Tire pressure monitoring system

• US 20090251305A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Baolong Electronics Bretten GmbH (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Maier, Uli, Braun, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,428,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

The invention relates to a tire pressure monitoring system with a wheel electronic to be installed in a pneumatic tire, comprising a battery as power source, a pressure sensor for measuring of tire pressure or pressure change, and a transmitter for transmitting pressure data, a receiver to be mounted either in or at the vehicle for receiving pressure data, a control unit for evaluating of pressure data, and a serial bus system via which, during operation, the control unit interrogates the receiver and receives subsequently pressure data from the receiver. In accordance with the invention it is provided that additionally to the serial bus system the receiver is also connected with the control unit via a data transfer line that is separate from the serial bus system, wherein the receiver notifies the control unit of critical pressure data via the data transfer line in an unrequested manner.

Claims

1. A tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a wheel electronic installable in a pneumatic tire, the electronic comprising a battery as power source, a pressure sensor for measuring of tire pressure or pressure change, and a transmitter for transmitting pressure data;

a receiver for receiving pressure data;

a control unit for evaluating the pressure data;

a serial bus system interconnecting the control unit and the receiver for enabling the control unit to interrogate the receiver and receive pressure data from the receiver; and

a data transfer line, separate from the serial bus system, for connecting the receiver with the control unit, wherein the receiver notifies the control unit of critical pressure data via the data transfer line in an unrequested manner.

2. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the critical pressure data is a rapid pressure drop, indicating a tire blowout.

3. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the serial bus system is a master-slave bus system.

4. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the wheel electronic comprises an evaluation unit for gathering, from signals of the pressure sensor, the pressure data to be transmitted and determining according to a stored criteria, whether the gathered pressure data is critical.

5. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation unit, when detecting critical pressure data, increases the transmission rate at which the pressure data are sent.

6. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the receiver recognizes critical pressure data on the basis of an increased transmission rate.

7. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the wheel electronic transmits critical pressure data with a special identifier, enabling the receiver to recognize that the pressure data is to be sent by the data transfer line.

8. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is a central receiver for receiving pressure data from several wheel electronics.

9. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle bus and the control unit includes a connector for outputting processed pressure data to the vehicle bus.

10. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the control unit provides a vehicle safety system with information regarding a critical pressure drop via the vehicle bus.

11. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle is controlled with consideration of information about a critical pressure drop provided by the control unit via the vehicle bus.

12. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the anti-lock braking system is controlled by an electronic stability control system using information provided by the control unit via the vehicle bus.