Method and system for monitoring air pressure of tires on a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring air pressure of at least one tire of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pressure data associated with at least one particular tire among different tires of the vehicle;
obtaining physical parameter data indicating physical parameter measurements associated with the different tires of a vehicle; and
evaluating the obtained physical parameter data to identify a relative mounting position of the particular tire.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for monitoring air pressure or operational status of at least one particular tire of a vehicle facilitates ready identification of a relative mounting position of the particular tire. At least one pressure indicating signal is received (110 of FIG. 8) and is associated with a particular tire mounted at an unknown relative position on a vehicle. Physical parameter data are obtained (112) indicating physical parameter measurements at the different tires of a vehicle. The obtained physical parameter data are evaluated (114) to identify the relative mounting position of the particular tire on the vehicle. Accordingly, an operator of the vehicle may be provided with an indication (130) that an air pressure of a particular tire is less than a proper air pressure so that peak vehicle performance and necessary maintenance may be obtained. Even if the indication informs that the pressure is normal, the operator is reassured that the tires are functioning properly.
208 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring air pressure of at least one tire of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving pressure data associated with at least one particular tire among different tires of the vehicle;
obtaining physical parameter data indicating physical parameter measurements associated with the different tires of a vehicle; and
evaluating the obtained physical parameter data to identify a relative mounting position of the particular tire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
indicating a status of an internal air pressure and the identified mounting position of the particular tire to a vehicle operator.
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7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the indicating step comprises indicating the particular tire is partially deflated, with respect to a desired target air pressure, as the status.
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8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the indicating step comprises indicating the particular tire is flat as the status.
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9. A method for monitoring an operational status of at least one tire of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving measurement data from measurement sensors associated with different tires of a vehicle, receiving physical data from physical sensors associated with the vehicle;
comparing one of the measurement data and the physical parameter data for different tires to identify at least a front tire and a rear tire among the different tires;
comparing one of the measurement data and the physical parameter data to distinguish a tire mounted on one side of a vehicle from a tire mounted on an opposite side of a vehicle; and
identifying a mounting position of at least one defective or deflated tire among the different tires by the comparison of the measurement data and by the comparison of the physical parameter data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
measuring air pressures, as the measurement data, in the different tires of the vehicle during braking of the vehicle and prior to the braking of the vehicle.
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14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the comparison of the measurement data comprises:
identifying at least one tire, associated with an increase in measured air pressure during the braking, as a front tire of the vehicle.
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15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the comparison of the measurement data comprises:
identifying at least one tire, associated with a decrease in measured air pressure during the braking, as a rear tire of the vehicle.
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16. The method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of measuring lateral acceleration, as the physical parameter data, of corresponding wheels of the vehicle.
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17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the comparison of the physical parameter data comprises determining that the at least one wheel having the greatest lateral acceleration represents a front wheel of the vehicle.
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18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the comparison of the measurement data comprises determining that the at least one wheel having the lowest lateral acceleration represents a rear wheel of the vehicle.
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19. The method according to claim 9 further comprising transmitting signal parameter data as few as once per trip of the vehicle per each mounted wheel to facilitate electrical power conservation.
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20. The method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of:
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detecting a direction of wheel rotation, as the physical parameter data, for the different tires; and
establishing a direction of forward travel of the vehicle applicable during the detection.
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21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the comparison of the physical parameter data comprises the step of:
distinguishing a left mounting position from a right mounting position of the different tires based on the detected direction of the wheel rotation and the determined direction of the forward travel.
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22. The method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of:
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detecting pressure changes, as the physical parameter data, in different tires during turning or cornering of the vehicle; and
determining a direction of the turning of a vehicle applicable during the turning or cornering.
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23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the comparison of the physical parameter data comprises distinguishing the right tire from the left tire based on the detected pressure changes and the determined direction of the turning.
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24. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:
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detecting a rotational rate of different wheels on the vehicle; and
identifying a direction of turning of the vehicle.
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25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the comparison step identifies an outer wheel as a wheel having a greatest rotational rate detected during the turning.
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26. The method according to claim 24 wherein the comparison step identifies an inner wheel as the wheel having a lowest rotational rate detected during the turning.
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27. The method according to claim 9 further comprising inhibiting the transmission of data from a first wheel electronics assembly at one front tire during the transmission of data from a second wheel electronics assembly at a second front tire, the inhibiting being invoked by monitoring detection of at least one road feature.
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28. The method according to claim 9 further comprising inhibiting the transmission of a pressure signal from a first wheel electronics assembly at one rear tire during the transmission of a pressure signal from a second wheel electronics assembly at a second rear tire, the inhibiting being invoked by monitoring detection of at least one road feature.
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29. The method according to claim 9 further comprising statistically analyzing one of inertial signals, rotational signals, and angular acceleration signals as the physical parameter data to distinguish between the braking during forward movement of the vehicle and braking during backward movement of the vehicle.
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30. The method according to claim 9 wherein the mounting positions is selected from the group consisting of front right, front left, rear right, and rear left of a vehicle having four wheels.
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31. A system for monitoring an operational status of different tires of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a measurement sensor for providing measurement data indicative of the status of a particular tire;
a plurality of physical parameter sensors for providing physical parameter data associated with respective physical parameters at corresponding different tires;
a plurality of transmitters coupled to the measurement sensor and the physical parameter sensors for transmitting an electromagnetic signal representative of the physical parameter data and the measurement data;
a receiver for receiving the electromagnetic signal and obtaining the physical parameter data and the measurement data; and
a processor for evaluating the obtained physical parameter data to identify a relative mounting position of the particular tire on the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
a round dielectric housing;
a conductive member enclosed in the round housing and being rotatable with respect to the housing in response to rotation of a particular one of the tires;
at least three conductive contacts disposed in an interior of the round housing; and
a series of successive electrical contact closures between pairs of the three conductive contacts indicating a direction of rotation of the particular tire.
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39. The system according to claim 31 wherein the physical parameter sensor is mounted on a wheel and comprises:
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a mass predominantly responsive to gravitational force at lower rotational speeds of the wheel and predominantly responsive to centrifugal force at higher rotational speeds of the wheel;
a conductive movable arm connected to the mass; and
a contact spaced apart from the conductive movable arm in an open state and electrically contacting the conductive movable arm in a closed state, such that a rotational rate of the wheel is indicated at the lower rotational speed of the vehicle by an oscillatory electrical connection between the contact and the conductive movable arm.
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40. The system according to claim 39 wherein the open state is present at the higher rotational speeds of the wheel and the oscillatory electrical connection is absent at the higher rotational speeds of the wheel.
Specification