Method and apparatus for associating tires with tire locations of a vehicle

• US 20040095233A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Myatt, David G. E., DeZorzi, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 6,879,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/446
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right

Abstract

An apparatus for associating tires with tire locations of a vehicle includes two sensors, each sensor having an associated tire. Each sensor transmits an associated sensor identification in response to receipt of an interrogation signal. The interrogation signal is provided so that the two sensors transmit at different rates. A controller is responsive to receipt of transmitted identification signals for associating each sensor with a tire location and thereby associating the tires with tire locations of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for associating tires with tire locations of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two sensors, each sensor having an associated tire, each sensor transmitting an associated sensor identification in response to receipt of an interrogation signal;

means for providing said interrogation signal so that said two sensors transmit at different rates; and

control means responsive to receipt of transmitted identification signals for associating each sensor with a tire location and thereby associating the tires with tire locations of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for providing said interrogation signal includes an interrogation antenna mounted relative to said two sensors at non-equal distances.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control means associates sensor location, and thereby, tire location, in response to a number of transmitted sensor identifications received from each of said two sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rate of sensor transmission is responsive to tire rotation.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for providing interrogation signals further includes means for alternating signal strength of said interrogation signal over time, and wherein said control means associates sensor location, and, in turn, tire location, with a number of transmitted sensor identifications received from each of said two sensors.

6. A method for associating tires with tire locations of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

providing two sensors, each sensor having an associated tire;

transmitting an associated sensor identification from each sensor in response to receipt of an interrogation signal;

providing the interrogation signal so that the two sensors transmit at different rates;

receiving the transmitted identification signals; and

associating each sensor with a tire location and thereby associating the tires with tire locations of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of providing the interrogation signal includes mounting an interrogation antenna relative to the two sensors at non-equal distances.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of associating sensor location, and thereby, tire location, is response to a number of transmitted sensor identifications received from each of the two sensors.

9. The method claim 8 wherein the rate of sensor transmission is responsive to tire rotation.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of providing interrogation signals further includes the step of alternating signal strength of the interrogation signal over time, and wherein said step of associating sensor location, and, in turn, tire location, is responsive to a number of transmitted sensor identifications received from each of the two sensors.