Systems and methods for monitoring tire pressure
First Claim
1. A tire pressure monitoring and alert system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a first tire pressure sensor for measuring pressure in a first tire of the vehicle;
a processor in data communication with the first tire pressure sensor, the processor being configured to determine a Current Pressure Value for the first tire, the Current Pressure Value being associated with the current pressure of the first tire; and
a memory in data communication with the processor, the memory being configured to store information pertaining to a Dynamic Pressure Trigger Value for the first tire, wherein the memory is configured to store at least one Dynamic Reference Pressure,wherein the Dynamic Pressure Trigger Value is determined based on a value of the Dynamic Reference Pressure, the Dynamic Reference Pressure being associated with a Previous Pressure Value of the first tire, the Previous Pressure Value having previously been a Current Pressure Value,wherein the system is configured to change the Dynamic Reference Pressure upon the occurrence of a change event, andwherein the change event occurs when a highest Previous Pressure Value associated with a pre-determined amount of time is different from the Dynamic Reference Pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire pressure monitor system allows for customized configurations and a variety of intelligent alerts to increase usability and reliability over existing tire pressure monitor systems. A central receiver determines the alerts, rather than individual receivers, so that the tires can be monitored as a system rather than as individual tires. For instance, a Cross-Axle Alert is triggered when the pressure in a tire on one side of an axle is significantly greater than the pressure in a tire on an opposite side of the axle. Additional features include the use of Dynamic Reference Pressures, as opposed to static reference pressures, so that the alert parameters can be adjusted according to the current driving conditions. A robust user interface provides a user with a variety of views and screens and enables an administrator to adjust alert parameters while preventing a driver from adjusting the same parameters.
32 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A tire pressure monitoring and alert system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a first tire pressure sensor for measuring pressure in a first tire of the vehicle; a processor in data communication with the first tire pressure sensor, the processor being configured to determine a Current Pressure Value for the first tire, the Current Pressure Value being associated with the current pressure of the first tire; and a memory in data communication with the processor, the memory being configured to store information pertaining to a Dynamic Pressure Trigger Value for the first tire, wherein the memory is configured to store at least one Dynamic Reference Pressure, wherein the Dynamic Pressure Trigger Value is determined based on a value of the Dynamic Reference Pressure, the Dynamic Reference Pressure being associated with a Previous Pressure Value of the first tire, the Previous Pressure Value having previously been a Current Pressure Value, wherein the system is configured to change the Dynamic Reference Pressure upon the occurrence of a change event, and wherein the change event occurs when a highest Previous Pressure Value associated with a pre-determined amount of time is different from the Dynamic Reference Pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of monitoring tire pressure, the method comprising:
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associating a first tire pressure sensor with a first tire of a vehicle, the first tire pressure sensor being configured to measure pressure in the first tire of the vehicle; determining a Current Pressure Value for the first tire, the Current Pressure Value being associated with a current pressure of the first tire; storing information pertaining to a Dynamic Pressure Trigger Value for the first tire; storing at least one Dynamic Reference Pressure; and changing a value of the Dynamic Reference Pressure upon the occurrence of a change event, wherein the Dynamic Pressure Trigger Value is determined based on the value of the Dynamic Reference Pressure, the Dynamic Reference Pressure being associated with a Previous Pressure Value of the first tire, the Previous Pressure Value having previously been a Current Pressure Value, and wherein the change event occurs when a highest Previous Pressure Value associated with a pre-determined amount of time is different from the Dynamic Reference Pressure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for alerting a driver of a vehicle of a potential issue associated with a first tire of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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associating a first tire pressure sensor with the first tire, the first tire pressure sensor being configured to measure pressure in the first tire; determining a Current Pressure Value for the first tire, the Current Pressure Value being associated with a current pressure of the first tire while the vehicle is being driven by the driver; determining whether to generate an Alert, the determination comprising comparing the Current Pressure Value to a Dynamic Pressure Trigger Value and a Static Allowable Range; preventing the driver from altering at least one of the Dynamic Trigger Value, the Static Allowable Range, and the Current Pressure Value; storing a Dynamic Reference Pressure, the Dynamic Pressure Trigger Value being determined based on a value of the Dynamic Reference Pressure, the Dynamic Reference Pressure being equal to a Previous Pressure Value of the first tire, the Previous Pressure Value having previously been a Current Pressure Value; and changing the value of the Dynamic Reference Pressure upon the occurrence of a change event, wherein the change event occurs when a highest Previous Pressure Value associated with a pre-determined amount of time is different from the Dynamic Reference Pressure, and wherein changing the value of the Dynamic Reference Pressure comprises replacing the Dynamic Reference Pressure with the highest Previous Pressure Value associated with the pre-determined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification