Apparatus and process for monitoring a vehicle condition

• US 20090243829A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive US LLC and Michelin Recherche et Technique SA
• Inventors: Lin, Xing Ping, Skalski, Steven Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,026,803 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 23/0462 Structure of transmission protocol

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle condition comprises a sensor for sensing the vehicle condition and a transmitter for transmitting signals indicative of the sensed vehicle condition. The transmitted signals include a first signal set and a second signal set. A receiver mountable on the vehicle is provided for receiving the transmitted signals. The receiver has a first operating state when the vehicle ignition is OFF and a second operating state when the vehicle ignition is ON. The first signal set includes a wake-up portion to wake up the receiver when the receiver is in its first operating state and an information portion. The second signal set includes an information portion. The transmitted signals include at least one first signal set and at least one second signal set during a predetermined time period when the vehicle ignition is OFF and when the vehicle ignition is ON.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring a vehicle condition comprising:

a sensor for sensing the vehicle condition;

a transmitter for transmitting signals indicative of the sensed vehicle condition, the transmitted signals including a first signal set and a second signal set; and

a receiver mountable on the vehicle for receiving the transmitted signals, said receiver having a first operating state when the vehicle ignition is OFF and a second operating state when the vehicle ignition is ON;

the first signal set including a wake-up portion to wake up the receiver when the receiver is in its first operating state and an information portion, the second signal set including an information portion, the transmitted signals including at least one first signal set and at least one second signal set during a predetermined time period when the vehicle ignition is OFF and when the vehicle ignition is ON.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter transmits the first signal set and the second signal set alternately.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter transmits the second signal set at least twice in succession and the first signal set only once during said predetermined time period.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitter transmits the signals wirelessly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensed vehicle condition is pressure in at least one tire for the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is free of any indication of vehicle motion.

7. Apparatus for remote monitoring of tire pressure in a vehicle having at least one tire, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a tire monitor for mounting in a tire, the tire monitor comprising a sensor for sensing tire pressure and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting tire pressure signals representative of the sensed tire pressure, the transmitted tire pressure signals including a first signal set and a second signal set; and

(b) a receiver mountable on the vehicle for receiving the transmitted tire pressure signals, the receiver having at least an inactive state when an ignition switch in the vehicle is OFF,

the transmitter transmitting the tire pressure signals at predetermined time intervals and also wirelessly transmitting wake-up signals associated with some of the tire pressure signals to ensure receipt by the receiver of the transmitted tire pressure signals when the receiver is in the inactive state, the transmitter transmitting the tire pressure signals and the wake-up signals such that, during a predetermined time period when the ignition switch is OFF and when the ignition switch is ON, at least one tire pressure signal is transmitted with an associated wake-up signal and at least one tire pressure signal is transmitted free of an associated wake-up signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the transmitter alternately transmits said at least one tire pressure signal with an associated wake-up signal and said at least one tire pressure signal free of an associated wake-up signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the transmitter transmits said at least one tire pressure signal free of an associated wake-up signal at least twice in succession and said at least one tire pressure signal free of an associated wake-up signal only once during said predetermined time period.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus is free of any indication of vehicle motion.

11. A process for monitoring a vehicle condition comprising:

sensing a vehicle condition;

transmitting signals indicative of the sensed vehicle condition, the transmitted signals including a first signal set and a second signal set; and

receiving the transmitted signals, the transmitted signals being received by a receiver having one operating state when a vehicle ignition is OFF and a second operating state when the vehicle ignition is ON;

the first signal set including a wake-up portion to wake up the receiver when the receiver is in its first operating state and an information portion, the second signal set including an information portion,

at least one first signal set and at least one second signal set being transmitted during a predetermined time period when the vehicle ignition is OFF and when the vehicle ignition is ON.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein the first signal set and the second signal set are transmitted alternately.

13. The process of claim 11 wherein the second signal set is transmitted at least twice in succession and the first signal set is transmitted only once during said predetermined time period.

14. The process of claim 11 wherein the signals are transmitted wirelessly.

15. The process of claim 11 wherein the sensed vehicle condition is pressure in at least one tire for the vehicle.

16. The process of claim 11 wherein the process is free of any indication of vehicle motion.

17. A process for remotely monitoring tire pressure in a vehicle having at least one tire, the process comprising:

(a) sensing tire pressure in said at least one tire;

(b) wirelessly transmitting tire pressure signals representative of the sensed tire pressure;

(c) wirelessly transmitting wake-up signals with some of the tire pressure signals; and

(d) receiving the tire pressure signals and the wake-up signals using a receiver having at least an inactive state when an ignition switch in the vehicle is OFF, the wake-up signals ensuring receipt of the tire pressure signals when the receiver is in the inactive state,

the tire pressure signals and the wake-up signals being transmitted such that, during a predetermined time period when the ignition switch in the vehicle is OFF and when the ignition switch in the vehicle is ON, at least one tire pressure signal is transmitted with an associated wake-up signal and at least one tire pressure signal is transmitted free of an associated wake-up signal.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein said at least one tire pressure signal with an associated wake-up signal is transmitted alternately with said at least one tire pressure signal free of an associated wake-up signal.

19. The process of claim 17 wherein said at least one tire pressure signal free of an associated wake-up signal is transmitted at least twice in succession and said at least one tire pressure signal free of an associated wake-up signal is transmitted only once during said predetermined time period.

20. The process of claim 17 wherein the process is free of any indication of vehicle motion.