System for Monitoring a Pressure in Motor Vehicle Tires and a Method for Diagnosticating By Means of Said System

• US 20080303651A1
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG), Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive France (Continental AG), Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Costes, Olivier, Caldichoury, Anne
• Granted Patent: US 7,973,650 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 23/0474 Measurement control, e.g. setting measurement rate or calibrating of sensors; Further processing of measured values, e.g. filtering, compensating or slope monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

The motor vehicle tire pressure monitoring system includes a computer to receive input data including at least one tire pressure and transmit a warning to a driver of the vehicle in the event of an abnormal pressure in the tire. The system also includes a recording unit designed to record the input data from the monitoring system in the event that the warning is transmitted to the driver. The data recorded in this recording unit is accessible for diagnosis.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A vehicle tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a processor to receive input data including at least one tire pressure and to transmit a warning to a driver of the vehicle based upon the at least one tire pressure; and

a recording unit to record the input data from the processor at least when the warning is transmitted to the driver, the recorded input data being accessible for diagnosis.

7. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recording unit also records the input data before and after the transmission of the warning to the driver.

8. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the input data received by the processor includes tire pressures and a distance traveled.

9. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the input data received by the processor also includes tire temperatures and a speed of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle tire monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of wheel units each respectively associated with a tire of the vehicle to measure a tire parameter thereof;

a processor to receive tire input data from the plurality of wheel units and to transmit a warning to a driver of the vehicle based thereon; and

a recording unit to record the tire input data from the processor at least when the warning is transmitted to the driver, the recorded input data being accessible for diagnosis.

11. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the recording unit also records the tire input data before and after the transmission of the warning to the driver.

12. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tire input data received by the processor includes tire pressures.

13. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tire input data received by the processor also includes tire temperatures.

14. The monitoring system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the recording unit records additional input data including distance traveled and vehicle speed.

15. A diagnosis method using a vehicle tire monitoring system including a processor to receive input data including at least one tire pressure and to transmit a warning to a driver of the vehicle based upon the at least one tire pressure, and a recording unit to record the input data from the processor, the method comprising:

reading the input data recorded in the recording unit;

identifying the input data associated with the warning; and

examining the identified input data over a time range including prior to and after the warning.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the recording unit records the input data before and after the transmission of the warning to the driver.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the input data examined includes tire pressures and a distance traveled.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the input data examined also includes tire temperatures and a speed of the vehicle.