Method and system for monitoring the wheels of a motor vehicle

• US 20030090372A1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Fischer, Martin, Bergerhoff, Nikolas
• Granted Patent: US 6,998,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/061 by monitoring wheel speed measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles G01C22/00

Abstract

The method comprises the steps of monitoring the wheels (R1, R2, R3, R4,) of a motor vehicle having an antilock brake system (ABS), for fault states, in particular for incorrect tire pressures, the occurrence of a fault state and the wheel position (FL, FR, RL, RR) of the wheel (R1, R2, R3, R4,) at which the fault state has occurred being indicated. Each wheel (R1, R2, R3, R4,) to be monitored is assigned a wheel unit (E1, E2, E3, E4) which monitors the respective wheel (R1, R2, R3, R4,) for fault states, and wherein at least the wheel position (FL, FR, RL, RR) of a wheel (R1, R2, R3, R4,) at which a fault state has occurred is determined by means of output signals of sensors (S1, S2, S3, S4) of the antilock brake system (ABS).

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the wheels of a motor vehicle having an antilock brake system, for fault states, the occurrence of a fault state and the wheel position of the wheel at which the fault state has occurred being indicated, wherein each wheel to be monitored is assigned a wheel unit which monitors the respective wheel for fault states, and wherein at least the wheel position of a wheel at which a fault state has occurred is determined by means of output signals of sensors of the antilock brake system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel position of a wheel is determined by means of the rotational speed of the wheel.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fault state and/or a wheel position are indicated by generating an audible signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fault state and/or a wheel position are indicated by generating a visual signal.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fault state includes a state for incorrect tire pressures.

6. A system for monitoring the wheels of a motor vehicle having an antilock brake system, for fault states, the system indicating the occurrence of a fault state and the wheel position of the wheel at which the fault state has occurred, wherein for each wheel to be monitored it has a wheel unit which monitors the respective wheel for fault states, and wherein it determines at least the wheel position of a wheel at which a fault state has occurred by means of the output signals of sensors of the antilock brake system.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein it determines the wheel position of a wheel by means of the rotational speed of the wheel.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein it indicates a fault state and/or a wheel position audibly.

9. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein it indicates a fault state and/or a wheel position visually.

10. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fault state includes a state for incorrect tire pressures.

11. A method for monitoring the wheels of a motor vehicle having an antilock brake system, for fault states, comprising the steps of:

indicating the occurrence of a fault state and the wheel position of the wheel at which the fault state has occurred,

assigning each wheel to be monitored a wheel unit which monitors the respective wheel for fault states, and

determining at least the wheel position of a wheel at which a fault state has occurred by means of output signals of sensors of the antilock brake system.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the wheel position of a wheel is determined by means of the rotational speed of the wheel.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a fault state and/or a wheel position are indicated by generating an audible signal.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a fault state and/or a wheel position are indicated by generating a visual signal.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fault state includes a state for incorrect tire pressures.

17. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the wheel position of a wheel is determined by means of the rotational speed of the wheel.

18. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein a fault state and/or a wheel position is indicated audibly.

19. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein a fault state and/or a wheel position is indicated visually.

20. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fault state includes a state for incorrect tire pressures.

16. A system for monitoring the wheels of a motor vehicle having an antilock brake system, for fault states, the system comprising:

a wheel unit for each wheel of the motor vehicle, wherein each wheel unit monitors the respective wheel for fault states, and

an evaluation unit which determines the wheel position of a wheel at which a fault state has occurred by means of the output signals of sensors of the antilock brake system.