Tire monitoring system, device and method

Abstract

A tire monitoring system, device and method are disclosed for detecting and indicating the presence of one or more predetermined abnormal conditions of tires on a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of monitoring devices (each of which is inserted in a different one of the vehicle tires to be monitored with the monitoring devices being unattached, and thus freely movable, when within the tire) and a receiver unit (mounted to be readily accessible, such as within the cab of the vehicle). Each monitoring device includes a sensor unit and an associated transmitter unit both of which are enclosed within a housing unit that is cushioned, as needed. Periodic output signals indicative of sensed abnormal tire conditions are transmitted from the transmitter units to the receiver unit that includes a reception distance controller and provides an indication of abnormal tire condition detection, responsive to receipt of output signals from the transmitter units within the maximum reception distance, with the indication, normally visually displayed by an indicator, being continuos as long as output signals are received from the transmitter units within a predetermined time interval between received output signals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.