Method and apparatus for determining tire condition and location using wheel speed sensors and acceleration sensors

• US 9,259,979 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive USLLC (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Juzswik, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US14/558,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20150088369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0438 comprising signal transmission means, e.g. for a bidirectional communication with a corresponding wheel mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0447 Wheel or tyre mounted circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0489 for detecting the actual angular position of the monitoring device while the wheel is turning

Abstract

A tire condition sensing apparatus includes a tire-based sensor for sensing two relative rotational positions of its associated tire relative to the earth'"'"'s horizon as the tire rotates and provides first and second signals indicative thereof. A transmitter for transmits tire condition information and a signal processing time delay value in response to the first and second signals. A vehicle-based sensor monitors tire rotation relative to the vehicle'"'"'s chassis and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller for monitors the transmitted tire condition information signal, the signal processing time delay value, and the signal from the vehicle-based sensor and associates tire location in response thereto.

Claims

1. A tire condition sensing apparatus comprising:

a tire-based acceleration sensor for sensing two relative rotational positions of an associated tire relative to the earth'"'"'s horizon as the tire rotates and providing first and second acceleration signals indicative of sensed acceleration;

transmitter for transmitting signals from the tire including a tire identification, tire condition information, and a processing time delay value in response to each of said first and second acceleration signals, wherein the processing time delay represents the time delay in processing the first and second acceleration signals during tire rotation;

a vehicle-based sensor for monitoring tire rotation relative to the vehicle'"'"'s chassis and providing a signal indicative of said tire rotation; and

a controller for monitoring the transmitted tire identification signal, the processing time delay value, and the signal from the vehicle-based sensor and associating tire identification with a tire location in response.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tire-based sensor senses two relative rotational position that are 180 degrees apart.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tire-based sensor includes an accelerometer used for sensing the relative rotational positions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle-based sensor includes a toothed disc mounted for rotation with the tire and an inductive sensor mounted adjacent the toothed disc and inductively coupled to the toothed disc.

5. A method for sensing condition of a tire comprising the steps of:

sensing two relative rotational positions of the tire relative to the earth'"'"'s horizon as the tire rotates using acceleration sensors and providing first and second acceleration signals indicative of sensed acceleration;

transmitting signals from the tire including tire identification, tire condition information, and a signal processing time delay value using a transmitter in response to said first and second acceleration signals, wherein the processing time delay represents the time delay in processing the first and second acceleration signals during tire rotation;

monitoring tire rotation relative to the vehicle'"'"'s chassis using a vehicle-based sensor and providing a signal indicative of said tire rotation; and

monitoring the transmitted tire identification, tire condition information, the signal processing time delay value, and the signal indicative of the tire rotation relative to the vehicle'"'"'s chassis using a controller, said controller associating tire identification with a tire location in response.

6. A tire condition sensing apparatus for sensing and transmitting tire condition and identification information, the apparatus comprising:

a toothed disc mounted for rotation with a vehicle tire;

a disc rotation sensor for providing a pulse signal each time a disc tooth passes the disc rotation sensor;

an acceleration sensor mounted for rotation with the tire for producing a sinusoidal signal as the tire rotates through the earth'"'"'s gravitation field;

a tire-based controller for processing the acceleration signal to determine two predetermined locations of the sensor relative to the earth'"'"'s horizon as the tire rotates and determine any time delay in performing said processing;

a sensor for sensing the tire condition;

a transmitter for transmitting a message packet that includes a tire identification and a tire condition when the tire-based controller determines the acceleration sensor is at the predetermined locations relative to the earth'"'"'s horizon along with any determined time delay; and

a vehicle-based controller for monitoring the disc rotation sensor and the transmitted message packets, correlating an angular position of the disc in response to the transmitted message packets, and associating the tire identification with a tire location.

7. The tire condition sensing apparatus of claim 6 further including a low pass filter for filtering the signal from the acceleration sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and wherein the tire-based controller adjusts the operation of the low pass filter in response to sensed vehicle speed.