Method and apparatus for automatically identifying the location of pressure sensors in a tire pressure monitoring system

• US 7,026,922 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: McQuade, Thomas Michael, Brombach, Ronald Patrick, Talukder, Monirul Huq
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/064,691
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/444, 340/447, 340/438, 340/539.1, 340/524, 340/309.16, 731/46, 731/462
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• 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

Abstract

A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a vehicle (10) has a plurality of tires (14a–d) in respective rolling locations having a respective plurality of tire transmitters (16a–d) that generate a respective plurality of transmitter identification signals. A respective plurality of initiators (20a–d) are fixedly attached to the vehicle at a respective plurality of locations. A controller (22) activates the plurality of initiators and receives a plurality of respective sensor signals having respective tire identifications. When the plurality of respective sensor signals is indicative of an initial status and the respective plurality of tire identification signals is not existing in a memory, the plurality of sensor signals are configured and stored in the memory. When the plurality of respective sensor signals is indicative of an initial status and the plurality of respective tire identification signals is existing in the memory, the controller confirms the first sensor signal. When the plurality of sensor statuses is unconfirmed, the controller 22 performs the steps of activating, receiving and confirming until a proper signal is received or the number of times tried exceeds a predetermined count.

Claims

1. A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle having a plurality of tire locations and a memory comprising:

activating a first initiator signal from a first initiator at a first tire location of the plurality of tire locations;

generating a first sensor signal in response to the first initiator signal, said first sensor signal compositely having a first sensor identification and an initiate status;

receiving the first sensor signal;

confirming the first sensor signal;

storing the first sensor identification in the memory associated with the first tire location of the plurality of tire locations when the first sensor identification is not in the memory; and

repeating the steps of activating, generating, receiving, confirming and storing for each of the plurality of tire locations.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to activating, generating a speed signal and activating when the speed signal is greater than a predetermined speed.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to activating, generating an ignition signal and activating when the ignition signal indicates a run status.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 after activating, initiating a timer, when the timer expires before receiving a first sensor signal, activating a fault indicator.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising generating a count corresponding to the number of times activating is performed without receiving the first sensor signal, generating a fault when the count exceeds a predetermined count.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first tire location comprises a spare tire location.

7. A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system having a memory comprising:

activating a first initiator at a first predetermined location;

receiving a first sensor signal, said first sensor signal compositely having a first tire identification and an initial status;

when the first sensor signal is indicative of the initial status and the tire identification is not existing in the memory, confirming the first sensor signal and storing the tire identification in a memory associated with a location;

when the first sensor signal is indicative of the initial status and the tire identification is existing in the memory, confirming the first sensor signal;

when the first sensor status is unconfirmed, performing the steps of activating, receiving and confirming.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 after activating, initiating a timer, when the timer expires before receiving the first sensor signal, activating a fault indicator.

9. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein prior to activating, generating a speed signal and activating when the speed signal is greater than a predetermined speed.

10. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein prior to activating, generating an ignition signal and activating when the ignition signal indicates a run status.

11. A method as recited in claim 7 further comprising generating a count corresponding to the number of times activating is performed without receiving the first sensor signal, generating a fault when the count exceeds a predetermined count.

12. A tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle comprising:

a memory;

a plurality of initiators fixedly attached to the vehicle at a respective plurality of locations;

a plurality of tires having a respective plurality of tire transmitters generating a respective plurality of transmitter identification signals; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of initiators, said controller activating said plurality of initiators, receiving a plurality of respective sensor signals, said plurality of sensor signals compositely having respective tire identifications and an initial status, when the plurality of respective sensor signals is indicative of the initial status and the respective plurality of tire identification signals is not existing in the memory, confirming the plurality of sensor signals and storing the confirmed signals in the memory, when the plurality of respective sensor signals is indicative of the initial status and the plurality of respective tire identification signals is existing in the memory, confirming the first sensor signal, when the plurality of sensor statuses is unconfirmed, performing the steps of activating, receiving and confirming.

13. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a counter counting a number of activations, wherein said controller performing the steps of activating, receiving and confirming when the counter is below a predetermined count.

14. A system as recited in claim 13 when the counter reaches a predetermined count said controller generating a fault signal.

15. A system as recited in claim 12 wherein said controller activates said plurality of initiators sequentially.

16. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising a vehicle speed sensor generating a vehicle speed signal, said controller activating said plurality of initiators when the vehicle speed signal is greater than a predetermined speed.

17. A system as recited in claim 12 further comprising an ignition sensor generating a run signal and an off signal, said controller activating said plurality of initiators when the ignition sensor generates a run signal.