ID registration method for tire air pressure sensor, ID registration system, tire air pressure monitoring system, tire air pressure sensor, and smart control system

• US 6,967,570 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuji, Hiroyuki, Okumura, Ryozo
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/626,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20050017860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/447, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/446, 340/448, 340/426.13, 340/426.15, 731/46, 731/462, 731/465, 731/467, 731/468, 116/134.R
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0466 with signals sent by transmitters mounted on adjacent vehicles

Abstract

Provided is a tire air pressure monitoring system in which identification (“ID”) registration is automatically made while specifying a tire position to reduce the manpower of the registration operation and further to prevent mistaken registration. In this system, when an ignition switch is changed from an OFF state to an ON state to satisfy a tire position detection condition, a command is issued to a smart control unit so that a transmitter transmits an ID transmission request to an air pressure sensor, and the air pressure sensor returns ID data as a reply to the ID transmission request. The ID data received is collated with a previously registered ID and, if the result of the collation shows that the ID data pertains to the air pressure sensor of his/her own vehicle, the received ID data is registered as an ID related to a specific tire position.

Claims

1. A sensor identification registration method of registering an identification of a plurality of air pressure sensors mounted on respective tires of a vehicle in a memory in a state where a position of the tire is identifiable, said air pressure sensor being equipped with a reception function and a plurality of transmitters being provided on a body of said vehicle, each of said transmitters being made to encompass only one of the tires in its transmission area, said method comprising:

a transmission step in which one of said plurality of transmitters provided on said vehicle body transmits an identification transmission request to one of said air pressure sensors, the one of said air pressure sensors existing in the transmission area corresponding to one of the transmitters and including transmission/reception means for transmission of an identification of the one of said air pressure sensors, and the one of said air pressure sensors transmits its own identification in response to an identification transmission request transmitted from one of said transmitters;

a reception step in which a receiver of said vehicle body receives said identification transmitted from the one of said air pressure sensors in said transmission step; and

a registration step in which said identification received in said reception step is registered in said memory while specifying the tire position in relation to said transmitter which has transmitted said identification transmission request.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said steps is repeatedly implemented while said transmitters are rotated to transmit said identification transmission requests in turn so that said identifications related to all said tires are registered in said memory.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said identifications of said air pressure sensors of the tires of his/her own vehicle are registered in said memory in advance and said identification received from said air pressure sensor in response to said identification transmission request is collated with the registration contents in said memory to confirm that the received identification pertains to said air pressure sensor of the tire of his/her own vehicle and, after the confirmation thereof, the identification registration is made to specify the tire position.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said air pressure sensor is made to transmit its own identification in a manner that involves identifying a reply made with respect to said identification transmission request.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when an identification is already registered in said memory in the form of specifying the tire position, the identification registration is made by overwriting the already registered information.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said steps is implemented in response to a predetermined trigger.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said steps is implemented when an ignition switch of said vehicle shows a variation in state.

2. A sensor identification registration method of registering an identification of a plurality of air pressure sensors mounted on respective tires of a vehicle in a memory in a state where a position of the tire is identifiable, with said air pressure sensor being equipped with a reception function, said method comprising:

a transmission step in which one of a plurality of transmitters disposed on doors of said vehicle for smart control transmits an identification transmission request to one of said air pressure sensors, the one of said air pressure sensors existing in the transmission area corresponding to one of the transmitters and including transmission/reception means for transmission of an identification of the one of said air pressure sensors, and the one of said air pressure sensors transmits its own identification in response to said identification transmission request transmitted from the one of said transmitters;

a reception step in which a receiver of a body of said vehicle receives said identification transmitted from the one of said air pressure sensors in said transmission step; and

a registration step in which said identification received in said reception step is registered in said memory while specifying the tire position in relation to said transmitter which has transmitted said identification transmission request.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein each of said steps is repeatedly implemented while said transmitters are rotated to transmit said identification transmission requests in turn so that said identifications related to all said tires are registered in said memory.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said identifications of said air pressure sensors of the tires of his/her own vehicle are registered in said memory in advance and said identification received from said air pressure sensor in response to said identification transmission request is collated with the registration contents in said memory to confirm that the received identification pertains to said air pressure sensor of the tire of his/her own vehicle and, after the confirmation thereof, the identification registration is made to specify the tire position.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein said air pressure sensor is made to transmit its own identification in a manner that involves identifying a reply made with respect to said identification transmission request.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein, when an identification is already registered in said memory in the form of specifying the tire position, the identification registration is made by overwriting the already registered information.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein each of said steps is implemented in response to a predetermined trigger.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein each of said steps is implemented when an ignition switch of said vehicle shows a variation in state.

15. A tire air pressure sensor identification registration system which is made to register an identification of a plurality of air pressure sensors mounted on respective tires of a vehicle in a memory in a state where a position of the tire is identifiable, with said air pressure sensor being equipped with a reception function, said system comprising:

a plurality of transmitters provided in a body of said vehicle, each of said transmitters being made to encompass only one of the tires in its transmission area, and one of said transmitters being put into operation by transmitter operating means for transmitting an identification transmission request to the one of said air pressure sensors, the one of said air pressure sensors existing in the transmission area corresponding to one of the transmitters for transmission of an identification of the one of said air pressure sensors;

transmission/reception means provided in the one of said air pressure sensors for transmitting said identification of the one of said air pressure sensors in response to said identification transmission request transmitted from the one of said transmitters;

a receiver provided in said vehicle body for receiving said identification transmitted from the one of said air pressure sensors;

identification registration means for registering said identification received by said receiver in said memory while specifying the tire position on the basis of the relationship with said transmitter put into operation by said transmitter operating means.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter operating means is constructed as means for, when the identification registration for one air pressure sensor in said identification registration means reaches completion, making the next transmitter transmit an identification transmission request, and said identification registration means is constructed as means for implementing the identification registration whenever said transmitter operating means is put into activation.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein said identifications of said air pressure sensors of the tires of his/her own vehicle are registered in said memory in advance, and said system further comprises identification collation means for collating said identification received from said air pressure sensor in response to said identification transmission request with the registration contents in said memory to confirm that the received identification is an identification of an air pressure sensor of a tire of his/her own vehicle, and said identification registration means implements the identification registration when said identification collation means confirms that the received identification is the air pressure sensor identification of the tire of his/her own vehicle.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein said air pressure sensor includes registration identification transmission means for transmitting its own identification in a manner that involves identifying a reply made with respect to an identification transmission request.

23. The system according to claim 15, wherein, when an identification is already registered in said memory in the form of specifying the tire position, the identification registration is made by overwriting the already registered information.

25. The system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter operating means is put into activation in response to a predetermined trigger.

27. The system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter operating means is put into activation when an ignition switch shows a variation in state.

16. A tire air pressure sensor identification registration system which is made to register an identification of a plurality of air pressure sensors mounted on respective tires of a vehicle in a memory in a state where a position of the tire is identifiable, with said air pressure sensor being equipped with a reception function, said system comprising:

transmitters for smart control provided on doors of said vehicle, each of said transmitters being made to encompass only one of the tires in its transmission area, and one of said transmitters being put into operation by transmitter operating means for transmitting an identification transmission reciuest to the one of said air pressure sensors, the one of said air pressure sensors existing in the transmission area corresponding to one of the transmitters for transmission of an identification of the one of said air pressure sensors;

transmission/reception means provided in the one of said air pressure sensors for transmitting said identification of the one of said air pressure sensors in response to said identification transmission request transmitted from the one of said transmitters;

a receiver provided in a body of said vehicle for receiving said identification transmitted from one of said air pressure sensors;

transmitter operating means for making one of said transmitters transmit an identification transmission request; and

identification registration means for registering said identification received by said receiver in said memory while specifying the tire position on the basis of the relationship with said transmitter put into operation by said transmitter operating means.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said transmitter operating means is constructed as means for, when the identification registration for one air pressure sensor in said identification registration means reaches completion, making the next transmitter transmit an identification transmission request, and said identification registration means is constructed as means for implementing the identification registration whenever said transmitter operating means is put into activation.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein said identifications of said air pressure sensors of the tires of his/her own vehicle are registered in said memory in advance, and said system further comprises identification collation means for collating said identification received from said air pressure sensor in response to said identification transmission request with the registration contents in said memory to confirm that the received identification is an identification of an air pressure sensor of a tire of his/her own vehicle, and said identification registration means implements the identification registration when said identification collation means confirms that the received identification is the air pressure sensor identification of the tire of his/her own vehicle.

22. The system according to claim 16, wherein said air pressure sensor includes registration identification transmission means for transmitting its own identification in a manner that involves identifying a reply made with respect to an identification transmission request.

24. The system according to claim 16, wherein, when an identification is already registered in said memory in the form of specifying the tire position, the identification registration is made by overwriting the already registered information.

26. The system according to claim 16, wherein said transmitter operating means is put into activation in response to a predetermined trigger.

28. The system according to claim 16, wherein said transmitter operating means is put into activation when an ignition switch shows a variation in state.

29. A tire air pressure monitoring system comprising:

air pressure sensors each provided on respective tires of a vehicle for transmitting its own identification together with air pressure detection data;

a memory for registering said identification of each of said air pressure sensors while specifying a position of each of the tires;

a receiver provided in a body of said vehicle for receiving said air pressure detection data and said identification transmitted from said air pressure sensor; and

a control unit for collating said identification received together with said air pressure detection data with the registration contents in said memory to specify said air pressure sensor of his/her own vehicle the received air pressure detection data pertains to and, when detecting a tire which shows abnormality in air pressure, making an alarm indication on the specified tire, with said air pressure sensors being equipped with a reception function, said monitoring system comprising;

a plurality of transmitters provided in said vehicle body, each of said transmitters being made to encompass only one of the tires in its transmission area, one of said transmitters being put into operation by transmitter operating means for transmitting an identification transmission request to the one of said air pressure sensors, the one of said air pressure sensors existing in the transmission area corresponding to one of the transmitters for transmission of an identification of the one of said air pressure sensors;

transmission/reception means provided in the one of said air pressure sensors for transmitting said identification of the one of said air pressure sensors in response to said identification transmission request transmitted from the one of said transmitters;

identification registration means for registering said identification received by said receiver in said memory while specifying the tire position on the basis of the relationship with said transmitter put into activation by said transmitter operating means.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein said transmitter operating means is constructed as means for, when the identification registration for one air pressure sensor in said identification registration means reaches completion, making the next transmitter transmit an identification transmission request, and said identification registration means is constructed as means for implementing the identification registration whenever said transmitter operating means is put into activation.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein said identifications of said air pressure sensors of the tires of his/her own vehicle are registered in said memory in advance, and said system further comprises identification collation means for collating said identification received from said air pressure sensor in response to said identification transmission request with the registration contents in said memory to confirm that the received identification is an identification of an air pressure sensor of a tire of his/her own vehicle, and said identification registration means implements the identification registration when said identification collation means confirms that the received identification is the air pressure sensor identification of the tire of his/her own vehicle.

36. The system according to claim 29, wherein said air pressure sensor includes registration identification transmission means for transmitting its own identification in a manner that involves identifying a reply made with respect to an identification transmission request.

38. The system according to claim 29, wherein said identification registration means is constructed as means for, when an identification is already registered in the memory in the form of specifying the tire position, making the identification registration by overwriting the already registered information.

40. The system according to claim 29, wherein said transmitter operating means is put into activation in response to a predetermined trigger.

42. The system according to claim 29, wherein said transmitter operating means is put into activation when an ignition switch shows a variation in state.

30. A tire air pressure monitoring system comprising:

air pressure sensors each provided on respective tires of a vehicle for transmitting its own identification together with air pressure detection data;

a memory for registering said identification of each of said air pressure sensors while specifying a position of each of the tires;

a receiver provided in a body of said vehicle for receiving said air pressure detection data and said identification transmitted from said air pressure sensor; and

a control unit for collating said identification received together with said air pressure detection data with the registration contents in said memory to specify said air pressure sensor of his/her own vehicle the received air pressure detection data pertains to and, when detecting a tire which shows abnormality in air pressure, making an alarm indication on the specified tire, with said air pressure sensors being equipped with a reception function, said monitoring system comprising;

transmitters for smart control provided on doors of said vehicle, one of said transmitters being put into operation by transmitter operating means for transmitting an identification transmission request to the one of said air pressure sensors, the one of said air pressures sensors existing in the transmission area corresponding to one of the transmitters for transmission of an identification of the one of said air pressure sensors;

transmission/reception means provided in the one of said air pressure sensors for transmitting said identification of the one of said air pressure sensors in response to said identification transmission request transmitted from the one of said transmitters; and

identification registration means for registering said identification received by said receiver in said memory while specifying the tire position on the basis of the relationship with said transmitter put into activation by said transmitter operating means.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein said transmitter operating means includes operation command outputting means for outputting a predetermined command designating a transmitter to be operated with respect to a smart control system for controlling said transmitter, and said transmitter operating means is constructed as means for making the transmission of said identification transmission request by outputting said predetermined command to said smart control system through the use of the operation command outputting means.

33. The system according to claim 30, wherein said transmitter operating means is constructed as means for, when the identification registration for one air pressure sensor in said identification registration means reaches completion, making the next transmitter transmit an identification transmission request, and said identification registration means is constructed as means for implementing the identification registration whenever said transmitter operating means is put into activation.

35. The system according to claim 30, wherein said identifications of said air pressure sensors of the tires of his/her own vehicle are registered in said memory in advance, and said system further comprises identification collation means for collating said identification received from said air pressure sensor in response to said identification transmission request with the registration contents in said memory to confirm that the received identification is an identification of an air pressure sensor of a tire of his/her own vehicle, and said identification registration means implements the identification registration when said identification collation means confirms that the received identification is the air pressure sensor identification of the tire of his/her own vehicle.

37. The system according to claim 30, wherein said air pressure sensor includes registration identification transmission means for transmitting its own identification in a manner that involves identifying a reply made with respect to an identification transmission request.

39. The system according to claim 30, wherein said identification registration means is constructed as means for, when an identification is already registered in the memory in the form of specifying the tire position, making the identification registration by overwriting the already registered information.

41. The system according to claim 30, wherein said transmitter operating means is put into activation in response to a predetermined trigger.

43. The system according to claim 30, wherein said transmitter operating means is put into activation when an ignition switch shows a variation in state.