TETHERED TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR USE IN RUBBER EMBEDDED APPLICATIONS
One general aspect includes a tethered temperature sensor for use within a vehicle track. The tethered temperature sensor includes one or more sensors for measuring temperature located in a high strain and high temperature region of the vehicle track. The sensor also includes circuitry configured to control and/or monitor the one or more sensors and located in a low strain and low temperature region of the vehicle track. The sensor also includes a housing to contain the circuitry. The sensor also includes an encapsulating material that fills an interior of the housing.
1 . A tethered temperature sensor for use Within a vehicle track, the sensor comprising:
one or more sensors for measuring temperature located in a high strain and high temperature region of the vehicle track;
circuitry configured to control and/or monitor the one or more sensors and located in a low strain and low temperature region of the vehicle track;
a housing to contain the circuitry;
an encapsulating material that fills an interior of the housing;
a conductive tether embedded within the rubber track and configured to connect to the one or more sensors; and
the conductive tether is comprised of a flexible conductive material and provides at least 300 percent elongation.
2 . The sensor of claim 1 , the conductive tether configured to electrically connect the one or more sensors to the circuitry.
3 . The sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit measured temperatures from the one or more sensors.
4 . The sensor of claim 3 , further comprising one or more antenna connected to the transceiver.
5 . The sensor of claim 3 , wherein the transceiver is configured to utilize one or more communication protocols selected from a group comprising, radio frequency (RF), RFID, Bluetooth, WiFi, 4G and 5G.
6 . The sensor of claim 3 , wherein the transceiver is external to the housing.
7 . The sensor of claim 3 , wherein the transceiver is positioned within the housing.
8 . The sensor of claim 3 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit measured temperatures from the one or more sensors and the circuitry to a remote tracking system.
9 . The sensor of claim 8 , wherein the remote tracking system is configured to generate an alert based on a selected alarm range of temperatures.
10 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine a track temperature of a tread portion of the track based measurements of the one or more temperature sensors.
11 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry determines a track temperature based on an average of measured temperatures from the one or more temperature sensors over a time period.
12 . The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the time period is selected from a range of 10 milliseconds (ms) to 60 seconds.
13 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an integrated circuit (IC).
14 . The sensor of claim 1 , the flexible material comprises a plurality of flexible conductive elements.
15 . The sensor of claim 1 , the conductive tether is configured to operate as an antenna.
16 . The sensor of claim 1 , the housing is comprised of metal.
17 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more thermistors.
18 . The sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a power source configured to supply power for operation of the one or more sensors and the circuitry.
19 . The sensor of claim 18 , wherein the power source is a battery.
20 . The sensor of claim 18 , wherein the power source is configured to passively provide power to the one or more sensors.
21 . The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to generate temperature over time and/or over distance traveled.