Tire Pressure Monitor System Module

• US 20100052887A1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Lipscomb, Edward, Kochie, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,035,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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

1-67. -67. (canceled)

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

a processor configured to process instructions stored in a memory coupled to the processor;

a display configured to display information processed by the processor and is coupled to the processor;

a transmitter configured to transmit signals to a tire pressure sensor of a tire and the tire pressure monitoring system on a vehicle and is coupled to the processor;

a receiver configured to receive signals from the tire pressure sensor and the tire pressure monitoring system and is coupled to the processor; and

a battery indicator to indicate a battery condition and is coupled to the processor, wherein the battery is used to power the tool, and wherein the memory includes

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;

an initiating module configured to initiate a tire pressure sensor; and

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

69. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising a simulating module configured to simulate the tire pressure sensor.

70. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising a vehicle electronic control unit interfacing module configured to interface with an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

71. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising a procedure determining module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, and configured to determine an initiation procedure or a resetting procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

72. The tool of claim 71, wherein the memory further comprising a procedure selecting module, in communication with the procedure determining module, and configured to select the initiation procedure or the resetting procedure.

73. The tool of claim 72, wherein the memory further comprising a feedback providing module configured to provide feedback regarding the initiation procedure or the resetting procedure.

74. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising an updating module, in communication with the storing module, and configured to update the information stored by the storing module.

75. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising a displaying module configured to display tire pressure monitor system information.

76. The tool of claim 75, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises a tire pressure, a tire pressure sensor identification, and a sensor mode.

77. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising a resetting module configured to reset the tire pressure monitor system.

78. The tool of claim 77, wherein the memory further comprising a notifying module, in communication with the resetting module, and configured to notify a user that the tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

79. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising a manual referencing module configured to reference a vehicle user'"'"'s manual.

80. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising a diagnosing module configured to diagnose the tire pressure monitor system.

81. The tool of claim 68, wherein the memory further comprising a transmitting module configured to transmit a first signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system and a receiving module configured to receive a second signal from the tire pressure monitor system.

82. The tool of claim 68, wherein tool is a modular product and is configured to communicate with a remote diagnostic device.

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

a means for processing configured to process instructions stored in a means for storing coupled to the means for processing;

a means for displaying configured to display information processed by the means for processing and is coupled to the means for processing;

a means for transmitting configured to transmit signals to a tire pressure sensor of a tire and the tire pressure monitoring system on a vehicle and is coupled to the means for processing;

a means for receiving configured to receive signals from the tire pressure sensor and the tire pressure monitoring system and is coupled to means for processing; and

a means for indicating configured to indicate a battery condition and is coupled to the means for processing, wherein the battery is used to power the tool, and wherein the means for storing includes

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;

an initiating module configured to initiate a tire pressure sensor; and

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

84. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising a simulating module configured to simulate the tire pressure sensor.

85. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising a vehicle electronic control unit interfacing module configured to interface with an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

86. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising a procedure determining module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, and configured to determine an initiation procedure or a resetting procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

87. The tool of claim 86, wherein the means for storing further comprising a procedure selecting module, in communication with the procedure determining module, and configured to select the initiation procedure or the resetting procedure.

88. The tool of claim 87, wherein the means for storing further comprising a feedback providing module configured to provide feedback regarding the initiation procedure or the resetting procedure.

89. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising an updating module, in communication with the storing module, and configured to update the information stored by the storing module.

90. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising a displaying module configured to display tire pressure monitor system information.

91. The tool of claim 90, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises a tire pressure, a tire pressure sensor identification, and a sensor mode.

92. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising a resetting module configured to reset the tire pressure monitor system.

93. The tool of claim 92, wherein the means for storing further comprising a notifying module, in communication with the resetting module, and configured to notify a user that the tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

94. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising a manual referencing module configured to reference a vehicle user'"'"'s manual.

95. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising a diagnosing module configured to diagnose the tire pressure monitor system.

96. The tool of claim 83, wherein the means for storing further comprising a transmitting module configured to transmit a first signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system and a receiving module configured to receive a second signal from the tire pressure monitor system.

97. The tool of claim 83, wherein tool is a modular product and is configured to communicate with a remote diagnostic device.

98. A method of using a diagnostic tool with a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising:

requesting vehicle data;

receiving the vehicle data;

retrieving information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems stored a memory of the diagnostic tool;

initiating a tire pressure sensor on a tire of a vehicle;

indicating a low battery status with an indicator on the diagnostic tool; and

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

99. The method of claim 98 further comprising simulating the at least one tire pressure sensor to confirm that the tire pressure monitoring system is functional.

100. The method of claim 98 further comprising interfacing with an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

101. The method of claim 98 further comprising determining an initiation procedure and a resetting procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

102. The method of claim 101 further comprising selecting the initiation procedure or the resetting procedure.

103. The method of claim 102 further comprising providing feedback regarding the initiation procedure or the resetting procedure.

104. The method of claim 98 further comprising updating the stored information in the memory.

105. The method of claim 98 further comprising displaying the tire pressure monitor system information.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein the tire pressure monitor system information comprises at least one of the following a tire pressure, a tire pressure sensor identification, and a sensor mode.

107. The method of claim 98 further comprising resetting the tire pressure monitor system.

108. The method of claim 107 further comprising notifying a user that the tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

109. The method of claim 98 further comprising referencing a vehicle owner'"'"'s manual.

110. The method of claim 98, further comprising diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system.

111. The method of claim 98, further comprising transmitting a first signal to the tire pressure monitor system and receiving a second signal from tire pressure sensor monitor system.