Active integrated circuit transponder and sensor apparatus for transmitting vehicle tire parameter data

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle tire, a transponder for sensing, storing and transmitting vehicle tire condition parameter data comprising: a substrate mountable on a vehicle tire; an integrated circuit chip mounted on the substrate, the integrated circuit chip including a processor, a memory, a receiver means connected to the processor for receiving an interrogation signal from a remote source, and a transmitter means connected to the processor for transmitting a signal containing data representative of the sensed tire condition parameter to a remote source; sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing a tire parameter at predetermined times when electrical power is applied to the sensor means, and for generating an output signal to the processor representative of the sensed tire parameter at each predetermined time; power supply means, mounted on the substrate, for supplying electrical power to the integrated circuit chip and the sensor means; and antenna means, mounted on then substrate and connected to the receiver means and the transmitter means, for communicating an interrogation signal from the remote source to the receiver means and for communicating a signal from the transmitter means to the remote source; the memory responsive to the processor for storing the output signal from the sensor means at the predetermined times.

Claim 3

The transponder of claim 1 wherein the antenna means is a microstrip antenna mounted on the substrate.

Claim 4

The transponder of claim 1 wherein the antenna means is a patch antenna mounted on the substrate.

Claim 5

The transponder of claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises: pressure sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the air pressure of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 6

The transponder of claim 4 wherein the pressure sensor means comprises: a pressure transducer and a pressure transmitting medium disposed in contact with the pressure transducer and exposed to an air chamber in a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 7

The transponder of claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises: temperature sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the temperature of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 8

The transponder of claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises: means, mounted on the substrate, for detecting and generating an output signal for each complete 360° revolution of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 9

The transponder of claim 7 wherein the detecting means further comprises: counter means, responsive to the output signal from the detecting means, for totalizing the output signals from the detecting means as an accumulated tire revolution count.

Claim 10

The transponder of claim 1 wherein: the processor means monitors the sensor means to detect at least one of maximum and minimum values of a tire condition parameter over a predetermined time period.

Claim 11

The transponder of claim 1 wherein the receiver means and the transmitter means communicate with the remote source by a radio frequency signal.

Claim 12

The transponder of claim 10 wherein: the processor means transmits a serial, encoded radio frequency signal containing tire condition parameter data via the transmitter means to the remote source.

Claim 13

The transponder of claim 1 further comprising: a housing formed of an encapsulating material encapsulating the substrate, the integrated circuit chip, the power supply, the sensor means and the antenna means.

Claim 14

The transponder of claim 1 further comprising: timer means, responsive to an activation signal from the processor means and connected to the sensor means, for activating the sensor means to sense a tire condition parameter only during a predetermined time period set by the timer means.

Claim 15

The transponder of claim 13 wherein: the processor means generates the activation signal to the timer means in response to an interrogation signal received from a remote source.

Claim 16

The transponder of claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises at least one of: pressure sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the air pressure of a tire on which the transponder is mounted; temperature sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the temperature of a tire on which the transponder is mounted; and means, mounted on the substrate, for detecting and generating an output signal for each complete 360° revolution of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 17

The transponder of claim 15 wherein: the pressure sensor means includes a pressure transducer and a pressure transmitting medium disposed in contact with the pressure transducer and exposed to an air chamber in a tire on which the transponder is mounted; and the detecting means further comprises counter means, responsive to the output signal from the detecting means, for totalizing the output signals from the detecting means as an accumulated tire revolution count.

Claim 18

The transponder of claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises: pressure sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the air pressure of a tire on which the transponder is mounted; temperature sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the temperature of a tire on which the transponder is mounted; and means, mounted on the substrate, for detecting and generating an output signal for each complete 360° revolution of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 19

The transponder of claim 17 further comprising: timer means, responsive to an activation signal from the processor means and connected to the pressure sensor means and the temperature sensor means, for activating the pressure sensor means and the temperature sensor means to sense tire pressure and temperature, respectively, only during a predetermined time period set by the timer means.

Claim 20

The transponder of claim 18 wherein: the processor means generates the activation signal to the timer means in response to an interrogation signal from a remote source and transmits the sensed tire pressure and temperature and a total tire revolution count from the detecting means to a remote source during the time period established by the timer means.

Claim 21

The transponder of claim 18 wherein: the processor means generates the activation signal separate from receiving an interrogation signal at a predetermined selectable time interval.

Claim 22

The transponder of claim 18 further comprising: a housing formed of an encapsulating material encapsulating the substrate, the integrated circuit chip, the power supply, the sensor means and the antenna means.

Claim 23

In combination with a vehicle tire, a vehicle tire parameter sensing apparatus comprising: control means having an interrogator transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal and a receiver means for receiving remotely generated signals; a transponder mountable on a vehicle tire, the transponder including: a substrate mountable on a vehicle tire; an integrated circuit chip mounted on the substrate, the integrated circuit chip including a processor, a memory, a receiver means connected to the processor for receiving an interrogation signal from a remote source, and a transmitter means connected to the processor for transmitting a signal containing data representative of the sensed tire condition parameter to a remote source; sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing a tire parameter at predetermined times when electrical power is applied to the sensor means, and for generating an output signal to the processor representative of the sensed tire parameter; power supply means, mounted on the substrate, for supplying electrical power to the processor, the receiver means, the transmitter means and the sensor means; and antenna means, mounted on the substrate and connected to the transmitter means and the receiver means, for communicating an interrogation signal from the control means to the receiver means and for communicating a signal from the transmitter means to the control means; the memory responsive to the processor for storing the output signal from the sensor means at the predetermined times.

Claim 24

In combination with a vehicle tire, a vehicle tire parameter sensing apparatus comprising: control means having an interrogator transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal and a receiver means for receiving remotely generated signals; a transponder mountable on a vehicle tire, the transponder including: a substrate mountable on a vehicle tire; an integrated circuit chip mounted on the substrate, the integrated circuit chip including a processor, a memory, a receiver means connected to the processor for receiving an interrogation signal from a remote source, and a transmitter means connected to the processor for transmitting a signal containing data representative of the sensed tire condition parameter to a remote source; sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing a tire parameter at predetermined times when electrical power is applied to the sensor means, and for generating an output signal to the processor representative of the sensed tire parameter; power supply means, mounted on the substrate, for supplying electrical power to the processor, the receiver means, the transmitter means and the sensor means; and antenna means, mounted on the substrate and connected to the transmitter means and the receiver means, for communicating an interrogation signal from the control means to the receiver means and for communicating a signal from the transmitter means to the control means; the memory responsive to the processor for storing the output signal from the sensor means at the predetermined times.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the antenna means is a microstrip antenna mounted on the substrate.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the antenna means is a patch antenna mounted on the substrate.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sensor means comprises: pressure sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the air pressure of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the pressure sensor means comprises: a pressure transducer and a pressure transmitting medium disposed in contact with the pressure transducer and exposed to an air chamber in a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sensor means comprises: temperature sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the temperature of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sensor means comprises: means for detecting and generating an output signal for each complete 360° rotation of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the detecting means further comprises: counter means, responsive to the output signal from the detecting means, for totalizing the output signals from the detecting means as an accumulated tire revolution count.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein: the processor monitors the sensor means to detect at least one of maximum and minimum values of a tire parameter over a predetermined time period.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein: the processor means stores the at least one maximum and minimum values of a tire parameter in the memory.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the receiver means and the transmitter means of the transponder communicate with interrogator transmitter means and the receiver means of the control means by a radio frequency signal.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 32 wherein: the processor means transmits a serial, encoded radio frequency signal containing tire condition parameter data via the transmitter means to the control means.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: a housing formed of an encapsulating material encapsulating the substrate, the integrated circuit chip, the power supply, the sensor means and the antenna means.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: timer means, responsive to an activation signal from the processor means and connected to the sensor means, for activating the sensor means to sense a tire condition parameter only during a predetermined time period set by the timer means.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein: the processor means generates the activation signal to the timer means in response to an interrogation signal received from a remote source.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sensor means comprises at least one of: pressure sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the air pressure of a tire on which the transponder is mounted; temperature sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the temperature of a tire on which the transponder is mounted; and means, mounted on the substrate, for detecting and generating an output signal for each complete 360° revolution of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein: the pressure sensor means includes a pressure transducer and a pressure transmitting medium disposed in contact with the pressure transducer and exposed to an air chamber in a tire on which the transponder is mounted; and the detecting means further comprises counter means, responsive to the output signal from the detecting means, for totalizing the output signals from the detecting means as an accumulated tire revolution count.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the sensor means comprises: pressure sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the air pressure of a tire on which the transponder is mounted; temperature sensor means, mounted on the substrate, for sensing the temperature of a tire on which the transponder is mounted; and means, mounted on the substrate, for detecting and generating an output signal for each complete 360° revolution of a tire on which the transponder is mounted.

Claim 42

The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising: timer means, responsive to an activation signal from the processor means and connected to the pressure sensor means and the temperature sensor means, for activating the pressure sensor means and the temperature sensor means to sense tire pressure and temperature, respectively, only during a predetermined time period set by the timer means.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 40 wherein: the processor means generates the activation signal to the timer means in response to an interrogation signal from a remote source and transmits the sensed tire pressure and temperature and a total tire revolution count from the detecting means to a remote source during the time period established by the timer means.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 40 wherein: the processor means generates the activation signal separate from receiving an interrogation signal at a predetermined selectable time interval.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the transponder further comprises: receiver means for receiving an activation signal from a source remote from a tire in which the control unit is mountable.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the transponder further comprises: antenna means, connected to the receiving means and the tramsitting means, for communicating an activation signal from the remote source to the receiving means and for communicating a signal from the transmitting means to the remote source.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the transponder further comprises: processor means coupled to the memory means, the sensor means and the transmitting means, and executing a control program stored in the memory means, for storing the output signal of the sensor means representative of the sensed tire parameter in the memory means, and for outputting data from the memory means to the transmitting means in response to an activation signal.

Claim 50

The apparatus of claim 46 wherein: the transponder is mountable on a tire mounted on a rim, a pressurizable chamber formed between the tire and the rim; and the sensor means is disposed in fluid communication with the pressurizable chamber.