Pressure module, transceiver module, control module, methods and computer programs for providing information related to a tire pressure

• US 9,963,002 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Peine, Andr
• Primary Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Application Number:
  US14/132,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 340447, 34042633, 340442, 340445
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0454 Means for changing operation mode, e.g. sleep mode, factory mode or energy save mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0459 self triggered by motion sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0488 Movement sensor, e.g. for sensing angular speed, acceleration or centripetal force

Abstract

Embodiments may provide a pressure module, a transceiver module, a control module, methods and computer programs for providing information related to a tire pressure. The pressure module is configured to provide information related to a pressure of a tire in a vehicle, comprises a pressure determiner configured to determine the information related to the pressure of the tire, and further comprises a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive information related to an instruction to provide the information related to the pressure of the tire and to wirelessly transmit the information related to the tire pressure. The transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive in the same frequency band. The transceiver module is configured to wirelessly transmit information related to an instruction to provide information related to a pressure of a tire to the tire pressure module and to wirelessly receive the information related to the tire pressure.

Claims

1. A pressure module configured to provide information related to a pressure of a tire in a vehicle, comprising:

a pressure determiner configured to determine the information related to the pressure of the tire;

a transceiver configured to;

wirelessly receive information related to an instruction to provide the information related to the pressure of the tire;

wirelessly transmit the information related to the tire pressure; and

wirelessly transmit and receive in the same frequency band;

a controller configured to;

control the pressure determiner and the transceiver, and

operate the transceiver in an operating mode and in a sleeping mode, wherein an energy consumption of the transceiver is lower in the sleeping mode than in the operating mode, wherein the controller is configured to transfer the transceiver between sleeping mode and operating mode alternately based on a wake up cycle, the wake up cycle having a schedule during which the pressure module is configured to receive the information related to the instruction,

wherein the controller is configured to base the schedule of the wake up cycle on a known or predicted state of movement of the vehicle, wherein the state of movement is favorable with respect to a localization measurement during a cornering or circular driving of the vehicle.

2. The pressure module of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive on different frequency carriers of the same frequency band.

3. The pressure module of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive on the same frequency carrier.

4. The pressure module of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

transfer the pressure determiner from sleeping mode to operating mode after the transceiver has wirelessly received the information related to the instruction to provide information related to the pressure of the tire, and

transfer the pressure determiner into the sleeping mode after the information related to the pressure of the tire has been determined, and/or transfer the transceiver into the sleeping mode after the information related to the pressure of the tire has been transmitted.

5. The pressure module of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to determine the information related to the state of movement of the tire.

10. The pressure module of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the wake-up cycle longer if the state of movement indicates that the vehicle has been parked or switched off, than if the state of movement indicates the vehicle is operated or the wheels are in motion.

11. The pressure module of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to trigger a pressure measurement of the tire if the state of movement indicates a stopping interval of the vehicle.

12. The pressure module of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to base the schedule of the wake up cycle on a pressure measurement cycle and/or on a localization measurement cycle.

13. The pressure module of claim 1, wherein the state of movement is favorable with respect to a pressure measurement or a localization measurement.

17. The pressure module of claim 1, wherein the state of movement indicates a steering angle, a rotational rate or a directional movement of the vehicle.

6. A transceiver module configured to communicate with a tire pressure module, comprising:

a transceiver configured to;

wirelessly transmit information related to an instruction to provide information related to a pressure of a tire to the tire pressure module;

wirelessly receive the information related to the tire pressure from the tire pressure module;

wirelessly transmit and receive in the same frequency band;

wherein the transceiver is configured to wirelessly and repetitively transmit a trigger signal as information related to the instruction for a time period, which is based on a wake up cycle of the tire pressure module; and

wirelessly and repetitively transmit a trigger signal as information related to the instruction for a time period, which is based on a wake up cycle of the tire pressure module, the wake up cycle having a schedule during which the pressure module is configured to receive the information related to the instruction, wherein the transceiver is configured to base the schedule of the wake up cycle on a known or predicted state of movement of the vehicle, wherein the state of movement is favorable with respect to a localization measurement during a cornering or circular driving of the vehicle.

7. The transceiver module of claim 6 further comprising an interface configured to:

communicate with a control module,

receive the information related to the instruction to provide the information related to the tire pressure from the control module, and

provide the information related to the tire pressure to the control module.

14. The transceiver module of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is configured to base the schedule of the wake up cycle on a pressure measurement cycle and/or on a localization measurement cycle.

15. The transceiver module of claim 6, wherein the state of movement is favorable with respect to a pressure measurement or a localization measurement.

16. The transceiver module of claim 6, wherein the state of movement indicates a steering angle, a rotational rate or a directional movement of the vehicle.

8. A computer program having a program code on a non-transitory media for performing, when the computer program is executed on a computer or on a processor, a method for providing information related to a pressure of a tire in a vehicle, comprising:

wirelessly receiving information related to an instruction to provide the information related to the pressure of the tire in a frequency band;

determining the information related to the pressure of the tire;

wirelessly transmitting the information related to the tire pressure in the frequency band;

transferring between sleeping mode and operating mode alternately based on a wake up cycle, wherein an energy consumption of the pressure determiner and/or the transceiver is lower in the sleeping mode than in the operating mode; and

transferring between sleeping mode and operating mode alternately based on a wake up cycle, wherein an energy consumption of a transceiver is lower in the sleeping mode than in the operating mode, the wake up cycle having a schedule during which the pressure module is configured to receive the information related to the instruction, wherein the schedule of the wake up cycle is based on a known or predicted state of movement of the vehicle, wherein the state of movement is favorable with respect to a localization measurement during a cornering or circular driving of the vehicle.

9. A computer program having a program code on a non-transitory media for performing, when the computer program is executed on a computer or on a processor, a method for communicating with a tire pressure module, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting information related to an instruction to provide information related to a pressure of a tire to the tire pressure module in a frequency band;

wirelessly receiving the information related to the tire pressure from the tire pressure module in the frequency band;

wirelessly and repetitively transmitting a trigger signal as information related to the instruction for a time period, which is based on a schedule of the wake up cycle of the tire pressure module; and

wirelessly and repetitively transmitting a trigger signal as information related to the instruction for a time period, which is based on the schedule of the wake up cycle of the tire pressure module, the wake up cycle having a schedule during which the pressure module is configured to receive the information related to the instruction, wherein the schedule of the wake up cycle is based on a known or predicted state of movement of the vehicle, wherein the state of movement is favorable with respect to a localization measurement during a cornering or circular driving of the vehicle.