DEVICE FOR LOCATING A RIGHT OR LEFT POSITION OF A TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLE

• US 20090144017A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA, TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Dauve, Sebastien, Alcouffe, Francois, Huchard, Xavier, Penot, Thierry, Villien, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/04 using magnetically coupled devices

Abstract

A location device is provided, in which the device is configured to be carried by a tire and wheel assembly so as to locate a right or left position of the assembly in a vehicle. The device includes two magnetic sensors with axes of maximum sensitivity; a measurement circuit for measuring a signal across terminals of each of the magnetic sensors, the measurement circuit being able to deliver two periodic signals phase-shifted with respect to one another and each periodic signal being representative of variations in values of a magnetic field detected by a corresponding magnetic sensor during a revolution of the tire and wheel assembly; and a calculation processor programmed to determine, based on the phase shift between the two periodic signals, a direction of rotation of the tire and wheel assembly, and to deduce from the direction of rotation and a direction of travel of the vehicle, a right or left location of the tire and wheel assembly. The two magnetic sensors have their axes of maximum sensitivity oriented in parallel, and in the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly at distinct azimuths.

Claims

1. A location device configured to be carried by a tire and wheel assembly so as to locate a right or left position of the assembly in a vehicle, the device comprising:

two magnetic sensors with axes of maximum sensitivity;

a measurement circuit for measuring a signal across terminals of each of the magnetic sensors, the measurement circuit being able to deliver two periodic signals phase-shifted with respect one another and each periodic signal representative of variations in values of a magnetic field detected by a corresponding magnetic sensor during a revolution of the tire and wheel assembly; and

a calculation processor programmed to determine, based on the phase shift between the two periodic signals, a direction of rotation of the tire and wheel assembly, and to deduce, from the direction of rotation and a direction of travel of the vehicle, a right or left location of the tire and wheel assembly,

wherein the two magnetic sensors have their axes of maximum sensitivity oriented in parallel, and

wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly at distinct azimuths.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly at substantially a same distance from an rotation axis of the assembly.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the axes of maximum sensitivity of the two magnetic sensors coincide.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly with their axes of maximum sensitivity oriented circumferentially.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly such that the axes of maximum sensitivity are oriented parallel to a rotation axis of the tire and wheel assembly.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential distance between centers of the two magnetic sensors lies between about 1 cm and 8 cm.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation processor is programmed to determine a sign of the phase shift between the two periodic signals by intercorrelating the two periodic signals.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be fixed to a valve for inflating the tire and wheel assembly.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is incorporated in a tire to be utilized with the tire and wheel assembly.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is incorporated in a wheel to be utilized with the tire and wheel assembly.

2. A location device configured to be carried by a tire and wheel assembly so as to locate a right or left position of the assembly in a vehicle, the device comprising:

a plurality of magnetic sensors with axes of maximum sensitivity;

a measurement circuit for measuring a signal across terminals of each of the magnetic sensors, the measurement circuit being able to deliver two periodic signals phase-shifted with respect one another, the two periodic signals being measured from two of the plurality of magnetic sensors, and each periodic signal being representative of variations in values of a magnetic field detected by a corresponding magnetic sensor during a revolution of the tire and wheel assembly; and

a calculation processor programmed to determine, based on the phase shift between the two periodic signals, a direction of rotation of the tire and wheel assembly, and to deduce, from the direction of rotation and a direction of travel of the vehicle, a right or left location of the tire and wheel assembly,

wherein the two magnetic sensors have their axes of maximum sensitivity oriented in parallel, and

wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly at distinct azimuths.

12. A device according to claim 2, wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly at substantially a same distance from an rotation axis of the assembly.

13. A device according to claim 2, wherein the axes of maximum sensitivity of the two magnetic sensors coincide.

14. A device according to claim 2, wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly with their axes of maximum sensitivity oriented circumferentially.

15. A device according to claim 2, wherein the two magnetic sensors are configured to be placed on the tire and wheel assembly such that the axes of maximum sensitivity are oriented parallel to a rotation axis of the tire and wheel assembly.

16. A device according to claim 2, wherein a circumferential distance between centers of the two magnetic sensors lies between about 1 cm and 8 cm.

17. A device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation processor is programmed to determine a sign of the phase shift between the two periodic signals by intercorrelating the two periodic signals.

18. A device according to claim 2, wherein the device is configured to be fixed to a valve for inflating the tire and wheel assembly.

19. A device according to claim 2, wherein the device is incorporated in a tire to be utilized with the tire and wheel assembly.

20. A device according to claim 2, wherein the device is incorporated in a wheel to be utilized with the tire and wheel assembly.