Acoustic wave device with digital data transmission functionality
First Claim
1. An electronics assembly for relaying data associated with a tire or wheel assembly, said electronics assembly comprising:
- a gain circuit characterized by at least one input and at least one output;
a condition-responsive device configured to sense information about its surrounding environment, wherein said condition-responsive device is connected as a feedback element between the at least one input and the at least one output of said gain circuit such that said gain circuit and said condition-responsive device form an oscillator circuit operating at one or more frequencies associated with the condition-responsive device;
an antenna coupled to said oscillator circuit for facilitating the transmission of RF output signals therefrom; and
a control element coupled to said oscillator circuit and configured to selectively control operation of said gain circuit, thus modulating digital data on the RF output signals transmitted from said oscillator circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved electronics assembly for integration with a tire structure includes an acoustic wave device such as a SAW sensor connected as a feedback element in an active amplifier and further coupled to an antenna element, thus forming an active transmitter configuration. Such a circuit configuration provides for the ability to actively transmit a combination of information from integrated tire electronics to a remote receiver location. The combination of information corresponds to the physical parameters sensed by the acoustic wave device as well as digital data superimposed on the RF signal emitted by the acoustic wave device by selectively switching the amplifier on and off. Optional integrated power sources configure the electronics assembly for operation as an actively transmitting device.
13 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An electronics assembly for relaying data associated with a tire or wheel assembly, said electronics assembly comprising:
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a gain circuit characterized by at least one input and at least one output;
a condition-responsive device configured to sense information about its surrounding environment, wherein said condition-responsive device is connected as a feedback element between the at least one input and the at least one output of said gain circuit such that said gain circuit and said condition-responsive device form an oscillator circuit operating at one or more frequencies associated with the condition-responsive device;
an antenna coupled to said oscillator circuit for facilitating the transmission of RF output signals therefrom; and
a control element coupled to said oscillator circuit and configured to selectively control operation of said gain circuit, thus modulating digital data on the RF output signals transmitted from said oscillator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A transmitter device for relaying digital data as well as sensed parameter information, said transmitter device comprising:
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a first amplifier characterized by at least one input and at least one output;
a condition-responsive device configured to sense information about at least one physical parameter, wherein said condition-responsive device is connected as a feedback element between the at least one input and the at least one output of said first amplifier;
a second amplifier characterized by at least one input and at least one output, wherein the at least one output of said first amplifier is coupled to the at least one input of said second amplifier;
an antenna coupled to the at least one output of said second amplifier for facilitating the transmission of RF output signals at one or more operating frequencies; and
a control element coupled to selected of said first and second amplifiers;
wherein the one or more operating frequencies of said RF output signals provides information about the at least one physical parameter sensed by said condition-responsive device and wherein the amplitude of said RF output signals relays digital data selectively modulated by said control element. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A tire assembly with integrated electronic components, comprising:
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a tire structure;
an electronics assembly integrated with said tire structure and configured to relay data associated with said tire structure, said electronics assembly comprising;
a first amplifier characterized by at least one input and at least one output;
a condition-responsive device configured to sense information about at least one physical parameter associated with said tire structure, wherein said condition-responsive device is connected as a feedback element between the at least one input and the at least one output of said first amplifier such that said first amplifier and said condition-responsive device form an oscillator circuit;
an antenna coupled to said oscillator circuit for facilitating the transmission of RF output signals at one or more operating frequencies; and
a control element coupled to said oscillator circuit;
wherein the one or more operating frequencies of said RF output signals provides information about the at least one physical parameter sensed by said condition-responsive device and wherein the amplitude of said RF output signals relays digital data selectively modulated by said control element. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification