Remote tire pressure monitoring system
First Claim
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1. A system for remotely monitoring the pressure of tires mounted to an associated vehicle, the system comprising:
- a check point having a first interrogation component comprising a first interrogation component transmitter for transmitting RF wake up signals to tire pressure monitoring devices inside tires mounted on a first side of the vehicle as the vehicle passes the check point, and a first interrogation component receiver, and a second interrogation component spaced apart from the first interrogation component sufficient to allow the vehicle to pass therebetween, the second interrogation component comprising a second interrogation component transmitter for transmitting RF wake up signals to tire pressure monitoring devices inside tires mounted on a second side of the vehicle as the vehicle passes the check point, and a second interrogation component receiver;
a plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices separately installed inside tires mounted on the first side and the second side of the vehicle, each tire pressure monitoring device comprising a tire pressure monitoring device receiver for receiving transmitted wake-up RF signals, a tire pressure sensor for sensing tire pressure, a storage device that retains identification data relating to the particular tire pressure monitoring device, and a predetermined range of desired tire pressures for the tire within which the particular tire pressure monitoring device is mounted, a signal processor that compares the tire pressure sensed by the tire pressure sensor to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures retained in the storage device to determine whether the sensed tire pressure is within the predetermined range of desired tire pressures, a first tire pressure device transmitter responsive to the signal processor and operative to generate an RF signal to the corresponding first interrogation component receiver or second interrogation component receiver indicative of the identification of the particular tire pressure monitoring device and whether the tire pressure within the tire is too high or too low with respect to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures, a tire pressure monitoring device battery;
an RF tag mounted on the first side or the second side of the vehicle, the RF tag comprising an RF tag receiver for receiving wake-up RF signals from the first interrogation component transmitter or the second interrogation component transmitter, an RF tag storage device that retains unique identification data associated with the vehicle, a first RF tag transmitter operatively connected to the RF tag storage device for generating an RF signal to the first interrogation component receiver or the second interrogation component receiver indicative of the unique identification data associated with the vehicle, an RF tag battery;
a data collection device in communication with the first interrogation component and the second interrogation component for recording the unique identification data associated with the vehicle transmitted by the first RF tag transmitter and the identification of the particular tire pressure monitoring device and whether the tire pressure within the tire is too high or too low with respect to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures transmitted by the first tire pressure device transmitters; and
an alarm associated with the first interrogation component and the second interrogation component for signaling an operator of the vehicle when tire pressure has been determined to be outside the predetermined range for one or more particularly identified tires.
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Abstract
A system for monitoring tire pressure of a vehicle or fleet of vehicles includes a check point through which the vehicles pass. A first interrogation component is positioned proximal the check point and tire pressure monitoring devices associated with the tires of the vehicle are in communication with the first interrogation component. An identification tag associated with the vehicle stores data unique to the particular vehicle and is also in communication with the first interrogation component. Likewise, a data collection device communicates with the interrogation component as well. Finally, an alarm communicates with the interrogation component to alert an operator when the tire pressure falls outside a predetermined range.
38 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A system for remotely monitoring the pressure of tires mounted to an associated vehicle, the system comprising:
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a check point having a first interrogation component comprising a first interrogation component transmitter for transmitting RF wake up signals to tire pressure monitoring devices inside tires mounted on a first side of the vehicle as the vehicle passes the check point, and a first interrogation component receiver, and a second interrogation component spaced apart from the first interrogation component sufficient to allow the vehicle to pass therebetween, the second interrogation component comprising a second interrogation component transmitter for transmitting RF wake up signals to tire pressure monitoring devices inside tires mounted on a second side of the vehicle as the vehicle passes the check point, and a second interrogation component receiver;
a plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices separately installed inside tires mounted on the first side and the second side of the vehicle, each tire pressure monitoring device comprising a tire pressure monitoring device receiver for receiving transmitted wake-up RF signals, a tire pressure sensor for sensing tire pressure, a storage device that retains identification data relating to the particular tire pressure monitoring device, and a predetermined range of desired tire pressures for the tire within which the particular tire pressure monitoring device is mounted, a signal processor that compares the tire pressure sensed by the tire pressure sensor to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures retained in the storage device to determine whether the sensed tire pressure is within the predetermined range of desired tire pressures, a first tire pressure device transmitter responsive to the signal processor and operative to generate an RF signal to the corresponding first interrogation component receiver or second interrogation component receiver indicative of the identification of the particular tire pressure monitoring device and whether the tire pressure within the tire is too high or too low with respect to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures, a tire pressure monitoring device battery;
an RF tag mounted on the first side or the second side of the vehicle, the RF tag comprising an RF tag receiver for receiving wake-up RF signals from the first interrogation component transmitter or the second interrogation component transmitter, an RF tag storage device that retains unique identification data associated with the vehicle, a first RF tag transmitter operatively connected to the RF tag storage device for generating an RF signal to the first interrogation component receiver or the second interrogation component receiver indicative of the unique identification data associated with the vehicle, an RF tag battery;
a data collection device in communication with the first interrogation component and the second interrogation component for recording the unique identification data associated with the vehicle transmitted by the first RF tag transmitter and the identification of the particular tire pressure monitoring device and whether the tire pressure within the tire is too high or too low with respect to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures transmitted by the first tire pressure device transmitters; and
an alarm associated with the first interrogation component and the second interrogation component for signaling an operator of the vehicle when tire pressure has been determined to be outside the predetermined range for one or more particularly identified tires. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of monitoring tire pressure on a vehicle comprising:
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providing a check point through which the vehicle must pass, the check point comprising a first interrogation component comprising a first interrogation component transmitter for transmitting RF wake up signals to tire pressure monitoring devices provided inside tires mounted on a first side of the vehicle as the vehicle passes through the check point, and a first interrogation component receiver, and a second interrogation component spaced apart from the first interrogation component sufficient to allow the vehicle to pass therebetween, the second interrogation component comprising a second interrogation component transmitter for transmitting RF wake up signals to tire pressure monitoring devices provided inside tires mounted on a second side of the vehicle as the vehicle passes through the check point, and a second interrogation component receiver;
providing a plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices separately installed inside tires mounted on the first side and the second side of the vehicle, each tire pressure monitoring device comprising a tire pressure monitoring device receiver for receiving transmitted wake-up RF signals, a tire pressure sensor for sensing tire pressure, a storage device that retains identification data relating to the particular tire pressure monitoring device, and a predetermined range of desired tire pressures for the tire within which the particular tire pressure monitoring device is mounted, a signal processor that compares the tire pressure sensed by the tire pressure sensor to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures retained in the storage device to determine whether the sensed tire pressure is within the predetermined range of desired tire pressures, a first tire pressure device transmitter responsive to the signal processor and operative to generate an RF signal to the first interrogation component receiver or the second interrogation component receiver indicative of the identification of the particular tire pressure monitoring device and whether the tire pressure within the tire is too high or too low with respect to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures, and a tire pressure monitoring device battery;
mounting an RF tag on the first side or the second side of the vehicle, the RF tag comprising an RF tag receiver for receiving wake-up RF signals from the first interrogation component transmitter or the second interrogation component transmitter, an RF tag storage device that retains unique identification data associated with the vehicle, a first RF tag transmitter operatively connected to the RF tag storage device for generating an RF signal to the first interrogation component receiver or the second interrogation component receiver indicative of the unique identification data associated with the vehicle, and an RF tag battery;
approaching the vehicle toward the check point such that it passes between the first interrogation component and the second interrogation component;
transmitting RF wake up signals from the first interrogation component transmitter to tire pressure monitoring devices provided inside tires mounted on the first side of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the check point;
transmitting RF wake up signals from the second interrogation component transmitter to tire pressure monitoring devices provided inside tires mounted on the second side of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the check point;
sensing the tire pressure within each tire mounted to the vehicle;
determining whether the sensed tire pressure is within the predetermined range of desired tire pressures for each tire;
transmitting the unique identification data associated with the vehicle from the first RF tag transmitter to either the first interrogation component receiver or the second interrogation component receiver;
transmitting the identification of the particular tire pressure monitoring devices installed in each tire mounted on the first side of the vehicle to the first interrogation component receiver, and whether the tire pressure sensed within each tire is too high or too low with respect to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures for such tire;
transmitting the identification of the particular tire pressure monitoring devices installed in each tire mounted on the second side of the vehicle to the second interrogation component receiver, and whether the tire pressure sensed within each tire is too high or too low with respect to the predetermined range of desired tire pressures for such tire;
collecting the information transmitted by the RF tag transmitter and the tire pressure monitoring device transmitters in a database; and
signaling an operator of the vehicle when tire pressure has been determined to be outside the predetermined range for one or more particularly identified tires. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeDrakes & Christ, LLC
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Original AssigneeDrakes & Christ, LLC
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InventorsChrist, Thomas, Drake, Marshall
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Primary Examiner(s)Crosland, Donnie L.
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Application NumberUS10/185,647Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,159 DaysField of Search340/447, 340/445, 340/448, 340/5.61, 340/10.1, 731/464, 731/465, 731/468, 116/34.RUS Class Current340/447CPC Class CodesB60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by...B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external...
