Tire monitoring system with a wireless setting capability

• US 7,039,508 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp. (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp. (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Lai, Chang-Hung, Lin, Sheng-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead, Brian J.
• Application Number:
  US10/778,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/32, 701/33, 701/45, 340/447, 340/442, 731/465
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0413 Wireless charging of active radio frequency circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0442 the transmitted signal comprises further information, e.g. instruction codes, sensor characteristics or identification data
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0462 Structure of transmission protocol
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations

Abstract

A tire monitoring system with a wireless setting capability includes a wireless controller and a plurality of tire status sensors each tire status sensor is composed a sensing and processing unit having an unique tire serial number, a second low frequency transceiver and an RE transmitter. The wireless controller has a first low frequency transceiver and stores a plurality of tire serial numbers representing different wheel positions. The wireless controller outputs a control signal including a reset command and a new tire serial number to a specific tire status sensor. The sensing and processing unit will be reset and replace the tire serial number when the tire status sensor receives the control signal.

Claims

1. A tire monitoring system with a wireless setting capability, comprising:

a wireless controller having a microprocessor and one first low frequency transceiver, wherein the microprocessor stores a plurality of tire serial numbers that represent different wheel positions and is connected to the first low frequency transceiver to output a plurality of control signals, each control signal includes a reset command and a new tire serial number; and

a plurality of tire status sensors, each tire status sensors comprises a sensing and processing unit storing a tire serial number and having a reset and a data port, a second low frequency transceiver connected to the reset and the data port of the sensing and processing unit, and an RF transmitter connected to the sensing and processing unit,

whereby a specific tire status sensor receives the control signals from the wireless controller through the second low frequency transceiver, and the sensing and processing unit is reset and replaces the tire serial number.

2. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless controller further comprises:

a plurality of first low frequency transceivers each the first low frequency transceiver is connected to the microprocessor wherein the first low frequency transceivers are close to the respective tire status sensors in the wheels;

an RF receiver connected to the microprocessor to receive RF signals from the RF transmitters of the tire status sensors; and

an alarm connected to the microprocessor, wherein the alarm is controlled by the microprocessor.

3. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wireless controller further comprises:

a display connected to the microprocessor to display a current control signal, which is output from the microprocessor; and

a keypad connected to the microprocessor to select a specific tire status sensor that the microprocessor resets.

4. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensing and processing unit comprises:

a signal processor;

a plurality of signal sensors connected to the signal processor to detect status parameters inside the wheels and respectively output a detected signal to the signal processor; and

an external memory connected to the signal processor to store the tire serial number.

5. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of signal sensors include a tire pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a voltmeter.

6. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sensing and processing unit is made of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

7. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless controller further comprises:

a display connected to the microprocessor to display a current control signal, which is output from the microprocessor; and

a keypad connected to the microprocessor to select a specific tire status sensor that the microprocessor resets.

8. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sensing and processing unit comprises:

a signal processor;

a plurality of signal sensors connected to the signal processor to detect status parameters inside the wheels and respectively output a detected signal to the signal processor; and

an external memory connected to the signal processor to store the tire serial number.

9. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sensing and processing unit is made of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

10. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of signal sensors include a tire pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a voltmeter.

11. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing and processing unit comprises:

a signal processor;

a plurality of signal sensors connected to the signal processor to detect status parameters inside the wheels and respectively output a detected signal to the signal processor; and

an external memory connected to the signal processor to store the tire serial number.

12. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensing and processing unit is made of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

13. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plurality of signal sensors include a tire pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a voltmeter.

14. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tire status sensor further comprises:

a reset switch connected between the reset port of the sensing and processing unit and the second low frequency transceiver; and

a data switch connected between the data port of the sensing and processing unit and the second low frequency transceiver.

15. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 14, wherein each second low frequency transceiver comprising

a low frequency antenna;

and

a signal amplifier connected to the low frequency antenna and the reset and data switches.

16. The tire monitoring system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the reset and data switches are FET transistors.