US 6,988,026 · Granted 2006-01-17
The Wireless Tire Temperature Patent That Watches Your Wheels
Imagine tiny temperature sensors stuck around your tire that need zero batteries and talk to your car wirelessly. This patent describes exactly that: devices that catch heat radiating off your tire at different spots and beam that data back to alert you if something's wrong.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a wireless sensor system mounted on a tire that detects thermal radiation (heat) at multiple points around the tire's circumference, analyzes temperature differences between those locations, and triggers a vehicle response based on the analysis. What's protected here is specifically the combination of wireless power delivery (via induction, capacitive coupling, or RF energy transfer) to these sensors, plus the method of detecting and responding to tire temperature variations without traditional wired connections or onboard batteries.
Why it matters
This patent locks down a foundational approach to tire health monitoring that doesn't rely on batteries or wires—a major practical advantage in harsh automotive environments. By detecting uneven heating patterns across a tire, the system can flag problems like misalignment, overinflation, or wear before they become dangerous. The wireless and battery-free design makes it scalable and maintenance-free, which appeals to automakers looking to reduce liability and improve safety without adding service burden.
Real-world use
When you drive a vehicle equipped with this technology, the sensors silently monitor your tire temperatures in real time, and if they detect a dangerous hot spot or uneven wear pattern, your dashboard alert activates automatically—all without you ever needing to replace a sensor battery.
Original USPTO abstract
Arrangement and method for monitoring a tire mounted to the vehicle in which a thermal radiation detecting device detects the temperature of the tire at different circumferential locations along the circumference of the tire. The detected temperatures of the tire are analyzed to determine, for example, whether a difference in thermal radiation is present between the circumferential locations of the tire, and if so, an action is effected in response to the analysis. The thermal radiation detecting devices are preferably supplied with power wirelessly, e.g., through an inductive system, a capacitive system or a radio frequency energy transfer system.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,988,026
- Filing date
- 2003-11-04
- Grant date
- 2006-01-17
- Assignee
- Automotive Technologies International Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- BREED DAVID S., DUVALL WILBUR E., JOHNSON WENDELL C., KOLOMEYKO ANATOLIY V., SHOSTAK OLEKSANDR T.
- CPC class
- B60C19/00
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