Transmitter of tire condition monitoring apparatus and tire condition monitoring apparatus

• US 20030156022A1
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacific Industrial Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Pacific Industrial Company Limited
• Inventors: Tsujita, Yasuhisa, Saheki, Setsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,963,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• 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 23/0462 Structure of transmission protocol
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0464 to avoid signal interference

Abstract

Transmitters of a tire condition monitoring apparatus that monitors condition of vehicle tires. Each transmitter has a measuring sensor, a transmission circuit, a vehicle speed sensor and a controller. The measuring sensor measures condition of the corresponding tire. The transmission circuit periodically transmits data representing the tire condition. The vehicle speed sensor detects moving of the vehicle. The controller sets a delay time, the delay time being a period from when the vehicle speed sensor detects moving of the vehicle to when the data representing the condition of the corresponding tire is transmitted. The delay time varies from one transmitter to another.

Claims

1. Transmitters of a tire condition monitoring apparatus that monitors condition of vehicle tires, wherein each transmitter is provided in one of the tires, each transmitter comprising:

measuring means for measuring condition of the corresponding tire;

transmitting means for periodically transmitting data representing the tire condition;

detecting means for detecting moving of the vehicle; and

setting means for setting a delay time, the delay time being a period from when the detecting means detects moving of the vehicle to when the data representing the condition of the corresponding tire is transmitted, wherein the delay time varies from one transmitter to another.

2. The transmitters according to claim 1, wherein the setting means of each transmitter computes the delay time based on random numbers.

3. The transmitters according to claim 1, wherein each transmitter further comprises a memory that stores information unique to the transmitter in advance, wherein the setting means computes the delay time based on the unique information.

4. The transmitters according to claim 3, wherein the unique information is an identification code assigned to each transmitter.

5. The transmitters according to claim 1, wherein each transmitter comprises a memory that stores a delay time unique to the transmitter in advance.

6. The transmitters according to claim 1, wherein the setting means of each transmitter computes the delay time based on tire condition measured by the corresponding measuring means.

7. The transmitters according to claim 1, wherein, when the vehicle is not moving, the transmitting means of each transmitter stops transmitting the data representing the tire condition.

8. A tire condition monitoring apparatus that monitors condition of vehicle tires, the apparatus comprising:

transmitters, each provided in one of the tires, wherein each transmitter includes;

measuring means for measuring condition of the corresponding tire;

transmitting means for periodically transmitting data representing the tire condition;

detecting means for detecting moving of the vehicle; and

setting means for setting a delay time, the delay time being a period from when the detecting means detects moving of the vehicle to when the data representing the condition of the corresponding tire is transmitted, wherein the delay time varies from one transmitter to another; and

a receiver, which receives data transmitted by the transmitters and processes the received data.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the receiver is connected to an informing device that informs passengers of tire condition.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the setting means of each transmitter computes the delay time based on random numbers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each transmitter further comprises a memory that stores information unique to the transmitter in advance, wherein the setting means computes the delay time based on the unique information.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the unique information is an identification code assigned to each transmitter.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each transmitter comprises a memory that stores a delay time unique to the transmitter in advance.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the setting means of each transmitter computes the delay time based on tire condition measured by the corresponding measuring means.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, when the vehicle is not moving, the transmitting means of each transmitter stops transmitting the data representing the tire condition.

16. Transmitters of a tire condition monitoring apparatus that monitors condition of vehicle tires, wherein each transmitter is provided in one of the tires, each transmitter comprising:

a measuring sensor for measuring condition of the corresponding tire;

a transmission circuit for periodically transmitting data representing the tire condition;

a vehicle speed sensor for detecting moving of the vehicle; and

a controller for setting a delay time, the delay time being a period from when the vehicle speed sensor detects moving of the vehicle to when the data representing the condition of the corresponding tire is transmitted, wherein the delay time varies from one transmitter to another.