Tire condition indicating system for wheeled vehicle

• US 20040021561A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchida, Yoshiaki, Sasaki, Kaoru
• Granted Patent: US 6,888,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/445
• 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

Abstract

A motor cycle incorporates a sensor detecting a condition of the tire, such as, for example, tire pressure. A transmitter transmits the tire condition and a receiver receives the tire condition. An indicator indicates the tire condition. A battery supplies electric power to an engine of the motorcycle, the receiver and the indicator. A control device controls the power supply to the engine, the receiver and the indicator from the battery. A main switch assembly and an activating switch, which activates the receiver and the indicator, are interposed between the battery and the control device. The control device allows power supply to the engine, the receiver and the indicator when the main switch assembly is turned on. The control device also allows power supply to the receiver and the indicator when the activating switch is turned on. In some arrangements, the activating switch is automatically turned on when another sensor detects a condition change of a frame assembly of the motorcycle.

Claims

1. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame assembly, at least one wheel coupled to the frame assembly, the wheel including a rim and a tire mounted on the rim, a prime mover coupled to the frame assembly and drivingly connected to the wheel, a sensor detecting a condition of the tire, a transmitter transmitting the condition of the tire sensed by the sensor, a receiver receiving the condition of the tire from the transmitter, an indicator indicating the condition of the tire received by the receiver, a power source supplying electric power at least to the prime mover, the receiver and the indicator, a control device controlling power supply to the prime mover, the receiver and the indicator from the power source, and first and second switches interposed between the power source and the control device, the control device allowing power to be supplied to the prime mover, the receiver and the indicator when the first switch is turned on, the control device allowing power to be supplied to the receiver and the indicator when the second switch is turned on.

2. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1 additionally comprising a second sensor detecting a change of a state of the frame assembly, the control device turning the second switch on when the second sensor detects the change of the state of the frame assembly.

3. The vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein the frame assembly comprises at least one component, and the change of the state of the frame assembly includes a change of a state of the component by an operator of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control device includes a timer calculating elapse of time, and the control device inhibits the power supply at least to the indicator if the first switch is not turned on during a preset period of time after the indicator begins indicating the condition of the tire.

5. The vehicle as set forth in claim 4, wherein the control device inhibits the power supply to the prime mover when the power supply to the indicator is inhibited.

6. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the condition of the tire includes an air pressure of the tire, the sensor senses the air pressure of the tire, and the control device inhibits power supply to the prime mover when the air pressure of the tire is less than a preset pressure.

7. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control device inhibits power supply to the prime mover when the control device also inhibits power supply to the indicator.

8. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1 additionally comprising a theft detection sensor, the control device inhibiting the power supply to the prime mover when the theft sensor detects a change in vehicle condition, and an immobilizer holding the control device in the inhibition state, the immobilizer releasing the control device when a release signal is given to the immobilizer, and the control device turning the second switch on when the control device is released from the inhibition state.

9. The vehicle as set forth in claim 8, wherein the theft sensor includes a position change sensor that detects when a position of the frame assembly is changed, the control device responses when the position change sensor detects that the position of the frame assembly is changed without the first switch turned on.

10. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second switches are disposed in parallel to each other.

11. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1 additionally comprising a second power source supplying electric power at least to the sensor and the transmitter.

12. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame assembly, at least one wheel coupled to the frame assembly, the wheel including a rim and a tire mounted on the rim, a first sensor detecting a condition of the tire, a transmitter transmitting the condition of the tire sensed by the first sensor, a receiver receiving the condition of the tire from the transmitter, an indicator indicating the condition of the tire received by the receiver, a power source supplying electric power to the receiver and the indicator, a control device controlling power supplied to the receiver and the indicator from the power source, a switch interposed between the power source and the control device, the control device allowing power supply to the receiver and the indicator when the switch is turned on, and a second sensor detecting a change of a state of the frame assembly, the control device turning the switch on when the second sensor detects the change of the state of the frame assembly.

13. The vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein the frame assembly comprises at least one component, the change of the state of the frame assembly includes a change of a state of the component by an operator of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein the control device includes a timer calculating elapse of time, and the control device inhibits the power supply to the indicator if the switch is not turned on during a preset period of time after the indicator begins indicating the condition of the tire.

15. The vehicle as set forth in claim 12, wherein the condition of the tire includes an air pressure of the tire, and the first sensor senses the air pressure of the tire.

16. A power supply control method for a wheeled vehicle comprising detecting a condition of a tire, transmitting the condition of the tire receiving the condition of the tire by a receiver, indicating the condition of the tire by an indicator, supplying electric power to a prime mover of the vehicle, the receiver and the indicator under a first condition of the vehicle, and supplying the electric power to the receiver and the indicator under a second condition of the vehicle.

17. The control method as set forth in claim 16 additionally comprising detecting a change of a state of the vehicle, and determining the second condition when the change of the state of the vehicle is detected.

18. The control method as set forth in claim 16 additionally comprising calculating elapse of time, determining whether the vehicle is under the first condition, and inhibiting the power supply to the indicator if the vehicle is not under the first condition during a preset period of time after the indicator begins indicating the condition of the tire.

19. A power supply control method for a wheeled vehicle comprising detecting a condition of a tire, transmitting the condition of the tire, receiving the condition of the tire by a receiver, indicating the condition of the tire by an indicator, detecting a change of a state of the vehicle, and supplying electric power to the receiver and the indicator when the change of the state of the vehicle is detected.

20. A wheeled vehicle comprising a frame assembly, at least one wheel coupled to the frame assembly, the wheel including a rim and a tire mounted on the rim, a prime mover coupled to the frame assembly and drivingly connected to the wheel, a sensor detecting a condition of the tire, a transmitter transmitting the condition of the tire sensed by the sensor, a receiver receiving the condition of the tire from the transmitter, a power source supplying electric power at least to the prime mover, a control device controlling power supply to the prime mover so as to inhibit power supply to at least a portion of the prime mover when the tire condition is beyond preset level.

21. The vehicle as set forth in claim 20, wherein the condition of the tire includes an air pressure of the tire, the sensor senses the air pressure of the tire, and the control device inhibits power supply to the prime mover when the air pressure of the tire is less than a preset pressure.

22. The vehicle as set forth in claim 20, wherein the condition of the tire includes an air temperature within the tire, the sensor senses the air temperature within the tire, and the control device inhibits power supply to the prime mover when the air temperature within the fire exceeds a preset temperature.