SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AN INTERNAL PRESSURE OF A COMPRESSIBLE OBJECT

Description

The present invention relates to a concept for detecting an internal pressure of a compressible object, as it may for example be employed for detecting an internal pressure of a game device, in particular a ball.

Currently, an internal pressure present in a ball is not measured by the ball itself or by a sensor therein. In order to determine the internal pressure of a ball, for example, a calibrated pressure-measuring device is required, which can be introduced into the ball through a valve. Thereupon, the internal pressure is digitally displayed by the pressure-measuring device, for example. In a competition, certain pressures must be met in game balls. In a football, or soccer ball, a pressure window for the internal pressure for example is 0.6 to 1.1 atmospheres (600 - 1,100 g/cm ² ) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sqin to 15.6 lbs/sqin) .

Pressure monitoring also is advantageous in other compressible objects, such as tires, especially car tires. Too low an air pressure in a car tire entails increased fulling action and premature tire wear. At high speeds, this may in turn lead to the fact that tires no longer resist a strain and burst. In this respect, there already exist a plurality of tire pressure control systems, which mostly are, however, formed in relatively expensive manner. Information is mostly transmitted by radio from a pressure sensor located in a wheel to a control device inside the vehicle.

For simple and inexpensive internal pressure monitoring of a compressible medium, a simple and inexpensive-to-install system therefore would be desirable.

Hence, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved approach for detecting and reading out the internal pressure of a compressible object.

This object is achieved by an apparatus having the features of claim 1, a compressible object having the features of claim 16, a valve according to claim 18, a method according to claim 19, and a computer program according to claim 20.

It is the finding of the present invention that it is possible to realize a pressure control system in which it is signaled if the internal pressure of the compressible object is within a calibration pressure window, in a manner perceptible for a user on the compressible object itself.

Here, the signaling may for example be through an acoustical, optical or sensory signal.

According to embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an internal pressure to this end includes a pressure sensor arranged within the compressible object and calibrated to the calibration pressure window and a means for signaling if the internal pressure is within the calibration pressure window, wherein the means for signaling is formed so that an acoustical, optical or sensory signal perceptible for a user is generated.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a valve of transparent material. A light source, preferably a light- emitting diode (LED) , which for example is coupled to the pressure sensor via a controller, may be attached at this valve. If the internal pressure is within a predetermined calibration pressure window, a first light signal is generated by means of the LED. If the pressure is too low,

the LED gives a second light signal, a third light signal is generated at too high an internal pressure. Through the transparent valve, the respective light signal is optically and/or visually perceptible by a user outside the compressible object.

Apart from light-emitting diodes, other preferred light sources are a laser diode, a halogen lamp, a light emitting tube or any other electrically driven light emitting device.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the internal pressure state may also be communicated by an acoustical signal.

According to a preferred embodiment, both the LED and the pressure sensor are attached at the transparent valve. The weight of the pressure sensor, the LED, the control circuit and an energy supply does not have any effect on the typical properties of the compressible object, in particular the typical flight or rotation properties.

The inventive concept may for example be employed in game balls, such as footballs, or soccer balls. If the compressible object is a ball, according to embodiments, the pressure sensor may also be mounted by a suspension substantially centrally in the ball's interior. A further possibility results by an internal pocket attached on a ball bubble and into which the pressure sensor may be incorporated.

Furthermore, the inventive concept may for example also be employed for internal pressure control of care tires. Here, it is advantageous if the pressure sensor, as already described previously, is attached at a transparent valve.

It is the advantage of the present invention that the internal pressure of a compressible object may be checked

without having to use an external aid, such as an external pressure-measuring device.

A further advantage is simple handling capability of the pressure control system by an optical and/or acoustical indication as to whether the internal pressure of the compressible object is within or outside a predefined pressure window.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in greater detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a flow chart for the schematic illustration of a method for detecting an internal pressure of a compressible object, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for detecting an internal pressure of a compressible object, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a part of a compressible object with a valve and an apparatus for detecting the internal pressure, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a ball with a pocket with pressure sensor incorporated in a ball bubble, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of a ball with a pressure sensor suspended substantially centrally, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With respect to the following description, it is to be noted that in the different embodiments the same or similarly acting functional elements have the same reference numerals, and hence the descriptions of these functional elements in the various embodiments illustrated in the following are mutually interchangeable.

Fig. 1 shows a flow chart for the schematic illustration of a method for detecting an internal pressure of a compressible object, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In a first step Sl, a pressure sensor within the compressible object measures an internal pressure present in the compressible object. In a second step S2, it is determined if the measured internal pressure is within a predetermined calibration pressure window. Thereupon, in a third step S3, it is signaled to a user if the internal pressure is inside or outside the calibration pressure window. This signaling is performed by electrically activating the light source so that the light source emits a certain kind of light.

The previously described steps Sl - S3 of an inventive method will subsequently be explained in greater detail on the basis of the description of an apparatus for detecting an internal pressure, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus 200 for detecting an internal pressure of a compressible object according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus 200 includes a pressure sensor 210, a means 220 for signaling if the internal pressure is within a calibration pressure window, and a controller 230 controlling the pressure sensor 210 and the means for signaling 220.

The pressure sensor 210 is arranged within the compressible object, such as a ball or a tire, and is calibrated to a calibration pressure window. Here, the calibration can be performed to various ball types or tire pressures, for example, during the production. According to embodiments, the pressure sensor 210 preferably is an electronic pressure sensor, such as a pressure sensor based on the piezoresistive and/or piezoelectric effect, a sensor based on the Hall effect or a capacitive pressure sensor.

For signaling if the internal pressure is within the predefined calibration pressure window, the apparatus 200 includes the means 220 for signaling. Here, the means 220 for signaling is formed to indicate that the internal pressure of the compressible object lies within the calibration pressure window, and to indicate that the internal pressure lies outside the calibration pressure window. The means 220 for signaling is connected to the pressure sensor 210 via the controller 230.

According to embodiments, the means 220 may be formed to provide an acoustic signal corresponding to the determined internal pressure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means 220 includes a light-emitting diode (LED) , which can be attached at a valve of transparent material, such that light emission of the light-emitting diode can be perceived outside the compressible object through the transparent valve. Here, the light-emitting diode is formed to indicate that the internal pressure of the compressible object lies within the calibration pressure window, and to indicate that the internal pressure lies outside the calibration pressure window. To this end, the light-emitting diode generates a first indication if the internal pressure lies within the calibration pressure window, a second indication if the internal pressure lies below the calibration pressure

window, and a third indication if the internal pressure lies above the calibration pressure window. The light- emitting diode is attached at an internal part of the valve, for example with glue, according to embodiments.

The light-emitting diode 220 is connected to the pressure sensor 210 via the controller 230. If the pressure lies within the right range, the LED 220 is switched to green, for example. If the pressure is too low, the LED 220 is switched to yellow, for example, and the LED switches to red at too much pressure in the compressible object. Likewise, of course also other indications are possible, such as blinking sequences or the like.

According to embodiments, the controller 230 controls both the pressure sensor 210 and the means 220 for signaling. The controller 230 controls the pressure sensor 210 such that the pressure sensor 210 constantly measures the internal pressure of the compressible object in predefined intervals and reproduces the internal pressure at an activated poll. A comparison of the measured internal pressure to the limits of the calibration pressure window can be done by means of the controller 230, according to embodiments. Implementation of this logic already on a pressure sensor IC is also possible. Depending on in which range the measured internal pressure is, the controller 230 controls the means 220 for signaling so that a first signal is generated if the internal pressure lies within the calibration pressure window, a second signal is generated if the pressure lies below the calibration pressure window, and a third signal is generated if the internal pressure lies above the calibration pressure window. Here, this may be both an acoustical and an optical signal.

With presence of a predetermined condition, the controller 230 may be activated. This condition is dependent on the field of application of the present invention. For example, if it is a game ball, intelligent pressure polling is

required. In play, balls are only subject to short-term pressure change, for example at a shot or impact. In order to start polling the internal pressure, according to embodiments, continuous pressure change for a predetermined time duration of at least one second and preferably of at least three seconds is required. If a user presses the ball for the predetermined time duration, the continuous pressure change is recognized by the pressure sensor 210 and/or the controller 230, and the LED indication and/or the acoustical signal is started. With an optical indication through the LED and a transparent valve, the colored light falls through the transparent valve, and the user thus may read if the ball has the correct internal pressure. Alternative ways of indicating whether the pressure is within the pressure window is to output a continuous light when the pressure is in the window and to output a blinking light having a certain blinking frequency, when the pressure is not within the predetermined calibration pressure window. This signaling can be preformed vice versa as well. Generally, the appearance of the emitted light is so that a user is in the position to distinguish at least two different states of the light for at least indicating, whether the pressure is within the calibration pressure window or not.

If the compressible object is a car tire, for example, it is not practicable to activate the LED indication by pressing the car tire. For this case of application of the present invention, the apparatus 200, according to embodiments, further comprises an activation means to activate the circuit with the pressure sensor 210, the means 220 for signaling and the controller 230. Preferably, the activation means comprises a radio receiver to this end. With a suitable remote control, a user thus may activate the tire pressure control system and check the tire pressure via acoustical or optical signals, if required.

In vehicles, an advantageous tire pressure often is dependent on a load. According to embodiments, the activation means hence is formed to activate a predetermined or predeterminable calibration pressure window. At high load, for example, if a tire pressure of 2.4 bars instead of 2.0 bars is advantageous, a corresponding pressure window may be communicated to the controller 230 via the remote control according to embodiments. A frequency for a radio transmission between the remote control and the tire pressure control system and/or the apparatus 200 may for example lie in a range of 433 MHz, which is a typical range for remotely controllable door openers, for example.

So as to energize the internal pressure control system and/or the apparatus 200, the apparatus 200 further comprises an energization means.

The energization may be realized in known fashion in two ways. On the one hand, an accumulator may be used, which however requires a charging device. On the other hand, a primary battery included by the apparatus 200 may be used.

In the accumulator version, a charging coil, with the aid of which the accumulator can be charged inductively, is attached additionally. In the version with battery, the circuit of the apparatus 200 is for example supplied via lithium batteries. The capacity is designed so that the function of the electronics is ensured over e.g. one year.

Fig. 3 schematically shows an excerpt of an enclosure 300 of a compressible object, wherein a transparent valve 310 is embedded in the enclosure 300. An apparatus 200 with a pressure sensor 210, a controller 230 and an LED 220 is attached at the valve 310.

The weight of the apparatus 200, that is the weight of the pressure sensor 210, the LED 220, the controller 230 and an

energy supply not shown, does not have any effect on the typical properties of the compressible object. That is, with rotation of the compressible object, the apparatus 200 does not produce any additional unbalance. For the case that noticeable unbalance is indeed produced by the apparatus 200 in a rotation, a counterweight is attached on and/or in the compressible object to balance the unbalance, according to embodiments of the present invention.

The enclosure 300 shown in Fig. 3 may be an enclosure of a game ball, a tire or another compressible object. Accordingly, the arrangement indicated in Fig. 3 is applicable both for balls and motor vehicle tires.

Fig. 4 shows a game ball 400 with a ball skin 410 and a ball bubble 420. Furthermore, the ball 400 comprises a valve 310 of transparent plastic, to which a light-emitting diode 220 is fixed by means of glue, for example. The LED 220 is connected to a controller 230 and a pressure gauge 210 via a cable 430. Here, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the controller 230 and the pressure gauge 210 are incorporated into an internal pocket 440 fixed to the ball bubble 420. Here, the weight of the respective components also is dimensioned such that a flight and/or rotation behavior of the ball 400 does not change substantially.

A further embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 shows a ball 500 with a valve 310 fabricated from transparent material, to which a light-emitting diode 220 is fixed. The LED 220 is connected, via a cable 430, to a circuit attached substantially centrally in the ball 500, which circuit includes the pressure sensor 210, the controller 230 and an energy supply (not shown) .

Publication document WO 2005/044396 describes a construction of an air-filled ball with elastic case, at

the center of which a transmission means is positioned so that it remains functional in the ball center even at hard impact movements, such as at the impact on the boundary line or the goal line, so that a position determination of the ball is possible with required accuracy. To this end, a ball is proposed, which is divided into two or more compartments and in which the components of an electronic transmission means with current supply are positioned between the plurality of compartments.

The concept described in WO 2005/044396 may for example also be applied for the arrangement of the pressure sensor 210, the controller 230 and the energy supply of the present inventive concept.

A further possibility for fixing in the ball center are elastic means such as springs.

In summary, the present invention provides a concept to indicate the internal pressure of a compressible object optically, acoustically or in another way directly on the compressible medium, without having to use an aid, such as an external pressure-measuring device. For an optical indication, a valve of transparent plastics is fabricated. A RGB LED is attached on the inside part of the valve, for example. Furthermore, a pressure sensor calibrated in the production is attached within the compressible object.

Depending on the application, the pressure sensor may for example be directly attached at the valve or it may be incorporated centrally in the ball's interior by a suspension or by an internal pocket fixed at a ball bubble. The pressure sensor constantly measures the internal pressure of the compressible object in predefined intervals and reproduces the pressure upon polling. The energization, for example, is taken over by an accumulator or a commercially available battery. The weight of the pressure sensor, the energy supply, the circuit and the LED does not

have an effect on the typical properties of the compressible medium. The diode is connected to the pressure sensor via a controller. If the pressure is in the right range, the LED is switched to green. To yellow if the pressure is too low, to red if there is too much air in the compressible medium.

It is to be pointed out that the present invention is not limited to the respective components of the apparatus or the explained procedures, since these components and methods may vary. The terms used here are only intended to describe special embodiments and are not used in limiting manner. If the singular or undefined articles are used in the description and in the claims, these also refer to the plurality of these elements, unless clearly dictated otherwise by the overall context. The same applies in opposite direction.

In particular, it is pointed out that depending on the conditions the inventive scheme may also be implemented in software. The implementation may be on a digital storage medium, in particular a floppy disc or a CD with electronically readable control signals capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system and/or microcontroller so that the corresponding method is executed. In general, the invention thus also consists in a computer program product with a program code stored on a machine-readable carrier for performing the inventive method, when the computer program product is executed on a computer and/or microcontroller. In other words, the invention thus may be realized as a computer program with a program code for performing the method, when the computer program is executed on a computer and/or microcontroller.