TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING METHOD

• US 20080018444A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Original Assignee: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Inventors: Benedict, Robert Leon, Shepler, Peter Ross, Brown, Jack Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,528,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/442
• 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

Abstract

Methods of monitoring tire pressure and responding to a tire pressure error. A tire pressure monitoring apparatus provides signals to a vehicle control representing pressures in respective ones of the tires. The vehicle control first detects a tire pressure error in one of the tires, and then presents to a user a first signal representing the tire pressure error in the one of the tires. Then, a user input representing a prospective tire filling activity is detected. Thereafter, a second signal is presented to the user in response to a pressure in the one of the tires being substantially equal to a desired tire pressure.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring pressures in respective tires of a vehicle, the vehicle having tire pressure monitoring apparatus providing signals to a vehicle control representing pressures in respective ones of the tires, the vehicle control having user I/O, and the method comprising:

detecting a tire pressure error in one of the tires;

presenting to a user a first sensory perceptible signal representing the tire pressure error in the one of the tires;

then, detecting a user input representing a prospective tire filling activity; and

then, presenting a second sensory perceptible signal to the user in response to a pressure in the one of the tires being substantially equal to a desired tire pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first sensory perceptible signal comprises a visual display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input comprises an input button on a visual display.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second sensory perceptible signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein after detecting the user input, the method further comprising:

detecting a change in a tire pressure in a first tire;

determining if the first tire is substantially the same as the one of the tires; and

presenting to the user a third sensory perceptible signal in response to the first tire being different from the one of the tires.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the third sensory perceptible signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

7. A method of monitoring pressures in respective tires of a vehicle, the vehicle having tire pressure monitoring apparatus providing signals to a vehicle control representing pressures in respective ones of the tires, the vehicle control having user I/O, and the method comprising:

activating the user I/O with the vehicle control to provide a tire pressure error signal identifying at least one of the tires having a pressure error;

then, monitoring the user I/O with the vehicle control to detect a user input representing a prospective tire filling activity; and

then, activating the user I/O with the vehicle control to provide a tire filled signal in response to the pressure in the at least one tire being substantially equal to a desired tire pressure.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the tire pressure error signal comprises a visual display.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the user input comprises an input button on a visual display.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the tire filled signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining with the vehicle control a change of tire pressure in a first tire;

determining with the vehicle control whether the first tire is the same as the at least one of the tires; and

activating the user I/O with the vehicle control to provide a wrong tire signal in response to the first tire being different from the at least one of the tires.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wrong tire signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

13. A method of monitoring pressure in tires of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a presence of a tire pressure error in at least one of the tires;

generating a tire pressure error signal identifying the at least one of the tires in response to the determined tire pressure error;

then, detecting a user input representing a tire filling activity; and

then, generating a tire filled signal in response to the pressure in the first tire being substantially equal to a fill tire pressure.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the tire pressure error is represented by a visual display.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the user input comprises an input button on a visual display.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the tire filled signal comprises at least one of a visual display or an audible signal.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprises:

determining a change of tire pressure in a first tire;

determining whether the first tire is the same as the at least one of the tires; and

generating a wrong tire signal in response to the first tire being different from the at least one of the tires.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the wrong tire signal is one of a visual display and an audible signal.