Tire rotation assisting apparatus

• US 20050256619A1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hayashi, Hiromasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Tire-side transmitters, attached to respective tires, have inherent ID numbers. On-vehicle receivers, disposed on an automotive vehicle, receive signals containing ID numbers. A control unit, disposed on the automotive vehicle, can identify tire mounting positions of respective tires based on the signals containing ID numbers received by the on-vehicle receivers. The controlling means memorizes information related to tire mounting positions of respective tires. Furthermore, the controlling means causes a displaying means disposed on the automotive vehicle to inform an automobile user of information relating to tire rotation, such as appropriate shifting directions instructing desirable tire mounting positions for respective tires, when predetermined tire rotation timing has come.

Claims

1. A tire rotation assisting apparatus for assisting tire rotation performed by an automobile user who rotates a plurality of tires respectively mounted at predetermined tire mounting positions of an automotive vehicle from present positions to different positions selected from said predetermined tire mounting positions, comprising:

identification information transmitting means disposed on said tires, for transmitting signals containing identification information inherent to respective tires;

identification information receiving means disposed on said automotive vehicle for receiving signals containing said identification information;

a displaying means disposed on said automotive vehicle for visually informing the automobile user of information; and

controlling means disposed on said automotive vehicle for controlling display of said displaying means,

wherein

said controlling means identifies said tire mounting positions of respective tires based on signals containing said identification information transmitted from said identification information transmitting means to said identification information receiving means,

said controlling means memorizes information related to said tire mounting positions of said tires, and

said controlling means causes said displaying means to inform the automobile user of information relating to tire rotation when predetermined tire rotation timing has come, said information relating to tire rotation containing information instructing desirable tire mounting positions of respective tires.

2. The tire rotation assisting apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said controlling means memorizes a standard mileage for tire rotation representing a cumulative traveling distance of the automotive vehicle at the time said tires are mounted to said tire mounting positions, and

said controlling means judges that said predetermined tire rotation timing has come when a difference between a present vehicle mileage and said standard mileage for tire rotation reaches a predetermined distance.

3. The tire rotation assisting apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said identification information transmitting means is also disposed on exchange tires to be replaced with said tires mounted at said tire mounting positions,

said controlling means memorizes previous tire mounting positions of said exchange tires, and

said controlling means judges that said predetermined tire rotation timing has come when said tires are replaced with said exchange tires.

4. The tire rotation assisting apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

inputting means for allowing said automobile user to operate, wherein

said controlling means makes a judgment based on an operation signal entered from said inputting means as to whether or not said tires are replaced with said exchange tires.

5. The tire rotation assisting apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

state-of-tire detecting means disposed on respective tires to detect conditions of respective tires, wherein

said identification information transmitting means transmits a signal containing not only said identification information but also said conditions of respective tires to said identification information receiving means.