Wireless sensing system

• US 7,679,500 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Talty, Timothy J., Alrabady, Ansaf I., Ames, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu; Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/468,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20070096889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 340/447, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 701/79, 701 38- 39
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0461 externally triggered, e.g. by wireless request signal, magnet or manual switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0464 to avoid signal interference
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2072 with means for preventing jamming or interference of a remote switch control signal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/245 where the antenna reception area plays a role
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles

Abstract

A wireless vehicular sensing system is disclosed. The wireless sensing system may include a radio frequency access control system including a plurality of antennas distributed within the vehicle and at least one radio frequency transceiver coupled to the plurality of antennas for effecting radio frequency interrogations of radio frequency access permission devices via the plurality of antennas in response to operator invoked interrogation requests, and a plurality of radio frequency sensors distributed within the vehicle and associated with systems other than vehicle access control. The at least one radio frequency transceiver effects radio frequency interrogations of the plurality of radio frequency sensors via the plurality of antennas in response to system invoked interrogation requests. The wireless sensing system may include a radio frequency tire monitoring system including a plurality of antennas distributed within the vehicle and at least one radio frequency transceiver coupled to the plurality of antennas for effecting radio frequency interrogations of tire monitor devices via the plurality of antennas in response to tire monitor device invoked interrogation requests, a plurality of radio frequency sensors distributed within the vehicle and associated with systems other than tire monitoring. The at least one radio frequency transceiver effects radio frequency interrogations of the plurality of radio frequency sensors via the plurality of antennas in response to system invoked interrogation requests.

Claims

1. Wireless vehicular sensing system comprising:

a radio frequency access control system including a plurality of antennas distributed within the vehicle and at least one radio frequency transceiver coupled to said plurality of antennas for effecting radio frequency interrogations of radio frequency access permission devices via said plurality of antennas in response to operator invoked interrogation requests; and

a plurality of radio frequency sensors distributed within the vehicle and associated with systems other than vehicle access control;

said at least one radio frequency transceiver effecting radio frequency interrogations of said plurality of radio frequency sensors via said plurality of antennas in response to system invoked interrogation requests;

each of the antennas comprising a leaky waveguide antenna including an elongated conductor for providing one of electric power and electric ground to a device electrically connected to a wiring distribution center in the vehicle; and

the at least one radio frequency transceiver positioned proximal to the wiring distribution center to effect near-field coupling via air link to source the conductors with radio frequency energy and receive from the conductors radio frequency energy.

2. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of radio frequency sensors transmit within predefined time slots in response to radio frequency interrogations.

3. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of radio frequency sensors transmit in accordance with unique identifier codes in response to radio frequency interrogations.

4. Wireless vehicular sensing system comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver;

a plurality of antennas electrically connected to a wiring distribution center that is positioned for near-field coupling via an air link to the radio frequency transceiver, each of the antennas comprising a leaky waveguide antenna including an elongated conductor for providing one of electric power and electric ground to a device electrically connected to the wiring distribution center in the vehicle, the radio frequency transceiver sourcing the conductors with radio frequency energy and receiving from the conductors radio frequency energy;

a radio frequency access permission device including a radio frequency transponder; and

a radio frequency sensor including a radio frequency transponder;

said radio frequency transceiver interrogating said radio frequency access permission device in response to an operator invoked interrogation request;

said radio frequency transceiver interrogating said radio frequency sensor in response to system invoked interrogation requests.

5. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the radio frequency sensor transmits within predefined time slots in response to radio frequency interrogations.

6. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the radio frequency sensor transmits in accordance with a unique identifier code in response to radio frequency interrogations.

7. Wireless vehicular sensing system comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver;

a plurality of antennas coupled to the radio frequency transceiver, each of the antennas comprising a leaky waveguide antenna including an elongated conductor for providing one of electric power and electric ground to a device electrically connected to a wiring distribution center in the vehicle and the radio frequency transceiver is positioned relative to the wiring distribution center for near-field coupling via an air link to source the conductors with radio frequency energy and receive from the conductors radio frequency energy;

a first radio frequency sensor transmitting data upon predefined events determined by the first radio frequency sensor; and

a second radio frequency sensor including a radio frequency transponder;

said radio frequency transceiver receiving radio frequency transmissions from said first radio frequency sensor;

said radio frequency transceiver interrogating said second radio frequency sensor in response to system invoked interrogation requests.

8. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first radio frequency sensor comprises a tire monitor device.

9. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said predefined events comprise vehicle speed.

10. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said predetermined events comprise tire pressure crossing a predetermined pressure threshold.

11. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second radio frequency sensor transmits within predefined time slots in response to radio frequency interrogations.

12. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second radio frequency sensor transmits in accordance with a unique identifier code in response to radio frequency interrogations.

13. Wireless vehicular sensing system comprising:

a radio frequency tire monitoring system including a plurality of antennas distributed within the vehicle and at least one radio frequency transceiver coupled to said plurality of antennas for effecting radio frequency interrogations of tire monitor devices via said plurality of antennas in response to tire monitor device invoked interrogation requests, each of the antennas comprising a leaky waveguide antenna including an elongated conductor for providing one of electric power and electric ground to a device electrically connected to a wiring distribution center in the vehicle, the radio frequency transceiver positioned relative to the wiring distribution center for near-field coupling via air link to source the conductors with radio frequency energy and receive from the conductors radio frequency energy; and

a plurality of radio frequency sensors distributed within the vehicle and associated with systems other than tire monitoring;

said at least one radio frequency transceiver effecting radio frequency interrogations of said plurality of radio frequency sensors via said plurality of antennas in response to system invoked interrogation requests.

14. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the radio frequency sensor transmits within predefined time slots in response to radio frequency interrogations.

15. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the radio frequency sensor transmits in accordance with a unique identifier codes in response to radio frequency interrogations.

16. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 13, wherein an energizer of the radio frequency transceiver generates a single-lobed radiation pattern.

17. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the energizer located at a vehicle corner to provide forward communication link coverage within the vehicle and attenuated forward communication link radiation external to the vehicle.

18. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 13, wherein an energizer of the radio frequency transceiver generates an omni-directional radiation pattern.

19. The wireless vehicular sensing system as claimed in claim 13, wherein an energizer of the radio frequency transceiver generates a dual-lobed radiation pattern aligned longitudinally to a center-line of the vehicle.