Method and system for monitoring tyres

• US 7,729,823 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2001
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.P.A. (Pirelli & C SPA)
• Inventors: Ruoppolo, Roberto Fernando J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/432,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,112 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/33, 731/46, 180/311, 345326-335, 340/442, 340/448, 340/447, 340/505
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• 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

Abstract

A method for monitoring a tire fitted to a vehicle includes detecting data from the tire, sending the data to a central processing unit using a predetermined telecommunications protocol, causing automatic processing of the data by the central processing unit to obtain at least one value for an index characterizing the tire during use of the tire, and sending the at least one value to a receiving unit. The data from the tire includes a code identifying the tire and at least one item of data regarding a state of the tire. A system for monitoring a tire includes a device for detecting data from the tire and a central processing unit. The central processing unit causes automatic processing of the detected data and generates at least one value for an index characterizing the tire during use of the tire.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring tyres fitted to vehicles of a fleet of vehicles comprising:

parking a vehicle of the fleet of vehicles at a predetermined position of a parking area;

said vehicle being fitted with a tyre;

detecting data from a sensor disposed inside the tyre;

sending the data to a central processing unit located at a tyre supplier premises remote from said parking area via a telecommunications network;

causing automatic processing of the data by the central processing unit to obtain at least one value for an index characterizing the tyre during use of the tyre; and

sending the at least one value from the central processing unit to a local processing unit located at said parking area via the telecommunications network;

wherein the data from the sensor comprises;

a code identifying the tyre; and

at least one item regarding a state of the tyre.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one value comprises an operating cost of the tyre.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing automatic processing comprises decoding the data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein decoding the data comprises:

comparing the detected data with information contained in a database; and

updating the database based on the detected data.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein decoding the data comprises:

comparing the detected data with information contained in a database; and

updating the database with the detected data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item comprises a number of kilometers traveled by the tyre.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting data from the sensor comprises:

detecting information regarding a number of kilometers traveled by the vehicle; and

associating with the vehicle tyre the information regarding the number of kilometers traveled by the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting data from the sensor comprises:

decoding the data in the local processing unit;

wherein the local processing unit is connected to the central processing unit using the telecommunications network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein decoding the data comprises:

comparing the detected data with information contained in a database; and

updating the database based on the detected data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein decoding the data comprises:

comparing the detected data with information contained in a database; and

updating the database with the detected data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one value comprises at least one of an operating cost of the tyre, an average number of remoulds of the tyre, an average duration of use of the tyre, and a distance travelled by the tyre per unit of time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking area and the local processing unit are located at a location associated with a manager of the fleet of vehicles.

13. A system for monitoring tyres fitted to vehicles of a fleet of vehicles, comprising:

a device for detecting data from a sensor disposed inside a tyre, the tyre being fitted to a vehicle, the vehicle being one of the fleet of vehicles and being parked at a predetermined position in a parking area;

a central processing unit, the central processing unit being configured to be located at a tyre supplier premises, the central processing unit being configured to receive the detected data via a telecommunications network,

wherein the data from the sensor comprises;

a code identifying the tyre; and

at least one item regarding a state of the tyre,

wherein the central processing unit causes automatic processing of the detected data, and

wherein the central processing unit generates at least one value for an index characterizing the tyre during use of the tyre; and

a local processing unit configured to be located at said parking area and configured to receive the at least one value from the central processing unit via the telecommunications network.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the local processing unit decodes the data, and

wherein the local processing unit transmits the decoded data to the central processing unit using the telecommunications network.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one item comprises:

a number of tread band remoulds carried out on a carcass of the tyre;

a number of kilometers traveled by each tread band remoulded on the tyre; and

a number of kilometers traveled by the carcass of the tyre.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the device comprises:

a control unit disposed on the vehicle,

wherein the control unit communicates with the sensor for detecting a number of kilometers traveled by the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the device comprises:

a control unit disposed on the vehicle; and

the sensor is disposed inside a carcass of the tyre;

wherein the control unit communicates with the sensor for detecting a number of kilometers traveled by the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a database;

wherein parameters stored in the database comprise;

a number of tread band remoulds carried out on a carcass of the tyre;

a cost of remoulding the tyre;

a number of kilometers traveled by each tread band remoulded on the tyre;

a number of kilometers traveled by the carcass of the tyre; and

a position of the tyre on the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the central processing unit comprises the database.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the local processing unit comprises the database.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a device for counting a number of kilometers traveled by the tyre.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is disposed inside a carcass of the tyre, and

wherein the sensor comprises a device for counting a number of kilometers traveled by the tyre.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a device for storing the detected data.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one value comprises at least one of an operating cost of the tyre, an average number of remoulds of the tyre, an average duration of use of the tyre, and a distance travelled by the tyre per unit of time.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the parking area and the local processing unit are located at a location associated with a manager of the fleet of vehicles.