Abstract
Sensor networks are researched in various automotive applications, in particular in tirepressure monitoring systems (TPMS) installed as autonomous sensor nodes. A tire-mounted TPMS should ideally weight less than 5 grams and have a volume less than 0.5 cm3. Typically, the miniature system must include a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), power supply, a radio and an antenna. Ultra low power consumption is required for all the components because a 10-year lifetime is mostly targeted in the automotive industry. Presently, the battery is one of the largest components in most wireless sensor nodes and the TPMS is not an exception. A combination of a battery and an energy harvester are foreseen to be the only possible solution for a future TPMS unless a large shift in battery technology takes place.
