Apparatus for boosting signals from a signal-generating device

• US 20040066287A1
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S., Johnson, Wendell C., DuVall, Wilbur E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,253,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3584 Inflatable article [e.g., tire filling chuck and/or stem]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/36 With pressure-responsive pressure-control means

Abstract

Arrangement for providing a boosted signal from a signal-generating device, such as a SAW device or an RFID tag, including an antenna and a circulator having a first port connected to the antenna to receive a signal therefrom and a second port connectable to the device to provide a signal thereto and receive a signal therefrom. The circulator amplifies the signal from the antenna and the signal received from the device such that a twice-amplified signal is directed to the antenna. A receiving and processing module transmits a signal to the antenna causing the antenna to generate its signal and receive a signal from the antenna derived from the twice-amplified signal. Various pumping systems for vehicle tires and electricity generating systems which generate energy upon rotation of a tire are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An arrangement for providing a boosted signal from a signal-generating device, comprising:

an antenna;

a circulator having a first port connected to said antenna to receive a signal from said antenna and a second port adapted to be connected to the signal-generating device to provide a signal to the signal-generating device and receive a signal from the signal-generating device, said circulator being structured and arranged to amplify the signal from said antenna such that the amplified signal is directed to the signal-generating device and amplify the signal received from the signal-generating device such that a twice-amplified signal is directed to said antenna.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a receiving and processing module for transmitting a signal to said antenna causing said antenna to generate its signal and for receiving a signal from said antenna derived from the twice-amplified signal.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said circulator is arranged to provide a signal gain of 6 dB at 400 MHz.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said circulator comprises a first signal splitter arranged in connection with said first port and a second signal splitter arranged in connection with said second port.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said circular further comprises first gain means for amplifying the signal being directed from said antenna to the signal-generating device and second gain means for amplifying the signal being directed from the signal-generating device to said antenna.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising an energy-supply module for supplying energy to operate said circulator.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein said energy-supply module comprises a charging capacitor, at least one movable mass, a mechanical-electrical converter coupled to each of said at least one mass to convert the movement of the mass into electric signals and a bridge rectifier coupled to each converter, said capacitor being coupled to said bridge rectifier to enable charging of said capacitor during movement of said at least one mass.

8. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein said energy-supply module further comprises an over-charge protector to prevent overcharging of said capacitor.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein said over-charge protector is a Zener diode arranged in a parallel with said capacitor.

10. The arrangement of claim 7, wherein said at least one mass comprises two masses arranged in perpendicular directions.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the signal-generating device is a surface-acoustic-wave sensor.

12. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the signal-generating device is a radio-frequency identification tag.

13. An energy-supply module for supplying energy to operate a component derived from movement of the vehicle, comprising:

a charging capacitor;

at least one movable mass;

a mechanical-electrical converter coupled to each of said at least one mass to convert the movement of the mass into electric signals; and

a bridge rectifier coupled to each converter, said capacitor being coupled to said bridge rectifier to enable charging of said capacitor during movement of said at least one mass.

14. The module of claim 13, further comprising an over-charge protector to prevent overcharging of said capacitor.

15. The module of claim 14, wherein said over-charge protector is a Zener diode arranged in a parallel with said capacitor.

16. The module of claim 13, wherein said at least one mass comprises two masses arranged in perpendicular directions.

17. The module of claim 13, wherein the component is a surface-acoustic-wave sensor.

18. The module of claim 13, wherein the component is a radio-frequency identification tag.

19. A pumping system for a tire which inflates the tire upon rotation of the tire, comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted external to the tire, said housing defining a first fluid-receiving chamber;

a mass movable in said housing in response to rotation of said housing and including a piston rod movable in said first chamber;

a first spring compressed by said mass upon movement of said mass;

a first inlet valve arranged in said housing and leading from ambient atmosphere to said first chamber;

a first tube adapted to connect to a nipple on the tire; and

a first exhaust valve arranged in said housing for providing a flow connection from said first chamber to said first tube, whereby upon rotation of the tire, said mass moves causing said piston to move in said first chamber and alternately draw air into said first chamber through said first inlet valve and force air through said first exhaust valve into said tube to the nipple to inflate the tire.

20. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein said housing further defines a second fluid-receiving chamber, said piston rod being movable in said second chamber, further comprising:

a second spring compressed by said mass upon movement of said mass in an opposite direction from a direction in which said first spring is compressed by said mass;

a second inlet valve arranged in said housing and leading from ambient atmosphere to said second chamber;

a second tube adapted to connect to a nipple on the tire; and

a second exhaust valve arranged in said housing for providing a flow connection from said second chamber to said second tube.

21. The pumping system of claim 20, wherein said first and second springs are arranged on opposite sides of said mass.

22. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein said first spring is a non-linear spring.

23. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein said housing includes a cylinder defining said first chamber.

24. An electricity generating system for a vehicle having a tire, comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted external to the tire, said housing including a first cylinder defining a first chamber and a first coil wrapped around said first cylinder;

a mass movable in said housing in response to rotation of said housing and including a magnetic piston rod movable in said first chamber;

a first spring compressed by said mass upon movement of said mass; and

an energy storage or load device connected to said first coil,

whereby upon rotation of the tire, said mass moves causing said piston to move in said first chamber and impart a charge to said first coil which is stored or used by said energy storage or load device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said housing further includes a second cylinder defining a second chamber and a second coil wrapped around said second cylinder, said piston rod being movable in said second chamber, said energy storage or load device being connected to said second coil, further comprising:

a second spring compressed by said mass upon movement of said mass in an opposite direction from a direction in which said first spring is compressed by said mass,

whereby upon rotation of the tire, said mass moves causing said piston to alternatingly move in said first and second chambers and impart a charge to said first or second coil which is stored or used by said energy storage or load device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said first and second springs are arranged on opposite sides of said mass.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said first spring is a non-linear spring.

28. A tire including an electricity generating system, comprising:

a rubber substrate defining side walls;

a tread;

a pad made from a piezoelectric material and attached to an inner surface of said substrate adjacent to said tread; and

a circuit coupled to said pad and including an energy storage device,

whereby upon rotation of said tire, said pad flexes causing a charge to appears on opposite sides of said pad thereby creating a voltage which is processed by said circuit to charge said energy storage device.

29. The tire of claim 28, wherein said pad includes a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material.

30. The tire of claim 28, wherein said pad comprises a plurality of sections of piezoelectric material joined together to form a belt stretching around an inner circumference of said substrate.

31. The tire of claim 28, wherein said piezoelectric material is polyvinylidene fluoride.

32. A pumping system for a tire which inflates the tire upon rotation of the tire, comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted inside the tire, said housing defining an air-receiving chamber;

a piston movable in said chamber in response to rotation of said housing;

intake means arranged in connection with said piston and adapted to have an inlet external of the tire, said intake means providing a conduit from ambient atmosphere to said chamber; and

an exhaust valve arranged in said housing for providing a flow connection from said chamber to an interior of the tire,

whereby upon rotation of the tire, said piston moves in said chamber and alternately draws air into said chamber through said intake means and forces air through said exhaust valve into the tire.

33. The pumping system of claim 32, wherein said intake means comprise a rod for connecting a wheel rim to said piston.

34. A tire including an electricity generating system, comprising:

a rubber substrate defining side walls;

a tread;

a housing mounted on an inner surface of said tread, said housing defining an air-receiving chamber;

a piston movable in said chamber in response to rotation of said housing;

intake means arranged in connection with said piston and adapted to have an inlet external of the tire when said tire is mounted on a wheel rim, said intake means providing a conduit from ambient atmosphere to said chamber; and

an exhaust valve arranged in said housing for providing a flow connection from said chamber to an interior of the tire,

whereby upon rotation of the tire, said piston moves in said chamber and alternately draws air into said chamber through said intake means and forces air through said exhaust valve into the tire.

35. The tire of claim 34, wherein said intake means comprise a rod for connecting a wheel rim to said piston.

36. An electricity generating system for a vehicle having a tire, comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted inside the tire, said housing including a coil defining a chamber;

a magnetic piston movable in said chamber in response to rotation of said housing; and

an energy storage or load device connected to said coil,

whereby upon rotation of the tire, said piston moves in said chamber and imparts a charge to said first coil which is stored or used by said energy storage or load device.

37. A method for providing energy to boost a SAW-based tire pressure monitor, comprising the steps of:

mounting the SAW-based tire pressure monitor on each tire of a vehicle; and

coupling a tag to the tire pressure monitor on each tire, each tag including an antenna, a capacitor and an electronic circuit including a circulator having a first port connected to the antenna to receive a signal from the antenna and a second port connected to the tire pressure monitor to provide a signal to the tire pressure monitor and receive a signal from the tire pressure monitor, the circulator being structured and arranged to receive energy from said capacitor and amplify the signal from the antenna such that the amplified signal is directed to the tire pressure monitor and amplify the signal received from the tire pressure monitor such that a twice-amplified signal is directed to the antenna.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

providing the electronic circuit in each tag with a memory containing a unique identification code for the tag.

39. An arrangement for opening a trunk or door of a vehicle, comprising:

an interrogator adapted to be arranged on the vehicle;

a keyless entry device including an antenna and a circuit including a circulator for boosting signals to and from said antenna and a memory containing a unique identification code; and

a device for opening the trunk or door, said device being coupled to said interrogator and being arranged to open the trunk or door when said keyless entry device is a set distance from said interrogator for a certain duration of time.