Intelligent tire systems and methods

• US 8,299,910 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Hammerschmidt, Dirk, Jongsma, Jakob
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/218,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 340442-449, 340/426.33, 340/426.31, 340/463, 340/468
• US Class Current: 340/447
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0483 Wireless routers between wheel mounted transmitters and chassis mounted receivers

Abstract

Embodiments relate to intelligent tire systems and methods. In an embodiment, a sensor module mounted in a tire includes a sensor configured to generate sensor data related to a condition of the tire; and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to communicate with another in-tire sensor module and with a control unit external to the tire.

Claims

1. A sensor module mounted in a tire comprising:

a sensor configured to generate sensor data related to a condition of the tire; and

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to communicate with another in-tire sensor module and with a control unit external to the tire wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with the other in-tire sensor module by a signal of a first range and with the control unit by a signal of a second range, the first range being shorter than the second range.

2. The sensor module of claim 1, further comprising a package, the sensor and the transceiver arranged in the package.

3. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an inertia sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, or a stress sensor.

4. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with the other in-tire sensor module by receiving sensor data from the other in-tire sensor module.

5. The sensor module of claim 4, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with the control unit by transmitting the sensor data from the sensor and from the other in-tire sensor module.

6. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with at least one additional in-tire sensor module.

7. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive communications from the control unit.

8. An integrated circuit sensor device for mounting in a tire of a vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor element configured to obtain first sensor data; and

a transceiver coupled to the first sensor element and configured to receive second sensor data from a second sensor element mounted in the tire and to transmit the first sensor data and the second sensor data to a receiver mounted in the vehicle external to the tire wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with the second sensor element by a signal of a first range and with the receiver by a signal of a second range, the first range being shorter than the second range.

9. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 8, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive signals from the receiver.

10. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 9, wherein the transceiver is configured to determine a strength of a signal from the receiver.

11. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 10, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit to the receiver at a point corresponding to a maximum of the strength.

12. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 11, wherein the point is a physical location of the transceiver during rotation of the tire.

13. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 8, wherein the first and second sensor elements are each selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an inertia sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a stress sensor.

14. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 8, wherein the receiver is a control unit.

15. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 8, wherein the receiver communicates with a control unit mounted in the vehicle external to the tire.

16. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 8, further comprising a package, wherein the first sensor element and the transceiver are disposed in the package.

17. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 8, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive additional sensor data from at least one additional sensor element mounted in the tire.

18. The integrated circuit sensor device of claim 17, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the additional sensor data with the first sensor data and the second sensor data to the receiver.