Tire condition monitoring apparatus
First Claim
1. A tire condition monitoring apparatus that monitors a condition of a tire of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a transponder provided in the tire, wherein, in response to a predetermined interrogating radio wave, the transponder detects a condition of the tire and wirelessly transmits data representing the detected condition of the tire; and
a transmitter-receiver provided in a body frame of the vehicle, wherein the position of the transponder relative to the transmitter-receiver changes as the tire rotates, wherein the transmitter-receiver transmits the interrogating radio wave and is capable of receiving the data wirelessly transmitted by the transponder, wherein, in at least a part of a period during which the tire rotates through one revolution, the transponder passes through a communication range, in which communication between the transmitter-receiver and the transponder is possible, and wherein the transmitter-receiver has a controller that controls the transmission of the interrogating radio wave such that the interrogating radio wave is transmitted while the transponder is in the communication range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire monitoring apparatus includes transponders and a transmitter-receiver. Each transponder is provided in one of the tires of a vehicle, and the transmitter-receiver is mounted on the body frame of the vehicle. In response to a predetermined interrogating radio wave, each transponder detects a condition of the corresponding tire and wirelessly transmits data representing the detected condition of the tire. The transmitter-receiver transmits the interrogating radio wave and receives data wirelessly transmitted by each transponder. In a part of a period during which the corresponding tire rotates through one revolution, each transponder passes through a communication range. The transmitter-receiver changes the time interval at which the interrogating radio wave is transmitted such that the interrogating radio wave is transmitted while the transponder is in the communication zone. As a result, the conditions of the tires are always monitored in a reliable manner.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tire condition monitoring apparatus that monitors a condition of a tire of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a transponder provided in the tire, wherein, in response to a predetermined interrogating radio wave, the transponder detects a condition of the tire and wirelessly transmits data representing the detected condition of the tire; and
a transmitter-receiver provided in a body frame of the vehicle, wherein the position of the transponder relative to the transmitter-receiver changes as the tire rotates, wherein the transmitter-receiver transmits the interrogating radio wave and is capable of receiving the data wirelessly transmitted by the transponder, wherein, in at least a part of a period during which the tire rotates through one revolution, the transponder passes through a communication range, in which communication between the transmitter-receiver and the transponder is possible, and wherein the transmitter-receiver has a controller that controls the transmission of the interrogating radio wave such that the interrogating radio wave is transmitted while the transponder is in the communication range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A tire condition monitoring apparatus that monitors conditions of tires of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of transponders each provided in one of the tires, wherein, in response to a predetermined interrogating radio wave, each transponder detects a condition of the corresponding tire and wirelessly transmits data representing the detected condition of the tire;
a plurality of antennas each provided at a part of a body frame of the vehicle that faces the one of the tires, wherein the position of each transponder relative to the corresponding antennal changes as the tire rotates; and
a transmitter-receiver provided in the body frame, wherein the transmitter-receiver transmits the interrogating radio wave through each antenna, and is capable of receiving the data wirelessly transmitted by each transponder through the corresponding antenna, wherein, in at least a part of a period during which the corresponding tire rotates through one revolution, each transponder passes through a communication range, in which communication between the transponder and the corresponding antenna is possible, and wherein the transmitter-receiver has a controller that controls the transmission of the interrogating radio wave such that the interrogating radio wave is transmitted while each transponder is in the communication range. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification