System and method for generating electric power from a rotating tire's mechanical energy using piezoeletric fiber composites

A tire monitoring system for integration with a pneumatic tire structure designed to measure and transmit information relating to preselected tire conditions, said tire monitoring system comprising:

• an active piezoelectric fiber composite structure integrated in the pneumatic tire structure, wherein said piezoelectric fiber composite structure is characterized by a plurality of piezoelectric fibers embedded in an epoxy matrix and provided between at least two electrode layers;
• a power conditioning module electrically coupled to selected electrode layers of said piezoelectric fiber composite structure for receiving electric charge generated within the piezoelectric fiber, for storing the charge in an energy storage device within the power conditioning module, and for generating a regulated voltage output;
• a plurality of sensors for determining information about preselected tire conditions, wherein said sensors are powered by the regulated voltage output from said power conditioning module;
• a microcontroller connected to said power conditioning module and to said plurality of sensors for processing the information received from said sensors, and for generating select information indicative of preselected tire conditions;
• and
• an RF transmitter electrically connected to said microcontroller for receiving select information from said microcontroller, modulating the select information to a carrier signal, and transmitting the select information to a remote receiver location.

A method for generating power from piezoelectric materials integrated within a wheel assembly, said method comprising the following steps:

• providing an active piezoelectric fiber composite structure, wherein said active piezoelectric tire structure is characterized by a plurality of unidirectional piezoelectric fibers embedded in an epoxy matrix and provided between active electrode layers, and wherein said piezoelectric fiber composite structure is positioned along a selected location within the interior of the wheel assembly;
• subjecting the wheel assembly to mechanical strain generally occurring as the wheel assembly rotates along a ground surface resulting in flexure of portions of the wheel assembly and generation of electric current within the provided piezoelectric fiber composite structure;
• conditioning the electric current generated within the piezoelectric fiber composite structure;
• and
• storing the conditioned electric current in an energy storage device such that a regulated voltage source is available for powering electronic devices associated with the wheel assembly.