Patent US6637276B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6637276B2
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Tire sensor and method
Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA Switzerland
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Filing: 2001-04-27
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Granted: 2003-10-28
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Expires: 2021-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A tire sensor assembly that is embedded in an elastomeric tire at a particular radial depth inwardly from a contact patch of the tire includes a flexible generally pyramid-shaped body and a pair of first strain sensors disposed on first opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body, the first strain sensors detecting a force in a first direction. In addition, the assembly includes a pair of second strain sensors disposed on second opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body, the second strain sensors detecting a force in a second direction. Moreover, each face of the first and second opposed faces is non-planar. Preferably, the first and second opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body are curved and generally symmetrical about an axis extending longitudinally through the apex of the body so as to allow adjustment of the sensitivity of the sensor assembly generally independent of the radial depth. In one example, the first and second opposed faces are concave such that the sensor assembly is more sensitive to a tensile strain and less sensitive to a shear strain.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis M. Adderton
- 👤 Stephen C. Minne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L5/00; G01L5/16; G01L5/161; G01L5/1627; B; B60; B60C; B60C11/00; G01L5/162; B60C19/00; B60C2019/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A plurality of sensor assemblies embedded in an elastomeric material of a tire, each said sensor assembly comprising: a pair of first strain sensors disposed on first opposed faces of a flexible pyramid-shaped body, said first strain sensors detecting a force in a first direction, wherein said first strain sensors generate corresponding output signals in response to strain in the first sensors generated by the force in the first direction, and wherein the force in the first direction is generally equal to the difference between the output signals of said first strain sensors; a pair of second strain sensors disposed on second opposed faces of said body, said second opposed faces adjacent to said first opposed faces, and said second strain sensors detecting a force in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, wherein said second strain sensors generate corresponding output signals in response to strain in the second sensors generated by the force in the second direction, and wherein the force in the second direction is generally equal to the difference between the output signals of said second strain sensors; wherein a sum of the first output signals and the second output signals is indicative of a force in a third direction, and wherein the plurality of sensor assemblies are embedded in a tire in mutually spaced relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A plurality of sensor assemblies embedded in an elastomeric material of a tire, each said sensor assembly comprising: a pair of first strain sensors disposed on first opposed faces of a flexible pyramid-shaped body, said first strain sensors detecting a force in a first direction, wherein said first strain sensors generate corresponding output signals in response to strain in the first sensors generated by the force in the first direction, and wherein the force in the first direction is generally equal to the difference between the output signals of said first strain sensors; a pair of second strain sensors disposed on second opposed faces of said body, said second opposed faces adjacent to said first opposed faces, and said second strain sensors detecting a force in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, wherein said second strain sensors generate corresponding output signals in response to strain in the second sensors generated by the force in the second direction, and wherein the force in the second direction is generally equal to the difference between the output signals of said second strain sensors; wherein a sum of the first output signals and the second output signals is indicative of a force in a third direction, and wherein the plurality of sensor assemblies are embedded in a tire in mutually spaced relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further including a bus to communicate signals generated by the plurality of sensor assemblies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein said bus is a five-wire bus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein a contact region is defined at a position where the tire contacts a surface, and wherein the plurality of sensor assemblies are mutually spaced about a circumference of the tire so that each sensor assembly of the plurality of sensor assemblies passes the contact region at a different time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A process of producing a sensor assembly embedded in an elastomeric material of a tire, the process comprising: providing a pyramid-shaped body and first and second pairs of strain sensors; disposing the first pair on first opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body; disposing the second pair on second opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body; and, placing the sensor assembly having the pyramid-shaped body with sensors on the first and second opposed faces in an uncured elastomeric material of a tire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
A process of producing a sensor assembly embedded in an elastomeric material of a tire, the process comprising: providing a pyramid-shaped body and first and second pairs of strain sensors; disposing the first pair on first opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body; disposing the second pair on second opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body; and, placing the sensor assembly having the pyramid-shaped body with sensors on the first and second opposed faces in an uncured elastomeric material of a tire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 5 , further comprising the step of embedding a plurality of said sensor assemblies around a circumference of the tire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 6 , wherein the sensor assemblies are positioned in mutually spaced relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 7 , wherein the sensor assemblies are positioned such that only one of the sensor assemblies passes through the contact patch of the tire during operation at a particular time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 6 , further comprising the step of providing a sensing system including a sensor bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein the sensor bus includes a plurality of conductors, each of the conductors corresponding to one strain axis to be monitored.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein three orthogonal strain axes are monitored.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein the outputs of the sensor bus are electrically coupled to a transmitter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein the bus is a passive sensor bus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 9 , wherein the sensing system connects the strain gauges of the sensor assemblies in parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tire sensor assembly embedded in an elastomeric tire at a particular radial depth inward from a road contacting surface of the tire, said sensor assembly comprising: a flexible generally pyramid-shaped body; a pair of first strain sensors disposed on first opposed faces of said pyramid-shaped body, said first strain sensors detecting a force in a first direction; and wherein each face of said first opposed faces is non-planar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tire sensor assembly embedded in an elastomeric tire at a particular radial depth inward from a road contacting surface of the tire, said sensor assembly comprising: a flexible generally pyramid-shaped body; a pair of first strain sensors disposed on first opposed faces of said pyramid-shaped body, said first strain sensors detecting a force in a first direction; and wherein each face of said first opposed faces is non-planar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein said first opposed faces are curved.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The sensor assembly of claim 15 , further comprising: a pair of second strain sensors disposed on second opposed faces of said pyramid-shaped body, said second strain sensors detecting a force in a second direction, wherein each face of said second opposed faces is non-planar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
106 words
The sensor assembly of claim 17 , wherein said first strain sensors generate corresponding output signals in response to strain in said first strain sensors generated by the force in the first direction, and wherein the force in the first direction is generally equal to the difference between the output signals of said first strain sensors, and wherein said second strain sensors generate corresponding output signals in response to strain in said second strain sensors generated by the force in the second direction, and wherein the force in the second direction is generally equal to the difference between the output signals of said second strain sensors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sensor assembly of claim 17 , wherein said first and second opposed faces are generally symmetrical about an axis extending longitudinally through the apex of said pyramid-shaped body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sensor assembly of claim 17 , wherein said first and second opposed faces are curved and which curvature determines the sensitivity of the sensor assembly generally independent of the radial depth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sensor assembly of claim 17 , wherein the sensor assembly is more sensitive to a tensile strain than to a shear strain.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor assembly of claim 21 , wherein said first and second opposed faces are concave.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor assembly of claim 17 , wherein said first and second opposed faces are convex.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor assembly of claim 17 , wherein the forces in the first and second directions are indicative of tire traction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein said first pair of strain sensors are resistive strain sensors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein said first pair of strain sensors generate said first and second output signals differentially.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein said first pair of strain sensors are arranged in a Wheatstone bridge circuit to detect said forces in said first direction.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sensor assembly of claim 15 , further including a second material that encapsulates said first pair of strain sensors, said second material being different than the material of the elastomeric tire.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The sensor assembly of claim 28 , wherein a ratio of elastic moduluses between the material of the elastomeric tire and the second material correspondingly scales the strain forces sensed by the strain sensors.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sensor assembly of claim 28 , wherein the second material is one of polyimide and epoxy.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sensor assembly of claim 15 , further including an adhesive to couple the first pair of strain sensors to the pyramid-shaped body.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sensor assembly of claim 31 , further including a potting material disposed on the sensor assembly.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sensor assembly of claim 32 , wherein said potting material and said adhesive are the same.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The sensor assembly of claim 32 , further including a topping layer disposed on said potting material so as to scale strain forces sensed by the first pair of strain sensors.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of embedding a sensor in a tire, the method comprising: providing a sensor assembly including a first pair of strain sensors disposed on first opposed faces of a generally pyramid-shaped body; and shaping the first opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body so that each face of the first opposed faces is non-planar.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of embedding a sensor in a tire, the method comprising: providing a sensor assembly including a first pair of strain sensors disposed on first opposed faces of a generally pyramid-shaped body; and shaping the first opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body so that each face of the first opposed faces is non-planar.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the sensor assembly is a three-axis sensor assembly including a second pair of strain sensors disposed on second opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body, and further including the step of shaping the second opposed faces so that each face of the second opposed faces is non-planar.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein the first and second opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body are curved.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein said shaping step includes shaping the first opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body so the faces are concave.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein said shaping step includes shaping the first opposed faces of the pyramid-shaped body so the faces are convex.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein said shaping step is based on a desired sensitivity of the sensor.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the desired sensitivity is greater sensitivity to a tensile strain and less sensitivity to a shear strain.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
66 words
A sensor assembly embedded in an elastomeric material of a vehicle tire at a depth radially inward from a contact surface of the tire, the sensor assembly comprising: a flexible pyramid-shaped body; a strain sensing element disposed on said body; and wherein said body includes curved faces that are shaped so as to determine the sensitivity of the sensor assembly generally independent of the radial depth.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
66 words
A sensor assembly embedded in an elastomeric material of a vehicle tire at a depth radially inward from a contact surface of the tire, the sensor assembly comprising: a flexible pyramid-shaped body; a strain sensing element disposed on said body; and wherein said body includes curved faces that are shaped so as to determine the sensitivity of the sensor assembly generally independent of the radial depth.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sensor assembly of claim 42 , wherein said flexible body is generally pyramid-shaped.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-27 | 2007-04-28 | 2007-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-04-28 | 2011-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-27 | 2015-04-28 | 2015-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |