Determination of wheel sensor position using a single radio frequency detector in an automotive remote tire monitor system
First Claim
1. A remote tire monitor system, comprising:
- a plurality of tire monitors associated with wheels of a vehicle and operable to transmit tire information;
a single radio frequency (RF) detector operable to detect a RF transmission from two or more tire monitors and produce a detected transmission indication;
a central receiver operable to receive the tire information independently of the single RF detector; and
a control unit coupled with the RF detector and the receiver, the control unit operable to determine positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the detected transmission indication from the single RF detector and the received tire information from the receiver;
wherein the single RF detector is arranged to be remotely coupled to the control unit and is arranged proximate one of a front tire set and a back tire set and one of a left tire set and a right tire set;
wherein the control unit is operable to count the detected transmission indication and compare count values of the received detected transmission indication for the plurality of tire monitors, and the control unit determines left versus right position and front versus rear position for the plurality of tire monitors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tire monitor system employs a single RF detector mounted on the vehicle. The tire monitor system also includes a control unit and a receiver. The single RF detector is positioned to be proximate a front axle or a rear axle. The RF detector also may be positioned off-center. The control unit distinguishes front tire monitors from rear tire monitors by comparing a number of RF transmissions received by each tire monitor. The control unit also may distinguish between left tire monitors and right tire monitors by comparing the number of RF transmissions received by each tire monitor. In other embodiment, the tire monitor system may further use a received signal strength and/or acceleration signals to determine position information of the tire monitors.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A remote tire monitor system, comprising:
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a plurality of tire monitors associated with wheels of a vehicle and operable to transmit tire information; a single radio frequency (RF) detector operable to detect a RF transmission from two or more tire monitors and produce a detected transmission indication; a central receiver operable to receive the tire information independently of the single RF detector; and a control unit coupled with the RF detector and the receiver, the control unit operable to determine positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the detected transmission indication from the single RF detector and the received tire information from the receiver; wherein the single RF detector is arranged to be remotely coupled to the control unit and is arranged proximate one of a front tire set and a back tire set and one of a left tire set and a right tire set; wherein the control unit is operable to count the detected transmission indication and compare count values of the received detected transmission indication for the plurality of tire monitors, and the control unit determines left versus right position and front versus rear position for the plurality of tire monitors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A remote tire monitor system for use with a vehicle having a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side, comprising:
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a plurality of tire monitors associated with each side of the vehicle and operable to transmit tire information; a single radio frequency (RF) detector positioned proximate one side of the vehicle and generate a transmission indication in response to radio frequency (RF) transmissions from at least one of the plurality of tire monitors; a central receiver operable to receive the tire information independently of the single RF detector; and a control unit coupled with the RF detector and the receiver, the control unit operable to determine positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the transmission indication from the single RF detector and the tire information from the receiver wherein the single RF detector is arranged remote from the control unit and the central receiver is arranged proximate the control unit, and the single RF detector is arranged proximate one of a front tire set and a back tire set and one of a left tire set and a right tire set; wherein the control unit is operable to evaluate a received signal strength for each transmission from the plurality of tire monitors and the control unit is operable to determine front versus rear position information based on the detected transmission indication and left versus right position information based on the received signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A remote tire monitor system for use with a vehicle having a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side, comprising:
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a plurality of tire monitors associated with each side of the vehicle and operable to transmit tire information, each tire monitor including an acceleration sensor to detect acceleration values and generating an acceleration signal for the acceleration values; a single radio frequency (RF) detector positioned proximate one side of the vehicle and generate a transmission indication in response to radio frequency (RF) transmissions from at least one of the plurality of tire monitors; a receiver operable to receive the tire information; and a control unit coupled with the RF detector and the receiver, the control unit operable to determine positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the transmission indication and the tire information, the control unit also operable to evaluate the acceleration signal for each transmission from the plurality of tire monitors. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A tire monitor method for use with a vehicle having a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side, the method comprising:
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positioning a single radio frequency (RF) detector proximate one of a front tire set and a back tire set and one of a left tire set and a right tire set; at the single RF detector, detecting RF transmissions from at least one of a plurality of tire monitors associated with each side of the vehicle; at a central receiver, receiving tire data from the plurality of tire monitors independently of the detection of the RF transmissions at the single RF detector; at a control unit, determining positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the detected RF transmissions from the single RF detector and the tire data from the receiver, wherein determining positions comprises; at the control unit, counting a number of detected transmissions from each tire monitor; at the control unit, comparing the number of detected transmissions among the plurality of tire monitors; selecting at least one identifier having a greater number of the detected transmissions than the rest of the tire monitors processing the received tire data to extract an identifier of each tire monitor; and associating the identifier with the number of detected transmission. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A tire monitor method for use with a vehicle having a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side, the method comprising:
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at a plurality of tire monitors associated with each side of the vehicle, generating acceleration signals representing acceleration values that arise from rotation of wheels; positioning a single radio frequency (RF) detector proximate one side of the vehicle; at the single RF detector, detecting RF transmissions from at least one of the plurality of tire monitors; at a receiver, receiving tire data from the plurality of tire monitors; and at a control unit, determining positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the detected RF transmissions and the tire data by at least evaluating a polarity of the acceleration signals and determining a left versus right position of the tire monitors based on the polarity of the acceleration.
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22. A tire monitor method for use with a vehicle having a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side, the method comprising:
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at a plurality of tire monitors associated with each side of the vehicle, generating acceleration signals representing acceleration values that arise from rotation of wheels; positioning a single radio frequency (RF) detector proximate one side of the vehicle; at the single RF detector, detecting RF transmissions from at least one of the plurality of tire monitors; at a receiver, receiving lire data from the plurality of tire monitors; and at a control unit, determining positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the detected RF transmissions and the tire data by at least evaluating a polarity of the acceleration signals and determining a front versus rear position of the tire monitors based on the polarity of the acceleration.
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23. A tire monitor method for use with a vehicle having a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side, the method comprising:
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at a plurality of tire monitors associated with each side of the vehicle, generating acceleration signals representing acceleration values that arise from rotation of wheels; positioning a single radio frequency (RF) detector proximate one side of the vehicle; at the single RF detector, detecting RF transmissions from at least one of the plurality of tire monitors; at a receiver, receiving tire data from the plurality of tire monitors; and at a control unit, determining positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the detected RF transmissions and the tire data by at least evaluating lead/lag relationship of the acceleration signals; and
determining a left versus right position of the tire monitors based on the lead/lag relationship of the acceleration.
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24. A tire monitor method for use with a vehicle having a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side, the method comprising:
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at a plurality of tire monitors associated with each side of the vehicle, generating acceleration signals representing acceleration values that arise from rotation of wheels; positioning a single radio frequency (RF) detector proximate one side of the vehicle; at the single RF detector, detecting RF transmissions from at least one of the plurality of tire monitors; at a receiver, receiving tire data from the plurality of tire monitors; and at a control unit, determining positions of the plurality of tire monitors based on the detected RF transmissions and the tire data by at least evaluating lead/lag relationship of the acceleration signals and determining a front versus rear position of the tire monitors based on the lead/lag relationship of the acceleration.
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Specification