Signal receiver for tire air pressure monitoring system

• US 6,744,357 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Taguchi, Akihiro, Itou, Shintarou
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/194,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/446, 340/445, 340/447, 340/448, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.33, 340/17.32, 340/7.38, 340/370.1, 340/870.13, 340/693.3, 340/10.34, 340/10.31, 340/10.32, 340/10.41, 731/463, 731/465, 370/11, 455/574
• US Class Current: 340/445
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0462 Structure of transmission protocol

Abstract

A signal receiver for tire air pressure monitoring system determines whether the pressure detection signals from all transmitters have been received during an engine stop state. Upon affirmative determination, the receiver sets a timer, and deactivates the entire or partial function of the receiver. The receiver determines whether the second predetermined period has expired after the setting of the timer. Until the period passes, the receiver retains the deactivated state thereby to save electric power consumption during engine stop state.

Claims

1. A signal receiver for a tire air pressure monitoring system comprising:

a receiving section that receives tire pressure detection signals from transmitters provided for all tires of a vehicle when activated; and

an intermittent time control section that activates intermittently a partial or entire function of the signal receiver during a first predetermined period and deactivates the partial or entire function of the signal receiver during a second predetermined period that follows the first predetermined period, the intermittent time control section cyclically repeating activation and deactivation of the partial or entire function of the signal receiver, wherein

the first predetermined period is set to enable the receiving section to respectively receive the tire pressure detection signals from all of the transmitters, and

the intermittent time control section switches from an intermittent active state in the first predetermined period to a deactivated state in the second predetermined period upon receiving the tire pressure detection signals from all of the transmitters.

2. The signal receiver according to claim 1, wherein the intermittent time control section extends the second predetermined period progressively.

3. The signal receiver according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit section that includes at least the intermittent time control section, and the partial function of the signal receiver includes the function of the receiving section and a function of the control circuit section excluding the intermittent time control section.

4. A signal receiver for a tire air pressure monitoring system comprising:

a receiving section for receiving tire pressure detection signals from transmitters provided for all tires of a vehicle when activated; and

an intermittent time control section for intermittently activating one of partial operation and full operation of the signal receiver during a first time period and deactivating one of the partial operation and the full operation of the signal receiver section during a second time period, the first and second time periods being different from one another, the intermittent time control section cyclically repeating activation and deactivation of the partial and full operation of the signal receiver, wherein

the first time period is set to enable the receiving section to respectively receive the tire pressure detection signals from all of the transmitters, and

the intermittent time control section changes from an intermittent active state in the first time period to a deactivated state in the second time period upon receiving the tire pressure detection signals from all of the transmitters.

5. The signal receiver according to claim 4, further comprising a control circuit section that includes at least the intermittent time control section.

6. The signal receiver according to claim 4, wherein the partial receiver operation of the signal receiver includes the receiving section and the control circuit section excluding the intermittent time control section.

7. The signal receiver according to claim 4, wherein the intermittent time control section extends the second time period progressively.

8. The signal receiver according to claim 4, wherein an operation interval of the receiving section is ⅔

or less of a signal transmission period.

9. The signal receiver according to claim 4, wherein the second time period is at least substantially the same as the first time period.

10. The signal receiver according to claim 4, wherein the intermittent time control section further comprises a timer for timing activation of the partial and full operation of the receiving section during the first time period and deactivation during the second time period.

11. The signal receiver according to claim 10, wherein the timer is externally attached to the receiving section.