Wheel identifying apparatus and tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus with function of wheel identification
First Claim
1. A wheel identifying apparatus comprising:
- a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal in response to receipt of the trigger signal;
a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other;
a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; and
a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located,wherein,each of the transceivers has a correction value according to a receiver sensitivity thereof,upon receipt of the trigger signal transmitted by the triggering device, each of the transceivers determines the strength of the trigger signal thereat, corrects the determined strength of the trigger signal using the correction value thereof, and transmits the response signal which conveys signal strength information indicative of the corrected strength of the trigger signal, andthe wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the signal strength information conveyed by the response signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to the present invention, a wheel identifying apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers, each of which is located on one of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, a triggering device, a receiver, and a wheel identifier. The triggering device is located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers and works to transmit a trigger signal. Each of the transceivers works to receive the trigger signal, determine the strength of the trigger signal thereat, correct the determined strength using a correction value, and transmit a response signal indicative of the corrected strength. The receiver works to receive all the response signals transmitted by the transceivers. The wheel identifier works to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the corrected strength indicated by the response signal.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A wheel identifying apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal in response to receipt of the trigger signal; a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other; a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; and a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located, wherein, each of the transceivers has a correction value according to a receiver sensitivity thereof, upon receipt of the trigger signal transmitted by the triggering device, each of the transceivers determines the strength of the trigger signal thereat, corrects the determined strength of the trigger signal using the correction value thereof, and transmits the response signal which conveys signal strength information indicative of the corrected strength of the trigger signal, and the wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the signal strength information conveyed by the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second pressure sensor which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the pressure sensors working to sense inflation pressure of an associated one of tires fitted on the first and second wheels and output tire pressure information indicative of the sensed inflation pressure of the associated tire; a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on the first and second wheels of the vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal, which conveys the tire pressure information outputted by an associated one of the first and second pressure sensors, in response to receipt of the trigger signal; a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other; a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located; and a tire pressure determiner operatively connected to the receiver and the wheel identifier, the tire pressure determiner working to determine, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the inflation pressure of the tire that is located on the same wheel as the transceiver having transmitted the response signal based on the tire pressure information conveyed by the response signal, wherein, each of the transceivers has a correction value according to a receiver sensitivity thereof, upon receipt of the trigger signal transmitted by the triggering device, each of the transceivers determines the strength of the trigger signal thereat, corrects the determined strength of the trigger signal using the correction value thereof, and transmits the response signal which conveys signal strength information indicative of the corrected strength of the trigger signal along with the tire pressure information, and the wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the signal strength information conveyed by the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A wheel identifying apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal in response to receipt of the trigger signal; a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other; a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; and a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver;
the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located,wherein, each of the transceivers has a correction value according to a receiver sensitivity thereof, upon receipt of the trigger signal transmitted by the triggering device, each of the transceivers determines the strength of the trigger signal thereat, corrects the determined strength of the trigger signal using the correction value thereof, determines a transmission time according to the corrected strength of the trigger signal, and transmits the response signal at the determined transmission time, the receiver receives the response signals transmitted by the transceivers at different reception times, and the wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the reception time at which the response signal is received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second pressure sensor which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the pressure sensors working to sense inflation pressure of an associated one of tires fitted on the first and second wheels and output tire pressure information indicative of the sensed inflation pressure of the associated tire; a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on the first and second wheels of the vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal, which conveys the tire pressure information outputted by an associated one of the first and second pressure sensors, in response to receipt of the trigger signal; a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other; a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located; and a tire pressure determiner operatively connected to the receiver and the wheel identifier, the tire pressure determiner working to determine, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the inflation pressure of the tire that is located on the same wheel as the transceiver having transmitted the response signal based on the tire pressure information conveyed by the response signal, wherein, each of the transceivers has a correction value according to a receiver sensitivity thereof, upon receipt of the trigger signal transmitted by the triggering device, each of the transceivers determines the strength of the trigger signal thereat, corrects the determined strength of the trigger signal using the correction value thereof, determines a transmission time according to the corrected strength of the trigger signal, and transmits the response signal at the determined transmission time, the receiver receives the response signals transmitted by the transceivers at different reception times, and the wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the reception time at which the response signal is received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A wheel identifying apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal in response to receipt of the trigger signal; a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other; a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; and a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located, wherein, the triggering device transmits, after transmission of the trigger signal, a continuous carrier that consecutively follows the trigger signal, each of the transceivers has a variable receiver sensitivity and a correction value according to the receiver sensitivity, in response to receipt of the trigger signal, each of the transceivers changes the receiver sensitivity thereof from a highest value to a lowest value in a plurality of stages, and determines the one of the stages from which it becomes impossible for the transceiver to detect the continuous carrier, each of the transceivers further determines a parameter, which is indicative of the determined stage, corrects the determined parameter using the correction value, determines a transmission time according to the corrected parameter, and transmits the response signal at the determined transmission time, the receiver receives the response signals transmitted by the transceivers at different reception times, and the wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the reception time at which the response signal is received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second pressure sensor which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the pressure sensors working to sense inflation pressure of an associated one of tires fitted on the first and second wheels and output tire pressure information indicative of the sensed inflation pressure of the associated tire; a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on the first and second wheels of the vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal, which conveys the tire pressure information outputted by an associated one of the first and second pressure sensors, in response to receipt of the trigger signal; a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other; a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located; and a tire pressure determiner operatively connected to the receiver and the wheel identifier, the tire pressure determiner working to determine, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the inflation pressure of the tire that is located on the same wheel as the transceiver having transmitted the response signal based on the tire pressure information conveyed by the response signal, wherein, the triggering device transmits, after transmission of the trigger signal, a continuous carrier that consecutively follows the trigger signal, each of the transceivers has a variable receiver sensitivity and a correction value according to the receiver sensitivity, in response to receipt of the trigger signal, each of the transceivers changes the receiver sensitivity thereof from a highest value to a lowest value in a plurality of stages, and determines the one of the stages from which it becomes impossible for the transceiver to detect the continuous carrier, each of the transceivers further determines a parameter, which is indicative of the determined stage, corrects the determined parameter using the correction value, determines a transmission time according to the corrected parameter, and transmits the response signal at the determined transmission time, the receiver receives the response signals transmitted by the transceivers at different reception times, and the wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the reception time at which the response signal is received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A wheel identifying apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal in response to receipt of the trigger signal; a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other; a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; and a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located, wherein, the triggering device transmits, after transmission of the trigger signal, a continuous carrier that consecutively follows the trigger signal, each of the transceivers has a variable receiver sensitivity and a correction value according to the receiver sensitivity, in response to receipt of the trigger signal, each of the transceivers changes the receiver sensitivity thereof from a highest value to a lowest value in a plurality of stages, and determines the one of the stages from which it becomes impossible for the transceiver to detect the continuous carrier, each of the transceivers further determines a parameter, which is indicative of the determined stage, corrects the determined parameter using the correction value, and transmits the response signal which conveys data representing the corrected parameter, and the wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the data conveyed by the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus comprising:
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a first and a second pressure sensor which are respectively located on a first and a second wheel of a vehicle, each of the pressure sensors working to sense inflation pressure of an associated one of tires fitted on the first and second wheels and output tire pressure information indicative of the sensed inflation pressure of the associated tire; a first and a second transceiver which are respectively located on the first and second wheels of the vehicle, each of the transceivers working to receive a trigger signal and transmit a response signal, which conveys the tire pressure information outputted by an associated one of the first and second pressure sensors, in response to receipt of the trigger signal; a triggering device working to transmit the trigger signal, the triggering device being located on a body of the vehicle at different distances from the transceivers, so that strengths of the trigger signal at the transceivers are different from each other; a receiver working to receive the response signals transmitted by the transceivers; a wheel identifier operatively connected to the receiver, the wheel identifier working to identify, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located; and a tire pressure determiner operatively connected to the receiver and the wheel identifier, the tire pressure determiner working to determine, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the inflation pressure of the tire that is located on the same wheel as the transceiver having transmitted the response signal based on the tire pressure information conveyed by the response signal, wherein, the triggering device transmits, after transmission of the trigger signal, a continuous carrier that consecutively follows the trigger signal, each of the transceivers has a variable receiver sensitivity and a correction value according to the receiver sensitivity, in response to receipt of the trigger signal, each of the transceivers changes the receiver sensitivity thereof from a highest value to a lowest value in a plurality of stages, and determines the one of the stages from which it becomes impossible for the transceiver to detect the continuous carrier, each of the transceivers further determines a parameter, which is indicative of the determined stage, corrects the determined parameter using the correction value, and transmits the response signal which conveys data representing the corrected parameter along with the tire pressure information, and the wheel identifier identifies, for each of the response signals received by the receiver, the wheel on which the transceiver having transmitted the response signal is located based on the data conveyed by the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification