Tire air pressure detection system

• US 20050132791A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hayashi, Hiromasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,168,306 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0442 the transmitted signal comprises further information, e.g. instruction codes, sensor characteristics or identification data
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0466 with signals sent by transmitters mounted on adjacent vehicles

Abstract

A tire air pressure detection system having a transmitter provided at each of a plurality of wheels provided with tires and sending out a detection signal corresponding to the air pressure of the tire attached to the corresponding wheel and a receiver provided at the chassis side and provided with first antennas arranged near the transmitters of the plurality of wheels and a first controller receiving detection signals through the first antennas and finding the air pressures of the tires provided at the plurality of wheels based on the detection signals, wherein the receiver is designed so that the first controller measures the strength of each the detection signal, sets a power control signal in accordance with that strength, then sends the power control signal to the transmitter originating the detection signal, and each transmitter is provided with a second antenna receiving its corresponding power control signal and a second controller controlling a transmission power for sending the detection signal based on the received power control signal.

Claims

1. A tire air pressure detection system having:

a transmitter provided at each of a plurality of wheels provided with tires and sending out a detection signal corresponding to the air pressure of the tire attached to the corresponding wheel and

a receiver provided at the chassis side and provided with first antennas arranged near said transmitters of said plurality of wheels and a first controller receiving detection signals through the first antennas and finding the air pressures of said tires provided at said plurality of wheels based on said detection signals, wherein

said receiver is designed so that said first controller measures the strength of each said detection signal, sets a power control signal in accordance with that strength, then sends the power control signal to the transmitter originating said detection signal, and

each transmitter is provided with a second antenna receiving its corresponding power control signal and a second controller controlling a transmission power for sending said detection signal based on said received power control signal.

2. A tire air pressure detection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first controller

sets as said power control signal a signal maintaining the strength of said detection signal in state if the strength of said detection signal is within a predetermined allowable range (Δ

L) with respect to a predetermined threshold value (Th)

sets as said power control signal a signal for reducing the strength of said detection signal if larger than a value of said predetermined threshold value (Th) set with said predetermined allowable range (Δ

L) (Th±

Δ

L), and

sets as said power control signal a signal for increasing the strength of said detection signal if smaller than a value of said predetermined threshold value (Th) set with said predetermined allowable range (Δ

L) (Th±

Δ

L).

3. A tire air pressure detection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first controller is designed to set as said power control signal a signal making each said transmitter send said detection signal at the maximum power in the state before receiving said detection signal.

4. A tire air pressure detection system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first controller is designed to set as said power control signal a signal making each said transmitter send said detection signal at the maximum power in the state before receiving said detection signal.