Vehicular tire pressure monitoring system

• US 20050040941A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,053,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings

Abstract

A tire pressure monitoring system is provided for a vehicle equipped with at least a front driver-side wheel location, a front passenger-side wheel location, a rear driver-side wheel location and a rear passenger-side wheel location. A tire (that is inflated to a tire pressure) is associated with one each of the four wheel location and has associated therewith a tire pressure sensor sensing the tire pressure in that tire. A signal indicative of the tire pressure is broadcast via a radio frequency wireless transmission from each of the four tire sensors to a controller located within the interior cabin of the vehicle. The controller processes the transmitted signals and applies a triangulation technique to determine at which of the front driver-side wheel location, front passenger-side wheel location, rear driver-side wheel location and rear passenger-side wheel location are located the four tires transmitting signals to the controller. A display is provided that is visible to the driver of the vehicle indicating the tire pressure condition at any one, at several or at all of said four wheel locations.

Claims

1-90. -90. (cancelled)

91. A vehicular tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a vehicle equipped with at least a front driver-side wheel location, a front passenger-side wheel location, a rear driver-side wheel location, and a rear passenger-side wheel location;

four tires;

each of said four tires inflated to a tire pressure;

each of said four tires having associated therewith a tire pressure sensor sensing the tire pressure in that tire;

a signal indicative of said tire pressure broadcasted via a radio frequency wireless transmission from each of said tire sensors to a controller located within the interior cabin of the vehicle;

said controller processing said signals and applying a triangulation technique to determine at which of the front driver-side wheel location, front passenger-side wheel location, rear driver-side wheel location and rear passenger-side wheel location are located the four tires transmitting signals to the controller; and

a display visible to the driver of the vehicle indicating the tire pressure condition at any one, at several or at all of said wheel locations.

92. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 91, further comprising two spaced antennae.

93. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 92, further comprising a common assembly, said common assembly comprising said two spaced antennae.

94. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 92, wherein said two spaced antennae are at different locations in the vehicle.

95. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 94, wherein one of said different locations in the vehicle comprises a driver-side location.

96. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 95, wherein the other of said different locations in the vehicle comprises a passenger-side location.

97. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 94, wherein one of said different locations in the vehicle comprises a passenger-side location.

98. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 92, wherein said transmitted signals are received by a directional antenna.

99. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 98, wherein said directional antenna is located at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

100. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 98, wherein said directional antenna is located at a header portion of the vehicle.

101. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 98, wherein said directional antenna is located at a roof portion of the vehicle.

102. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 98, wherein said directional antenna is located at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

103. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 92, wherein said processing by said controller of said signals comprises an algorithm based on a gas/temperature relationship.

104. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 103, wherein said gas/temperature relationship comprises Boyle'"'"'s Law.

105. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 92, wherein said display is located at an interior mirror assembly of the vehicle.

106. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 98, wherein said display is located at an upper windshield portion of the vehicle.

107. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 106, wherein said display is located in an accessory module.

108. A vehicular tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a vehicle equipped with at least a front driver-side wheel location, a front passenger-side wheel location, a rear driver-side wheel location, and a rear passenger-side wheel location;

four tires;

each of said four tires inflated to a tire pressure;

each of said four tires having associated therewith a tire pressure sensor sensing the tire pressure in that tire;

a signal indicative of said tire pressure broadcasted via a radio frequency wireless transmission from each of said tire sensors to a controller located within the interior cabin of the vehicle;

said controller processing said signals and applying a triangulation technique to determine at which of the front driver-side wheel location, front passenger-side wheel location, rear driver-side wheel location and rear passenger-side wheel location are located the four tires transmitting signals to the controller; and

a display visible to the driver of the vehicle indicating the tire pressure condition at any one, at several or at all of said wheel locations; and

wherein said display is located at an upper windshield portion of the vehicle.

109. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 108, further comprising two spaced antennae.

110. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 109, further comprising a common assembly, said common assembly comprising said two spaced antennae.

111. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 109, wherein said two spaced antennae are at different locations in the vehicle.

112. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 111, wherein one of said different locations in the vehicle comprises a driver-side location.

113. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 112, wherein the other of said different locations in the vehicle comprises a passenger-side location.

114. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 111, wherein one of said, different locations in the vehicle comprises a passenger-side location.

115. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 109, wherein said transmitted signals are received by a directional antenna.

116. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 115, wherein said directional antenna is located at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

117. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 115, wherein said directional antenna is located at a header portion of the vehicle.

118. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 115, wherein said directional antenna is located at a roof portion of the vehicle.

119. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 115, wherein said directional antenna is located at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

120. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 109, wherein said processing by said controller of said transmitted signals comprises an algorithm based on a gas/temperature relationship.

121. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 120, wherein said gas/temperature relationship comprises Boyle'"'"'s Law.

122. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 109, wherein said display is located at an interior mirror assembly of the vehicle.

123. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 109, wherein said display is located in an accessory module.

124. A vehicular tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a vehicle equipped with at least a front driver-side wheel location, a front passenger-side wheel location, a rear driver-side wheel location and a rear passenger-side wheel location;

four tires;

each of said four tires inflated to a tire pressure;

each of said four tires having associated therewith a tire pressure sensor sensing the tire pressure in that tire;

a signal indicative of said tire pressure broadcasted via a radio frequency wireless transmission from each of said tire sensors to a controller located within the interior cabin of the vehicle;

said controller comprising a microprocessor and processing said signals and applying a triangulation technique to determine on at which of the front driver-side wheel location, front passenger-side wheel location, rear driver-side wheel location and rear passenger-side wheel location are located the four tires transmitting signals to the controller; and

a display visible to the driver of the vehicle indicating the tire pressure condition at any one, at several or at all of said wheel locations; and

wherein said display is located at an interior mirror rearview assembly.

125. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 124, further comprising two spaced antennae.

126. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 125, further comprising a common assembly, said common assembly comprising said two spaced antennae.

127. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 125, wherein said two spaced antennae are at different locations in the vehicle.

128. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 127, wherein one of said different locations in the vehicle comprises a driver-side location.

129. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 128, wherein the other of said different locations in the vehicle comprises a passenger-side location.

130. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 127, wherein one of said different locations in the vehicle comprises a passenger-side location.

131. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 125, wherein said signals are received by a directional antenna.

132. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 131, wherein said directional antenna is located at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

133. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 131, wherein said directional antenna is located at a header portion of the vehicle.

134. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 131, wherein said directional antenna is located at a roof portion of the vehicle.

135. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 131, wherein said directional antenna is located at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

136. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 125, wherein said processing by said controller of said transmitted signals comprises an algorithm based on a gas/temperature relationship.

137. The vehicular tire pressure monitoring system in claim 137, wherein said gas/temperature relationship comprises Boyle'"'"'s Law.