Vehicle tag reader

• US 7,518,494 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/514,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 340/442, 340/441, 340/443, 340/445, 340/447, 340/505, 340/10.3, 731/465, 734/168, 731/468
• US Class Current: 340/442
• 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: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/66 using electric or magnetic means G01P3/80 takes precedence; measuring short time intervals G04F8/00, G04F10/00

Abstract

A tire sensor that communicates to a remote interrogator in one of two modes depending on the nature of the interrogation. The interrogator may be distributed throughout a vehicle if needed for design options. Further, the interrogator only interrogates the transponder when the interrogator has reason to believe that the transponder is in range of the interrogator. The interrogator and transponder may be configured to operate in different modes for communication during operation of the tire on a vehicle and during non-operation. The transponder may communicate tire condition information to the interrogator concerning environmental or other information sensed about the tire.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a transponder configured to be positioned on a vehicle tire;

an interrogator; and

a control system configured to;

determine a circumferential location of the transponder on the vehicle tire;

interrogate, through the interrogator, the transponder in a window when the transponder moves in an arc proximate the interrogator; and

not interrogate the transponder when the transponder is expected to be outside the window.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

a tire condition sensor associated with the transponder and configured to produce a wireless signal indicating a tire condition when interrogated by the interrogator.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the interrogator is adapted to be positioned at least partially in a wheel well.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the tire condition sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a tread sensor.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the control system comprises at least two operating modes, and wherein the control system is communicatively coupled to the tire condition sensor and configured to transmit information from the tire condition sensor to a remote location using one of the at least two operating modes depending on how the remote location interrogates the control system.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 5, wherein a first of the at least two operating modes comprises a contention access protocol.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 5, wherein one of the at least two operating modes comprises a continuous response operation.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 5, wherein one of the at least two operating modes is triggered by an RF field lacking an AM scheme.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the interrogator comprises an antenna, a demodulator, and a baseband processor.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the demodulator is configured to be positioned in a wheel well.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the baseband processor is configured to be positioned in a wheel well.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the demodulator is configured to be positioned remotely from a wheel well.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the baseband processor is configured to be positioned remotely from a wheel well.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the transponder is configured to operate in at least two modes depending on the presence or absence of a predetermined type of electromagnetic field.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the interrogator comprises:

wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate with the transponder and receive tire condition information therefrom; and

a plurality of antennas for wirelessly communicating with the transponder, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to be arranged in an array within a wheel well of the vehicle.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise a plurality of transmit antennas and a single receive antenna.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to be sequentially activated and deactivated as the transponder moves in an arc proximate the plurality of antennas.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 17, wherein antennas not actively transmitting to or receiving from the transponder are deactivated.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise a plurality of antennas that operate as both transmit antennas and receive antennas.

20. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a transponder configured to be positioned on a wheel;

an interrogator; and

a control system configured to;

determine a circumferential location of the transponder on the wheel;

interrogate, through the interrogator, the transponder when the transponder is determined to be within an electromagnetic field of the interrogator; and

not interrogate the transponder when the transponder is expected to be outside the electromagnetic field of the interrogator.

21. The wireless communication system of claim 20, further comprising:

a tire condition sensor associated with the transponder and configured to produce a wireless signal indicating a tire condition when interrogated by the interrogator related to a vehicle tire.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 21, wherein the interrogator is configured to be positioned at least partially in a wheel well.

23. The wireless communication system of claim 21, wherein the tire condition sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a tread sensor.

24. The wireless communication system of claim 23, wherein the interrogator comprises:

wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate with the transponder; and

a plurality of antennas for wirelessly communicating with the transponder, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to be arranged in an array around a portion of the wheel.

25. The wireless communication system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise a plurality of transmit antennas and a single receive antenna.

26. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to be activated as the transponder moves within the electromagnetic field of the antenna.

27. The wireless communication system of claim 26, wherein antennas not actively transmitting to or receiving from the transponder are deactivated.

28. The wireless communication system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise a plurality of antennas that operate as both transmit antennas and receive antennas.

29. The wireless communication system of claim 21, wherein the control system comprises at least two operating modes, and wherein the control system is communicatively coupled to the tire condition sensor and configured to transmit information from the tire condition sensor to a remote location using one of the at least two operating modes depending on how the remote location interrogates the control system.

30. The wireless communication system of claim 29, wherein a first of the at least two operating modes comprises a contention access protocol.

31. The wireless communication system of claim 29, wherein one of the at least two operating modes comprises a continuous response operation.

32. The wireless communication system of claim 29, wherein one of the at least two operating modes is triggered by an RF field lacking an AM scheme.

33. The wireless communication system of claim 20, wherein the interrogator comprises an antenna, a demodulator, and a baseband processor.

34. The wireless communication system of claim 33, wherein the demodulator is configured to be positioned in the wheel well.

35. The wireless communication system of claim 33, wherein the baseband processor is configured to be positioned in the wheel well.

36. The wireless communication system of claim 33, wherein the demodulator is configured to be positioned remotely from the wheel well.

37. The wireless communication system of claim 33, wherein the baseband processor is configured to be positioned remotely from the wheel well.

38. The wireless communication system of claim 20, wherein the transponder is configured to operate in at least two modes depending on the presence or absence of a predetermined type of electromagnetic field.

39. A method of interrogating a transponder, mounted on a wheel, using an interrogator, comprising:

determining a circumferential location of the transponder on the wheel;

interrogating the transponder when the transponder is determined to be within an electromagnetic field of the interrogator; and

not interrogating the transponder when the transponder is determined to be outside the electromagnetic field of the interrogator.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the transponder is associated with a sensor.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the interrogator is configured to be positioned at least partially in a wheel well.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the interrogator comprises an antenna, a demodulator, and a baseband processor.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the demodulator is configured to be positioned in the wheel well.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the baseband processor is configured to be positioned in the wheel well.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the demodulator is configured to be positioned remotely from the wheel well.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the baseband processor is configured to be positioned remotely from the wheel well.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein the transponder is configured to operate in at least two modes depending on the presence or absence of a predetermined type of electromagnetic field.

48. The method of claim 39, wherein the control system comprises at least two operating modes, wherein the control system is communicatively coupled to the tire condition sensor and configured to transmit information from the tire condition sensor to a remote location using one of the at least two operating modes depending on how the remote location interrogates the control system.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein a first of the at least two operating modes comprises a contention access protocol.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the interrogator comprises:

wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate with the transponder; and

a plurality of antennas for wirelessly communicating with the transponder, wherein the plurality of antennas are configured to be arranged in an array around a portion of the wheel for wirelessly communicating with the transponder.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise a plurality of transmit antennas and a single receive antenna.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise a plurality of antennas that operate as both transmit antennas and receive antennas.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to be activated as the transponder moves within the electromagnetic field of the antenna.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein antennas not actively transmitting to or receiving from the transponder are deactivated.

55. The method of claim 51, further comprising sequentially using antennas from the plurality of antennas to communicate with the transponder.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising sequentially transmitting with, receiving with, and deactivating antennas from the plurality of antennas.

57. The method of claim 48, wherein one of the at least two operating modes comprises a continuous response operation.

58. The method of claim 48, wherein one of the at least two operating modes is triggered by an RF field lacking an AM scheme.