Method and system for monitoring the deformations of a tire in motion

• US 6,959,592 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Caretta, Renato
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jenkins, Jermaine
• Application Number:
  US10/149,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0413 Wireless charging of active radio frequency circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance

Abstract

A system for monitoring deformations of a moving tire mounted on a rim associated with a vehicle includes a moving station and a fixed station. The moving station is operatively coupled to the rim. The moving station measures, at least intermittently and in at least one direction, a distance between the moving station and an inner surface of the tire. The fixed station is operatively coupled to the vehicle. The fixed station receives from the moving station, at least intermittently, at least one first signal associated with the measurement. The moving station measures the distance within a time interval when a first antenna associated with the moving station and a second antenna associated with the fixed station are in proximity to each other. Related methods for monitoring deformations of a moving tire mounted on a rim associated with a vehicle are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre mounted on a rim associated with a vehicle, comprising:

a moving station; and

a fixed station;

wherein the moving station is operatively coupled to the rim,

wherein the moving station measures, at least intermittently and at least one direction, a distance between the moving station and an inner surface of the tyre,

wherein the fixed station is operatively coupled to the vehicle,

wherein the fixed station receives from the moving station, at least intermittently, at least one first signal associated with the measurement, and

wherein the moving station measures the distance within a time interval when a first antenna associated with the moving station and a second antenna associated with the fixed station are in proximity to each other.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the moving station comprises at least one first sensor that transmits, at least intermittently, at least one second signal within the tyre in a predetermined direction, and receives one or more reflections of the at least one second signal from the inner surface of the tyre.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one second signal comprises one or more sound waves.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one second signal comprises one or more optical beams.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one second signal comprises one or more electromagnetic waves.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a first electronic circuit board, and

wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

a beam emitting device; and

a beam receiving device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

the first antenna;

a power-supply unit;

a drive circuit for the beam emitting device;

a drive circuit for the beam receiving device; and

a circuit for reading at least one third signal from the beam receiving device;

wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the power-supply unit,

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit or the beam emitting device, and

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit or the beam receiving device.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a first electronic circuit board, and

wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

a beam emitting device;

a first lens;

a second lens; and

a beam receiving device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

the first antenna;

a power-supply unit;

a drive circuit for the beam emitting device;

a drive circuit for the beam receiving device; and

a circuit for reading at least one third signal from the beam receiving device;

wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the power-supply unit,

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the beam emitting device, and

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit or the beam receiving device.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a first electronic circuit board, and

wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

an optical-beam emitting device;

a first lens;

a second lens; and

an optical-beam receiving device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

the first antenna;

a power-supply unit;

a drive circuit for the optical-beam emitting device;

a drive circuit for the optical-beam receiving device; and

a circuit for reading at least one third signal from the optical-beam receiving device;

wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the power-supply unit,

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the optical-beam emitting device, and

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the optical-beam receiving device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the optical-beam emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the optical-beam receiving device comprises a pair of p-i-n diodes.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the moving station comprises at least one first sensor that transmits, at least intermittently, at least one second signal within the tyre in a predetermined direction, and

wherein the moving station further comprises at least one second sensor that receives one or more reflections of the at least one second signal from the inner surface of the tyre.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one second signal comprises one or more sound waves.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one second signal comprises one or more optical beams.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one second signal comprises one or more electromagnetic waves.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a first electronic circuit board, and

wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

a beam emitting device; and

a beam receiving device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

the first antenna;

a power-supply unit;

a drive circuit for the beam emitting device;

a drive circuit for the beam receiving device; and

a circuit for reading at least one third signal from the beam receiving device;

wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the power-supply unit,

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the beam emitting device, and

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the beam receiving device.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a first electronic circuit board, and

wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

a beam emitting device;

a first lens;

a second lens; and

a beam receiving device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

the first antenna;

a power-supply unit;

a drive circuit for the beam emitting device;

a drive circuit for the beam receiving device; and

a circuit for reading at least one third signal from the beam receiving device;

wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the power-supply unit,

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the beam emitting device, and

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the beam receiving device.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a first electronic circuit board, and

wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

an optical-beam emitting device;

a first lens;

a second lens; and

an optical-beam receiving device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first electronic circuit board comprises:

the first antenna;

a power-supply unit;

a drive circuit for the optical-beam emitting device;

a drive circuit for the optical-beam receiving device; and

a circuit for reading at least one third signal from the optical-beam receiving device;

wherein the first antenna is electrically connected to the power-supply unit,

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the optical-beam emitting device, and

wherein the power-supply unit supplies power to the drive circuit for the optical-beam receiving device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the optical-beam emitting device comprises an LED.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the optical-beam device comprises a pair of p-i-n diodes.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed station enables the moving station to measure the distance.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first signal comprises a processed signal.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed station is powered by a battery of the vehicle.

29. A method for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre mounted on a rim associated with a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

enabling a moving station to measure, at least intermittently and in at least one direction, a distance between the moving station and an inner surface of the tyre; and

transmitting at least one signal associated with the measurement from the moving station; and

receiving the at least one signal at a fixed station;

wherein the moving station is operatively coupled to the rim,

wherein the fixed station is operatively coupled to the vehicle, and

wherein the moving station measures the distance within a time interval when a first antenna associated with the moving station and a second antenna associated with the fixed station are in proximity to each other.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of processing information associated with the measurement before transmitting the at least one signal from the moving station to the fixed station.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of enabling the moving station comprises measuring the distance when the moving station is in a proximity of a footprint area of the tyre.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the steps of enabling the moving station and transmitting the at least one signal occur within the time interval when the first antenna and the second antenna are in proximity to each other.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of enabling the moving station comprises supplying power to the moving station when the moving station is in a proximity of a footprint area of the tyre.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of enabling the moving station comprises supplying power to the moving station within the time interval when the first antenna and the second antenna are in proximity to each other.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of transmitting the at least one signal comprises generating a magnetic field corresponding to the at least one signal in a proximity of the first antenna.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving the at least one signal comprises detecting a magnetic field corresponding to the at least one signal in a proximity of the second antenna.

37. A method for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre mounted on a rim associated with a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

enabling a moving station to transmit at least one first signal when the moving station is in a proximity of a footprint area of the tyre;

transmitting the at least one first signal, at least intermittently and in at least one direction, within the tyre;

reflecting the at least one first signal from an inner surface of the tyre;

receiving the reflected at least one first signal; and

processing information associated with the reflected at least one first signal to measure a distance between the moving station and the inner surface of the tyre;

wherein the moving station is operatively coupled to the rim.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

transmitting at least one second signal associated with the measurement from the moving station; and

receiving the at least one second signal at a fixed station;

wherein the fixed station is operatively coupled to the vehicle.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of processing information occurs before the step of transmitting the at least one second signal.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of processing information occurs after the step of receiving the at least one second signal.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the steps of enabling the moving station, transmitting the at least one first signal, reflecting the at least one first signal, receiving the reflected at least one first signal, transmitting the at least one second signal, and receiving the at least one second signal occur when the moving station is in the proximity of the footprint area of the tyre.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the steps of enabling the moving station, transmitting the at least one first signal, reflecting the at least one first signal, receiving the reflected at least one first signal, transmitting the at least one second signal, and receiving the at least one second signal occur within a time interval when a first antenna associated with the moving station and a second antenna associated with the fixed station are in proximity to each other.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of receiving the at least one second signal comprises detecting a magnetic field corresponding to the at least one second signal in a proximity of a second antenna associated with the fixed station.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the steps of enabling the moving station, transmitting the at least one first signal, reflecting the at least one first signal, and receiving the reflected at least one first signal occur when the moving station is in the proximity of the footprint area of the tyre.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein the steps of enabling the moving station, transmitting the at least one first signal, reflecting the at least one first signal, and receiving the reflected at least one first signal occur within a time interval when a first antenna associated with the moving station and a second antenna associated with a fixed station are in proximity to each other.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of enabling the moving station comprises supplying power to the moving station when the moving station is in the proximity of the footprint area of the tyre.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of enabling the moving station comprises supplying power to the moving station within a time interval when a first antenna associated with the moving station and a second antenna associated with a fixed station are in proximity to each other.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of transmitting the at least one second signal comprises generating a magnetic field corresponding to the at least one second signal in a proximity of a first antenna associated with the moving station.