A tyre condition monitoring system comprising a sensing unit adapted for approximation to a tyre to take a measurement of, or at least from which can be derived, tread depth, the sensing unit being adapted for deployment by manual approximation to a tyre and to store and/or transmit measurement data from one or more or all of a set of tyres on a vehicle as well as for mechanical approximation to a tyre for continuing and/or programmed measurement.

A tire condition detecting apparatus includes a transmitting section, a receiving section, a control section, a property detecting section, and a battery, which is a power source for the apparatus. The control section operates in a control mode that is selected from a normal mode and a power saving mode. In the power saving mode, power consumption associated with reception of the wirelessly transmitted signal from the external device is less than that in the normal mode. When the amount of change in the electrical property of a valve stem detected by the property detecting section exceeds a reference change amount, the control section switches the control mode to the normal mode. The control section also switches the control mode to the power saving mode when a termination condition is met in the normal mode

A system for predicting tire lift-off propensity of a vehicle tire includes a vehicle tire-affixed tire-identification device for providing a tire-specific identification, multiple tire-affixed sensors mounted to the tire measuring tire-specific parameters and generating tire-specific parameter information, one or more vehicle-affixed sensor(s) mounted to the vehicle to measure vehicle speed and a lift-off propensity estimator generating a lift-off propensity for the vehicle tire from a database containing experimentally-derived, tire-ID specific, lift-off propensities correlated with measured tire-specific parameter information and vehicle speeds.

A method for measuring the depth of tread in a vehicle tire includes measuring acceleration signals from a tire module arranged on the inner side of the tire. A minimum acceleration value is then determined during rotation of the vehicle tire and at a constant traveling speed whereafter the maximum internal radius of the inner side of the tire is determined in the center of a ground contact area of the vehicle tire. The depth of tread of the vehicle tire is determined with signal processing whereafter the determined depth of tread is transmitted to a receiving unit in the vehicle.

A fuel dispensing installation employs multiple fuel islands with fuel dispensers and multiple fuel/travel lanes. The installation employs a communication/controller system for automatically identifying a vehicle, and upon authorizing the vehicle, allowing fuel to be dispensed to said vehicle, determining the quantity of fuel dispensed to the vehicle and securing the dispenser when the vehicle leaves a detection zone. The detection system employs RFID tags placed at both the driver side and the passenger side of the vehicle. Generally oppositely oriented antennas define a detection zone for each of the lanes. A light indicates whether the vehicle is authorized for receiving fuel.

A tire with a treads depth measuring device that includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are fixed to internal surface of the tire, and an oscillator that is electrically connected to the electrodes so that capacitance between the electrodes affects frequencies of the oscillator. Changes in frequencies of the oscillator can be used to detect and calculate changes in thickness of the tire and changes in depth of treads in the tire.

A system is provided for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls that extend to a circumferential tread. The system includes a drive over reader, which includes a housing. At least one sensor is mounted in the housing to generate an image of the tire, which may be an image of the tire footprint or an image of the tread along a lateral line or section, and the tread depth is determined from the image. At least one piezoelectric actuator is mounted on the housing and is electrically connected to the at least one sensor to actuate the at least one sensor. A method for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle is also provided.

A tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending from a respective bead area to a tread. The tread is formed with a plurality of tread elements and a radially outer surface. A sensor unit is mounted to the tire and includes a pair of electrical contacts. The tread wear sensor plug includes a cylindrical projection extending through an opening formed in one of the tread elements, a flange, and a wire including proximal ends disposed in the flange and a distal end near a radially outer surface of the projection. An electrical circuit is formed by each proximal end of the wire electrically contacting a respective one of the sensor unit electrical contacts. When the tread element and the cylindrical projection wear down to the distal end of the wire, the wire and the circuit break. A notice is transmitted by the sensor unit when the circuit breaks.

A tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending from a respective bead area to a tread. The tread is formed with a plurality of tread elements and a radially outer surface, and a chamber is formed in one of the tread elements. A sensor unit is mounted to the tire and includes a pair of electrical contacts. The polymer plug includes a wire disposed in the chamber. The wire includes proximal ends and a distal end near a radially outer surface of the tread. A liquid polymer is injected into the chamber and cured. An electrical circuit is formed by each proximal end of the wire electrically contacts a respective one of the sensor unit electrical contacts. When the tread element wears down to the distal end of the wire, the wire and the circuit break. A notice is transmitted by the sensor unit when the circuit breaks.

A tire sensor container system is provided. A tire includes a carcass toroidally extending from a first bead area to a second bead area, and an innerliner formed on an inner surface of the carcass. The tire sensor container system includes a tire pressure monitoring system sensor, which in turn includes a rigid housing that is formed with an oval shape. A flexible container is mounted to the innerliner. The container includes a base and a wall extending radially outwardly from the base, and the wall terminates in a lip. The container wall is formed with an oval shape that cooperates with the shape of the tire pressure monitoring sensor housing. A cavity is defined by the base, the wall, and the lip, and cavity receives and secures the tire pressure monitoring system sensor.