Tire status monitoring system

• US 6,945,103 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seetron Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seetron Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Gyu Cheol, Chae, Hui Yeon
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/832,121
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/464, 731/465, 737/08, 701/1, 701/29, 701/34, 701/36, 340438-447
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• 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 23/0454 Means for changing operation mode, e.g. sleep mode, factory mode or energy save mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0459 self triggered by motion sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0472 to manually allocate ID codes or mounting positions, e.g. by service technicians

Abstract

A tire status monitoring system monitors tire conditions, such as tire pressure, temperature, etc., thereby improving automobile safety. The tire status monitoring system provides transmitters, mounted within the vehicle tires, for transmitting tire conditions. A receiver is installed in the vehicle, for analyzing the tire condition data received from each transmitter. The transmitter includes a pressure sensor for sensing air pressure, a temperature sensor for sensing temperature in the tire; a drive detecting sensor for sensing driving velocity; a radio transmission module for modulating the input data into a radio frequency signal to transmit the modulated signal; and a control device for identifying the operation mode by the pressure, temperature and driving velocityinput from the sensors in sensing mode. The control device controls the radio transmission module so that the sensed data can be transmitted at a predetermined period according to the identified operation mode.

Claims

1. A tire status monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of transmitters, mounted within the tires of vehicle, for transmitting tire condition data after detecting the tire condition; and

a receiver, installed in the vehicle, for analyzing the tire condition data received from each transmitter, thereby displaying the tire condition;

wherein

the transmitter comprises;

a pressure sensor for sensing an air pressure in the tire to provide pressure data;

a temperature sensor for sensing an air temperature in the tire to provide temperature data;

a drive detecting sensor for sensing whether the vehicle is driven or not to provide driving velocity data;

a radio transmission module for modulating the input data into a radio frequency signal to transmit the modulated signal; and

a control means for identifying the operation mode by the pressure data, the temperature data and the driving velocity data inputted from the sensors in sensing mode and controlling the radio transmission module so that the sensed data can be transmitted at a predetermined period according to the identified operation mode.

2. A tire status monitoring system according to claim 1,

wherein the transmitter includes a battery voltage detection means for detecting a batty voltage, and the control means formalizes the detected voltage together with the other detected data into a packet of a predetermined format.

3. A tire status monitoring system according to claim 1,

wherein the operation mode is classified into an emergency mode, a drive mode, a stop mode and a parking mode according to, when the present tire pressure has been compared with one of the prior tire pressure, the resultant difference and the present velocity.

4. A tire status monitoring system according to claim 3,

wherein the emergency mode is the case where the difference between the present pressure and the prior pressure is more than a predetermined value,

the drive mode is the case where the difference between a present pressure and a prior pressure is less that a predetermined value and the velocity is more than a predetermined setting value,

the stop mode is the case where the difference between the present pressure and the prior pressure is less than the predetermined value and the velocity is equal to or more than the predetermined setting value, and

the parking mode is the case where the stop mode is maintained for a predetermined time.

5. A tire status monitoring system according to claim 1,

wherein the transmitter further includes a tire position setting means, thereby transmitting characteristic tire position information capable of recognizing the tire position.

6. A tire status monitoring system according to claim 5,

wherein the tire position is determined as attached position according to a remainder value after being divided by 4.

7. A tire status monitoring system according to claim 1,

wherein the receiver comprises:

a manipulating means;

a radio reception module for receiving a radio signal to demodulate received signals;

a display;

a buzzer; and

a control means for setting a warning reference value for a warning, such that a driver selects the setting, and controlling, in a normal state, the condition data of each tire through the radio reception module and decoding the received data, and thereafter comparing the decoded data with the predetermined warning reference value so that a warning can be generated by vibrating the buzzer or displaying the tire condition on the display.

8. A tire status monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the receiver classifies the warning into an attention waning, a minor warning and a major warning in accordance with the tire pressure, to inform the driver.