Tire pressure monitor initiation tool with vehicle data interface

• US 7,623,025 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Garret
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Application Number:
  US11/589,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.33, 340/438, 340442-449, 116/34.R, 116/34.A, 731/46, 731/462
• US Class Current: 340/426.33
• 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 23/0479 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: G01M 17/02 Tyres
• 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 stores information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems installed on vehicles. The tool receives information regarding a particular vehicle. Based on this information, the tool may determine a particular tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle. Based on the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle, the tool may determine one or more procedures that may be used with that tire pressure monitor system. The tool may then instruct a user how to perform certain procedures by presenting one or more displays to the user on a display of the tool. The tool may also provide feedback to the user regarding a status of an initiation or other procedure, and reference a vehicle user manual. The tool may interface with an electronic control unit of a vehicle. The tool may also simulate a tire pressure sensor.

Claims

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

a vehicle control unit interfacing module;

a tire pressure monitor system determining module, in communication with the vehicle control unit interfacing module, configured to determine a type of tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle; and

a tire pressure sensor initiating module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, configured to initiate at least one tire pressure sensor.

2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a procedure determining module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, configured to determine an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

3. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a procedure selecting module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, configured to select an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

4. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a storing module configured to store information regarding at least one of a maintenance history and at least one tire pressure monitor system.

5. The tool of claim 4, further comprising an accessing module, in communication with the storing module, configured to access the information stored.

6. The tool of claim 4, further comprising an updating module, in communication with the storing module, configured to update the information stored by the storing module.

7. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a displaying module configured to display at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises at least one of fire pressure, tire pressure sensor identification, and sensor mode.

9. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a resetting module configured to reset the fire pressure monitor system.

10. The tool of claim 9, further comprising a notifying module, in communication with the resetting module, configured to notify a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

11. The tool of claim 10, wherein the notifying module is configured to notify the user by causing at least one of a vehicle horn to sound and at least one vehicle light to flash.

12. The tool of claim 9, further comprising a manual referencing module configured to reference a vehicle user manual.

13. The tool of claim 12, further comprising an update interface.

14. The tool of claim 13, wherein the update interface comprises an RS232 port.

15. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a diagnosing module configured to diagnose the at least one tire pressure sensor.

16. The tool of claim 1, wherein the fire pressure monitor determining module requests vehicle data.

17. The tool of claim 16, wherein the vehicle data comprises vehicle make, model, and year data.

18. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tire pressure sensor initiating module comprises a feedback module configured to provide feedback regarding at least one of a signal received by the tool and successful initiation.

19. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a transmitting module configured to transmit a signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system.

20. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a receiving module configured to receive a signal from at least one of the tire pressure monitor system and the at least one tire pressure sensor.

21. A tool for use with a tire pressure monitor system comprising:

interfacing means for interfacing with a vehicle electronic control unit;

tire pressure monitor system determining means for determining a type of tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle; and

tire pressure sensor initiating means for initiating at least one tire pressure sensor.

22. The tool of claim 21, further comprising initiation procedure determining means for determining an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

23. The tool of claim 21, further comprising initiation procedure selecting means for selecting an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

24. The tool of claim 21, further comprising storing means for storing information regarding at least one of a maintenance history and at least one tire pressure monitor system.

25. The tool of claim 24, further comprising accessing means for accessing the information stored.

26. The tool of claim 24, further comprising updating means for updating the information stored.

27. The tool of claim 21, further comprising displaying means for displaying at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

28. The tool of claim 27, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises at least one of tire pressure, tire pressure sensor identification, and sensor mode.

29. The tool of claim 21, further comprising resetting means for resetting the tire pressure monitor system.

30. The tool of claim 29, further comprising notifying means for notifying a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

31. The tool of claim 30, wherein the notifying means is configured to notify the user by causing at least one of a vehicle horn to sound and at least one vehicle light to flash.

32. The tool of claim 29, further comprising manual referencing means for referencing a vehicle user manual.

33. The tool of claim 32, further comprising update interfacing means for interfacing with the storing module.

34. The tool of claim 33, wherein the update interfacing means comprises an RS232 port.

35. The tool of claim 21, further comprising diagnosing means for diagnosing the at least one tire pressure sensor.

36. The tool of claim 21, wherein the tire pressure monitor system determining means requests vehicle data.

37. The tool of claim 36, wherein the vehicle data comprises vehicle make, model, and year data.

38. The tool of claim 21, wherein the tire pressure sensor initiating means comprises feedback means for providing feedback regarding at least one of a signal received by the tool and successful initiation.

39. The tool of claim 21, further comprising transmitting means for transmitting a signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system.

40. The tool of claim 21, further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal from at least one of the tire pressure monitor system and the at least one tire pressure sensor.

41. A method of using a tire pressure monitor system comprising:

interfacing a tire pressure monitor tool with a vehicle electronic control unit;

determining a type of tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle; and

initiating at least one tire pressure sensor.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising determining an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising selecting an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

44. The method of claim 41, farther comprising storing information regarding at least one of a maintenance history and at least one tire pressure monitor system.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising accessing the information stored.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising updating the information stored.

47. The method of claim 41, further comprising displaying at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises at least one of tire pressure, tire pressure sensor identification, and sensor mode.

49. The method of claim 41, further comprising resetting the tire pressure monitor system.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising notifying a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the notifying causes at least one of a vehicle horn to sound and at least one vehicle light to flash.

52. The method of claim 49, further comprising referencing a vehicle user manual.

53. The method of claim 41, wherein the interfacing uses an RS232 port.

54. The method of claim 41, further comprising diagnosing the at least one tire pressure sensor.

55. The method of claim 41, wherein the tire pressure monitor determining comprises requesting vehicle data.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the vehicle data comprises vehicle make, model, and year data.

57. The method of claim 41, wherein the initiating comprises providing feedback regarding at least one of a signal received by the tool and successful initiation.

58. The method of claim 41, further comprising transmitting a signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system.

59. The method of claim 41, further comprising receiving a signal from at least one of the tire pressure monitor system and the at least one tire pressure sensor.