Tire pressure indicator

• US 5,798,689 A
• Filed: 02/26/1997
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Original Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Tien-Tsai
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/806,408
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/447, 340/445, 340/539, 340/626, 73/146.5, 73/146.4, 73/146.2, 73/146.3, 137/227, 137/231, 116/34 R, 200/61.22, 200/61.25
• 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 23/041 Means for supplying power to the signal- transmitting means on the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0496 Valve stem attachments positioned outside of the tyre chamber
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04985 using straps surrounding the rims

Abstract

A pressure gauge of a tire pressure indicator for a set of pneumatic tires of a vehicle includes a casing formed with an aperture and adapted to be secured to a metal wheel of a respective one of the pneumatic tires such that the casing is concealed by the respective one of the pneumatic tires, and a signal generating device disposed in the casing. The signal generating device wirelessly transmits a pressure signal when pressure within the respective one of the pneumatic tires is not within a predetermined normal operating pressure range.

Claims

1. A tire pressure indicator for a set of pneumatic tires of a vehicle, each of the pneumatic tires having a metal wheel, said tire pressure indicator comprising:

a plurality of pressure gauges, each of which includes a casing formed with an aperture and adapted to be secured to the metal wheel of a respective one of the pneumatic tires such that said pressure gauges are concealed by the pneumatic tires, and a signal generating device disposed in said casings said signal generating device wirelessly transmitting a pressure signal when pressure within the respective one of the pneumatic tires is not within a predetermined normal operating pressure range;

a receiver device for receiving the pressure signal transmitted by said signal generating device of said pressure gauges;

a pressure sensing unit which generates an analog voltage signal that varies in accordance with the pressure entering said aperture;

a signal converting unit electrically connected to said pressure sensing unit for converting the analog voltage signal into a digital output signal;

an encoder unit electrically connected to said signal converting unit, said encoder unit comparing the digital output signal of said signal converting unit with high pressure and low pressure limits of the normal operating pressure and low pressure limits of the normal operating pressure range, said encoder unit generating said pressure signal which includes the digital output signal and an identification code unique to that gauge when the digital output signal is not within the normal operating pressure range; and

a signal transmitter circuit electrically connected to said encoder unit for transmitting the pressure signal from said encoder unit wirelessly.

2. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of elastic straps, each of which is adapted to be extended around the metal wheel of a respective one of the pneumatic tires and secures said casing of a respective one of said pressure gauges on the metal wheel of the respective one of the pneumatic tires.

3. The tire pressure indicator of claim 2, wherein each of said elastic straps has opposite ends that are provided with hook units, and said casing of each of said pressure gauges is formed with retaining holes for engaging said hook units on the respective one of said elastic straps.

4. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said casing of each of said pressure gauges is provided with an externally threaded coupling tube, said tire pressure indicator further comprising a plurality of coupling seats, each of which is formed with an internally threaded hole for engaging said coupling tube on said casing of a respective one of said pressure gauges and is adapted to be mounted on the metal wheel of a respective one of the pneumatic tires so as to secure the respective one of said pressure gauges on the metal wheel of the respective one of the pneumatic tires.

5. The tire pressure indicator of claim 4, wherein said coupling tube is in fluid communication with said aperture in said casing of said pressure gauge, and each of said coupling seats has a bottom end which forms a clearance with the metal wheel of the respective one of the pneumatic tires to permit entry of the pressure in the respective one of the pneumatic tires into said aperture of said casing of the respective one of said pressure gauges via said coupling tube.

6. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said receiver device includes a signal receiver circuit for receiving the pressure signal transmitted by said signal generating device of said pressure gauges, a decoder unit electrically connected to said signal receiver circuit so as to receive the pressure signal therefrom, and a display unit electrically connected to said decoder unit and controlled by said decoder unit so as to indicate thereon which one of the pneumatic tires is under- or over-inflated and the pressure inside the under- or over-inflated one of the pneumatic tires.

7. The tire pressure indicator of claim 6, wherein the display unit includes a liquid crystal display.

8. The tire pressure indicator of claim 6, wherein the display unit includes a diode display.

9. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said receiver device includes a signal receiver circuit for receiving the pressure signal transmitted by said signal generating device of said pressure gauges, a decoder unit electrically connected to said signal receiver circuit so as to receive the pressure signal therefrom, and a sound alarm unit electrically connected to said decoder unit and controlled by said decoder unit so as to generate an audible alarm output.

10. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensing unit of said signal generating device of each of said pressure gauges includes a semiconductor pressure sensor with a pressure port that extends into said aperture.

11. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said signal generating device of each of said pressure gauges further includes a circuit board which is mounted inside said casing which has said pressure sensing unit, said signal converting unit and said encoder unit mounted thereon.

12. A pressure gauge for a pneumatic tire with a metal wheel comprising:

a casing formed with an aperture and adapted to be secured to the metal wheel of the pneumatic tire such that said casing is concealed by the pneumatic tire;

a signal generating device disposed in said casing, said signal generating device wirelessly transmitting a pressure signal when pressure within the pneumatic tire is not within a predetermined normal operating pressure range;

a pressure sensing unit which generates an analog voltage signal that varies in accordance with the pressure entering said aperture;

a signal converting unit electrically connected to said pressure sensing unit for converting the analog voltage signal into a digital output signal;

an encoder unit electrically connected to said signal converting unit, said encoder unit comparing the digital output signal of said signal converting unit with high pressure and low pressure limits of the normal operating pressure range, said encoder unit generating said pressure signal which includes the digital output signal and an identification code unique to that gauge when the digital output signal is not within the normal operating pressure range;

a signal transmitter circuit electrically connected to said encoder unit for transmitting the pressure signal from said encoder unit wirelessly.

13. The pressure gauge of claim 12, further comprising an elastic strap which is adapted to be extended around the metal wheel of the pneumatic tire so as to secure said casing on the metal wheel.

14. The pressure gauge of claim 13, wherein said elastic strap has opposite ends that are provided with hook units, and said casing is formed with retaining holes for engaging said hook units on said elastic strap.

15. The pressure gauge of claim 12, wherein said casing is provided with an externally threaded coupling tube, said pressure gauge further comprising a coupling seat formed with an internally threaded hole for engaging said coupling tube on said casing and adapted to be mounted on the metal wheel of the pneumatic tire so as to secure said casing on the metal wheel.

16. The pressure gauge of claim 15, wherein said coupling tube is in fluid communication with said aperture in said casing, and said coupling seat has a bottom end which forms a clearance with the metal wheel to permit entry of the pressure in the pneumatic tire into said aperture of said casing via said coupling tube.

17. The pressure gauge of claim 12, wherein said pressure sensing unit of said signal generating device includes a semiconductor pressure sensor with a pressure port that extends into said aperture.

18. The pressure gauge of claim 12, wherein said signal generating device further includes a circuit board which is mounted inside said casing which has said pressure sensing unit, said signal converting unit and said encoder unit mounted thereon.