Method and apparatus for determining tire location in a tire pressure monitoring system using directional low frequency initiation

• US 7,716,976 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Lin, Xing Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirkland, III; Freddie
• Application Number:
  US11/982,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 73146-1465, 340/442, 340/445, 340/447
• US Class Current: 73/146.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0433 Radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/044 Near field triggers, e.g. magnets or triggers with 125 KHz
• 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

Abstract

A method is provided for determining tire location in a tire pressure monitoring system having the steps of generating an initiation frequency signal having a controllable output adapted to be received by a selected one of a plurality of tires of the tire pressure monitoring system. At least two tires of the tire pressure monitoring system have associated initiation signal receivers. The method also includes transmitting a response signal from the selected tire receiving the initiation signal, the response signal having at least a unique identification signal portion associated with the selected tire. The method also receives the transmitted response signal and associates the identification signal with a location of the selected tire.

Claims

1. A method for determining tire location on a vehicle in a tire pressure monitoring system comprising the steps of:

generating low frequency initiation signals;

controlling transmission strength of said generated low frequency initiation signals;

controlling transmission direction of said generated low frequency initiation signals so as to direct said generated low frequency initiation signals toward a first tire on a vehicle, the first tire and a second tire of said vehicle having associated initiation signal receivers;

transmitting a response signal from the first tire upon receiving the initiation signal, the response signal having at least an unique identification signal portion associated with the first tire receiving the initiation signal;

receiving the transmitted response signal from the first tire with the unique identification signal portion;

associating the received unique identification signal portion of the response signal from the first tire with a location on the vehicle;

readjusting signal strength of said generated low frequency initiation signal so that the second tire on said vehicle responds to each transmission of said readjusted signal strength initiation signal; and

associating the received unique identification signal portion of the response signal from the second tire with a location on the vehicle.

2. An apparatus for determining tire locations in a tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a generator for generating an initiation frequency signal having a selectable one of two power output levels and adapted to be received by selected tires of the tire pressure monitoring system, at least two tires of said tire pressure monitoring system having associated initiation signal receivers;

each of the at least two tires having an associated transmitter for transmitting a response signal in response to receiving the initiation signal, the response signal having at least an identification signal portion;

a receiver for receiving the transmitted response signals; and

a controller for controlling the generator power output level at a first selected level and a second selected level, a first of said at least two tires responding to the initiation signal at the first level and a second of said at least two tires responding to each initiation signal at the second level, and associating the received identification signals with tire location in response to the received response signals at the two selective levels and for storing the associated identifications and tire locations in memory.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the generator is a low frequency generator.

4. The transmitter of claim 2 wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.