Tire pressure drop detecting device and method

• US 5,591,906 A
• Filed: 05/12/1994
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Okawa, Yasushi, Isshiki, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOLLER, RICHARD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/241,997
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 73/146.2, 73/146.3, 73/146.4, 73/146.5, 340/442, 340/443, 340/444, 340/671, 340/438, 340/448, 364/558, 364/565, 364/426.01, 364/426.02, 364/426.03, 364/426.04
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/061 by monitoring wheel speed measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles G01C22/00

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device for and a method of detecting a tire pressure drop for a four-wheel vehicle. When F1, F2, F3 and F4 are respectively taken as the rotational angular velocities of four tires, a judged value dF given by the following equation (A) is found:

dF=(F1+F4)/(F2+F3)                                         (A)

The judged value dF is the ratio of the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F1+F4) of a pair of tires on a diagonal line to the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F2+F3) of the other pair of tires. If the pneumatic pressures of the four tires are all normal, (F1+F4)=(F2+F3), so that dF=1. On the other hand, if the pneumatic pressure of any one of the tires drops, dF≠1. Accordingly, it is judged that the pneumatic pressure of a tire drops by comparing the judged value with a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A tire-pressure drop detecting device for a four-wheel vehicle having four tires, comprising:

rotational angular velocity detecting means for each tire, each rotational angular velocity detecting means including

pulse outputting means respectively provided in relation to a corresponding tire for outputting pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the corresponding tire,

counting means connected to the pulse outputting means for counting the pulses applied from the pulse outputting means within a predetermined measuring period,

storing means for storing the time when the last pulse within each of the measuring periods is applied to the counting means,

means for calculating the time elapsed from the time when the last pulse in the preceding measuring period is applied to the time when the last pulse in the present measuring period is applied, which calculated time is stored in the storing means as a reference time of the present measuring period,

means for dividing the number of pulses applied within the present measuring period by said reference time, to calculate a number of pulses per unit time, and

means for calculating the rotational angular velocity of the corresponding tire on the basis of said calculated number of pulses per unit time;

vehicle state judging means for judging whether or not said four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for detection of a tire pressure reduction;

operating means for

not performing an operation if said vehicle state judging means judges that the four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection, and

finding, from the rotational angular velocities of the four tires detected by said rotational angular velocity detecting means, the ratio of the sum of the rotational angular velocities of a first pair of tires to the sum of the rotational angular velocities of a second pair of tires, the first pair of tires being spatially arranged on a diagonal line relative to the four tires of the vehicle, if said vehicle state judging means does not judge that the four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection; and

reduced pressure tire judging means for judging that the pneumatic pressure of a tire is reduced depending on whether the ratio found by said operating means is larger or smaller than a predetermined value.

2. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the results of the judgment by said reduced pressure tire judging means.

3. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said display means comprises display elements corresponding to the four tires, such that

the display element corresponding to a tire whose pneumatic pressure is judged to be reduced lights up or flickers, and

all the display elements light up for a predetermined time period after an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on.

4. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction includes any of:

(1) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is traveling at a low speed of not more than a predetermined speed,

(2) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is being accelerated or decelerated at not less than a predetermined rate,

(3) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is cornering at a smaller radius than a predetermined radius of curvature,

(4) a state where lateral acceleration of not less than a predetermined value is produced in the four-wheel vehicle,

(5) a state where

the four-wheel vehicle is changed from a linearly traveling condition to a cornering condition, or from a cornering condition to a linearly traveling condition, and

the rate of change in the lateral acceleration produced by the change in traveling conditions exceeds a predetermined specified value, and

(6) a state where a device provided for the four-wheel vehicle, which device renders the tires unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction, is being operated.

5. A tire pressure drop detecting device for a four-wheel vehicle having four tires, comprising:

rotational angular velocity detecting means for each tire, each rotational-angular velocity detecting means including

pulse outputting means provided in relation to a corresponding tire for outputting pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the corresponding tire,

counting means connected to the pulse outputting means for counting the pulses applied from the pulse outputting means within a predetermined measuring period,

first storing means for storing the time when the last pulse within each of the measuring periods is applied to the counting means,

means for calculating the time elapsed from the time when the last pulse in the preceding measuring period is applied to the time when the last pulse in the present measuring period is applied, which calculated time is stored in the first storing means as a reference time of the present measuring period,

means for dividing the number of pulses applied within the present measuring period by said reference time, to calculate a number of pulses per unit time, and

means for calculating the rotational angular velocity of the corresponding tire on the basis of said calculated number of pulses per unit time;

correcting means for correcting the rotational angular velocity of each of the-tires detected by the rotational angular velocity detecting means based upon the behavior of said four-wheel vehicle;

operating means for finding the ratio of the sum of the rotational angular velocities of a first pair of tires to the sum of the rotational angular velocities of a second pair of tires on a the basis of the rotational angular velocities of the respective tires corrected by said correcting means, the first pair of tires being spatially arranged on a diagonal line relative to the four tires of the vehicle; and

reduced pressure tire judging means for judging that the pneumatic pressure of a tire is reduced based upon whether the ratio found by said operating means is larger or smaller than a predetermined value.

6. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said correcting means corrects the detected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires depending on the travel speed of the four-wheel vehicle.

7. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 6, wherein said correcting means corrects the detected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires when the four-wheel vehicle is cornering.

8. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said correcting means corrects the detected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires when the four-wheel vehicle is cornering.

9. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said correcting means finds an amount of variation in a rolling radius of each tire due to the effect of a travel speed of the vehicle on the basis of a predetermined function representing a relationship between the travel speed of the vehicle and the amount of variation in the rolling radius, so as to correct the rotational angular velocities of the tires on the basis of the found amount of the variation in the rolling radius.

10. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said correcting means comprises second storing means for storing a table representing a relationship between a travel speed of the vehicle and an amount of variation in a rolling radius of each tire, the contents stored in the second storing means being readable to find the amount of variation in the rolling radius of each tire due to the travel speed of the vehicle, for correcting the rotational angular velocities of the respective tires on the basis of the found amount of variation in the rolling radius of each tire.

11. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said correcting means judges that the vehicle is cornering when

the difference or the ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left and right front tires exceeds a specified value, or

the difference or the ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left and right rear tires exceeds a specified value, for correcting the rotational angular velocities of the tires on the basis of a lateral acceleration calculated from the rotational angular velocities of the tires.

12. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to any one of claims 5 to 11, further comprising vehicle state judging means for judging whether or not said four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for detection of a tire pressure reduction,

said operating means not finding the sum of the rotational angular velocities when said vehicle state judging means judges that the four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection.

13. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 12, wherein a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction includes any of:

(1) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is traveling at a low speed of not more than a predetermined speed,

(2) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is being accelerated or decelerated at not less than a predetermined rate,

(3) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is cornering at a smaller radius than a predetermined radius of curvature,

(4) a state where lateral acceleration of not less than a predetermined value is produced in the four-wheel vehicle,

(5) a state where

the four-wheel vehicle is changed from a linearly traveling condition to a cornering condition, or from a cornering condition to a linearly traveling condition, and

the rate of change in the lateral acceleration produced by the change in traveling conditions exceeds a predetermined specified value, and

(6) a state where a device provided for the four-wheel vehicle, which device renders the tires unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction, is being operated.

14. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said correcting means judges that the vehicle is cornering when

the difference or the ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left and right front tires exceeds a specified value, and

the difference or the ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left and right rear tires exceeds a specified value, for correcting the rotational angular velocities of the tires on the basis of a lateral acceleration calculated from the rotational angular velocities of the tires.

15. A tire pressure drop detecting device for a four-wheel vehicle having four tires, comprising:

rotational angular velocity detecting means for each tire, for respectively detecting the rotational angular velocity F1 of a left front tire W1, the rotational angular velocity F2 of a right front tire W2, the rotational angular velocity F3 of a left rear tire W3 and the rotational angular velocity F4 of a right rear tire W4 of the four-wheel vehicle, each rotational angular velocity detecting means including

pulse outputting means provided in relation to a corresponding tire for outputting pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the corresponding tire,

counting means connected to the pulse outputting means for counting the pulses applied from the pulse outputting means within a predetermined measuring period,

storing means for storing the time when the last pulse within each of the measuring periods is applied to the counting means,

means for calculating the time elapsed from the time when the last pulse in the preceding measuring period is applied to the time when the last pulse in the present measuring period is applied, which calculated time is stored in the storing means as a reference time of the present measuring period,

means for dividing the number of pulses applied within the present measuring period by said reference time, to calculate a number of pulses per unit time, and

means for calculating the rotational angular velocity of the corresponding tire on the basis of said calculated number of pulses per unit time;

operating means for finding, from the detected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires, a ratio dF of the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F1+F4) to the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F2+F3); and

reduced pressure tire judging means for

judging that there is no tire whose pneumatic pressure is reduced if the ratio dF found by said operating means is in the range of (1+a₁) to (1-a₂), where a₁ and a₂ are constants determined by the vehicle, and

judging that there is a tire whose pneumatic pressure is reduced if said ratio dF is not within said range.

16. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 15, further comprising means for prescribing that

the reduced pressure tire is the left front tire W1 or the right rear tire W4 if dF>

1, and

the reduced pressure tire is the right front tire W2 or the left rear tire W3 if dF<

1.

17. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 16, further comprising means for prescribing that in a state where the vehicle is linearly traveling,

the reduced pressure tire is the left front tire W1 if F1>

F2,

the reduced pressure tire is the right front tire W2 if F1<

F2,

the reduced pressure tire is the left rear tire W3 if F3>

F4, and

the reduced pressure tire is the right rear tire W4 if F3<

F4.

18. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 15, further comprising means for comparing the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F1+F2) of the front pair of tires W1 and W2 with the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F3+F4) of the rear pair of tires W3 and W4 as the vehicle is traveling at an approximately constant speed and substantially linearly when it is judged that there is a tire whose pneumatic pressure is reduced, to prescribe that at least one of the tires of the pair of tires having the rotational angular velocities whose sum is the larger of the front pair of tires and the rear pair of tires is a tire whose pneumatic pressure is reduced.

19. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to any one of claims 15 to 18, further comprising judging means for judging whether or not said four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for detection of a tire pressure reduction,

said operating means not finding the ratio dF when said judging means judges that the four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection.

21. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 19, further comprising correcting means for correcting the rotational angular velocity of each of the tires detected by the rotational angular velocity detecting means based upon the behavior of said four wheel vehicle,

said operating means employing the corrected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires corrected by said correcting means.

22. A tire pressure drop detecting device for a four-wheel vehicle having four tires, comprising:

rotational angular velocity detecting means for each tire, each rotational angular velocity detecting means including

pulse outputting means provided in relation to a corresponding tire for outputting pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the corresponding tire;

counting means connected to the pulse outputting means for counting the pulses applied from the pulse outputting means within a predetermined measuring period;

storing means for storing the time when the last pulse within each of the measuring periods is applied to the counting means;

means for calculating the time elapsed from the time when the last pulse in the preceding measuring period is applied to the time when the last pulse in the present measuring period is applied, which calculated time is stored in the storing means as reference time of the present measuring period;

means for dividing the number of pulses applied within the present measuring period by said reference time, to calculate a number of pulses per unit time; and

means for calculating the rotational angular velocity of the corresponding tire on the basis of said calculated number of pulses per unit time; and

reduced pressure tire judging means for comparing the calculated rotational angular velocities of the four tires, to judge whether or not the pneumatic pressure of one of the tires is reduced.

20. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 22, wherein a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction includes any of:

(1) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is traveling at a low speed of not more than a predetermined speed,

(2) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is being accelerated or decelerated at not less than a predetermined rate,

(3) a state-where the four-wheel vehicle is cornering at a smaller radius than a predetermined radius of curvature,

(4) a state where lateral acceleration of not less than a predetermined value is produced in the four-wheel vehicle,

(5) a state where

the four-wheel vehicle is changed from a linearly traveling condition to a cornering condition, or from a cornering state to a linearly traveling condition, and

the rate of change in the lateral acceleration produced by the change in traveling conditions exceeds a predetermined specified value, and

(6) a state where a device provided for the four-wheel vehicle, which device renders the tires unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction, is being operated.

23. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 22, wherein said counting means counts the pulses applied from the pulse outputting means on the basis of the arising edges or the falling edges of the pulses.

24. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 22, wherein said reduced pressure tire judging means finds, on the basis of the calculated rotational angular velocities of the four tires, the ratio of the sum of the rotational angular velocities of a first pair of tires to the sum of the rotational angular velocities of a second pair of tires, the first pair of tires being spatially arranged on a diagonal line relative to the four tires of the vehicle, to judge whether or not the pneumatic pressure of a tire is reduced depending on whether the found ratio is larger or smaller than a predetermined value.

25. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 24, further comprising vehicle state judging means for judging whether or not said four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for detection of a tire pressure reduction,

said reduced pressure tire judging means not performing an operation for the detection of a tire pressure reduction when said judging means judges that the four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection.

26. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 25, wherein a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction includes any of:

(1) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is traveling at a low speed of not more than a predetermined speed,

(2) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is being accelerated or decelerated at not less than a predetermined rate,

(3) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is cornering at a smaller radius than a predetermined radius of curvature,

(4) a state where lateral acceleration of not less than a predetermined value is produced in the four-wheel vehicle,

(5) a state where

the four-wheel vehicle is changed from a linearly traveling condition to a cornering condition, or from a cornering condition to a linearly traveling condition, and

the rate of change in the lateral acceleration produced by the change in traveling conditions exceeds a predetermined specified value, and

(6) a state where a device provided for the four-wheel vehicle, which device renders the tires unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction, is being operated.

27. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein said rotational angular velocity detecting means comprises correcting means for correcting the rotational angular velocity of each of the tires calculated by the means for calculating the rotational angular velocity, based upon the behavior of said four-wheel vehicle.

28. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein the tire pressure drop detecting device is employed in a vehicle provided with an anti-lock braking system, such that the pulse outputting means and the counting means of the tire pressure drop detecting device are also used by the anti-lock braking system.

29. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein

the tire pressure drop detecting device is employed in a four-wheel vehicle provided with an anti-lock braking system, and

said storing means, said means for calculating and said reduced pressure tire judging means are realized by using at least some components of a microcomputer of the anti-lock braking system.

30. A tire pressure drop detecting device according to claim 29, wherein said pulse outputting means and said counting means of the tire pressure drop detecting device are also used by the anti-lock braking system.

31. A tire pressure drop detecting method for a four-wheel vehicle having four tires, comprising:

respectively detecting the rotational angular velocities of the four tires by, for each tire,

outputting pulses at a rate proportional to the speed of rotation of the respective tire,

counting the outputted pulses within a predetermined measuring period,

storing the time when the last pulse within each of the measuring periods is counted,

calculating the time elapsed from the time when the last pulse in the preceding measuring period is counted to the time when the last pulse in the present measuring period is counted, and storing the calculated time as a reference time of the present measuring period,

dividing the number of pulses counted within the present measuring period by said reference time, to calculate a number of pulses per unit time and

calculating the rotational angular velocity of the respective tire on the basis of said calculated number of pulses per unit time;

finding, from said detected rotational angular velocities of the four tires, the ratio of the sum of the rotational angular velocities of a first pair of tires to the sum of the rotational angular velocities of a second pair of tires, the first pair of tires being spatially arranged on a diagonal line relative to the four tires;

judging that the pneumatic pressure of a tire is reduced based on whether said found ratio is larger or smaller than a predetermined value;

judging whether said four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for detection of a tire pressure reduction; and

inhibiting judgement of a tire pressure reduction when it is judged that said four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction.

32. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 31, wherein a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction includes any of:

(1) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is traveling at a low speed of not more than a predetermined speed,

(2) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is being accelerated or decelerated at not less than a predetermined rate,

(3) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is cornering at a smaller radius than a predetermined radius of curvature,

(4) a state where lateral acceleration of not less than a predetermined value is produced in the four-wheel vehicle,

(5) a state where

the four-wheel vehicle is changed from a linearly traveling condition to a cornering condition, or from a cornering condition to a linearly traveling condition, and

the rate of change in the lateral acceleration produced by the change in traveling conditions exceeds a predetermined specified value, and

(6) a state where a device provided for the four-wheel vehicle, which device renders the tires unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction, is being operated.

33. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claims 31 or 32, further comprising the steps of

correcting said detected rotational angular velocity of each of the tires based on the behavior of said four-wheel vehicle, and

applying said corrected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires in finding the ratio of the sum of the rotational angular velocities of the first pair of tires to the sum of the rotational angular velocities of the second pair of tires.

34. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 33, wherein the detected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires are corrected depending on the travel speed of the four-wheel vehicle.

35. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 33, wherein the detected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires are corrected when the four-wheel vehicle is cornering.

36. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 35, wherein it is judged that the vehicle is cornering when

the difference or the ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left and right front tires exceeds a specified value or

the difference or the ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left and right rear tires exceeds a specified value.

37. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 35, wherein it is judged that the vehicle is cornering when

the difference or the ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left and right front tires exceeds a specified value and

the difference or the ratio of the rotational angular velocities of the left and right rear tires exceeds a specified value.

38. A tire pressure drop detecting method for a four-wheel vehicle having four tires, comprising the steps of:

respectively detecting the rotational angular velocity F1 of a left front tire W1, the rotational angular velocity F2 of a right front tire W2, the rotational angular velocity F3 of a left rear tire W3 and the rotational angular velocity F4 of a right rear tire W4 of the four-wheel vehicle by, for each tire,

outputting pulses at a rate proportional to the rotation of the respective tire,

counting the pulses outputted within a predetermined measuring period,

storing the time when the last pulse within each of the measuring periods is counted,

calculating a time elapsed from the time when the last pulse in the preceding measuring period is counted to the time when the last pulse in the present measuring period is counted, and storing the calculated time as a reference time of the present measuring period,

dividing the number of pulses counted within the present measuring period by the reference time, to calculate a number of pulses per unit time, and

calculating the rotational angular velocity of the respective tire on the basis of said calculated number of pulses per unit time;

finding, from the detected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires, a ratio dF of the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F1+F4) to the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F2+F3); and

judging that there is no tire whose pneumatic pressure is reduced if the found ratio dF is in the range of (1+a₁) and (1-a₂), where a₁ and a₂ are constants determined by the vehicle, while judging that there is a tire whose pneumatic pressure is reduced if the found ratio dF is outside said range.

39. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of prescribing that

the reduced pressure tire is the left front tire W1 or the right rear tire W4 if dF>

1, and

the reduced pressure tire is the right front tire W2 or the left rear tire W3 if dF<

1.

40. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 39, further comprising the step of prescribing that in a state where the four-wheel vehicle is-linearly traveling,

the reduced pressure tire is the left front tire W1 if F1>

F2,

the reduced pressure tire is the right front tire W2 if F1<

F2,

the reduced pressure tire is the left rear tire W3 if F3>

F4, and

the reduced pressure tire is the right rear tire W4 if F3<

F4.

41. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of comparing the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F1+F2) of the front pair of tires W1 and W2 with the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F3+F4) of the rear pair of tires W3 and W4 where the vehicle is traveling at an approximately constant speed and substantially linearly when it is judged that there is a tire whose pneumatic pressure is reduced, to prescribe that at least one of the tires of the pair of tires having the rotational angular velocities whose sum is the larger of the two pairs of tires is a tire whose pneumatic pressure is reduced.

42. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to any one of claims 38 to 41, further comprising

judging whether said four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for detection of a tire pressure reduction, and

inhibiting judgement that a tire pressure is reduced when it is judged that said four-wheel vehicle is in a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction.

43. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 42, wherein a state previously determined to be unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction includes any of:

(1) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is traveling at a low speed of not more than a predetermined speed,

(2) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is being accelerated or decelerated at not less than a predetermined rate,

(3) a state where the four-wheel vehicle is cornering at a smaller radius than a predetermined radius of curvature,

(4) a state where lateral acceleration of not less than a predetermined value is produced in the four-wheel vehicle,

(5) a state where

the four-wheel vehicle is changed from a linearly traveling condition to a cornering condition, or from a cornering condition to a linearly traveling condition, and

the rate of change in the lateral acceleration produced by the change in traveling conditions exceeds a predetermined specified value, and

(6) a state where a device provided for the four-wheel vehicle, which device renders the tires unsuitable for the detection of a tire pressure reduction, is being operated.

44. A tire pressure drop detecting method according to claim 43, further comprising the steps of

correcting said detected rotational angular velocity of each of the tires based on the behavior of said four-wheel vehicle, and

applying said corrected rotational angular velocities of the respective tires in finding the ratio dF of the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F1+F4) to the sum of the rotational angular velocities (F2+F3).

45. A tire rotational angular velocity determining device, for use with a tire pressure drop detecting device in a vehicle with a tire, the tire rotational angular velocity determining device comprising:

pulse outputting means provided proximal to the tire, for outputting pulses at a rate proportional to the rotation of the tire;

counting means connected to the pulse outputting means for counting the pulses applied from the pulse outputting means within each of a plurality of sequential predetermined measuring periods;

storing means for storing the time when the last pulse within each of the measuring periods is applied to the counting means;

means for calculating the time elapsed from the time when the last pulse in a preceding measuring period is applied to the time when the last pulse in a present measuring period is applied, which calculated time is stored in the storing means as a reference time of the present measuring a period;

means for dividing the number of pulses applied within the present measuring period which are counted by said counting means by said reference time, to calculate a number of pulses per unit time; and

means for calculating the rotational angular velocity of the tire on the basis of said calculated number of pulses per unit time.

46. A tire rotational angular velocity determining device according to claim 45, wherein the counting means counts the pulses applied from the pulse outputting means on the basis of the arising edges or the falling edges of the pulses.

47. A tire rotational angular velocity determining device according to claim 45, further including correcting means for correcting the rotational angular velocity of the tire based upon the behavior of the vehicle.

48. A tire rotational angular velocity determining device according to claim 45, wherein the tire rotational angular velocity determining device is employed in a vehicle provided with an anti-lock braking system, such that the pulse outputting means and the counting means of the tire pressure drop detecting device are also used by the anti-lock braking system.

49. A tire rotational angular velocity determining device according to claim 45, wherein

the tire rotational angular velocity determining device is employed in a vehicle provided with an anti-lock braking system, and

the storing means and the means for calculating are realized by using at least some components of a microcomputer of the anti-lock braking system.

50. A tire rotational angular velocity determining device according to claim 49, wherein the pulse outputting means and the counting means of the tire rotational angular velocity determining device are also used the anti-lock braking system.