Tire air pressure monitoring device and pneumatic tire having the tire air pressure monitoring device

• US 6,931,921 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimura, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Oen, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US10/649,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465, 731/468, 340/440, 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/446
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A tire air pressure monitoring device includes a sensor which detects a physical quantity relating to tire air pressure, and a transmitter which sends signals detected by the sensor. The sensor is a sound pressure level sensor which detects a sound pressure level inside a tire cavity filled with air. The transmitter is enabled to send the signals only when the sound pressure level detected by the sound pressure level sensor is changed.

Claims

1. A tire air pressure monitoring device having a sensor which detects a physical quantity relating to tire air pressure, and a transmitter which sends signals detected by the sensor,

wherein the sensor is a sound pressure level sensor which detects a sound pressure level inside a tire cavity filled with air, the transmitter being enabled to send the signals only when the sound pressure level detected by the sound pressure level sensor is changed, and

wherein the sound pressure level detected by the sound pressure level sensor is a frequency around a resonance inside the tire cavity.

2. The tire air pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising a processing unit which determines whether values of the sound pressure level signals detected by the sound pressure level sensor is changing around a preset threshold value corresponding to the resonance inside the tire cavity and enables the transmitter to send the signals only when the values are determined to be changing.

3. The tire air pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising a power source of a battery for activation of the tire air pressure monitoring device.

4. The tire air pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the physical quantity is one of air pressure and temperature inside the tire cavity.

5. A pneumatic tire having a tire air pressure monitoring device in a cavity of the tire,

the tire air pressure monitoring device having a sensor which detects a physical quantity relating to tire air pressure, and a transmitter which sends signals detected by the sensor,

the sensor being a sound pressure level sensor which detects a sound pressure level inside a tire cavity filled with air,

the transmitter being enabled to send the signals only when the sound pressure level detected by the sound pressure level sensor is changed,

wherein the sound pressure level detected by the sound pressure level sensor is a frequency around a resonance inside the tire cavity.

6. The pneumatic tire according to claim 5, wherein the tire air pressure monitoring device comprising a processing unit which determines whether values of the sound pressure level signals detected by the sound pressure level sensor is changing around a preset threshold value corresponding to the resonance inside the tire cavity and enables the transmitter to send the signals only when the values are determined to be changing.

7. The pneumatic tire according to claim 5, wherein the tire air pressure monitoring device comprises a power source of a battery for activation thereof.

8. The pneumatic tire according to claim 5, wherein the physical quantity is one of air pressure and temperature inside the tire cavity.