Self-powered sensor system for monitoring tire pressure

A system for measuring air pressure in an inflatable automobile tire comprising:

• an inflatable tire mounted on a wheel and rotatable about a hub of an automobile;
• an air pressure measurement sensor located within an inflatable portion of the mounted tire;
• an electromechanical transducer coupled to the air pressure measurement sensor by a power circuit and configured to power the air pressure sensor by electrical potential converted from mechanical acceleration experienced by the electromechanical transducer;
• a wireless transmission circuit coupled to the air pressure measurement sensor by a signal circuit and configured to wirelessly transmit an air pressure measurement signal received from the sensor;
• a wireless receiver located on a chassis of the automobile and configured to receive the air pressure measurement signal from the wireless transmission circuit;
• and
• an output interface coupled to the wireless receiver and configured to output an air pressure measurement value.

A method for remotely sensing air pressure in an inflatable tire comprising:

• converting in a power circuit inside a tire energy from a first source into electrical energy;
• driving an air pressure measurement sensor electrically connected to the power circuit using the converted electrical energy;
• measuring the air pressure inside the tire using the air pressure measurement sensor;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting from a remote transceiver electrically connected to the air pressure measurement sensor to a base transceiver outside the tire a signal encoded with a value corresponding to the measured air pressure.