Method and system for determining tire pressure imbalances

• US 6,998,975 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Tu, Thomas H, Buck, M. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/679,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20050073400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/446, 340/447, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465, 731/468
• US Class Current: 340/447
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right

Abstract

A tire pressure detection system including a pneumatic tire, a valve system coupled to the pneumatic tire, a switch contained within the valve system, the switch including a transmitter, a receiver in wireless communication with the transmitter; and where when the switch is actuated the switch will transmit tire pressure information to said transmitter.

Claims

1. A tire pressure detection system comprising:

a pneumatic tire;

a valve system coupled to said pneumatic tire;

a switch contained within said valve system, said switch including a transmitter;

a receiver in wireless communication with said transmitter;

a manually operated plunger operatively coupled to said switch;

wherein said manually operated plunger is depressed in a specified sequence to identify the location of said pneumatic tire; and

wherein when said switch is operative said switch will transmit tire pressure and location information to said receiver.

2. The tire pressure system of claim 1 further comprising a rolling sensor.

3. The tire pressure system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter periodically transmits tire pressure information to said receiver.

4. The tire pressure system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is located in a vehicle body computer.

5. A tire pressure sensor comprising:

a switch contained within a valve system of a pneumatic tire, said switch including a transmitter;

a manually operated plunger operatively coupled to said switch, said plunger used in a learn routine to identify the location of said tire pressure sensor;

wherein said switch is structurally integrated into said valve system; and

wherein when said switch is actuated said switch will transmit tire pressure information to a receiver.

6. The tire pressure sensor of claim 5 wherein said tire switch is operatively coupled to a rolling sensor.

7. The tire pressure sensor of claim 5 wherein said transmitter periodically transmits tire pressure information to said receiver.

8. A method of determining tire pressure for a vehicle comprising:

providing tire pressure sensors in the tires of the vehicle;

depressing manually operated switches integrated into valve stems of the tires of a vehicle in a specific sequence;

transmitting a unique identification code from said tire pressure sensors to a receiver in the vehicle upon depression of the manually operated switches; and

learning the position of each said tire.

9. A method of determining tire pressure for a vehicle comprising:

providing tire pressure sensors in the tires of the vehicle, said tire pressure including a manually operated plunger operatively coupled to tire pressure switches;

depressing plungers in the tires of a vehicle in a specific sequence;

transmitting a unique identification code from said tire pressure sensors to a receiver in the vehicle upon depression of the plungers; and

learning the position of each said tire.