Method And Device For The Detection Of The Separation Of An Electronic Module From A Vehicle To Which It Is Mounted

• US 20070257666A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Luce, Dominique, Laure, Frederic
• Granted Patent: US 7,750,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.150
• 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 23/04985 using straps surrounding the rims

Abstract

A method of detecting the separation of an electronic module (1) from a vehicle on which the module is mounted. According to this method, the module (1) has associated with it an inductance (17) inseparable from the module, the inductance (17) and the associated module (1) are connected to an element of the vehicle, in the immediate vicinity of an element (18) made of ferromagnetic material, the current passing through the inductance (17) is measured (monitored), so as to detect any variation of current and, when a current variation greater than a predetermined variation threshold is detected, representative of a relative distance between the inductance (17) and the element made of ferromagnetic material (18), there is ordered the emission of a signal indicating the separation of the module (1) associated with the inductance from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the separation of an electronic module (1) from a vehicle on which said module is mounted, characterized in that:

each module (1) has associated with it an inductance or any type of magnetic sensor (17;

31;

41), inseparable from said module,

the inductance (17;

31;

41) and the associated module (1) are connected to the vehicle, in the immediate vicinity of an element (18;

38;

43) made of ferromagnetic material connected to an element of the vehicle,

a magnetic parameter of the inductance and/or the current passing through the inductance and/or the voltage at the terminals of the inductance (17;

31;

41) is monitored so as to detect any variation of the parameter and/or of the current and/or of the voltage monitored,

and, on detection of a variation of the parameter and/or of the current and/or of the voltage monitored, greater than a predetermined variation threshold, representative of a relative distance between inductance (17;

31;

41) and element made of ferromagnetic material (18;

38;

43), the emission is ordered of a signal indicating the separation of the module (1) from the element of the vehicle to which it was connected.

2. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the step for monitoring the magnetic parameter of the inductance and/or the current passing through the inductance and/or the voltage at the terminals of the inductance is done by continuous or periodic measurement or is triggered by the variation of the parameter and/or of the current and/or of the voltage monitored.

3. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the inductance (17;

31;

41) is polarized by means of a current source (15;

32;

44) connected so as to power said inductance.

4. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an element made of ferromagnetic material is used, the element consisting of a magnetized bar (43) or an electromagnet, that is connected to an element of the vehicle so that it extends in the immediate vicinity of the inductance (41).

5. The detection method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the inductance (41) is powered so that the latter is passed through by a direct current or a variable current periodically or otherwise.

6. The detection method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that an inductance is used that consists of a solenoid (17;

31), and an element made of ferromagnetic material consisting of a core (18;

38) capable of being connected to an element of the vehicle, in such a way as to penetrate inside the solenoid (17;

31).

7. The detection method as claimed in claim 6 taken together, characterized in that the solenoid (17;

31) is powered so that the latter is passed through by a direct current on which the variations of the intensity are monitored.

8. The detection method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the direct current passing through the solenoid (17;

31) is chopped.

9. The detection method as claimed in claim 6 taken together, characterized in that the solenoid (31) is powered so that the latter is passed through by an oscillating current on which the amplitude variations of the intensity are monitored.

10. The detection method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the solenoid (31) is powered by means of a square-wave signal or any other form of signal that is variable periodically or otherwise.

22. The detection method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an inductance is used that consists of a solenoid (17;

31), and an element made of ferromagnetic material consisting of a core (18;

38) capable of being connected to an element of the vehicle, in such a way as to penetrate inside the solenoid (17;

31).

11. A device for detecting the disconnection of an electronic module (1) from a vehicle on which said module is mounted, characterized in that it comprises:

an inductance or any type of magnetic sensor (17;

31;

41) inseparably associated with the module (1),

an element (18;

38;

43) made of ferromagnetic material connected to an element of the vehicle,

means of connecting the inductance (17;

31;

41) and the module (1) to the vehicle, in the immediate vicinity of the element made of ferromagnetic material (18;

38;

43),

and means (14;

36;

42) of monitoring a magnetic parameter of the inductance and/or the current passing through the inductance and/or the voltage at the terminals of the inductance (17;

31;

41), designed to detect a variation of said parameters, current or voltage monitored, and to order the emission of a signal indicating the separation of the module (1) from the element of the vehicle to which it was connected, on detecting a variation of the parameter and/or the current and/or the voltage monitored, greater than a predetermined variation threshold.

12. The detection device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that it comprises means of electrically powering the inductance (17;

31;

41), comprising a current source (15;

32;

44) connected in such a way as to power said inductance.

13. The detection device as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the inductance comprises a solenoid (17;

31), and the element made of ferromagnetic material consisting of a core (18;

38) designed to be connected to an element of the vehicle in such a way as to extend inside the solenoid (17;

31).

14. The detection device as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the element made of ferromagnetic material consists of a magnetized bar (43) or of an electromagnet, suitable for connection to an element of the vehicle in the immediate vicinity of the inductance (41).

15. The detection device as claimed in claim 14 taken together, characterized in that the means of electrically powering the magnetized bar (43) comprise a direct current source (44), the monitoring means (42) being designed to monitor the voltage of said direct current.

16. The detection device as claimed in claim 13 taken together, characterized in that the means of electrically powering the solenoid (17;

31) comprise a direct current source (15;

32), the monitoring means (14;

36) being designed to monitor the intensity of said direct current.

17. The detection device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the electrical power supply means of the solenoid (31) comprise means of chopping (34, 35) the direct current.

18. The detection device as claimed in claim 13 taken together, characterized in that the electrical power supply means of the solenoid (31) comprise an oscillator (34) designed to deliver an oscillating current, the monitoring means (36) being designed to monitor the amplitude variations of the intensity of said oscillating current.

19. The detection device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the oscillator (34) of the electrical power supply means of the solenoid (31) is designed to deliver a square-wave current or any other form of signal, periodic or otherwise.

20. The detection device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the inductance comprises a solenoid (17;

31), and the element made of ferromagnetic material consisting of a core (18;

38) designed to be connected to an element of the vehicle in such a way as to extend inside the solenoid (17;

31).

21. The detection device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the element made of ferromagnetic material consists of a magnetized bar (43) or of an electromagnet, suitable for connection to an element of the vehicle in the immediate vicinity of the inductance (41).