System and method for monitoring tire status
First Claim
1. A vehicle electronic control unit, comprising:
- a power input port receiving electric power from a vehicle battery;
a power output port providing electric power to a vehicle electronic device including an antenna that receives data transmissions from a vehicle sensor, the power output port providing substantially uninterrupted electric power from the vehicle battery to the vehicle electronic device;
a communication port electrically connected to a vehicle communication bus, the communication port receiving data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device via the communication bus; and
an electronic component, electrically connected to the communication port, initially in a sleep state, during which the electronic component receives but does not decode data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device, after a vehicle ignition is turned off, one of the data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device received by the electronic component via the communication port, after being in the initial sleep state and after receiving the one of the data transmissions, the electronic component then switching from the initial sleep state to a standby state, during which the electronic component receives and decodes data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device, when the vehicle ignition is still off, the electronic component, while in the standby state and while the vehicle ignition is still off, receiving and decoding additional data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device indicating statuses of respective vehicle sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle electronic control unit includes a power input port, which receives electric power from a vehicle battery, and a power output port, which provides electric power to a vehicle electronic device including an antenna. The electronic device receives data transmissions from a vehicle sensor. The power output port provides substantially uninterrupted electric power from the vehicle battery to the vehicle electronic device. A communication port is electrically connected to a vehicle communication bus. The communication port receives data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device via the communication port. An electronic component, electrically connected to the communication port, is initially in a first state when a vehicle ignition is off. The electronic component, while in a second state and while the vehicle ignition is off, receives additional data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device indicating statuses of respective vehicle sensors.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle electronic control unit, comprising:
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a power input port receiving electric power from a vehicle battery; a power output port providing electric power to a vehicle electronic device including an antenna that receives data transmissions from a vehicle sensor, the power output port providing substantially uninterrupted electric power from the vehicle battery to the vehicle electronic device; a communication port electrically connected to a vehicle communication bus, the communication port receiving data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device via the communication bus; and an electronic component, electrically connected to the communication port, initially in a sleep state, during which the electronic component receives but does not decode data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device, after a vehicle ignition is turned off, one of the data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device received by the electronic component via the communication port, after being in the initial sleep state and after receiving the one of the data transmissions, the electronic component then switching from the initial sleep state to a standby state, during which the electronic component receives and decodes data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device, when the vehicle ignition is still off, the electronic component, while in the standby state and while the vehicle ignition is still off, receiving and decoding additional data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device indicating statuses of respective vehicle sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for monitoring a status of tires on a vehicle including a plurality of tires, the system comprising:
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respective tire sensors in the vehicle tires, each of the tire sensors periodically sensing a status of the respective tire and transmitting data transmissions indicative of the sensed status; a vehicle electronic device including an antenna receiving the data transmissions from the tire sensors, the vehicle antenna periodically transmitting the data transmissions received from the tire sensors; and an electronic control unit, including; a power input port receiving electric power from a vehicle battery; a power output port providing electric power to the antenna, the power output port providing substantially uninterrupted electric power from the vehicle battery to the antenna; and an electronic component, initially in a sleep state, during which the electronic component receives but does not decode data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device, after a vehicle ignition is turned off, and then, after being in the initial sleep state while the vehicle ignition is still off and after receiving a trigger message from the antenna, the electronic component switching from the initial sleep state to a standby state during which the electronic component receives and decodes data transmissions from the vehicle electronic device, the electronic component receiving and decoding the periodically transmitted data transmissions from the antenna while in the standby state and while the vehicle ignition is still off. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for monitoring a status of sensors on a vehicle, the method comprising:
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periodically sensing and transmitting a data signal indicating a status for one of the sensors on the vehicle; periodically switching an antenna from a sleep state to an awake state, the antenna receiving the data signal while in the awake state; when the vehicle ignition is turned off, initially switching an electronic control unit to a sleep state, during which the electronic component receives but does not decode data transmissions from the antenna; while the electronic control unit is still in the initial sleep state and while the vehicle ignition is still off, transmitting a trigger message from the antenna to the electronic control unit to subsequently switch the electronic control unit from the initial sleep state to a standby state, during which the electronic component receives and decodes data signals from the antenna, while the vehicle ignition is still off; after the electronic control unit has switched to the standby state and while the vehicle ignition is still off, transmitting an antenna data signal, indicating the status, from the antenna to the electronic control unit; and after the electronic control unit has switched to the standby state and while the vehicle ignition is still off, the electronic control unit receiving and decoding the antenna data signal and determining if the status is in an acceptable range based on the data signal received from the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification