Tire pressure monitor system module

• US 20080143506A1
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Lipscomb, Edward, Kochie, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,592,904 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 23/0479 Communicating with external units being not part of the vehicle, e.g. tools for diagnostic, mobile phones, electronic keys or service stations

Abstract

A tire pressure monitor system module provides modular products with tire pressure monitor system functionality. The tire pressure monitor system module may be added to a modular product to provide tire pressure monitor system functionality. The tire pressure monitor system module may be a stand-alone module that may be attached, connected or in communication with a modular product. The tire pressure monitor system tool may include all of the functionality available to tire pressure monitor systems. The tire pressure monitor system module may include modules for transmitting and receiving signals from a tire pressure monitor system, resetting and diagnosing a tire pressure monitor system, initiating, determining, and selecting procedures associated with the tire pressure monitor system, simulating a tire pressure sensor of a tire pressure monitor system, storing, displaying, and updating information related to tire pressure monitor systems, and notifying a user of a status of a procedure and that a procedure has been completed.

Claims

1. A tool for use with a tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a vehicle data requesting module configured to request vehicle data;

a vehicle data receiving module configured to receive the vehicle data;

a storing module configured to store information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems; and

a tire pressure monitor system determining module configured to determine a tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle based on the information and the vehicle data.

2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle electronic control unit interfacing module configured to interface with an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

3. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a procedure determining module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, configured to determine at least one of an initiation procedure and a resetting procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

4. The tool of claim 3, further comprising a procedure selecting module, in communication with the procedure determining module, configured to select at least one of the initiation procedure and the resetting procedure.

5. The tool of claim 4, further comprising a feedback providing module configured to provide feedback regarding at least one of the initiation procedure and the resetting procedure.

6. The tool of claim 1, further comprising an accessing module, in communication with the storing module, configured to access the information stored.

7. The tool of claim 1, further comprising an updating module, in communication with the storing module, configured to update the information stored by the storing module.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the updating module comprises an RS23 port.

9. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a displaying module configured to display at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises at least one of tire pressure, tire pressure sensor identification, and sensor mode.

11. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a resetting module configured to reset the tire pressure monitor system.

12. The tool of claim 11, further comprising a notifying module, in communication with the resetting module, configured to notify a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein the notifying module is configured to notify the user by causing at least one of a vehicle horn to sound and at least one vehicle light to flash.

14. The tool of claim 11, further comprising a manual referencing module configured to reference a vehicle user manual.

15. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a diagnosing module configured to diagnose the tire pressure monitor system.

16. The tool of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data comprises vehicle make, model, and year data.

17. The tool of claim 1, further comprising an initiating module configured to initiate at least one tire pressure sensor.

18. The tool of claim 17, further comprising a simulating module configured to simulate the at least one tire pressure sensor.

19. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a transmitting module configured to transmit a signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system.

20. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a receiving module configured to receive a signal from at least one of the tire pressure monitor system and the at least one tire pressure sensor.

21. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a linking module configured to link the vehicle data and the information stored by the storing module.

22. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tire pressure monitor system module is provided in a modular product.

23. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tire pressure monitor system module is provided on a modular platform.

24. A tool for use with a tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

vehicle data requesting means for requesting vehicle data;

vehicle data receiving means for receiving the vehicle data;

storing means for storing information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems; and

tire pressure monitor system determining means for determining a tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle based on the information and the vehicle data.

25. The tool of claim 24, further comprising vehicle electronic control unit interfacing means for interfacing with an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

26. The tool of claim 24, further comprising procedure determining means, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining means, for determining at least one of an initiation procedure and a resetting procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

27. The tool of claim 26, further comprising procedure selecting means, in communication with the procedure determining means, for selecting at least one of the initiation procedure and the resetting procedure.

28. The tool of claim 27, further comprising feedback providing means for providing feedback regarding at least one of the initiation procedure and the resetting procedure.

29. The tool of claim 24, further comprising accessing means, in communication with the storing means, for accessing the information stored.

30. The tool of claim 24, further comprising updating means, in communication with the storing means, for updating the information stored by the storing means.

31. The tool of claim 30, wherein the updating means comprises an RS23 port.

32. The tool of claim 24, further comprising displaying means for displaying at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

33. The tool of claim 32, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises at least one of tire pressure, tire pressure sensor identification, and sensor mode.

34. The tool of claim 24, further comprising resetting means for resetting the tire pressure monitor system.

35. The tool of claim 34, further comprising notifying means, in communication with the resetting means, for notifying a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

36. The tool of claim 35, wherein the notifying means is configured to notify the user by causing at least one of a vehicle horn to sound and at least one vehicle light to flash.

37. The tool of claim 34, further comprising manual referencing means for referencing a vehicle owner'"'"'s manual.

38. The tool of claim 24, further comprising diagnosing means for diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system.

39. The tool of claim 24, wherein the vehicle data comprises vehicle make, model, and year data.

40. The tool of claim 24, further comprising initiating means for initiating at least one tire pressure sensor.

41. The tool of claim 40, further comprising simulating means for simulating the at least one tire pressure sensor.

42. The tool of claim 24, further comprising transmitting means for transmitting a signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system.

43. The tool of claim 24, further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal from at least one of the tire pressure monitor system and the at least one tire pressure sensor.

44. The tool of claim 24, further comprising linking means for linking the vehicle data and the information stored by the storing means.

45. The tool of claim 24, wherein the tool is provided in a modular product.

46. The tool of claim 24, wherein the tool is provided on a modular platform.

47. A method of using with a tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

requesting vehicle data;

receiving the vehicle data;

storing information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems; and

determining a tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle based on the information and the vehicle data.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising interfacing with an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising determining at least one of an initiation procedure and a resetting procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising selecting at least one of the initiation procedure and the resetting procedure.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising providing feedback regarding at least one of the initiation procedure and the resetting procedure.

52. The method of claim 47, further comprising accessing the information stored.

53. The method of claim 47, further comprising updating the information stored.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the updating uses an RS23 port.

55. The method of claim 47, further comprising displaying at least one of vehicle information and tire pressure monitor system information.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises at least one of tire pressure, tire pressure sensor identification, and sensor mode.

57. The method of claim 47, further comprising resetting the tire pressure monitor system.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising notifying a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the notifying notifies the user by causing at least one of a vehicle horn to sound and at least one vehicle light to flash.

60. The method of claim 47, further comprising referencing a vehicle owner'"'"'s manual.

61. The method of claim 47, further comprising diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system.

62. The method of claim 47, wherein the vehicle data comprises vehicle make, model, and year data.

63. The method of claim 47, further comprising initiating at least one tire pressure sensor.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising simulating the at least one tire pressure sensor.

65. The method of claim 47, further comprising transmitting a signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system.

66. The method of claim 47, further comprising receiving a signal from at least one of the tire pressure monitor system and the at least one tire pressure sensor.

67. The method of claim 47, further comprising linking the vehicle data and the information stored.