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

• US 6,725,712 B1
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Sanowski, Christoph, Nantz, John S., King, Ronald O., Tang, Qingfeng
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/217,776
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 731/465, 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 731/468, 340/442, 340/443, 340/444, 340/445, 340/447, 340/438, 116/34.R, 220/61.22
• 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: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/325 characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• 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 tire pressure in a vehicle having front tires including a right tire and a left tire, and rear tires including a right tire and a left tire, a system and method are provided for automatically identifying tire location. A transmitters mounted in each tire transmits tire information signals conveying tire pressure data, and associated tire temperature data and tire rotation direction data. A vehicle mounted controller determines whether pressure data conveyed by tire information signals is associated with a front tire or a rear tire based on the associated temperature data, and whether pressure data is associated with a right tire or a left tire based on the associated rotation direction data.

Claims

1. In a system for remote monitoring of tire pressure in a vehicle having front tires comprising a right tire and a left tire, and rear tires comprising a right tire and a left tire, a system for automatically identifying tire location comprising:

a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter for mounting in one of the tires, each transmitter for transmitting tire information signals conveying tire pressure data, as well as tire temperature data and tire rotation direction data associated therewith; and

a controller for mounting on the vehicle for determining whether pressure data conveyed by a tire information signal is associated with a front tire or a rear tire based on the associated temperature data, and for determining whether pressure data conveyed by a tire information signal is associated with a right tire or a left tire based on the associated rotation direction data.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of pressure sensors for sensing tire pressure, each pressure sensor for mounting in one of the tires and to be provided in communication with a transmitter;

a plurality of temperature sensors for sensing tire temperature, each temperature sensor for mounting in one of the tires and to be provided in communication with a transmitter; and

a plurality of rotation sensors for sensing tire rotation direction, each rotation sensor for mounting in one of the tires and to be provided in communication with a transmitter.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein a transmitter, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a rotation sensor together comprise a tire monitor, the tire monitor for mounting in one of the tires.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a receiver for mounting on the vehicle and to be provided in communication with the controller, the receiver for receiving the tire information signals.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller and receiver together comprise a control unit, the control unit for mounting on the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein, for each tire, a single tire information signal conveys the pressure data and the associated temperature and rotation direction data.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a receiver for receiving the tire information signals.

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

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the transmitted identification is also for use by the controller to determine whether tire pressure data conveyed by a tire information signal is associated with the vehicle.

10. 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.

11. In a system for remote monitoring of tire pressure in a vehicle having front tires comprising a right tire and a left tire, and rear tires comprising a right tire and a left tire, a method for automatically identifying tire location comprising:

transmitting from each tire pressure data as well as temperature data and rotation direction data associated therewith;

determining whether pressure data is associated with a front tire or a rear tire based on the associated temperature data; and

determining whether pressure data is associated with a right tire or a left tire based on the associated rotation direction data.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

detecting a pressure in each tire;

detecting a temperature in each tire; and

detecting a rotation direction in each tire.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a plurality of tire monitors are provided, each tire monitor for mounting in one of the tires and comprising a pressure sensor for detecting pressure, a temperature sensor for detecting temperature, a rotation sensor for detecting rotation direction, and a transmitter in communication with the pressure sensor and the rotation sensor for transmitting pressure data, temperature data and rotation direction data.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein a receiver is provided for mounting on the vehicle at a selected location, the receiver for receiving pressure data, temperature data and rotation direction data.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein a controller comprising a receiver is provided for mounting on board the vehicle, the controller for receiving the tire pressure, temperature and rotation direction data, and for determining whether pressure data is associated with a front tire or a rear tire based on a the associated temperature data, and whether pressure data is associated with a right tire or a left tire based on the associated rotation direction data.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein, for each tire, pressure data and associated temperature data and rotation direction data are conveyed by a single signal.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein a controller is provided for determining whether pressure data is associated with a front tire or a rear tire based on a the associated temperature data and whether pressure data is associated with a right tire or a left tire based on the associated rotation direction data, the controller for mounting on the vehicle and to be provided in communication with the receiver.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the controller and the receiver together comprise a control unit, the control unit for mounting on the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein each transmitter has an identification associated therewith, and each transmitter is also for transmitting the associated identification for use in determining a tire location.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the transmitted identification is also for use to determine whether tire pressure data is associated with the vehicle.