Tire pressure indicator including pressure gauges that have a self-generating power capability

• US 6,175,302 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Original Assignee: Tien-Tsai Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Tien-Tsai
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/285,451
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/443, 340/444, 340/445, 340/446, 340/447, 340/448, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals

Abstract

A tire pressure indicator comprises a set of pressure gauges respectively installed in the tires of a vehicle, and receiver circuit means installed in the vehicle adjacent to the tires. Each pressure gauge includes a power supplying device, a pressure-sensing unit, and a transmitter circuit. The power-supplying device has a self-generating voltage unit formed by a piezoelectric element, a spring element, and a weight. The spring element is vibrated when the tires of the vehicle are in motion, thereby causing the piezoelectric element to generate power supply. The pressure-sensing unit includes a capacitor means formed by a motion member, a conductive member, and a converting circuit. The motion member is made of electrically conductive material and is moved relative to the conductive member subject to the air pressure of the respective tire, so as to change the capacity of the capacitor means, enabling the converting circuit to output a first signal to the transmitter circuit subject to RC oscillation waveform detected. The transmitter transmits a second signal into the air by radio upon receipt of the first signal.

Claims

1. A tire pressure indicator for the pneumatic tires of a vehicle, said tire pressure indicator comprising a plurality of pressure gauges, at least one receiver circuit adapted to be installed in the vehicle to receive output signal from said pressure gauges wirelessly, and a controller, said pressure gauges each comprising a casing, a power supplying device, a pressure sensing unit, and a transmitter circuit, wherein:

said power supplying device comprising a self-generating voltage unit, said self-generating voltage unit comprising a spring element having a first end secured to said casing and a second end, a weight securely mounted on the second end of said spring element, and a piezoelectric unit securely mounted on said spring element, said spring element being vibrated upon motion of the respective pneumatic tire, thereby causing said piezoelectric unit to generate a voltage output to said pressure sensing unit and said transmitter circuit;

said pressure sensing unit comprising a capacitor means, said capacitor means comprising a motion member, a conductive member, and a converting circuit, said motion member being made of electrically conductive material and spaced from said conductive member at a distance, said distance being changed subject to the air pressure of respective pneumatic tire, thereby causing the capacity of said capacitor means to be changed relatively, said converting circuit comprising an oscillator connected to said capacitor means such that said converting circuit detects the number of RC oscillating waves from said oscillator and converts detected signal into a first signal indication of the pressure of the respective pneumatic tire;

said transmitter circuit receiving said first signal from said pressure sensing unit and outputing a second signal by radio;

said receiver circuit outputing a third signal upon receipt of said second signal;

said controller comprising a control circuit and an indicator circuit, said control circuit receiving said third signal from said pressure gauges and processing said third signal into an indication signal through a processor thereof for output through said indicator circuit.

2. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said motion member comprises a top side wall, a bottom mouth, a bellows-like peripheral wall connected between said top side wall and said bottom mouth, and defining an air chamber in communication with said bottom mouth, said bottom mouth receiving air pressure from the respective pneumatic tire for enabling said top side wall to be moved relative to said conductive member, so as to change the capacity of said capacitor means subject to the pressure of the respective pneumatic tire.

3. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said motion member is a corrugated metal sheet having a top side wall facing said conductive member, and a bottom side wall, which receives pressure from the respective pneumatic tire for enabling the distance between said top side wall and said conductive member to be changed subject to the air pressure of the respective pneumatic tire, so as to change the capacity of said capacitor means.

4. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein the number of said at least one receiver circuit is equal to the number of said pressure gauges, and wherein each receiver circuit is respectively installed in the vehicle adjacent to one respective pneumatic tire to receive the second signal from the corresponding pressure gauge.

5. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said power supplying device comprises a stand-by power supply unit.

6. The tire pressure indicator of claim 5, wherein said stand-by power supply unit is a rechargeable storage battery.

7. The tire pressure indicator of claim 6, wherein said power supplying device further comprises a charging circuit to boost the voltage of power supply generated by said self-generating voltage unit.

8. The tire pressure indicator of claim 5, wherein said power supplying device further comprises a power saving control circuit to turn off said stand-by power supply unit for a predetermined length of time after said self-generating voltgae unit does no work.

9. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said motion member is made of flexible material.

10. The tire pressure indicator of claim 1, wherein said receiver circuit comprises a receiving antenna, a high frequency amplifying circuit, a wave detecting circuit, a low frequency amplifier, and a pulse shaping circuit, said receiving antenna receiving said second signal, enabling the received signal to be processed through said high frequency amplifying circuit, said wave detecting circuit, said low frequency amplifier to said pulse shaping circuit for waveform shaping, so that said pulse shaping circuit outputs a third signal indication of the value of air pressure in the respective pneumatic tire.