Piezoelectric generator for sensors inside vehicle tires

• US 7,138,750 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Mancosu, Federico, Matrascia, Giuseppe, Villa, Diego
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US11/292,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 310/319, 310/339
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0411 Piezoelectric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/60 having a coaxial cable structure

Abstract

A system for generating electrical energy in a tire for a vehicle includes at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable that generates electrical energy when deformed. The at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is associated with the tire. And the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends along at least a portion of the tire. A tire for a vehicle includes a carcass, a tread, and the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable.

Claims

1. A system for generating electrical energy in a tyre for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable that generates electrical energy when deformed;

wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is associated with the tyre, and

wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends along at least a portion of the tyre.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is electrically connected to an electrical circuit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for monitoring performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for controlling performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for monitoring and controlling performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 4, 5, or 6, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more pressure sensors, temperature sensors, force sensors, or velocity sensors.

8. The system of claim 4, 5, or 6, wherein the one or more sensors comprise any combination of two or more pressure, temperature, force, and/or velocity sensors.

9. The system of claim 4, 5, or 6, wherein the one or more transmitters transmit data from the one or more sensors out of the tyre.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more transmitters are operationally connected to a receiver associated with the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more transmitters are radio transmitters.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical circuit comprises a device that stores electrical energy produced by the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the device comprises one or more capacitors, one or more rechargeable batteries, or one or more capacitors and one or more rechargeable batteries.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the device acts as a buffer battery.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable follows an undulated path along at least a portion of a circumference of the tyre.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is embedded within a carcass of the tyre.

17. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable replaces a cord of a carcass ply of the tyre.

18. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is embedded within a belt structure of the tyre.

19. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable replaces a cord of a belt structure of the tyre.

20. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is embedded in a tread of the tyre.

21. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is disposed in a circumferential groove of the tyre.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends in a longitudinal direction all the way around a circumference of the tyre.

23. A tyre for a vehicle, comprising:

a carcass;

a tread; and

at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable;

wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable generates electrical energy when deformed, and

wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends along at least a portion of the tyre.

24. The tyre of claim 23, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is electrically connected to an electrical circuit.

25. The tyre of claim 24, wherein the electrical circuit is not in electrical communication with the vehicle.

26. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for monitoring performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

27. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for controlling performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

28. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the electrical circuit comprises one or more sensors, transmitters, or sensors and transmitters for monitoring and controlling performance of the tyre, of the vehicle, or of the tyre and the vehicle.

29. The tyre of claim 26, 27, or 28, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more pressure sensors, temperature sensors, force sensors, or velocity sensors.

30. The tyre of claim 26, 27, or 28, wherein the one or more sensors comprise any combination of two or more pressure, temperature, force, and/or velocity sensors.

31. The tyre of claim 26, 27, or 28, wherein the one or more transmitters transmit data from the one or more sensors out of the tyre.

32. The tyre of claim 31, wherein the one or more transmitters are operationally connected to a receiver associated with the vehicle.

33. The tyre of claim 31, wherein the one or more transmitters are radio transmitters.

34. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the electrical circuit comprises a device that stores electrical energy produced by the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable.

35. The tyre of claim 34, wherein the device comprises one or more capacitors, one or more rechargeable batteries, or one or more capacitors and one or more rechargeable batteries.

36. The tyre of claim 34, wherein the device acts as a buffer battery.

37. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable follows an undulated path along at least a portion of a circumference of the tyre.

38. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is embedded within a carcass of the tyre.

39. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable replaces a cord of a carcass ply of the tyre.

40. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is embedded within a belt structure of the tyre.

41. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable replaces a cord of a belt structure of the tyre.

42. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is embedded in a tread of the tyre.

43. The tyre of claim 25, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable is disposed in a circumferential groove of the tyre.

44. The tyre of claim 23, wherein the at least one coaxial piezoelectric cable extends in a longitudinal direction all the way around a circumference of the tyre.