Patent ID: 6725713
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B60C,B60K,H01L

Abstract:
A tire assembly with integrated self-powered electronic components, said tire assembly comprising:a pneumatic tire structure characterized by a crown having an exterior tread portion for making contact with a ground surface, bead portions for seating said tire to a wheel rim, exterior sidewall portions extending between each bead portion and the crown, and interior crown and sidewall surfaces; a patch of piezoelectric material integrated with a selected portion of said pneumatic tire structure, said patch of piezoelectric material configured to generate an electric charge therein upon said pneumatic tire structure being subjected to mechanical strains; an energy storage device configured to receive said electric charge from said patch of piezoelectric material and to store selected amounts of said electric charge therein; and an electronics assembly including said electronic components connected to said energy storage device such that selected electronic components of said electronics assembly are powered by the electric charge stored in said energy storage device.