Structures and methods providing tread sensor integration

1. A tire monitoring system comprising:

a first sensor element;

a second sensor element;

a circuit board including control circuitry coupled with at least one of the first sensor element and the second sensor element, the control circuitry being configured to generate tire tread information based on an electrical response of at least one of the first sensor element and the second sensor element; and

a housing comprising a housing material that surrounds the circuit board in a direction parallel with respect to a surface of the circuit board, the housing material being molded on and/or around the first sensor element, the second sensor element, and the circuit board.

2. The tire monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the housing material comprises a compliant housing material.

3. The tire monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the housing material comprises rubber.

4. The tire monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the housing material comprises a molded housing material.

5. The tire monitoring system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a dielectric sensor substrate,

wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element are provided on the dielectric sensor substrate,

wherein the housing material and a material of the dielectric sensor substrate are different, and

wherein at least a portion of the dielectric sensor substrate is between the circuit board and at least one of the first sensor element and the second sensor element.

6. The tire monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source electrically coupled with the circuit board,

wherein the housing material surrounds the power source in the direction parallel with respect to the surface of the circuit board.

7. The tire monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein the power source is between the circuit board and at least one of the first sensor element and the second sensor element.

8. The tire monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein the power source comprises a battery.

9. The tire monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the housing material defines a base adapted to provide an interface with an inside surface of a tire, and

wherein respective surfaces of the first sensor element and the second sensor element are exposed through the base of the housing material.

10. The tire monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the housing material defines a base adapted to provide an interface with an inside surface of a tire, and

wherein respective surfaces of the first sensor element and the second sensor element adjacent the base are covered by the housing material.

11. A method of providing a tire monitoring system, the method comprising:

providing a dielectric sensor substrate;

providing a first sensor element on the dielectric substrate;

providing a second sensor element on the dielectric substrate;

providing a circuit board including control circuitry coupled with at least one of the first sensor element and the second sensor element, the control circuitry being configured to generate tire tread information based on an electrical response of at least one of the first sensor element and the second sensor element, at least a portion of the dielectric sensor substrate being between the circuit board and at least one of the first sensor element and the second sensor element; and

forming a housing on the circuit board using a housing material that surrounds the circuit board in a direction parallel with respect to a surface of the circuit board, the housing material and a material of the dielectric sensor substrate being different.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the housing material comprises rubber.

13. The method of any of claim 11 , wherein forming the housing comprises molding the housing material on and/or around the first sensor element, the second sensor element, and the circuit board.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein molding the housing material comprises injection molding the housing material.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing a power source electrically coupled with the printed circuit board,

wherein forming the housing comprises forming the housing so that the housing material surrounds the power source in the direction parallel with respect to the surface of the board.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the power source is at least one of:

between the circuit board and at least one of the first and second sensor elements; and

a battery.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein forming the housing comprises forming the housing so that the housing material defines a base adapted to provide an interface with an inside surface of a tire and so that respective surfaces of the first sensor element and the second sensor element are exposed through the base of the housing material.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein forming the housing comprises forming the housing so that the housing material defines a base adapted to provide an interface with an inside surface of a tire and so that respective surfaces of the first sensor element and the second sensor element adjacent the base are covered by the housing material.

19. The tire monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the tire tread information comprises at least one of:

a tire tread height; and

a tire tread wear.

20. A method of determining tire tread information, the method comprising:

determining, by a circuit board in a housing, an electrical response of at least one of a first sensor element and a second sensor element, the first sensor element and the second sensor element each being provided on a dielectric sensor substrate with at least a portion of the dielectric sensor substrate being between the circuit board and at least one of the first sensor element and the second sensor element, the housing including a housing material that surrounds the circuit board in a direction parallel with respect to a surface of the circuit board, the housing material being different than a material of the dielectric sensor substrate, and the housing material being molded on and/or around the first sensor element, the second sensor element, and the circuit board; and

generating, by the circuit board, tire tread information based on the electrical response.