Tire information transmitter and tire information acquisiton system using the transmitter

• US 20060232391A1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Nihei, Hideki, Ebinuma, Toshimitsu, Nakatani, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 7,348,879 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 23/0484 Detecting an ongoing tyre inflation

Abstract

A tire information transmitter measures tire inflation pressure in a tire cavity region and wirelessly transmits it outside the tire cavity region. A control unit of the transmitter controls the transmitting of the measured pressure and compares the level of the pressure signal with a threshold value continually after a supply of driving power is started. The transmitter has a comparing mode in which the operation signal is transmitted at a first time interval, and a transmitting mode in which the pressure signal is transmitted at a second time interval, which is shorter than the first time interval. Further, the control unit irreversibly shifts from the comparing mode to the transmitting mode, once the level of the pressure signal exceeds the threshold value as a result of the comparing.

Claims

1. A tire information transmitter which is mounted to a tire cavity region surrounded by an inner peripheral surface of a tire and a wall surface of a wheel, and measures ambient information in the tire cavity region including at least pressure to wirelessly transmit to outside the tire cavity region,

the tire information transmitter comprising:

a sensor unit having a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the tire cavity region;

a control unit for comparing a level of a pressure signal representing pressure measured by the sensor unit with a threshold value and for generating an operation signal indicating that the tire information transmitter is operating; and

a transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting the pressure signal or the operation signal;

wherein the control unit controls the transmitting of the transmitting unit and compares the level of the pressure signal with the threshold value continually after a supply of driving power is started, and has a comparing mode in which the transmitting unit transmits the operation signal at a first time interval, and a transmitting mode in which the transmitting unit transmits the pressure signal at a second time interval which is shorter than the first time interval, and once the level of the pressure signal exceeds the threshold value, as a result of the comparing, the control unit irreversibly shifts from the comparing mode to the transmitting mode.

2. The tire information transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit, the control unit and the transmitting unit are housed in a housing box and an outer surface of the housing box has a curbed surface fitting on a bottom surface of the wheel so as to be attached to the bottom surface of the wheel.

3. The tire information transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the tire information transmitter further comprises a battery for driving the sensor unit, the control unit and the transmitting unit, wherein the battery is replaceable and the control unit is operated in the comparing mode at a time when the battery is replaced.

4. The tire information transmitter according to claim 1, wherein in the transmitting mode, a time interval for measuring the pressure by the sensor unit and the second time interval for transmitting the pressure signal are changed according to the level of the pressure signal.

5. A tire information acquisition system comprising:

a tire information transmitter which is mounted to a tire cavity region surrounded by an inner peripheral surface of a tire and a wall surface of a wheel, and measures ambient information in the tire cavity region including at least pressure to wirelessly transmit to outside the tire cavity region, and a receiver which is mounted outside of the tire cavity region surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the tire and the wall surface of the wheel, and receives a pressure signal from the tire information transmitter,

the tire information transmitter comprising;

a sensor unit having a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the tire cavity region;

a control unit for comparing a level of a pressure signal representing pressure measured by the sensor unit with a threshold value and for generating an operation signal indicating that the tire information transmitter is operating; and

a transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting the pressure signal or the operation signal;

wherein,

the control unit controls the transmitting of the transmitting unit and compares the level of the pressure signal with the threshold value continually after a supply of driving power is started, and has a comparing mode in which the transmitting unit transmits the operation signal at a first time interval, and a transmitting mode in which the transmitting unit transmits the pressure signal at a second time interval which is shorter than the first time interval, and once the level of the pressure signal exceeds the threshold value, as a result of the comparing, the control unit irreversibly shifts from the comparing mode to the transmitting mode.

6. The tire information acquisition system according to claim 5, wherein the sensor unit, the control unit and the transmitting unit are housed in a housing box and an outer surface of the housing box has a curbed surface fitting on a bottom surface of the wheel so as to be attached to the bottom surface of the wheel that is formed of a curbed surface.

7. The tire information acquisition system according to claim 5, wherein the tire information transmitter further comprises a battery for driving the sensor unit, the control unit and the transmitting unit, wherein the battery is replaceable, and the control unit is operated in the comparing mode at a time when the battery is replaced.

8. The tire information acquisition system according to claim 5, wherein in the transmitting mode, a time interval for measuring the pressure by the sensor unit and the second time interval for transmitting the pressure signal are changed according to the level of the pressure signal.

9. The tire information acquisition system according to claim 5 wherein the receiver is mounted on a vehicle body to which the tire and the wheel are attached.