Piezoelectric tire sensor and method
First Claim
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1. A tire monitor, comprising:
- a first device that includes;
at least one piezoelectric matrix element, anda first sensing layer, comprising;
at least one rectifier,a second rectifier operably connected to the piezoelectric matrix element,a processor element, anda power storage device operably connected to the processor element,wherein the second rectifier is disposed between the processor element and the power storage device;
wherein the first device is capable of sensing a deflection in a layer of material, wherein the first device is capable of processing the sensed deflection, and wherein the first device is capable of wirelessly transmitting an indication on a condition of the material.
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Abstract
A tire monitor includes a first device (300) having at least one piezoelectric matrix element (404), and a first sensing layer (410) that includes at least one rectifier (106) and a processor element (110). The first device (300) is capable of sensing a deflection (u) in a layer of material, and is capable of processing the sensed deflection. The first device (300) is capable of wirelessly transmitting an indication (116) on a condition of the material.
36 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tire monitor, comprising:
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a first device that includes; at least one piezoelectric matrix element, and a first sensing layer, comprising; at least one rectifier, a second rectifier operably connected to the piezoelectric matrix element, a processor element, and a power storage device operably connected to the processor element, wherein the second rectifier is disposed between the processor element and the power storage device; wherein the first device is capable of sensing a deflection in a layer of material, wherein the first device is capable of processing the sensed deflection, and wherein the first device is capable of wirelessly transmitting an indication on a condition of the material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of monitoring a tire, comprising the steps of:
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sensing a flexural strain in a layer of material with a piezoelectric matrix; generating a spike of voltage once during a rotation of a tire with a sensor; detecting the spike of voltage and determining a magnitude thereof; comparing the magnitude to at least one of a warning threshold and a failure threshold; sending a warning indication when the magnitude exceeds the warning threshold. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of sensing an inflation condition of a tire, comprising the steps of:
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operably attaching at least one device on an inner periphery of a tire, wherein the at least one device is capable of generating a voltage based on a flexural strain present in a section of material of the inner periphery of the tire; wirelessly transmitting an indication of the inflation condition of the tire, by; generating a spike voltage value based on the flexural strain, comparing a magnitude of the spike voltage to a nominal value, initiating a timer when the magnitude of the spike voltage exceeds the nominal value, verifying the magnitude of the spike voltage from the at least one device by comparing said spike voltage to an additional a spike voltage from an additional device that is disposed on the tire, activating a wireless transmitter, and charging a power storage device that is disposed on the at least one device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification