The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Gene Raymond Starkey

Richard Stephen Pollack

Joseph Michael Letkomiller

John Roux Phelan

Elyse Kristen Eschbach

Robert Walter Brown

Dale Lee Yones

William Frank Dunn

Gary T Belski

Ronald M Ames

Joseph Paul Desimone, Ii

According to the invention there is in conjunction with a pneumatic tire having a central tread, one or more radially-extending belt(s) disposed radially inwardly of the tread and an innerliner disposed radially inwardly of the belt. Apparatus for mounting an electronic tag () within the tire is characterized by a patch () having a first side () for mounting against the innerliner of the tire; a second arcuately-shaped side () and an internally threaded member (); and an externally threaded member () having a portion extending from a side () of the tag and threadable into the internally threaded member of the patch.

Apparatus for monitoring a condition of a tire

A system for monitoring at least one tire condition value in each of a plurality of pneumatic tires of a moving vehicle, wherein each of the tires has associated therewith a passive electronic tire tag for sensing the at least one tire condition value and is responsive to an interrogation signal transmitted thereto to transmit a data modulated signal representative of the at least one tire condition value. The monitoring system includes portable ramp apparatus for supporting the moving vehicle, portable vehicle sensing apparatus for sensing the presence of the moving vehicle and tire pressure sensing apparatus embedded in the ramp apparatus for detecting the presence thereon of a vehicle tire on the ramp apparatus. In addition, the monitoring system includes transmitter antenna structure and receiver antenna structure respectively embedded in the ramp apparatus. The transceiver apparatus is operable for causing the transmitter antenna structure to transmit the interrogation signal to the respective tire tags when the tire pressure sensing apparatus detects the vehicle tire. In addition, the transceiver apparatus is operable for causing the receiver antenna structure to receive the respective data modulated tire tag signals independently of one another from different tire tags. And, the transceiver apparatus is operable for demodulating the respective data modulated tire tag signals and digitizing data therefrom.

System of apparatus for monitoring a tire condition value in a pneumatic tire

Provided is a method of monitoring conditions of a pneumatic tire comprising a central tread, one or more belt(s) disposed radially inwardly of the tread and an inner-liner disposed radially inwardly of the belt(s), the belt(s) having a side edge. An electronic tag and associated condition sensors are disposed within the tire. The method includes: sensing a first temperature which is temperature of the tire inner-liner adjacent to the bet edge with the electronic tag; sensing a second temperature which is the air temperature within the tire with the electronic tag; and sensing air pressure within the tire with the electronic tag.

Method for monitoring a condition of a tire

A pneumatic tire monitoring system for monitoring pneumatic tire conditions for one or more tire/wheel assemblies mounted on a vehicle, preferably in combination with a tire pressurizing and regulating apparatus, comprises a transponder with a transmitting antenna mounted on the wheel for transmitting a signal indicating tire condition, one or more receivers with receiving antennas fixedly mounted on the vehicle, and circuitry for processing the received signals; the system characterized in that: circuitry for each transponder is on a printed circuit board within a protective housing coaxial to the hub of the wheel or wheel carrier; and each transmitting antenna is selected from the group comprising a partial loop antenna, a helical antenna, a circular dipole antenna, and a small coupling coil adjacent to an endless hoop antenna. The partial loop antenna is mounted in each housing affixed around a portion of the circumference of the printed circuit board, having an angular arc length, and comprises a serpentine portion for increasing the effective length of the partial loop antenna without also extending the angular arc length. The angular arc length and the affixed placement are determined for avoiding RF signal interference due to interaction with signal-interfering objects in the housing. Additionally, the partial loop antenna has an end portion that can be trimmed for adjusting the effective length to enable tuning of the antenna for optimum transmission at different radio transmission frequencies.

Pneumatic tire monitor

A method of monitoring at least one tire condition value of each of a plurality of tires of a moving vehicle, with a monitoring system. Each of the tires has an electronic tire tag for sensing the tire condition value of the associated tire. The monitoring system has vehicle sensing apparatus, ramp apparatus, tire sensing apparatus, transceiver apparatus and computer apparatus removably electrically connected thereto and to the vehicle sensing apparatus and tire sensing apparatus. The method comprises the steps of determining whether the vehicle sensing apparatus has sensed the moving vehicle on the ramp apparatus supporting the moving vehicle. In addition the method includes the steps of determining whether respective tires of the moving vehicle have been sensed by the tire sensing apparatus, and transmitting an interrogation signal when the tire sensing apparatus senses at least one tire. Further, the method includes the step of receiving and demodulating modulated tire tag signals independently of one another from different tire tags for providing different demodulated tire tag signals. Moreover, the method includes the step of digitizing the different demodulated tire tag signals and providing corresponding different digital tire tag signals to the computer apparatus.

Method of monitoring a tire condition using a drive over reader

A process and apparatus for resetting a directly resettable micro-mechanical temperature memory switch (MTMS) (,) having an unlatched state (,) and latched state (,) in an electronic tire tag (,). The resetting process includes providing the electronic tire tag (,) with a radio frequency RF antenna (,) directly electrically connected to the MTMS (,) for applying thereto an RF signal,having a predetermined frequency f,; and providing transmitter structure (,) for transmitting to the antenna (,) an RF signal (,) having the predetermined frequency (f,). The process includes disposing the tag within a tire and resetting the MTMS to the unlatched state subsequent to the tire reaching a predetermined temperature to cause the MTMS to go into the latched state.

Process and apparatus for resetting a directly resettable micro-mechanical temperature memory switch

The invention relates to an electronic tag (,) that includes a transponder (,) and a micro-mechanical temperature memory switch (MTMS) (,) having an unlatched state (,) and latched state (,) and a method of resetting the MTMS (,). The method includes the step of providing second apparatus (,) for providing a second D.C. signal (,) and an electronic switching circuit (,) for receiving the first and second D.C. signals (,). The electronic switching circuit (,) is connected for normally applying the first D.C. signal (,) to the logic circuit (,) and for diverting the first D.C. signal (,) therefrom to the MTMS (,) for resetting the MTMS (,) in response to receiving the second D.C. signal (,).

Process and apparatus for resetting a micro-mechanical condition sensor

Electronic scanner for retrieving stored data from the sidewall of a tire

A pneumatic tire has an integrated circuit transponder which, upon interrogation by an external RF signal, transmits tire identification and/or other data in digitally-coded form. The transponder has a coil antenna of small enclosed area as compared to the area enclosed by an annular tensile member comprising a bead of the tire. The annular tensile member, during transponder interrogation, acts as the primary winding of a transformer. The coil antenna is loosely coupled to the primary winding and is the secondary winding of the transformer. The coil antenna is substantially planar in shape, and, when positioned between the innerliner of the tire and its carcass ply, the transponder may include a pressure sensor responsive to tire inflation pressure.

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Niwot, CO, United States of America

Gene Raymond Starkey