System and method for integrated tire pressure monitoring and passive entry

• US 6,647,773 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nantz, John S., Ghabra, Riad, Tang, Qingfeng
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/193,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 152/152.1, 152/64, 152/539, 340/426, 340/425.5, 340/428, 340/431, 340/442-447, 340/452, 340/539, 701/29, 701/124, 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/326 the resonator being an acoustic wave device, e.g. SAW or BAW device
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 1/46 Modulators with mechanically-driven or acoustically-driven parts

Abstract

A system and method for remote monitoring of vehicle tire pressure include monitors in each tire to transmit signals representative of tire pressure and receive control signals for use in regulating transmission of the tire pressure signals. A vehicle receiver receives the tire pressure signals and passive entry signals transmitted by a remote passive entry device. A vehicle transmitter transmits the control signals for use in regulating transmission of the tire pressure signals. A controller on-board the vehicle in communication with the receiver and transmitter conveys tire pressure information to a vehicle occupant based on the tire pressure signals, determines whether the vehicle is occupied based on the passive entry signal, and generates a control signal operative to halt transmission of the tire pressure signals when the vehicle is unoccupied.

Claims

1. A system for remote monitoring of tire pressure in a vehicle having a plurality of tires, the system comprising:

a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires to monitor tire pressure, each monitor comprising a transponder for transmitting a signal representative of the tire pressure and for receiving a control signal for use in regulating transmission of the tire pressure signal;

a receiver for mounting on-board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals transmitted by the transponders and for receiving a passive entry signal transmitted by a remote passive entry device;

a transmitter for mounting on-board the vehicle for transmitting to the transponders the control signal for use in regulating transmission of the tire pressure signals; and

a controller for mounting on-board the vehicle and to be provided in communication with the receiver and the transmitter, the controller for conveying tire pressure information to a vehicle occupant based on the tire pressure signals, determining whether the vehicle is occupied based on the passive entry signal, and generating the control signal for use in regulating transmission of the tire pressure signals, wherein the control signal is operative to halt transmission of the tire pressure signals by the transponders when the vehicle is unoccupied.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further for determining whether a vehicle door has been unlocked based on the passive entry signal, and the control signal is operative to start transmission of tire pressure signals by the transponders when a vehicle door has been unlocked.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller ceases to process tire pressure signals when the vehicle is unoccupied.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller ceases to process tire pressure signals when the vehicle is unoccupied.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the controller starts processing tire pressure signals when a vehicle door has been unlocked.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller starts processing tire pressure signals when a vehicle door has been unlocked.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote passive entry device comprises a transponder for transmitting the passive entry signal and receiving tire pressure information signals from the controller, and a display for conveying tire pressure information to a user based on the tire pressure information signals.

8. A system for remote monitoring of tire pressure in a vehicle having a plurality of tires, the system comprising:

a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires to monitor tire pressure, each monitor comprising a transponder for transmitting a signal representative of the tire pressure and for receiving a control signal operative to regulate transmission of the tire pressure signal;

at least one receiver for mounting on-board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals transmitted by the transponders and for receiving a passive entry signal transmitted by a remote passive entry device; and

a controller for mounting on-board the vehicle and to be provided in communication with the at least one receiver, the controller for conveying tire pressure information to a vehicle occupant based on the tire pressure signals, determining whether the vehicle is occupied based on the passive entry signal, and generating the control signal for use in regulating transmission of the tire pressure signals, wherein the control signal is operative to halt transmission of the tire pressure signals by the transponders when the vehicle is unoccupied.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one receiver comprises a single receiver for receiving both the tire pressure and passive entry signals.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising a transmitter for mounting on-board the vehicle, the transmitter to be provided in communication with the controller, the transmitter for transmitting to the transponders the control signal operative to regulate transmission of the tire pressure signals.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further for determining whether a vehicle door has been unlocked based on the passive entry signal, and the control signal is operative to start transmission of tire pressure signals by the transponders when a vehicle door has been unlocked.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller ceases to process tire pressure signals when the vehicle is unoccupied.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the controller ceases to process tire pressure signals when the vehicle is unoccupied.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the controller starts processing tire pressure signals when a vehicle door has been unlocked.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the controller starts processing tire pressure signals when a vehicle door has been unlocked.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein the remote passive entry device is provided in communication with the controller and comprises a display for conveying tire pressure information to a user.

17. A method for monitoring tire pressure in a vehicle having a plurality of tires, the method comprising:

transmitting from a tire a signal representative of a tire pressure;

receiving at the tire a control signal for use in regulating transmission of the tire pressure signal;

receiving at the vehicle the tire pressure signal and a passive entry signal;

conveying tire pressure information to a vehicle occupant based on the tire pressure signal;

determining whether the vehicle is occupied based on the passive entry signal; and

transmitting from the vehicle the control signal for use in regulating transmission of the tire pressure signal, wherein the control signal is operative to halt transmission of the tire pressure signal when the vehicle is unoccupied.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining if a vehicle door has been unlocked based on the passive entry signal, wherein the control signal is operative to start transmission of the tire pressure signal when a vehicle door has been unlocked.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein a control unit is provided for mounting in the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure and passive entry signals, conveying the tire pressure information, and transmitting the control signal.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein a remote passive entry device is provided for transmitting the passive entry signal, the passive entry device comprising a display for conveying tire pressure information to a user.