System for electro-statically indicating movement of tread

• US 7,513,143 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Hammerschmidt, Dirk, Kvisteroey, Terje
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J
• Application Number:
  US11/849,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20090056433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/465, 340/447
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/004 Tyre sensors other than for detecting tyre pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/064 comprising tyre mounted deformation sensors, e.g. to determine road contact area
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2240/04 Tire deformation
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres

Abstract

A system including a first electrode embedded in tread of a tire. The first electrode is configured for electro-statically indicating movement of the tread.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first electrode embedded in tread of a tire and configured for electro-statically indicating movement of the tread, wherein the first electrode includes an electret material having an electrostatic charge.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a first electrical potential on a steel belt of the tire changes in response to movement of the first electrode.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising:

a second electrode coupled to the first electrode via the steel belt, wherein a second electrical potential on the second electrode changes in response to chances in the first electrical potential and movement of the first electrode.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a second electrode capacitively coupled to the first electrode.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein electrical potential on the second electrode changes in response to movement of the first electrode.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the second electrode is situated on an inner lining of the tire.

7. The system of claim 4, comprising:

a wheel housing, wherein the second electrode is situated on the wheel housing.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a second electrode coupled to the first electrode via at least one steel belt of the tire.

9. The system of claim 4 comprising:

a base station configured to obtain values that indicate movement of the first electrode via the second electrode.

10. A system comprising:

a tire including tread;

a first electrode embedded in the tread;

at least one steel belt in the tire; and

a second electrode coupled to the first electrode via the at least one steel belt, wherein the first electrode includes an electret material having an electrostatic charge and the at least one steel belt is situated between the first electrode and the second electrode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a first electrical potential on the at least one steel belt changes in response to movement of the first electrode and a second electrical potential on the second electrode changes in response to changes in the first electrical potential.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the tire includes an inner lining and the second electrode is situated on the inner lining.

13. The system of claim 10, comprising:

a wheel housing, wherein the second electrode is situated on the wheel housing.

14. The system of claim 10, comprising:

a base station configured to receive values that indicate movement of the first electrode via the second electrode.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the base station receives the values via the second electrode and one of capacitive coupling, inductive coupling, and radio frequency communications.

16. A system comprising:

means for contacting surfaces; and

means for measuring movement of the means for contacting surfaces, wherein the means for measuring movement includes an electret material having an electrostatic charge.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for measuring comprises:

means for indicating electro-statically movement of the means for contacting surfaces, wherein the means for indicating includes the electret material having an electrostatic charge and is embedded in the means for contacting surfaces.

18. A method of monitoring a tire, comprising:

moving tread of the tire; and

indicating movement of the tread electro-statically via a first electrode that includes electret material having an electrostatic charge embedded in the tread.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

changing a first electrical potential on a steel belt in the tire via movement of the tread.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising:

changing a second electrical potential on a second electrode via changes in the first electrical potential.

21. The method of claim 18, comprising:

coupling the first electrode to a second electrode via at least one steel belt situated between the first electrode and the second electrode.

22. A method of monitoring a tire, comprising:

deforming tread on the tire;

moving a first electrode that includes an electret material having an electrostatic charge via deformation of the tread.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising:

coupling the first electrode to a second electrode via at least one steel belt situated between the first electrode and the second electrode.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising:

changing a first electrical potential on the at least one steel belt via movement of the first electrode; and

changing a second electrical potential on the second electrode via changes in the first electrical potential.