WHEEL INCORPORATING CONDITION MONITORING SYSTEM

摘要

A wheel, particularly suitable for a vehicle, includes at least a portion formed from non-metallic material in which is incorporated at least one sensor inidicative of a condition sensed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a wheel (1) is moulded from a fibre reinforced plastics material and incorporates passive sensors (2) capable of indicating conditions of the wheel or the tyre associated with it (e.g. tyre pressure or torque transmitted). The sensor output is processed by an ASIC device (6) to provide an output signal to a communications device (10) also mounted on the wheel. The ASIC (6) and communications device (10) are powered from a virtual battery (9) which is charged by suitable means, e.g. using electrical pulses generated by strain within the wheel itself. An id tag (8) may be provided to identify the wheel in question.