INITIATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090195373A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anthony William Parsons, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Robert Edward Lionetti, Robert Leon Benedict
• Original Assignee: Anthony William Parsons, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Robert Edward Lionetti, Robert Leon Benedict
• Inventors: Lettieri, Joseph Carmine, Benedict, Robert Leon, Lionetti, Robert Edward, Parsons, Anthony William
• Application Number:
  US12/023,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/447
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/007 having multiple wheels arranged side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• 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

An initiator system and method is provided for a tire pressure monitoring system. The initiator system includes a service station through which the vehicle passes. While situated within the service station, an initiation signal is generated prompting data transmission from wheel unit based tire pressure monitoring device to a receiver. An output device may be employed to visually display information responsive to the transmitted data.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for a vehicle having at least one wheel unit, the wheel unit including a wheel rim and tire mounted to the wheel rim, the monitoring system comprising:

a pass-through service station operatively receiving the vehicle therein;

a tire monitoring device mounted to the wheel unit and operatively generating within the service station a data transmission responsive to an initiation signal;

a stationary initiation signal generator within the service station for generating an initiation signal.

2. The tire monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver within the service station for receiving the data transmission.

3. The tire monitoring system of claim 2, further comprising an output device connected to the receiver for generating an output display responsive to the transmitted data.

4. The tire monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the output device comprises a visible digital output display.

5. The tire monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the output device comprises a visible digital output lightbar.

6. The tire monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the receiver includes a data transmission decoder.

7. The tire monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the service station includes a vehicle-supporting ground pad proximally positioned to the initiation signal generator

8. The tire monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the initiation signal generator is a low frequency magnetic field generator.

9. The tire monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the low frequency field generator includes a low frequency antenna embedded in the ground pad within the service station.

10. The tire monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the data transmission includes information relating to the group:

{vehicle specific information, tire specific information, cargo specific information, and itinerary specific information}.

11. The tire monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle includes a cargo transporting trailer.

12. The tire monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the service station includes a vehicle-supporting ground pad proximally positioned to the initiation signal generator.

13. The tire monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the initiation signal generator is a low frequency magnetic field generator.

14. The tire monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the low frequency field generator includes a low frequency antenna embedded in the ground pad within the service station.

15. A method for monitoring a vehicle supported by at least one wheel unit, the wheel unit including a wheel rim, a tire mounted to the wheel rim, and a tire monitoring device affixed to the wheel unit, the method comprising:

moving the vehicle into a service station having an initiation signal generator located therein;

positioning the tire monitoring device affixed to the wheel unit into operational proximity with the initiation signal generator while the vehicle is within the service station;

generating an initiation signal utilizing the initiation signal generator;

commencing data transmission from the tire monitoring device affixed to the wheel unit responsive to the initiation signal;

transmitting data from the tire monitoring device to a remote receiver within the service station; and

moving the vehicle from the service station.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising operatively displaying information responsive to the transmitted data.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising utilizing a low frequency magnetic field to activate the tire monitoring device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising utilizing an embedded a low frequency antenna in a ground pad within the service station.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

including within the data transmission information relating to at least one parameter from the group;

{vehicle specific information, tire specific information, cargo specific information, itinerary specific information}.