Circuits for coupling signals carrying information to a tire pressure monitoring system in the absence of a receiver

A method for coupling signals to a tire pressure monitoring system connectable to a valve stem for supplying air to a respective tire, the method comprising:

• providing a pressure sensing device;
• providing a microprocessor mounted on a printed circuit board;
• electrically connecting the printed circuit board to a respective valve stem end disposed within the tire;
• providing capacitive coupling to pass an externally-derived stream of pulses to the microprocessor upon connecting an external device that generates the stream of externally-derived pulses to the valve stem and an electrical ground, the stream of pulses carrying information usable by the microprocessor to perform a respective operational function.

A tire pressure monitoring system connectable to a valve stem for supplying air to a respective tire, the system comprising:

• a pressure sensing device;
• a printed circuit board;
• a microprocessor mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the pressure sensing device;
• a connector for electrically connecting the printed circuit board to a respective valve stem end disposed within the tire, wherein the valve stem receives at least one electrical signal indicative of the level of pressure sensed by the pressure sensing device and radiates said electrical signal to the surrounding environment;
• a circuit providing capacitive coupling to pass an externally-derived stream of pulses to the microprocessor upon connecting respective leads from an external device that generates the stream of externally-derived pulses to the valve stem and an electrical ground therein, the stream of pulses carrying information usable by the microprocessor to perform a respective operational function.

A method for coupling signals to a tire pressure monitoring system connectable to a valve stem for supplying air to a respective tire, the method comprising:

• providing a pressure sensing device;
• providing a microprocessor mounted on a printed circuit board;
• electrically connecting the printed circuit board to a respective valve stem end disposed within the tire,
• receiving through the valve stem at least one electrical signal indicative of the level of pressure sensed by the pressure sensing device and radiating said electrical signal to the surrounding environment;
• providing capacitive coupling to pass an externally-derived stream of pulses to the microprocessor upon connecting an external device that generates the stream of externally-derived pulses to the valve stem and an electrical ground, the stream of pulses carrying information usable by the microprocessor to perform a respective operational function.