9. The valve according to claim 7, wherein said electronic storage means comprises an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory).

10. The valve according to claim 1, said valve means includes a movable valve body biased by a spring into a valve seat in order to close the valve and further including a valve push rod enabled to move the valve body against the spring and away from the valve seat in order to change the tire pressure, wherein said activating means comprises a permanent magnet mechanically coupled with the valve push rod and following the movement thereof;

said signal generating means comprises a magnetic field sensor sensing an approach of said permanent magnet; and

said microprocessor generates and stores said selected electric pressure signal whenever the magnetic field sensor (25) has sensed an opening and renewed closing of the valve means.

11. The valve according to claim 10, wherein said magnetic field sensor comprises a magnetically controlled transistor.

12. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said electronic storage means contains a given pressure value corresponding to a desired pressure of a given vehicle tire;

said selected pressure signal being generated whenever the activating means has been activated, and said pressure signal is compared with said desired pressure value generating an alarm signal whenever said selected pressure signal differs substantially from said desired pressure value.

13. The value according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating means comprises additionally a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the tire material and/or of the pressurized fluid within the tire.

14. The value according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating means comprises additionally a clock generator providing a clock frequency for a periodical activation of the microprocessor.

15. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said signal generating means additionally comprises a voltage control means for a power supply means which provides an operating voltage.