Tire Pressure Monitor Initiation Tool with Vehicle Date Interface

• US 20100066523A1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Miller, Garret, Kochie, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,058,979 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A tire pressure monitor system tool stores information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems installed on vehicles. The tool receives information regarding a particular vehicle. Based on this information, the tool may determine a particular tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle. Based on the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle, the tool may determine one or more procedures that may be used with that tire pressure monitor system. The tool may then instruct a user how to perform certain procedures by presenting one or more displays to the user on a display of the tool. The tool may also provide feedback to the user regarding a status of an initiation or other procedure, and reference a vehicle user manual. The tool may interface with an electronic control unit of a vehicle. The tool may also simulate a tire pressure sensor.

Claims

1. 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; and

a receiver configured to receive signals from the tire pressure sensor and the tire pressure monitoring system and is coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes

a vehicle control unit interfacing module;

a tire pressure monitor system determining module, in communication with the vehicle control unit interfacing module, and configured to determine a type of tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle; and

a tire pressure sensor initiating module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, and configured to initiate at least one tire pressure sensor.

2. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a procedure determining module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, and configured to determine an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

3. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a procedure selecting module, in communication with the tire pressure monitor system determining module, and configured to select an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

4. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

an updating module, in communication with the storing module, and configured to update the information stored by the storing module.

5. 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.

6. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a resetting module configured to reset the tire pressure monitor system.

7. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a notifying module, in communication with the resetting module, and configured to notify a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

8. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a manual referencing module configured to reference a vehicle user manual.

9. The tool of claim 1 further comprising:

a diagnosing module configured to diagnose the at least one tire pressure sensor.

10. A tool for use with a tire pressure monitor system, comprising:

interfacing means for interfacing with a vehicle electronic control unit;

tire pressure monitor system determining means for determining a type of tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle;

tire pressure sensor initiating means for initiating at least one tire pressure sensor; and

storing means for storing information regarding at least one tire pressure monitor system.

11. The tool of claim 10 further comprising:

initiation procedure determining means for determining an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

12. The tool of claim 10 further comprising:

initiation procedure selecting means for selecting an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

13. The tool of claim 10 further comprising:

updating means for updating the information stored in the storing means.

14. The tool of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying means for displaying at least one of the following a vehicle information and the tire pressure monitor system information.

15. The tool of claim 10 further comprising:

resetting means for resetting the tire pressure monitor system and

notifying means for notifying a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

16. The tool of claim 15, 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.

17. The tool of claim 10 further comprising:

diagnosing means for diagnosing the at least one tire pressure sensor.

18. The tool of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting a signal from the tool to the tire pressure monitor system; and

receiving means for receiving a signal from at least one of the tire pressure monitor system and the at least one tire pressure sensor.

19. A method of using a tire pressure monitor system, comprising:

interfacing a tire pressure monitor tool with a vehicle electronic control unit in a vehicle;

determining a type of tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle; and

initiating at least one tire pressure sensor of the vehicle; and

storing information regarding at least one tire pressure monitor system in a memory of the tire pressure monitor tool.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

determining an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

selecting an initiation procedure associated with the tire pressure monitor system.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

updating the information stored in the tire pressure monitor tool.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

displaying tire pressure monitor system information on a display of the tire pressure monitor tool.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

resetting the tire pressure monitor system; and

notifying a user that a tire pressure monitor system has been reset.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

diagnosing the at least one tire pressure sensor installed on a vehicle.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

transmitting a signal from the tire pressure monitor tool to the tire pressure monitor system; and

receiving a signal from at least one of the tire pressure monitor system and the at least one tire pressure sensor.