Tire pressure ID code learning device and method of learning ID code

• US 9,440,501 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Huang, Kuan-Chih, Chou, Yu-Liang, Huang, Shiao-Hwa
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US14/460,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 340442-447, 731/46, 731/465, 731/468
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0415 Automatically identifying wheel mounted units, e.g. after replacement or exchange of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0437 Means for detecting electromagnetic field changes not being part of the signal transmission per se, e.g. strength, direction, propagation or masking
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0461 externally triggered, e.g. by wireless request signal, magnet or manual switch
• 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

Abstract

An ID code learning device includes a RF transceiving module, a received signal strength indication (RSSI) module, and a processing circuit. The RF transceiving module receives RF signals, and each of the RF signals contains an ID code. The RSSI module is electrically connected to the RF transceiving module to detect signal strengths of the RF signals received by the RF transceiving module. The processing circuit is electrically connected to the RF transceiving module and the received signal strength indication module respectively. The received signal strength indication module detects the RF signal with the highest signal strength, the processing circuit pairs the ID code thereof with a predetermined tire location code, and then the RF transceiving module transmits a pairing result out.

Claims

1. An ID code learning device for identifying each of at least two sensors, which send out RF signals, comprising:

a RF transceiving module, which is adapted to receive the RF signals from the at least two sensors, wherein each of the RF signals contains an ID code referring to the sensor where said RF signal comes from;

a received signal strength indication module electrically connected to a receiving circuit of the RF transceiving module to detect signal strengths of the RF signals received by the receiving circuit; and

a processing circuit electrically connected to a transmitting circuit of the RF transceiving module and the received signal strength indication module respectively;

wherein the received signal strength indication module detects the RF signal with the highest signal strength, the processing circuit pairs the ID code thereof with a predetermined tire location code, and then the transmitting circuit transmits a pairing result out;

wherein the processing circuit, the receiving circuit, the transmitting circuit, and the received signal strength indication module are received in a case, which is provided with a conductive terminal electrically connected to the receiving circuit of the RF transceiving module;

wherein the RF transceiving module further includes a wire outside the case;

the wire has an end electrically connected to the conductive terminal, and another end is adapted to be electrically connected to one of the at least two sensors to electrically transmit the RF signals from the connected sensor.

2. The ID code learning device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit further pairs ID codes of the rest RF signals with tire location codes according to the signal strengths of the RF signals detected by the received signal strength indication module.

3. The ID code learning device of claim 1, further comprising a triggering module electrically connected to the processing circuit for transmitting a triggering signal to sensors, wherein the sensors generate the RF signals and transmit the RF signals to the RF transceiving module according to the triggering signal, and the ID codes of the RF signals represent the sensors.

4. The ID code learning device of claim 3, wherein the triggering signal is a low-frequency signal, and the RF signals are high-frequency signals.

5. The ID code learning device of claim 1, wherein the RF transceiving module further includes an antenna on an outer side of the case, and the antenna is electrically connected to the conductive terminal.

6. The ID code learning device of claim 1, wherein the RF transceiving module further includes an insulating sleeve enveloping the antenna.

7. A method of learning ID code with the device claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is adapted to be applied to a vehicle having at least two tires arranged in parallel, and each of the at least two tires has a sensor installed therein, comprising the steps of:

A. connecting the wire of the ID code learning device to one of the at least two sensors;

B. transmitting a triggering signal to the at least two sensors, wherein the triggering signal is adapted to trigger the at least two sensors to send out RF signals, each of which contains an ID code referring to the sensor where said RF signal comes from;

C. with the wire, electrically receiving the RF signals from one of the at least two sensors, and wirelessly receiving the RF signals from rest of the at least two sensors, and detecting signal strengths of the received RF signals;

D. pairing the ID code of the RF signal with the highest signal strength with a tire location code; and

E. transmitting a pairing result of the step D out.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising pairing the ID code of the another one of the RF signals with another tire location codes according to the signal strengths thereof in the step D.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the triggering signal is a low-frequency signal and the RF signals are high-frequency signals.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising step D1 after step D:

connecting the wire of the ID code learning device to another one of the at least two sensors;

wherein step B to step D1 are repeated until the ID code learning device has been electrically connected to each of the at least two sensors, and then step E is taken.