Method for assigning identifiers, present in signals emitted by transmitters in a tire pressure monitoring system, to the wheels where the transmitters are located

• US 6,446,502 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Normann, Norbert, Michal, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AW MUSSE, ABDULLAHI H
• Application Number:
  US09/486,257
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 731/465, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/468, 340/444, 340/442, 340/447, 340/669, 340/446, 340/445
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0488 Movement sensor, e.g. for sensing angular speed, acceleration or centripetal force

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assigning identifiers, contained in signals emitted by transmitters in a tire pressure control system, to the position of the wheels where the transmitters are located. Said system comprises a pressure sensor, a transmitter and a transmit antenna on each of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, one or more receive antennas on the vehicle body, and receiving and evaluating units connected to this body via cables. In this method, the signals containing the identifier are intercepted by the receive antenna(s) and transmitted to the receiving and evaluating units, where they are evaluated in accordance with their identifiers. The invention is characterized in that, for the monitored wheels, not just the air pressure in the tires, but also the acceleration obtained from the movement of the wheel is measured. A signal derived therefrom is transmitted via the relevant transmitter in the receiving or evaluating circuit, and evaluated for the information contained in the signal regarding the position of the wheel which emitted the signal.

Claims

1. Method for the coordination of identification signals, which are contained in signals which are emitted by transmitters in a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising the steps of;

furnishing a tire pressure monitoring system including in each case a pressure sensor, a transmitter and a transmitter antenna at each one of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, of one or several receiver antennas at the body of the vehicle and of a receiving and evaluation electronics connected through cables to the receiver antennas, to the positions of the wheels, at which wheels of the transmitters are disposed,

capturing signals, which contain an identification signal, by one or several receiver antennas,

transferring the signals to the receiver and evaluation electronics, and evaluating the signals relative to the identification signal in the receiving and evaluation electronics,

measuring an acceleration resulting from the state of motion of the respective wheel at the monitored wheels in addition to the air pressure in the tire,

signalizing a signal derived therefrom by way of the respective transmitter to the receiving and evaluation circuit, and

evaluating an information contained in the track acceleration signal about the position of that wheel, from which wheel the track acceleration signal derives, and

determining the sign of the track acceleration (b) occurring at the wheel already in an evaluation circuit disposed at the wheel during an acceleration phase after the start of the vehicle for distinguishing of wheels on the right hand side of the vehicle from wheels on the left hand side of the vehicle.

2. Method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of;

measuring and signalizing in addition the centrifugal acceleration (z) to the receiving and evaluation electronics and

receiving a centrifugal acceleration signal in case of a rolling vehicle, which signal signalizes a centrifugal acceleration z=0, is coordinated to a carried on spare wheel.

3. Method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of;

measuring in addition the centrifugal acceleration (z) and signalized to the receiving and evaluation electronics and

integrating centrifugal acceleration signals delivering the strength of the measured centrifugal acceleration over a predetermined time period for distinguishing of steered wheels and non-steered wheels of the vehicle, wherein those centrifugal acceleration signals are associated to the steered wheels, which centrifugal acceleration signals deliver the largest integral values.

4. Method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of;

determining and signalizing the occurrence of a Coriolis acceleration for distinguishing of steered wheels and non-steered wheels of the vehicle during steering motions.

5. Method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of;

coordinating in each case a common receiver antenna to wheels disposed on a common axle of the vehicle.

6. Method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of;

employing only a single antenna for the totality of the emitting wheels of the vehicle.