Method and apparatus for measuring air pressure in pneumatic tires

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising:

• a. a regulated DC power supply providing a constant voltage output;
• b. a RF oscillator connected to the regulated power supply;
• c. a RF amplifier connected to the RF oscillator;
• d. a flat coil transmitting antenna radiating a field of electromagnetic radiation, said coil antenna being connected to the RF amplifier;
• e. an impedence matching filter connected between the RF amplifier and the flat coil antenna;
• a tire pressure sensor coupled to the field of electromagnetic radiation radiated from the transmitting antenna, said pressure sensor having means for converting the electromagnetic radiation into power to operate the sensor, means in communication with the interior of the pneumatic tire for measuring the pressure in the penumatic tire, and means for transmitting an electromagnetic signal indicating the pressure measured in the tire, and;
• g. a tire pressure signal processor that receives the electromagnetic pressure signal from the pressure sensor and displays the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising:

• a. a power transmitter for generating a field of electromagnetic radiation;
• b. means proximate to the tire for receiving the electromagnetic radiation transmitted from the power transmitter and for providing electrical energy therefrom;
• c. a pressure transducer means in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein and generating a modulating signal which represents the pressure measured by the transducer;
• d. a FM transmitter, operating at a predetermined carrier frequency radiating a signal modulated such that the instantaneous frequency of said signal differs from the carrier frequency by an amount proportional to the instantaneous value of a modulating signal, said transmitter being powered by the electrical energy providing means;
• and
• e. a tire pressure signal processor that receives the frequency modulated signal from the FM transmitter and displays the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising;

• a. a power transmitter for generating a field of electromagnetic radiation;
• b. a tire pressure sensor coupled to the field of electromagnetic radiation generated by the power transmitter, said pressure sensor having means for converting the electromagnetic radiaton into power to operate the sensor, means in communication with the interior of the pneumatic tire for measuring the pressure in the tire, and means for transmitting a frequency modulated signal indicating the measured pressure in the tire;
• c. a FM receiver for receiving the signal transmitted from the tire pressure sensor;
• d. a frequency synthesizer connected to the FM receiver for demodulating the frequency modulated pressure signal;
• and
• e. means connected to the output of the FM receiver for displaying the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising;

• a. a power transmitter for generating a field of electromagnetic radiation;
• b. a flat coil transmitting antenna radiating a field of electromagnetic radiation, said coil antenna being connected to the power transmitter and being locatable in the plane of a roadway so that the pneumatic tire can roll over the antenna while passing through the electromagnetic field;
• c. means proximate to the tire for receiving the electromagnetic radiation transmitted from the power transmitter and for providing electrical energy therefrom;
• d. a magnetostrictive element in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein, said magnetostrictive element measures the absolute pressure in the tire without referring to a reference pressure;
• e. a FM transmitter proximate to the tire radiating a frequency modulated signal representing the pressure measured by the magnetostrictive element, said transmitter being powered by the electrical energy providing means;
• f. a FM receiver for receiving the frequency modulated signal transmitted from the FM transmitter;
• g. a frequency synthesizer connected to the FM receiver for demodulating the frequency modulated pressure signal;
• and
• h. means connected to the output of the FM receiver for displaying the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressures in a plurality of pneumatic tires mounted in tandem and for distinguishing between the measurements, comprising;

• a. a power transmitter for generating a field of electromagnetic radiation;
• b. a segmented transmitting antenna having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, in-line elements radiating a field of electromagnetic radiation, said segmented transmitting antenna being connected to the power transmitter;
• c. a tire pressure sensor proximate to each tire and coupled to the field of electromagnetic radiation generated by the power transmitter, each pressure sensor having means for coverting the electromagnetic radiation into power to operate the sensor, means in communication with the interior of the pneumatic tire for measuring the pressure in the pneumatic tire, and means for transmitting an electromagnetic signal indicating the measured pressure in the tire;
• d. a segmented antenna having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart in-line elements receiving the electromagnetic signals from the tire pressure sensors;
• and
• e. a tire pressure signal processor connected to the segmented receiving antenna, said processor receives the electromagnetic pressure signals from the pressure sensors and displays the pressures measured in the tires.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressures in a plurality of pneumatic tires mounted side by side and for distinguishing between the measurements, comprising;

• a. a power transmitter for generating a field of electromagnetic radiation;
• b. a plurality of parallel, laterally spaced apart and horizontally disposed elongate transmitting antennas, one transmitting antenna for each tire mounted side by side;
• c. a tire pressure sensor proximate to each tire and coupled to the field of electromagnetic radiation generated by the power transmitter, each pressure sensor having means for converting the electromagnetic radiation into power to operate the sensor, means for transmitting an electromagnetic signal indicated the measured pressure in the tire;
• d. a plurality of parallel, laterally spaced apart and horizontally disposed elongated receiving antennas, one receiving antenna for each tire mounted side by side;
• and
• e. a tire pressure signal processor connected to the receiving antenna, said processor receives the electromagnetic pressure signal for each pressure measured in each tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a metal belted pneumatic tire, comprising:

• a. a power transmitter for generating a field of electromagnetic radiation;
• b. a flat coil transmitting antenna formed by turns of wire each having an increased lateral spacing therebetween as the distance from the center of the antenna increases, said antenna radiating a field of electromagnetic radiation and connected to the power transmitter;
• c. a tire pressure sensor coupled to the field of electromagnetic radiation generated by the power transmitter, said pressure sensor having means for converting the electromagnetic radiation into power to operate the sensor, means in communciation with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure in the tire and means for transmitting an electromagnetic signal indicating the measured pressure in the tire;
• and
• d. a tire pressure signal processor that receives the electromagnetic pressure signal from the pressure sensor and displays the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a metal belted pneumatic belted tire, comprising;

• a. a power transmitter for generating a field of electromagnetic radiation;
• b. a tire pressure sensor coupled to the field of electromagnetic radiation generated by the power transmitter, said pressure sensor having a receiving antenna positioned for sensitivity to magnetic vector component of the electromagnetic radiation, means connected to the antenna for converting the received radiation into power to operate the senor, means in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure in the tire and means for transmitting an electromagnetic signal indicating the pressure measured in the tire;
• and
• c. a tire pressure signal processor that receives the electromagnetic pressure signal from the pressure sensor and displays the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire and for transmitting the pressure measurement to a location remote from the tire, comprising;

• a. a receiving antenna for picking up energy from a field of electromagnetic radiation directed at the tire;
• b. a FM oscillator connected to the receiving antenna and powered by the energy therefrom;
• c. a pressure transducer in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein and for generating a modulating signal which represents the measured pressure;
• d. a FM transmitter having a predetermined carrier frequency operatively connected to and driven by said FM oscillator and also connected to the pressure transducer for transmitting to a location remote from the tire a modulated electromagnetic signal having an instantaneous frequency which differs from said carrier frequency by an amount proportional to the instantaneous value of said signal which represents the pressure measured in the tire;
• and
• e. a transmitting antenna connected to said FM transmitter.

Method for remotely indicating the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of:

• a. generating an electromagnetic field;
• b. disposing the tire in the field;
• c. coupling to said field to generate power within the field,
• d. employing said power to radiate an electromagnetic signal indicative of the quantitive magnitude of the pressure within the tire;
• e. receiving said electromagnetic signal;
• and
• f. converting said receiving signal into a quantitative indication of the pressure within the tire.

Method for remotely indicating the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a field of electromagnetic radiation;
• b. disposing the pneumatic tire in the field;
• c. coupling a tire pressure sensor to said field;
• d. converting the electromagnetic radiation into power to operate the pressure sensor;
• e. measuring quantitatively the magnitude of the pressure in the tire with the tire pressure sensor;
• f. transmitting an electromagnetic signal indicating the quantitative magnitude of the pressure measured in the tires;
• g. receiving the electromagnetic pressure signal with a tire pressure signal processor;
• and
• h. displaying the quantitative magnitude of the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising:

• a. a magnet for generating a magnetic field;
• b. a tire pressure sensor coupled to the magnetic field, said pressure sensor having a conductor therein for inducing a current from the field to operate the sensor, means in communication with the interior of the pneumatic tire for measuring the pressure in the pneumatic tire, and means for transmitting an electromagnetic signal indicating the pressure measured in the tire;
• c. means for moving the conductor with respect to the magnetic field;
• and
• d. a tire pressure signal processor means that receives the electromagnetic pressure signal from the pressure sensor and displays the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising;

• a. a magnet for generating a magnetic field proximate to the tire;
• b. a movable conductor for inducing a current from the field;
• c. means for moving said conductor with respect to the field;
• d. rectifying means for commutating into D.C. current the current induced in the conductor;
• e. a pressure transducer in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein;
• f. a FM transmitter proximate to the tire radiating a frequency modulated signal representing the pressure measured by the transducer, said transmitter being powered by the D.C. current means;
• and
• g. a tire pressure signal processor that receives the frequency modulated signal from the FM transmitter and displays the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising:

• a. a magnet for generating a magnetic field;
• b. a tire pressure sensor coupled to the magnetic field, said pressure sensor having a conductor therein for inducing a current from the field to operate the sensor, means in communication with the interior of the pneumatic tire for measuring the pressure in the pneumatic tire, and means for transmitting an electromagnetic signal indicating the pressure measured in the tire,
• c. means for moving the conductor with respect to the magnetic field;
• d. a FM receiver for receiving the signal transmitted from the tire pressure sensor;
• e. a frequency synthesizer connected to the FM receiver for demodulating the frequency modulated pressure signal;
• and
• f. means connected to the output of the FM receiver for displaying the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire comprising:

• a. magnet for generating a magnetic field;
• b. means for focusing the magnetic field generated by the magnet onto the tire;
• c. a movable conductor for inducing a current from the magnetic field;
• d. means for moving said conductor with respect to the magnetic field;
• e. means for providing electrical energy from the current induced in the conductor;
• f. a pressure transducer in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein;
• g. a FM transmitter proximate to the tire radiating a frequency modulated signal representing the pressure measured by the transducer, said transmitter being powered by the electrical energy providing means;
• h. a FM receiver for receiving the signal transmitted from the FM transmitter;
• i. switch means attached to the FM receiver for sampling tire pressure signals from a plurality of tire pressure sensors;
• j. a frequency synthesizer connected to the FM receiver for demodulating the frequency modulated pressure signal;
• and
• k. means connected to the output of the FM receiver for displaying the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressures in a plurality of pneumatic tires mounted on a vehicle and for indicating an out of tolerance tire pressure to the operator of the vehicle, comprising:

• a. a plurality of magnets for generating magnetic fields directed into the tires of the vehicle;
• b. a plurality of tire pressure sensors coupled to said magnetic fields, each of said pressure sensors being located proximate to a tire and having a conductor therein for inducing a current from the field to operate the sensor, each of said sensors further including a pressure transducer therein in communication with the interior of each tire for measuring the pressure therein and a FM transmitter radiating a frequency modulated signal representing the pressure measured by the transducer, said transmitter being powered by the current induced by the conductor;
• c. means for moving the plurality of conductors with respect to the magnetic fields;
• d. a FM receiver for receiving the signals transmitted from the tire pressure sensors;
• e. switch means attached to the FM receiver for sampling the tire pressure signals from said plurality of tire pressure sensors;
• f. a frequency synthesizer connected to the FM receiver for demodulating the frequency modulated pressure signals;
• and
• g. means connected to the output of the FM receiver for displaying to the operator the pressures measured in the tires and for indicating an inadequate tire pressure.

Apparatus for measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire and for transmitting the pressure measurement to a location remote from the tire, comprising;

• a. a quantitative pressure transducer in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the magnitude of the pressure therein;
• b. means connected to the pressure transducer for transmitting to a location remote from the tire an electromagnetic signal indicating the quantitative magnitude of the pressure measured in the tire;
• and
• c. means for powering the transmitting means from electrical energy obtained by induction from a magnetic field directed at the tire.

Apparatus for measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire and for transmitting the pressure measurement to a location remote from the tire, comprising;

• a. a conductor for inducing current from a magnetic field directed at the tire;
• b. a FM oscillator connected to the conductor and powered by the current therefrom;
• c. a pressure transducer in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein;
• d. a FM transmitter operatively connected to and driven by said FM oscillator and also connected to the pressure transducer for transmitting to a location remote from the tire an electromagetic signal frequency modulated such that the instantaneous frequency of said signal differs from a carrier frequency by an amount proportional to the instantaneous value of a modulating signal which represents the pressure measured in the tire;
• and
• e. a transmitting antenna connected to said FM transmitter.

Method for remotely indicating the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a magnetic field;
• b. moving the tire through the field so that magnetic flux lines are broken by a tire pressure sensor;
• c. inducing a current from the magnetic field by induction:
• d. measuring quantitatively the magnitude of the pressure in the tire;
• e. employing said current to radiate an electromagnetic signal indicative of the magnitude of the pressure measured in the tire;
• f. receiving the electromagnetic pressure signal with a tire pressure signal processor;
• and
• g. displaying the magnitude of the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising;

• a. a power transmitter for generating a field of electomagnetic radiation;
• b. means proximate to the tire for receiving the electromagnetic radiation transmitted from the power transmitter and for providing electrical energy thereform;
• c. a pressure transducer in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein, said pressure transducer being a magnetostrictive element that measures the absolute pressure in the tire without referring to a reference pressure;
• d. a FM transmitter proximate to the tire radiating a frequency modulated signal representing the pressure measured by the transducer, said transmitter being powered by the electrical energy providing means;
• and
• e. a tire pressure signal processor that receives the frequency modulated signal from the FM transmitter and displays the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for remotely measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising;

• a. a magnet for generating a magnetic field proximate to the tire;
• b. a movable conductor for inducing a current from the field;
• c. means for moving said conductor with respect to the field;
• d. means for providing electrical energy from the current induced in the conductor;
• e. a pressure transducer in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein, said transducer being a magnetostrictive element that measures the absolute pressure in the tire without referring to a reference pressure;
• f. a FM transmitter proximate to the tire radiating a frequency modulated signal representing the pressure measured by the transducer, said transmitter being powered by the electrical energy providing means;
• and
• g. a tire pressure signal processor that receives the frequency modulated signal from the FM transmitter and displays the pressure measured in the tire.

Apparatus for measuring the pressure in a pneumatic tire and for transmitting the pressure measurement to a location remote from the tire, comprising;

• a. a conductor for inducing current from a magnetic field directed at the tire;
• b. a FM oscillator connected to the conductor and powered by the current therefrom;
• c. a regulator connected to the conductor for stabilizing the induced current obtained from the conductor and applied to the FM oscillator;
• d. a pressure transucer in communication with the interior of the tire for measuring the pressure therein;
• e. a FM transmitter operatively connected to and driven by said FM oscillator and also connected to the pressure transucer for transmitting to a location remote from the tire an electromagnetic signal indicating the pressure measured in the tire;
• and
• f. a transmitting antenna connected to said FM transmitter.