Method and apparatus for detecting derease in tire air-pressure and program for judging decompression of tire

• US 20030080863A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Yanase, Minao, Oshiro, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 6,831,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/443
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/061 by monitoring wheel speed measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles G01C22/00

Abstract

A method for detecting decrease in tire air-pressure in which decrease in internal pressure of a tire is detected on the basis of rotational information. The method includes the steps of: detecting rotational information of the tires; storing the rotational information; comparing rotational information of all left-sided wheels and rotational information of all right-sided wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is performing straight-ahead running; and judging decompression on the basis of a relationship between a value obtained through comparison of the left-sided and right-sided rotational information and a specified threshold. It is possible to detect decompression of a single wheel tire while it is also possible to detect that two wheel tires on the left or right are simultaneously decreased.

Claims

1. A method for detecting decrease in tire air-pressure in which decrease in internal pressure of a tire is detected on the basis of rotational information obtained from tires attached to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting rotational information of the respective tires;

storing the rotational information of the respective tires;

comparing rotational information of all left-sided wheels and rotational information of all right-sided wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is performing straight-ahead running; and

judging decompression on the basis of a relationship between a value obtained through comparison of the left-sided and right-sided rotational information and a specified threshold.

2. An apparatus for detecting decrease in tire air-pressure in which decrease in internal pressure of a tire is detected on the basis of rotational information obtained from tires attached to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of the respective tires;

a rotational information storing means for storing the rotational information of the respective tires;

a comparing means for comparing rotational information of all left-sided wheels and rotational information of all right-sided wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is performing straight-ahead running; and

a decompression judging means for judging decompression on the basis of a relationship between a value obtained through comparison of the left-sided and right-sided rotational information and a specified threshold.

3. A program for judging decompression of a tire, in which for judging decrease in tire air-pressure of a tire, a computer is made to function as a rotational information storing means for storing the rotational information of the respective tires;

a comparing means for comparing rotational information of all left-sided wheels and rotational information of all right-sided wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is performing straight-ahead running; and

a decompression judging means for judging decompression on the basis of a relationship between a value obtained through comparison of the left-sided and right-sided rotational information and a specified threshold.

4. A method for detecting decrease in tire air-pressure in which decrease in internal pressure of a tire is detected on the basis of rotational information obtained from tires attached to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting rotational information of the respective tires;

storing the rotational information of the respective tires;

comparing rotational information of both front wheels and rotational information of both rear wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is performing straight-ahead running and neither driving nor braking force is acting on the tires; and

judging simultaneous decompression of both front wheels or simultaneous decompression of both rear wheels on the basis of a relationship between a value obtained through comparison of the rotational information of both front wheels and the rotational information of both rear wheels and a specified threshold.

5. An apparatus for detecting decrease in tire air-pressure in which decrease in internal pressure of a tire is detected on the basis of rotational information obtained from tires attached to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of the respective tires;

a rotational information storing means for storing the rotational information of the respective tires;

a comparing means for comparing rotational information of both front wheels and rotational information of both rear wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is performing straight-ahead running and neither driving nor braking force is acting on the tires; and

a decompression judging means for judging simultaneous decompression of both front wheels or simultaneous decompression of both rear wheels on the basis of a relationship between a value obtained through comparison of the rotational information of both front wheels and the rotational information of both rear wheels and a specified threshold.

6. A program for judging decompression of a tire, in which for judging decrease in tire air-pressure of a tire, a computer is made to function as a rotational information storing means for storing the rotational information of the respective tires;

a comparing means for comparing rotational information of both front wheels and rotational information of both rear wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is performing straight-ahead running and neither driving nor braking force is acting on the tires; and

a decompression judging means for judging simultaneous decompression of both front wheels or simultaneous decompression of both rear wheels on the basis of a relationship between a value obtained through comparison of the rotational information of both front wheels and the rotational information of both rear wheels and a specified threshold.