Tire pressure monitor system tool with vehicle entry system

• US 20080100430A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Garret, Kochie, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,639,122 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 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations

Abstract

A tire pressure monitor system tool is capable of communicating with a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The tool includes a storing module that stores a plurality of communication protocols that are used for enabling the tool to communicate with a tire pressure monitor system. The tool enables a user to input vehicle data for identifying a vehicle having a tire pressure monitor system with which to communicate. Based on the vehicle data input, the tool determines a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle using information stored by the tool. The tool determines a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle. Based on the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle, the tool determines a protocol used by the tire pressure monitor system to communicate with, for example, the tool and an electronic control unit of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A tool for use with a tire pressure monitor system comprising:

a storing module configured to store a plurality of communication protocols used by a tire pressure monitor system to interface with a vehicle electronic control unit;

a vehicle data requesting module configured to request vehicle data;

a vehicle data receiving module configured to receive the vehicle data;

an accessing module configured to access the storing module to retrieve at least one communication protocol;

a determining module configured to determine whether a communication protocol is stored for a predetermined vehicle; and

a selecting module configured to select the communication protocol based on the vehicle data.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of make, model, and year data.

3. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a linking module configured to link the communication protocol with the vehicle data.

4. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a displaying module configured to display at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

5. The tool of claim 1, further comprising an updating module configured to update the plurality of communication protocols.

6. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a communicating module configured to enable the tool to communicate with the electronic control unit using the at least one communication protocol.

7. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a diagnosing module configured to diagnose the tire pressure monitor system.

8. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a resetting module configured to reset the tire pressure monitor system.

9. A tool for use with a tire pressure monitor system comprising:

storing means for storing a plurality of communication protocols used by a tire pressure monitor system to interface with a vehicle electronic control unit;

vehicle data requesting means for requesting vehicle data;

vehicle data receiving means for receiving the vehicle data;

accessing means for accessing the storing module to retrieve at least one communication protocol;

determining means for determining whether a communication protocol is stored for a predetermined vehicle; and

selecting means for selecting the communication protocol based on the vehicle data.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of make, model, and year data.

11. The tool of claim 9, further comprising linking means for linking the communication protocol with the vehicle data.

12. The tool of claim 9, further comprising displaying means for displaying at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

13. The tool of claim 9, further comprising updating means for updating the plurality of communication protocols.

14. The tool of claim 9, further comprising communicating means for enabling the tool to communicate with the electronic control unit using the at least one communication protocol.

15. The tool of claim 9, further comprising diagnosing means for diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system.

16. The tool of claim 9, further comprising resetting means for resetting the tire pressure monitor system.

17. A method of using a tire pressure monitor system comprising:

storing a plurality of communication protocols used by a tire pressure monitor system to interface with a vehicle electronic control unit in a tire pressure monitor system tool;

requesting vehicle data;

receiving the vehicle data;

accessing the storing module to retrieve at least one communication protocol;

determining whether a communication protocol is stored for a predetermined vehicle; and

selecting the communication protocol based on the vehicle data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of make, model, and year data.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising linking the communication protocol with the vehicle data.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising updating the plurality of communication protocols.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising enabling the tool to communicate with the electronic control unit using the at least one communication protocol.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising resetting the tire pressure monitor system.