INTEGRATED SENSING UNIT AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING VEHICLE WHEEL SPEED AND TIRE PRESSURE
First Claim
1. A method for determining vehicle wheel speed with an integrated sensing unit, wherein the integrated sensing unit is mounted on the vehicle wheel and includes a pressure sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a processor, and an antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
- gathering rotational wheel speed readings from the IMU of the integrated sensing unit;
using one or more rotational wheel speed readings gathered from the IMU of the integrated sensing unit to determine an integrated sensor wheel speed value; and
wirelessly transmitting the integrated sensor wheel speed value to a control module via the antenna of the integrated sensing unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated sensing unit and method that involves wirelessly transmitting tire pressure sensor readings and wheel speed readings to a control module in a vehicle. Sensor circuitry for a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system can be used with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) in an integrated sensing unit to facilitate the wireless transmittance of wheel speed data. In an exemplary embodiment, the wheel speed data from the integrated sensing unit provides a redundant measure of wheel speed that can prolong the availability of vehicle systems that rely upon wheel speed, despite a potential malfunction of one or more typical wheel speed sensors.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for determining vehicle wheel speed with an integrated sensing unit, wherein the integrated sensing unit is mounted on the vehicle wheel and includes a pressure sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a processor, and an antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
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gathering rotational wheel speed readings from the IMU of the integrated sensing unit; using one or more rotational wheel speed readings gathered from the IMU of the integrated sensing unit to determine an integrated sensor wheel speed value; and wirelessly transmitting the integrated sensor wheel speed value to a control module via the antenna of the integrated sensing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of corroborating wheel speed data from one or more vehicle wheel speed sensors with an integrated sensing unit, wherein the integrated sensing unit is mounted on the vehicle wheel and includes a pressure sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a processor, and an antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
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gathering rotational wheel speed readings from the IMU of the integrated sensing unit; using one or more rotational wheel speed readings gathered from the IMU of the integrated sensing unit to determine an integrated sensor wheel speed value; and performing intrawheel corroboration with the integrated sensing unit that rotates in the vehicle wheel, wherein intrawheel corroboration verifies the validity of wheel speed data from a stationary, first wheel speed sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An integrated sensing unit, comprising:
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a valve stem; an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for providing rotational wheel speed readings; a pressure sensor for providing tire pressure sensor readings; and sensor circuitry for the IMU and the pressure sensor including memory, a processing unit, and a wireless unit for transmitting an integrated sensor wheel speed value to a control module of a vehicle, wherein the integrated sensing unit is mounted within a vehicle wheel and the integrated sensor wheel speed value is obtained from one or more rotational wheel speed readings provided by the IMU.
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Specification