Vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus and tire information processing apparatus

• US 20030156021A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Wakabayashi, Kazuyoshi, Tabata, Masaaki, Ogawa, Atsushi, Doi, Takashi, Kusunoki, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 6,960,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0462 Structure of transmission protocol

Abstract

A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus for obtaining tire information relating to a mounted tire and a non-mounted tire of a vehicle. The apparatus includes: (a) tire state detectors which are provided in the respective tires and each of which detects a state of the corresponding tire; (b) transmitters which are provided in the respective tires and which transmit tire data sets, as the tire information, each containing at least one tire-state data element representative of the detected state of the corresponding tire; (c) a receiver which is provided in a body of the vehicle and which receives the tire data sets transmitted by the transmitters; and (d) a non-mounted-tire information separator which separates the tire data set transmitted from the non-mounted tire, from the tire data set transmitted from the mounted tire.

Claims

1. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus for obtaining tire information relating to a plurality of tires of a vehicle which include a mounted tire mounted on an axle of the vehicle and a non-mounted tire carried by the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

tire state detectors which are provided in the respective tires and each of which detects a state of a corresponding one of said tires;

transmitters which are provided in the respective tires and which transmit tire data sets, as said tire information, each containing at least one tire-state data element representative of the detected state of a corresponding one of said tires;

a receiver which is provided in a body of the vehicle and which receives said tire data sets transmitted by said transmitters; and

a non-mounted-tire information separator which separates one of said tire data sets that has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire, from one of said tire data sets that has been transmitted from said mounted tire.

2. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-mounted-tire information separator includes a non-mounted-tire information determining portion which automatically determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not.

3. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-mounted-tire information separator includes a non-mounted-tire information determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of said each of said tire data sets received by said receiver.

4. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element, which represents the detected state of the corresponding one of said tires, includes at least one of a temperature data representative of a temperature of the corresponding tire, an air pressure data representative of an air pressure of said corresponding tire, a shape data representative of a shape of said corresponding tire, an applied-force data representative of a force applied to said corresponding tire, and a motion data representative of a motion of said corresponding tire,

and wherein said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a tire-state-basis determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of said at least one tire-state data element which is contained in said each of said tire data sets.

5. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element includes said temperature data,

and wherein said tire-state-basis determining portion of said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a tire-temperature-change-basis determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of change of said temperature represented by said temperature data.

6. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element includes said temperature data,

and wherein said tire-state-basis determining portion of said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a temperature-difference-basis determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of a difference between an ambient temperature and said temperature represented by said temperature data.

7. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element includes said motion data,

and wherein said tire-state-basis determining portion of said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a tire-motion-basis determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of said motion represented by said motion data.

8. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said tire-state-basis determining portion of said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a running-state-basis determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of said at least one tire-state data element during running of the vehicle.

9. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said tire-state-basis determining portion of said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a tire-state-change-basis determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of said at least one tire-state data element upon initiation of running of the vehicle and said at least one tire-state data element during running of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element includes said temperature data,

and wherein said tire-state-basis determining portion of said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a temperature-difference-basis determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of a difference among temperatures of said plurality of tires each of which is represented by said temperature data upon initiation of running of the vehicle, and also said temperatures during running of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element includes said temperature data,

and wherein said tire-state-basis determining portion of said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a temperature-difference-basis determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of a difference between an ambient temperature and said temperature represented by said temperature data upon initiation of running of the vehicle, and also at least one of said temperature represented by said temperature data during running of the vehicle and change of said temperature represented by said temperature data during running of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a number-basis checking portion which checks determination as to whether each of said tire data sets has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire, by seeing if a number of said tire data sets determined to have been transmitted from said non-mounted tire is not larger than a predetermined number.

13. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein each of said tire data sets includes an identification data which identifies a corresponding one of said plurality of tires,

wherein said non-mounted-tire information determining portion includes a non-mounted-tire identification data obtaining portion which is activated to obtain a content represented by said identification data of said non-mounted tire,

and wherein said non-mounted-tire identification data obtaining portion is activated each time a predetermined condition is satisfied.

14. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein said non-mounted-tire information separator separates said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said non-mounted tire on the basis of the content represented by said identification data of said non-mounted tire that has been obtained as a result of last satisfaction of said predetermined condition, during a period of time after a first moment at which said predetermined condition is newly satisfied and before a second moment at which the content represented by said identification data of said non-mounted tire is newly obtained,

and wherein said non-mounted-tire information separator separates said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said non-mounted tire on the basis of the content represented by said identification data of said non-mounted tire that is newly obtained as a result of new satisfaction of said predetermined condition, after said second moment.

15. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 13,

wherein said non-mounted-tire information separator does not separate said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said non-mounted tire, during a period of time after a first moment at which said predetermined condition is newly satisfied and before a second moment at which the content represented by said identification data of said non-mounted tire is newly obtained,

and wherein said non-mounted-tire information separator separates said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said non-mounted tire on the basis of the content represented by said identification data of said non-mounted tire that is newly obtained as a result of new satisfaction of said predetermined condition, after said second moment.

16. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein each of said tire data sets includes a quantitative data element,

said vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus further comprising:

a tire information sorter which sorts said tire data sets received by said receiver, according to a predetermined threshold value, on the basis of said quantitative data element of each of said tire data sets.

17. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein said quantitative data element is provided by each of said at least one tire-state data element,

and wherein said tire information sorter includes a threshold-value determining portion which determines said threshold value, on the basis of a tire-state-related value represented by each of said at least one tire-state data element when a running state of the vehicle satisfies a predetermined condition.

18. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein said non-mounted-tire information separator includes a non-mounted-tire information determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not,

and wherein said tire information sorter is included in said non-mounted-tire information determining portion, and includes a threshold-basis non-mounted-tire information sorting portion which sorts out said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said non-mounted tire, from said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said mounted tire.

19. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a non-mounted-tire information ignorer which ignores said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

20. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a data processor which processes said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said mounted tire and which does not process said one of said tire data sets transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

21. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a data processor which processes said one of said tire data sets in a mounted-tire data processing manner and which processes said one of said tire data sets in a non-mounted-tire data processing manner that is different from said mounted-tire data processing manner.

22. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein each of said tire data sets includes an identification data which identifies a corresponding one of said plurality of tires,

said vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus comprising a non-mounted-tire identification data storage which distinguishes the tire data set transmitted from said non-mounted tire, from the tire data set transmitted from said mounted tire, and which stores the identification data included in said tire data set transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

23. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said non-mounted-tire information separator includes a communication inhibitor which inhibits a communication between said receiver and one of said transmitters provided in said non-mounted tire.

24. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said communication inhibitor includes an information-reception disabling portion which disables a signal from said one of said transmitters provided in said non-mounted tire, from being received by said receiver.

25. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said information-reception inhibitor includes a shielding member which blocks transmission of a signal from said one of said transmitters provided in said non-mounted tire, to said receiver.

37. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said non-mounted-tire information determining portion of said non-mounted-tire information separator determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, by taking account of an operating environment of each of said tires.

38. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a running-state detector which detects a running state of the vehicle,

wherein said running-state basis determining portion determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not, on the basis of said running state detected by said running-state detector, in addition to said at least one tire-state data element.

39. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said receiver includes a non-mounted-tire-information receiving antenna which is capable of receiving said one of said tire data sets transmitted from one of said transmitters provided in said non-mounted tire and which is not capable of receiving said one of said tire data sets transmitted from one of said transmitters provided in said mounted tire, so that said non-mounted-tire information separator separates said one of said tire data sets received by said non-mounted-tire-information receiving antenna, from said one of said tire data sets not received by said non-mounted-tire-information receiving antenna.

26. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus for processing tire information relating to a plurality of tires of a vehicle which include a mounted tire mounted on an axle of the vehicle and a non-mounted tire carried by the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

tire state detectors which are provided in the respective tires and each of which detects a state of a corresponding one of said tires;

transmitters which are provided in the respective tires and which transmit tire data sets, as said tire information, each containing at least one tire-state data element representative of the detected state of a corresponding one of said tires;

a receiver which is provided in a body of the vehicle and which receives said tire data sets transmitted by said transmitters; and

a mounted-tire-state-data processor which processes the tire-state data element transmitted from said mounted tire, and which does not process the tire-state data element transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

27. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus according to claim 26,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element, which represents the detected state of the corresponding one of said tires, includes an air pressure data representative of an air pressure of said corresponding tire,

and wherein said mounted-tire-state-data processor includes a non-mounted-tire pressure data ignoring portion which ignores the air pressure data included in said at least one tire-state data element transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

28. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus according to claim 26,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element, which represents the detected state of the corresponding one of said tires, includes an air pressure data representative of an air pressure of said corresponding tire,

and wherein said mounted-tire-state-data processor includes a data output controlling portion which does not output the air pressure data included in the tire-state data element transmitted from said non-mounted tire, to an external device provided outside said vehicle tire information processing apparatus, said data output controlling portion outputting the air pressure data included in the tire-state data element transmitted from said mounted tire, to said external device.

29. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus according to claim 26,

wherein said at least one tire-state data element, which represents the detected state of the corresponding one of said tires, includes an air pressure data representative of an air pressure of said corresponding tire,

and wherein said mounted-tire-state-data processor includes:

an air-pressure abnormality determining portion which effects a determination as to whether the air pressure of each of said tires is lower than a predetermined minimum value or not; and

an informing device which informs a vehicle operator of a tire-air-pressure abnormality when an affirmative decision in said determination is obtained on the basis of the air pressure data included in the tire-state data element transmitted from said mounted tire, and which does not inform the vehicle operator of the tire-air-pressure abnormality when the affirmative decision in said determination is obtained on the basis of the air pressure data included in the tire-state data element transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

30. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said informing device includes:

an indicator which is activated to indicate the tire-air-pressure abnormality; and

an indicator controlling portion which activates said indicator when the affirmative decision in said determination is obtained on the basis of the air pressure data included in the tire-state data element transmitted from said mounted tire, and which does not activate said indicator when the affirmative decision in said determination is obtained on the basis of the air pressure data included in the tire-state data element transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

31. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus for processing tire information relating to a plurality of tires of a vehicle which include a mounted tire mounted on an axle of the vehicle and a non-mounted tire carried by the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

tire state detectors which are provided in the respective tires and each of which detects a state of a corresponding one of said tires;

transmitters which are provided in the respective tires and which transmit tire data sets, as said tire information, each containing at least one tire-state data element representative of the detected state of a corresponding one of said tires;

a receiver which is provided in a body of the vehicle and which receives said tire data sets transmitted by said transmitters;

a non-mounted-tire information determining portion which determines whether each of said tire data sets received by said receiver has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire or not; and

a data processor which processes said tire data sets in a predetermined first manner when one of said tire data sets can be determined to have been transmitted from said non-mounted tire, said data processor processing said tire data sets in a predetermined second manner different from said predetermined first manner when none of said tire data sets can be determined to have been transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

32. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus according to claim 31,

wherein said data processor, processes said tire data sets without taking account of whether each of said tire data sets has been transmitted from said mounted tire or said non-mounted tire, when none of said tire data sets can be determined to have been transmitted from said non-mounted tire,

and wherein said data processor processes said tire data sets, by taking account of whether each of said tire data sets has been transmitted from said mounted tire or said non-mounted tire, when one of said tire data sets can be determined to have been transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

33. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus for processing tire information relating to a plurality of tires of a vehicle which include a mounted tire mounted on an axle of the vehicle and a non-mounted tire carried by the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

tire state detectors which are provided in the respective tires and each of which detects a state of a corresponding one of said tires;

transmitters which are provided in the respective tires and which transmit tire data sets, as said tire information, each containing at least one tire-state data element representative of the detected state of a corresponding one of said tires;

a receiver which is provided in a body of the vehicle and which receives said tire data sets transmitted by said transmitters; and

a pressure-data processor which processes an air pressure data included in said at least one tire-state data element,

wherein said pressure-data processor includes;

an air-pressure abnormality determining portion which effects a determination as to whether an air pressure of each of said tires is lower than a predetermined minimum value or not; and

an informing device which informs a vehicle operator of a result of said determination in one of different manners that is selected depending upon whether said result of said determination relates to said mounted tire or said non-mounted tire.

34. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said informing device includes at least two indicators, one of which is placed in one of different operational states that is selected depending upon whether the air pressure of said mounted tire is lower than the predetermined minimum value or not, and the other of which is placed in one of different operational states that is selected depending upon whether the air pressure of said non-mounted tire is lower than the predetermined minimum value or not.

35. A vehicle tire information processing apparatus for processing tire information relating to a plurality of tires of a vehicle which include a mounted tire mounted on an axle of the vehicle and a non-mounted tire carried by the vehicle, said apparatus comprising

tire state detectors which are provided in the respective tires and each of which detects a state of a corresponding one of said tires;

transmitters which are provided in the respective tires and which transmit tire data sets, as said tire information, each containing at least one tire-state data element representative of the detected state of a corresponding one of said tires;

a receiver which is provided in a body of the vehicle and which receives said tire data sets transmitted by said transmitters; and

a data processor which processes said tire data sets received by said receiver,

wherein said data processor includes a data-processing restricting portion which restricts processing of one of said tire data sets that has been transmitted from said non-mounted tire.

36. A vehicle tire information obtaining apparatus for obtaining tire information relating to a plurality of tires of a vehicle which include a mounted tire mounted on an axle of the vehicle and a non-mounted tire carried by the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

tire state detectors which are provided in the respective tires and each of which detects a state of a corresponding one of said tires;

transmitters which are provided in the respective tires and which transmit tire data sets, as said tire information, each containing at least one quantitative data element representative of the detected state of a corresponding one of said tires;

a receiver which is provided in a body of the vehicle and which receives said tire data sets transmitted by said transmitters;

a tire information sorter which sorts said tire data sets received by said receiver, according to a threshold value, on the basis of said quantitative data element; and

a threshold-value determining portion which determines said threshold value during running of the vehicle.