Remotely actuated tire pressure sensor

Claim 2

A tire pressure display device, comprising: a sensor unit including: transducer means for sensing tire pressure and generating a first electrical signal indicative thereof; and first signal processing means, responsive to said first electrical signal, for generating a second electrical signal to a response generator including an LED driver circuit and at least one LED driven thereby, said response generator being configured to transmit a response signal, in the infrared frequency range, indicative of tire pressure; and a remote display unit including: means for receiving said response signal and generating a third electrical signal; second signal processing means, responsive to said third electrical signal, for generating a display signal; and display means, responsive to said display signal, for generating indicia of the pressure within the tire.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein: said display unit further comprises command means for generating a command signal; said sensor unit further comprises command receptor means for capturing said command signal; and said sensor unit is configured to assume a dormant state in the absence of receipt of said command signal and an active state in response to the receipt of said command signal by said receptor means.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2, wherein said command means comprises at least one command LED such that said command signal comprises an infrared command signal, and wherein said command receptor means comprises a photo-sensitive transistor for receiving said infrared command signal.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1, wherein said sensor unit further comprises a power source, electrically connected to said first signal processing means, for supplying power thereto.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4, wherein said power source is configured to selectively apply power to said LED driver circuit in accordance with said second electrical signal.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1, wherein said remote display unit further comprises a second power source, electrically connected to said second signal processing means, for supplying power thereto.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1, wherein said LED driver is configured to transmit an infrared signal at a frequency corresponding to said pressure within said tire.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8, wherein said encoding step comprises encoding said first electrical signal into a first digital signal indicative of said internal pressure within said tire.

Claim 12

A remotely actuatable device for determining a physical parameter associated with a workpiece, comprising: a transmitter unit, including: transducer means for sensing a physical parameter associated with a workpiece and for generating a first electrical signal representative of said parameter; first computing means responsive to said first electrical signal, for generating a second electrical signal having a characteristic representative of said first electrical signal; and first signal generating means, responsive to said second electrical signal, for transmitting a third electrical signal to a portable, hand-held receiver unit; said receiver unit comprising: receptor means for receiving said third electrical signal from said transmitter unit and generating a fourth electrical signal representative thereof; second computing means, responsive to said fourth electrical signal, for generating a driver signal; and display means, responsive to said driver signal, for generating indicia indicative of said parameter; wherein said first computing means comprises a first microprocessor; said first signal generating means comprises at least one LED; said third electrical signal comprises an infrared signal; and said receptor means comprises a photo-sensitive transistor for receiving said infrared signal.

Claim 13

A remotely actuatable device for determining a physical parameter associated with a workpiece, comprising: a transmitter unit, including: transducer means for sensing a physical parameter associated with a workpiece and for generating a first electrical signal representative of said parameter; first computing means responsive to said first electrical signal, for generating a second electrical signal having a characteristic representative of said first electrical signal; and first signal generating means, responsive to said second electrical signal, for transmitting a third electrical signal to a portable, hand-held receiver unit; said receiver unit comprising: receptor means for receiving said third electrical signal from said transmitter unit and generating a fourth electrical signal representative thereof; second computing means, responsive to said fourth electrical signal, for generating a driver signal; and display means, responsive to said driver signal, for generating indicia indicative of said parameter; wherein said first computing means comprises a first microprocessor; said first signal generating means comprises at least one LED; said third electrical signal comprises an infrared signal; and said receptor means comprises a photo-sensitive transistor for receiving said infrared signal.