Pressure detecting device for tires of a vehicle

• US 6,843,113 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp. (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp. (Lite-On Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Sheng-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/341,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 731/46, 731/465, 340442-447
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• 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: G01L 17/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies

Abstract

A pressure detecting device has a main control unit, at least one pressure detecting unit and a display. The display is electrically connected to a main controller of the main control unit and has at least one illustrating and illuminating symbol to show the condition of tire detected by the pressure detecting unit. Each illustrating and illuminating symbol has multiple symbol elements, such that the condition in the tire can be exactly shown to the user with the illustrating and illuminating symbols on the display.

Claims

1. A pressure detecting device for tires of a vehicle comprising:

a main control unit comprising a main controller;

at least one pressure detecting unit electrically connected to the main control unit and adapted to detect pressure of a corresponding one of the tires, each at least one pressure detecting unit comprising a detecting controller electrically connected to the main controller and a pressure detector electrically connected to the detecting controller; and

a display electrically connected to the main controller and having multiple illustrating and illuminating symbols each to show a condition of a tire detected by the at least one pressure detecting unit,

wherein each illustrating and illuminating symbol has multiple symbol elements to show the condition of the corresponding tire; and

with the multiple symbol elements of at least one of the multiple illustrating and illuminating symbols being arranged in multiple layers to show variations of the condition of the corresponding tire according to a number of the multiple layers being illuminated.

2. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main control unit further comprises:

a signal processing unit electrically connected to the main controller;

a signal receiver electrically connected to the signal processing unit; and

an alarm electrically connected to the main controller.

3. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the main control unit further comprises a button set electrically connected to the main controller.

4. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each at least one detecting unit further comprises:

a signal processing unit electrically connected to the detecting controller;

a pressure detector electrically connected to the signal processing unit of the detecting unit and adapted to measure pressure in a corresponding one of the tires of the vehicle; and

a signal transmitter electrically connected to the signal processing unit of the detecting unit and signal receiver of the main control unit.

5. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each at least one pressure detecting unit further comprises a temperature detector electrically connected to the detecting controller and adapted to measure temperature in the corresponding tire.

6. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the multiple illustrating and illuminating symbols has at least four symbol elements to show which tire of the vehicle is being shown on the display.

7. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the multiple illustrating and illuminating symbols has multiple lateral symbol elements arranged in multiple up and down layers show a pressure level in the corresponding one of the tires.

8. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the illustrating and illuminating symbol with the multiple lateral symbol elements further has multiple peripheral symbol elements mounted around the multiple lateral symbol elements.

9. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the multiple illustrating and illuminating symbols has multiple concentric rings each composed of multiple leakage symbol elements and arranged in multiple concentric layers to show the leakage of the corresponding tire.

10. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure detecting unit further comprises a temperature detector electrically connected to the main control unit and adapted to measure temperature in the corresponding tire, wherein the at least one of the multiple illustrating and illuminating symbols has a main symbol element with a shape of a thermometer and two layers of auxiliary symbol elements arranged on the top of the main symbol element to show the temperature in the corresponding tire.

11. The pressure detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the illustrating and illuminating symbols has three numerical symbol elements each having a capability of showing the numbers from zero to nine to show numerical information about the corresponding tire.