Tire pressure monitor
First Claim
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1. A method for indicating a pressure loss condition in tires of a vehicle, each tire having a speed related to vehicle speed and to vehicle operating condition, comprising the steps of:
- storing a predetermined number of tire speed patterns, each tire speed pattern representing relative tire speed conditions corresponding to a respective normal vehicle operating condition which results in tire speed variations;
sensing the speed of each of the tires;
determining an actual tire speed pattern from the sensed speeds of the tires representing an actual relative tire speed condition; and
determining if the actual tire speed pattern corresponds to any one of the stored tire speed patterns, and (A) if not, determining whether there is a pressure loss condition in the tires in accord with the actual tire speed pattern, and (B) if so, bypassing the step of determining whether there is a pressure loss condition.
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Abstract
The relative speed of the tires of a vehicle is monitored as an indication of the operating state of the vehicle, wherein if the vehicle is not operating in one of a number of predetermined states, the relative speed is monitored as an indication of relative pressure of the vehicle tires, and further wherein differences in relative speed not related to the predetermined states, and not related to differences in relative pressure, are accounted for.
74 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for indicating a pressure loss condition in tires of a vehicle, each tire having a speed related to vehicle speed and to vehicle operating condition, comprising the steps of:
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storing a predetermined number of tire speed patterns, each tire speed pattern representing relative tire speed conditions corresponding to a respective normal vehicle operating condition which results in tire speed variations; sensing the speed of each of the tires; determining an actual tire speed pattern from the sensed speeds of the tires representing an actual relative tire speed condition; and determining if the actual tire speed pattern corresponds to any one of the stored tire speed patterns, and (A) if not, determining whether there is a pressure loss condition in the tires in accord with the actual tire speed pattern, and (B) if so, bypassing the step of determining whether there is a pressure loss condition. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for indicating a pressure loss condition in tires of a vehicle, each tire having a speed related to vehicle speed and to vehicle operating condition, comprising the steps of:
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storing a predetermined number of tire speed patterns, each tire speed pattern representing relative tire speed conditions corresponding to a respective normal vehicle operating condition which results in tire speed variations; sensing the speed of each of the tires over a predetermined time period; determining an actual tire speed pattern from the sensed speeds of the tires representing an actual relative tire speed condition, and from a predetermined offset value; and determining if the actual tire speed pattern corresponds to any one of the stored tire speed patterns, and (A) if not, determining whether there is a pressure loss condition in the tires in accord with the actual tire speed pattern, and (B) if so, bypassing the step of determining whether there is a pressure loss condition. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An apparatus for indicating a pressure loss condition in tires of a vehicle, each tire having a speed related to vehicle speed and to vehicle operating condition, comprising:
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storing means for storing a predetermined number of tire speed patterns, each tire speed pattern representing relative tire speed conditions corresponding to a respective normal vehicle operating condition which results in tire speed variations; speed sensing means for sensing the speed of each of the tires; determining means for determining an actual tire speed pattern from the sensed speeds of the tires representing an actual relative tire speed condition; means for comparing the actual tire speed pattern to the stored tire speed patterns; and pressure loss condition determining means for determining whether there is a pressure loss condition of the tires in accord with the actual tire speed pattern, the pressure loss condition determining means being operative when the actual tire speed pattern does not correspond to any one of the stored tire speed patterns. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An apparatus for indicating a pressure loss condition in tires of a vehicle, each tire having a speed related to vehicle speed and to vehicle operating condition, comprising:
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means for storing a predetermined number of tire speed patterns, each tire speed pattern representing relative tire speed conditions corresponding to a respective normal vehicle operating condition which results in tire speed variations; means for sensing the speed of each of the tires over a predetermined time period; means for determining an actual tire speed pattern from the sensed speeds of the tires representing an actual relative tire speed condition, and from a predetermined offset value; and means for determining if the actual tire speed pattern corresponds to any one of the stored tire speed patterns; and pressure loss condition determining means for determining whether there is a pressure loss condition in the tires in accord with the actual tire speed pattern, the pressure loss condition determining means being operative when the actual tire speed pattern does not correspond to any one of the stored tire speed patterns. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification