Receiver system for vehicles

• US 8,284,040 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Noriaki, Tsuji, Hiroyuki, Asai, Kentarou
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Black-Childress, Rajsheed
• Application Number:
  US12/617,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20100123569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/442
• 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: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

A tire air pressure detection system and a remote key entry system have first and second receiver units, respectively. The first receiver unit has a change-over switch, which selectively outputs to a chassis ECU an output signal of either one of the first and second receiver units. Thus, the chassis ECU can receive any one of the output signals by only one interface.

Claims

1. A receiver system for vehicles having a first radio frequency (RF) transmitter and a second RF transmitter, the first transmitter transmitting a first data signal and the second transmitter transmitting a second data signal, the system comprising:

a first RF receiver unit including a first antenna for receiving the first data signal, a first receiver circuit for receiving an output signal of the first antenna corresponding to the first data signal, a first microcomputer for receiving an output signal of the first receiver circuit corresponding to the output signal of the first antenna, and a first interface for receiving and outputting an output signal of the first microcomputer corresponding to the output signal of the first receiver circuit;

a second RF receiver unit including a second antenna for receiving the second data signal, a second receiver circuit for receiving an output signal of the second antenna corresponding to the second data signal, a second microcomputer for receiving an output signal of the second receiver circuit corresponding to the output signal of the second antenna, and a second interface for receiving and outputting an output signal of the second microcomputer corresponding to the output signal of the second receiver circuit;

a shared electronic control unit including a shared third interface for receiving the output signal of the first interface and the output signal of the second interface, and a shared third microcomputer for producing an output signal by processing an output signal of the third interface,

wherein the first receiver unit also includes a change-over switch, which is controlled by the first microcomputer, and which is connected for controllably selecting and transmitting one of the output signals of (a) the first microcomputer and (b) the second interface of the second receiver unit to the shared electronic control unit;

the change-over switch is supplied with electric power whether an ignition switch of the vehicle is in an on-state or an off-state, the first receiver circuit and the first microcomputer are being supplied with electric power only when the ignition switch is in the on-state;

the first microcomputer controls the change-over switch to transmit the output signal of the first receiver unit to the shared electronic control unit through the first interface when the ignition switch is in the on-state;

the change-over switch passes through the output signal of the second receiver unit to the shared electronic control unit through the first interface when the ignition switch is in the off-state; and

wherein the first and second data signals include data indicative of a tire pressure of a vehicle and a command of locking/unlocking of a door of the vehicle, respectively.

2. The receiver system according to claim 1, wherein:

the change-over switch is configured to stop transmission of the output signal of the second receiver unit to the shared electronic control unit, when the output signal of the first microcomputer is selected and transmitted to the shared electronic control unit through the first interface.

3. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver unit includes a first self-check line and a second self-check line, the first self-check line applying a self-check signal from the first microcomputer to the change-over switch and the second self-check line applying an output signal of the change-over switch to the first microcomputer; and

the first microcomputer controls the change-over switch to output the self-check signal applied from the first microcomputer through the first self-check line, and performs a self-check operation based on whether the self-check signal is received from the change-over switch through the second self-check line.

4. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 3, wherein:

the first self-check line is connected to a local line connecting the second interface to the change-over switch;

the first microcomputer controls, at time of the self-check operation, the change-over switch to select and transmit the output signal of the second receiver unit, and produces as the self-check signal a pseudo signal, which is the same as the output signal produced by the second receiver unit when the data signal indicative of the command of locking/unlocking a door is received.

5. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 3, wherein:

the first microcomputer controls, at time of the self-check operation, the change-over switch to select and transmit the output signal of the first microcomputer applied through the first self-check line, and produces as the self-check signal a pseudo signal, which is the same as the output signal produced by the first microcomputer when the data signal indicative of the tire air pressure is received.

6. A receiver system for vehicles having a first radio frequency (RF) transmitter and a second RF transmitter, the first transmitter transmitting a first data signal and the second transmitter transmitting a second data signal, the system comprising:

a first RF receiver unit including a first antenna for receiving the first data signal, a first receiver circuit for receiving an output signal of the first antenna corresponding to the first data signal, a first microcomputer for receiving an output signal of the first receiver circuit corresponding to the output signal of the first antenna, and a first interface for receiving and outputting an output signal of the first microcomputer corresponding to the output signal of the first receiver circuit;

a second RF receiver unit including a second antenna for receiving the second data signal, a second receiver circuit for receiving an output signal of the second antenna corresponding to the second data signal, a second microcomputer for receiving an output signal of the second receiver circuit corresponding to the output signal of the second antenna, and a second interface for receiving and outputting an output signal of the second microcomputer corresponding to the output signal of the second receiver circuit;

a shared electronic control unit including a shared third interface for receiving the output signals of the first interface and the output signals of the second interface, and a shared third microcomputer for producing an output signal by processing an output signal of the third interface,

wherein the first receiver unit also includes a change-over switch, which is controlled by the first microcomputer, and which is connected for controllably selecting and transmitting one of the output signals of (a) the first microcomputer and (b) the second interface of the second receiver unit to the shared electronic control unit;

the first receiver unit is supplied with electric power only when an ignition switch of the vehicle is in the on-state;

the first microcomputer receives a condition signal indicative of an on/off condition of the ignition switch, and controls the change-over switch to transmit the output signal of the first microcomputer and the output signal of the second receiver unit to the shared electronic control unit through the first interface when the condition signal indicates the on-state and the off-state of the ignition switch, respectively; and

wherein the first and second data signals include data indicative of a tire pressure of a vehicle and a command of locking/unlocking of a door of the vehicle, respectively.

7. The receiver system for vehicles according to claim 6, wherein:

the electronic control unit produces a request signal for registration of a remote key for locking/unlocking; and

the first microcomputer controls, in response to the request signal, the change-over switch to select and transmit the output signal of the second receiver unit to the shared electronic control unit through the first interface.