Transense Technologies, Plc

Transverse Technologies Plc

Anthony Lonsdale

Bryan Lonsdale

A monitoring system, particularly suitable for monitoring conditions (e.g. pressure or temperature) of a vehicle tire comprises a passive sensor (), an antenna () associated with said passive sensor, and switching means () for controlling the connection between the passive sensor and the antenna such that, in a first state of said switching means, said antenna is prevented from transmitting a signal generated by the passive sensor, and, in a second state of said switching means, said antenna is permitted to transmit a signal generated by the passive sensor. The switching means is operated remotely by means of a control signal. The control signal may be derived from the sum or difference of RF signals (Fand F) applied to a filter () In alternative embodiments the control signal is the modulating frequency of an AM or FM modulated radio signal or a radio signal carrying a digital code.

Apparatus and method for interrogation of passive sensors

A vibratory gyroscope is provided that includes a vibratory element; a vibration inducing device for inducing a mode of vibration into the vibratory element; and a processing device for generating, in response to a change in strain detected in the vibratory element, a signal indicative of a rate of rotation about an axis of the vibratory element corresponding to a rotation imparted to the vibratory element subsequent to an inducing of the vibration. The vibration inducing device includes an acoustic signal source provided at a location spaced from the vibratory element. Undesirable effects associated with mounting the vibration inducing device to the vibratory element are thereby avoided.

Vibratory gyroscope

A rotary signal coupler for providing signal coupling to a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) device () mounted on a shaft () includes a first electrically conducting loop () mounted on a disc () and connected to the SAW device (), and a second electrically conductive loop () mounted on a disc () and connected to external electronic circuitry. The disc () is fixed relative to the shaft () and the disc () is fixed relative to the structure in which the shaft () rotates so that the loops () are inductively coupled. A grounded screen (), which preferably takes the form of a plurality of radially extending fingers is located on the disc () and positioned between the loops () to eliminate capacitive coupling therebetween.

Rotary signal coupler

The present invention relates to a rotary signal coupler, that is to say a device for providing signal coupling between two components which are rotatable relative to each other. A coupler is provided comprising a first substantially circular track secured to a first support and a second substantially circular track secured to a second support which is rotatable relative to the first support. The first and second tracks are coaxial with the axis of rotation of the rotatable second support and are adjacent each other so as to provide signal coupling therebetween. The second track has at least two gaps therein which form electrical discontinuities between separated track portions. The separated track portions are electrically connected to one another. Signal coupling with a rotatable support having a relatively large diameter may be thereby improved.

Apparatus for determining the resonant frequency of a passive sensor, for example a saw device, includes a device ( ) for transmitting signals of a plurality of frequencies to the passive sensor ( ); a device ( ) for receiving signals from the passive sensor simultaneously with the transmitting of signals; a device ( ) for comparing the received signals with the transmitted signals to identify a characteristic change in the relationship between the received signals and the transmitted signals which occurs when the sensor is being driven at its resonant frequency. As the frequency at which the passive sensor is driven passes through the resonant frequency of the sensor the phase and/or amplitude of the signal generated by the passive sensor will change. By identifying this change of phase and/or amplitude the point at which resonance occurs can be detected. The frequency of the transmitted signal at the moment when the comparison indicates that the sensor is being driven at its resonant frequency is the resonant frequency of the sensor.

Apparatus and method for interrogating a passive sensor

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting the condition of an item and, particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus and method for detecting a specific condition of a motor vehicle tire. The invention provides apparatus comprising a structure for radiating radio frequency energy in response to a reception by said structure of radio frequency energy; said structure having a first configuration which, in use, is changed to a second configuration in response to said item attaining said specific condition; said change in configuration producing a detectable difference in radio frequency energy radiated from said structure. Apparatus according to the present invention thereby allows for the remote interrogation of the condition of an item.

Apparatus and method for detecting the condition of an item

An electronic structure comprising an electrically conductive base member with a layer of piezoelectric material bonded thereon, characterised in that at least first and second interdigital arrays are bonded or otherwise attached to said layer, in use said first interdigital array relying on the piezoelectric properties of said layer and said second interdigital array relying on the dielectric properties of said layer. Typically the first and second interdigital array forms part of at least one oscillator, such as a surface acoustic wave ('SAW') resonator, a shallow bulk acoustic wave ('SBAW') resonator, or the like. The second interdigital array forms part of at least one directional coupler such as a Lange coupler.

Growing community of inventors

Banbury, United Kingdom

Anthony Lonsdale