By Direct Fluid Pressure Reading Patents (Class 73/146.3)
  • Patent number: 11458784
    Abstract: Methods, Apparatus, and Articles of Manufacture are disclosed for determining a tread depth status of a tire of a vehicle, including an accelerometer interface to access acceleration data from an accelerometer associated with the tire, the acceleration data including first acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a first direction, second acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a second direction, and third acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a third direction, and a data segmenter to segment the first acceleration data into a first data segment, the second acceleration data into a second data segment, and the third acceleration data into a third data segment based on at least one of an acceleration cycle or a common time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xun Tang, Pankaj Kumar, Hassene Jammoussi, Steven J. Szwabowski, Imad Hassan Makki
  • Patent number: 11385117
    Abstract: A TPMS module includes a sensor body with two arcuate surfaces adjacent the opening. A tire valve includes two arcuate portions and a distal portion. A plurality of gripping teeth are disposed on the valve arcuate portions. The valve distal portion is provided in the sensor body opening and arranged such that the valve arcuate portions couple to the sensor body arcuate surfaces. The valve is coupled to the sensor body by the interaction of a seat and a grommet such that the gripping teeth interact with the sensor body arcuate surfaces to maintain an orientation of the valve with respect to the sensor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Storrie
  • Patent number: 11027582
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided that includes measuring a tire pressure for at least one tire with at least one tire pressure sensor. The tire pressure sensor has at least a first resolution for transmitting pressure information and a second resolution for transmitting pressure information that is higher than the first resolution. If a measured tire pressure is determined to be above a predetermined pressure threshold, the apparatus and method identify whether the tire pressure sensor has experienced at least one predetermined vehicle operating characteristic, and/or identify whether the tire pressure sensor has been activated by a command. The tire pressure sensor is only locked into the second resolution if the tire pressure sensor has experienced the at least one predetermined vehicle operating characteristic or if the tire pressure sensor has been activated by the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. McIntyre, Brian Farrell, Yasser Gad
  • Patent number: 10942077
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel sensor is provided and includes a housing configured to be at least partially disposed within a tire of a bicycle wheel. The sensor may be mounted opposite a valve stem location to help balance the bicycle wheel. The bicycle wheel sensor has one or more sensors exposed to the inside of the tire and is configured to provide data obtained from within the tire. The sensor includes an electronic control unit that receives the data from the sensors and transmits the data to a user device via a transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: FLO Cycling, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Thornham, Christopher J. Thornham, Damon E. Pendarvis
  • Patent number: 10787048
    Abstract: A holding structure of a tire air pressure detecting device includes a tire air pressure detecting device (23) which is held by a screw shaft (43) of a tire valve (30), a fixing nut (44) which is screwed to the screw shaft (43) and configured to fix the tire valve (40) to a wheel rim (30), a holding sleeve (50) which is screwed to the screw shaft (43) and configured to hold the tire air pressure detecting device (23) on the screw shaft (43), an elastic member (45) which is sandwiched between the tire air pressure detecting device (23) and a device supporting portion (60) including at least one of the fixing nut (44), the holding sleeve (50) and the wheel rim (30) in an axial direction of the screw shaft (43), and a rotation restricting portion (48) which is configured to restrict rotation of the tire air pressure detecting device (23) around the screw shaft (43) between the elastic member (45) and the tire air pressure detecting device (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Ebinuma, Masayuki Fujita, Naoki Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 10639936
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises, in a tread surface: at least two circumferential main grooves continuously extending in a tire circumferential direction; and at least one rib-like land portion each defined by two adjacent circumferential main grooves from among the at least two circumferential main grooves. The rib-like land portion has: a circumferential sipe including a circumferential sipe portion extending in the tire circumferential direction; and a both-end closed sipe having both ends terminating within the rib-like land portion. When a land portion width of the rib-like land portion is evenly divided by three where a region at a center in a tire width direction is a center region and regions on both sides of the center region in the tire width direction are side regions, the circumferential sipe portion is located only in the center region, and the both-end closed sipe is located in any of the side regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Hatanaka, Isao Kuwayama
  • Patent number: 10518593
    Abstract: A system for managing a plurality of machines is provided that includes a plurality of machines, each having a control module and a tire sensor associated with a tire on the machine. The tire sensor is configured to measure tire data including at least one of tire temperature and tire pressure. A worksite controller is in communication with each control module, and is configured to generate new travel paths for the machines and selectively communicate the new travel path to each control module. A central processor in communication with the worksite controller receives the tire data and uses it to determine a tire load for each tire, comparing the tire load against a tire rating and determining whether the tire rating will be exceeded. The worksite controller is further configured to alter the current assignment of at least one machine in response to the tire load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mark Wood, Gregory Davis
  • Patent number: 9851272
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a pre-formed diaphragm located at the distal end of a pressure sensor. The diaphragm has a convex surface on a first side of the diaphragm which is exposed to a fluid to be measured. A strain gauge is attached to a second surface on the opposite side of the diaphragm. The diaphragm may be deformed to have the convex curvature on the first surface, and heat treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Viatran Corporation
    Inventors: Surinder Sood, Joel D. Neri, William Wilson
  • Patent number: 9541368
    Abstract: A tire pressure gauge contains a housing, a pressure measuring unit, and a tire-tread depth measuring unit. The tire-tread depth measuring unit includes a mounting assembly, a gear assembly, a hair spring, a covering lid, and a longitudinal post. The tire pressure gauge measures a tire pressure and a tire-tread depth. The tire-tread depth measuring unit indicates a number of the tire-tread depth by using a pointer, after a measurement stem of the longitudinal post is inserted into a tread slit of a tire, and a longitudinal movement of the longitudinal post is transformed into circumference rotation data through the gear assembly, thus indicating the number of the tire-tread depth on a numerical display panel clearly. Preferably, a probe and the measurement stem of the longitudinal post inserted into the tread slit are driven by the hair spring to return to a zero state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Chin Ray Industrial Ltd.
    Inventor: Chiu-Sung Chou
  • Patent number: 9296263
    Abstract: Smart Active Tire Pressure Optimizing System is a highly time sensitive design and technique that acts instantaneously to sense and control the tire pressure particularly during imminent/inevitable critical driving situations to reduce emergency and high speed breaking distance, mitigates loss of traction, hydroplaning, roll over, loss of stability, over and under steering, brake-failure, loss of control due to puncture through real-time sensing, perform context aware computing and directing Tire Pressure Control Units to actively control the tire pressure in right time with right pressure on right tires thereby instantly controlling footprint and sidewall deformation rate to enhance, traction and stability simultaneously sustaining drivability/steer-ability and restore/optimize to pre-set tire pressure value immediately after overcoming critical situation for further safe and comfortable driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Prasad Muthukumar
  • Patent number: 9139090
    Abstract: A method for judging abnormal loading of vehicles includes the steps of: receive a plurality of tire pressures generated by a tire pressure detection unit during a plurality of inspection time periods and calculate variation amount of the tire pressures and convert to a gradient data; judge whether the gradient data is positive in value, if positive, calculate the tire pressure obtained at the last time and tire parameters via a tire sinking amount calculation formula to get a tire deformation amount, and calculate the tire pressure obtained at the last time and the tire parameters via a loading calculation formula to get a tire loading data; and compare the tire loading data and the tire deformation amount via a tire abnormal condition; judge the vehicle in abnormal loading if the tire loading data and the tire deformation amount coincide with the tire abnormal condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SUNG JUNG MINUTE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Huo Huang
  • Patent number: 9024743
    Abstract: A receiver device is tuned to monitor for first transmissions at a first time according to a first criterion and to monitor for second transmissions at a second time according to a second criterion. When the receiver device initially recognizes one of the first transmissions being transmitted according to the first criterion or the second transmissions being transmitted according to the second criterion, the recognized transmission is verified as being valid. When the transmission is recognized as valid, a transmission apparatus is activated to transmit an indication to a receiver so that a localization process can be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive System, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Deniau, Brian J. Farrell
  • Patent number: 9016116
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to tire characterization systems and methods for combining direct tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and tire resonance analysis in indirect tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for the extraction of tire characteristics to characterize other tire parameters. In embodiments, iTPMS and methods that utilize anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensed signals coupled to an electronic control unit (ECU) that may comprise circuitry and/or controllers to process the sensed signals using a resonance frequency analysis (RFA) technique can be combined with direct tire pressure sensor measurements from direct TPMS systems. Because direct TPMS systems deliver a precise value of a tire characteristic (for example, tire pressure), one of the unknown parameters that influence the resonance effects can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20150096362
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to tire characterization systems and methods for combining direct tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and tire resonance analysis in indirect tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for the extraction of tire characteristics to characterize other tire parameters. In embodiments, iTPMS and methods that utilize anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensed signals coupled to an electronic control unit (ECU) that may comprise circuitry and/or controllers to process the sensed signals using a resonance frequency analysis (RFA) technique can be combined with direct tire pressure sensor measurements from direct TPMS systems. Because direct TPMS systems deliver a precise value of a tire characteristic (for example, tire pressure), one of the unknown parameters that influence the resonance effects can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20150090024
    Abstract: An adjustable tire pressure detector is installed on a tire rim, and includes a detector body, a gas intake nozzle and a gas nozzle assembly member. The detector body includes a housing and a gas nozzle assembly hole. The gas nozzle assembly hole includes two parallel limiting contact surfaces and at least one connecting surface connecting the two limiting contact surfaces. The gas intake nozzle includes two compact surfaces corresponding to and tightly pressing against the limiting contact surfaces, at least one abutting contact surface connecting the compact surfaces and contacting with the connecting surface, and an assembly hole facing the gas nozzle assembly hole. A distance between the two compact surfaces gradually increases from the coupling section towards the gas intake section. The gas nozzle assembly member is coupled with the assembly hole of the gas intake nozzle to fasten the gas intake nozzle onto the detector body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: SUNG JUNG MINUTE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Huo HUANG
  • Patent number: 8988209
    Abstract: A monitoring device (20) of a vehicle wheel (11) is configured for detecting and transmitting, by a wireless connection, information relating to at least one characteristic quantity of the status of the wheel (11), such as the inflating pressure of a tire thereof. The device (20) has a casing (21-22) housing a circuit (30) adapted to transmit said information, the casing (21-22) being designed for coupling to an end portion (3a) of electrically conductive body (3) of a tire valve (2) of the wheel (11). The casing (21-22) includes a casing body (21) integrating interconnection means (28, 29, 40) prearranged to obtain both an electric connection of the circuit (30) to the end portion (3a) of the electrically conductive body (3) of the valve (2; 2?; 2?), and a mechanical coupling of the casing (21-22) to the end portion (3a) of the electrically conductive body (3) of the valve (2; 2?; 2?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eltek S.p.A.
    Inventors: Domenico Cantarelli, Paolo Colombo
  • Publication number: 20150059462
    Abstract: Disclosed is a testing device for a tire inflation device, comprising a housing (10) which includes a bottom (11) and an annular outer wall (12) with a cylindrical inner surface (16), a piston (15) which is movably guided on the cylindrical inner surface (16), is sealed and has an annular engagement surface (20) for sealingly engaging an inflation ring (3) and a central piston opening (19), a spring (26) arranged between the bottom (11) and the piston (15), its spring force seeking to move the piston (15) away from the bottom, and sensors detecting the pressure in an inner chamber (18) adapted to be filled with compressed gas and the temperature of the housing (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas PEINELT, Martin ROGALLA
  • Patent number: 8966968
    Abstract: An external tire pressure gauge mounting structure includes a base and a cap; the base and cap are locked together to provide an internal mounting space; the mounting structure also includes a gear, a cushion ring and a locking member; the gear is fixed on the base and has teeth; a through hole is defined in the cushion ring and teeth is provided on a sidewall of the through hole; the gear is inserted into the cushion ring, and the teeth of the cushion ring and gear mesh each other; the locking member is pressed against the cushion ring and gear; the locking member, gear and base all have their threaded holes. Also disclosed is a handling tool used for above mounting structure. The invention makes improvements upon the mounting structure of the tire pressure gauge and provides a handling tool which is easy to use. As such, mounting and dismounting of the tire pressure gauge becomes convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Steelmate Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhitao Li
  • Publication number: 20150013444
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tire pressure sensing device for detecting the tire pressure in a pneumatic tire, comprising a pressure sensor (6) in a housing (1); a tire valve (11) or another retainer to be fastened to the rim, which bears the housing; a spring element (2), which is connected to the tire valve or the other retainer at one end and to the housing (1) at the other end, wherein the spring element is partially embedded in the housing and the housing has at least one opening (4, 5) in the area in which the spring element is embedded, said opening being partially or completely opened up by a soft component (13), which partially surrounds the spring element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Christian Markert
  • Patent number: 8919189
    Abstract: An external tire pressure sensing device and a sealable venting member thereof are provided. The sealable venting member is placed inside the external tire pressure sensing device. The venting member is of an integral part and includes a supporting platform for tightly contacting with a sensor, a communication portion located at one side of the supporting platform and used to lift of a gas outlet valve of a gas nozzle, and a communicating hole for interconnecting the gas nozzle and a sensing portion of the sensor located on the top portion of the supporting platform. The sealable venting member has the advantages of small axial dimension, good sealability, reliable connection and high safety, thus further reducing the size of the external tire pressure sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Steelmate Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Zhitao Li
  • Patent number: 8915130
    Abstract: A battery-replaceable tire pressure sensor is installed on a tire rim with an assembly through hole formed thereon, and includes a sensor body, a gas intake nozzle connected to the sensor body, and a gas nozzle assembly member coupling with the sensor body and the gas intake nozzle. The sensor body includes a tire pressure sensing module disposed therein for detecting a tire pressure, a battery accommodating portion accommodating at least one battery, a cover screwed with the battery accommodating portion, and a gas nozzle assembly hole for the gas nozzle assembly member to penetrate. The gas intake nozzle includes a coupling section inserted into the gas nozzle assembly hole, and a gas intake section connecting to the coupling section, penetrating through the assembly through hole, and extending outside the tire rim for gas to input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sung Jung Minute Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Huo Huang
  • Publication number: 20140366618
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to tire monitoring systems for collecting measured tire parameter data during vehicle operation and, more particularly, to a system and method for estimating tire wear state based upon such measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh, Anthony William Parsons
  • Publication number: 20140311232
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel includes a rim that extends in the wheel circumferential direction, that includes a rim hump formed in a convex form projecting to the outside in the wheel radial direction, and a through hole formed on a rim inclined face that is slanted to an inside in the wheel radial direction on an inside in a wheel width direction from a top of the rim hump. When the tire is fitted, a tire cavity region facing the rim hump is formed. The wheel includes a tire valve fitted to the through hole and a tire information acquisition device installed in the tire cavity region on the tire valve that acquires tire information on the condition of gas filling the tire cavity region. A fitting is provided between the rim inclined face and the tire information acquisition device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kanenari, Yasuhiko Araki
  • Patent number: 8849520
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sensor interface module that selectively varies the resistance of an RLC network based upon one or more properties of exchanges data signals between one or more sensors and a controller (e.g., an ECU). The disclosed sensor interface module has a closed control loop that receives modulated sensor current signals from one or more sensors and that regulates a modulated output voltage that is provided to the one or more sensors. A protocol processor detects one or more properties of the exchanged voltage and current signals. The protocol processor provides the detected properties to an impedance controller, which selectively varies the value of an impedance element within an RLC network, located between the sensor interface module and the one or more sensor, to adjust the one or more properties in a manner that improves performance of the sensor interface module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20140260585
    Abstract: A system and method estimating a vehicle tire load includes a tire static load estimator estimating a static tire load using a tire attached TPMS sensor; a Kalman filter based tire deflection estimator estimating tire vertical deflection; a load variation estimator estimating the instantaneous load variation by using the tire vertical deflection information; and an output tire load estimator calculating an output load estimation mathematically by fusing the static tire load with the instantaneous load variation information. The tire deflection estimator includes a chassis accelerometer measuring a chassis vertical acceleration; and a hub accelerometer measuring a wheel hub vertical acceleration of the tire. A linear filter model receives as inputs the chassis vertical acceleration and the wheel hub vertical acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Kanwar Bharat Singh
  • Publication number: 20140245825
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, system and devices for monitoring tire pressure data of vehicle wheel units. In an example a method of monitoring and expressing tire pressure data information is provided. The method includes selecting a first threshold pressure value for a tire to establish a first pressure range and a second pressure range. The method also includes monitoring pressure of the tire and generating signals indicative of tire pressure. The method further includes that in the first pressure range the signals are converted to digital signals according to a first conversion variable and in the second pressure range the signals are converted according to a second conversion variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. McIntyre, Jean-Christophe Deniau, Brian Farrell, Yasser Gad
  • Patent number: 8803680
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring apparatus (10) includes a pressure transducer (14) and a valve stem (12). A support bracket (50) connects the valve stem (12) to the pressure transducer (14) and facilitates pivotal movement between the valve stem and the pressure transducer. The support bracket (50) includes a valve stem biasing member (80) that exerts a spring bias on the valve stem (12) to help maintain a selected angular position of the valve stem relative to the pressure transducer (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Mike Blossfeld, John Scales
  • Publication number: 20140196530
    Abstract: A tyre pressure monitor for the paired wheels at one end of a vehicle axle in the form of a hub which bolts to the wheel using the wheel nuts. The hub contains a tyre pressure gauge for the inner wheel and a gauge for the outer wheel. Air tubes connect each tyre to the gauge and an exterior air input coupling for each tyre projects from the hub in order to be accessible to the depot air hose. The driver reads the gauge and adjusts the tyre pressure using the air input coupling when necessary. Versions with a single gauge with a separate scale for each tyre of the pair and with one gauge for a single front wheel are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Castaa Enterprises Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen John WEBSTER
  • Patent number: 8707776
    Abstract: A vehicle having a device for acquiring and transmitting at least one measurement signal that characterizes the state of a vehicle tire, such as tire air pressure and/or tire air temperature, having at least one sensor module that is supplied with electrical energy by an energy supply device and that contains at least one tire air pressure sensor and/or at least one tire air temperature sensor, the energy supply device having at least one generator that rotates with the vehicle tire as well as at least one magnetic field generator, an electrical voltage being produced in the generator by electromagnetic induction. The magnetic field generator is situated on a brake caliper of a disc brake of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Fischer
  • Patent number: 8680980
    Abstract: A blank tire pressure monitoring device includes a housing having an air valve at one end and connection terminals at an opposite end, a circuit board mounted in the housing and carrying a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, an analog-digital converter electrically connected with the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor and the acceleration sensor, a general purpose I/O terminal unit electrically connected with the connection terminals of the housing; an embedded microcontroller module electrically connected with the general purpose I/O terminal unit and the analog-digital converter and having built therein a flash memory, a microcontroller core and a special-function register controller, a LF receiver electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module, and a transmitter electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module; and a method is still also disclosed for setting up a blank tire pressure monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cub Elecparts Inc.
    Inventors: San-Chuan Yu, Chih-Ming Chiang, Yuan-Tung Hung, Chao-Ching Hu
  • Publication number: 20140069181
    Abstract: A system and method of estimating a load bearing on a vehicle tire includes an inflation pressure measuring sensor attached to the tire for measuring a tire cavity inflation pressure level; and one or more piezofilm deformation measuring sensors mounted to one or both of the tire sidewalls. The deformation measuring sensor generates within the tire footprint a deformation signal having signal power level indicative of a level of sidewall deformation within the footprint contact patch. Power-to-load maps adjusted for tire inflation pressure are generated and stored for the tire, the maps correlating a range of load levels to a range of signal power levels whereby operatively enabling a load level to be identified for each signal power level on an inflation pressure adjusted basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh, John Michael Fenkanyn, Amrita Patel, Peter Jung-min Suh
  • Patent number: 8648703
    Abstract: A vehicle having a sensor apparatus includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion disposed on a side surface of a vehicle frame, wherein the first and second mounting portions are spaced apart in a vehicle length direction, wherein the first and second mounting portions configured to receive a load platform of the vehicle, a wheel assembly comprising a sensor transmitter, and a receiver mounted to the side surface between the first and the second mounting portions, the receiver configured to receive a signal from the sensor transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Inoue, Masanori Usui
  • Patent number: 8635906
    Abstract: A wheel monitoring system that includes a tracking filter apparatus for tracking a signal that has a varying main frequency. The tracking filter apparatus has an adjustable filter and a filter controller arranged to measure the amplitude of the filtered signal and to compare amplitude against a reference value. The filter controller adjusts the cut off frequency of the filter if the measured amplitude differs from the reference value by an amount that exceeds a threshold value. The filter controller adjusts the cut off frequency such that the main frequency lies within the roll off region of the filter's frequency response. The system may be used to track signals that are produced by shock sensors in a wheel mounted monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Schrader Electronics Limited
    Inventors: Samuel Strahan, Christopher Ainsworth
  • Publication number: 20140007666
    Abstract: A tire monitoring system includes at least one magnet having an exposed face adapted to magnetically attach to an inner barrel of a vehicle wheel within a chamber created between the wheel and a vehicle tire mounted to the wheel. The magnet is connected to a tire monitoring device having a sensor contained therein. The tire monitoring device is attached to the inner barrel using the magnet and positioned in the chamber with the sensor exposed to and sensing a condition present in the chamber. The tire monitoring device can also include a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicating the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Kutzscher, Jun Feng Hu
  • Publication number: 20130327135
    Abstract: A pressure sensor is used to automatically calculate physical parameters of a tire, for example, groove area fraction or shoulder center ratio. In one approach, a pressure sensor measures the pressure distribution produced by a tire when a known load is applied to the tire while it is resting on or traversing the pressure sensor. The resulting pressure map corresponds to tread area and features of the tread contact area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Terence Russell
  • Publication number: 20130327136
    Abstract: A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system for a motor vehicle includes detection of a stationary state of the motor vehicle by way of a centrifugal force measured on the wheel side or a vehicle speed measured on the vehicle side, during a time period during which the vehicle speed is zero; detection and vehicle-side storage of an acceleration force in each wheel during the time period, and renewed detection of an acceleration force in each wheel at the end of the time period. The detected acceleration force in each wheel is transmitted to a vehicle-side control device and compared with earlier-stored acceleration forces associated with the respective wheel position. The tire pressure system is initialized following the stationary state of the motor vehicle in the event of a deviation in any of the wheels. There is also provided a tire pressure monitoring system and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Matthias Kretschmann
  • Publication number: 20130305818
    Abstract: An arrangement of a tire pressure sensor unit on the inner wall of the tread of a vehicle tire in a retaining device for the sensor unit is provided. The retaining device is connected to the inner wall, wherein a sealing compound is applied to the inner wall, or in the case of a retaining device having a closed bottom section which is connected to the inner wall, the sealing compound is applied to the bottom section facing the sensor unit. In the event that a foreign object punctures the inner wall, or punctures the inner wall and the bottom section, the sealing compound prevents at least a short-term loss of pressure caused by the hole resulting therefrom in that the sealing compound at least almost tightly seals the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen HARTMANN, Axel SCHWAB, Michael MEIER
  • Patent number: 8573046
    Abstract: A combined tread depth measurement tool and pressure gauge for treaded pneumatic tires includes a housing, an abutment surface, and a pneumatic pressure sensor. The pneumatic pressure sensor includes a measurement element with a graduated numerical indication of pneumatic pressure on at least one side and a colored indication of tire depth on at least one side. The colored indication includes at least three distinct colors, the three distinct colors each having widths corresponding to ranges of tread depths in reference to a terminal end of the measurement element. A combined tread depth measurement tool and pressure gauge for treaded pneumatic tires includes a body assembly and a spring clip. The body assembly includes a housing with three color bands having distinct colors, a pneumatic pressure sensor, and a measurement element. The spring clip includes a sliding portion and a clip portion with a tire engagement end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Bell Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick L. Ohm, C. Kwai Kong
  • Publication number: 20130263655
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating the inflation pressure of a tire in which data representative of the deformation undergone by the tire on a rolling surface are obtained. The obtained data are processed so as to obtain a first quantity representative of the extent of the deformation within a first deformation region substantially corresponding to the footprint between the tire and the rolling surface and a second quantity, different from the first quantity, representing the extent of the deformation in a second deformation region, said second region including the first deformation region and having a circumferential extension greater than the circumferential extension of the first deformation region, the second quantity being obtained starting from at least a part of the obtained data, which corresponds to a portion of said second deformation region that is external to the footprint. The pressure is estimated based on the first quantity and the second quantity thus obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Riccardo Tebano, Giorgio Audisio, Anna Paola Fioravanti
  • Publication number: 20130233068
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a valve stem assembly for a tire pressure monitoring system sensor. The assembly can comprise a valve stem body, and a grommet for purposes of engaging a vehicle wheel. The valve stem body can comprise an attachment end to be attached to a pressure sensor to determine tire air pressure. The valve stem assembly can further comprise a cap that is releasably engaged to the valve stem body which can limit movement of the valve stem assembly relative to the vehicle wheel, the cap having a closed end to cover an air transfer end of the valve stem, and a second open end to overlay the valve stem body and grommet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Seunghun Choe, Hirotake Harada
  • Patent number: 8474500
    Abstract: A method of allowing control of a vehicle with at least two-wheels in case of puncture of a tire, each wheel including a rim and a tire associated therewith, includes the steps of: inflating each tire to an operating pressure; admitting a fluid compressed to a first pressure higher than the operating pressure of the tire into at least one tank associated with at least one of the rims; bringing the tire into communication with the tank when the inner pressure of the tire is lower than a predetermined first threshold value; detecting a variation of an inner pressure of the tank; activating a pressure measuring device when the inner pressure variation corresponds to a reduction and is higher than a first predetermined value; measuring the inner pressure of the tank with a predetermined frequency by means of (through) the pressure measuring device; calculating a variation in the inner pressure in a time unit; generating an alarm signal when the calculated inner pressure variation corresponds to a reduction and is
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Caretta, Massimo Filippi
  • Patent number: 8471694
    Abstract: A tire condition acquisition device located in a tire and that transmits at least tire internal air pressure information includes: a housing that allows outside air to enter in only through a ventilation hole; an air pressure detecting element disposed in the housing and that detects an air pressure of air that enters in through the ventilation hole, and converts the detected air pressure to an electric signal which is then output; and a transmission circuit disposed in the housing and that transmits the detected air pressure information via electromagnetic waves based on the electric signal output from the air pressure detecting element; wherein at least the ventilation hole and an area peripheral thereto are treated so as to be water repellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kanenari
  • Publication number: 20130098149
    Abstract: A method for detecting a tire having decreased air pressure based on wheel rotation information obtained from the tire attached to a vehicle in which there is a predetermined difference between front and rear wheel loads. The method includes the steps of acquiring wheel rotation information obtained from the tire, storing the wheel rotation information, acquiring a load sensitivity of a tire dynamic loaded radius due to load shift during turning, acquiring speed dependency of the load sensitivity, comparing load sensitivity of the tire dynamic loaded radius at a speed acquired based on the speed dependency with preliminarily stored load sensitivities of dynamic loaded radiuses of various tires, estimating decreased pressure sensitivity of the tire dynamic loaded radius based on a result of the comparison, and determining that the tire has a decreased air pressure based on a result of the estimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Minao YANASE
  • Patent number: 8423236
    Abstract: In a method for detecting a rolling motion of a wheel in a motor vehicle, a wheel acceleration variable characterizing a wheel acceleration is recorded using at least one sensor element, the wheel acceleration variable is scanned at various scanning points in time, and the presence of a rolling motion is detected with the aid of the scanned values. The wheel acceleration variable is scanned in a cycle, including at least three scanning points in time, of nonequidistant points in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Neuscheler, Axel Wenzler
  • Publication number: 20130074591
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) device. The TPMS device includes: a pressure sensor recognizing an inner pressure of a tire; a pressure signal collecting processor collecting and processing a pressure signal of the pressure sensor; a motion sensor mounted in a vehicle body; and a motion signal collecting processor collecting and processing a motion signal from the motion sensor. Here, a position of the tire is determined by comparing a magnitude or a phase between the pressure signal and the motion signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae Seung Hyun, Won Han, Jong Hyeong Song, Kyung No Lee
  • Patent number: 8387451
    Abstract: A method for detecting a decrease in tire air pressure based on wheel rotation speed information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheel vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Shuto
  • Publication number: 20130042676
    Abstract: A tire-pressure mount apparatus having a compartment in communication with a wheel and tire assembly. The compartment has a removable closure with a tire-pressure sensor and a valve stem mounted thereon so as to permit simultaneous removal of the tire-pressure sensor and valve stem when the closure is removed from the compartment, thus providing access thereto without requiring disassembly of the wheel and tire assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: LINDSAY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas J. Korus
  • Publication number: 20120318056
    Abstract: A vibration detection apparatus includes a vibrating device that generates an alternating voltage by vibration; a power storage part that stores power based on the alternating voltage generated by the vibrating device; and a counter circuit that counts the number of vibrations of the alternating voltage generated by the vibrating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Makoto IZUMI, Naoteru Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8303742
    Abstract: A tyre having a radially internal surface of substantially toroidal conformation, includes: a housing mounted on the internal surface of the tyre and an electronic unit at least partially housed in the housing, the housing including at least two portions, each having a cavity in contact with a respective portion of the electronic unit and housing the same, each portion of the housing being mounted on the internal surface of the tyre, and a fastening element applied to the portions of the housing to maintain a constraint between such portions and the electronic unit. A method of installing the electronic unit into a tyre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Brusarosco, Anna Paola Fioravanti, Federico Mancosu
  • Patent number: 8299908
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system distinguishes a mounted tire from a non-mounted tire, and which automatically changes over IDs and tire-pressure thresholds without any exclusive apparatuses. A tire pressure monitoring unit stores an identification code of a tire pressure sensor unit and a tire-pressure set value as a pair. While a vehicle is traveling at a speed equal to or faster than a predetermined vehicle speed, if an identification code received within a predetermined time coincides with any one of identification codes of registered tires and the number of coinciding identification codes is equal to the number of tires, and, at least one of the coinciding identification codes is an identification code other than specified identification codes, the specified identification codes are replaced with those coinciding identification codes which are newly specified as respective identification codes of tire pressure sensor units mounted in tires mounted on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventors: Makoto Isomura, Makoto Bessho