Method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure and apparatus used therefor

• US 20020011929A1
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Sugisawa, Toshifumi
• Granted Patent: US 6,420,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/444
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/061 by monitoring wheel speed measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles G01C22/00

Abstract

An apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires, comprising a rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of each tire, a steering angle detecting means, a memory means for storing the rotational information of each tire and the steering angle, a turning radius calculating and processing means, a judged value calculating and processing means, and a correction means for correcting the turning radius. It is possible to obtain an accurate turning radius also in case any tire of the following wheels is decompressed by correcting the turning radius obtained on the basis of rotational information by using the steering angle information, thereby the DEL value might be obtained in a more accurate manner than compared to conventional arrangements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of each tire;

a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle;

a memory means for storing the rotational information of each tire and the steering angle;

a turning radius calculating and processing means for calculating a turning radius based on the rotational information of each tire;

a judged value calculating and processing means for calculating a judged value based on the rotational information of each tire; and

a correction means for correcting the turning radius in case it has been determined by the steering angle detecting means that the vehicle is in a straight-ahead driving condition though the driving condition of the vehicle is a turning condition when being based on the turning radius obtained on the basis of the rotational information.

2. An apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of each tire;

a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle;

a memory means for storing the rotational information of each tire and the steering angle;

a turning radius calculating and processing means for calculating a turning radius based on the rotational information of each tire;

a correction means for correcting the turning radius in case it has been determined by the steering angle detecting means that the vehicle is in a straight-ahead driving condition though the driving condition of the vehicle is a turning condition when being based on the turning radius obtained on the basis of the rotational information; and

a decompression determining means for determining a decompressed condition of a tire in case a correction coefficient for the turning radius as obtained by the correction means is not less than a threshold.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the threshold is an integrated value in a predetermined time.

4. A method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting rotational information of each tire;

detecting a steering angle;

storing the rotational information of each tire and the steering angle;

calculating a reciprocal of a turning radius based on the rotational information of each tire;

calculating a judged value based on the rotational information of each tire; and

correcting, when performing correction of the judged value for decompressed condition due to cornering, the turning radius in case it has been determined on the basis of the steering angle that the vehicle is in a straight-ahead driving condition though the driving condition of the vehicle is a turning condition when being based on the turning radius obtained on the basis of the rotational information.

5. A method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting rotational information of each tire;

detecting a steering angle;

storing the rotational information of each tire and the steering angle;

calculating a turning radius based on the rotational information of each tire;

correcting the turning radius in case it has been determined on the basis of the steering angle that the vehicle is in a straight-ahead driving condition though the driving condition of the vehicle is a turning condition when being based on the turning radius obtained on the basis of the rotational information; and

determining a decompressed condition of a tire in case a correction coefficient for the turning radius as obtained during the correction process is not less than a threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the threshold is an integrated value in a predetermined time.

7. An apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of each tire;

a memory means for storing the rotational information of each tire;

a calculating and processing means for calculating a judged value based on the rotational information of each tire; and

a judged value correcting means for correcting the judged value based on a lateral acceleration obtained through a lateral acceleration sensor provided in the vehicle.

8. An apparatus for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, comprising:

a rotational information detecting means for detecting rotational information of each tire;

a memory means for storing the rotational information of each tire;

a calculating and processing means for calculating a judged value based on the rotational information of each tire; and

a judged value correcting means for correcting the judged value based on a lateral acceleration obtained on a basis of values of a yaw rate sensor provided in the vehicle.

9. A method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting rotational information of each tire;

storing the rotational information of each tire;

calculating a judged value based on the rotational information of each tire; and

correcting the judged value based on a lateral acceleration obtained through a lateral acceleration sensor provided in the vehicle.

10. A method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure based on rotational information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting rotational information of each tire;

storing the rotational information of each tire;

calculating a judged value based on the rotational information of each tire; and

correcting the judged value based on a lateral acceleration obtained on a basis of values of a yaw rate sensor provided in the vehicle.