Tire pressure monitor and location identification system and method
First Claim
1. In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having a transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle proximate to a corresponding tire and which is capable of receiving signals, and a corresponding tire pressure monitor, which is coupled to the corresponding tire and which is capable of sending a tire pressure signal, a method of verifying that a signal received by the transponder is a tire pressure signal transmitted by the corresponding tire pressure monitor, comprising the steps:
- determining a strength of the signal received by the transponder;
comparing said signal strength to a reference value; and
said corresponding transponder selectively providing the signal to a central controller based on said signal strength.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for monitoring and reporting vehicle tire pressure information. The system includes tire pressure monitors mounted to the tires of a vehicle. The tire pressure monitors detect tire pressure information from their respective tires and transmit that information to transponders that are fixedly-mounted to the vehicle. Each tire pressure monitor corresponds to a single transponder. When a tire pressure monitor transmits tire pressure information, the corresponding transponder receives the signal and transmits the tire pressure signal along with a unique transponder identification code to a vehicle central system controller. Based upon the transponder identification code, the central controller associates the tire pressure information with a particular tire location. However, under certain conditions, a transmitted tire pressure signal is received by one or more of the non-corresponding transponders as well as the corresponding transponder. To filter out the stray tire pressure signals, each of the receiving transponders detects the strength of the received tire pressure signal. The system then determines which of the receiving transponders is the corresponding transponder based upon the respective signal strengths.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having a transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle proximate to a corresponding tire and which is capable of receiving signals, and a corresponding tire pressure monitor, which is coupled to the corresponding tire and which is capable of sending a tire pressure signal, a method of verifying that a signal received by the transponder is a tire pressure signal transmitted by the corresponding tire pressure monitor, comprising the steps:
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determining a strength of the signal received by the transponder;
comparing said signal strength to a reference value; and
said corresponding transponder selectively providing the signal to a central controller based on said signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
providing a unique transponder identification code from the transponder to said central controller if the transponder provides the signal to said central controller; and
providing tire pressure information and tire location information to a vehicle operator based respectively on the signal and said unique transponder identification code.
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9. In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having a transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle proximate to a corresponding tire and which is capable of receiving signals, and a corresponding tire pressure monitor, which is coupled to the corresponding tire and which is capable of sending a tire pressure signal, a method of verifying that a signal received by the transponder is a tire pressure signal transmitted by the corresponding tire pressure monitor, comprising the steps:
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determining a strength of the signal received by the transponder;
comparing said signal strength to a reference value; and
selectively providing the signal from the corresponding transponder to a central controller via wireless transmission if said signal strength exceeds a reference value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having (i) a tire pressure monitor, which is coupled to a first vehicle tire and capable of transmitting a tire pressure signal;
- (ii) a first transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle proximate to the first wheel and which is capable of receiving the tire pressure signal, and (iii) at least a second transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle more distant from the tire pressure monitor than the first transponder and which is also capable of receiving the tire pressure signal, a method of identifying the first transponder, comprising the steps;
determining a first signal strength of the tire pressure signal received by the first transponder;
determining a second signal strength of the tire pressure signal received by the second transponder; and
comparing said first and second signal strengths to each other. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
said first and second transponders each providing respective unique transponder identification codes to said central controller; and
providing tire location information to a vehicle operator derived from said unique transponder identification code associated with the transponder having the largest said signal strength.
- (ii) a first transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle proximate to the first wheel and which is capable of receiving the tire pressure signal, and (iii) at least a second transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle more distant from the tire pressure monitor than the first transponder and which is also capable of receiving the tire pressure signal, a method of identifying the first transponder, comprising the steps;
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18. In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having a tire pressure monitor coupled to a vehicle tire and at least one transponder positioned on the vehicle, a method of providing tire pressure and tire location information, comprising:
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the transponder receiving a tire pressure signal from the tire pressure monitor;
determining a signal strength of said tire pressure signal;
comparing said signal strength to a reference value;
the transponder selectively transmitting said tire pressure signal and a unique transponder identification code to a central controller if said signal strength exceeds said reference value; and
providing tire pressure and tire location information to a vehicle operator based respectively on said tire pressure signal and said unique transponder identification code received from the transponder.
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19. In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having a tire pressure monitor coupled to a vehicle tire, a first transponder positioned on the vehicle, and a second transponder positioned on the vehicle, a method of providing tire pressure and tire location information, comprising the steps:
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transmitting a tire pressure signal from the tire pressure monitor;
receiving said tire pressure signal by the first transponder and the second transponder;
determining a first signal strength of said tire pressure signal received by the first transponder;
determining a second signal strength of said tire pressure signal received by the second transponder;
transmitting said tire pressure signal, said first signal strength, and a first unique transponder identification code from the first transponder to a central controller;
transmitting said tire pressure signal, said second signal strength, and a second unique transponder identification code from the second transponder to said central controller; and
providing tire pressure information and tire location information to a vehicle operator based respectively on said tire pressure signal and the relative magnitudes of said first and second signal strengths.
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20. A tire pressure monitor and identification system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a tire pressure monitor operatively connected to a vehicle tire, said tire pressure monitor adapted to collect tire pressure data for said vehicle tire;
a transponder coupled to the vehicle proximate to said tire pressure monitor, said transponder being adapted to receive a tire pressure signal from said tire pressure monitor; and
wherein said transponder is adapted to detect a strength of said tire pressure signal received by said transponder and to selectively provide said tire pressure signal to a central controller based on said signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A tire pressure monitor and identification system for a vehicle, comprising:
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a tire pressure monitor operatively connected to a vehicle tire, said tire pressure monitor being adapted to collect tire pressure data for said vehicle tire;
a first transponder coupled to the vehicle proximate to said tire pressure monitor, said first transponder being adapted to receive a tire pressure signal from said tire pressure monitor and to detect a first strength of said tire pressure signal;
a second transponder coupled to the vehicle at a position more distant from said tire pressure monitor than said first transponder, said second transponder also being capable of receiving said tire pressure signal from said tire pressure monitor and adapted to detect a second strength of said tire pressure signal;
a central controller adapted to receive said first signal strength from said first transponder and further adapted to receive said second signal strength from said second transponder; and
said central controller further being adapted to compare said first and second signal strengths. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification