Wireless remote tire parameter measurement method and apparatus

• US 20010022551A1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GeoMat Insights, LLC
• Original Assignee: GeoMat Insights, LLC
• Inventors: Barnett, Ronald J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,448,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/065 by monitoring vibrations in tyres or suspensions B60C23/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/068 by monitoring chassis to tyre distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only

Abstract

The present invention is a novel technique and system that allows the pressure of a tire to be remotely monitored by sensing a tire parameter indicative of the tire'"'"'s pressure without mounting any device on the tire itself, while the tire is or is not rotating. In the illustrative embodiment, a tire parameter indicative of the pressure inside the tire, such as the temperature, acoustical signature, or shape of the tire, is measured remotely with a remotely mounted sensor. The measured parameter is compared to a range of known acceptable limits for that particular parameter, and a warning signal is generated if the measured parameter is not within that range of acceptable limits.

Claims

1. An apparatus for remotely monitoring a parameter of a tire, said apparatus comprising:

a sensor located remotely from said tire which measures said parameter of said tire to generate a measured parameter;

a measurement processor which monitors said measured parameter and generates a warning signal if said measured parameter is not within a set of acceptable parameter threshold limits.

2. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein:

said sensor comprises an infrared (IR) detector.

3. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 2

, wherein:

said parameter comprises the temperature of said tire.

4. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein:

said sensor comprises an acoustical transducer.

5. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 4

, wherein:

said parameter comprises an acoustical signature of said tire.

6. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 4

, wherein:

said acoustical transducer comprises an ultrasound detector.

7. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 4

, wherein:

said acoustical transducer comprises a microphone.

8. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 4

, wherein:

said acoustical transducer comprises an accelerometer.

9. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein:

said sensor comprises a distance detector.

10. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 9

, wherein:

said parameter comprises the shape of said tire.

11. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 10

, wherein:

said shape comprises the width of said tire.

12. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 11

, wherein:

said width of said tire is measured along a bottom portion of said tire, said bottom portion in close proximity to a portion of said tire in contact with a surface exerting external force on said tire.

13. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 11

, wherein:

said width of said tire is measured along a top portion of said tire, said top portion in far proximity to a portion of said tire in contact with a surface exerting external force on said tire.

14. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 9

, wherein:

said distance detector comprises a camera.

15. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 9

, wherein:

said distance detector comprises an ultrasound transducer.

16. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 9

, wherein:

said distance detector comprises an acoustic transducer.

17. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 9

, wherein:

said distance detector comprises a microwave oscillator.

18. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 9

, wherein:

said distance detector comprises an optical transducer.

19. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein:

said measurement processor receives a set of reference parameters and determines whether said measured parameter is within said acceptable limits based on said measured parameter and said set of reference parameters.

20. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 19

, comprising:

a lookup table comprising a plurality of entries, each said plurality of entries comprising a set of reference parameter values and a set of corresponding threshold limits.

21. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein:

said sensor measures said parameter at any non-zero rotational speed of said tire.

22. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein:

said sensor measures said parameter at any rotational speed of said tire.

23. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, comprising:

a display; and

a display interface responsive to said warning signal for displaying a visual warning indication on said display.

24. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 23

, wherein:

said display interface responsive is responsive to said measured parameter to display a visual indication of said value of said measured parameter.

25. An apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, comprising:

a trend analyzer which monitors a history of said measured parameter, detects a trend from said history, and generates a trend indicator if said trend is detected.

26. A vehicle, comprising:

a tire which is characterized by a parameter; and

a remote tire parameter monitoring device, comprising;

a sensor located remotely from said tire which measures said parameter of said tire to generate a measured parameter;

a measurement processor which monitors said measured parameter and generates a warning signal if said measured parameter is not within a set of acceptable parameter threshold limits.

27. A method for monitoring pressure of a tire, comprising:

remotely measuring a parameter of said tire;

obtaining acceptable limit thresholds for said measured parameter;

determining whether said measured parameter is within said acceptable threshold limits; and

signaling a warning if said measured parameter is not within said acceptable threshold limits.

28. A method in accordance with

claim 27

, comprising:

calculating a tire pressure of said tire based on said measured parameter and;

reporting said tire pressure of said tire.