Tire measuring device with a modulated backscatter transponder self-sufficient in terms of energy

• US 7,076,998 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bulst, Wolf-Eckhart, Vossiek, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US10/712,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20040118197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 735/98, 343/909, 333/133, 340/825.54
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators

Abstract

A tire measuring device has a converter for converting the ambient energy to an alternating value, and a reflector that can be modulated by the alternating value.

Claims

1. A tire measuring device comprising:

a converter for converting ambient energy to an alternating value;

a reflector for an electromagnetic signal that can be modulated via the alternating value;

a piezoelectric layer as the energy converter, and

a layer with a controllable dielectric.

2. The tire measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a reflector for a high-frequency electromagnetic signal.

3. A tire measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the tire measuring device further comprises an antenna.

4. A tire measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the tire measuring device is a backscatter transponder.

5. A tire measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the tire measuring device comprises a sensor for determining a measured value.

6. A tire measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the converter converts the ambient energy to an alternating value as a function of the measured value.

7. A tire measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the tire measuring device comprises a means to influence the alternating value as a function of the measured value.

10. A tire measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the converter comprises at least one piezoelectric fiber.

8. A tire measuring device comprising:

a reflector for an electromagnetic signal that can be modulated via the alternating value;

wherein the alternating value comprises a first alternating value and a second alternating value; and

wherein the first and second alternating values are alternating values which are derived from an original alternating value that can be broken down and wherein, after the breakdown, the first and second alternating value can be influenced differently by a measured value.

9. The tire measuring device according to claim 8, further comprising a second converter for generating the second alternating value.

11. A tire comprising a tire measuring device comprising:

a converter for converting ambient energy to an alternating value;

a reflector for modulating an electromagnetic signal that can be modulated via the alternating value;

a piezoelectric layer as the energy converter, and

a layer with a controllable dielectric.

12. A tire according to claim 11, wherein the tire measuring device is connected to the tire cover.

13. A rim with a tire measuring device, said device comprising:

a converter for converting ambient energy to an alternating value wherein the alternating value comprises a first alternating value and a second alternating value;

a reflector that can be modulated via the alternating value;

a piezoelectric layer as the energy converter, and

a layer with a controllable dielectric.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of tires, wherein each tire comprises a tire measuring device comprising;

a converter for converting ambient energy to an alternating value, the alternating value comprising a first alternating value and a second alternating value, and

a reflector that can be modulated via the alternating value;

a piezoelectric layer as the energy converter; and

a layer with a controllable dielectric.

15. A method for tire measurement comprising the steps of:

converting the ambient energy to an alternating value,

modulating a reflector via the alternating value, and

generating a first alternating value and a second alternating value, wherein the first and second alternating values are alternating values which are derived from an original alternating value that can be broken down and wherein, after the breakdown, the first and second alternating value can be influenced differently by a measured value.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of converting the ambient energy to an alternating value is performed as a function of a measured value.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of influencing the alternating value as a function of a measured value.