Method and apparatus for monitoring tire pressure
First Claim
1. A method of learning associations between a plurality of tires each having a unique identification code and a plurality of locations for tires, comprising:
- initiating a timer before receiving a first identification code;
receiving the unique identification codes from each tire of the plurality of tires in response to a change in tire pressure in said each tire in a predetermined order of the plurality of locations for tires;
resetting said timer after receiving each identification code;
correlating the receipt of the unique identification codes to the predetermined order of the plurality of locations for tires to thereby associate each tire of the plurality of tires to one location of the plurality of locations for tires; and
terminating said method if said timer indicates that a predetermined threshold of time has expired before an identification code is received.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for relearning associations between tire pressure detectors and tire locations on an automobile. An apparatus comprises tire pressure detectors installed on each wheel having a tire, each configured to transmit a unique identification code in response to a tire pressure change greater than a predetermined magnitude in a predetermined time. The apparatus also includes a monitor having a receiver for receiving and a memory for storing the transmitted identification codes and a processor for associating the identification codes with predetermined locations. A method comprises exciting the tire pressure detectors in a predetermined sequence while monitoring transmitted identification codes. The method may further include storing the received unique identification codes in a predetermined order corresponding to the predetermined sequence.
34 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A method of learning associations between a plurality of tires each having a unique identification code and a plurality of locations for tires, comprising:
-
initiating a timer before receiving a first identification code; receiving the unique identification codes from each tire of the plurality of tires in response to a change in tire pressure in said each tire in a predetermined order of the plurality of locations for tires; resetting said timer after receiving each identification code; correlating the receipt of the unique identification codes to the predetermined order of the plurality of locations for tires to thereby associate each tire of the plurality of tires to one location of the plurality of locations for tires; and terminating said method if said timer indicates that a predetermined threshold of time has expired before an identification code is received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5)
-
-
4. A method of learning associations between a plurality of tires each having a unique identification code and a plurality of locations for tires, the method comprising:
-
receiving the unique identification codes from each tire of the plurality of tires in response to a change in tire pressure in said each tire in a predetermined order of the plurality of locations for tires; correlating the receipt of the unique identification codes to the predetermined order of the plurality of locations for tires to thereby associate each tire of the plurality of tires to one location of the plurality of locations for tires; testing each second and subsequently received identification code to determine if said identification code is unique compared to said identification codes already stored; and storing only identification codes that are determined to be unique compared to said identification codes already stored.
-
-
6. A tire pressure monitor system for a vehicle having a plurality of tires each mounted on a wheel at one of a plurality of locations relating to said vehicle, the tire pressure monitor system comprising:
-
a plurality of tire pressure detectors each coupled to one of the plurality of wheels, each tire pressure detector further comprising; a transmitter having a unique identification code; and a pressure sensor configured to detect changes in the pressure in said one tire mounted on said wheel; a receiver configured to receive said transmitted unique identification codes; a first processor coupled to said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to respond to a user-supplied command to relearn associations between said identification codes and said locations by accepting said received identification codes in a predetermined order related to said locations; and a memory coupled to said first processor, wherein said memory is configured to store each said identification code in association with each said respective location, wherein each said detector processor is configured to; determine a magnitude of the pressure change within a predetermined time period; compare the pressure change magnitude within the predetermined time period to a predetermined threshold; control the transmitter to transmit pressure data and the identification code periodically if the determined magnitude is less than the predetermined threshold; and control the transmitter to transmit at least the identification code immediately if the determined magnitude is greater than the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification