Tire Pressure Monitor System Tool with Active Tire Pressure Display

• US 20130282231A1
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC
• Inventors: Wittliff, William W. III, Farr, Scott Allen
• Granted Patent: US 9,091,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/34.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• 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: G01B 11/2755 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00

Abstract

A wheel alignment apparatus is capable of automatically obtaining tire pressure information from a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The wheel alignment apparatus may include an alignment bay configured to receive a vehicle and an optical system located at an end of the alignment bay and configured to provide an image of wheels of the vehicle. The wheel alignment apparatus may also include a camera configured to receive the image of the wheels of the vehicle and a computer configured to display the image of the wheels of the vehicle and automatically display tire pressure information of the wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is located within a predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.

Claims

1. A wheel alignment apparatus, comprising:

an alignment bay configured to receive a vehicle;

an optical system located at an end of the alignment bay and configured to provide an image of wheels of the vehicle;

a camera configured to receive the image of the wheels of the vehicle; and

a computer configured to display the image of the wheels of the vehicle and automatically display tire pressure information of the wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is located within a predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.

2. The wheel alignment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alignment bay comprises a sensor to detect a presence of the vehicle.

3. The wheel alignment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the alignment bay is further configured to transmit an initiation signal when the presence of the vehicle is detected.

4. The wheel alignment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a scanner configured to scan information associated with the vehicle and is communicatively coupled to the computer.

5. The wheel alignment apparatus of claim 4, wherein the scanner is configured to automatically scan information associated with the vehicle when the vehicle is located within the predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.

6. The wheel alignment apparatus of claim 4, wherein the information associated with the vehicle comprise at least a vehicle identification number (VIN).

7. The wheel alignment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an activation sensor system that comprises a plurality of activation sensors located adjacent to the alignment bay.

8. The wheel alignment apparatus of claim 7, wherein the activation sensor system is activated when the vehicle is located within the predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.

9. The wheel alignment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a remote device configured to communicate with the computer and provide the tire pressure information to the computer.

10. A method for automatically obtaining tire pressure information from a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

storing vehicle data of a plurality types of vehicles in a storing module of a memory;

receiving, with a processor, vehicle data based at least in part on a detection of the vehicle within a communication range of a wheel alignment apparatus;

accessing, with the processor, the storing module to determine whether the received vehicle data is stored in the storing module;

determining, with the processor, a procedure to automatically obtain information from a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle that is within a communication range based at least in part on a determination that the received vehicle data is stored in the storing module; and

receiving, with the processor, the information from the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle that is within the communication range based at least in part on the procedure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of manufacturer, make, model, and year data.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

linking the vehicle data of the plurality types of vehicles stored in the storing module with the received vehicle data.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

automatically displaying the information received from the tire pressure monitor system.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

updating the vehicle data of the plurality types of vehicles.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

transmitting inquiry signals to the vehicle that is within the communication range of the wheel alignment apparatus.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the inquiry signals are transmitted based at least in part on a determination that the received vehicle data is not stored in the storing module.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the inquiry signals are transmitted continuously at a time interval until the tire pressure monitor system of the vehicle is identified.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

determining a type of tire pressure monitor system of the vehicle.

20. A wheel alignment apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving configured to receive a vehicle;

means for imaging configured to capture an image of wheels of the vehicle;

means for capturing configured to receive the image of the wheels of the vehicle; and

means for processing configured to display the image of the wheels of the vehicle and automatically display tire pressure information of the wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is located within a predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.