Tire Condition Detecting Device

• US 20080278306A1
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimura, Kazuhiro, Uehara, Tsuyoshi
• Application Number:
  US11/547,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20080278306A1
• 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 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems

Abstract

A tire condition detecting device which detects the state of tires mounted on a vehicle by sensors and receives the radio waves of the detected signals through an antenna stored in an antenna case attached to the vehicle body, and which comprises a heating means capable of heating the antenna case.

Claims

1. A tire condition detection device in which a sensor detects a condition of a tire mounted on a vehicle, and a radio wave of a detection signal of the tire condition is received via an antenna contained in an antenna case mounted on a body side of the vehicle, comprising heating means that can heat the antenna case.

2. A tire condition detection device according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises a heat generation element that can heat the antenna case.

3. A tire condition detection device according to claim 2, wherein the heat generation element is the antenna that can generate heat by flowing electric current therein.

4. A tire condition detection device according to claim 2, wherein the heat generation element is mounted on the antenna case.

5. A tire condition detection device according to claim 2, wherein the heat generation element is designed to be attached to a part of the vehicle on which the antenna case is mounted.

10. A tire condition detection device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor, the vehicle has a temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature, or the tire condition detection device includes a temperature sensor attached to the antenna, and wherein the tire condition detection device comprises processing means, the processing means determining whether a value of a signal of temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature or not, and making the heating means turned on if the processing means determines that it is equal to or less than the predetermined temperature.

11. A tire condition detection device according to claim 10, wherein the processing means makes the heating means turned on only in a case where a switch of a wiper of the vehicle is on.

12. A tire condition detection device according to claim 1, comprising processing means for processing the detection signal received via the antenna, the processing means making the heating means turned on when the processing means loses the detection signal.

13. A tire condition detection device according to claim 1, comprising a switch for turning on and off the heating means.

6. A tire condition detection device in which a sensor detects a condition of a tire mounted on a vehicle, and a radio wave of a detection signal of the tire condition is received via an antenna directly mounted on a body side of the vehicle, comprising heating means that can heat the antenna.

7. A tire condition detection device according to claim 6, wherein the heating means comprises a heat generation element that can heat the antenna.

8. A tire condition detection device according to claim 7, wherein the heat generation element is the antenna that can generate heat by flowing electric current therein.

9. A tire condition detection device according to claim 7, wherein the heat generation element is designed to be mounted near the antenna.

14. A tire condition detection device according to claim 6, wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor, the vehicle has a temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature, or the tire condition detection device includes a temperature sensor attached to the antenna, and wherein the tire condition detection device comprises processing means, the processing means determining whether a value of a signal of temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined temperature or not, and making the heating means turned on if the processing means determines that it is equal to or less than the predetermined temperature.

15. A tire condition detection device according to claim 14, wherein the processing means makes the heating means turned on only in a case where a switch of a wiper of the vehicle is on.

16. A tire condition detection device according to claim 6, comprising processing means for processing the detection signal received via the antenna, the processing means making the heating means turned on when the processing means loses the detection signal.

17. A tire condition detection device according to claim 6, comprising a switch for turning on and off the heating means.