Apparatus for detecting tire air pressure for motor vehicle

• US 20020005065A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Hiroyuki, Harada, Tomoyuki, Yamagiwa, Toshio, Bunya, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 6,609,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/006 having two wheels only
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0494 Valve stem attachments positioned inside the tyre chamber

Abstract

A tire air pressure detecting apparatus has an tire air pressure detecting mechanism for detecting the air pressure of a tire of a motorcycle, and a second control mechanism for comparing an actual air pressure detected by the tire air pressure detecting mechanism with a stored air pressure threshold, and controlling an engine output when the actual air pressure becomes lower than said air pressure threshold. Since the air pressure detecting apparatus comprises a small number of constituent elements including the tire air pressure detecting mechanism and the second control mechanism for reducing an engine output under certain conditions, the tire air pressure detecting apparatus can easily be reduced in size and cost.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle, comprising:

tire air pressure detecting means for detecting an actual air pressure of a tire of the motor vehicle; and

control means for comparing the actual air pressure detected by the tire air pressure detecting means with a stored air pressure threshold, said control means including means for performing a predetermined operation when said actual air pressure becomes lower than the air pressure threshold.

2. The apparatus for detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said means for performing a predetermined operation includes means for controlling engine output.

3. The apparatus for detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said means for performing a predetermined operation includes means for operating a light-emitting member or a sound-generating member disposed on or around an instrumental panel of the motor vehicle to issue a warning to a driver of the motor vehicle.

4. The apparatus for detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said means for performing a predetermined operation includes means for operating a light-emitting member or a sound-generating member installed in a driver'"'"'s helmet to issue a warning to the drive of the motor vehicle.

5. The apparatus for detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

tire temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of tire; and

display means for displaying the tire air pressure and the tire temperature.

6. The apparatus for detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the speed of the motor vehicle; and

display means for displaying the tire air pressure and the vehicle speed.

7. The apparatus for detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

air suspension air pressure detecting means for detecting the air pressure of an air suspension of the motor vehicle; and

display means for displaying the tire air pressure and the air suspension air pressure.

8. The apparatus for detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said control means further comprises means for setting the frequency of the detection of said tire air pressure detecting means, depending on the speed of the vehicle detected by said vehicle speed detecting means.

15. The method of detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the air pressure of an air suspension of the motor vehicle; and

displaying the tire air pressure and the air suspension air pressure.

9. A method of detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting an actual air pressure of a tire of a motor vehicle;

comparing the actual air pressure detected by the tire air pressure detecting means with a stored air pressure threshold; and

performing a predetermined operation when said actual air pressure becomes lower than the air pressure threshold.

10. The method of detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said step of performing a predetermined operation includes the step of controlling engine output.

11. The method of detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said step of performing a predetermined operation includes the step of operating a light-emitting member or a sound-generating member disposed on or around an instrumental panel of the motor vehicle to issue a warning to a driver of the motor vehicle.

12. The method of detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said step of performing a predetermined operation includes the step of operating a light-emitting member or a sound-generating member installed in a driver'"'"'s helmet to issue a warning to the drive of the motor vehicle.

13. The method of detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the temperature of tire; and

displaying the tire air pressure and the tire temperature.

14. The method of detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the speed of the motor vehicle; and

displaying the tire air pressure and the vehicle speed.

16. The method of detecting tire air pressure in a motor vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising the step of setting the frequency of the detection of said tire air pressure detecting means, depending on the speed of the vehicle detected in said step of detecting the speed of the motor vehicle.