Vehicle tire air pressure monitor

• US 5,924,055 A
• Filed: 09/16/1996
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Hattori, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, KAMINI S
• Application Number:
  US08/669,314
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 364/558, 340/442, 340/447, 340/443, 340/825.54, 73/146.3-146.5, 702/138
• US Class Current: 702/138
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0425 Means comprising permanent magnets, e.g. Hall-effect or Reed-switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0442 the transmitted signal comprises further information, e.g. instruction codes, sensor characteristics or identification data

Abstract

To provide a tire air pressure monitor of a vehicle having four or six wheel assemblies, making it possible to easily check the air pressure of a tire. A sensor 1 for detecting the air pressure of a tire is provided at the wheel assembly side, a detection unit 2 is provided at the chassis side for each sensor 1 so as to face the sensor 1, and a monitoring unit 3 is provided at a position which can be seen from a driver'"'"'s seat. A detection result by the sensor 1 is acquired by a detection result acquisition means 21, and the detection result is converted to digital data by a data generation section 22 and moreover, provided with an ID code different for each detection unit 2 and transmitted by a transmission section 23 through AM waves by using radio waves of a predetermined frequency. The radio waves are received by a reception section 31 of a monitoring unit 3, a detection result of the air pressure of each tire is displayed by a CPU 32 through a display section 33 and an alarm section 34, and an alarm is output for emergency.

Claims

1. A vehicle tire air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure of a tire of a wheel assembly provided on a vehicle, comprising:

air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure of a tire provided at each wheel assembly side;

a plurality of detection sections provided at the chassis side for each air pressure detection means to transmit signals by radio waves of the same frequency; and

a monitoring section for receiving signals by the radio waves of said frequency;

wherein

said detection section is provided with detection result acquisition means for acquiring a detection result by said air pressure detection means and detection result transmission means for transmitting said detection result acquired by said detection result acquisition means together with an ID code given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire by using radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency, and

said monitoring section is provided with detection-result reception means for receiving the radio waves transmitted from said detection result transmission means and obtaining a detection result for said each tire in accordance with said ID code.

12. The vehicle tire air pressure monitor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein notification means is included which notifies a driver of said detection result obtained by said detection result reception means.

2. A vehicle tire air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure of a tire of a wheel assembly provided on a vehicle, comprising:

air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure of a tire provided at each wheel assembly side;

a plurality of detection sections provided at the chassis side for each air pressure detection means to transmit signals by radio waves of the same frequency; and

a monitoring section for receiving signals by the radio waves of said frequency;

wherein

said detection section is provided with detection result acquisition means for acquiring a detection result by said air pressure detection means, storage means for storing said detection result acquired by said detection result acquisition means for a predetermined time, and detection result transmission means for transmitting the detection result stored in said storage means together with an ID code given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire by using radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency, and said monitoring section is provided with detection result reception means for receiving radio waves transmitted from said detection result transmission means and obtaining a detection result for said each tire in accordance with said ID code.

3. A vehicle tire air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure of a tire of a wheel assembly provided on a vehicle, comprising:

air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure of a tire provided at each wheel assembly side;

a plurality of detection sections provided at the chassis side for each air pressure detection means to transmit signals by radio waves of the same frequency; and

a monitoring section for receiving signals by the radio waves of said frequency;

wherein

said detection section is provided with detection result acquisition means for acquiring a detection result by said air pressure detection means, detection result transmission means for repeatedly transmitting said detection result acquired by said detection result acquisition means up to a predetermined number of times together with an ID code given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire by using radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency, instruction reception means for receiving a monitoring start instruction transmitted from said instruction transmission means, and driving control means for driving said detection result transmission means when receiving said monitoring start instruction by said instruction reception means, and

said monitoring section is provided with detection result reception means for receiving the radio waves transmitted from said detection result transmission means and obtaining a detection result for said each tire in accordance with said ID code, instruction transmission means for transmitting said monitoring start instruction by radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency.

9. The vehicle tire air pressure monitor according to any one of claims 3, 4, 7 or 8, wherein said instruction transmission means transmits an ID code given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire together with a monitoring start instruction and said driving control means has ID code storage means for storing the ID code of a tire to be transmitted by detection result transmission means driving-controlled by the driving control means and drives said detection result transmission means when receiving a monitoring start instruction together with the ID code stored in said ID code storage means.

10. The vehicle tire air pressure monitor according to any one of claims 3, 4, 7 or 8, wherein said instruction transmission means transmits said monitoring start instruction when a vehicle starts.

11. The vehicle tire air pressure monitor according to any one of claims 3, 4, 7 or 8, wherein said instruction transmission means has a switch which can be operated by a driver or the like and transmits said monitoring start instruction when said switch is turned on.

4. A vehicle tire air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure of a tire of a wheel assembly provided on a vehicle, comprising:

air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure of a tire provided at each wheel assembly side;

a plurality of detection sections provided at the chassis side for each air pressure detection means to transmit signals by radio waves of the same frequency; and

a monitoring section for receiving signals by the radio waves of said frequency;

wherein

said detection section is provided with detection result acquisition means for acquiring a detection result by said air pressure detection means, storage means for storing said detection result acquired by said detection result acquisition means for a predetermined time, detection result transmission means for repeatedly transmitting the detection result stored in said storage means up to a predetermined number of times together with an ID code given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire by using radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency, instruction reception means for receiving a monitoring start instruction, and driving control means for driving said detection result transmission means when receiving said monitoring start instruction by said instruction reception means, and said monitoring section is provided with detection result reception means for receiving the radio waves transmitted from said detection result transmission means and obtaining a detection result for said each tire in accordance with said ID code and instruction transmission means for transmitting said monitoring start instruction by radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency.

5. A vehicle tire air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure of a tire of a wheel assembly provided on a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of detection sections provided at the wheel assembly side for each tire to transmit signals by radio waves of the same frequency; and

a monitoring section for receiving the signals by the radio waves of said frequency;

wherein

said detection section is provided with air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure of a tire, detection result acquisition means for acquiring a detection result by said air pressure detection means, and detection result transmission means for transmitting the detection result acquired by said detection result acquisition means together with an ID code given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire by using radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency, and

said monitoring section is provided with detection result reception means for receiving the radio waves transmitted from said detection result transmission means and obtaining a detection result for said each tire in accordance with said ID code.

6. A vehicle tire air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure of a tire of a wheel assembly provided on a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of detection sections provided at the wheel assembly side for each tire to transmit signals by radio waves of the same frequency; and

a monitoring section for receiving the signals by the radio waves of said frequency;

wherein

said detection section is provided with air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure of a tire, detection result acquisition means for acquiring a detection result by said air pressure detection means, storage means for storing said detection result acquired by said detection result acquisition means for a predetermined time, and detection result transmission means for transmitting the detection result stored in said storage means together with given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire by using radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency, and

said monitoring section is provided with detection result reception means for receiving the radio waves transmitted from said detection result transmission means and obtaining a detection result for said each tire in accordance with said ID code.

7. A vehicle tire air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure of a tire of a wheel assembly provided on a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of detection sections provided at each wheel assembly side to transmit signals by radio waves of the same frequency; and

a monitoring section provided at the chassis side;

wherein

said detection section is provided with air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure of a tire, detection result transmission means for repeatedly transmitting a detection result by said air pressure detection means up to a predetermined number of times together with an ID code given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire by using radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency, instruction reception means for receiving a monitoring start instruction sent by radio waves of a predetermined frequency, and driving control means for driving said detection result transmission means when receiving said monitoring start instruction by said instruction reception means, and

said monitoring section is provided with instruction transmission means for transmitting said monitoring start instruction by radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency and detection result reception means for receiving the radio waves transmitted from said detection result transmission mean and obtaining a detection result for said each tire.

8. A vehicle tire air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure of a tire of a wheel assembly provided on a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of detection sections provided at each wheel assembly side to transmit signals by radio waves of the same frequency; and

a monitoring section provided at the chassis side;

wherein

said detection section is provided with air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure of a tire, storage means for storing a detection result by said air pressure detection means for a predetermined time, detection result transmission means for repeatedly transmitting a detection result by said air pressure detection means up to a predetermined number of times together with an ID code given to distinguish between tires and different for each tire by using radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency, instruction-reception means for receiving a monitoring start instruction sent by radio waves of a predetermined frequency, and driving control means for driving said detection result transmission means when receiving said monitoring start Instruction by said instruction reception means, and

said monitoring section is provided with instruction transmission means for transmitting said monitoring start instruction by radio waves obtained by amplitude-modulating carrier waves of a predetermined frequency and detection result reception means for receiving the radio waves transmitted from said detection result transmission means and obtaining a detection result for said each tire in accordance with said ID code.