Tire pressure sensor assembly

• US 7,284,418 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Chiou, Jen-Huang A., Yin, Jeffrey, Meagher, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Punam
• Application Number:
  US11/144,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 731/468, 731/465, 731/463, 731/46, 340/438, 340/443, 340/445
• US Class Current: 73/146.8
• 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 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

The disclosure provides a tire pressure sensor assembly that includes a battery and a printed circuit board (PCB) configured with electronics to measure tire pressure and to transmit an electromagnetic signal related to the measured tire pressure. The PCB and battery are contained in a housing that allows the PCB and the battery to be angularly oriented with respect to each other. Such orientation permits the sensor to conform to the curved surface of the rim. An embodiment of the disclosed tire pressure sensor assembly is adapted to fasten to a valve stem via a metal terminal. The attachment configuration permits the valve stem assembly to deform as the valve stem is installed in a rim and also allows the valve stem to function as a portion of the antenna structure to facilitate transmitting the RF signal to a receiver.

Claims

1. A tire pressure sensor assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board comprising electronics for measuring tire pressure and for transmitting an electromagnetic signal related to tire pressure;

a battery being located adjacent to the printed circuit board;

the printed circuit board and battery are contained in a housing that allows the printed circuit board and battery to be oriented angularly with respect to each other, defining a low-profile tire pressure sensor assembly adapted to conform to a curved surface of a tire;

the low-profile tire pressure assembly including a battery side adapted to house the battery and a printed circuit board side adapted to house the printed circuit board and a vertex dividing the printed circuit board side and the battery side;

a valve stem for introducing air through a rim of the tire; and

a terminal extending outwardly from and being attached to the printed circuit board in proximity to the vertex made of a high tensile material having an opening for coupling the printed circuit board to the valve stem, the terminal being coupled to the valve stem by positioning the valve stem through the opening, wherein the terminal is generally perpendicular to the printed circuit board and the terminal is generally perpendicular to the valve stem.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve stem comprises a housing capable of being press fit through an opening in the rim of the tire to affix the assembly in the rim.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the terminal includes wing members.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the low-profile tire pressure sensor assembly is overmolded.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the terminal is electrically or mechanically coupled to the valve stem.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vertex defines a location where the printed circuit board and the battery substantially meet and are free from overlapping, the battery and the printed circuit board are appended via aligned leads, to provide power to the printed circuit board.