Tire-information administration system

• US 7,411,487 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Inventors: Imamura, Yoshinori, Takao, Koji, Yamada, Tatehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US10/542,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/447, 340/449, 340/443, 340/539.1, 116/34.R, 731/46, 731/463, 731/465, 731/462, 731/466
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/007 having multiple wheels arranged side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0437 Means for detecting electromagnetic field changes not being part of the signal transmission per se, e.g. strength, direction, propagation or masking
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/044 Near field triggers, e.g. magnets or triggers with 125 KHz
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/045 Means for detecting electromagnetic field changes being not part of the signal transmission per se, e.g. strength, direction, propagation or masking

Abstract

A tire-information administration system includes a plurality of sensor modules installed in tires; at least one reception module configured to receive data from the sensor modules; and a central control module configured to command the reception module to acquire data from the sensor modules. The central control module includes a predetermined number of connection ports for the reception module, assigned in advance to each sensor modules; and a specifically configured control means. The control means sequentially outputs at predetermined sampling time a command of data acquisition from a sensor module, to the connection port assigned to each sensor module; assigns the connection port to the sensor module for the next sampling, when there is a data input from the sensor module in response to the command; assigns data acquisition from the sensor module to another connection port, and assigns the other connection port to the sensor module for the next sampling, when there is no data input from the sensor module even by the command issuance. Thus, the tire-information administration system maintains communications even in case of troubles of the reception modules or damages of tires.

Claims

1. A tire-information administration system comprising:

a plurality of sensor modules installed in tires;

at least one reception module configured to receive data from the sensor modules; and

a central control module configured to command the reception module to acquire data from the sensor modules;

wherein

said central control module comprises;

a predetermined number of connection ports for the reception module, assigned in advance to each sensor module; and

control means configured to;

sequentially output at a predetermined sampling time a command of data acquisition from a first sensor module, to a first connection port assigned to the first sensor module;

assign the first connection port to the first sensor module for a next sampling, when there is a data input from the first sensor module in response to the command; and

assign the command of data acquisition from the first sensor module to a second connection port different from the first connection port, and assign the second connection port to the first sensor module for the next sampling, when there is no data input from the first sensor module even by the command issuance.

2. The tire-information administration system according to claim 1, wherein there is outputted a trouble signal of the tire-information administration system, when a response from the first sensor module is absent at all the connection ports.

3. The tire-information administration system according to claim 2, wherein the first sensor module includes means for detecting an internal pressure of the first sensor module'"'"'s respective tire.

4. The tire-information administration system according to claim 2, wherein the first sensor module includes means for detecting a temperature in the first sensor module'"'"'s respective tire.

5. The tire-information administration system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor module includes means for detecting an internal pressure of the first sensor module'"'"'s respective tire.

6. The tire-information administration system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor module includes means for detecting a temperature in the first sensor module'"'"'s respective tire.

7. A tire-information administration system comprising:

a plurality of sensor modules mounted in tires, respectively;

a reception module configured to receive data from the sensor modules; and

a central control module configured to command the reception module to acquire data from the sensor modules;

wherein the reception module comprises;

a plurality of antennas each arranged near any one of tires and configured to transmit and receive signals to and from each of the sensor modules;

a single reception body portion connected to the antennas via wirings; and

antenna switching means for electrically connecting and disconnecting between the reception body portion and each antenna;

wherein the reception body portion is provided with control means for modulating a command signal from the central control module to thereby generate an output signal to a first antenna, and for demodulating a signal from the first antenna to thereby output data to the central control module;

wherein a first sensor module is previously assigned to the first antenna, respectively; and

wherein said central control module is configured to conduct procedures for;

sequentially outputting at a predetermined sampling time a command of data acquisition from the first sensor module, to the first antenna assigned to the first sensor module;

assigning the first antenna to the first sensor module for a next sampling, when there is a data input from the first sensor module in response to the command; and

assigning data acquisition from the first sensor module to a second antenna, and assigning the second antenna to the first sensor module for the next sampling, when there is no data input from the first sensor module even by the command issuance.

8. The tire-information administration system according to claim 7, further comprising an amplifier configured to amplify said transmission signal and said receipt signal, near each antenna.

9. The tire-information administration system according to claim 7, wherein there is outputted a trouble signal of the tire-information administration system, when a response from the first sensor module is absent at all the antennas.