US6591671B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring pneumatic tire conditions
Assignee: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co
•
Filing: 2001-01-29
•
Granted: 2003-07-15
•
Expires: 2021-01-29
Abstract
Abstract At least one dynamic condition of a pneumatic tire of a vehicle is determined by measuring the rotational angular position of the tire and/or a wheel or wheel carrier the tire is mounted on. The position measurement is preferably combined with transponder measurements of tire pressure and/or temperature, and the measurement information is transmitted from a tire or wheel antenna to a receiver with one or more antennas on the vehicle. The measurements can be combined with a tire pressure regulating device. The rotational angular position is preferably measured by monitoring fluctuations in coupling of RF power between the transmitting and the receiving antennas. In a preferred embodiment, transponders and antennas are disposed in both the tire and the wheel or wheel carrier for the purpose of monitoring the rotational angular position of a tire relative to its wheel or wheel carrier, thereby indicating torsional effects on the tire. Preferably, the tire antenna in the preferred embodiment is mounted inside the tire near the outer circumference of the tire.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Walter Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:42
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60C; B60C23/00; B60C23/02; B60C23/04; B60C23/0408; B60C23/0422; B60C23/0433; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/17; B60T8/172; B60T8/1725; B60T2240/00; B60T2240/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, each tire/wheel assembly comprising a tire mounted on a wheel or wheel carrier, the system comprising: a wheel or wheel carrier transponder with a wheel or wheel carrier antenna mounted on the wheel or wheel carrier of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies for transmitting a signal indicating the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier; one or more receivers each having one or more receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, the one or more receiving antennas being positioned to receive the signal from a specific one of the tire/wheel assemblies; circuitry means for processing the signals received by the one or more receiving antennas and for determining the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies; and at least one of the wheel or wheel carrier antennas being substantially circular and including a plurality of reactive elements incorporated into and spaced about the circumference of the at least one wheel or wheel carrier antenna for causing blips which are indicative of the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier antenna to occur in the signal received by the receiving antenna which is positioned to receive the signal from the at least one wheel or wheel carrier antenna, wherein the reactive elements comprise at least one of inductive elements, capacitive elements, or magnetic elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
244 words
A system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, each tire/wheel assembly comprising a tire mounted on a wheel or wheel carrier, the system comprising: a wheel or wheel carrier transponder with a wheel or wheel carrier antenna mounted on the wheel or wheel carrier of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies for transmitting a signal indicating the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier; one or more receivers each having one or more receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, the one or more receiving antennas being positioned to receive the signal from a specific one of the tire/wheel assemblies; circuitry means for processing the signals received by the one or more receiving antennas and for determining the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies; and at least one of the wheel or wheel carrier antennas being substantially circular and including a plurality of reactive elements incorporated into and spaced about the circumference of the at least one wheel or wheel carrier antenna for causing blips which are indicative of the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier antenna to occur in the signal received by the receiving antenna which is positioned to receive the signal from the at least one wheel or wheel carrier antenna, wherein the reactive elements comprise at least one of inductive elements, capacitive elements, or magnetic elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
A system, according to claim 1 , wherein: at least one of the wheel or wheel carrier antennas is a conductive hoop coupled to the wheel or wheel carrier transponder; and each conductive hoop wheel or wheel carrier antenna includes a plurality of inductive elements incorporated into and spaced about the circumference of the conductive hoop wheel or wheel carrier antenna for causing blips which are indicative of the rotational angular position of the conductive hoop wheel or wheel carrier antenna to occur in the signal received by the receiving antenna which is positioned to receive the signal from thc at least one wheel or wheel carrier antenna.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system, according to claim 2 , wherein the system comprises: a pump system mounted on the wheel or wheel carrier for tire pressure regulation and a tire pressure sensor connected to the wheel or wheel carrier transponder for measuring the tire pressure.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies each comprising a tire mounted on a wheel or wheel carrier, the method comprising the step of: comparing the rotational angular position of a tire to the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier in the tire's tire/wheel assembly in order to determine operating conditions of the tire.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies each comprising a tire mounted on a wheel or wheel carrier, the method comprising the step of: comparing the rotational angular position of a tire to the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier in the tire's tire/wheel assembly in order to determine operating conditions of the tire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, according to claim 4 , comprising the step of: further determining pneumatic tire conditions by monitoring one or more of a tire pressure, a tire temperature, and a count of tire revolutions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method, according to claim 4 , comprising the step of: measuring the rotational angular position of a radially outer portion of the tire by means of an RF signal transmitted by an antenna mounted inside the tire near the outer circumference of the tire.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
278 words
A system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, each tire/wheel assembly comprising a tire mounted on a wheel or wheel carrier, the system comprising: a wheel or wheel carrier transponder with a wheel or wheel carrier antenna mounted on the wheel or wheel carrier of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies for transmitting a first signal indicating the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier; a tire transponder with a tire antenna mounted on the tire of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies for transmitting a second signal indicating the rotational angular position of the tire; one or more receivers each having one or more receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, the one or more receiving antennas being positioned to receive the first signal and the second signal from a specific one of the tire/wheel assemblies; circuitry means for processing the first and second signals received by the one or more receiving antennas and for determining the rotational angular position of the tire relative to the wheel or wheel carrier of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies; and at least one of the tire antennas being substantially circular and including a plurality of reactive elements incorporated into and spaced about the circumference of the at least one tire antenna for causing blips which are indicative of the rotational angular position of the tire antenna to occur in the second signal received by the receiving antenna which is positioned to receive the second signal from the at least one tire antenna, wherein the reactive elements comprise at least one of inductive elements, capacitive elements, or magnetic elements.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
278 words
A system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, each tire/wheel assembly comprising a tire mounted on a wheel or wheel carrier, the system comprising: a wheel or wheel carrier transponder with a wheel or wheel carrier antenna mounted on the wheel or wheel carrier of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies for transmitting a first signal indicating the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier; a tire transponder with a tire antenna mounted on the tire of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies for transmitting a second signal indicating the rotational angular position of the tire; one or more receivers each having one or more receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, the one or more receiving antennas being positioned to receive the first signal and the second signal from a specific one of the tire/wheel assemblies; circuitry means for processing the first and second signals received by the one or more receiving antennas and for determining the rotational angular position of the tire relative to the wheel or wheel carrier of the one or more tire/wheel assemblies; and at least one of the tire antennas being substantially circular and including a plurality of reactive elements incorporated into and spaced about the circumference of the at least one tire antenna for causing blips which are indicative of the rotational angular position of the tire antenna to occur in the second signal received by the receiving antenna which is positioned to receive the second signal from the at least one tire antenna, wherein the reactive elements comprise at least one of inductive elements, capacitive elements, or magnetic elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein: the plurality of reactive elements are inductive elements in the at least one tire antenna; and the plurality of inductive elements are mounted near the outer circumference of the tire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein: at least one of the wheel or wheel carrier antennas is substantially circular and the plurality of reactive elements includes a plurality of inductive elements incorporated into and spaced about the circumference of the at least one wheel or wheel carrier antenna for causing blips which are indicative of the rotational angular position of the wheel or wheel carrier antenna to occur in the first signal received by the receiving antenna which is positioned to receive the first signal from the at least one wheel or wheel carrier antenna.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein: at least one of the tire antennas is a conductive hoop coupled to the tire transponder; end each conductive hoop tire antenna includes a plurality of reactive elements incorporated into and spaced about the circumference of the conductive hoop tire antenna for causing blips which are indicative of the rotational angular position of the conductive hoop tire antenna to occur in the second signal received by the receiving antenna which is positioned to receive the second signal from the at least one tire antenna, wherein the reactive elements comprise at least one of inductive elements, capacitive elements, or magnetic elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system, according to claim 10 , wherein: the at least one conductive hoop tire antenna which includes a plurality of reactive elements is mounted near the outer circumference of the tire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein: at least one of the wheel or wheel carrier antennas is a conductive hoop coupled to the wheel or wheel carrier transponder; and each conductive hoop wheel or wheel carrier antenna includes a plurality of inductive elements incorporated into and spaced about the circumference of the conductive hoop wheel or wheel carrier antenna for causing blips which are indicative of the rotational angular position of the conductive hoop wheel or wheel carrier antenna to occur in the first signal received by the receiving antenna which is positioned to receive the first signal from the at least one wheel or wheel carrier antenna.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein the system comprises: a pump system mounted on the wheel or wheel carrier for tire pressure regulation and a tire pressure sensor connected to the wheel or wheel carrier transponder for measuring the tire pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein the system comprises: a tire pressure sensor connected to the tire transponder for measuring the tire pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein: there is one receiving antenna for each specific tire/wheel assembly; and each receiving antenna is configured to receive the first signal at a first frequency from the wheel or wheel carrier antenna of the specific tire/wheel assembly, and is configured to receive the second signal at a second frequency from the tire antenna of the specific tire/wheel assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein: there is a tire receiving antenna for each specific tire antenna, wherein the tire receiving antenna is positioned by fixedly mounting it on a wheel housing in close proximity to the tire antenna on the tire; and there is a wheel or wheel carrier receiving antenna for each specific wheel or wheel carrier antenna, wherein the wheel or wheel carrier receiving antenna is positioned by fixedly mounting it on an axle housing in close proximity to the wheel or wheel carrier antenna on the wheel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system, according to claim 7 , wherein: one or more of the tire transponders and of the wheel or wheel carrier transponders is a passive transponder; and the receiver and receiving antenna associated with each of the one or more passive transponder; and the receiver and receiving antenna associated with each of the one or more passive transponders transmit an interrogating signal to the associated passive transponder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method, according to claim 4 , comprising the step of: determining the derivatives of rotational angular position of the wheel including velocity, acceleration and rate of acceleration of the tire.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3225810A
Cited
US3588814A
Cited
US3619678A
Cited
US3665387A
Cited
US3831161A
Cited
US3835451A
Cited
US3832640A
Cited
US3831570A
Cited
US3872424A
Cited
US4067235A
Cited
US4052696A
Cited
US4319220A
Cited
US4099157A
Cited
US4119944A
Cited
US4730188A
Cited
US4609905A
Cited
US4703650A
Cited
US4842486A
Cited
US4724427A
Cited
US4755345A
Cited
US4742857A
Cited
US5339073A
Cited
US5029468A
Cited
US5050110A
Cited
US4911217A
Cited
US5095309A
Cited
US5218343A
Cited
US5181975A
Cited
US5345217A
Cited
US5559484A
Cited
US5559507A
Cited
US5201968A
Cited
US5235236A
Cited
US5319354A
Cited
US5413159A
Cited
US5218862A
Cited
US5274355A
Cited
US5524034A
Cited
US5409049A
Cited
US6094978A
Cited
US5594448A
Cited
US5509455A
Cited
US5505080A
Cited
US5731754A
Cited
US5537867A
Cited
US6105420A
Cited
US5936155A
Cited
US5581023A
Cited
US5585554A
Cited
US5826207A
Cited
US5569848A
Cited
US5731516A
Cited
US5969239A
Cited
US5708411A
Cited
US6026338A
Cited
US5612671A
Cited
US5749984A
Cited
US5824891A
Cited
US6035913A
Cited
US5851056A
Cited
US6044939A
Cited
US5667606A
Cited
BR9603529A
Cited
US5721528A
Cited
US5694111A
Cited
US6041887A
Cited
US5790016A
Cited
US6113119A
Cited
US6026339A
Cited
US6036199A
Cited
US6092028A
Cited
US6101870A
Cited
US6060984A
Cited
WO1999052722A1
Cited
US6435020B1
Cited
FR2785852A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-14 | 2007-01-13 | 2007-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-14 | 2011-01-13 | 2011-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-14 | 2015-01-13 | 2015-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |