Tire pressure monitoring for vehicle park-assist

• US 10,507,868 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Erick Michael, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Mott, Genna M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patrick, Melanie J
• Application Number:
  US15/902,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20190256143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• 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: B60T 2240/03 Tire sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for tire pressure monitoring for vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes tires, pressure sensors, and a controller. The controller is to identify a target position within a parking spot for park-assist, determine a tire index based on tire pressure measurements, and identify whether the tire index is within a low range, a caution range, or a normal operating range. The controller also is to adjust, responsive to the tire index being within the caution range, the target position to facilitate access to one of the tires having low pressure.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

tires;

pressure sensors; and

a controller to;

identify a target position within a parking spot for park-assist;

determine a tire index based on tire pressure measurements;

identify whether the tire index is within a low range, a caution range, or a normal operating range, wherein the tire index is within the low range when one or more of the tires has a tire pressure less than or equal to a flat tire threshold, wherein the tire index is within the normal operating range when each of the tires has a tire pressure within a factory-recommended tire pressure range, wherein the tire index is within the caution range when the one or more of the tires has a tire pressure that is both above the factory-recommended tire pressure range and outside of the factory-recommended tire pressure range; and

responsive to the tire index being within the caution range;

adjust the target position to facilitate access to one of the tires that has a tire pressure outside of the factory-recommended tire pressure range; and

cause a park-assist interface to prompt a user to select whether to stop or proceed with the park-assist.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller disables the park-assist responsive to identifying that the tire index is within the low range.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller enables the park-assist responsive to identifying that the tire index is within the normal operating range.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller reduces the tire index in response to detecting that one or more of the tires has a low tire pressure or a high tire pressure.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the controller further reduces the tire index in response to detecting that one or more of the tires is flat.

6. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the controller further reduces the tire index in response to detecting that the one or more of the tires having the low tire pressure or the high tire pressure is a steering tire.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller reduces the tire index in response to detecting that one of the tires has a lower tire pressure than the other of the tires.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further including at least one of a sensor and a camera, wherein the controller identifies the parking spot and the target position within the parking spot based on at least one of data collected by the sensor and an image captured by the camera.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device for remote park-assist.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, further including a display that is configured to present a park-assist interface.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a park-assist interface includes a tire index alert that indicates whether the tire index is within the low range, the caution range, or the normal operating range.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a park-assist interface presents the tire pressure measurements of the tires.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a park-assist interface presents a representation of the parking spot and the target position within the parking spot.

14. A vehicle comprising:

tires;

pressure sensors; and

a controller to;

identify a target position within a parking spot for park-assist;

determine a tire index based on tire pressure measurements;

identify whether the tire index is within a low range, a caution range, or a normal operating range, wherein the tire index is within the low range when one or more of the tires has a tire pressure less than or equal to a flat tire threshold, wherein the tire index is within the normal operating range when each of the tires has a tire pressure within a factory-recommended tire pressure range, wherein the tire index is within the caution range when the one or more of the tires has a tire pressure that is both above the factory-recommended tire pressure range and outside of the factory-recommended tire pressure range;

adjust, responsive to the tire index being within the caution range, the target position to facilitate access to one of the tires that has a tire pressure outside of the factory-recommended tire pressure range; and

to compensate for a low tire pressure or a high tire pressure of one or more of the tires upon identifying that the tire index is within the caution range, at least one of increase a buffer zone within the parking spot, decrease a vehicle speed for the park-assist, and adjust PID controller gains utilized to perform the park-assist.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein, when the tire index is within the caution range, a park-assist interface prompts a user to select whether to stop or proceed with the park-assist.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein, upon identifying that the tire index is within the caution range, the controller stops performing the park-assist responsive to determining that a vehicle trajectory will enter the buffer zone.

17. A method comprising:

identifying, via a processor, a target position within a parking spot for park-assist;

collecting tire pressure measurements via pressure sensors;

determining a tire index based on the tire pressure measurements;

identifying whether the tire index is within a low range, a caution range, or a normal operating range, wherein the tire index is within the low range when one or more of the tires has a tire pressure less than or equal to a flat tire threshold, wherein the tire index is within the normal operating range when each of the tires has a tire pressure within a factory-recommended tire pressure range, wherein the tire index is within the caution range when the one or more of the tires has a tire pressure that is both above the factory-recommended tire pressure range and outside of the factory-recommended tire pressure range; and

prompting, via a park-assist interface, a user to select whether to stop or proceed with the park-assist when the tire index is within the caution range.

18. The method of claim 17, further including disabling, via the processor, the park-assist responsive to identifying that the tire index is within the low range.

19. The method of claim 17, further including enabling, via the processor, the park-assist responsive to identifying that the tire index is within the normal operating range.