TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20080055061A1
• Filed: 08/28/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Ghabra, Riad, Nantz, John, Conner, Bruce, Kovac, Zoran
• Granted Patent: US 7,498,931 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 23/0442 the transmitted signal comprises further information, e.g. instruction codes, sensor characteristics or identification data

Abstract

A tire pressure monitoring system may adjust the power it consumes. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a receiver that receives a first signal having a signal strength, determines the signal strength, and causes a second signal to be sent if the signal strength is more than a desired signal strength.

Claims

1. A tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle comprising:

a sensor module configured to consume power and transmit a first signal having a first signal strength;

a receiver configured to receive the first signal and to determine the first signal strength; and

a transmitter in communication with the receiver;

wherein the receiver is configured to cause the transmitter to send a second signal for the module if the first signal strength is more than a desired signal strength and wherein the module reduces the power it consumes in response to the second signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver is further configured to determine if the first signal strength is less than the desired signal strength.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the receiver is further configured to cause the transmitter to send a third signal to the module if the first signal strength is less than the desired signal strength and wherein the module increases the power it consumes in response to the third signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver determines whether the first signal strength is more than the desired signal strength based on a received signal strength indicator.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal comprises a radio signal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver is further configured to cause the transmitter to send a fourth signal to the module, and wherein the module transmits the first signal in response to receiving the fourth signal, and wherein the receiver is further configured to cause the transmitter to increase its power consumption if the receiver does not receive the first signal within a predetermined period of time after the receiver causes the transmitter to send the fourth signal to the module.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the desired signal strength is predetermined.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises a low frequency initiator.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the module reduces the power it consumes by a predetermined amount.

10. A tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle comprising:

a sensor module configured to consume power and transmit a first signal having a signal strength; and

a transceiver configured to receive the first signal, to determine whether the signal strength is more than a desired signal strength, and to transmit a second signal for the module if the signal strength is more than the desired signal strength;

wherein the module reduces the power it consumes in response to the second signal.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the transceiver is further configured to determine whether the signal strength is less than the desired signal strength.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the transceiver transmits a third signal for the module if the signal strength is less than the desired signal strength and wherein the module increases the power it consumes in response to the third signal.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the transceiver determines whether the signal strength is more than the desired signal strength based on a received signal strength indicator.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the first signal comprises a radio frequency signal.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the desired signal strength is predetermined.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the module reduces the power it consumes by a predetermined amount.

17. A tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first signal having a signal strength, to determine the signal strength, and to cause a second signal to be sent if the signal strength is more than a desired signal strength.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a transmitter configured to send the second signal.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the receiver is further configured to cause a third signal to be sent if the signal strength is less than the desired signal strength.

20. They system of claim 17 wherein the receiver determines the signal strength based on a received signal strength indicator.