Wireless and powerless sensor and interrogator

A vehicle including an arrangement for monitoring a tire mounted to the vehicle, comprising:

• thermal radiation detecting means for detecting the temperature of the tire at different circumferential locations along the circumference of the tire,
• processor means coupled to said thermal radiation detecting means for receiving the detected temperatures of the tire and analyzing the detected temperatures of the tire, and
• response means coupled to said processor means for responding to the analysis of the detected temperatures of the tire,
• said thermal radiation detecting means comprising at least one infrared radiation receiver each arranged to have a clear field of view of at least one circumferential location on the tire.

A vehicle including an arrangement for monitoring a tire mounted to the vehicle, comprising:

• thermal radiation detecting means for detecting the temperature of the tire at different circumferential locations along the circumference of the tire,
• processor means coupled to said thermal radiation detecting means for receiving the detected temperatures of the tire and analyzing the detected temperatures of the tire, and
• response means coupled to said processor means for responding to the analysis of the detected temperatures of the tire,
• said processor means being structured and arranged to average the detected temperatures of the tire during one revolution, compare the temperature of the tire at each circumferential location to the average temperature and determine whether the temperature of the tire at any circumferential location is above the average by a threshold difference, the averaging, comparison and determination constituting analysis of the detected temperatures of the tire.

A vehicle including an arrangement for monitoring a tire mounted to the vehicle, comprising:

• thermal radiation detecting means for detecting the temperature of the tire at different circumferential locations along the circumference of the tire,
• processor means coupled to said thermal radiation detecting means for receiving the detected temperatures of the tire and analyzing the detected temperatures of the tire, and
• response means coupled to said processor means for responding to the analysis of the detected temperatures of the tire,
• said thermal radiation detecting means comprising detector means for generating an output signal responsive to thermal emitted radiation, means for defining first and second fields of view relative to said detector means, said first field of view encompassing a first circumferential location of the tire and said second field of view encompassing a second circumferential location of the tire, and switching means for switching the field of view detected to generate a combined output signal,
• said processor means deriving an indication of a difference in thermal radiation between the first and second circumferential locations of the tire.