Method and apparatus for detecting use of a spare wheel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining when a spare wheel equipped with a transmitter is in use on a rolling wheel location of a vehicle, comprising:
- transmitting from the spare wheel a protocol compatible marker;
receiving on the vehicle the protocol compatible marker; and
comparing the protocol compatible marker to a predetermined data not uniquely associated with the spare wheel, to determine that the protocol compatible marker is indicative of a spare wheel.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for detecting when a spare wheel has been placed onto a rolling wheel location and for taking appropriate action such as providing a driver alert, limiting vehicle speed or alerting the driver when vehicle speed exceeds the maximum safe speed for operation with a spare wheel. The spare wheel transmits a signal with a protocol compatible marker. The vehicle receives the protocol compatible marker. The marker is compared to a predetermined value to determine that the protocol compatible marker signal is indicative of a spare wheel.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of determining when a spare wheel equipped with a transmitter is in use on a rolling wheel location of a vehicle, comprising:
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transmitting from the spare wheel a protocol compatible marker; receiving on the vehicle the protocol compatible marker; and comparing the protocol compatible marker to a predetermined data not uniquely associated with the spare wheel, to determine that the protocol compatible marker is indicative of a spare wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for determining when a spare wheel equipped with a transmitter is in use on a vehicle having a plurality of rolling wheel locations, comprising:
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a receiver mounted to the vehicle and adapted to receive a signal from the transmitter on the spare wheel; a memory storing at least one predetermined protocol compatible marker indicative of a spare wheel; and a controller coupled to the receiver and the memory and configured to generate a spare-tire-in-use-signal if the signal received from the transmitter corresponds to the predetermined protocol compatible marker stored in the memory;
wherein the marker stored in the memory is not previously associated with the spare wheel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for determining when a spare wheel equipped with a transmitter is in use on a rolling wheel location of a vehicle, comprising:
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a spare wheel having mounted thereon a first memory containing a marker and a transmitter adapted to transmit the marker; a receiver mounted to vehicle and adapted to receive the marker transmitted from the spare wheel; a second memory storing at least one predetermined value not previously associated with the spare wheel; and a controller coupled to the receiver and the second memory and configured to generate a spare-tire-in-use-signal if the marker transmitted from the spare wheel corresponds to the predetermined data stored in the second memory. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification