Methods and Systems for Determining a Tire Pressure Status

• US 20130311033A1
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Patel, Dilip B., Schondorf, Steven Yellin, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Bennie, Brian, Swadling, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 9,205,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.4
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0462 Structure of transmission protocol
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0484 Detecting an ongoing tyre inflation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00

Abstract

Various embodiments may include methods and systems for determining a tire pressure status. The system may include at least one computer. An input defining an inflation status of one or more vehicle tires, as well as tire inflation data of the one or more tires, may be received. A specific value associated with an inflation event of the one or more vehicle tires may be calculated based on the inflation data. Further, one or more messages for outputting the specific value from one or more vehicle components may be generated and transmitted to the one or more vehicle components. The specific value may be output as one or more messages from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tire pressure status notification from a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving input defining an inflation status of one or more vehicle tires;

receiving tire inflation data of the one or more tires;

calculating a specific value associated with an inflation event of the one or more vehicle tires based on the inflation data comprising tire pressure, tire air temperature, and atmospheric pressure;

generating one or more messages for outputting the specific value from one or more vehicle components; and

transmitting the one or more messages to the one or more vehicle components for outputting the specific value as one or more messages from the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically sampling a pressure value of the one or more tires, wherein the tire inflation data includes the sampled pressure value.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the tire inflation data further includes at least one of a placard pressure value and a duration of inflation of the one or more tires.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising periodically sampling the pressure value according to a sampling mode.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the status input and the inflation data are received via one or more data packets transmitted from one or more tire pressure monitoring sensors.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the status input and the inflation data are received in response to a triggering event.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the triggering event is an air mass change of one or more tires.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the status input and the inflation data are received periodically after the triggering event.

9. A tire pressure status notification system for a vehicle comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive input defining an inflation status of one or more vehicle tires;

receive tire inflation data of the one or more tires;

calculate a specific value associated with an inflation event of the one or more vehicle tires based on the inflation data comprising tire pressure, tire air temperature, and atmospheric pressure;

generate one or more messages for outputting the specific value from one or more vehicle components; and

transmit the one or more messages to the one or more vehicle components for outputting the specific value as one or more messages from the vehicle.

10. The tire pressure status notification system of claim 9 wherein the specific value is a numeric pressure value of the one or more vehicle tires measured in a unit of pressure.

11. The tire pressure status notification system of claim 10 wherein the numeric pressure value is a difference between a stored placard pressure value and a pressure value of the one or more vehicle tires measured at one or more instances during the inflation event.

12. The tire pressure status notification system of claim 9 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive periodic sampling of a pressure value of the one or more tires, wherein the tire inflation data includes the sampled pressure value.

13. The tire pressure status notification system of claim 12 wherein the tire inflation data further includes at least one of a placard pressure value and a duration of inflation of the one or more vehicle tires.

14. The tire pressure status notification system of claim 12 further comprising periodic sampling the pressure value according to a sampling mode.

15. The tire pressure status notification system of claim 9 wherein the status input and the inflation data are received via one or more data packets transmitted from one or more tire pressure monitoring sensors.

16. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine a periodic interval to request tire data of a tire based on one or more monitoring modes including rotating mode, stationary mode, and interim mode;

receive requested tire data of the tire at the determined intervals;

generate a message for outputting the tire data; and

transmit the message to a vehicle component for output.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the one or more monitoring modes may be based on a signal being transmitted from a motion sensor communicating with tire pressure sensors.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the rotating mode request tire data every 5 seconds.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the stationary mode request tire data every 60 seconds.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the tire data further includes at least one of a placard pressure value and a duration of inflation of the one or more tires.