Device for monitoring pressures of vehicle tires

• US 6,917,286 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG), Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG), Siemens AG
• Inventors: Fonzes, Georges, Fischer, Martin, Lefaure, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung
• Application Number:
  US10/260,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/447, 340/448, 340/446, 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 731/465, 200/61.25
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders

Abstract

The device comprises:

• a sensor arranged at the level of each tire whose pressure is to be monitored, a transmitter associated with each sensor, and a common receiver intended to receive the information sent by the transmitters, at least one detector device making it possible to detect a transmission in the transmission frequency range of the transmitters associated with the sensors, and each detector device being linked to a central unit in such a way as to be able to send this central unit a signal indicating that a transmission in the relevant frequency range is detected.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a parameter of tires of a vehicle comprising:

a respective sensor adjacent to each tire to be monitored,

an electromagnetic signals transmitter associated with each said sensor,

a common receiver that receives transmissions from the transmitters and that is associated with a central unit,

at least one detector device separate from the common receiver and that receives and detects the transmissions, wherein each said detector device is linked to the central unit to send the central unit a signal indicating that the transmissions have been detected,

wherein the signal sent by each said detector device to the central unit is an analog signal taking a value of 0 or 1 as a function of detection or lack of detection of the transmission.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a transmission frequency of the transmitters is 433 MHz.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said detector device comprises an antenna on a printed circuit and a diode.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein one said detector device is associated with each said transmitter.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein one said detector device is associated with each said transmitter except one.

6. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein one said detector device is associated with two of said transmitters.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said detector device comprises an antenna on a printed circuit and a diode.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each said detector device further comprises a signal processing system.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one said detector device is associated with each said transmitter.

10. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one said detector device is associated with each said transmitter except one.

11. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein one said detector device is associated with two of said transmitters.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one said detector device is associated with each said transmitter.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one said detector device is associated with each said transmitter except one.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one said detector device is associated with two of said transmitters.

15. A device for monitoring a parameter of vehicle tires, comprising:

plural sensors, each of said sensors being associated with a respective vehicle tire to be monitored for sensing a parameter, each of said sensors having a transmitter for transmitting signals conveying data associated with the sensed parameter;

a central unit having a receiver for receiving the signals and processing the data conveyed therein; and

plural detectors that are each connected to said central unit through a respective separate connection, each of said detectors being positioned to receive the signals from one, but not all, of said sensors, and sending a detection signal to said central unit through said respective separate connection upon receipt of the respective one of the signals,

wherein receipt of the detection signal by said central unit from said respective separate connection indicates to said central unit that the respective one of said sensors is transmitting the respective signal conveying the data, and

wherein the detection signal sent by said detectors to said central unit is an analog signal taking a value of 0 or 1 as a function of detection or lack of detection of the respective signal.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein each of said plural detectors is positioned to receive the signals from only one of said sensors.