Methods, systems and devices for recording and transmitting identification information of tire pressure monitoring sensors to a vehicle

• US 9,296,267 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McIntyre, Matthew D, Deniau, Jean-Chrstophe, Farrell, Brian J
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/942,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/444, 340/445, 340/447, 731/462, 731/463, 701/31.4
• 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 23/0471 System initialisation, e.g. upload or calibration of operating parameters
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

The present invention relates to recording and storing identification information of tire pressure monitoring sensors and transmission of the stored identification information to a tire pressure monitoring system. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of integrating one or more tire pressure monitoring sensors with a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. The method includes programming and/or configuring a tire pressure monitoring sensor with a suitable program software for a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. The method also includes utilizing a configuration tool to cause the tire pressure monitoring sensor to generate a signal including an identifier. The method further includes recording the identifier on a memory device of the configuration tool. The method further includes transmitting the recorded identifier from the configuration tool to a memory device of a vehicle when the vehicle enters a learning mode.

Claims

1. A method of integrating one or more tire pressure monitoring sensors with a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

from a portable configuration tool (18) that is disposed outside the vehicle, programming or configuring a first tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), a second tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), a third tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), and a fourth tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) with a suitable program software;

without being in a learning mode of a receiver in the vehicle, utilizing the portable configuration tool (18) to cause the first tire pressure monitoring sensors (12) to generate a first signal including a first identifier, a second signal including a second identifier, a third signal including a third identifier, and a fourth signal including a fourth identifier;

when not in the learning mode of the receiver in the vehicle, recording the first identifier, the second identifier, the third identifier, and the fourth identifier on a memory device of the portable configuration tool (18); and

when the receiver in the vehicle (16) enters the learning mode, transmitting the recorded first, second, third, and fourth identifiers from the portable configuration tool (18) to the receiver disposed in the vehicle, the receiver having a memory device, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers are transmitted in a predetermined order allowing the receiver while in the learning mode to associate each of the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers with one of;

a front passenger wheel unit, a rear passenger wheel unit, a rear driver wheel unit, or a front driver wheel unit;

wherein the portable configuration tool and the receiver in the vehicle are physically distinct and separate from the other.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting the suitable program software for the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12) based upon identification information of a vehicle (16).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the suitable program software is selected from a database of program software (48) for the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12).

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of forming a communication link with the database of program software (48) for the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the portable configuration tool (18) includes the database of program software (48) for the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the suitable program software is selected through a user interface (32) of the portable configuration tool (18).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication link (20) between the tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) and the portable configuration tool (18) is established prior to mounting of the tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) to a wheel unit (36) of the vehicle (16).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal further includes tire pressure data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers of the tire pressure monitoring sensors (12) are transmitted to the memory device of the receiver at the vehicle (16) through a wireless communication link (22).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers of the tire pressure monitoring sensors (12) are transmitted to the memory device of the receiver at the vehicle (16) through an on-board diagnostic connector (42).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable configuration tool (18) includes a wireless receiver (26) configured to receive the first, second, third, and fourth signals.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting the suitable program software for the plurality of tire pressure monitoring sensors (12) based upon identification information of a vehicle (16).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the suitable program software is selected from a database of program software (48) for the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12).

14. A configuration tool (18) for integrating one or more tire pressure monitoring sensors (12) with a tire pressure monitoring system (14) of a vehicle (16), comprising:

a low frequency wireless transmitter (24);

a high frequency wireless receiver (26);

a high frequency wireless transmitter (28); and

a central processing unit (44) and a memory device (46) including software instructions for;

programming or configuring a first tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), a second tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), a third tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), and a fourth tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) with suitable program software for a tire pressure monitoring system (14) of a vehicle (16);

while not in learning mode of a receiver at the vehicle, causing the low frequency wireless transmitter (24) to transmit a signal suitable for generating a first response signal from the first tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), a second response signal from the second tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), a third response signal from the third tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), and a fourth response signal from the fourth tire pressure monitoring sensor (12);

when not in learning mode at the receiver at the vehicle, storing a first identifier of the first response signal, a second identifier of the second response signal, a third identifier of the third response signal, and a fourth identifier of the fourth response signal onto a memory device (46); and

causing the high frequency wireless transmitter (28) to transmit the recorded first, second, third, and fourth identifiers, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers are transmitted in a predetermined order to a receiver allowing the receiver while in the learning mode to associate each of the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers with one of;

a front passenger wheel unit, a rear passenger wheel unit, a rear driver wheel unit, or a front driver wheel unit;

wherein the tool is configured to be portable and moved from tire-to-tire, the tool communicating with a receiver disposed within a vehicle, the tool being physically separate from the receiver disposed within the vehicle.

15. The configuration tool (18) of claim 14, further comprising a database of program software (48) for the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12).

16. The configuration tool (18) of claim 14, further comprising a connector (42) for forming a communication link with a database of program software (48) for the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12).

17. The configuration tool (18) of claim 14, further comprising a user interface (32) for interacting with the software instructions and causing the low frequency wireless transmitter (24) to program or configure the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12) with suitable software.

18. The configuration tool (18) of claim 17, wherein the user interface (32) is configured for interacting with the software instructions and causing the low frequency wireless transmitter (24) to transmit the signal suitable for generating a response signal from the first, second, third, and fourth tire pressure monitoring sensors (12).

19. The configuration tool (18) of claim 17, wherein the user interface (32) is configured for interacting with the software instructions and causing the high frequency wireless transmitter (28) to transmit the recorded first, second, third, and fourth identifiers.

20. The configuration tool (18) of claim 17, wherein the user interface (32) is configured for transmitting the recorded identifiers to an electronic control unit (40) of a receiver of a vehicle (16) through an on-board diagnostic connector (42).

21. A computer-readable memory device storing computer program instructions which when executed by a computer comprising at least one processor results in:

programming or configuring of a first tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), a second tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), a third tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), and a fourth tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) with suitable program software for a tire pressure monitoring system (14) of a vehicle (16), the programming or configuring being accomplished via a portable tool that is moved from tire-to-tire;

when not in a learning mode of a receiver at the vehicle, transmission of a first signal suitable from the portable tool for causing the first tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) to transmit a first response signal, transmission of a second signal suitable from the portable tool for causing the second tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) to transmit a second response signal, transmission of a third signal suitable from the portable tool for causing the third tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) to transmit a third response signal, and transmission of a fourth signal suitable from the portable tool for causing the fourth tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) to transmit a fourth response signal;

when not in learning mode at the receiver at the vehicle, storing of first identifier included with the first response signal, a second identifier included with the second response signal, a third identifier included with the third response signal, and a fourth identifier included with the fourth response signal into a memory device at the portable tool; and

transmitting the stored first, second, third, and fourth identifiers from the portable tool to a receiver disposed within the vehicle (16), wherein the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers are transmitted in a predetermined order to a receiver allowing the receiver while in the learning mode to associate each of the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers with one of;

a front passenger wheel unit, a rear passenger wheel unit, a rear driver wheel unit, or a front driver wheel unit.

22. The computer-readable memory device of claim 21, further resulting in display of the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers on a user interface (32).

23. A tire pressure monitoring sensor (12), comprising:

a pressure sensor (94) configured for monitoring air pressure and generating signals indicative thereof;

a receiver (96) configured for receiving wireless signals from a portable configuration tool (18);

a processing unit (90) and memory device (92) including software for;

when not in a learning mode of a receiver unit of a vehicle, storing configuration or program software received by the receiver (96) onto the memory device (92),

causing transmission of a first identifier of the tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) to the portable configuration tool (18) in response to a request by the portable configuration tool (18); and

a wireless transmitter (98) configured to transmit the first identifier to the portable configuration tool (18) for storage onto the configuration tool (18) and eventual transmission to a memory storage unit of the receiver unit within the vehicle (16);

wherein the a second tire pressure monitoring sensor transmits a second identifier to the configuration tool, a third tire pressure monitoring sensor transmits a third identifier to the configuration tool, and a fourth tire pressure monitoring sensor transmits a fourth identifier to the configuration tool;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers are transmitted in a predetermined order to the receiver unit allowing the receiver unit while in a learning mode to associate each of the first, second, third, and fourth identifiers with one of;

a front passenger wheel unit, a rear passenger wheel unit, a rear driver wheel unit, or a front driver wheel unit.

24. The tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) of claim 23, wherein the receiver (96) comprises a low frequency receiver configured to receive wireless signals in the range of about 30 to 300 kHz.

25. The tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) of claim 23, wherein the wireless transmitter (98) comprises a low frequency transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals in the range of about 30 to 300 kHz.

26. The tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) of claim 23, wherein the wireless transmitter (98) comprises a high frequency transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals in the range of about 300 MHz to 3 GHz.

27. The tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) of claim 23, wherein processing unit (90) and memory device (92) including suitable software further transmits recorded data from the pressure sensor (94).

28. The tire pressure monitoring sensor (12) of claim 23, wherein processing unit (90) and memory device (92) including suitable software transmits only the identifier to the portable configuration tool (18).