Active and adaptive tire systems

• US 8,234,918 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Jongsma, Jakob, Theuss, Horst
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, ANDRE J
• Application Number:
  US12/849,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1468
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/00 Tyre tread bands; Tread patterns; Anti-skid inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/18 Structure or arrangement of belts or breakers, crown-reinforcing or cushioning layers
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres

Abstract

An active and adaptive tire system is disclosed. The active and adaptive tire system comprises a tire and an active material configured to alter at least one characteristic of the tire in response to at least one condition. Also disclosed are an intelligent tire system and a method of monitoring a condition.

Claims

1. An active and adaptive tire system comprising:

a tire; and

an active material configured to alter at least one characteristic of the tire in response to at least one condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the active material is embedded within the tire.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the active material comprises a plurality of particles.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the active material comprises a layer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the active material comprises a layer applied to an external surface of the tire.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the active material is configured to automatically alter the at least one characteristic of the tire.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to sense the at least one condition and the active material is configured to alter the at least one characteristic of the tire in response to the at least one condition sensed by the sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of:

a piezoelectric material, a magnetostrictive material, a combination of a piezoelectric material and a magnetostrictive material, a permanent magnetic material, a foam, a microplasma, and a polymer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the tire is selected from the group consisting of:

a dimension, a tread depth, a tread width, a footprint size, and a hardness.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is selected from the group

consisting of:

a magnetic field, an electric field, an electromagnetic field, a driving surface condition, a moisture level, and a temperature.

11. A method of monitoring a condition comprising:

forming a tire including an active material having a response to a condition;

sensing the condition and triggering the response; and

altering at least one characteristic of the tire by the response.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising mounting the tire on a vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein forming a tire further comprises forming a layer of the active material in the tire.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein forming a tire further comprises injecting the active material into at least a portion of the tire.