Method and Monitoring Unit for Monitoring a Tire Pressure

• US 20100188202A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Müller, Axel, Kuchler, Gregor
• Granted Patent: US 8,279,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0406 Alarms noticeable from outside the vehicle, e.g. indication in side mirror, front light or audible alarms B60C23/0403, B60C23/0405 take precedence
• 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

A method and a monitoring unit for monitoring an air pressure in a tire of a motor vehicle register a measured value of the air pressure in the tire. The current and/or future distance of the motor vehicle relative to a service station and/or an operating situation of the motor vehicle associated with a service process is then determined. An alarm signal is only then output if the measured value does not reach a predefinable threshold value and one or both of the conditions applies: the current or future distance of the motor vehicle relative to a service station does not reach a predefinable threshold value, the registered operating situation corresponds to a predefinable operating situation.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method of monitoring a tire pressure in a tire of a motor vehicle, which comprises the following method steps:

a) acquiring a measured value of the tire pressure in the tire;

b) determining at least one of a current and/or future distance of the motor vehicle relative to a service station and/or determining an operating situation of the motor vehicle associated with a service process; and

c) outputting an alarm signal if the measured value undershoots a predefined threshold value and one or both of the following conditions;

the current or future distance of the motor vehicle relative to a service station undershoots a predefined threshold value; and

the registered operating situation corresponds to a predefined operating situation.

13. The method according to claim 12, which comprises determining a current position of the motor vehicle with the aid of GPS or GSM and determining a future position with the aid of a route planned in a navigation system.

14. The method according to claim 12, which comprises providing for one or more situations selected from the group:

ignition key is removed, door is opened, seat is vacated, radio/infotainment systems remain switched off after switching off the ignition, fuel tank cap is unlocked/opened, fill level in the tank is low, fill level in the tank is increasing;

as an operating situation associated with a service process.

15. The method according to claim 12, which comprises not performing step b) until the measured value of the tire pressure undershoots a predefined threshold value.

16. The method according to claim 12, which comprises, instead of evaluating the distances or additionally to evaluating the distances, evaluating temporal gradients thereof or signs thereof.

17. A monitoring unit for monitoring a tire pressure in a tire of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a device for determining a measured value of the tire pressure in the tire;

a device for registering a current and/or future distance of the motor vehicle relative to a service station and/or for registering an operating situation of the motor vehicle associated with a service process;

an output device for outputting an alarm signal if the measured value undershoots a predefined threshold value and one or both of the following conditions are true;

the current or future distance of the motor vehicle relative to a service station undershoots a predefined threshold value; and

the registered operating situation corresponds to a predefined operating situation.

18. The monitoring unit according to claim 17, which further comprises sensors for determining the current position of the motor vehicle with the aid of GPS or GSM and a processor for calculating the future position with the aid of a route planned in a navigation system.

19. The monitoring unit according to claim 17, wherein the operating situation associated with a service process includes one or more provisions selected from the following group:

ignition key is removed, door is opened, seat is vacated, radio/infotainment systems remain switched off after switching off the ignition, fuel tank cap is unlocked/opened, fill level in the tank is low, and fill level in the tank is increasing.

20. The monitoring unit according to claim 17, wherein the device for registering becomes active only when the measured value of the tire pressure undershoots a predefined threshold value.

21. The monitoring unit according to claim 17, wherein said output device is configured to evaluate, instead of the distances or additionally thereto, the temporal gradients or the signs thereof.

22. The monitoring unit according to claim 17, wherein said output device for outputting an alarm signal is disposed in a semiconductor module and the device for determining represents at least one input and/or a radio receiver module of said semiconductor module.