Tire rotation detection using tire temperature profiling

• US 20060260389A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Rosa, J. David, Rimkus, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting whether a tire rotation event or tire inflation even has occurred on a vehicle. The method comprises determining a first front average temperature (FAT) of a first front tire and a second front tire, determining a first rear average temperature (RAT) of a first rear tire and a second rear tire, and calculating a first ratio of the first FAT to the first RAT. The method further comprise determining a second FAT of the first front tire and the second front tire after determining the first FAT, determining a second RAT of the first rear tire and the second rear tire after determining the first RAT, calculating a second ratio of the second FAT to the second RAT, and identifying the tire rotation event based at least in part upon a comparison of the first ratio and the second ratio.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a tire rotation event for a first front tire and a second front tire of a vehicle and a first rear tire and a second rear tire of the vehicle, comprising:

determining a first front average temperature (FAT) of the first front tire and the second front tire;

determining a first rear average temperature (RAT) of the first rear tire and the second rear tire;

calculating a first ratio of said first FAT to said first RAT;

determining a second FAT of the first front tire and the second front tire after said determining said first FAT;

determining a second RAT of the first rear tire and the second rear tire after said determining said first RAT;

calculating a second ratio of said second FAT to said second RAT;

identifying the tire rotation event based at least in part upon a comparison of said first ratio and said second ratio.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating a tire rotation indicator on a display after said identifying the tire rotation event.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reducing said first ratio by a tire rotation ratio hysteresis factor prior to said comparison of first ratio and said second ratio.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining said first front average temperature (FAT) occurs after a temperature of said first front tire and second front tire exceeds a predetermined temperature.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display operably coupled to said processor, said processor further configured to generate a tire rotation indicator on said display after identifying the tire rotation event.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to reduce said first ratio by a tire rotation ratio hysteresis factor prior to said comparison of first ratio and said second ratio.

5. A system configured to detect a tire rotation event for a first front tire and a second front tire of a vehicle and a first rear tire and a second rear tire of the vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor disposed to measure at least one of a first temperature of the first front tire, a second temperature of the second front tire, a third temperature of the first rear tire, and fourth temperature of the second rear tire; and

a processor coupled to said first sensor, said processor configured to;

determine a first front average temperature (FAT) with said first temperature and said second temperature;

determine a first rear average temperature (RAT) with said third temperature and said fourth temperature;

calculate a first ratio of said first FAT to said first RAT;

determine a second FAT with said first temperature and said second temperature after said determining said first FAT;

determine a second RAT with said third temperature and said fourth temperature after said determining said first RAT;

calculate a second ratio of said second FAT to said second RAT;

identify the tire rotation event based at least in part upon a comparison of said first ratio and said second ratio.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising an RF transmitter coupling said first sensor and said processor.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the processor further comprises a timer such that the processor determines that tires have exceeded a predetermined temperature after expiration of a set time.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein said processor is configured to determine said first front average temperature (FAT) after a temperature of at least one of said first front tire, second front tire, first rear tire, and second rear tire exceeds a predetermined temperature.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said processor determines said temperature of at least one of said first front tire, second front tire, first rear tire, and second rear tire has exceeded said predetermined temperature based at least in part upon an expiration of a predetermined period.

12. A method for detecting an inflation event of a tire, comprising:

determining a first temperature of the tire;

determining a first pressure of the tire;

determining an offset using at last the first temperature and the second temperature;

determining a second temperature of the tire after said determining the first temperature;

determining a second pressure of the tire after said determining the first pressure;

calculating an estimated pressure (PEST) using the second temperature and said offset; and

identifying the inflation invent of the tire based at least in art on a comparison using said estimated pressure (PEST) and the second pressure.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

determining a third temperature of the tire after said determining said second temperature;

determining a third pressure of the tire after said determining said second pressure;

calculating a second estimated pressure (P_est-2) using the third temperature and said offset;

identifying a second inflation event of the tire based at least in part on a comparison using said second estimated pressure and said third pressure.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said comparison using said estimated pressure and the second pressure is whether the difference between the estimated pressure and the second pressure is greater than a predetermined air condition value.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said comparison using said estimated pressure and the second pressure is whether the difference between the estimated pressure and the second pressure is less than a predetermined air condition value.

20. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a display operably coupled to said processor, said processor further configured to change in pressure indicator on said display after identifying the change in pressure of the tire.

16. An system for detecting an inflation event of a tire, comprising:

a first sensor configured to determine a temperature of the tire;

a second sensor configured to determine a pressure of the tire;

a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, said processor configured to;

receive a first temperature of the tire from the first sensor;

receive a first pressure of the tire from the second sensor;

calculate an offset using at last the first temperature and the second temperature;

receive a second temperature of the tire from the first sensor after receiving the first temperature;

receive a second pressure of the tire from the second sensor after receiving the first pressure;

calculate an estimated pressure (PEST) using the second temperature and said offset; and

identify the change in pressure of the tire based at least in art on a comparison using said estimated pressure (PEST) and the second pressure.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said processor is further configured to:

determine a third temperature of the tire after said determining said second temperature;

determine a third pressure of the tire after said determining said second pressure;

calculated a second estimated pressure (P_est-2) using the third temperature and said offset;

identify a second inflation event of the tire based at least in part on a comparison using said second estimated pressure and said third pressure.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said comparison using said estimated pressure and the second pressure is a comparison as to whether the difference between the estimated pressure and the second pressure is greater than a predetermined air condition value.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said comparison using said estimated pressure and the second pressure is whether the difference between the estimated pressure and the second pressure is less than a predetermined air condition value.