Mechanical transmission of data to an electronic device in a tire
First Claim
1. A method of transmitting data to a tire electronics device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a tire;
providing a tire electronics device, the tire electronics device comprising a microcontroller portion, a memory portion, and a vibration sensor portion, the vibration sensor portion producing signals proportional to sensed vibration;
associating the tire electronics device with the tire such that vibration sensor portion of the tire electronics is responsive to vibration induced in the tire;
configuring the microcontroller portion of the tire electronics to monitor signals produced by the vibration sensor portion and to identify one or more predetermined signal sequences; and
inducing vibrations into the tire corresponding to one or more of the predetermined signal sequences.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methodology and apparatus are disclosed for transmitting data to a tire electronics device contained in a tire. The tire electronics device includes a vibration sensor and microcontroller configured so that vibrations sensed by the vibration sensor may be analyzed to determine if the vibrations occurred according to a predetermined sequence. Detection of the predetermined sequence of vibrations may be used to trigger data transmission from the tire electronics device or may be used as an indication to the tire electronics device that it should store additional data or modify its operation in a predetermined fashion. Data may be transmitted to the tire electronics using a variety of mechanical and electromechanical devices including permanently or temporarily installed traffic lane devices or portable mechanical or electromechanical devices.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of transmitting data to a tire electronics device, comprising the steps of:
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providing a tire; providing a tire electronics device, the tire electronics device comprising a microcontroller portion, a memory portion, and a vibration sensor portion, the vibration sensor portion producing signals proportional to sensed vibration; associating the tire electronics device with the tire such that vibration sensor portion of the tire electronics is responsive to vibration induced in the tire; configuring the microcontroller portion of the tire electronics to monitor signals produced by the vibration sensor portion and to identify one or more predetermined signal sequences; and inducing vibrations into the tire corresponding to one or more of the predetermined signal sequences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A tire electronics device comprising:
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a microcontroller portion having an input portion; a program memory portion coupled to the microcontroller portion; and a vibration sensor portion coupled to the input portion of the microcontroller portion capable of producing signals representative of sensed vibration, wherein the program memory portion is configured to provide program instructions to the microcontroller portion to enable the microcontroller portion to monitor, evaluate and identify signals produced by the vibration sensor portion corresponding to one or more predetermined signal sequences. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A tire and tire electronics device combination comprising:
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a tire; and a tire electronics device associated with said tire, said tire electronics device comprising; a microcontroller portion having an input portion; a program memory portion coupled to the microcontroller portion; and a vibration sensor portion coupled to the input portion of the microcontroller portion capable of producing signals representative of sensed vibration, wherein the program memory portion is configured to provide program instructions to the microcontroller portion to enable the microcontroller portion to monitor, evaluate and identify signals produced by the vibration sensor portion corresponding to one or more predetermined signal sequences produced from vibrations induced in the tire. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification