Tire sensor system and vehicle body having the same mounted thereon

• US 7,832,264 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Company Limited (Akebono Brake Corporation), Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hirohisa, Kuwako, Eiichiro, Kunimi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jenkins; Jermaine
• Application Number:
  US11/918,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20090031794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0413 Wireless charging of active radio frequency circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders

Abstract

The position of the rotation of a tire complicates the establishing of a wireless connection between a sensor unit attached to the tire and a sensor control unit attached to a vehicle body.

A reflection plate is attached to an inner surface of a wheel housing at a position different from that of a sensor control unit. A transmission electromagnetic field from the sensor control unit is reflected by the metal reflection plate and transmitted to a sensor unit rotated to a position to which the field does not readily reach directly from the sensor control unit. The sensor unit varies an impedance of a coil antenna in accordance with transmission data, and generates a variation in the transmission electromagnetic field. The variation is detected via the reflection plate as a variation in a transmission load of the sensor control unit, and the transmission data from the sensor unit is detected in the sensor control unit.

Claims

1. A tire sensor system in which a control unit disposed in a vehicle body and a sensor unit disposed inside a tire attached to the vehicle body are wirelessly connected, the tire sensor system comprising:

a reflection member attached to the vehicle body and disposed outside the tire;

wherein

the control unit generates a transmission electromagnetic field that varies with time and senses electromagnetic field fluctuations produced by the sensor unit;

the sensor unit has;

a sensor for measuring a target value in the tire,

a response circuit for generating transmission alternating current modulated in accordance with the output of the sensor, and

a coil antenna for generating electromagnetic field fluctuations on the basis of the transmission alternating current; and

the reflection member reflects the transmission electromagnetic field from the control unit, and relays the wireless connection between the control unit and the sensor unit.

2. The tire sensor system of claim 1, wherein the reflection member is disposed on an inside surface of a wheel housing of the vehicle body.

3. The tire sensor system of claim 2, wherein the reflection member is a metallic plate.

4. The tire sensor system of claim 1, wherein the reflection member is a metallic plate.

5. A vehicle body comprising a control unit wirelessly connected to a sensor unit disposed on an attached tire, the vehicle body comprising:

a reflection member attached at a predetermined position on the vehicle body and outside the tire;

wherein

the control unit generates a transmission electromagnetic field that varies with time and detects fluctuations in the electromagnetic field created by the sensor unit; and

the reflection member reflects the transmission electromagnetic field from the control unit, and relays the wireless connection between the control unit and sensor unit.

6. The vehicle body of claim 5, wherein the reflection member is disposed on an inside surface of a wheel housing of the vehicle body.

7. The vehicle body of claim 6, wherein the reflection member is a metallic plate.

8. The vehicle body of claim 5, wherein the reflection member is a metallic plate.