Vehicle tire pressure monitor

• US 7,456,732 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Tranchina, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US11/449,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/445, 340/447, 340/539.1, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/426.13, 731/462, 731/468
• US Class Current: 340/447
• 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 vehicle monitoring system comprises a tire pressure sensor, a transmitter coupled to the tire pressure sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of a tire pressure; and a receiver for receiving the signal indicative of the tire pressure and for receiving a signal of a remote keyless entry device. The system further comprises a controller coupled to the receiver for processing the signal indicative of the tire pressure and outputting a status signal, and a status indicator for receiving the status signal and indicating a tire pressure status according to the status signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a tire pressure sensor coupled to a tire of the vehicle;

a transmitter coupled to the tire pressure sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of a tire pressure;

a receiver located in the vehicle for receiving the signal indicative of the tire pressure;

a controller coupled to the receiver for processing the signal indicative of the tire pressure;

a display located in the vehicle for displaying the processed signal indicating a tire pressure; and

a remote keyless entry device for remotely operating a security feature of the vehicle, the remote keyless entry device having a receiver for receiving the signal indicating a tire pressure from the transmitter.

2. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits signals indicative of the tire pressure in response to a variation in tire pressure sensed by the tire pressure sensor.

3. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the controller generates an alarm condition when the tire pressure sensed by the tire pressure sensor decreases by a preset amount.

4. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the alarm condition is displayed on the display located in the vehicle.

5. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the controller periodically polls the tire pressure sensor.

6. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, further including a battery for powering the tire pressure sensor.

7. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, further including a transducer for converting a signal into a current, the transducer provides power to the tire pressure sensor.

8. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the controller processes the signal indicating tire pressure from each tire of the vehicle and the display displays the processed signal indicating tire pressure numerically in pounds per square inch.

9. A vehicle tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a tire pressure sensor coupled to a tire of the vehicle;

a transmitter coupled to the tire pressure sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of a tire pressure;

a receiver located in the vehicle for receiving the signal indicative of the tire pressure;

a controller coupled to the receiver for processing the signal indicative of the tire pressure;

a display located in the vehicle for displaying the processed signal indicating a tire pressure; and

a second transceiver coupled to the tire pressure sensor, the second transceiver for transmitting a second signal indicating a tire pressure to a remote keyless entry device and for receiving a tire pressure request signal from the remote keyless entry device.

10. A vehicle tire pressure monitoring system comprising:

a tire pressure sensor coupled to a tire of the vehicle;

a transmitter coupled to the tire pressure sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of a tire pressure;

a transceiver located in a remote keyless entry device for transmitting a request signal to the tire pressure sensor and receiving the signal indicative of the tire pressure;

a controller coupled to the transceiver for processing the signal indicative of the tire pressure; and

a display located on the remote keyless entry device for displaying the processed signal indicating a tire pressure.

11. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter transmits signals indicative of the tire pressure in response to a variation in tire pressure sensed by the tire pressure sensor.

12. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the controller generates an alarm condition when the tire pressure sensed by the tire pressure sensor decreases by a preset amount.

13. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the alarm condition is audibly sounded or displayed on the display at the remote keyless entry device.

14. The vehicle monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the display displays the signal indicative of tire pressure numerically.

15. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 10, further including a battery for powering the remote keyless entry device and a battery for powering the tire pressure sensor.

16. The vehicle tire pressure monitoring system of claim 10, further including a transducer for converting a signal into a current, the transducer provides power to the tire pressure sensor.