Magnetic force transmission type tire pressure sensor device and related setting tool and setting method

• US 9,421,831 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cub Elecparts Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cub Elecparts Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Ying-Pi, Yu, San-Chuan, Wang, Tsan-Nung
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/918,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0461 externally triggered, e.g. by wireless request signal, magnet or manual switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0471 System initialisation, e.g. upload or calibration of operating parameters
• 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

A magnetic force transmission type tire pressure sensor device and related setting tool and setting method is disclosed. The invention uses a magnetic force sensor unit in the tire pressure sensor device to receive lines of magnetic flux being transmitted by a magnetic force transmitter unit in the setting tool, and then the received waveform is converted into a communication protocol and stored in the tire pressure sensor device. Therefore, the invention not only can achieve the purpose of wireless transmission but also can enhance the stability of signal transmission, eliminate wireless regulatory constraints and improve product quality.

Claims

1. A tire pressure sensor device setting tool, comprising:

a microcontroller unit;

a memory unit electrically connected to said microcontroller unit and adapted to store the ID of a tire pressure sensor device and related communication protocol data;

a display unit electrically connected to said microcontroller unit and adapted to display the operating data of the setting tool;

a magnetic force transmitter unit electrically connected to said microcontroller unit and controllable by said microcontroller unit to transmit lines of magnetic flux;

a low-frequency transmission interface electrically connected to said microcontroller unit and adapted to receive a low-frequency feedback signal transmitted by said tire pressure sensor device;

first to fourth switches electrically connected to the microcontroller unit and adapted to control first to fourth transistors, the third and fourth transistors being grounded; and

a bridge circuit electrically connected to the microcontroller unit and being formed of the magnetic force transmitter unit,

wherein said magnetic force transmitter unit is an electromagnet,

wherein if the microcontroller unit controls the first and fourth transistors to be electrically conducted and the second and third transistors to be electrically disconducted, the electromagnet is electrically conducted, and the magnetic force sensor unit becomes the N pole and then outputs Hi to the microcontroller unit,

wherein if the microcontroller unit controls the first and fourth transistors to be electrically disconducted, and the second and third transistors to be electrically conducted, the electromagnet is electrically conducted, and the magnetic force sensor unit becomes the S pole and then outputs Lo to the microcontroller unit,

wherein the magnetic force transmitter unit is controlled to transmit a predetermined control program to the tire pressure sensor device, and

wherein, after receiving a waveform outputted by the magnetic force sensor unit, the microcontroller unit restores the original control program by calculation, and then stores the control program in the memory unit.

2. The tire pressure sensor device setting tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a radio-frequency transmission interface electrically connected to said microcontroller unit and adapted to receive a radio feedback signal transmitted by said tire pressure sensor device.

3. The tire pressure sensor device setting tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a warning unit electrically connected to said microcontroller unit and controllable by said microcontroller unit to provide a warning signal.

4. A tire pressure sensor device setting method, comprising the steps of:

providing a tire pressure sensor device comprising a microcontroller unit, a memory unit and a magnetic force sensor unit;

providing a tire pressure sensor device setting tool comprising a microcontroller unit, a magnetic force transmitter unit, first to fourth switches and a bridge circuit, the first to fourth switches being electrically connected to the microcontroller unit and adapted to control first to fourth transistors, the third and fourth transistors being grounded, a bridge circuit being electrically connected to the microcontroller unit and being formed of the magnetic force transmitter unit;

operating said tire pressure sensor device setting tool to select a control program to be unloaded onto said tire pressure sensor device, enabling the selected control program to be encoded by the microcontroller unit of said tire pressure sensor device setting tool and then transmitted by said magnetic force transmitter unit to said magnetic force sensor unit of said tire pressure sensor device;

enabling the microcontroller unit of said tire pressure sensor device to decode the encoded control program been sensed by said magnetic force sensor unit and then to store the decoded control program in said memory unit;

if the microcontroller unit controls the first and fourth transistors to be electrically conducted and the second and third transistors to be electrically disconducted, electrically conducting the electromagnet to make the magnetic force sensor unit an N pole, outputting Hi to the microcontroller unit;

if the microcontroller unit controls the first and fourth transistors to be electrically disconducted, and the second and third transistors to be electrically conducted, electrically conducting the electromagnet to make the magnetic force sensor unit becomes an S pole, and outputting Lo to the microcontroller unit;

controlling the magnetic three transmitter unit to transmit a predetermined control program to the tire pressure sensor device; and

after receiving a waveform outputted by the magnetic force sensor unit, restoring the original control program by calculation by the microcontroller unit, and then storing the control program in the memory unit,

wherein said control program comprises a tire pressure sensor device communication protocol.

5. The tire pressure sensor device setting method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control program comprises the ID code of said tire pressure sensor device.