Passive tag with variable output

• US 6,496,102 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Kyrtsos, Christos T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIMIZU, MATSUICHIRO
• Application Number:
  US09/190,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.41, 340/453, 340/454
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A passive RF tag receives a number of varying inputs. The RF tag is preferably associated with a vehicle, and the inputs are indicative of diagnostic information from a vehicle braking system. The passive RF tag receives a signal from a transmitter that causes the RF tag to query the current status of the several inputs. The RF tag then sends a signal back to the transmitter/receiver indicative of the current status.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting information from a vehicle comprising the steps of:

(1) providing a passive tag on the vehicle, and providing inputs to said passive tag about the status of a vehicle braking system;

(2) providing a change to said at least one input when the condition of said braking system changes, and querying said passive tag by a remote transmitter/receiver;

(3) sending a wake-up signal from said passive tag to a diagnostic system, said diagnostic system performing a test of said vehicle braking system, said diagnostic system then sending an input to said passive tag indicative of the results of said test; and

(4) said passive tag then providing an output signal indicative of the current status of said vehicle braking system.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of inputs are directed into said passive tag, and said inputs are variable with conditions of said vehicle braking system, and said passive tags transmitting said plurality of inputs in step 3.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said status is a digital output.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said output includes a number of bits of information indicative of an analog value relating to the braking system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing an output signal indicative of the current status of said vehicle braking system in further defined by providing an output signal indicative of brake wear.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing an output signal indicative of the current status of said vehicle braking system is further defined by providing an output signal indicative of an operation level of an ABS braking system.

7. A system including a tag for providing variable information concerning a vehicle braking system comprising:

an RF interface having an internal circuit for receiving a characteristic signal from a transmitter/receiver, said RF interface then sending a wake-up signal to a diagnostic system to perform a test of said vehicle braking system, said diagnostic system than sending an input indicative of the current state of at least one input of said vehicle braking system, said RF tag then sending said signal indicative of said current state of said at least one input, said at least one input being variable between at least two states, and said variable input changing with conditions on said braking system, said RF interface being operable to transmit a signal to said transmitter/receiver indicative of said current state of said input.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein there are a plurality of said inputs, and each of said inputs are associated with said vehicle braking system, said inputs being changeable between a pair of digital states indicative of the condition of said braking system.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said RF interface sends a wake-up signal to an associated diagnostic system, said diagnostic system monitoring a condition and supplying an input back to said RF interface indicative of the current status of said system.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said at least one input includes a plurality of digital bits indicative of an analog value of said system.