Method and system for calibrating a tire pressure sensing system for an automotive vehicle

• US 20030145645A1
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, McQuade, Thomas Michael, Tenbusch, John, Porter, Frederick James, Rust, John LeBeau
• Granted Patent: US 6,745,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/1.59
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver

Abstract

A system (10) and method is provided for calibrating a tire pressure monitoring system using an EM transmitter (14). The present invention includes a first pressure sensor coupled to a wheel of an automotive vehicle (12). The EM pressure transmitter (14) is coupled to the pressure sensor (32). The transmitter (14) has a serial number associated therewith. An EM calibration device has a transmitting range. The EM transmitter device has an actuator. When the actuator is activated, a calibration signal (34) is transmitted within the transmitting range. The calibration signal causes the EM pressure transmitter (32) to transmit a serial number. A controller (16) is EM coupled to the pressure transmitter. The controller (16) receives the serial number and associates the serial number with a tire location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A pressure monitoring system for a tire of an automotive vehicle comprising:

a first pressure sensor coupled to said wheel;

an EM pressure transmitter coupled to said pressure sensor, said transmitter having calibration information associated therewith;

an EM calibration device having a transmitting range, said EM calibration device having an actuator, said actuator when actuated generating a calibration signal within said transmitting range;

wherein said calibration signal causing said EM pressure transmitter to EM transmit said calibration information,

a controller EM coupled to said pressure transmitter, said controller receiving said serial number and associating said calibration information with a tire location relative to said vehicle.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitting range is less than three feet.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said EM calibration device is hand-held.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said EM calibration device is incorporated into a remote keyless entry device.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a receiver coupled to said controller for receiving said calibration signal.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a memory, said controller storing said calibration information in said memory.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an EM pressure receiver for receiving said calibration signal.

8. A pressure monitoring system for an automotive vehicle having a plurality of tires in a predetermined tire location relative to the vehicle comprising:

a plurality of tire pressure transmitters each having pressure sensor and a serial number associated therewith, each tire pressure transmitter having a unique serial number;

an EM calibration device having a transmitting range, said EM transmitting device having an actuator, said actuator when activated generating a calibration signal within said transmitting range;

wherein said calibration signal causing one of said plurality of tire pressure transmitters to EM transmit said serial number,

a controller EM coupled to said pressure transmitter, said controller sequentially receiving said serial numbers and associating said serial numbers with said tire location of said vehicle.

9. A method of operating a pressure monitoring system comprising:

generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter;

transmitting calibration information from a tire pressure sensor in response to said EM calibration signal; and

receiving said calibration information in a controller.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter comprises generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter with a predetermined range.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter with a predetermined range comprises generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter with a predetermined range of less than about three feet.

12. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising storing said calibration information in a memory.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein storing said calibration information in a memory comprises associating said calibration information with a tire location.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising generating an indication in response to storing.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 further wherein generating an indication comprises generating an audible signal or a visual signal.

16. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating an EM calibration signal from a transmitter comprises generating an EM calibration signal from a hand-held transmitter.

17. A method of operating a pressure monitoring system comprising:

positioning an EM calibration device within a predetermined distance from a first pressure transmitter in a first location;

generating a first EM calibration signal from the EM calibration device;

transmitting first calibration information from a first pressure sensor to a controller in response to said EM calibration signal;

storing the first calibration information associated with said first location in a calibration memory;

positioning the EM calibration device within the predetermined distance from a second pressure transmitter in a second location;

generating a second EM calibration signal from the EM calibration device;

transmitting second calibration information from a second pressure sensor to the controller in response to said second EM calibration signal;

storing the second calibration information associated with said second location in the calibration memory;

positioning the EM calibration device within the predetermined distance from a third pressure transmitter in a third location;

generating a third EM calibration signal from the EM calibration device;

transmitting third calibration information from a third pressure sensor to a controller in response to said third EM calibration signal;

storing the third calibration information associated with said third location in a calibration memory;

positioning the EM calibration device within the predetermined distance from a fourth pressure transmitter in a fourth location;

generating a fourth EM calibration signal from the EM calibration device;

transmitting fourth calibration information from a fourth pressure sensor to a controller in response to said fourth EM calibration signal;

storing the fourth calibration information associated with said fourth location in a calibration memory.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said first calibration signal, a second calibration signal, a third calibration signal and a fourth calibration signal are equivalent but temporally separated.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said predetermined distance corresponds to the shortest of said distance between said first position and said second position, said second position and said third position, said third position and said fourth position and said fourth position sand said first position.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said steps of positioning are performed in a predetermined order.