Integrated tire pressure sensor system
First Claim
1. An integrated tire pressure sensor system, comprising:
- (a) one or more MEMS-based sensors, including a MEMS-based pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a tire;
(b) a MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter for transmitting data generated by said MEMS-based pressure sensor, wherein said MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter comprises;
(i) a MEMS-oscillator-based resonator for generating a desired output frequency; and
(ii) a fractional-N synthesizer to modify said desired output frequency of said MEMS-oscillator-based resonator; and
(c) an asynchronous microcontroller;
wherein said one or more MEMS-based sensors, said MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter and said asynchronous microcontroller are integrated onto one or more chips in one or more packages.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a tire pressure sensor system that has multiple functions and is integrated into a small package. The system includes one or more Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS)-based sensors, including a MEMS-based pressure sensor; a MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter; and a microcontroller, where the microcontroller processes the data generated by at least one of the MEMS-based sensors, controls at least one of the MEMS-based sensors, and controls the encoding and timing of transmission of data from the wireless signal transmitter. Preferably, the MEMS-based sensors, MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter, and microcontroller are integrated onto one or more chips in one or more packages. The system also preferably includes a MEMS-based motion sensor, a low frequency (LF) receiver, an IC-based voltage sensor, a voltage regulator, a temperature sensor and a polarization voltage generator. Thus, the disclosed tire pressure sensor system is high in functionality, yet small in size.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An integrated tire pressure sensor system, comprising:
-
(a) one or more MEMS-based sensors, including a MEMS-based pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a tire; (b) a MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter for transmitting data generated by said MEMS-based pressure sensor, wherein said MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter comprises; (i) a MEMS-oscillator-based resonator for generating a desired output frequency; and (ii) a fractional-N synthesizer to modify said desired output frequency of said MEMS-oscillator-based resonator; and (c) an asynchronous microcontroller; wherein said one or more MEMS-based sensors, said MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter and said asynchronous microcontroller are integrated onto one or more chips in one or more packages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of sensing a pressure of a tire with an integrated tire pressure system, comprising:
-
(a) integrating on one or more chips a plurality of components, including; (i) one or more MEMS-based sensors, including a MEMS-based pressure sensor; (ii) a MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter, comprising; (a) a MEMS-oscillator-based resonator for generating a desired output frequency; and (b) a fractional-N synthesizer to modify said desired output frequency of said MEMS-oscillator-based resonator; and (iii) an asynchronous microcontroller; (b) sensing at least one parameter, including pressure of a tire, with at least one of said one or more MEMS-based sensors; (c) processing data generated by at least one of said one or more MEMS-based sensors with said microcontroller; (d) controlling the encoding and timing of transmission of pressure data generated by said MEMS-based pressure sensor with said microcontroller; and (e) transmitting pressure data generated by said MEMS-based pressure sensor using said MEMS-oscillator-based wireless signal transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. An integrated tire pressure sensor system, comprising:
-
(a) one or more MEMS-based sensors, including a MEMS-based pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a tire; (b) a wireless signal transmitter for transmitting data generated by said MEMS-based pressure sensor, wherein said wireless signal transmitter comprises; (i) a MEMS-oscillator-based resonator for generating a desired output frequency; and (ii) a fractional-N synthesizer to modify said desired output frequency of said MEMS-oscillator-based resonator; and (c) an asynchronous microcontroller; wherein said one or more MEMS-based sensors, said power amplifier and said microcontroller are integrated onto one or more chips in one package. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
-
Specification