Configuration data storage for a tire pressure sensor

• US 10,384,496 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Scheibenzuber, Wolfgang, Gamboa Corro, Ismael Fernando, Kandler, Michael, Werner, Maximilian
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J
• Application Number:
  US15/896,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20190248193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0442 the transmitted signal comprises further information, e.g. instruction codes, sensor characteristics or identification data
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0471 System initialisation, e.g. upload or calibration of operating parameters

Abstract

A tire pressure sensor of a vehicle having a receiver configured to receive, from an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) mounted in the vehicle and having configuration data stored therein, an acknowledgement signal including a request for configuration, and the configuration data; and a controller configured to update the tire pressure sensor with the received configuration data.

Claims

1. A tire pressure sensor of a vehicle, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) mounted in the vehicle and having configuration data stored therein, an acknowledgement signal including a request for configuration, and the configuration data; and

a controller configured to power up and power down the receiver, and to update the tire pressure sensor with the received configuration data.

2. The tire pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is configured to power up the receiver for a periodic transmission of pressure data by a transmitter of the tire pressure sensor to the ECU, and

the ECU, in response to receiving the periodic sensor data, transmits to the receiver an acknowledgement signal including a request for configuration if the ECU has new configuration data stored therein.

3. The tire pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the tire pressure sensor is configured to communicate with the ECU via a bidirectional communication link.

4. The tire pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) receiver.

5. A tire pressure sensor of a vehicle, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter configured to transmit to an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) mounted in the vehicle, a tire pressure sensor identification and a ready for configuration signal; and

a controller configured to;

power up the receiver;

determine whether the receiver receives from the ECU, within a predetermined period of time, configuration data stored within the ECU; and

if the tire pressure sensor receives the configuration data, update the tire pressure sensor with the received configuration data.

6. The tire pressure sensor of claim 5, wherein after the receiver receives the configuration data, the controller is further configured to power down the receiver.

7. The tire pressure sensor of claim 5, wherein if the receiver does not receive the stored configuration data, the transmitter is configured to transmit to the ECU pressure data.

8. The tire pressure sensor of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to power up the receiver and transmit to the ECU the tire pressure sensor identification and the ready for configuration signal on a periodic basis.

9. A method for updating configuration data in a tire pressure sensor of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving, from the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) by a receiver of the tire pressure sensor, an acknowledgement signal including a request for configuration; and

transmitting, by a transmitter of the tire pressure sensor to the ECU, a ready for configuration signal,

receiving, by the receiver of the tire pressure sensor, from the ECU mounted in the vehicle and having configuration data stored therein, the configuration data; and

updating, by a controller of the tire pressure sensor, tire pressure sensor with the received configuration data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

powering up the receiver prior to the receiver receiving from the ECU the acknowledgement signal including the request for configuration; and

powering down the receiver after the receiver receives from the ECU the configuration data.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

powering up the receiver for a periodic transmission of pressure data by a transmitter of the tire pressure sensor to the ECU; and

in response to receiving the periodic sensor data, transmitting by the ECU to the receiver an acknowledgement signal including a request for configuration if the ECU has new configuration data stored therein.

12. A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), comprising:

an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) mounted in a vehicle and having configuration data stored therein; and

a tire pressure sensor, comprising;

a receiver configured to receive, from the ECU, and acknowledgement signal including a request for configuration, and the configuration data; and

a controller configured to power up and power down the receiver, and to update the tire pressure sensor with the received configuration data.

13. The TPMS of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of the tire pressure sensors.

14. The TPMS of claim 12, wherein the ECU is configured to receive the configuration data to be stored therein from an external configuration controller.

15. The TPMS of claim 12, wherein the ECU is configured to receive the configuration data to be stored therein from an external configuration controller via a wireless connection.

16. The TPMS of claim 12, wherein the ECU is configured to receive the configuration data to be stored therein from an external configuration controller via a cable connection.

17. The TPMS of claim 12, wherein the ECU is configured to receive the configuration data to be stored therein via the Internet.