Electronic equipment for use in checking the air pressure of the tires of a motor vehicle and communicating information to an on-board computer of the motor vehicle is disclosed. The equipment includes a device including an internal pressure sensor and a connection means for connecting the device to a valve of a tire to place the internal pressure sensor in communication with the internal air pressure of the tire. In one example, the electronic equipment includes a device having a first case, and the internal air pressure sensor is in a separate second case including the connection means to connect the second case to the valve of the tire. The internal air pressure sensor in the second case is configured to be in communication with the components in the first case of the device.

In the present invention, virtual regions each having a width of 1/2n (where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1) of the detection width of a force sensor provided on a tire travel surface are set in a region to be measured of a tire. The contact position between the tire travel surface and tire is shifted along a prescribed direction such that the force sensor touches a single virtual region a plurality of times, and the sensor is used to carry out force measurement a plurality of times. Mapping data is generated that associates each measurement time with data about the positional relationship between the virtual regions and sensor. Force values for each virtual region are calculated on the basis of the sensor detection values and the force balance relationship between the sensor and virtual regions determined by a mapping data generation unit.

A tire valve system allowing a user to virtually check a vehicle's tire pressure and tire temperature remotely.

A safety valve is outfit with sensors to monitor performance. The safety valve may include valve mechanics comprising a closure component moveable relative to a seat. The device may also have a pre-load unit coupled with the closure component. The pre-load unit may utilize a coiled compression spring to generate spring force to keep the closure component in contact with the seat. A strain gauge may be disposed on the compression spring to measure strain, for example, shear strain in the compression spring. Analysis of this data may predict set pressure (or set point). This prediction may, in turn, form a basis for an alert or other indicator that the safety valve requires maintenance or repair.

The invention provides a device for testing internal pressure of a hollow sports ball; the device comprising: (i) a main body (2); (ii) a removable cap (4); the main body (2) and cap (4) each being provided with mutually engaging formations (12, 14) that enable the main body (2) and cap (4) to be removably secured together by a twisting movement; (iii) a load cell (46) and associated electronic circuitry for processing an output from the load cell (46); and (iv) an electronic display (41) linked to the electronic circuitry for displaying an indicator of the internal pressure of the ball; the main body having an interior void which, together with the removable cap, forms an enclosed ball-receiving chamber for receiving the ball; the interior void of the main body being provided at an inner end thereof with a seat (44) on which the ball can sit, the load cell (46) being disposed beneath the seat (44); and the associated electronic circuitry optionally being disposed below the pressure sensor; whereby the ball-receiving chamber is configured such that when the ball is in place in the chamber, the securing together of the main body and cap brings the main body and cap together in an axial direction to compress the ball and apply a pressure through the ball to the load cell, and a force signal sent from the load cell to the associated electronic circuitry is processed to enable the indicator of the internal pressure of the ball to be displayed.

A hand-held device for measuring tire pressure and temperature including a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an optical pointer, a processor responsive to an output of the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor, and a display. The processor is configured to output a value on the display indicative of a measured tire pressure.

Sensors incorporating piezoresistive materials are described. One class of includes conductive traces formed directly on or otherwise integrated with the piezoresistive material.

A tire pressure monitoring system includes a plurality of detection devices that are provided in respective ones of a plurality of tires of a vehicle and each wirelessly transmit an air pressure signal including air pressure information of tire in response to a request signal and a monitoring device that transmits the request signal to each of the detection devices and receives the air pressure signal transmitted from each of the detection devices in response to the request signal, to monitor air pressure of each of the tires. Each of the detection devices, when receiving a request signal, measures the received signal strength of the received request signal and transmits to the monitoring device an air pressure signal at a different diming in accordance with the measured received signal strength. The monitoring device receives the air pressure signals transmitted from the plurality of detection devices at different timings.

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to devices for controlling the pressure of bicycle tire. The devices generally include a casing configured to be housed inside a bicycle wheel and in which are arranged: a measurement unit comprising at least one sensor capable of measuring a pressure of the bicycle tire and producing a signal indicative of the value of the pressure, a transmission unit electrically connected to the measurement unit and capable of transmitting the signal to an external display, and a battery. The casing includes an opening passing through the casing, from an upper face to a lower face, the opening presenting at least one part flaring from its lower face towards the upper face, so as to define a slope adapted to fit a flared support, corresponding to a foot of the valve of the wheel.

A stovetop burner protector, in some embodiments, may provide for a covering device for stoves that may comprise a heat-conducting plate ringed by a high heat-resistant element, which may be configured to cover one or more stovetop burners. The present invention's heat-resistant element may be configured so as to catch or divert the path of any liquids or solids that may be dispersed by the cooking process. At least one small dome-shaped opening on the side of the heat-resistant element may be configured to let out some or all of the hot air.