Tire pressure monitoring method

• US 7,528,705 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Brown, Jack Edward Jr., Benedict, Robert Leon, Shepler, Peter Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US11/457,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

Methods of monitoring tire pressure and responding to a tire pressure error. A tire pressure monitoring apparatus provides signals to a vehicle control representing pressures in respective ones of the tires. The vehicle control first detects a tire pressure error in one of the tires, and then presents to a user a first signal representing the tire pressure error in the one of the tires. Then, a user input representing a prospective tire filling activity is detected. Thereafter, a second signal is presented to the user in response to a pressure in the one of the tires being substantially equal to a desired tire pressure.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring pressures in respective tires of a vehicle, the vehicle having tire pressure monitoring apparatus providing signals to a vehicle control representing pressures in respective ones of the tires, the vehicle control having user I/O, and the method comprising:

detecting a tire pressure error in one of the tires;

presenting to a user a first sensory perceptible signal representing the tire pressure error in the one of the tires;

then, detecting a user input representing a prospective tire filling activity;

then, detecting a change in a tire pressure in a first tire;

determining if the first tire is substantially the same as the one of the tires;

presenting to the user a second sensory perceptible signal in response to the first tire being different from the one of the tires; and

then, presenting a third sensory perceptible signal to the user in response to a pressure in the one of the tires being substantially equal to a desired tire pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first sensory perceptible signal comprises a visual display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises an input button on a visual display.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second sensory perceptible signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the third sensory perceptible signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

6. A method of monitoring pressures in respective tires of a vehicle, the vehicle having tire pressure monitoring apparatus providing signals to a vehicle control representing pressures in respective ones of the tires, the vehicle control having user I/O, and the method comprising:

activating the user I/O with the vehicle control to provide a tire pressure error signal identifying at least one of the tires having a pressure error;

then, monitoring the user I/O with the vehicle control to detect a user input representing a prospective tire filling activity;

determining with the vehicle control a change of tire pressure in a first tire;

determining with the vehicle control whether the first tire is the same as the at least one of the tires;

activating the user I/O with the vehicle control to provide a wrong tire signal in response to the first tire being different from the at least one of the tires; and

then, activating the user I/O with the vehicle control to provide a tire filled signal in response to the pressure in the at least one tire being substantially equal to a desired tire pressure.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the tire pressure error signal comprises a visual display.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the user input comprises an input button on a visual display.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the tire filled signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the wrong tire signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

11. A method of monitoring pressure in tires of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a presence of a tire pressure error in at least one of the tires;

generating a tire pressure error signal identifying the at least one of the tires in response to the determined tire pressure error;

then, detecting a user input representing a tire filling activity;

determining a change of tire pressure in a first tire;

determining whether the first tire is the same as the at least one of the tires;

generating a wrong tire signal in response to the first tire being different from the at least one of the tires; and

then, generating a tire filled signal in response to the pressure in the first tire being substantially equal to a fill tire pressure.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the tire pressure error is represented by a visual display.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the user input comprises an input button on a visual display.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the tire filled signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the wrong tire signal is one of a visual display and an audible signal.