UNIVERSAL TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SENSOR

• US 20120119895A1
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Deniau, Jean-Christophe, Farrell, Brian J., Costello, John R., Desai, Tejas B., Bigot, Franck
• Granted Patent: US 8,692,661 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

A programming system for a tire pressure monitoring device includes a programming device capable of communicating which of a plurality of communication protocols is to be utilized by the transmitter/receiver of a tire pressure monitoring device. The programming device including a user interface actuateable for communicating which of a plurality of communication protocols is to be utilized by the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device.

Claims

1. A programming system for a tire pressure monitoring device comprising:

at least one tire pressure monitoring device for installation within a vehicle tire, each of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device includes a memory device capable of storing one or more of a plurality of communication protocols, wherein each of the communication protocols define a complete set of instructions for communicating with a receiver mounted within a vehicle, a transmitter/receiver for communicating information to a receiver mounted within a vehicle, and a sensor for measuring at least one parameter indicative of conditions within a tire; and

a programming device capable of communicating which of a plurality of communication protocols is to be utilized by the transmitter/receiver of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device for communicating with a receiver mounted within a vehicle, the programming device including a physical interface for locating the at least one tire pressure monitoring device with respect to the programming device, the programming device further including a user interface actuateable for communicating one of the plurality of communication protocols to the transmitter/receiver of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device.

2. The programming system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitter/receiver is configured to receive a wireless signal from the programming device indicating which of one of a plurality of previously stored selectable communication protocols is to govern operation of the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device.

3. The programming system as recited in claim 2, wherein the programming device emits a wireless signal receivable by the transmitter/receiver responsive to actuation of a selected portion of the user interface for instructing which of the plurality of selectable communication protocols governs operation of the tire pressure monitoring sensor.

4. The programming system as recited in claim 2, wherein the physical interface defines a communication link between the programming device and the tire pressure monitoring device for communicating a selected one of a plurality of communication protocols to be utilized by the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device.

5. The programming system as recited in claim 4, wherein the physical interface comprises a physical connection between the programming device and the tire pressure monitoring device defined on the programming device, the physical connection comprising a mounting location for receiving a tire pressure monitoring device and forming an electrical connection between the programming device and the tire pressure monitoring device.

6. The programming system as recited in claim 1, wherein the physical interface comprises a mount for receiving and providing support to the at least one tire pressure monitoring device.

7. The programming system as recited in claim 6, wherein the physical interface substantially limits movement of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device with respect to the programming device.

8. The programming system as recited in claim 7, wherein the physical interface includes an opening defining a shape that corresponds to an outer shape of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device.

9. The programming system as recited in claim 8, wherein the physical interface orientates the at least one tire pressure monitoring device widthwise and generally parallel with respect to the user interface.

10. The programming system as recited in claim 5, wherein the physical interface:

i) comprises a mount for receiving and providing support to the at least one tire pressure monitoring device, ii) substantially limits movement of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device with respect to the programming device, iii) includes an opening defining a shape that corresponds to an outer shape of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device, and iv) orientates the at least one tire pressure monitoring device widthwise and generally parallel with respect to the user interface.

11. The programming system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface actuateable for communicating one of the plurality of communication protocols to the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device comprises a plurality of individually operable buttons representing a different one of the plurality of communication protocols.

12. The programming system as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming device includes a display and the user interface actuateable for communicating one of the plurality of communication protocols to the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device comprises a plurality of buttons operable to select items viewable on the display including elements representing a desired communication protocol.

13. The programming system as recited in claim 10, wherein the programming device includes a display and the user interface actuateable for communicating one of the plurality of communication protocols to the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device comprises a plurality of buttons operable to select items viewable on the display including elements representing a desired communication protocol.

14. The programming system as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming device includes a memory device for storing a plurality of communication protocols defining operation of the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device.

15. The programming system as recited in claim 14, wherein the memory device of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device is configured for flash programming.

16. The programming system as recited in claim 15, wherein the memory device of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device is reprogrammable through the use of the programming device.

17. The programming system as recited in claim 16, wherein the programming device programs the tire pressure monitoring device using a low frequency wireless transmission.

18. The programming system as recited in claim 17, wherein the physical interface and user interface are combined into a single integrated unit.

19. The programming system as recited in claim 13, wherein the programming device includes a memory device for storing a plurality of communication protocols defining operation of the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device, wherein the memory device of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device is configured for flash programming and is reprogrammable through the use of the programming device, and wherein the programming device programs the tire pressure monitoring device using a low frequency wireless transmission.

20. The programming system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one tire pressure monitoring device comprises a plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices.

21. The programming system as recited in claim 16, wherein the plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices are simultaneously programmed.

22. The programming system as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming device is electrically connected to the at least one tire pressure monitoring device through a wired connection.

23. A programming device for a tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a memory device storing a plurality of selectable communications protocols, wherein each of the plurality of communication protocols includes complete instructions defining communication between a transmitter/receiver of a tire pressure monitoring device and a receiver;

a physical interface for locating a tire pressure monitoring device with respect to the programming device; and

a user interface actuateable for communicating one of the plurality of communication protocols to the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device.

24. The programming device as recited in claim 23, wherein the user interface comprises a display and manually operable features actuateable for communicating one of the plurality of communication protocols to the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device, wherein the display includes elements representing a desired communication protocol.

25. The programming device as recited in claim 23, wherein the user interface actuateable for communicating one of the plurality of communication protocols to the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device comprises a plurality of individually operable buttons representing a different one of the plurality of communication protocols.

26. The programming device as recited in claim 24, wherein the physical interface for communicating with a tire pressure monitoring device comprises a wireless signal receivable by the transmitter/receiver responsive to actuation of a selected portion of the manually operable interface instructing which of the plurality of selectable communication protocols governs operation of the tire pressure monitoring sensor.

27. The programming device as recited in claim 26, wherein the physical interface defines a communication link between the programming device and the tire pressure monitoring device for communicating a selected one of a plurality of communication protocols to be utilized by the transmitter/receiver of the tire pressure monitoring device.

28. The programming device as recited in claim 23, wherein the physical interface comprises a mount to receive and provide support to the at least one tire pressure monitoring device.

29. The programming device as recited in claim 28, wherein the physical interface substantially limits movement of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device with respect to the programming device.

30. The programming device as recited in claim 29, wherein the physical interface includes an opening defining a shape that corresponds to an outer shape of the at least one tire pressure monitoring device.

31. The programming device as recited in claim 30, wherein the physical interface orientates the at least one tire pressure monitoring device widthwise and generally parallel with respect to the user interface.