阅读说明：本技术 发送器 (Transmitter ) 是由 桃濑彰 辻田泰久 于 2018-12-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种发送器,配置在装配于车圈的轮胎内,构成为向接收器发送数据。发送器具备：传感器；取得部,构成为取得传感器的检测结果；生成部,构成为生成包含传感器的检测结果的数据；发送部,构成为发送通过生成部生成的数据；以及作为发送器的电源的有机发电元件。有机发电元件构成为,通过与收纳在轮胎内的燃料液体中包含的有机物的化学反应来进行发电。(A transmitter is disposed in a tire mounted on a rim and configured to transmit data to a receiver. A transmitter is provided with: a sensor; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a detection result of the sensor; a generation unit configured to generate data including a detection result of the sensor; a transmission unit configured to transmit the data generated by the generation unit; and an organic power generating element as a power source of the transmitter. The organic power generation element is configured to generate power by a chemical reaction with an organic substance contained in a fuel liquid contained in a tire.)

1. A transmitter, disposed in a tire fitted to a rim, configured to transmit data to a receiver, wherein,

the transmitter includes:

a sensor;

an acquisition unit configured to acquire a detection result of the sensor;

a generation unit configured to generate the data including a detection result of the sensor;

a transmission unit configured to transmit the data generated by the generation unit; and

an organic power generating element as a power source of the transmitter,

the organic power generation element is configured to generate power by a chemical reaction with an organic substance contained in the fuel liquid contained in the tire.

2. The transmitter according to claim 1, wherein,

the organic substance comprises a reducing sugar.

3. The transmitter according to claim 1 or 2,

the tire includes a tread portion having a ground contact surface and a back surface on a side opposite to the ground contact surface, and the transmitter is provided on the back surface of the tread portion.

4. The transmitter according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the tire is provided with a fuel passage through which the fuel liquid passes, and the organic power generation element is disposed in contact with the fuel liquid passing through the fuel passage.

5. The transmitter according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

a holding portion that holds the fuel liquid is provided in the tire, and the organic power generation element is arranged along the holding portion.

6. The transmitter according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the generation unit is configured to generate the data including information on an amount of power generation of the organic power generation element.

7. The transmitter according to claim 6, wherein,

the transmitter includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the amount of power generated by the organic power generation element is less than a threshold value,

when the determination unit determines that the amount of power generation by the organic power generation element is lower than a threshold value, the generation unit generates the data including information indicating that the amount of power generation is determined to be lower than the threshold value.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transmitter.

Background

In order to monitor the state of a tire, a tire state monitoring device is provided in a vehicle. The tire condition monitoring device includes a transmitter and a receiver mounted on a wheel. The transmitter includes a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the tire and a transmitter. The transmitter transmits the detection result of the pressure sensor to the receiver. Thereby, the receiver can monitor the pressure of the tire.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a transmitter using a power generating element as a power source of the transmitter. The transmitter described in patent document 1 includes a power generation device using a magnetostrictive element as a power generation element. The magnetostrictive element generates power by using the inverse magnetostrictive effect in which the magnetic field changes due to the deformation of the outer shape by impact. The power generation device includes a collision member that applies an impact to the magnetostrictive element.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

When a magnetostrictive element is used as a power generating element, a collision member needs to be movably provided in order to apply an impact to the magnetostrictive element. Therefore, the collision member repeatedly moves, and thus the power generation device is likely to malfunction. When the power generator fails, the transmitter cannot operate. As described above, the transmitter including the movable member has poor durability.

The invention aims to provide a transmitter capable of inhibiting the reduction of durability.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter arranged in a tire mounted on a rim and configured to transmit data to a receiver. The transmitter includes: a sensor; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a detection result of the sensor; a generation unit configured to generate the data including a detection result of the sensor; a transmission unit configured to transmit the data generated by the generation unit; and an organic power generating element as a power source of the transmitter. The organic power generation element is configured to generate power by a chemical reaction with an organic substance contained in the fuel liquid contained in the tire.

The transmitter operates by the electric power generated by the organic power generation element. Fitted within the tire of the rim is an interior space for filling with gas. By using this internal space as a storage space for the fuel liquid, the organic power generating element can generate power. Since the organic power generating element generates power by a chemical reaction with an organic material contained in the fuel liquid, power generation can be performed without providing a movable member as in the case of using a magnetostrictive element. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a movable member for generating power, and a decrease in durability of the transmitter can be suppressed.

In the transmitter, the organic material may contain a reducing sugar.

In the transmitter, the tire may include a tread portion having a ground contact surface and a back surface on a side opposite to the ground contact surface, and the transmitter may be provided on the back surface of the tread portion.

When the tire rotates along with the running of the vehicle, the fuel liquid flows by centrifugal force. The fuel liquid flows along the back surface of the tread portion of the tire. Therefore, when the transmitter is provided on the back surface of the tread portion of the tire, the fuel liquid is easily supplied to the organic power generation element.

In the transmitter, the tire may include a fuel passage through which the fuel liquid passes, and the organic power generation element may be disposed in contact with the fuel liquid passing through the fuel passage.

The organic power generation element is disposed so as to be in contact with the fuel liquid passing through the fuel passage, and the fuel liquid is easily supplied to the organic power generation element.

In the transmitter, a holding portion for holding the fuel liquid may be provided in the tire, and the organic power generating element may be disposed along the holding portion.

The fuel liquid is held by the holding portion, and thus the fuel liquid is easily supplied to the organic power generation element.

In the transmitter, the generation unit may be configured to generate the data including information on an amount of power generation of the organic power generation element.

Since the data includes information on the amount of power generation by the power generation element, the receiver can recognize the information on the amount of power generation by the power generation element.

The transmitter may further include a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the amount of power generated by the organic power generation element is less than a threshold value. When the determination unit determines that the amount of power generation of the organic power generation element is lower than a threshold value, the generation unit may generate the data including information indicating that the amount of power generation is determined to be lower than the threshold value.

The receiver can be made to recognize that the power generation amount is below the threshold.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, a decrease in durability can be suppressed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a tire condition monitoring device.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a tire mounted on a rim.

Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a transmitter.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing data transmitted from a transmitter.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the fitting portion provided in the tire.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the fitting portion.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a state of fuel liquid when the vehicle is stopped and when the vehicle is running.

Fig. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of the gas filling apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining a fuel liquid filling method.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of the transmitter is explained below.

As shown in fig. 1, tire condition monitoring device 20 includes: transmitters 21 configured to be attached to four wheels 11 of the vehicle 10, respectively; and a receiver 40 provided in the vehicle 10. Each wheel 11 includes a rim (wheel)12 and a tire 13 attached to the rim 12.

As shown in fig. 2, the bead 17 of the tire 13 is fitted to the rim (rim)18 of the rim 12, so that the tire 13 is fitted to the rim 12. The inner space S1 is filled with gas and is mounted in the tire 13 of the rim 12. The internal space S1 is a region surrounded by the tire 13 and the rim 12. The outer surface of the tread portion 14 of the tire 13 is a ground contact surface 15 that contacts a road surface. The ground contact surface 15 can be said to be a surface opposite to the surface defining the internal space S1 in the tread portion 14. The rim 12 is equipped with a tire valve 19 for filling the tire 13 with gas from the outside of the tire 13.

The transmitter 21 detects the state of the corresponding tire 13, for example, the air pressure of the tire 13 or the temperature inside the tire 13, and wirelessly transmits a signal including the detection result to the receiver 40. Tire condition monitoring device 20 receives the signal transmitted from transmitter 21 via receiver 40, and monitors the condition of tire 13.

As shown in fig. 3, the transmitter 21 includes a pressure sensor 22, a temperature sensor 23, an acceleration sensor 24, a transmitter control unit 25, a transmission circuit 26, a transmission antenna 27, a power storage device 28, and a power generation element 29.

The pressure sensor 22 detects the pressure of the corresponding tire 13. The pressure sensor 22 outputs the detection result to the transmitter control unit 25. The temperature sensor 23 detects the temperature in the corresponding tire 13. The temperature sensor 23 outputs the detection result to the transmitter control unit 25.

In the present embodiment, a 3-axis acceleration sensor 24 having three detection axes is used as the acceleration sensor 24. The acceleration sensor 24 detects accelerations in directions in which the three detection axes face, respectively. When the three detection axes are X, Y, and Z axes, respectively, the X axis is oriented in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, the Y axis is oriented in the rotation axis direction of the tire 13, and the Z axis is oriented vertically downward in a state where the acceleration sensor 24 is located at the lowermost position in the vertical direction of the tire 13. The X axis detects a component of gravitational acceleration acting on the X axis with the rotation of the tire 13. The Y axis is a direction for detecting lateral acceleration, which is acceleration in the vehicle width direction. The X-axis detects centrifugal acceleration. In the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 22, the temperature sensor 23, and the acceleration sensor 24 function as sensors.

The power generating element 29 is an organic power generating element. The power generation element 29 is an element that generates power by a chemical reaction, and is also called a biofuel cell. The power generation element 29 can generate power using a reducing sugar such as glucose, a substance having an aldehyde group, or an organic substance such as ethanol as a fuel. In the present embodiment, glucose, which is one kind of reducing sugar, is used as the fuel. The power generation element 29 can be said to be a glucose power generation element.

The power storage device 28 is a device such as a secondary battery or a capacitor that can store the electric power generated by the power generation element 29. Power storage device 28 is charged by power generation of power generation element 29. The power storage device 28 is discharged by the operation of the transmitter 21. The transmitter 21 operates by the electric power generated by the power generation element 29 via the power storage device 28. The power generating element 29 can be said to be a power source of the transmitter 21.

Various types of power storage systems for the electric power generated by the power generation element 29 are also possible. For example, the power generator 29 may operate the transmitter 21 with the electric power generated, and the power storage device 28 may be charged with surplus electric power. At this time, when the transmitter 21 cannot be operated by the power generation of the power generation element 29, the transmitter 21 is operated by the electric power of the power storage device 28. The transmitter 21 may be operated by the electric power of the power storage device 28, and the power generation element 29 may be a dedicated element for charging the power storage device 28.

The transmitter control unit 25 is constituted by a circuit (circuit) such as a microcomputer including the CPU25a, a storage unit 25b (such as a RAM or a ROM), an input/output control circuit, and an a/D converter. The transmitter control unit 25 executes various software to control the operation of the transmitter 21. The storage unit 25b has an ID code registered therein as unique identification information of each transmitter 21. In addition, various programs for controlling the transmitter 21 are stored in the storage unit 25 b.

The transmitter control unit 25 may include dedicated hardware (application specific integrated circuit: ASIC) for executing at least a part of various processes. That is, the transmitter control unit 25 may be configured as 1) one or more processors operating according to a computer program (software), 2) one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as ASICs, or 3) a circuit (circuit) including a combination of these circuits. The processor includes a CPU and memories such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program codes or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute processing. Memory, i.e., computer-readable media, includes all available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

The transmitter control unit 25 acquires detection results of the pressure sensor 22, the temperature sensor 23, and the acceleration sensor 24. The transmitter control unit 25 functions as an acquisition unit. The transmitter control unit 25 detects a road surface state, which is a state of a road surface on which the vehicle 10 is traveling, from a detection result of the acceleration sensor 24. In the present embodiment, a case of detecting a crack or a step on a road surface will be described as an example. Only the change in the gravitational acceleration accompanying the rotation of the tire 13 is theoretically detected on the X axis of the acceleration sensor 24. The acceleration detected by the X axis varies between +1G to-1G during one rotation of the tire 13. On the Y-axis of the acceleration sensor 24, the acceleration cannot be detected theoretically when the vehicle 10 is traveling straight. In reality, the acceleration detected by the X axis includes a centrifugal acceleration and a component in the vehicle width direction, and the acceleration detected by the Y axis includes a centrifugal acceleration and a component based on the gravitational acceleration, due to the assembly accuracy of the acceleration sensor 24 and the like.

When the vehicle 10 passes through a crack, a step, or the like, the wheel 11 enters the crack or falls off the step, and an acceleration toward the lower side acts. Further, the crack is separated from the crack or rides on a step, thereby applying an upward acceleration. The acceleration of the X axis is detected as the vertical movement of the vehicle 10 through the crack or the step. The acceleration of the X axis changes sharply in a short time. Therefore, by setting a threshold value for the amount of change in the acceleration per unit time in the X axis, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a crack or a step on the road surface by determining whether or not the threshold value is exceeded. Further, when the vehicle 10 moves in the left-right direction due to a crack, a step, or the like, or when the driver moves the vehicle 10 in the left-right direction in order to avoid the crack, the step, or the like, the acceleration of the Y axis changes abruptly. Therefore, the road surface state can be detected using the acceleration of the Y axis as in the case of the X axis.

The transmitter control unit 25 may calculate the friction coefficient of the road surface from the acceleration of the vehicle 10 in the traveling direction and the lateral acceleration. As described above, the road surface state can be detected by using the detection result of the acceleration sensor 24.

The acceleration of the Z axis is used to determine whether the vehicle 10 is traveling. Since the acceleration of the Z axis increases in proportion to the speed of the vehicle 10, the transmitter control unit 25 can determine whether the vehicle 10 is traveling from the acceleration of the Z axis.

The transmitter control unit 25 can calculate the amount of power generation of the power generation element 29. The amount of power generation by the power generation element 29 can be calculated in various ways. For example, the amount of power generation can be calculated by dividing the voltage generated by the power generation of the power generation element 29 and inputting the divided voltage to the a/D converter of the transmitter control unit 25 or by sensing the current generated by the power generation element 29 with a current sensor.

The transmitter control unit 25 generates data and outputs the data to the transmission circuit 26. The transmitter control unit 25 functions as a generation unit. The transmission circuit 26 as a transmission unit modulates data from the transmitter control unit 25 to generate a signal (rf (radio frequency) signal), and transmits the signal from the transmission antenna 27.

As shown in fig. 4, the data of the present embodiment includes pressure data, temperature data, and a flag. The data also includes an ID code and information indicating the state of the road surface. The pressure data is data indicating a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 22, and the temperature data is data indicating a temperature detected by the temperature sensor 23. The flag is data indicating information on the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29. The flag is, for example, data of 1 bit in which the power generation amount of the power generation element 29 is lower than the threshold value and the value is inverted. The threshold is set to a value larger than the amount of power necessary to operate the transmitter 21. That is, the threshold is set so that information indicating that the amount of power generation is insufficient can be transmitted before the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29 becomes lower than the amount of power necessary to operate the transmitter 21.

When the amount of power generation of the power generation element 29 is lower than the threshold value, the transmitter control unit 25 inverts the flag value from the value when the amount of power generation is not lower than the threshold value. The transmitter control unit 25 functions as a determination unit.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the transmitter 21 of the present embodiment is mounted on the back surface 16 on the side opposite to the ground contact surface 15 in the tread portion 14 of the tire 13. Specifically, the tire 13 includes a hollow mounting portion 31 for mounting the transmitter 21, and the transmitter 21 is housed in the mounting portion 31. Mounting portion 31 protrudes from back surface 16 of tread portion 14 toward the central axis of tire 13. The mounting portion 31 may be provided integrally with the tread portion 14 of the tire 13, or may be mounted to the tread portion 14 separately from the tread portion 14 of the tire 13.

The fitting portion 31 is provided with an insertion hole 32 for inserting the transmitter 21 into the fitting portion 31. The insertion hole 32 connects the inside and outside of the fitting portion 31. The mounting portion 31 includes two openings 33 arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction of the tire 13. The two openings 33 extend in the arrangement direction of the two openings 33, respectively. The "arrangement direction of the two openings 33" includes not only a mode in which the openings 33 extend parallel to the circumferential direction of the tire 13 when the openings 33 are viewed from the radial direction of the tire 13, but also a mode in which the openings 33 are inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire 13. For example, when the opening 33 is viewed from the radial direction of the tire 13, the opening 33 may be inclined in a range of less than 45 ° with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire 13.

The openings 33 are two holes penetrating through circumferentially facing portions of the mounting portion 31. The shape of the opening 33 may be any shape, and may be, for example, a hole having a constant cross-sectional area or a hole having a cross-sectional area that decreases from the outside toward the inside of the fitting portion 31. Opening 33 is preferably provided in fitting portion 31 at a position as close as possible to back surface 16 of tread portion 14, and in the present embodiment, is provided in a manner facing back surface 16 of tread portion 14.

The holding portion 34 is disposed in the mounting portion 31. The holding portion 34 is a member made of a porous material such as a sponge or a material having water absorption properties such as a polymer absorbent. Holding portion 34 is disposed along back surface 16 of tread portion 14 in mounting portion 31. The holding portions 34 extend between the openings 33. That is, the holding portion 34 extends in the circumferential direction of the tire 13 from one opening 33 to the other opening 33.

Here, the power generation element 29 generates power by a chemical reaction with the fuel liquid F stored in the internal space S1. The fuel liquid F is a solution in which the fuel of the power generation element 29 is dissolved in a solvent. The rim 12 and the tire 13 are sealed so that gas does not leak from the inner space S1. Therefore, the internal space S1 can be used as a storage space for storing the fuel liquid F.

The power generation element 29 is provided so as to be able to contact the fuel liquid F because it can generate power by the fuel liquid F. For example, most of the components constituting the transmitter 21 are housed in a case, and are molded by resin so as not to contact with the gas inside the tire 13. In contrast, the power generating element 29 is configured such that at least a part thereof is exposed to the outside of the case. Power generation element 29 is located at a position where holding portion 34 is sandwiched between power generation element 29 and back surface 16 of tread portion 14. The power generating element 29 can be said to be disposed along the holding portion 34.

In the mounting portion 31, when the region where the holding portion 34 is provided is set as the housing region S2, the fuel liquid F can pass through the housing region S2 via the holding portion 34. The two openings 33 communicate the housing area S2 with the outside of the mounting portion 31, and a fuel passage R through which the fuel liquid F passes is formed by the two openings 33 and the housing area S2.

As shown in fig. 7, in a state where the vehicle 10 is stopped, that is, in a state where the tire 13 is not rotating, the fuel liquid F is stored in a vertically lower portion of the internal space S1 of the tire 13. In a state where the vehicle 10 is running, that is, in a state where the tire 13 is rotating, the fuel liquid F is pushed against the inner circumferential surface of the tire 13 by centrifugal force. Thereby, the fuel liquid F flows to cover the film over the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface of the tire 13.

Next, a fuel liquid filling method of filling the fuel liquid F in the tire 13 will be described.

As shown in fig. 8, for filling of the fuel liquid F, a gas filling device 60 is used. The gas filling device 60 is a device used when filling the tire 13 with gas, such as an air inflator or an air portable device. The gas filling device 60 includes a compressor 61, a venturi tube 62, a reservoir 63, a pressure regulating valve 64, and a pneumatic chuck 65.

The compressor 61 compresses the gas and discharges the compressed gas. The gas may be, for example, air. The venturi tube 62 includes an inlet 66, an outlet 67, and a throttle 68. The inflow port 66 is connected to the compressor 61. The outlet 67 is connected to the pressure regulating valve 64. The orifice 68 is provided between the inflow port 66 and the outflow port 67, and is a portion where the cross-sectional area of the pipe line is narrowed. The throttle portion 68 includes: a 1 st portion 68a in which the cross-sectional area of the pipe line gradually decreases from the inflow port 66 toward the outflow port 67; and a 2 nd portion 68b, the cross-sectional area of the piping gradually becoming larger from the 1 st portion 68a toward the outflow port 67. The throttle unit 68 is connected to the storage unit 63. The storage portion 63 stores the fuel liquid F.

The pressure regulating valve 64 is a regulator that discharges the supplied fluid with a predetermined pressure. The pressure regulating valve 64 is connected to a pneumatic chuck 65. Pneumatic collet 65 is mounted to tire valve 19.

When the gas filling device 60 is used to fill the tire 13 with gas, the pneumatic chuck 65 is attached to the tire valve 19. When the compressor 61 is driven in this state, the gas discharged from the compressor 61 flows into the venturi tube 62.

The flow rate of the gas flowing from the compressor 61 into the venturi tube 62 is increased by the throttle portion 68. The fuel liquid F in the reservoir 63 is drawn into the venturi tube 62 by the negative pressure generated by the pressure decrease accompanying the increase in the flow velocity. The fuel liquid F drawn to the venturi 62 is mixed with the gas. From the outflow port 67 of the venturi tube 62, a fluid in which the gas supplied from the compressor 61 is mixed with the fuel liquid F flows out.

The fluid supplied from the gas filling device 60 is supplied to the tire valve 19 via the pneumatic chuck 65, and is supplied from the tire valve 19 into the tire 13. This enables filling of the fuel liquid F into the tire 13 together with filling of the gas into the tire 13.

As shown in fig. 1, the receiver 40 includes a receiver control unit 41, a receiver receiving circuit 42, and a receiving antenna 43. An alarm 44 is connected to the receiver control unit 41. The receiver control unit 41 is constituted by a microcomputer or the like including a receiver CPU41a and a receiver storage unit 41b (such as a ROM or a RAM). The receiver reception circuit 42 demodulates signals received from the transmitters 21 via the reception antenna 43, and outputs the data to the receiver control unit 41.

The receiver control unit 41 grasps the state of the tire 13 based on the data transmitted from the transmitter 21. When an abnormality occurs in the tire 13, the receiver control unit 41 notifies an alarm (notification device) 44. As the alarm 44, for example, a device that notifies an abnormality by lighting or blinking of light or a device that notifies an abnormality by sound is used. The receiver control unit 41 may display the state of the tire 13 on a display that can be visually confirmed by the passenger of the vehicle 10.

The receiver control unit 41 recognizes that the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29 is lower than the threshold value based on the flag included in the data. When the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29 is lower than the threshold value, the receiver control unit 41 notifies the passenger of the vehicle 10 of the fact. For example, the alarm 44 may be used to give a notification, or the notification may be displayed on a display that can be visually confirmed by the occupant of the vehicle 10. In the case of the alarm device 44, the same alarm device 44 as that used when an abnormality occurs in the tire 13 may be used, or a different alarm device may be used. That is, the alarm device 44 for notifying the passenger of the vehicle 10 of the abnormality of the tire 13 may be the same as or different from the alarm device for notifying the shortage of the power generation amount of the power generation element 29.

Further, the receiver control unit 41 transmits data on the road surface state among the received data to the electronic control unit 51. The electronic control unit 51 is mounted on the vehicle 10, and performs control of the vehicle-mounted components. The electronic control unit 51 performs control related to automatic travel of the vehicle 10, for example. In the automatic travel of the vehicle 10, it is required to acquire the travel state of the vehicle 10 and the road surface state of the road surface on which the vehicle 10 is traveling. The electronic control unit 51 performs control related to automatic travel using the road surface state detected by the transmitter 21.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described.

When the tire 13 rotates along with the running of the vehicle 10, the fuel liquid F flows by a centrifugal force. The fuel liquid F flows on the back surface 16 on the side opposite to the ground contact surface 15 in the tread portion 14 of the tire 13. The inflow of the fuel liquid F into the housing area S2 and the outflow of the fuel liquid F from the housing area S2 are performed via the opening 33. The fuel liquid F passes through the fuel passage R.

The fuel liquid F flowing into the fitting portion 31 is absorbed by the holding portion 34, and is thus temporarily held there. Since the power generation element 29 is in contact with the holding portion 34, the fuel liquid F is supplied from the holding portion 34 to the power generation element 29. It can be said that the power generation element 29 is disposed in contact with the fuel liquid F passing through the fuel passage R.

The power generation element 29 generates power by a chemical reaction with an organic substance contained in the fuel liquid F. The transmitter 21 operates by the power generated by the power generation element 29. Gas is generated by a chemical reaction with the fuel liquid F. The gas is carbon dioxide.

By using the power generating element 29 as a power source, the life of the transmitter 21 can be easily extended as compared with a case where only a battery is used as a power source. When only a battery is used as a power source, since the transmitter 21 is disposed in the tire 13 and the battery is molded with resin, it is difficult to replace the battery. Therefore, the life of the transmitter 21 depends on the life of the battery, i.e., the capacity of the battery.

When the power generation element 29 is used as a power source, power can be generated by the fuel liquid F. The fuel liquid F can be stored by the internal space S1 which is a space inside the tire 13. The fuel liquid F can be replenished by a fuel liquid filling method using the gas filling device 60. Therefore, the life of the transmitter 21 can be extended as compared with the case where only a battery is used as a power source.

In particular, as described in the present embodiment, when the transmitter 21 is used to detect the road surface state, power consumption increases, and the life of the transmitter 21 tends to be shortened. Specifically, when the transmitter 21 does not detect the road surface state, that is, when only the pressure abnormality and the temperature abnormality of the tire 13 are detected, the detection result of the acceleration sensor 24 may be obtained mainly intermittently. On the other hand, when the transmitter 21 detects the road surface state, it is necessary to acquire the detection result of the acceleration sensor 24 continuously or at intervals shorter than when the road surface is not detected. The number of times the detection result is obtained from the acceleration sensor 24 increases, and power consumption increases, and the life of the transmitter 21 tends to be shortened when only the battery is used as a power source. By using the power generating element 29, the life of the transmitter 21 can be extended even when the transmitter 21 is used to detect the road surface condition.

Effects of the embodiments will be described.

(1) The transmitter 21 operates by the power generated by the power generation element 29. Since the power generation element 29 generates power by a chemical reaction with an organic substance contained in the fuel liquid F, power generation can be performed without providing a movable member as in the case of using a magnetostrictive element. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a movable member for generating power, and the power generation element 29 can suppress a reduction in durability of the transmitter 21.

(2) The transmitter 21 is provided on the back surface 16 of the tread portion 14 of the tire 13. When the tire 13 rotates, the fuel liquid F flows on the back surface 16 of the tread portion 14, and therefore the fuel liquid F is easily supplied to the power generation element 29.

(3) The power generation element 29 is arranged in contact with the fuel liquid F passing through the fuel passage R. Therefore, the fuel liquid F is easily supplied to the power generation element 29.

(4) The power generating element 29 is disposed along the holding portion 34. The fuel liquid F is held by the holding portion 34, and thus the fuel liquid F is easily supplied to the power generation element 29.

(5) Since the data transmitted by the transmitter 21 includes information on the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29, the receiver 40 can be made to recognize the information on the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29. In the present embodiment, the receiver 40 can recognize that the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29 is lower than the threshold value.

(6) Carbon dioxide is generated by the power generation of the power generation element 29. Since the gas in the tire 13 can be replenished by the power generation of the power generation element 29, the pressure of the tire 13 is hardly lowered.

The embodiment can be modified as described below. The embodiments and the following modifications can be combined with each other within a range not technically contradictory to the present invention.

The information on the amount of power generation of the power generation element 29 included in the data may be information indicating the amount of power generation [ Wh ] itself.

The transmitter control unit 25 may not include information on the amount of power generated by the power generation element 29 in the data. At this time, the receiver control unit 41 may urge filling of the fuel liquid F by another method such as urging replenishment of the fuel liquid F every time a predetermined time elapses.

The holding portion 34 may not be provided.

The holding portion 34 may not be interposed between the power generation element 29 and the tread portion 14, and may be provided so as to cover the periphery of the power generation element 29. Even at this time, the fuel liquid F is easily supplied to the power generation element 29.

The opening 33 may have any shape as long as it can flow into the fuel liquid F inside the mounting portion 31 and flow out of the fuel liquid F outside the mounting portion 31.

The mounting portion 31 may not include the opening 33. At this time, the power generation element 29 is disposed so as to be exposed to the internal space S1, for example, by being disposed so as to face the insertion hole 32.

Transmitter 21 may be disposed in tire 13, or may be disposed outside rear surface 16 of tread portion 14. For example, the transmitter 21 may be provided integrally with the tire valve 19. In this case, the fuel passage may be provided in the transmitter 21. The fuel passage is constituted by, for example, a receiving portion that receives the fuel liquid F and a guide passage that guides the fuel liquid F received by the receiving portion to the power generation element 29. The fuel liquid F guided to the power generation element 29 by the guide portion returns to the internal space S1 and circulates. The receiving portion is provided so as to be able to receive the fuel liquid F that has dropped from above in the vertical direction of the transmitter 21, for example, when the transmitter 21 is positioned vertically below the tire 13. In a running situation in which the vehicle 10 repeatedly runs and stops, the transmitter 21 may be located vertically below the tires 13 when the vehicle 10 stops. Therefore, the fuel liquid F is easily supplied to the power generation element 29.

The transmitter 21 may not include the power storage device 28 and may be directly operated by the electric power generated by the power generation element 29.

The power generation element 29 may generate power by using a fuel other than glucose. For example, the power generation element 29 may generate power using a reducing sugar other than glucose, a substance having an aldehyde group, or ethanol as a fuel. Examples of the reducing sugar include aldose other than glucose, ketose, and disaccharide. Examples of the aldehyde group-containing substance include acrolein, acetaldehyde-vinyl acetal, acetaldehyde-oxime, acetaldehyde-dimethyl acetal, terephthalonic acid, methylglyoxal, phenylacetaldehyde, and phthalaldehyde. Examples of the alcohols include ethanol, piperitol, benzoylmethanol, and benzyl alcohol.

The gas filling device 60 may be provided with a gas supply source different from the compressor 61. For example, a pump may be provided instead of the compressor 61, or a pressure vessel that stores compressed gas may be provided.

The fuel liquid filling method is not limited to the embodiment, and may be performed by any method. For example, as shown in fig. 9, a fuel liquid may be used as the lubricant L used when the tire 13 is mounted on the rim 12.

When the rim 12 is fitted to the tire 13, the bead 17 of the tire 13 is coated with the lubricant L for the purpose of damaging the bead 17 of the tire 13 and smoothly fitting the bead 17 of the tire 13 to the rim 18 of the rim 12. The lubricant L is a liquid lubricant. The lubricant L can be used as a fuel liquid by dissolving the fuel or mixing the fuel liquid F of the embodiment with the lubricant L. Then, the tire 13 is mounted on the rim 12 using the lubricant L.

When the tire 13 is fitted to the rim 12, a part of the lubricant L is accumulated in the tire 13. Therefore, the fuel liquid is used as the lubricant L, so that the fuel liquid can be filled in the tire 13.

The number of detection axes of the acceleration sensor 24 may be appropriately changed. For example, if the acceleration sensor 24 is used to detect the running of the vehicle 10, only the centrifugal acceleration may be detected by using the acceleration sensor 24.

The transmitter 21 may not detect the road surface state.

The transmitter control unit 25 may transmit data when the pressure of the tire 13 detected by the pressure sensor 22 rises by a predetermined value or more per unit time. The predetermined value is set to a value larger than a pressure increase value of the tire 13 caused by a temperature increase due to running of the vehicle 10, for example. Further, the predetermined value is set to a value smaller than a pressure increase value of the tire 13 when the tire 13 is filled with gas and a pressure increase value of the tire 13 when the tire 13 is mounted on the rim 12. Thereby, data is transmitted from the transmitter 21 to the receiver 40 at the time of filling the tire 13 with gas and at the time of fitting the tire 13 to the rim 12. Filling the fuel liquid F in the tire 13 is at the time of filling the tire 13 with gas and at the time of fitting the tire 13 to the rim 12. Therefore, when the fuel liquid F is filled, data is transmitted from the transmitter 21 to the receiver 40. The data includes a flag, which is data representing information on the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29. When the fuel liquid F is normally filled, the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29 becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value. On the other hand, when the fuel liquid F is not normally filled, there is a problem that the amount of power generation by the power generation element 29 is lower than the threshold value. When the amount of power generated by the power generating element 29 is lower than the threshold value, the receiver 40 gives a notification by an alarm 44 or the like. Therefore, when the fuel liquid F is filled, the data is transmitted from the transmitter 21 to the receiver 40, so that the occupant of the vehicle 10 can confirm whether the fuel liquid F is filled normally.

Transmitter 21 may include any one of pressure sensor 22 and temperature sensor 23 as sensors for detecting the state of tires 13, and acceleration sensor 24 as a sensor for detecting the state of the road surface and the running of vehicle 10. The transmitter 21 may include sensors other than the pressure sensor 22, the temperature sensor 23, and the acceleration sensor 24.

The vehicle 10 may be a two-wheeled vehicle or a vehicle 10 having five or more wheels 11.

The receiver may be a portable terminal held by a passenger of the vehicle 10.

Description of the reference numerals

F … fuel liquid, R … fuel passage, 12 … rim, 13 … tire, 14 … tread portion, 15 … ground contact surface, 16 … back surface, 17 … bead, 21 … transmitter, 22 … pressure sensor (sensor), 23 … temperature sensor (sensor), 24 … acceleration sensor (sensor), 25 … transmitter control portion (acquisition portion and generation portion), 26 … transmission circuit (transmission portion), 29 … power generation element (organic power generation element), 34 … holding portion, 40 … receiver.