Pressure measuring module for detecting air pressure within a tire included in a wheel assembly attached to a vehicle body and tire pressure monitoring system

• US 8,186,208 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Matsumura, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US12/366,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20090199629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 73/146.4
• 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 23/0442 the transmitted signal comprises further information, e.g. instruction codes, sensor characteristics or identification data
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a small-sized pressure measuring module suitable for replacement of a tire, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The pressure measuring module detects pressure of air within a tire included in a wheel assembly attached to a vehicle body, and wirelessly transmits data on the detected pressure and a module ID of the pressure measuring module to a pressure monitoring device mounted on the vehicle body. The pressure measuring module has an antenna and an identification code. At least a portion of the antenna protrudes to the outside of the wheel assembly from the surface of a wheel included in the wheel assembly through a through-hole communicating with an inner space of the tire. The antenna wirelessly transmits the detected pressure value and the module ID to the pressure monitoring device. The identifier can be viewed from the outside of the wheel assembly and indicates the module ID.

Claims

1. A pressure measuring module for detecting pressure of air within a tire included in a wheel assembly attached to a vehicle body and wirelessly transmitting data indicating the detected pressure and information on an identification of the pressure measuring module to a pressure monitoring device mounted on the vehicle body, the pressure measuring module comprising:

an antenna that has a portion protruding from the surface of a wheel included in the wheel assembly through a through-hole communicating with an inner space of the tire, and wirelessly transmits the data indicating the detected pressure and the identification information to the pressure monitoring device; and

an identifier that is viewable from the outside of the wheel assembly and indicates the identification information.

2. The pressure measuring module according to claim 1, wherein

the through-hole is located at a bottom surface of a recessed portion formed in the surface of the wheel.

3. The pressure measuring module according to claim 2, that is fixed to the wheel to ensure that an end portion of the pressure measuring module, which is on the side of the wheel, is provided in the recessed portion.

4. The pressure measuring module according to claim 2, wherein

the recessed portion has a mortar shape to ensure that the diameter of the recessed portion closer to the through-hole is reduced.

5. The pressure measuring module according to claim 1, wherein

the identifier is attached to the surface of the pressure measuring module and is a code obtained by coding the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module.

6. The pressure measuring module according to claim 1, wherein

the identifier is embedded in the pressure measuring module and is an IC tag storing the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module.

7. A tire pressure monitoring system for monitoring pressure of air within a tire included in a wheel assembly attached to a vehicle body, the tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a wheel that is included in the wheel assembly and has a surface at which a through-hole communicating with an inner space of the tire is provided;

a pressure measuring module that is inserted in the through-hole, has a pressure detector for detecting a pressure of air within the tire included in the wheel assembly, and wirelessly transmits information on an identification of the pressure measuring module and the pressure data detected by the pressure detector;

an identifier that indicates the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module and is attached to the pressure measuring module to ensure that the identifier is viewable from the outside of the wheel assembly;

a position setting device that has a reader for reading the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module, and an input unit adapted to enter the information on the position of the pressure measuring module with respect to the vehicle body, and wirelessly transmits the identification information read by the reader and the positional information entered by means of the input unit; and

a pressure monitoring device that is mounted on the vehicle body, has the identification information transmitted from the position setting device and the positional information transmitted from the position setting device stored therein, uses the stored identification information, the stored positional information, the identification information transmitted from the pressure measuring module and the pressure data transmitted from the pressure measuring module, associates the pressure data with the positional information based on the identification information, and monitors the pressure.

8. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein

the pressure monitoring device wirelessly transmits information on an identification of the vehicle body to the position setting device, and

the position setting device transmits, to the pressure monitoring device, the information that indicates the identification of the vehicle body and is transmitted from the pressure monitoring device, the information that indicates the identification of the pressure measuring module and is read by the reader, and the positional information entered by means of the input unit, after the pressure monitoring device wirelessly transmits the information on the identification of the vehicle body.

9. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein

the frequency of a radio wave wirelessly transmitted by the pressure measuring module is the same as the frequency of a radio wave wirelessly transmitted by the position setting device.

10. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein

the through-hole is provided at a bottom surface of a recessed portion formed in the surface of the wheel.

11. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein

the pressure measuring module is attached to the wheel to ensure that an end portion of the pressure measuring module, which is located on the side of the wheel, is provided in the recessed portion.

12. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 10, wherein

the recessed portion has a mortar shape to ensure that the diameter of the recessed portion closer to the through-hole is reduced.

13. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein

the identifier is attached to the surface of the pressure measuring module and a code obtained by coding the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module, and

the reader is a code reader for reading the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module from. the code.

14. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein

the identifier is embedded in the pressure measuring module and is an IC tag storing the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module, and

the reader is an IC tag reader for reading the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module from the IC tag.

15. A tire pressure monitoring system for monitoring pressure of air within a tire included in a wheel assembly attached to a vehicle body, the tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a wheel that is included in the wheel assembly and has a surface at which a through-hole communicating with an inner space of the tire is provided;

a pressure measuring module that is inserted in the through-hole, has a pressure detector for detecting a pressure of air within the tire included in the wheel assembly, and wirelessly transmits information on an identification of the pressure measuring module and the pressure data detected by the pressure detector;

an identifier that indicates the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module and is attached to the pressure measuring module to ensure that the identifier is viewable from the outside of the wheel assembly;

an identification information display device that has a reader for reading information on an identification of the pressure measuring module from the identifier and displays the identification information read by the reader;

a position setting device that is mounted on the vehicle body, has an input unit used by an operator to enter information on the position of the position setting device with respect to the vehicle body based on the identification information displayed by the identification information display device, and transmits the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module and the positional information entered by means of the input unit through a wired line; and

a pressure monitoring device that is mounted on the vehicle body, has the identification information and the positional information stored therein, uses the stored identification information, the stored positional information, the identification information wirelessly transmitted by the pressure measuring module, and the pressure data wirelessly transmitted by the pressure measuring module, associates the pressure data with the positional information based on the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module, and monitors the pressure.

16. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 15, wherein

the identification information display device is a cellular phone.

17. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein

the through-hole is provided at a bottom surface of a recessed portion formed in the surface of the wheel.

18. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein

the identifier is attached to the surface of the pressure measuring module and a code obtained by coding the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module, and

the reader is a code reader for reading the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module from the code.

19. The tire pressure monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein

the identifier is embedded in the pressure measuring module and is an IC tag storing the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module, and

the reader is an IC tag reader for reading the information on the identification of the pressure measuring module from the IC tag.