Device for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim, and rim comprising such a device

• US 7,254,994 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Baolong Electronics Bretten GmbH (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schulze, Gunther Lothar
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen; Andre J.
• Application Number:
  US10/818,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20040261510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/465, 340/443, 340/442, 340/445
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

The invention is a device comprising a device for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim (1) in a position below a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim (1), and further comprising a device to discover a detachment of the device from the rim. The invention provides that the device to discover a detachment comprises a proximity sensor responsive to the rim (1).

Claims

1. A device comprising means for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim in a position below a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim, further comprising means to discover a detachment of the device from the rim,

the means to discover detachment comprises a proximity sensor responsive to the rim, the means for detecting and signaling a physical value is a sensor for detecting air pressure, the proximity sensor comprises an electric oscillating circuit responsive to the rim,

wherein the oscillating circuit comprises a coil arranged in such a way that it directly neighbors the rim in a predetermined mounting position of the device on the rim.

2. A device comprising means for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim in a position below a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim, further comprising means to discover a detachment of the device from the rim,

the means to discover detachment comprises a proximity sensor responsive to the rim, wherein the means for detecting and signaling a physical value is a sensor for detecting air pressure, the proximity sensor comprises an electric oscillating circuit responsive to the rim,

wherein the oscillating circuit comprises a metal layer on a circuit board, which layer is arranged in such a way that it directly neighbors the rim and is supplemented by the rim to form a capacitor in a predetermined mounting position of the device on the rim.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the oscillating circuit is connected to a detector circuit.

4. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein the detector circuit is a frequency-measuring circuit.

5. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein the detector circuit comprises a low-pass filter or a band-pass filter.

6. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein the detector circuit comprises a capacitor, fed by the oscillating circuit, and a threshold-value detector that monitors the charge of the capacitor.

7. The device as defined in claim 2, wherein the proximity sensor has an output which is connected to the input of a radio transmitter.

8. A device comprising means for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim in a position below a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim, further comprising means to discover a detachment of the device from the rim,

the means to discover detachment comprises a proximity sensor responsive to the rim, wherein the means for detecting and signaling a physical value is a sensor for detecting air pressure, the proximity sensor comprises an electric oscillating circuit responsive to the rim,

wherein the oscillating circuit comprises two metal layers arranged one beside the other on a circuit board which is arranged in such a manner that it directly neighbors the rim in a predetermined mounting position of the device on the rim acting as a coupling electrode, so as to supplement the rim to form with the rim two capacitors.

9. A device comprising means for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim in a position below a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim,

and further comprising means to discover a detachment of the device from the rim,

the means to discover detachment comprises a proximity sensor responsive to the rim,

wherein the proximity sensor comprises an electric oscillating circuit responsive to the rim and the oscillating circuit comprises a coil arranged in such a way that it directly neighbors the rim in a predetermined mounting position of the device on the rim.

10. A device comprising means for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim in a position below a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim,

and further comprising means to discover a detachment of the device from the rim,

the means to discover detachment comprises a proximity sensor responsive to the rim,

wherein the proximity sensor comprises an electric oscillating circuit responsive to the rim and the oscillating circuit comprises a metal layer on a circuit board, which layer is arranged in such a way that it directly neighbors the rim and is supplemented by the rim to form a capacitor in a predetermined mounting position of the device on the rim.

11. A device comprising means for detecting and signaling a physical value when connected to a rim in a position below a pneumatic tire mounted on the rim,

and further comprising means to discover a detachment of the device from the rim,

the means to discover detachment comprises a proximity sensor responsive to the rim,

wherein the proximity sensor comprises an electric oscillating circuit responsive to the rim and the oscillating circuit comprises two metal layers arranged one beside the other on a circuit board which is arranged in such a manner that it directly neighbors the rim in a predetermined mounting position of the device on the rim acting as a coupling electrode, so as to supplement the rim to form with the rim two capacitors.