Receiver circuit and method for tire pressure monitoring system

A circuit disposed on a tire on a vehicle for demodulating an input signal to a tire pressure monitoring system, the circuit powered by a stand alone power source not capable of being recharged during operation of the vehicle and using a frequency domain process for reducing power consumption while operating, the circuit comprising:

• a demodulator for receiving and demodulating the input signal so that information can be extracted from the input signal at a second frequency lower than the first frequency;
• and
• a microprocessor for receiving and decoding a demodulated signal from the demodulator, wherein the microprocessor operates at a reduced clock rate compared to a clock rate if the microprocessor were to process a demodulated signal at the first frequency, the reduced clock rate selected to extract information from the demodulated signal at the second frequency.

A method for demodulating an input signal having a first state and a second state, the input signal comprising information for a tire pressure monitoring system including a receiver disposed on a tire on a vehicle, the receiver powered by a stand alone power source not capable of being recharged during operation of the vehicle, the receiver using a frequency domain process for reducing power consumption while operating, the method comprising:

• demodulating the input signal so that information can be extracted from the input signal at a second frequency lower than the first frequency;
• and
• processing a demodulated signal with a microprocessor operating at a reduced clock rate compared to a clock rate if one were to process a demodulated signal at the first frequency, the reduced clock rate selected to extract information from the demodulated signal at the second frequency, the second frequency being sufficiently low relative to the first frequency so that an incremental power savings is achieved when operating the microprocessor at the selected clock rate.

A pneumatic tire comprising a tire pressure monitoring system including a receiver powered by a stand alone power source not capable of being recharged during operation of the vehicle, the receiver using a frequency domain process for reducing power consumption while operating, wherein the system comprises a demodulator for receiving and demodulating an input signal modulated at a first frequency so that information can be extracted from the input signal at a second frequency lower than the first frequency;

• and a microprocessor for receiving and decoding a demodulated signal from the demodulator, wherein the microprocessor operates at a reduced clock rate compared to a clock rate if the microprocessor were to process a demodulated signal at the first frequency, the reduced clock rate selected to extract information from the demodulated signal at the second frequency.

A vehicle comprising at least one inflatable tire with a tire pressure monitoring system including a receiver powered by a stand alone power source not capable of being recharged during operation of the vehicle, the receiver using a frequency domain process for reducing power consumption while operating, wherein the system comprises a demodulator for receiving and demodulating an input signal modulated at a first frequency so that information can be extracted from the input signal at a second frequency lower than the first frequency;

• and a microprocessor for receiving and decoding a demodulated signal from the demodulator, wherein the microprocessor operates at a reduced clock rate compared to a clock rate if the microprocessor were to process a demodulated signal at the first frequency, the reduced clock rate selected to extract information from the demodulated signal at the second frequency.