Tire pressure monitoring system with pressure gauge operating mode for indicating when air pressure within a tire is within a predetermined pressure range
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring air pressure in a pneumatic tire, the method comprising the steps of:
- ascertaining an operating mode for a vehicle based unit of a tire pressure monitoring system, the vehicle based unit having a normal operating mode and a pressure gauge operating mode;
sensing air pressure within the tire with a tire based unit and providing a pressure signal indicative of the pressure within the tire to the vehicle based unit;
comparing the pressure signal to a predetermined pressure range;
outputting an alert signal to an indicator in response to the vehicle based unit being in the normal operating mode and the air pressure being outside the predetermined pressure range; and
outputting an in-range signal to the indicator in response to the vehicle based unit being in the pressure gauge operating mode and the pressure signal being within the predetermined pressure range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire inflation pressure monitoring system (10) and a method for monitoring air pressure within a tire (14) are provided. The system (10) includes a tire based unit (18) for sensing air pressure within the tire (14) and for transmitting a pressure signal indicative thereof. The system (10) also includes a vehicle based unit (16) for receiving the pressure signal and for comparing the pressure signal to a predefined pressure range. The vehicle based unit (16) is operable in one of (i) a normal operating mode that outputs an alert signal in response to the air pressure within the tire (14) being outside of the predefined pressure range and (ii) a pressure gauge operating mode that outputs an in-range signal in response to the air pressure within the tire (14) being within the predetermined pressure range.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring air pressure in a pneumatic tire, the method comprising the steps of:
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ascertaining an operating mode for a vehicle based unit of a tire pressure monitoring system, the vehicle based unit having a normal operating mode and a pressure gauge operating mode;
sensing air pressure within the tire with a tire based unit and providing a pressure signal indicative of the pressure within the tire to the vehicle based unit;
comparing the pressure signal to a predetermined pressure range;
outputting an alert signal to an indicator in response to the vehicle based unit being in the normal operating mode and the air pressure being outside the predetermined pressure range; and
outputting an in-range signal to the indicator in response to the vehicle based unit being in the pressure gauge operating mode and the pressure signal being within the predetermined pressure range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14)
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7. A tire inflation pressure monitoring system for monitoring air pressure within a tire, the tire pressure monitoring system comprising:
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a tire based unit for sensing air pressure within the tire and for transmitting a pressure signal indicative thereof;
a vehicle based unit for receiving the pressure signal and for comparing the pressure signal to a predefined pressure range, the vehicle based unit being operable in one of (i) a normal operating mode and (ii) a pressure gauge operating mode, the vehicle based unit when operating in the normal operating mode outputting an alert signal in response to the air pressure within the tire being outside of the predefined pressure range, the vehicle based unit when operating in the pressure gauge operating mode outputting an in-range signal in response to the air pressure within the tire being within the predetermined pressure range;
a switch for, when actuated, changing the operating mode of the vehicle based unit; and
at least one indicator being operatively connected to the vehicle based unit and becoming energized in response to receipt of the alert signal when the vehicle based unit is in the normal operating mode and becoming energized in response to the in-range signal when the vehicle based unit is in the pressure gauge operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification