Patent ID: 7378951
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: B60C

Abstract:
1. A vehicular tire pressure monitoring system comprising: a transponder unit for each tire to be monitored, the transponder unit having an incorporated RF transmitter and being physically associated with the tire to be monitored; a pressure sensor for each tire to be monitored and connected to circuitry in a corresponding transponder unit; an interrogator unit associated with each transponder unit and physically mounted on a vehicle in proximity to a wheel whereon a tire to be monitored is mounted; and a central RF receiver for all transponder units; wherein each transponder unit is inductively coupled with an associated interrogator unit and includes an electric charge accumulation element adapted to be charged by energy inductively supplied from the associated interrogator unit in a first mode of operation, and the charge accumulation element providing a power supply to the RF transmitter of the transponder unit in a second mode of operation, wherein the interrogator units are mounted in respective wheel housings of the vehicle and the charge accumulation elements are charged during rotation of respective wheels, and, wherein the interrogator units are mounted on a liner of plastics material and include an antenna that extends along a major part of the peripheral extension of the liner with respect to vehicle rotation.