Tire pressure monitor system tool with re-learn and diagnostic procedures

• US 7,592,903 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Kochie, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Application Number:
  US11/589,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442
• US Class Current: 340/442
• 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 23/0447 Wheel or tyre mounted circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0472 to manually allocate ID codes or mounting positions, e.g. by service technicians
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A tire pressure monitor system tool that stores information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The information may include procedures for resetting and diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system. The tool may include a storing module that stores the information and a displaying module that causes the information to be displayed on a display of the tool. The tool may enable a user to input data regarding a vehicle. Based on the vehicle data input by the user, the tool may determine a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle using the information stored. Based on the tire pressure monitoring system installed on the vehicle, the tool may determine one or more reset or diagnostic procedures that may be performed by the tool. The tool may also reference the owner'"'"'s manual of the vehicle. The tool may also include an updating module that updates the information stored by the tool. The tool may also include an update interface that may be, for example, an RS232 port. The tool may interface with an electronic control unit of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A tool for communicating with a tire pressure monitor system comprising:

a storing module configured to store tire pressure monitor system information and at least one of a plurality of tire pressure monitor system reset procedures and diagnostic procedures for at least one vehicle;

a vehicle data requesting module configured to request vehicle data;

a tire pressure monitor system interfacing module configured to interface with a tire pressure monitor system of the at least one vehicle;

a tire pressure monitor system determining module configured to determine the tire pressure monitor system of the at least one vehicle;

a procedure determining module configured to determine at least one of a tire pressure monitor system reset procedure and a tire pressure monitor system diagnostic procedure of the at least one vehicle;

a transmitting module configured to transmit a signal to an electronic control unit of the at least one vehicle;

an initiating module configured to initiate at least one tire pressure sensor of the at least one vehicle;

a feedback module configured to determine whether the tire pressure monitor system has been reset; and

a simulating module configured to simulate the at least one tire pressure sensor to validate that the tire pressure monitoring system is functional.

2. The tool according to claim 1, further comprising a procedure selecting module configured to select at least one of the tire pressure monitor system reset procedure and the tire pressure monitor system diagnostic procedure of the vehicle.

3. The tool according to claim 1, further comprising a displaying module configured to display vehicle information.

4. The tool according to claim 1, further comprising a diagnosing module configured to diagnose the tire pressure monitor system of the at least one vehicle.

5. The tool according to claim 1, further comprising a resetting module configured to reset the tire pressure monitor system of the at least one vehicle.

6. The tool according to claim 5, further comprising a manual referencing module configured to reference at least one section of a vehicle owner'"'"'s manual.

7. The tool according to claim 5, further comprising a notifying module configured to notify a user of a status of the reset procedure.

8. The tool according to claim 7, wherein the notifying module causes the electronic control unit to at least one of sound a vehicle horn and flash at least one vehicle light.

9. The tool according to claim 1, further comprising an updating module configured to update the tire pressure monitor system information.

10. The tool according to claim 9, wherein the updating module comprises an update interface.

11. The tool according to claim 10, wherein the update interface comprises an RS232 port.

12. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle data comprises at least one of make, model, and year data.

13. A method of communicating with a tire pressure monitor system comprising:

requesting vehicle data of a vehicle;

accessing stored tire pressure monitor system information;

determining whether at least a portion of the tire pressure monitor system information is associated with the vehicle data;

determining whether the tire pressure monitor system information comprises at least one of a reset procedure and a diagnostic procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system;

communicating with an electronic control unit of the vehicle;

initiating at least one tire pressure sensor provided on at least wheel of the vehicle enabling the at least one tire pressure sensor to communicate with the electronic control unit;

providing feedback to a user of the tire pressure monitor system indicating that the at least one sensor has been initiated; and

simulating the at least one tire pressure sensor validate that the tire pressure monitor system is functional.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising selecting at least one of the reset and diagnostic procedures if a determination is made that the tire pressure monitor system information includes at least one of the reset procedure and the diagnostic procedure.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising performing at least one of the reset procedure and the diagnostic procedure.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising displaying a status of at least one of the reset procedure and the diagnostic procedure.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising referencing at least a portion of a vehicle owner'"'"'s manual.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising notifying a user of a status of a reset procedure.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising sounding a horn of the vehicle.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising flashing at least one light of the vehicle.

21. The method according to claim 13, further comprising updating the stored tire pressure monitor system information.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of make, model, and year data.

23. The method according to claim 13, further comprising storing the tire pressure monitor system information.

24. A tool for communicating with a tire pressure monitor system comprising:

storing means for storing tire pressure monitor system information and at least one of a plurality of tire pressure monitor system reset procedures and diagnostic procedures for at least one vehicle;

vehicle data requesting means for requesting vehicle data;

tire pressure monitor system interfacing means for interfacing with a tire pressure monitor system of the at least one vehicle;

tire pressure monitor system determining means for determining the tire pressure monitor system of the at least one vehicle;

procedure determining means for determining at least one of a tire pressure monitor system reset procedure and a tire pressure monitor system diagnostic procedure of the at least one vehicle;

transmitting means for transmitting a signal to an electronic control unit of the at least one vehicle;

initiating means for initiating at least one tire pressure sensor of the at least one vehicle;

feedback means for determining whether the tire pressure monitor system has been reset; and

simulating means for simulating the at least one tire pressure sensor to validate that the tire pressure monitoring system is functional.

25. The tool according to claim 24, further comprising procedure selecting means for selecting at least one of the tire pressure monitor system reset procedure and the tire pressure monitor system diagnostic procedure of the vehicle.

26. The tool according to claim 24, further comprising displaying means for displaying vehicle information.

27. The tool according to claim 24, further comprising diagnosing means for diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system of the at least one vehicle.

28. The tool according to claim 24, further comprising resetting means for resetting the tire pressure monitor system of the at least one vehicle.

29. The tool according to claim 28, further comprising manual referencing means for referencing a vehicle owner'"'"'s manual.

30. The tool according to claim 28, further comprising notifying means for notifying a user of a status of the reset procedure.

31. The tool according to claim 30, wherein the notifying means causes the electronic control unit to at least one of sound a vehicle horn and flash at least one vehicle light.

32. The tool according to claim 24, further comprising updating means for updating the tire pressure monitor system information.

33. The tool according to claim 32, wherein the updating means comprises an update interface.

34. The tool according to claim 33, wherein the update interface comprises an RS232 port.

35. The tool according to claim 24, wherein the at least one vehicle data comprises at least one of make, model, and year data.