Method and apparatus for adjusting the pressure sensor measurement range in a tire pressure monitoring system

• US 7,570,157 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas, Wojcik, Karl, Swadling, Greg, McQuade, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mortell; John F
• Application Number:
  US11/163,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20070090935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.33, 340/442
• US Class Current: 340/445
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0474 Measurement control, e.g. setting measurement rate or calibrating of sensors; Further processing of measured values, e.g. filtering, compensating or slope monitoring

Abstract

A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a vehicle (10) has a pressure sensor circuit (16A) that includes an ECU (95), a transmitter/receiver (90), and pressure sensor (94). A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system includes calibrating a tire pressure sensor circuit in a first range and a second range and generating a first calibration data for the first range and second calibration data for the second range. The first calibration data and the second calibration data are stored in a memory of the tire pressure sensing circuit (16A). A data signal corresponding to the pressure is generated. The first or second calibration data is generated in response to the range of the data signal to form a selected calibration. The data signal is calibrated with the selected calibration to form a pressure indicative signal. The pressure indicative signal is transmitted to a receiver (28) within the vehicle (10) with a range status corresponding to the selected calibration. A pressure signal is formed in response to the pressure indicative signal and the range status and the tire pressure monitoring system is operated with the pressure signal.

Claims

1. A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle comprising:

calibrating a tire pressure sensor circuit in a first range associated with a first vehicle structure and a second range associated with a second vehicle structure;

generating first calibration data for the first range;

generating second calibration data for the second range;

storing the first calibration data and the second calibration data in a memory of the tire pressure sensor circuit;

generating a data signal corresponding to a pressure;

selecting the calibration data in response to a relationship of the data signal to the first and second ranges to form a selected calibration for either the first range or the second range;

calibrating the data signal with the selected calibration to form a pressure indicative signal;

transmitting the pressure indicative signal to a receiver with a range status corresponding to the selected calibration;

generating a pressure signal in response to the pressure indicative signal and the range status; and

operating a tire pressure monitoring indicator with the pressure signal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting is performed by radio frequency.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising calibrating the tire pressure sensor circuit in at least a third range associated with at least a third vehicle structure.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising generating calibration data for at least a third range associated with the at least a third vehicle structure.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising storing the calibration data in the memory.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein selecting the calibration data comprises selecting the calibration data in response to a relationship of the data signal to the first range, the second range, and the at least a third range to form a selected calibration.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the data signal corresponds to a voltage.

7. A method as recited in clam 1 further comprising storing calibration data in a memory coupled to a controller on-board the vehicle.

9. A tire pressure circuit for a tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle comprising:

a memory having first calibration data and second calibration data corresponding to a first range associated with a first vehicle structure and at least a second range associated with at least a second vehicle structure;

a pressure sensor generating a data signal corresponding to a tire pressure;

a tire transmitter; and

a control unit coupled to the memory and the tire transmitter, said control unit selecting the calibration data in response to a relationship of the data signal to the first range and the at least a second range to form a selected calibration, calibrating the data signal with the selected calibration to form a pressure indicative signal and causing the transmitter to transmit the pressure indicative signal and a range status corresponding to the selected calibration.

10. A method comprising:

providing a memory in a tire pressure sensor circuit having first calibration data associated with a first vehicle structure and second calibration data associated with a second vehicle structure stored therein;

generating a data signal corresponding to a pressure;

determining a range of an applied tire pressure independent of vehicle dynamics of the data signal;

selecting calibration data in response to the range to form a selected calibration for either the first range or the second range;

calibrating the data signal with the selected calibration to form a pressure indicative signal; and

transmitting the pressure indicative signal and the range corresponding to the selected calibration.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising generating a pressure signal in response to the pressure indicative signal and the range status.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising operating a tire pressure monitoring indicator with the pressure signal.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the step of transmitting is performed by radio frequency.

14. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising providing the memory with at least a third calibration data associated with at least a third vehicle structure stored therein.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the step of selecting calibration data further comprises selecting the calibration data in response to the range to form a selected calibration for the first range, the second range, or the at least a third range.

16. A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising storing calibration data in a memory coupled to a controller on-board the vehicle.

17. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the data signal corresponds to a voltage.