Method and system for calibrating a tire pressure sensing system for an automotive vehicle

• US 20040255663A1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frederick James Porter, John Lebeau Rust, John Tenbusch, Thomas Lee Miller, Thomas Michael Mcquade
• Original Assignee: Frederick James Porter, John Lebeau Rust, John Tenbusch, Thomas Lee Miller, Thomas Michael Mcquade
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, McQuade, Thomas Michael, Tenbusch, John, Porter, Frederick James, Rust, John LeBeau
• Granted Patent: US 6,945,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146
• 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 system (10) and method is provided for calibrating a tire pressure monitoring system using an EM transmitter (14). The present invention includes a first pressure sensor coupled to a wheel of an automotive vehicle (12). The EM pressure transmitter (14) is coupled to the pressure sensor (32). The transmitter (14) has a serial number associated therewith. An EM calibration device has a transmitting range. The EM transmitter device has an actuator. When the actuator is activated, a calibration signal (34) is transmitted within the transmitting range. The calibration signal causes the EM pressure transmitter (32) to transmit a serial number. A controller (16) is EM coupled to the pressure transmitter. The controller (16) receives the serial number and associates the serial number with a tire location of the vehicle.

Claims

1-7. -7. (Cancel).

8. A pressure monitoring system for an automotive vehicle having a plurality of tires in a predetermined tire location relative to the vehicle comprising:

a plurality of tire pressure transmitters each having pressure sensor and a serial number associated therewith, each tire pressure transmitter having a unique serial number;

an EM calibration device having a transmitting range, said EM transmitting device having an actuator, said actuator when activated generating a calibration signal within said transmitting range;

wherein said calibration signal causing one of said plurality of tire pressure transmitters to EM transmit said serial number,

a controller EM coupled to said pressure transmitter, said controller sequentially receiving said serial numbers and associating said serial numbers with said tire location of said vehicle.

9. A method of operating a pressure monitoring system comprising:

generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter;

EM transmitting calibration information from a tire pressure transmitter in response to said EM calibration signal; and

receiving said calibration information in a controller.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter comprises generating an EM calibration signal from the transmitter with a predetermined range.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter with a predetermined range comprises generating the EM calibration signal from the transmitter with a predetermined range of less than about three feet.

12. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising storing said calibration information in a memory.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein storing said calibration information in a memory comprises associating said calibration information with a tire location.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising generating an indication in response to storing.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 further wherein generating an indication comprises generating an audible signal or a visual signal.

16. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter comprises generating the EM calibration signal from a hand-held transmitter.

17. A method of operating a pressure monitoring system comprising:

positioning an EM calibration device within a predetermined distance from a first pressure transmitter in a first location;

generating a first EM calibration signal from the EM calibration device;

transmitting first calibration information from a first pressure transmitter to a controller in response to said EM calibration signal;

storing the first calibration information associated with said first location in a calibration memory;

positioning the EM calibration device within the predetermined distance from a second pressure transmitter in a second location;

generating a second EM calibration signal from the EM calibration device;

transmitting second calibration information from the second pressure transmitter to the controller in response to said second EM calibration signal;

storing the second calibration information associated with said second location in the calibration memory;

positioning the EM calibration device within the predetermined distance from a third pressure transmitter in a third location;

generating a third EM calibration signal from the EM calibration device;

transmitting third calibration information from a third pressure transmitter to a controller in response to said third EM calibration signal;

storing the third calibration information associated with said third location in a calibration memory;

positioning the EM calibration device within the predetermined distance from a fourth pressure transmitter in a fourth location;

generating a fourth EM calibration signal from the EM calibration device;

transmitting fourth calibration information from the fourth pressure transmitter to a controller in response to said fourth EM calibration signal;

storing the fourth calibration information associated with said fourth location in a calibration memory.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said first calibration signal, a second calibration signal, a third calibration signal and a fourth calibration signal are equivalent but temporally separated.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said predetermined distance corresponds to the shortest of said distance between said first position and said second position, said second position and said third position, said third position and said fourth position and said fourth position sand said first position.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said steps of positioning are performed in a predetermined order.

21. An EM calibration device for use with a pressure monitoring system for a tire of an automotive vehicle wherein the system having a tire pressure sensor coupled to the wheel and an EM pressure transmitter coupled to the pressure sensor, the transmitter having calibration information associated therewith comprising:

said EM calibration device having a transmitting range, said EM calibration device having an actuator therein, said actuator when actuated generating an EM calibration signal within said transmitting range;

wherein said calibration signal causing said EM pressure transmitter to EM transmit said calibration information.

22. An EM calibration device as recited in claim 21 wherein said transmitting range is less than three feet.

23. An EM calibration device as recited in claim 21 wherein said EM calibration device is hand-held.

24. An EM calibration device as recited in claim 21 wherein said EM calibration device is incorporated into a remote keyless entry device.

25. An EM calibration device as recited in claim 21 wherein the actuator comprises a push button.

26. A method of operating an EM calibration device for a pressure monitoring system comprising:

actuating an actuator of the EM calibration device;

generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter in response to actuating;

wherein said EM calibration signal causing a tire pressure device to transmit calibration information.

27. A method of operating an EM calibration device as recited in claim 26 wherein the actuator comprises a push button.

28. A method of operating an EM calibration device as recited in claim 26 wherein said EM calibration device is incorporated into a remote keyless entry device.

29. A tire pressure transmitter for a pressure monitoring system for a tire of an automotive vehicle, said system having an EM calibration device generating an EM calibration signal comprising:

an EM receiver recognizing the EM calibration signal;

an EM transmitter having calibration information associated therewith;

wherein said EM calibration signal causing said EM transmitter to EM transmit said calibration information.

30. A tire pressure sensor device as recited in claim 29 further comprising a first pressure sensor coupled to said transmitter.

31. A method of operating a tire pressure transmitter of a pressure monitoring system having comprising:

receiving an EM calibration signal; and

EM transmitting calibration information in response to said EM calibration signal.

32. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein the EM calibration information comprises a serial number.

33. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein the EM calibration information comprises a serial number and data.

34. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein after receiving an EM calibration signal, recognizing the EM calibration signal and wherein EM transmitting comprises EM transmitting calibration information in response to recognizing said EM calibration signal.