Remote tire pressure monitoring system

• US 20030006895A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drakes & Christ, LLC
• Original Assignee: Drakes & Christ, LLC
• Inventors: Christ, Thomas, Drake, Marshall
• Granted Patent: US 6,937,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/445
• 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 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations

Abstract

A system for monitoring tire pressure of a vehicle or fleet of vehicles includes a check point through which the vehicles pass. A first interrogation component is positioned proximal the check point and tire pressure monitoring devices associated with the tires of the vehicle are in communication with the first interrogation component. An identification tag associated with the vehicle stores data unique to the particular vehicle and is also in communication with the first interrogation component. Likewise, a data collection device communicates with the interrogation component as well. Finally, an alarm communicates with the interrogation component to alert an operator when the tire pressure falls outside a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A system for remotely monitoring tire pressure of an associated vehicle, the system comprising:

a check point having a first interrogation component;

tire pressure monitoring devices mounted to the vehicle and in operative communication with the first interrogation component as the vehicle passes the check point;

a data collection device in communication with the first interrogation component; and

an alarm associated with the first interrogation component for signaling when the tire pressure falls outside a predetermined range.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a tag mounted to the vehicle and in operative communication with the first interrogation component as the vehicle passes the check point.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first interrogation component comprises an RF transmitter mounted on a pylon.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second interrogation component positioned at an opposite side of the vehicle as the first interrogation component.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tire pressure monitoring device includes a pressure sensor and a signal processor responsive to the pressure sensor and operative to produce a tire pressure signal indicative of the tire pressure, and a transmitter responsive to the signal processor and operative to generate a radio signal indicative of the tire pressure.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein the pressure sensor and the signal processor are mounted internally of the vehicle tire.

7. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein the tire pressure monitoring device further comprises a battery, a storage device for storing vehicle identification and desired tire pressure, and a transmitter operative to generate a radio signal indicative of battery life.

8. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tire pressure monitoring device comprises a processor receiving data via an interrogation signal, to sample tire pressure, to transmit a unique device identification and to alert an indicator if the pressure tested is outside of a predetermined range.

9. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tire pressure monitoring device is in a sleep mode until externally activated by the first interrogation component.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tire pressure monitoring device comprises means for determining operative state of the device.

11. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tag is an RF tag.

12. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tag stores data concerning the vehicle'"'"'s unique identification.

13. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tag is battery powered.

14. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a vehicle dispatch system in communication with the data collection device.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

sending a wake up signal to the tire pressure monitoring devices; and

sending a wake up signal to the vehicle identification device.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing the tire pressure monitoring devices with predetermined tire pressure ranges;

comparing the tire pressure to a predetermined range of pressures; and

sending an alert signal if the tire pressure falls outside of the predetermined range.

15. A method for monitoring tire pressure on an associated vehicle comprising:

(a) approaching the vehicle towards a check point;

(b) providing transmitting devices proximal the check point;

(c) interrogating tire pressure monitoring devices mounted to the vehicle;

(d) interrogating a vehicle identification device mounted on the vehicle;

(e) checking the tire pressure of the tire with the tire pressure monitoring devices;

(f) selectively transmitting a device identification and alert code back to the transmitting device; and

(g) selectively transmitting the device identification and alert code to a remote collection station wherein the device identification and the alert code are transmitted in steps (f) and (g) when the tire pressure falls outside a predetermined range.