Device for transmitting measurements of a sensor to a central unit

• US 20040117082A1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG), Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG), Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bidou, Patric, Fonzes, Georges, Goeser, Gerhard
• Application Number:
  US10/474,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117082A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• 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

The method is carried out in a vehicle or similar, comprising the following steps: detection of the state of the vehicle (2) when stopped, the sensor measures a parameter such as pressure (6), the result of the measurement is stored in the sensor (10), the sensor analyses the measurement according to previous measurements (8), significant results of the analysis are stored inside the sensor (10), and when the vehicle begins once more to travel, significant data relating to events occurring since the last detected stop of the vehicle is transmitted (14) from the sensor to the central unit wherever applicable.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting measurements from a sensor to a central unit by a wireless link, such as a radio link for example, in a motor vehicle or similar, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

detection of the stopped state of the vehicle (2),

measurement by the sensor of a parameter such as pressure (6) for example,

storage of the result of the measurement within the sensor (10),

analysis, at the level of the sensor, of the measurement with reference to the preceding measurements (8),

storage of the significant results of the analysis within the sensor (10), and

when the vehicle is moving again, transmission (14) by the sensor, if necessary, to the central unit of significant data on the events that have occurred since the last detected stoppage of the vehicle;

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of transmissions (14) are carried out by the sensor to the central unit when a starting of the vehicle is detected.

3. The method as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the measurements taken by the sensor whilst the vehicle is stopped are taken at a predetermined frequency.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the frequency of the measurements is lower when the vehicle is stopped than when it is moving.

5. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, when the vehicle starts again, the sensor transmits to the central unit only the information relating to a sudden and/or abnormal variation of the measured parameter.

6. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sensor measures both a pressure and a temperature.

7. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that during the analysis of the measurements taken, the sensor calculates the derivative of the measured parameter with respect to time.

8. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sensor stores both the measurements taken and the dates on which they were taken.

9. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the detection of the movement and/or the stoppage of the vehicle is carried out by an accelerometer.

10. Application of the method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9 to a system for monitoring a motor vehicle'"'"'s tire pressures.