RECEIVER SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES

• US 20100123569A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuji, Hiroyuki, Okada, Noriaki, Asai, Kentarou
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,040 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

A tire air pressure detection system and a remote key entry system have first and second receiver units, respectively. The first receiver unit has a change-over switch, which selectively outputs to a chassis ECU an output signal of either one of the first and second receiver units. Thus, the chassis ECU can receive any one of the output signals by only one interface.

Claims

1. A receiver system for vehicles having a first transmitter and a second transmitter, the first transmitter transmitting a data signal and the second transmitter transmitting a data signal, the system comprising:

a first receiver unit including a first antenna for receiving the data signal of the first transmitter, a first receiver circuit for receiving an output signal of the first antenna corresponding to the data signal of the first transmitter, a first microcomputer for receiving an output signal of the first receiver circuit corresponding to the output signal of the first antenna, and a first interface for receiving and outputting an output signal of the first microcomputer corresponding to the output signal of the first receiver circuit;

a second receiver unit including a second antenna for receiving the data signal of second transmitter, a second receiver circuit for receiving an output signal of the second antenna corresponding to the data signal of the second transmitter, a second microcomputer for receiving an output signal of the second receiver circuit corresponding to the output signal of the second antenna, and a second interface for receiving and outputting an output signal of the second microcomputer corresponding to the output signal of the second receiver circuit; and

an electronic control unit including a third interface for receiving the output signals of the first interface and the second interface as output signals of the first receiver unit, and the second receiver unit, and a third microcomputer for producing an output signal by processing an output signal of the third interface,

wherein the first receiver unit includes a change-over switch, which is controllable by the first microcomputer, for selecting and transmitting one of the output signals of the first microcomputer and the second receiver unit to the electronic control unit.

2. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver unit is configured to receive, as the data signal of the first transmitter, radio wave including data indicative of a tire air pressure of a vehicle; and

the second receiver unit is configured to receive, as the data signal of the second transmitter, radio wave including data indicative of a command of locking/unlocking of a door of the vehicle.

3. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein:

the change-over switch is supplied with electric power whether an ignition switch of the vehicle is in an an-state or an off-state, the first receiver circuit and the first microcomputer are supplied with electric power only when the ignition switch is in the on-state; and

the first microcomputer controls the change-over switch to transmit the output signal of the second receiver unit to the electronic control unit through the first interface when the ignition switch is in the off-state.

4. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver unit is supplied with electric power only when an ignition switch of the vehicle is in the on-state; and

the first microcomputer receives a condition signal indicative of an on/off condition of the ignition switch, and controls the change-over switch to transmit the output signal of the first microcomputer and the output signal of the second receiver unit to the electronic control unit through the first interface when the condition signal indicates the on-state and the off-state of the ignition switch, respectively.

5. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 2, wherein:

the electronic control unit produces a request signal for registration of the remote key; and

the first microcomputer controls, in response to the request signal, the change-over switch to select and transmit the output signal of the second receiver unit to the electronic control unit through the first interface.

6. The receiver system according to claim 1, wherein:

the change-over switch is configured to stop transmission of the output signal of the second receiver unit to the electronic control unit, when the output signal of the first microcomputer is selected and transmitted to the electronic control unit through the first interface.

7. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver unit includes a first self-check line and a second self-check line, the first self-check line applying a self-check signal from the first microcomputer to the change-over switch and the second self-check line applying an output signal of the change-over switch to the first microcomputer; and

the first microcomputer controls the change-over switch to output the self-check signal applied from the first microcomputer through the first self-check line, and performs a self-check operation based on whether the self-check signal is received from the change-over switch through the second self-check line.

8. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 7, wherein:

the first self-check line is connected to a local line connecting the second interface to the change-over switch;

the first microcomputer controls, at time of the self-check operation, the change-over switch to select and transmit the output signal of the second receiver unit, and produces as the self-check signal a pseudo signal, which is the same as the output signal produced by the second receiver unit when the data signal indicative of the command of locking/unlocking a door is received.

9. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 7, wherein:

the first microcomputer controls, at time of the self-check operation, the change-over switch to select and transmit the output signal of the first microcomputer applied through the first self-check line, and produces as the self-check signal a pseudo signal, which is the same as the output signal produced by the first microcomputer when the data signal indicative of the tire air pressure is received.