Tyre pressure monitoring sensor

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for remote tyre pressure monitoring that is secured onto a wheel surface. The apparatus as a unit comprises or includes a circuit including at least a sensor element to sense air pressure, signal processing circuitry, and data transmitting circuitry and an antenna. The apparatus also comprises or includes a housing at least partially contains the circuit. The housing retains the circuit and the housing and is itself engaged to the wheel surface by adhesive means.

1 . Apparatus for remote tyre pressure monitoring secured onto a wheel surface said apparatus as a unit comprising or including, 
 a circuit including at least a sensor element to sense air pressure, signal processing circuitry, data transmitting circuitry and an antenna and power supply means for said circuit and    a housing which at least partially contains the circuit,    whereby the housing retains the circuit and the housing and is itself engaged to said wheel surface by adhesive means.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  whereby the housing is open to said circuit only on that side mounted on the wheel surface.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  whereby said circuit is potted in said housing.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  1  wherein said housing comprises inner and an outer layer structure.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said outer layer is a temperature and wear resistant flexible material and said inner layer is a rigid temperature resistant material.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims  1  wherein there is an aperture, in said housing for fluid communication with the exterior of said housing to the interior, communicating with said element to sense air pressure.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein there is adhesive at the interface of said housing and said wheel surface.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said adhesive is applied to said housing as a pre-assembly.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  1  wherein said circuit is or includes an integrated circuit.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  1  wherein said power supply means is a battery.  
   
   
       11 . Apparatus for remote tyre pressure sensing mounted or able to be mounted onto a wheel surface and exposed or to be disposed to the interior pressurised tyre air space, said apparatus comprising or including, 
 a sensing apparatus comprising at least an element to sense air pressure, a signal processing element to process output from said sensing element, a transmitter element to send a signal from said signal processing element via an antenna to transmit said signal and power supply means for said sensing apparatus, each in electric communication with each other    a housing to at least partially contain said sensing apparatus    wherein said housing has an aperture for communication of said air pressure to said element to sense air pressure, and said housing is secured or is to be secured to said wheel surface by adhesive means, capturing said sensing apparatus against said wheel.    
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said sensing apparatus is or includes an integrated circuit.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  or  12  wherein said transmitter element is of a kind to send said signal via said antenna by electromagnetic frequency.  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said signal is in the radio frequency spectrum, substantially between 10 kilohertz and 100,000 kilohertz frequencies.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said antenna and said transmitter element are adapted to receive as well as transmit.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  11  wherein said sensing apparatus is potted in said housing.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said adhesive is applied to one or both of said wheel surface and said housing prior to securing to each other.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  11  wherein said adhesive is pre-applied to said housing.  
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said unit is serially packaged with adhesive pre-applied, substantially ready for securing to said wheel surface.  
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  18  wherein a removable liner protects said adhesive prior to securement to said wheel surface.  
   
   
       21 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  11  wherein said wheel surface is on a wheel rim.  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  11  wherein the wheel and tyre assembly is of a tubeless kind.  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  11  wherein said housing comprises an inner rigid material and an outer compliant and wear resistant material.  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus as claimed in claims  11  where said power supply means is a battery.  
   
   
       25 . A method of remotely sensing vehicle tyre gas pressure using a gas pressure sensing and transmitting means potted inside a housing, said housing is in turn secured to a surface of a wheel, inside the pressurized gas compartment at least in part bounded by said tyre and wheel, by adhesive means only, said method comprising sensing, at a location remote from said tyre, the signal from said gas pressure sensing and transmitting means.  
   
   
       26 . A vehicle with a tyre pressure monitoring unit secured to any one or more of the wheels of said vehicle, wherein said unit comprises or includes, 
 a sensing apparatus comprising at least an element to sense air pressure, a signal processing element to process output from said sensing element, a transmitter element to send a signal from said signal processing element via an antenna to transmit said signal and power supply means for said sensing apparatus, and    a housing to at least partially contain said sensing apparatus,    wherein said unit is mounted to a wheel surface exposed to the interior pressurised tyre air space and said housing has an aperture for communication of said air pressure to said element to sense air pressure.    
   
   
       27 . A vehicle as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said housing is secured or is to be secured to said wheel surface by adhesive means, capturing said sensing apparatus against said wheel surface.  
   
   
       28 . A wheel with a tyre pressure monitoring unit secured to any one or more of the wheels of said vehicle, wherein said unit comprises or includes, 
 a sensing apparatus comprising at least an element to sense air pressure, a signal processing element to process output from said sensing element, a transmitter element to send a signal from said signal processing element via an antenna to transmit said signal, and    a housing to at least partially contain said sensing apparatus,    wherein said unit is mounted to a wheel surface exposed to the interior pressurised tyre air space and said housing has an aperture for communication of said air pressure to said element to sense air pressure.    
   
   
       29 . A wheel as claimed in  claim 28  wherein said housing is secured or is to be secured to said wheel surface by adhesive means, capturing said sensing apparatus against said wheel surface.  
   
   
       30 . A tyre pressure monitoring device secured onto a wheel surface said device comprising: 
 an electronic circuit consisting of sensor elements, a signal processing circuitry, a RF circuitry, an antenna and power supply means for said electronic circuit; and    a housing which holds the integrated circuit, is made of at least an inner more layer and an outer more layer;    whereby the inner more layer encloses all sides of the circuit, except for a side in contact with the wheel surface, and the outer more layer overlays the circuit covered by the inner more layer, and wherein the outer more layer is engaged to the wheel surface by adhesive means.    
   
   
       31 . Apparatus for remote tyre pressure monitoring for securing onto a wheel surface said apparatus as a unit comprising or including, 
 a circuit including at least a sensor element to sense air pressure, signal processing circuitry, and data transmitting circuitry, an antenna and power supply means for said circuit; and    a housing which at least partially contains the circuit, whereby the housing retains the circuit and the housing itself is to be engaged to said wheel surface by adhesive means.    
   
   
       32 . A method of packaging a remote tyre pressure monitoring unit for subsequent assembly by association with a wheel, said method comprising or including, 
 separately and serially encapsulating said unit between a cover layer and encapsulation layer, one or both of which layers are conformed to at least partially locate said unit, said layers being adhered to one another to retain said unit between them,    wherein said resulting serial separately packaged units are wound onto a reel to form a tape and reel package for subsequent serial presentation of units, upon removal or at least one of said layers, prior to mounting.