IP Library Granted Patent US 7,859,393
Granted Patent B2
US 7,859,393 · App. 11/918,961 · Granted Dec 28, 2010

Tire sensor system and tire used for the same

Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.; Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,859,393
App. No.
11/918,961
Granted
Dec 28, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electromagnetic field transmissions between a sensor unit mounted on the inside surface of a tire and a sensor control unit mounted on the vehicle body are attenuated by the wall surface of a tire disposed between the units, and sensitivity is reduced. A booster antenna ( 18 ) is embedded in the tire wall surface between the sensor unit ( 6 ) and the sensor control unit ( 10 ). The booster antenna ( 18 ) is a coil antenna, and is configured so that the resonance frequency, which corresponds to the impedance and capacitance component of the booster antenna coil, corresponds to the frequency f 0 of the transmission electromagnetic field of the sensor control unit ( 10 ). The booster antenna ( 18 ) is disposed in a position in which a magnetic coupling is formed with the coil antenna of the sensor unit ( 6 ), and transmissions via the electromagnetic field between the sensor unit ( 6 ) and the sensor control unit ( 10 ) are carried out through the booster antenna ( 18 ).

Claims (29)

1. A tire sensor system in which a control unit disposed in a vehicle body and a sensor unit disposed inside a tire attached to the vehicle body are wirelessly connected, the tire sensor system comprising:

a plurality of booster antennas embedded in the material constituting the tire; wherein

the control unit generates a transmission electromagnetic field that varies with time and senses electromagnetic field fluctuations produced by the sensor unit;

the sensor unit comprises:

a sensor for measuring a predefined target value in the tire,

a response circuit for generating transmission alternating current modulated in accordance with the output of the sensor, and

a primary coil antenna for generating electromagnetic field fluctuations on the basis of the transmission alternating current;

wherein the plurality of booster antennas constitutes secondary coil antennas lined up along a circumference of the tire,

the plurality of booster antennas are arranged so that a coil face of a first booster antenna partially overlaps a coil face of a second booster antenna, the coil face of the second booster antenna partially overlaps the coil face of the first booster antenna and a coil face of a third booster antenna, and the coil face of the third booster antenna does not partially overlap the coil face of the first booster antenna,

coil faces of the plurality of booster antennas are sequentially interlinked with each other via magnetic; coupling, and

at least one of the plurality of booster antennas is directly magnetically coupled to the primary coil antenna.

2. The tire sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of booster antennas is arranged around an entire circumference of the tire.

3. The tire sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the booster antennas have resonance characteristics that correspond to a fluctuation frequency of the transmission electromagnetic field.

4. The tire sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the primary coil antenna converts variation in the transmission electromagnetic field into drive power of the sensor unit.

5. The tire sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an inflation pressure sensor for measuring air pressure in the tire.

6. A tire in which a sensor unit for generating electromagnetic field fluctuations in accordance with a transmission electromagnetic field from the exterior is disposed in the space inside the tire, the tire comprising:

a plurality of booster antennas embedded in the material constituting the tire; wherein

the sensor unit comprises:

a sensor for measuring a predefined target value in the tire,

a response circuit for generating transmission alternating current modulated in accordance with the output of the sensor, and

a primary coil antenna for generating electromagnetic field fluctuations on the basis of the transmission alternating current;

wherein the plurality of booster antennas constitutes secondary coil antennas lined up along a circumference of the tire,

the plurality of booster antennas are arranged so that a coil face of a first boost antenna partially overlaps a coil face of a second booster antenna, the coil face of the second booster antenna partially overlaps the coil face of the first booster antenna and a coil face of a third booster antenna, and the coil face of the third booster antenna does not partially overlap the coil face of the first booster antenna,

coil faces of the plurality of booster antennas are sequentially interlinked with each other via magnetic coupling, and

at least one of the plurality of booster antennas is directly magnetically coupled to the primary coil antenna.

7. The tire of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of booster antennas is arranged around an entire circumference of the tire.

8. The tire of claim 6 , wherein the booster antennas have resonance characteristics that correspond to a fluctuation frequency of the transmission electromagnetic field.

9. The tire of claim 6 , wherein the primary coil antenna converts variation in the transmission electromagnetic field into drive power of the sensor unit.

10. The tire of claim 6 , wherein the sensor is an inflation pressure sensor for measuring air pressure in the tire.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBERS . PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034285 FRAME 0006. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 9, 2015
From: SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
To: SYSTEM SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034745/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: SYSTEM SOLUTIONS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 034531/0046 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2007
From: SUZUKI, HIROHISA; SAITO, HIROSHI; KUWAKO, EIICHIRO; KUNIMI, TAKASHI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 020108/0261 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2005-128128 · Apr 26, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090058625A1 · Mar 5, 2009