Method for setting up an alarm for monitoring pressure in tires of a vehicle and device for the same

• US 6,842,109 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp. (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp. (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Sheng-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son
• Application Number:
  US10/341,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/447, 731/465, 731/468, 116/34.R
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A method has acts of detecting pressure value in each tire of the vehicle, calculating a base point of pressure according to the detected pressure values and calculating a safety scope in pressure reference to the base point of pressure. An alarm will be generated when the pressure value in tires has a difference relative to the base point. With the method, a pressure detecting device can fit with different types or models of vehicles, and the use of the pressure detecting device is versatile.

Claims

1. A method of setting up an alarm for monitoring pressure in tires of a vehicle comprising:

detecting a pressure value in each tire of the vehicle;

calculating a base point of pressure according to the detected pressure values; and

calculating a safety scope in pressure reference to the base point of pressure such that an alarm will be generated while the pressure value in the tires has a difference relative to the base point and that is more than the safety scope, wherein to calculate the base point is to average the detected pressure values; and

the base point has a front-tires base part corresponding to the pressure values in front tires of the vehicle and a rear-tires base part corresponding to the pressure values in rear tires of the vehicle,

wherein the front-tires base part is an average of the pressure values detected from the front tires of the vehicle; and

the rear-tires base part is an average of the pressure values detected from the rear tires of the vehicle.

2. A device for setting up an alarm for monitoring pressure in tires of a vehicle comprising:

a main control unit comprising a main controller; and

multiple pressure detecting units electrically connected to the main control unit and adapted to detect pressure values of the tires of the vehicle,

wherein the main controller has a calculating program for calculating a base point and a safety scope according to the pressure values detected by the pressure detecting units, wherein the calculating program calculates the base point by averaging the detected pressure values;

wherein the base point has a front-tires base part corresponding to the pressure values in front tires of the vehicle and a rear-tires base part corresponding to the pressure values in rear tires of the vehicle;

wherein the front-tires base part is an average of the pressure values detected from the front tires of the vehicle; and

the rear-tires base part is an average of the pressure values detected from the rear tires of the vehicle.

3. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main control unit further comprises:

a signal processing unit electrically connected to the main controller;

a signal receiver electrically connected to the signal processing unit;

an alarm electrically connected to the main controller, and

a display set with a display driver electrically connected to the main controller and a display electrically connected to the display driver.

4. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the main control unit further comprises a button set electrically connected to the main controller.

5. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein each detecting unit comprises:

a detecting controller;

a signal processing unit electrically connected to the detecting controller;

a pressure detector electrically connected to the signal processing unit of the detecting unit and adapted to measure pressure in a corresponding one of the tires of the vehicle; and

a signal transmitter electrically connected to the signal processing unit of the detecting unit and signal receiver of the main control unit.

6. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the signal transmitter of each detecting unit is electrically connected to the main control unit with wire.

7. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the signal transmitter of each detecting unit is electrically but wirelessly connected to the main control unit.

8. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each detecting unit further comprises a temperature detector electrically connected to the detecting controller and adapted to measure temperature in the corresponding tire.