Sensor system and method for operating a sensor system

• US 8,319,659 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Buck, Thomas, Pannek, Thorsten, Klett, Gustav, Keck, Marian
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lam T
• Application Number:
  US12/600,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.31, 342/27, 342/28, 342/352, 342/368, 342/387, 342/442, 342/465, 455/73, 455/226.1, 343/867, 343/879, 343/893
• US Class Current: 340/870.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0452 Antenna structure, control or arrangement vehicle tyre mounted antennas H01Q1/2241
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0493 for attachment on the tyre

Abstract

A sensor system having a sensor module and an induction unit is provided, the sensor module having a first antenna, and the induction unit having a second and a third antenna, an induction transmission of signals being provided between the first and the second antenna, and the signals being sent and/or received electromagnetically by the third antenna.

Claims

1. A sensor system, comprising:

a sensor module having a first antenna; and

an induction unit having a second antenna and a third antenna;

wherein an induction transmission of signals is provided between the first antenna and the second antenna, and wherein the signals are at least one of sent and received electromagnetically by the third antenna.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is enclosed by at least one of a module housing and at least partially by the induction unit.

3. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna includes one of a wire loop, a wire strap and a circuit-board conductor loop, on a printed-circuit board.

4. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second antenna and the third antenna include at least one of a wire loop antenna, a helix antenna, a loop antenna and a dipole antenna, wherein the second and the third antenna are in one piece, and wherein at least one of the second antenna and the third antenna have a plurality of turns.

5. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is situated within the second antenna, which is one of a wire loop and a helix.

6. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the third antenna has two subsections, the second antenna being situated between the two subsections, wherein the subsections are a dipole antenna.

7. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the induction unit is integrated into a vehicle tire.

8. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module has at least one of a passive microelectronic component a micromechanical component, and at least one tire pressure sensor chip, and wherein the components are situated on at least one of the printed-circuit board and an additional printed-circuit board.

9. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the coupling planes of the first antenna and the second antenna, which are particularly developed as wire loops, are aligned perpendicularly to at least one of the tire tread and a steel belt surface.

10. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the induction unit is integrated into a vehicle tire by vulcanizing it into the vehicle tire material during a production process of the vehicle tire.

11. A method for operating a sensor system having at least one of a passive microelectronic component and a micromechanical component, the method comprising:

generating electric signals by at least one of the components;

inductively transmitting the signals via a first antenna to a second antenna; and

radiating the signals electromagnetically by a third antenna;

wherein the sensor system includes;

a sensor module having the first antenna; and

an induction unit having the second antenna and the third antenna;

wherein the signals are inductively transmitted between the first antenna and the second antenna, and wherein the signals are at least one of sent and received electromagnetically by the third antenna, and

wherein the sensor module has at least one of the passive microelectronic component and the micromechanical component.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein electromagnetic signals are received by the third antenna and are inductively transmitted via the second antenna to the first antenna, and wherein corresponding electric signals are conducted by the first antenna to at least one of the components.

13. A tire pressure control system for use with a vehicle tire, comprising:

a sensor system, including;

a sensor module having a first antenna; and

an induction unit having a second antenna and a third antenna;

wherein signals are inductively transmitted between the first antenna and the second antenna, and wherein the signals are at least one of sent and received electromagnetically by the third antenna.