Vehicle wheel monitoring system

• US 20020130771A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyre Lynx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tyre Lynx, Inc.
• Inventors: Osborne, Corwin K., Wiest, Alfred A.
• Application Number:
  US09/931,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130771A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/005 Devices specially adapted for special wheel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/007 having multiple wheels arranged side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/008 having wheels on more than two axles
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0445 Means for changing operating mode, e.g. sleep mode, factory mode or energy saving mode
• 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 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations

Abstract

A system for remotely sensing the temperature and pressure in vehicle tires whether moving or stationary. The tire pressure and temperature data along with a unique ID number are transmitted from a sensor in the tire to a computer display in the cab. A portable cab display receives the data and assigns a unique wheel location for each sensor. The cab display compensates the pressure data for local barometric pressure and actual tire temperature and displays the compensated data to the driver. Alarms are included to alert the driver of off specification conditions. The cab display may be removed from the cab for local use.

Claims

1. A vehicle wheel monitoring system for use on a vehicle wheel comprising:

one wheel module assembly mounted on each monitored vehicle wheel to monitor wheel assembly operating parameters, each wheel module assembly transmitting a unique identifying number for each monitored vehicle wheel; and

,

display means located remote from said wheel module assembly to display said wheel assembly operating parameters to an operator and receive said unique identifying number from each of said wheel module assemblies,

wherein said wheel module assembly monitors said wheel operating parameters and transmits the unique identifying number and the values of said wheel assembly operating parameters to said display and said display presents the values of said parameters to said operator and alerts said operator when said wheel operating parameters have reached inefficient or unsafe levels.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for transmitting said unique identifying number from each of said wheel module assemblies to said display unit;

means for receiving said unique identifying number from each of said wheel module assemblies to said display unit;

means for associating said unique identifying number from said wheel module assembly with a unique vehicle wheel location; and

,

means for storing each combination of unique identifying number and unique vehicle wheel location;

wherein each wheel module assembly is associated with a unique vehicle wheel location.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said wheel module assembly further comprises:

a plurality of sensing means, each sensing means for sensing a different wheel assembly operating parameter and providing an electrical output corresponding to the value of said wheel assembly operating parameter;

identifying means for receiving a wheel probe interrogation signal and then transmitting a unique identifying number; and

,

transmitting means for transmitting said electrical output corresponding to the value of said monitored wheel assembly operating parameter.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said wheel module assembly unit further comprises:

a signal conditioning and analog to digital converting means to condition said electrical output signal from said sensing means and convert the analog signal from said sensing means to a digital signal to provide a conditioned digital electrical output signal corresponding to the value of said monitored wheel operating parameter.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said wheel module assembly further comprises:

a processing means to receive said conditioned digital electrical output from said signal conditioning and analog to digital converting means and encode said conditioned electrical output for transmission.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said processing means in said wheel module assembly is a microprocessor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said transmitting means in said wheel module assembly is a radio frequency transmitter.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said wheel module assembly is mounted on said vehicle wheel with a spring loaded steel tensioning strap.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein one of said plurality of sensors in said wheel module assembly is a temperature sensor.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein one of said plurality of sensors in said wheel module assembly is a pressure sensor.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein one of said plurality of sensors in said wheel module assembly is a wheel module assembly battery condition sensor.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said pressure sensor in said wheel module assembly senses absolute pressure.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said identifying means on said wheel module assembly comprises:

a low frequency wheel interrogation receiving inductor to receive a wheel probe interrogation signal from said display means;

a wheel probe interface means to notify said processing means that a wheel probe interrogation signal has been detected; and

,

a generation means for generating a normal radio frequency data link and transmitting a unique identifying number for each wheel module assembly.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said display means further comprises:

receiving means for receiving said electrical signal corresponding to said value of said monitored parameter;

analyzing means for analyzing said electrical signal corresponding to said value of said monitored parameter;

visual display means for visually displaying the values of said electrical signal corresponding to said value of said monitored parameter to said operator;

alarm means for alerting said operator when the values of said wheel operating parameters reach a predetermined value; and

,

warning means for alerting said operator when said wheel operating parameters have reached unsafe levels.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said display means further comprises a comparing means for comparing the value of said encoded digital signal to predetermined limits for each of said monitored wheel operating parameters.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said display means is a computer display unit said computer display unit comprising:

a polarity protector;

a storage battery with heater to provide power for said computer display unit;

a power supply to supply power to said computer display unit and to charge said storage battery;

a local ambient pressure sensor to sense the local ambient pressure;

a temperature sensor to sense the local ambient temperature;

a high radio frequency data link receiver to receive said normal radio frequency data link;

a high radio frequency antenna;

a digital signal processor to process said encoded electrical output from said wheel monitor assembly and provide an output signal;

a microprocessor to analyze said output signal from said digital signal processor;

a memory to store historical values of monitored vehicle wheel assembly parameters;

a user interface comprising;

an LED display for displaying alert icons;

an audible alarm;

an LCD display with heater;

buttons and navigational keys for navigating between menus and menu choices;

an RS 232 serial interface; and

,

external electrical contacts for power supply and RS 232 interface.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said computer display unit further comprises a wheel probe interrogation means said interrogation means comprising:

a low frequency radio transmitting means for transmitting a wheel probe interrogation signal;

.

a low frequency radio antenna;

high frequency receiving means for receiving said normal radio frequency data link and unique identifying number from said wheel monitoring assembly

associating means for associating said unique identifying number with a unique wheel location;

memory means to store said unique identifying number associated with each unique wheel location; and

,

visual display means for visually displaying said unique wheel location associated with said wheel module assembly.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

temperature compensation means for compensating said pressure value from said pressure sensor in said wheel module assembly for the temperature value sensed by said temperature sensor in said wheel module assembly.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said temperature compensation is according to Boyles law.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

ambient pressure compensation means for compensating said pressure value from said pressure sensor in said wheel module assembly for local ambient pressure conditions.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

a microprocessor in said computer display unit to accept an input, from said operator, of ideal wheel assembly pressure at a temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit and calculate a calculated ideal value of wheel assembly pressure which is based on said value of ideal wheel assembly pressure manually input by said operator for the temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit and then compensated for said local ambient pressure conditions sensed by said local ambient pressure sensor and compensated for temperature conditions sensed by said temperature sensor in said wheel module assembly; and

,

visual display to display said calculated ideal value of wheel assembly pressure.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising a power cradle unit for resting said computer display unit in, said power cradle unit comprising:

a cradle capable of holding said computer display unit;

a docking module capable of interfacing with said computer display unit, said docking module comprising;

a fused and filtered power input to said computer display unit;

a communication cable connector;

an RS 232 communication feed through to transfer the values of the monitored vehicle wheel assembly using an RS 232 signal from said computer display unit to a receiving apparatus; and

,

electrical contacts located such that said contacts mate with the corresponding contacts on said computer display unit.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said warning means on said display unit provides warning to said operator when the value of the compensated pressure signal is 20 pounds per square inch higher or lower than said calculated ideal value of wheel assembly pressure.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said warning means on said display unit further comprises:

a warning to said operator when the value of the temperature signal is greater than operator selected limits.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said warning means on said display unit further comprises:

a warning to said operator when the measured differential pressure value between two vehicle wheel assemblies in a set of dual wheels exceeds 5 pounds per square inch.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said warning means on said display unit further comprises:

a blow out warning limit when the measured pressure in any one wheel assembly falls below 45 pounds per square inch gauge after the wheel assembly has once been inflated to above 30 pounds per square inch gauge.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said alarm means further comprises:

a first warning limit to alert said operator when said actual compensated pressure value is less than said ideal pressure value, said first warning limit being set by said operator at 5, 10 or 15 pounds per square inch above and below the ideal pressure value in accordance with the preference of said operator.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said alarm means further comprises;

an audible alarm; and

,

a visual alarm.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising:

an operational system failure warning to alert said operator of any system failures.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

a missing wheel module assembly warning to alert said operator when said display unit detects that a wheel module assembly is not sending a signal to the display unit.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said computer display unit is removably mounted in said power cradle unit and may be take to the location of each monitored vehicle wheel assembly.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising:

a power cable assembly to supply power to said power cradle unit.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said power supplied by said power cable assembly is switched.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said power supplied by said power cable assembly is not switched.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said transmitting means on said wheel module assembly is connected to the valve stem of said vehicle wheel so that said wheel module operating parameters are transmitted through said valve stem.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said receiving means on said display unit is removably connected to said valve stem of said vehicle wheel so that said wheel module operating parameters are received through said valve stem.

37. The system of claim 36 further comprising:

a centrifugal switch in each of said wheel module assemblies said centrifugal switch disengaging said low frequency wheel interrogation receiving inductor when said vehicle wheel rotates and engaging said low frequency wheel interrogation receiving inductor when said vehicle wheel is not rotating.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps of;

(p) measuring local ambient pressure;

(q) compensating said value of wheel operating pressure for local ambient pressure;

(r) compensating said value of wheel operating pressure for wheel temperature.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising the steps of:

(z) compensating said wheel assembly operating parameters for operating temperature and local barometric pressure.

38. A method of monitoring wheel condition for use on a vehicle wheel assembly consisting of the steps of:

(a) sensing a wheel operating pressure for each monitored wheel assembly;

(b) sensing wheel operating temperature for each monitored wheel assembly;

(c) transmitting the value wheel operating pressure for each monitored wheel to a remote location;

(d) transmitting the value wheel operating temperature for each monitored wheel to a remote location;

(e) receiving a wheel probe interrogation signal;

(f) transmitting a unique identifying number to a remote location; and

,

(g) displaying said value of said monitored parameters for each vehicle wheel assembly, remote from said vehicle wheel consisting of the following steps;

(h) receiving said value of said monitored wheel assembly operating pressure from each of said wheel assemblies;

(i) receiving said value of said monitored wheel assembly operating temperature from each of said wheel assemblies;

(j) receiving said value of unique identifying number from each of said wheel assemblies;

(k) assigning each of said unique wheel identifying numbers a unique vehicle location;

(l) analyzing said values of wheel operating pressure and wheel operating temperature to determine if said values are within predetermined limits;

(m) displaying said values of said wheel operating pressure and wheel operating temperature visually for an operator

(n) sounding an alarm when said values of said wheel operating parameters reach predetermined values; and

,

(o) warning said operator when said values of said wheel operating parameters reach unsafe levels;

wherein said wheel module assembly monitors said wheel operating parameters and transmits the values of said parameters to said display and said display presents the values of said parameters to said operator and alerts said operator when said wheel operating parameters have reached unsafe levels.

40. A method of monitoring wheel condition for use on a vehicle wheel assembly consisting of the steps of:

(s) measuring a plurality of wheel assembly operating parameters;

(t) transmitting the value of each wheel assembly operating parameter to a remote location

(u) transmitting a unique identifying number for each wheel assembly to a remote location;

(v) receiving the value of each wheel assembly operating parameters from said wheel assembly;

(w) receiving the unique identifying number for each wheel assembly from said wheel assembly;

(x) associating each unique wheel assembly number with a unique vehicle wheel location; and

,

(y) displaying said values of each wheel assembly operating parameter to an operator;

wherein said wheel module assembly monitors said wheel operating parameters and transmits the values of said parameters to said display and said display presents the values of said parameters to said operator and alerts said operator when said wheel operating parameters have reached unsafe levels.