TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SENSOR DIAGNOSIS VIA VEHICLE ANTITHEFT AND ENTRY SYSTEM

• US 20060208864A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nantz, John S., Ghabra, Riad, Tang, Qingfeng, LeMense, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,358,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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 23/0433 Radio signals

Abstract

A vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system, the system including an immobilizer transmitter that transmits at least one low frequency (LF) sensor diagnostic signal, at least one TPM sensor, wherein the at least one TPM sensor includes a transceiver that receives the at least one LF sensor diagnostic signal and, when the at least one TPM sensor is operating properly, presents at least one radio frequency (RF) message signal, and a TPM receiver that receives the at least one RF message signal and provides an indication to an operator when the at least one RF message signal is received, wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted to determine proper operation of the at least one TPM sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system, the system comprising:

an immobilizer transmitter that transmits at least one low frequency (LF) sensor diagnostic signal;

at least one TPM sensor having a memory, wherein the at least one TPM sensor comprises a transceiver that receives the at least one LF sensor diagnostic signal and, when the at least one TPM sensor is operating properly, presents at least one radio frequency (RF) message signal; and

a TPM receiver that receives the at least one RF message signal and provides an indication to an operator when the at least one RF message signal is received, wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted to determine proper operation of the at least one TPM sensor and re-configure the operating parameters of the at least one TPM sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the TPM receiver provides an alert to the operator when the at least one RF message signal is not received in response to the LF sensor diagnostic signal.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the operator initiates transmission of the LF sensor diagnostic signal independently of vehicle immobilization operation and the LF sensor diagnostic signal reconfigures the operating parameters of the at least one TPM sensor by re-flashing the memory of the TPM sensor.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the immobilizer transmitter transmits at least one second LF signal that is related to at least one vehicle theft deterrent operation.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the operating parameters of the TPM sensor are reconfigured by re-flashing the memory of the TPM sensor.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted in connection with at least one of a TPM sensor test, a TPM sensor diagnosis, a TPM system diagnosis, a TPM sensor association to the TPM system, and a TPM sensor location association on a vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted in connection with a TPM sensor association to the TPM system includes the LF sensor diagnostic signal being transmitted having a TPM sensor identification that is selected from a bank of sensor identifications stored in the immobilizer.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted in connection with a TPM sensor association to the TPM system includes the LF sensor diagnostic signal being transmitted having a TPM sensor identification that is selected from another TPM sensor.

9. For use in a vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system, a method of determining proper operation of a TPM sensor, the method comprising:

transmitting at least one low frequency (LF) sensor diagnostic signal via an immobilizer transmitter;

providing at least one TPM sensor, wherein the at least one TPM sensor comprises a transceiver that receives the at least one LF command signal and presents at least one radio frequency (RF) message signal;

presenting the RF message signal when the at least one TPM sensor is operating properly; and

providing an indication to an operator when the at least one RF message signal is received by a TPM receiver, wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted to determine proper operation of the at least one TPM sensor and re-configure the operating parameters of the at least one TPM sensor.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing an alert to the operator when the at least one RF message signal is not received by the TPM receiver in response to the LF sensor diagnostic signal.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the operator initiates transmission of the LF sensor diagnostic signal independently of vehicle immobilization operation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the immobilizer transmitter transmits at least one second LF signal that is related to at least one vehicle theft deterrent operation.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the operating parameters of the TPM sensor are reconfigured by re-flashing the memory of the TPM sensor.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is presented in connection with at least one of a TPM sensor test, a TPM sensor diagnosis, a TPM system diagnosis, a TPM sensor association to the TPM system, and a TPM sensor location association on a vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is presented in connection with a TPM sensor association to the TPM system includes the LF sensor diagnostic signal being transmitted having a TPM sensor identification that is selected from a bank of sensor identifications stored in the immobilizer.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted in connection with a TPM sensor association to the TPM system includes the LF sensor diagnostic signal being transmitted having a TPM sensor identification that is selected from another TPM sensor.

17. A vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system having self-diagnostics, the system comprising:

an immobilizer transmitter that transmits at least one low frequency (LF) sensor diagnostic signal;

at least one TPM sensor that comprises a transceiver that receives the at least one LF sensor diagnostic signal, and presents at least one radio frequency (RF) message signal in response to the LF sensor diagnostic signal when operating properly; and

a combination remote keyless entry and TPM receiver that receives the at least one RF message signal and provides an indication to an operator when the at least one RF message signal is received and an alert to the operator when the at least one RF message signal is not received,

wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted to determine proper operation of the at least one TPM sensor and re-configure the operating parameters of the at least one TPM sensor.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the LF command signal is transmitted in connection with at least one of a TPM sensor test, a TPM sensor diagnosis, a TPM system diagnosis, a TPM sensor association to the TPM system, and a TPM sensor location association on a vehicle.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted in connection with a TPM sensor association to the TPM system includes the LF sensor diagnostic signal being transmitted having a TPM sensor identification that is selected from a bank of sensor identifications stored in the immobilizer.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the operating parameters of the TPM sensor are reconfigured by re-flashing the memory of the TPM sensor.