Method for assigning identifying elements in signals emitted by transmitters in a tire pressure indicating system to the wheels on which the transmitters are mounted

• US 6,633,229 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Huf Baolong Electronics Bretten GmbH (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Michal, Roland, Schulze, Lothar Gunter, Kessler, Ralf, Normann, Norbert, Kühnle, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/868,007
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/445, 340/447, 340/448, 731/462, 731/465, 731/468, 200/61.22, 200/61.25, 116/34.R
• US Class Current: 340/447
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right

Abstract

A method for allocating identifiers, that are contained in signals issued by transmitters arranged in a tire pressure monitoring system, to the positions of the wheels by transmitting the signals to a receiving and analysis circuit, which analyses the information, contained in the signal, wherein

for differentiating between wheels on the right side of the vehicle and wheels on the left side of the vehicle, the sign of a translation acceleration b is determined for each running wheel,

the sign of the variation of the centrifugal acceleration z occurring during the translation acceleration b is additionally determined and multiplied by the sign of the translation acceleration b determined for the respective wheel, and the differentiation between wheels on the right side of the vehicle and wheels on the left side of the vehicle is effected by comparing the products of the two signs determined for the wheels.

Claims

1. A method for allocating identifiers, that are contained in signals issued by transmitters arranged in a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising a pressure sensor, a transmitter and a transmission antenna on each of a number of wheels mounted at given position of a vehicle, one or more receiving antennas on a vehicle body, and an electronic receiving and analysis system connected to the antennas by wire, to the positions of the wheels on which the transmitters are arranged, by picking up the signals, containing the identifier, by the one or, more receiving antennas, transmitting them to the electronic receiving and analysis system and analyzing them by means of the latter with respect to their identifier,

for which purpose one measures on the wheels of which the tire pressure is monitored not only the tire pressure but in addition an acceleration value derived from a moving condition of the respective wheel, transmits a signal derived therefrom by means of the respective transmitter to the receiving and analysis system and analyses an information, contained in the signal,

identifying the position of the wheel from which the signal has been obtained,

characterized in that for differentiating between wheels on the right side of the vehicle and wheels on t he left side of the vehicle, the sign of a transition acceleration b occurring on wheel electronics comprising the pressure sensor, the transmitter, the transmitting antenna and an acceleration sensor is determined for each running wheel, the wheel electronics being provided on the different wheels in corresponding mounting positions, that the sign of the variation of a centrifugal acceleration z occurring during the transition acceleration b is additionally determined and multiplied by the sign of the transition acceleration b determined for the respective wheel to obtain a multiplication products of the signs, and that one differentiates between wheels on the right side of the vehicle and wheels on the left side of the vehicle by comparing the products of the two signs determined for the different wheels.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the sign of the acceleration along the path b is determined already in an electronic analysis circuit provided on the wheel as part of the wheel electronics.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that a single common receiving antenna is allocated to wheels arranged on a common axle of the vehicle.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that a signal, that is received while the vehicle is moving and that indicates a centrifugal acceleration of z=0, is allocated to a spare wheel carried in the vehicle.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that for differentiating between steered and non-steered wheels of the vehicle, signals indicating the magnitude of the measured centrifugal acceleration are integrated over a predetermined period of time, the steered wheels being allocated those signals that provide the highest integrated measurands.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that for differentiating between steered wheels and non-steered wheels of the vehicle, the occurrence of Coriolis acceleration during steering movements is determined, signaled and evaluated.

7. The method as defined in claim 5, characterized in that a single antenna is used only for all the signal-transmitting wheels of the vehicle.

8. The method as defined in one of claims 1, characterized in that signals obtained from the front wheels are distinguished from signals obtained from rear wheels by comparing the intensities of the signals received by the respective receiving antenna and that in observing the receiving antenna allocated to the front wheels the stronger signals are allocated to the front wheels and the weaker signals are allocated to the rear wheels,

while in observing the receiving antenna allocated to the rear wheels the stronger signals are allocated to the rear wheels and the weaker signals are allocated to the front wheels.

9. A method for allocating identifiers, that are contained in signals issued by transmitters arranged in a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising a pressure sensor, a transmitter and a transmission antenna on each of a number of wheels mounted at given positions of a vehicle, one or more receiving antennas on a vehicle body, and an electronic receiving and analysis system connected to the antennas by wire, to positions of the number of wheels on which the transmitters are arranged, by picking up the signals, containing the identifier, by the one or, more receiving antennas, transmitting them to the electronic receiving and analysis system and analyzing them by means of the latter with respect to their identifier, for which purpose one measures on monitored wheels not only a pressure in the tire but in addition an acceleration value derived from a moving condition of the respective wheel, transmits a signal derived therefrom by means of the respective transmitter to the electronic receiving and analysis system and analyses an information, contained in the signal, identifying the position of the wheel from which the signal has been obtained, characterized in that for differentiating between wheels on the right side of the vehicle and wheels on the left side of the vehicle, the sign of a transition acceleration (b) occurring on wheel electronics comprising the pressure sensor, the transmitter, the transmitting antenna and an acceleration sensor is determined for each running wheel, the wheel electronics being provided on the different wheels in corresponding mounting positions, that the sign of the variation of a centrifugal acceleration (z) occurring during the transition acceleration (b) is additionally determined and multiplied by the sign of the transition acceleration (b) determined for the respective wheel to obtain a multiplication product of the sign of the variation of the centrifugal acceleration (z) and of the transition acceleration (b), and that one differentiates between wheels on the right side of the vehicle and wheels on the left side of the vehicle by comparing the products of the two signs determined for the different wheels.

10. A method for allocating identifiers contained in signals issued by transmitters arranged in a tire pressure monitoring system, comprising furnishing a first wheel electronics comprising a first pressure sensor, a first transmitter, a first transmitting antenna and a first acceleration sensor being provided on a first wheel mounted to a right band side of a vehicle and furnishing a first wheel electronics, wherein the first wheel electronics is furnished in a first mounting position on the first wheel,

furnishing a second wheel electronics comprising a second pressure sensor, a second transmitter, a second transmitting antenna and a second acceleration sensor being provided on a second wheel mounted to a left hand side of the vehicle and furnishing a second wheel electronics, wherein the second wheel electronics is furnished in a second mounting position on the second wheel,;

mounting a receiving antenna on a vehicle body;

connecting an electronic receiving and analysis system to the receiving antenna by a wire;

monitoring not only the first tire pressure of the first wheel, but in addition a first acceleration value derived from a first moving condition of the first wheel;

monitoring not only the second tire pressure of the second wheel, but in addition a second acceleration value derived from a second moving condition of the second wheel;

transmitting a first signal derived from the first tire pressure of the first wheel and the first acceleration value by means of the first transmitter to the receiving antenna;

transmitting a second signal derived from the second tire pressure of the second wheel and the second acceleration value by means of the second transmitter to the receiving antenna;

picking up the first signal containing a first identifier by the receiving antenna;

picking up the second signal containing a second identifier by the receiving antenna;

transmitting the first signal and the second signal to the electronic receiving and analysis system and analyzing the first signal and the second signal in the electronic receiving and analysis system with respect to the first identifier and to the second identifier;

analyzing first information, contained in the first signal;

analyzing second information, contained in the second signal,

determining a first sign of a first tangential acceleration (b1) occurring in the first wheel electronics for the first wheel and determining a second sign of a second tangential acceleration (b2) occurring in the second wheel electronics for the second wheel;

additionally determining a third sign of the variation of a first centrifugal acceleration (z1) occurring in the first wheel electronics during the first tangential acceleration (b1);

multiplying the first sign of the first tangential acceleration (b1) determined for the first wheel by the third sign of the variation of the first centrifugal acceleration (z1) to obtain a first multiplication product of the first sign and of the second sign,

additionally determining a fourth sign of the variation of a second centrifugal acceleration (z2) occurring in the second wheel electronics during the second tangential acceleration (b2);

multiplying the second sign of the second tangential acceleration (b2) determined for the second wheel bz the fourth sign of the variation of the second centrifugal acceleration (z2) to obtain a second multiplication product of the second sign and of the fourth sign;

differentiating between the first wheel on the right side of the vehicle and the second wheel on the left side of the vehicle by comparing the first multiplication product and the second multiplication product.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising furnishing a first electronic analysis circuit on the first wheel for determining the first sign of the variation of the first tangential acceleration;

furnishing a second electronic analysis circuit on the second wheel for determining the second sign of the variation of the second tangential acceleration.

12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising arranging a single receiving antenna on a common axle of the first wheel and of the second wheel.

13. The method according to claim 10 further comprising allocating a signal, that is received while the vehicle is moving and that indicates a centrifugal acceleration of z =0, to a spare wheel carried in the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 10 further comprising integrating the first signal indicating the magnitude of the measured centrifugal acceleration over a predetermined period of time, integrating the second signal indicating the magnitude of the measured centrifugal acceleration over the predetermined period of time, allocating a steered wheel to that integrated signal, which integrated signal provides the highest integrated measurands for differentiating between a steered and a non-steered wheel of the vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 10 further comprising determining, signaling and evaluating an occurrence of a Coriolis acceleration during steering movements for differentiating between a steered wheel and a non-steered wheel of the vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein a single receiving antenna is used for the first wheel and for the second wheel of the vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 10 further comprising

distinguishing a signal obtained from a front wheel from a signal obtained from a rear wheel of the vehicle by comparing the intensities of the signals received by a respective receiving antenna;

observing with a receiving front antenna allocated to the front wheel, and allocating a stronger signal to the front wheel and allocating a weaker signal to a rear wheel;

observing with a receiving rear antenna allocated to the rear wheel, and allocating a stronger signal to the rear wheel and allocating a weaker signal are to a front wheel.

18. A tire pressure monitoring system, comprising

a first pressure sensor;

a first transmitter;

a first transmitting antenna;

a first acceleration sensor, wherein

the first pressure sensor, the first transmitter, the first transmitting antenna and the first acceleration sensor are provided on a first wheel mounted to a right hand side of a vehicle and furnish a first wheel electronics;

a second pressure sensor;

a second transmitter;

a second transmitting antenna;

a second acceleration sensor, wherein

the second pressure sensor, the second transmitter, the second transmitting antenna and the second acceleration sensor are provided on a second wheel mounted to the left hand side of the vehicle and furnish a second wheel electronics;

a receiving antenna mounted on a vehicle body;

a wire;

an electronic receiving and analysis system connected to the receiving antenna by the wire;

wherein not only the first tire pressure of the first wheel is monitored, but in addition a first acceleration value derived from a first moving condition of the first wheel;

wherein not only the second tire pressure of the second wheel is monitored, but in addition a second acceleration value derived from a second moving condition of the second wheel;

wherein a first signal derived from the first tire pressure of the first wheel and the first acceleration value is transmitted by means of the first transmitter to the receiving antenna;

wherein a second signal derived from the second tire pressure of the second wheel and the second acceleration value is transmitted by means of the second transmitter to the receiving antenna;

wherein the first signal containing a first identifier is picked up by the receiving antenna;

wherein the second signal containing a second identifier is picked up by the receiving antenna;

wherein the first signal and the second signal are transmitted to the electronic receiving and analysis system and wherein the first signal and the second signal are analyzed in the electronic receiving and analysis system with respect to the first identifier and to the second identifier;

wherein first information, contained in the first signal is analyzed;

wherein second information, contained in the second signal is analyzed, for identifying the position of the first wheel from which the first signal has been obtained and for identifying the position of the second wheel from which the second signal has been obtained;

wherein a first sign of a first tangential acceleration (b1) occurring in the first wheel electronics for the first wheel is determined and wherein the second sign of a second tangential acceleration (b2) occurring in the second wheel electronics for the second wheel is determined for differentiating between the first wheel on the right side of the vehicle and the second wheel on the left side of the vehicle;

wherein additionally a third sign of the variation of a first centrifugal acceleration (z1) occurring during the first tangential acceleration (b1) is determined;

wherein the first sign of the variation of the first tangential acceleration (b1) determined for the first wheel is determined to obtain a multiplication product of the third sign of the variation of the first centrifugal acceleration (z1) and of the first sign of the variation of the first tangential acceleration (b1);

wherein additionally a fourth sign of the variation of a second centrifugal acceleration (z2) occurring during the second tangential acceleration (b2) is determined,

wherein the second sign of the variation of the second tangential acceleration (b2) determined for the second wheel is determined to obtain a multiplication product of the fourth sign of the variation of the second centrifugal acceleration (z2) and of the second sign of the variation of the second tangential acceleration (b2);

wherein between the first wheel on the right side of the vehicle and the second wheel on the left side of the vehicle is differentiated by comparing the multiplication product of the of the third sign of the variation of the first centrifugal acceleration (z1) and of the first sign of the variation of the first tangential acceleration (b1) with the multiplication product of the fourth sign of the variation of the second centrifugal acceleration (z2) and of the second sign of the variation of the second tangential acceleration (b2).