System and method for monitoring deformations of a moving tire

• US 7,150,187 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2001
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
• 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 L
• Application Number:
  US10/432,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468, 340442-447
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner

Abstract

A system for monitoring the deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim associated with a vehicle includes a moving station associated with the rim and a fixed station associated with the vehicle. The moving station includes a device for measuring the deformations in at least one predetermined direction, a unit for supplying power to the measuring device, and a device for enable the unit to supply the power. The fixed station receives information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station. A method for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim includes enabling the moving station, activating the moving station to measure the deformations, and receiving information related to the deformation measurements. A related wheel for a vehicle includes a tyre, a rim, and the moving station.

Claims

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

a moving station associated with the rim; and

a fixed station associated with the vehicle;

wherein the moving station comprises;

a device for measuring the deformations in at least one predetermined direction;

a unit for supplying power to the measuring device; and

a switch configured to sense a motion of the tyre and selectively supply the power to the measuring device in response to the sensed motion;

wherein the fixed station receives information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed station activates the moving station to measure the deformations.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed station supplies electrical energy to the moving station.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the deformations are measured at least once during each revolution of the rim.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed station comprises:

a fixed antenna;

wherein the fixed antenna communicates with a moving antenna of the moving station.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the fixed antenna and the moving antenna are inductively coupled to each other.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises:

an optical beam emitting device;

a first lens;

an optical beam receiving device; and

a second lens.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the measuring device further comprises:

a reflective element;

wherein the reflective element is disposed on an inner surface of the tyre, and

wherein the reflective element comprises;

a region, comprising;

at least one area of high light reflection; and

at least one area of low light reflection.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one area of high light reflection is produced by coating at least a portion of the inner surface of the tyre with a reflective paint.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the region comprises a plurality of triangles adjacent to each other.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the moving station comprises:

a first drive circuit for the optical beam emitting device;

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

a circuit for reading an electrical signal from the optical beam receiving device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed station comprises:

a supporting element; and

an electronic circuit board;

wherein the supporting element is fixed to a hub on which the rim is fitted, and

wherein the electronic circuit board is fixed to the supporting element.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic circuit board comprises:

an oscillator circuit;

a radio frequency receiver; and

an electrical demodulator device;

wherein the oscillator circuit supplies a drive circuit for a fixed antenna,

wherein the radio frequency receiver is connected to the fixed antenna, and

wherein the electrical demodulator device is connected to the radio frequency receiver.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein a battery of the vehicle supplies electrical energy to the fixed station.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is a battery.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the moving station further comprises a sensor that measures a pressure of the tyre.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the moving station further comprises a sensor that measures a temperature of the tyre.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch includes an accelerometric switch.

29. The wheel of claim 18, wherein the moving station further comprises a sensor that measures a pressure of the tyre.

30. The wheel of claim 18, wherein the moving station further comprises a sensor that measures a temperature of the tyre.

31. The wheel of claim 18, wherein the switch includes an accelerometric switch.

19. A method for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim associated with a vehicle, comprising:

sensing a motion of the tyre with a switch, the switch being coupled to a power supply in a moving station, the moving station being associated with the rim;

selectively supplying power with the switch to the moving station;

activating the moving station to measure the deformations with the power supplied from the power supply; and

receiving information related to the deformation measurements.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the moving station includes supplying electrical energy from a fixed station associated with the vehicle to the moving station associated with the rim.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein measuring the deformations comprises:

emitting a signal, from a predetermined position relative to the rim, in at least one predetermined direction within the tyre;

reflecting the signal from an inner surface of the tyre; and

receiving the reflected signal.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving information related to the deformation measurements comprises transferring information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station to the fixed station.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the moving station comprises:

supplying the power to the moving station for a period of time; and

transferring information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station to a fixed station during the period of time.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein transferring information related to the deformation measurements comprises:

generating a magnetic field at the moving station in a direction of the fixed station;

converting the magnetic field into an electrical signal; and

decoding the electrical signal to obtain a processed signal;

wherein the magnetic field corresponds to a signal reflected from an inner surface of the tyre.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the moving station comprises:

generating a magnetic field at a fixed station in a direction of the moving station; and

using the magnetic field to supply the power to a drive circuit for an optical beam emitting device of the moving station.

26. A wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a tyre;

a rim; and

a moving station associated with the rim;

wherein the tyre is fitted on the rim, and

wherein the moving station comprises;

a device for measuring deformations of the tyre in at least one predetermined direction;

a unit for supplying power to the measuring device; and

a switch configured to sense a motion of the tyre and selectively supply the power to the measuring device in response to the sensed motion.

27. The wheel of claim 26, wherein a fixed station activates the moving station to measure the deformations.

28. The wheel of claim 26, wherein the power supply unit is a battery.

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

a moving station associated with the rim; and

a fixed station associated with the vehicle;

wherein the moving station comprises;

a device for measuring the deformations in at least one predetermined direction;

a unit for supplying power to the measuring device; and

a device for enabling the unit to supply the power,

wherein the fixed station receives information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station,

wherein the measuring device comprises;

an optical beam emitting device;

a first lens;

an optical beam receiving device; and

a second lens.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the measuring device further comprises:

a reflective element;

wherein the reflective element is disposed on an inner surface of the tyre, and

wherein the reflective element comprises;

a region, comprising;

at least one area of high light reflection; and

at least one area of low light reflection.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one area of high light reflection is produced by coating at least a portion of the inner surface of the tyre with a reflective paint.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the region comprises a plurality of triangles adjacent to each other.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the moving station comprises:

a first drive circuit for the optical beam emitting device;

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

a circuit for reading an electrical signal from the optical beam receiving device.

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

a moving station associated with the rim; and

a fixed station associated with the vehicle;

wherein the moving station comprises;

a device for measuring the deformations in at least one predetermined direction;

a unit for supplying power to the measuring device; and

a device for enabling the unit to supply the power,

wherein the fixed station receives information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station,

wherein the fixed station comprises;

a supporting element, and

an electronic circuit board,

wherein the supporting element is fixed to a hub on which the rim is fitted, and

wherein the electronic circuit board is fixed to the supporting element.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the electronic circuit board comprises:

an oscillator circuit;

a radio frequency receiver; and

an electrical demodulator device;

wherein the oscillator circuit supplies a drive circuit for a fixed antenna,

wherein the radio frequency receiver is connected to the fixed antenna, and

wherein the electrical demodulator device is connected to the radio frequency receiver.

39. system for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim associated with a vehicle, comprising:

a moving station associated with the rim; and

a fixed station associated with the vehicle;

wherein the moving station comprises;

a device for measuring the deformations in at least one predetermined direction;

a unit for supplying power to the measuring device; and

a device for enabling the unit to supply the power,

wherein the fixed station receives information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station, and

wherein the enabling device is an accelerometric switch.

40. A method for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim associated with a vehicle, comprising:

enabling a moving station associated with the rim;

activating the moving station to measure the deformations with power supplied from a power supply included in the moving station; and

receiving information related to the deformation measurements,

wherein measuring the deformations comprises;

emitting a signal, from a predetermined position relative to the rim, in at least one predetermined direction within the tyre;

reflecting the signal from an inner surface of the tyre; and

receiving the reflected signal.

41. A method for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim associated with a vehicle, comprising:

enabling a moving station associated with the rim;

activating the moving station to measure the deformations with power supplied from a power supply included in the moving station; and

receiving information related to the deformation measurements,

wherein activating the moving station comprises;

generating a magnetic field at a fixed station in a direction of the moving station; and

using the magnetic field to supply the power to a drive circuit for an optical beam emitting device of the moving station.

42. A method for monitoring deformations of a moving tyre fitted on a rim associated with a vehicle, comprising:

enabling a moving station associated with the rim;

activating the moving station to measure the deformations with power supplied from a power supply included in the moving station; and

receiving information related to the deformation measurements,

wherein activating the moving station comprises;

supplying the power to the moving station for a period of time; and

transferring information related to the deformation measurements from the moving station to a fixed station during the period of time,

wherein transferring information related to the deformation measurements comprises;

generating a magnetic field at the moving station in a direction of the fixed station;

converting the magnetic field into an electrical signal; and

decoding the electrical signal to obtain a processed signal, and

wherein the magnetic field corresponds to a signal reflected from an inner surface of the tyre.