System and method for tire pressure monitoring including automatic tire location recognition

• US 6,691,567 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Conner, Bruce, Walker, Keith, Bejster, Thomas, Nantz, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
• Application Number:
  US10/157,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46--468, 340/442, 340/447, 340/445, 340/444, 340/448, 340/626
• US Class Current: 73/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/045 Means for detecting electromagnetic field changes being not part of the signal transmission per se, e.g. strength, direction, propagation or masking
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/326 the resonator being an acoustic wave device, e.g. SAW or BAW device
• CPC Class Codes: H03C 1/46 Modulators with mechanically-driven or acoustically-driven parts

Abstract

In a system for remote monitoring of vehicle tire pressure, a system and method for automatically identifying tire location. A tire pressure monitor mounted in each tire includes a sensor for sensing tire pressure, a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the sensed tire pressure, and a magnetic switch for actuating the transmitter. An electromagnets is mounted on the vehicle in proximity to each tire location and generates a magnetic field causing the magnetic switch to actuate the transmitter of the associated tire pressure monitor. A controller mounted on the vehicle is provided in communication with the electromagnets, processes the tire pressure signals from the transmitters, and conveys tire pressure and location information to a user. The controller energizes the electromagnets so that each received tire pressure signal is automatically associated with a specific tire location.

Claims

1. In a system for remote monitoring of tire pressure in a vehicle having a plurality of tires, each tire having a location, a system for automatically identifying tire location comprising:

a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires, each monitor comprising a sensor for sensing tire pressure, a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the sensed tire pressure, and a magnetic switch for actuating the transmitter to transmit a tire pressure signal;

a plurality of electromagnets, each electromagnet for mounting on-board the vehicle in proximity to one of the plurality of tire locations for association with one of the plurality of tire monitors, each electromagnet for generating a magnetic field causing the magnetic switch of the associated tire monitor to actuate the transmitter of the associated tire monitor to transmit a tire pressure signal;

a receiver for mounting on-board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals transmitted by the transmitters; and

a controller for mounting on-board the vehicle, the controller to be provided in communication with the plurality of electromagnets and the receiver, the controller for processing tire pressure signals received by the receiver and for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a user, wherein the controller energizes the plurality of electromagnets so that each received tire pressure signal is automatically associated with one of the plurality of tire locations.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller automatically energizes each of the plurality of electromagnets in a predetermined sequence when the vehicle is started.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller automatically energizes each of the plurality of electromagnets in a predetermined sequence when the vehicle is placed in a forward gear.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller automatically energizes each of the plurality of electromagnets in a predetermined sequence when the vehicle is placed in a reverse gear.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller automatically energizes each of the plurality of electromagnets in a predetermined sequence periodically while the vehicle is in motion.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the transmitters transmits a tire pressure signal only in response to a magnetic field generated by the associated electromagnet.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each tire monitor has an identification associated therewith, and each transmitter is also for transmitting the identification of the associated monitor for receipt by the receiver and for use by the controller in verifying a tire location.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the transmitted identification is also for use by the controller in identifying the tire pressure signals as associated with the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display for mounting in the vehicle, the display for use by the controller to covey tire pressure and location information to a user.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic switch comprises a magnetic reed switch.

11. In a system for remote monitoring of tire pressure in a vehicle having a plurality of tires, each tire having a location, a method for automatically identifying tire location comprising:

providing a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires, each monitor comprising a sensor for sensing tire pressure, a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the sensed tire pressure, and a magnetic switch for actuating the transmitter to transmit a tire pressure signal;

providing a plurality of electromagnets, each electromagnet for mounting on-board the vehicle in proximity to one of the plurality of tire locations for association with one of the plurality of tire monitors, each electromagnet for generating a magnetic field causing the magnetic switch of the associated tire monitor to actuate the transmitter of the associated tire monitor to transmit a tire pressure signal; and

providing a controller for mounting on-board the vehicle, the controller to be provided in communication with the plurality of electromagnets, the controller for processing tire pressure signals from the transmitters and for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a user, wherein the controller energizes the plurality of electromagnets so that each tire pressure signal is automatically associated with one of the plurality of tire locations.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the controller automatically energizes each of the plurality of electromagnets in a predetermined sequence when the vehicle is started.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the controller automatically energizes each of the plurality of electromagnets in a predetermined sequence when the vehicle is placed in a forward gear.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the controller automatically energizes each of the plurality of electromagnets in a predetermined sequence when the vehicle is placed in a reverse gear.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the controller automatically energizes each of the plurality of electromagnets in a predetermined sequence periodically while the vehicle is in motion.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the transmitters transmits a tire pressure signal only in response to a magnetic field generated by the associated electromagnet.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein each tire monitor has an identification associated therewith, and each transmitter is also for transmitting the identification of the associated monitor for receipt by the receiver and for use by the controller in confirming a tire location.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the transmitted identification is also for use by the controller in identifying the tire pressure signals as associated with the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising a providing display for mounting in the vehicle, the display for use by the controller to covey tire pressure and location information to a user.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the magnetic switch comprises a magnetic reed switch.