Automatic activation of warning signal upon occurrence of unsafe condition detected by tire pressure monitoring system
First Claim
1. A vehicle warning system, the vehicle having tires and hazard lights, the system comprising:
- a tire pressure monitoring device disposed in each tire of the vehicle, each tire pressure monitoring device being constructed and arranged to obtain information regarding pressure within the associated tire and to communicate the tire pressure information in a wireless manner,a receiver constructed and arranged to receive the communicated tire pressure information from each tire pressure monitoring device,a processor circuit, associated with the receiver, constructed and arranged to determine if the communicated tire pressure information from at least one of the tire pressure monitoring devices is significantly less than a tire pressure determined to be safe for vehicle operation and, if so, to generate a warning signal, anda body control module constructed and arranged, upon receiving the warning signal to automatically activate the hazard lights without driver input, andwherein the body control module is constructed and arranged, without driver input, to automatically cause flashing of headlights of the vehicle, simultaneously with activation of the hazard lights.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle warning includes a tire pressure monitoring device disposed in each tire of the vehicle. Each tire pressure monitoring device obtains information regarding pressure within the associated tire and communicated the tire pressure information in a wireless manner. A receiver receives the communicated tire pressure information from each tire pressure monitoring device. A processor circuit, associated with the receiver, determines if the communicated tire pressure information from at least one of the tire pressure monitoring devices is significantly less than a tire pressure determined to be safe for vehicle operation and, if so, to generate a warning signal. A body control module, upon receiving the warning signal, automatically activates the hazard lights without driver input.
7 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vehicle warning system, the vehicle having tires and hazard lights, the system comprising:
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a tire pressure monitoring device disposed in each tire of the vehicle, each tire pressure monitoring device being constructed and arranged to obtain information regarding pressure within the associated tire and to communicate the tire pressure information in a wireless manner, a receiver constructed and arranged to receive the communicated tire pressure information from each tire pressure monitoring device, a processor circuit, associated with the receiver, constructed and arranged to determine if the communicated tire pressure information from at least one of the tire pressure monitoring devices is significantly less than a tire pressure determined to be safe for vehicle operation and, if so, to generate a warning signal, and a body control module constructed and arranged, upon receiving the warning signal to automatically activate the hazard lights without driver input, and wherein the body control module is constructed and arranged, without driver input, to automatically cause flashing of headlights of the vehicle, simultaneously with activation of the hazard lights. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of warning that a vehicle is operating under a hazardous condition, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring tire pressure in each tire of the vehicle, receiving, at a receiver, the monitored tire pressure from each tire, determining, in a processor circuit, if any of the received tire pressures is significantly less than a tire pressure determined to be safe for vehicle operation, and if the received tire pressure is significantly less than the tire pressure determined to be safe for vehicle operation, automatically activating hazard lights of the vehicle without driver input, wherein the step of automatically activating the hazard lights includes using a body control module of the vehicle, and wherein, simultaneously with the activation of the hazard lights, the method further comprises using the body control module to automatically cause flashing of headlights of the vehicle, without driver input. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification