Method for the Targeted Stimulation of Wheel Electronics Systems of Tire Groups

• US 20080154560A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Fink, Alexander, Fischer, Frank, Kuchler, Gregor
• Granted Patent: US 7,872,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/8
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/007 having multiple wheels arranged side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/008 having wheels on more than two axles
• 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 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/044 Near field triggers, e.g. magnets or triggers with 125 KHz

Abstract

A method for stimulating wheel electronics systems of single tires of at least one tire group in a motor vehicle. The wheel electronics systems are stimulated with a low frequency trigger signal, as follows: a trigger signal is emitted from an LF trigger to the wheel electronics systems of the relevant tire group at a variably adjustable first transmission field strength. Radio frequency signals are transmitted from those wheel-side wheel electronics systems, at which a sufficiently high transmission field strength of the trigger signal has arrived containing an item of trigger information, to a vehicle-side receiving unit. A determination is made of the number of RF signals received by the vehicle-side receiving unit, each containing one item of trigger information.

Claims

1. A method for stimulating wheel electronics systems of single tires of at least one tire group of a motor vehicle, which comprises the following steps:

emitting a trigger signal from a low frequency (LF) trigger to the wheel electronics systems of a relevant tire group with a variably adjustable first transmission field strength;

sending radio frequency (RF) signals from the wheel electronics systems at which a sufficiently high transmission field strength of the trigger signal has been received to a vehicle-side receiving unit, the RF signals containing an item of trigger information;

determining a number of RF signals received by the vehicle-side receiving unit, each containing one item of trigger information; and

assigning the wheel electronics systems where a number of RF signals received by the vehicle-side receiving unit is equal to a number of wheel electronics systems of the single tires within the respective tire group.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises, if a number of RF signals received on the vehicle side is not equal to the number of wheel electronics systems of the single tires within the respective tire group, effecting at least one further trigger event at a different transmission field strength, wherein an LF trigger signal with lower or higher transmission field strength is emitted if the number that is greater or less than the number of wheel electronics systems of the single tires within the respective tire group, until the number of RF signals received by the vehicle-side receiving unit equals the number of wheel electronics systems of the single tires within the respective tire group.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises issuing an error message for a driver of the motor vehicle when the transmission field strength is reduced to a minimum field strength and more than the number of wheel electronics systems within the respective tire group are determined.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises issuing an error message for a driver of the motor vehicle when the transmission field strength is increased to a maximum field strength and fewer than the number of wheel electronics systems are determined within the respective tire group.

5. The method according to claim 2, which comprises changing the transmission field strength incrementally.

6. The method according to claim 2, which comprises changing the transmission field strength with a single adjustment.

7. The method according to claim 1, which comprises setting the transmission field strength of a first triggering operation equal to the transmission field strength of a last successful triggering operation.

8. The method according to claim 1, which comprises actuating the LF triggers in series.

9. The method according to claim 1, which comprises actuating the LF triggers in parallel.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the number of wheel electronics systems of the single tires within the respective tire group is specified to the system.