WIRELESS TIRE STATUS MONITOR AND MONITORING SYSTEM

Abstract

A wireless tire pressure sensor which is configured to thread onto a valve of a tire and sense the air pressure of the tire. Preferably, the tire pressure sensor also includes a microcontroller and a transceiver, such that the tire pressure sensor can send as well as receive and process information. The tire pressure sensor is configured to maintain the tire pressure as a result of having a secondary valve thereon, which can be actuated to fill the tire with air. Also provided is a wireless tire status monitoring system which includes a wireless tire pressure transducer and/or tire pressure transducer. The transducer(s) are connected to a microcontroller which is powered by a battery. The microcontroller is connected to a transceiver which sends and receiver information using an antenna. The tire pressure and/or temperature information is communicated to a data concentrator which includes a transceiver which sends and receives information using an antenna and a processor which processes the data and effectively controls the system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a tire status monitoring system which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless tire pressure sensor which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows how the system associates a wireless sensor with the network;

FIG. 4 illustrates beacon communication;

FIG. 5 illustrates non-beacon communication;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart which shows how the wireless sensor goes into sleep mode to conserve its battery;

FIG. 7 shows how the wireless sensor relays information through an alternate node to provide that less power is required to transmit the information, thereby conserving its battery;

FIG. 8 illustrates the different layers of a vehicle network in which the sensor disclosed herein could be used;

FIG. 9 illustrates a mesh network architecture with which the sensor disclosed herein could be used; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the mesh network architecture of FIG. 9, implemented on a tractor-trailer.

Claims

1. A wireless tire status sensor configured to thread onto a valve of a tire and sense at least one of temperature and pressure of air in the tire, said wireless tire pressure sensor comprising: an end configured to thread onto the valve of the tire; and means for communicating information wirelessly.

2. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for communicating information wirelessly comprises a transducer.

3. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein the transducer comprises a pressure transducer.

4. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 2, wherein the transducer comprises a temperature transducer.

5. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for communicating information wirelessly comprises a microcontroller.

6. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for communicating information wirelessly comprises a transceiver.

7. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for communicating information wirelessly comprises an antenna.

8. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for communicating information wirelessly comprises a transducer, a microcontroller, a transceiver and an antenna, wherein the transducer is in communication with the microcontroller, the microcontroller is in communication with the transceiver, and the transceiver is configured to communicate wirelessly using the antenna.

9. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is configured to communicate that a pre-determined temperature and/or pressure has been reached.

10. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is instructable to transmit information at pre-determined events.

11. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is configured to link with a wireless network.

12. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is configured to communicate via a beacon-type communication.

13. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is configured to communicate via a non-beacon type communication.

14. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is configured to communicate leak rate of the tire.

15. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 8, further comprising a battery configured to power the microcontroller.

16. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 15, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is configured to communicate information regarding the condition of the battery of the wireless tire status sensor.

17. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly via point-to-point wireless communication on a tractor-trailer.

18. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor is configured to communicate wirelessly in a wireless vehicle mesh network.

19. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless tire status sensor has a second end comprising a valve which is configured for engagement with an air pump.

20. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, further comprising a threaded end.

21. A wireless tire status sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to be part of a tractor-trailer vehicle network which is configured to be wirelessly queried by a device to obtain information about all of the tires on the tractor-trailer.