Tire inflation monitoring system

• US 6,778,075 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Tran, Vinh Huu, Headley, Philip Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/135,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20030201881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 340/443, 340/442, 340/438, 340/444, 340/445, 340/446, 340/447, 731/46, 731/465
• US Class Current: 340/443
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance

Abstract

A system for monitoring the inflation status of a tire comprising a sensor mounted to the wheel rim and adapted to transmit a distance signal indicative of a measured distance from the wheel rim to the inside surface of the tire adjacent the riding surface; a control unit in communication with the sensor and adapted to receive the distance signal, wherein the control unit determines the inflation status of the tire and transmits an inflation status signal indicative of the inflation status; and an indicator located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle and in communication with the control unit to receive the inflation status signal, wherein the indicator presents the inflation status of the tire.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an inflation status of a tire within a wheel assembly of a vehicle, the wheel assembly having a wheel, wheel base, wheel rim, and tire, the system comprising:

a sensor mounted to the wheel rim and adapted to transmit a distance signal indicative of a measured distance from the wheel rim to an inside surface of the tire adjacent a riding surface;

a control unit in communication with the sensor and adapted to receive the distance signal, wherein the control unit determines the inflation status of the tire and transmits an inflation status signal indicative of the inflation status; and

an indicator located within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and in communication with the control unit to receive the inflation status signal, wherein the indicator presents the inflation status of the tire.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a controller for pre-processing the distance signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the inflation status is one of normal inflation, under inflation, and over inflation.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle parameter sensor for measuring a vehicle parameter, wherein the vehicle parameter sensor is in communication with the control unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control unit derives the inflation status as a function of the measured distance and the vehicle parameter.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle parameter is one or more of air temperature within the tire, velocity of the vehicle, and load of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the proximity sensor is an optical sensor.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the proximity sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance signal is an ultrasonic signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a visual device for transmitting visual signals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the visual indicator is located on a rear view mirror of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is integrated with a control unit concurrently used for controlling an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle.

14. A method for monitoring an inflation status of a tire within a wheel assembly of a vehicle, the wheel assembly having a wheel, wheel base, wheel rim, and tire, the method comprising:

transmitting a distance signal indicative of a distance from the wheel rim to an inside surface of the tire adjacent a ridding surface;

determining the inflation status of the tire;

communicating an inflation status signal indicative of the inflation status; and

presenting the inflation status of the tire within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the inflation status is one of normal inflation, under inflation, and over inflatlon.

16. The method of claim 147 further comprising:

transmitting a vehicle parameter signal indicative of a measured vehicle parameter, wherein the inflation status is determined as a function of the distance and the vehicle parameter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle parameter is one or more of air temperature, velocity of the vehicle, and load of the vehicle.