Electric Patents (Class 73/146.5)
  • Patent number: 11872855
    Abstract: A method of determining a status of a tyre monitoring device is disclosed. The tyre monitoring device includes a counter initiated on a first use of the tyre monitoring device on a wheel and the method includes: determining a current value of the counter; determining a status of the tyre monitoring device based on the current value of the counter; and providing an indication based on the determined status. In some examples, the status is a remaining service lifetime and the indication may be a replacement notification. A method of cross-checking data between tyre monitoring devices is also disclosed. The method includes receiving data from a plurality of tyre monitoring devices associated with respective tyres of a same vehicle; comparing the received data from different ones of the plurality of tyre monitoring devices; determining inconsistent data associated with at least one of the plurality of tyre monitoring devices based on the comparison; and providing an indication of the inconsistent data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 11833862
    Abstract: A tire side device includes a vibration detection unit that outputs a detection signal according to a magnitude of vibration of a tire, an air pressure detection unit that detects the tire pressure, a data acquisition unit that calculates a contact length of the tire with a road surface based on the detection signal and acquires a wheel load data that is a data related to the wheel load based on the contact length, and a data transmission unit that transmits a data related to the tire pressure and the wheel load data. A vehicle side device includes a receiving unit that receives data on tire pressure and wheel load data, a threshold setting unit that sets an alarm threshold for tire pressure based on the wheel load data, and an alarm determination unit that determines that the tire pressure has decreased when the tire pressure indicated by the data on the tire pressure decreases below the alarm threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichiro Suzuki, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 11772432
    Abstract: An arithmetic model generation system includes a tire information acquisition unit, a position information acquisition unit, a wear amount calculator, and an arithmetic model update unit. The tire information acquisition unit acquires tire data including a temperature and pressure of a tire. The position information acquisition unit acquires position data for a vehicle on which the tire is mounted. The wear amount calculator includes an arithmetic model that generates an estimated wear amount of at least one groove of the tire, the wear amount calculator calculating the estimated wear amount of at least one groove of the tire by using the arithmetic model by inputting the tire data and the position data. The arithmetic model update unit updates the arithmetic model based on a wear amount measured by a tire measurement device external to the vehicle and the estimated wear amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Ishizaka, Sachiko Nakajima, Satoshi Meguro, Akio Yoshinari, Tadashi Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 11738607
    Abstract: A TPMS sensor with an externally replaceable battery is disclosed. The valve stem facilitates battery replacement with a valve stem core designed to removably secure a battery within the valve stem and a sensor configured with an electrical connection designed to connect the sensor to power from the battery. The valve stem has an interior cavity configured to retain the valve stem core. The battery may be at least partially retained within the valve stem. The sensor may be configured in a sensor body connected to an end of the valve stem distal from the valve stem core. The electrical connection may comprise a spring-loaded terminal configured to connect or disconnect the sensor and battery as the battery is inserted or removed from the valve stem through a valve stem end proximal to the valve stem core, permitting battery replacement without removing or deflating a tire configured with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ASTRA SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventor: Christian Haesemeyer
  • Patent number: 11738610
    Abstract: A detection system for extracting information from a sensor module in a rolling wheel comprises: a sensor module which comprises a sensor adapted for sensing a physical property of the tire when mounted in a tire of the wheel or on an inner surface of a tire of the wheel; an acquisition module adapted for sampling a signal from the sensor module, thus obtaining a sequence of data samples; a correlation module adapted for cross-correlating a signed reference sequence with the sequence of data samples thus obtaining a correlation sequence; an extraction module adapted for identifying at least one perturbation in the correlation sequence, wherein the perturbation is induced when a part of the tire where the sensor is mounted hits the ground thereby forming the tire patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Jeremie Chabloz
  • Patent number: 11691464
    Abstract: A method for detecting a thermal anomaly during running of a tire-wheel assembly (3) of a vehicle (1) equipped with a mounting wheel (5) on which a pneumatic tire is mounted comprises the steps of measuring the internal pressure (P) and temperature (T) of the tire-wheel assembly (3) using a sensor (9) attached to the mounting wheel (5), calculating a monitoring ratio which is a function of the measured pressure and of the measured temperature, repeating the preceding steps and tracking the evolution in the value of the monitoring ratio in order to determine a thermal anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Frederic Domprobst, Vincent Pilon
  • Patent number: 11629973
    Abstract: A driving lane keeping control system includes a number of vehicles and a server. Each vehicle is configured to transmit wheel position information to the server. The server is configured to receive the wheel position information from each vehicle, to match the wheel position information with a detailed map to generate a moving trajectory of each vehicle, to analyze the generated moving trajectory of each vehicle to select an optimum moving trajectory, to generate virtual lane information based on the selected optimum moving trajectory, and to transmit the generated virtual lane information to at least one of the vehicles to enable the at least one vehicle to correct a driving position based on the virtual lane information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ki Woo Sung
  • Patent number: 11613146
    Abstract: Provided is a container structure for attaching sensors to tires and, more particularly, to a container structure for attaching sensors to tires, the container structure being able to prevent sensors attached to tires from being damaged by intense heat. The container structure can include: a bottom container that is attached to the inner liner of a tire; a top container that extends from the top of the bottom container and has an insertion space in which a sensor can be inserted; and a channel part that is formed on the inner side of the top container, in which the channel part is provided such that air can cool the sensor by flowing inside and outside with the sensor inserted in the top container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Hankook Tire Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Hong So, Kwang Yong Lee, Chang Hyo Hong, Byung Lip Kim, Jung Ho Son
  • Patent number: 11595759
    Abstract: An energy harvesting circuit is disclosed and comprises one or more electrical loads that consume direct current (DC) power, a rectifier, and a hybrid acoustic absorber. The rectifier comprises one or more active switching elements that are driven by a gate drive voltage. The hybrid acoustic absorber comprises a diaphragm and a voice coil. The diaphragm is constructed at least in part of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material is configured to generate a diaphragm voltage in response to sound waves deforming the diaphragm. The diaphragm voltage is at least equal to the gate drive voltage to drive the one or more active switching elements of the rectifier. The voice coil is attached to the diaphragm and configured to generate a voice coil voltage that is less than the gate drive voltage of the one or more active switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven F. Griffin, Daryn D. Kono, Timothy John Paulitz, James Benjamin Turner
  • Patent number: 11511573
    Abstract: A device (10) for securing an electronic component to a wall of a tire comprises a base (11) that is able to be secured to the wall of a tire and a retaining wall (12), connected to the base (11). The interior surfaces (14, 15) of these elements define a volume (13) able to accommodate the electronic member (100). The base (11) has an opening (18) via which the electronic member is introduced so that when the base (11) is secured to the wall of the tire, the opening (18) is closed by the wall of the tire. The securing device (10) is such that the retaining wall (12) is able to be torn in order to form a fault that allows the electronic member to be extracted and inserted, and such that the retaining wall (12) has a retaining device (19) for a clamping system (20) for clamping the retaining wall (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Stéphane Barjon, Yann Palheire
  • Patent number: 11480078
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining, using service component authenticity detection contained in a sensor module, whether an authorized or genuine service component element is installed in an automotive system are described. The authorized service component determination may be based on close-range communication technology such as radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology. An antenna in the sensor module may read the tag information from installed service component elements in a nearby service component and send any detected information into a filtration monitoring system. The filtration monitoring system or a remote diagnostic system analyzes the returned data (or absence thereof) to determine if a genuine (i.e., authorized, OEM approved, etc.) service component element is installed or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Erica C. Clark-Heinrich, Thomas J. Braun, Daniel Potratz, Bharadwaj R. Prabhala, Abhijeet Vaidya, Sonal Laxman Chirme
  • Patent number: 11424816
    Abstract: Herein provided are methods and systems for method for transmitting data from an aircraft. A communication module for transmitting data from an aircraft comprises: a physical interface for removably coupling the communication module to an aircraft communication system which obtains the data; a data interface for obtaining at least one message for transmission from the aircraft communication system, the at least one message based on the data; and at least one radio for transmitting the at least one message via at least one antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Jonathan Mark Miller
  • Patent number: 11235627
    Abstract: A system for measuring parameters of a mounted assembly comprises an electronic device for measuring parameters of the mounted assembly and a bonding interface made of elastomeric material surrounding the electronic device. The measuring electronic device comprises: a UHF radiofrequency antenna; and an electronic board with an electronic chip coupled to the UHF radiofrequency antenna, a sensor for measuring parameters of the mounted assembly, a microcontroller and an electrical circuit. The measuring system comprises a ground plane connected to the electronic board. The electronic board comprises an energy manager and a capacitive element. The coupling between the electronic chip and the UHF radiofrequency antenna is of an electrical nature. The electronic chip, the microcontroller and the measuring sensor are components of low energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, SAFRAN, SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS, SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFFENSE
    Inventors: Lionel Fagot-Revurat, Julien Destraves
  • Patent number: 11206768
    Abstract: A cart having a wheel and a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the wheel, where the cart-computing device receives an electrical signal via the wheel. The electrical signal comprises a communication signal and electrical power. The communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling an operation of the cart and the electrical power of the electrical signal powers the cart-computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury, Shane York
  • Patent number: 11084335
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of automotive technologies, and disclose a tire location positioning method and apparatus, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver, a tire pressure sensor, a TPMS and an automobile. The method includes: controlling a first exciter to send a first excitation signal, and controlling a second exciter to send a second excitation signal; respectively receiving response signals that are generated according to the first excitation signal or the second excitation signal by all tire pressure sensors; performing positioning on front and rear wheels according to times when the response signals are received, to identify response signals sent by tire pressure sensors of the front and rear wheels; and performing positioning on left and right wheels according to the signal strength information, to identify response signals sent by tire pressure sensors of the left and right wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: AUTEL INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng Zeng, Yongliang Luo
  • Patent number: 11040584
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises: a fastener disposed on a tire inner surface, the mechanical fastener being a first mechanical fastener of a separatable pair of mechanical fasteners composed of at least two fastener members; wherein a) the fastener members sandwich a rubber-coated fiber reinforced member and fix together; b) the fastener is disposed within a region such that the following relationship is satisfied: 0.05?A/H?0.4, where A is a height in a tire radial direction from a bead toe end to a center position (C) of the fastener, and H is a height of a cross section of the tire; and c) the fiber reinforced member includes fiber bundles disposed in alignment in at least one direction, and forms an angle (minor angle ?) with a tire circumferential direction such that: 30 degrees???90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hayato Sakamoto, Atsushi Tanno
  • Patent number: 10875365
    Abstract: A portable tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) tool includes a tire sensor trigger device ensuring the TPMS tool is in close proximity to a TPMS tire sensor to trigger or awaken the sensor to emit measured tire data. In one example, a manually displaceable trigger signal contact device in the form of a push button is used. On manual displacement of the push button against the tire, the tool generates the tire sensor trigger signal. In another example, the tool includes a first power source in the form of a high density capacitor. In another example, a second power source in the form of a lithium button-type battery is used to selectively provide power or recharge the first power source between function cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ATEQ
    Inventors: Jacques Mouchet, Pascal Keller, Bruno Rousseau
  • Patent number: 10814680
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tyre valve for a pneumatic tyre of a vehicle, having a valve stem extending from the air inlet end to the air outlet end and having an outside thread on its outside circumference and a collar at its air outlet end for a rim well carrying the pneumatic tyre and a fastening thread for an air pressure sensor or other device to be fastened to the valve stem and positioned inside the pneumatic tyre, exhibiting a union nut with an inside thread for screwing onto the outside thread in order to clamp the rim base between the union nut and the collar, with the valve stem being inserted through a rim bore, with a plastic valve cap, with a deformable element located on the outside circumference of the valve stem and/or an inside circumference of the union nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: WEGMANN AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Renato Palaoro
  • Patent number: 10787046
    Abstract: A tire mount position detection system measures a first signal intensity, which is intensity of a radio signal received by a first receiver (R1), and a second signal intensity, which is intensity of a radio signal received by a second receiver (R2), for each transmitter, and calculates a total value of the first signal intensity and the second signal intensity for each transmitter. The tire mount position detection system detects the wheel position to which a tire having the transmitter is mounted, based on the first signal intensity, the second signal intensity, and the total value of each transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyohei Honda
  • Patent number: 10717329
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a fail-safe device, a tire pressure measurement system, a vehicle, a tire, a method and a computer program for monitoring a first sensor of a tire pressure monitoring system. The fail-safe device includes a first input for a first signal from the first sensor. The first signal indicates a first physical quantity. The fail-safe device includes a second input for a second signal from a second sensor. The second signal indicates a second physical quantity. The fail-safe device further includes a control module to verify the first signal based on the second signal and a physical relation between the first and the second physical quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Kandler, Thomas Lange, Jooil Park
  • Patent number: 10710419
    Abstract: A sensing assembly for detecting a temperature of a tire of a vehicle comprises a fender, one or more cavities, and at least one contactless temperature sensor. The fender comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the fender defines the one or more cavities. The contactless temperature sensor is seated within each of the one or more cavities. Further, the contactless temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of the tire of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Seko
  • Patent number: 10696107
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a fail-safe device, a tire pressure measurement system, a vehicle, a tire, a method and a computer program for monitoring a first sensor of a tire pressure monitoring system. The fail-safe device includes a first input for a first signal from the first sensor. The first signal indicates a first physical quantity. The fail-safe device includes a second input for a second signal from a second sensor. The second signal indicates a second physical quantity. The fail-safe device further includes a control module to verify the first signal based on the second signal and a physical relation between the first and the second physical quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Kandler, Thomas Lange, Jooil Park
  • Patent number: 10660143
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and TPMS sensor module are provide. The TPMS sensor module includes a pressure sensor configured to measure an internal air pressure of a tire and generate tire pressure information, a microcontroller unit electrically connected to the pressure sensor, and a transceiver electrically connected to the microcontroller unit, the transceiver configured to transmit a message including the pressure information. Where, on a condition that the transceiver receives an acknowledgement in response to the transmitted message, the microcontroller unit is configured to set the transceiver into a standby mode, and, where, on a condition that the transceiver does not receive any acknowledgement in response to the transmitted message within a waiting period, the microcontroller unit is configured to instruct the transceiver to retransmit the message, and the transceiver is configured to retransmit the message after the waiting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Kandler, Wolfgang Scheibenzuber, Maximilian Werner
  • Patent number: 10596866
    Abstract: A tire air pressure detection system and a vehicle body side device to detect air pressure of a plurality of tires. The vehicle body side device causes a transmission unit to transmit to all tire side devices, a transmission stop signal instructing transition to a transmission stop state and then the transmission unit transmits a transmission standby signal at a transmission strength that enables the signal to reach the tire side devices; and then the transmission unit transmits to the one of the tire side devices, a transmission request signal requesting a transmission of a signal including a unique identifier stored in that tire side device; and when it is determined that a reception unit has received a response signal in response to the transmission request signal, the transmission unit transmits a transmission standby signal and a transmission request signal to the tire side device corresponding to the next tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Qiying Li
  • Patent number: 10479147
    Abstract: A self-adaptive method for assisting in the inflation of tires of a vehicle that is stationary in an immobilization mode, the method including continuously measuring at least the pressure of each tire by way of a wheel unit, transmitting signals on the state of the tires between each wheel unit and a central unit, these signals being transmitted by each wheel unit through frequency-shift keying between two first predetermined frequencies defining a first frequency band. In a immobilization mode, each wheel unit is reprogrammed such that it transmits, to the central unit, first and second frequency-shift keyed signals respectively with first and second frequency bands, the second band being wider than the first band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Sylvain Godet, Stéphane Billy, Sébastien Kessler
  • Patent number: 10442257
    Abstract: Examples of techniques for determining tire leak rate are disclosed. In one example implementation, a method includes receiving, by a processing device, temperature data, pressure data, tire characteristics, and an estimated leak rate associated with the tire. The method further includes calculating, by the processing device, a temperature normalized fused pressure after fusing the temperature data and the pressure data. The method further includes determining, by the processing device, the tire leak rate based at least in part on a decay of the temperature normalized fused pressure over time. The method further includes providing, by the processing device, an alert to an operator of the vehicle that a leak is detected based at least in part on a comparison between the tire leak rate and a leak rate threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Amin Abdossalami, Joseph K. Moore, Liviu Serbu, Fahim Javid, Mansoor Alghooneh
  • Patent number: 10377191
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a tire pressure estimating apparatus and a tire pressure estimating method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joong-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10345119
    Abstract: Systems are provided for observing a rotation of a wheel of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a wheel insert positioned within a center bore of the wheel. The wheel insert is movable between a first position and a second, expanded position and in the second, expanded position the wheel insert is coupled to the wheel for rotation with the wheel. The rotation of the wheel insert is to be observed by a sensor. The wheel insert includes a plurality of arms that are movable between a first state and a second, expanded state, and at least one of the plurality of arms is moved into the second, expanded state when the wheel insert is in the second, expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Yung-Chang Ko
  • Patent number: 10328754
    Abstract: A method for self-positioning tires and a tire pressure monitoring system are provided. The method for self-positioning tires includes: acquiring first position information detected by the first positioning circuit; acquiring second position information of each emitter respectively via corresponding second positioning circuit; and acquiring corresponding relative position information respectively between the receiver and each emitter based on the first position information of the receiver and the second position information of each emitter. In this way, compared with the method for achieving self-positioning function in the art, extra wires may not be needed and the origin wires of a vehicle may not be altered in the method of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: AutoChips Inc.
    Inventor: Jian Zhou
  • Patent number: 10252583
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a fail-safe device, a tire pressure measurement system, a vehicle, a tire, a method and a computer program for monitoring a first sensor of a tire pressure monitoring system. The fail-safe device includes a first input for a first signal from the first sensor. The first signal indicates a first physical quantity. The fail-safe device includes a second input for a second signal from a second sensor. The second signal indicates a second physical quantity. The fail-safe device further includes a control module to verify the first signal based on the second signal and a physical relation between the first and the second physical quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Kandler, Thomas Lange, Jooil Park
  • Patent number: 10220659
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system includes a plurality of detection devices that are provided in respective ones of a plurality of tires of a vehicle and each wirelessly transmit an air pressure signal including air pressure information of tire in response to a request signal and a monitoring device that transmits the request signal to each of the detection devices and receives the air pressure signal transmitted from each of the detection devices in response to the request signal, to monitor air pressure of each of the tires. Each of the detection devices, when receiving a request signal, measures the received signal strength of the received request signal and transmits to the monitoring device an air pressure signal at a different diming in accordance with the measured received signal strength. The monitoring device receives the air pressure signals transmitted from the plurality of detection devices at different timings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Saburi, Yoshihiro Hamada
  • Patent number: 10105997
    Abstract: A standalone tire identification tag and standalone sensor module are mounted to a tire and configured to share and store tire identification and tire parameter-measuring sensor data through a common data sharing interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: John Michael Fenkanyn, Peter Jung-min Suh, Amrita Patel
  • Patent number: 10088372
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wireless temperature measurement apparatus using a SAW device which calculates a temperature by detecting a change in resonance frequency, the resonance frequency being physically changed by a temperature. The apparatus includes: a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device including an inter-digital transducer (IDT) generating a surface acoustic wave and a reflector reflecting the surface acoustic wave and outputting the wave to an antenna, wherein the surface acoustic wave is physically deformed by a temperature change, and a reader generating a transmitting signal within a set frequency band and transmitting the signal to the SAW device, detecting an amplified resonance frequency signal which matches a deformed surface acoustic wave, the deformed surface acoustic wave being one of the reflected waves and being physically deformed by the temperature change, and detecting a temperature of the SAW device by comparing the amplified resonance frequency with a preset frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: HANBIT EDS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Kee Jeong, Hong Sung Kim, Pil Seon Eo
  • Patent number: 10086661
    Abstract: A tire condition detecting apparatus includes a transmitting section, a receiving section, a control section, a property detecting section, and a battery, which is a power source for the apparatus. The control section operates in a control mode that is selected from a normal mode and a power saving mode. In the power saving mode, power consumption associated with reception of the wirelessly transmitted signal from the external device is less than that in the normal mode. When the amount of change in the electrical property of a valve stem detected by the property detecting section exceeds a reference change amount, the control section switches the control mode to the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Tsujita
  • Patent number: 10082446
    Abstract: Provided is a tire testing apparatus capable of accurately and easily measuring a load which a tire receives from a road surface. The tire testing apparatus includes a plate buried in a road surface with which a tire is in contact, at least one ground-contact-force sensor measuring a ground-contact force during a contact of the tire, and at least one plate sensor measuring a load applied to the plate. According to the tire testing device, a ground-contact force of the tire can be measured by the ground-contact-force sensor and a load which the tire applies to the plate can be measured by the plate sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: A&D COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yukihisa Ito, Kazuki Kido, Tatsuo Ichige, Masaaki Banno
  • Patent number: 9902216
    Abstract: Tire pressure control devices include first sensors to deliver repeatedly a measured value M1 for the rotation speed of the wheel. A measurand, from which the rotation speed of the associated wheel can be derived, is detected in a pointwise manner by means of a second sensor over a predetermined rotation angle ? of the wheel as a function of time, is subjected to a low pass filtering in a subsequent first time interval ?t1 and from the filtered development of the measurand a second measured value M2 is determined, which is a measurement for the rotation speed or respectively for the angular speed of the associated wheel. Each tire pressure control device transmits at the end of a second time interval ?t2 the second measured value M2 together with an identification of the tire pressure control device to a central unit. Comparing M1 and M2 determines wheel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Wagner, Peter Brand, Markus Alexander
  • Patent number: 9834044
    Abstract: A device (D) fixes, to the internal wall of a tire (P), an electronic box (100) for measuring parameters inside the tire, the device (D) associating the box (100) with a flexible receptacle (200) which, being fixed to the internal wall by an adhesion means (300), is preformed so as to accept and hold said box (100), remarkable in that said flexible receptacle (200) forms a compartment (210) equipped with an opening (220), by means of which said box (100) is introduced and which is bordered by an edge (221) extending externally and offering a contact surface (222) for the adhesion means (300) so that, once the receptacle (200) is fixed, said opening (220) is closed by the internal wall on which the receptacle (200) is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: LDL Technology SAS
    Inventor: Dominique Luce
  • Patent number: 9783013
    Abstract: A wheel position detector for a vehicle includes: a transmitter at each wheel having a first control portion for generating and transmitting a frame with specific identification information; and a receiver at a vehicle body receiving the frame from one wheel and having a second control portion for performing wheel position detection; and a wheel speed sensor for detecting a tooth of a gear. The second control portion: acquires gear information indicating a tooth position; corrects the tooth position based on a time difference between acquiring of the gear information and receiving time of the frame; and specifies the one wheel based on the tooth position at reception time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Okada, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 9757998
    Abstract: In a wheel position detector for a vehicle, a transmitter on each wheel repeatedly transmits a data frame containing identification information when an angle of the transmitter reaches a transmission angle. A receiver for receiving the frame is mounted on a body of a vehicle and performs wheel position detection based on the frame to specify a target wheel from which the frame is transmitted. The receiver acquires a tooth position of a gear rotating with a corresponding wheel when receiving the frame and sets a variation allowable range based on the tooth position. The receiver specifies the target wheel by determining whether the tooth position falls within the variation allowable range. The transmitter changes the transmission angle at a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Mori, Nobuya Watabe, Noriaki Okada, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 9757997
    Abstract: In a wheel position detecting device, a transmission angular position of a transmitter to transmit a frame from the transmitter to a receiver is changed by a predetermined angle each time the transmitter transmits the frame. A receiver acquires gear information indicating a tooth position of a gear rotating in association with a corresponding wheel, based on a detection signal of a wheel speed sensor. The receiver specifies to which wheels the transmitter is integrated, based on the tooth position of the gear at a reception timing of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Mori, Nobuya Watabe, Noriaki Okada, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 9739689
    Abstract: A tire cornering stiffness estimation system and method includes multiple tire-affixed sensors mounted to a supportive vehicle tire for operably measuring tire-specific parameters and generating tire-specific information relating tire pressure, temperature, wear state, tire identification and tire loading. One or more accelerometer(s) are mounted to the hub supporting the tire to generate a hub accelerometer signal. A model-based tire cornering stiffness estimator is included to generate a model-derived tire cornering stiffness estimation based upon the hub accelerometer signal adapted by the tire-specific information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Kanwar Bharat Singh
  • Patent number: 9645031
    Abstract: A transmitting device which is disposed in a tire hollow region, and which transmits tire information relating to the state of the tire, comprises: a sensor which detects, as tire information, a state of a gas which is filled in the hollow region of a tire which is surrounded by the tire and a rim; a transmitter which wirelessly transmits the tire information; and a casing which houses the sensor and the transmitter therewithin. The casing further comprises a through hole which passes through a wall of the casing, and which extends in an orthogonal direction to a sensor detection face of the sensor. The surface area of an outer side aperture part of the through hole is 0.8 mm2 or less, and the sensor detection face faces an inner side aperture part of the casing inner side of the through hole without obstructing with the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kanenari
  • Patent number: 9532194
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and logic for vehicles to determine vehicle to vehicle (V2V) safety message transmission rates for transmitting V2V safety messages based on how frequently the vehicles actually need to exchange safety messages, including factors such as vehicle velocities, distances among vehicles, and on how quickly the inter-vehicle distances are closing up. The determined V2V safety message transmission rates are selectively dynamically adjusted in accordance with detected significant changes in one or more of the inter-vehicle distances or inter-vehicle speeds. To avoid needless frequent changes to the transmission rate, statistical modeling techniques including hypothesis testing and sequential change detection are selectively used to more accurately detect significant changes in inter-vehicle distances or inter-vehicle speeds that warrant a change to the message transmission rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Helder Antunes, Chintan Patel, Mahbubul Alam
  • Patent number: 9469168
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of identifying sensors (C1, C2, C3, C4) of an information system for a vehicle (V1) of the type that links a plurality of sensors housed in the wheels and equipped with a subassembly for transmitting the collected data to a module (100) for transmitting and receiving said collected data, which is equipped with at least one transmission/reception antenna (110), in which each axle end is fitted with twin wheels, an inner wheel and an outer wheel, each wheel accommodating an equipped sensor (Ci or Ce) of a transmission subassembly, said method being noteworthy in that it consists in varying the power of the transmission antenna (110) in such a way that the transmission field of the antenna varies and includes or excludes the sensor(s) (Ci, Ce) located within its radius of action. The invention also relates to the device for implementing the method described above. Applications: detection and transmission of parameters from vehicle tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: LDL Technology
    Inventor: Philippe Lefaure
  • Patent number: 9457627
    Abstract: A handheld interrogation device includes a controller configured to generate a power signal. The controller is also configured to determine tire pressure data based on a signal received from a tire pressure sensor. The handheld interrogation device also includes a primary coil coupled to the handheld interrogation device and configured to transmit the power signal to a sensor coil of the tire pressure sensor and to receive a data signal from the sensor coil, via inductive coupling, in response to the primary coil being within a predetermined distance of the sensor coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Keller, Paul L. Summers, Scott Streng, Eric Stein
  • Patent number: 9428013
    Abstract: A tire wear state estimation system includes as inputs an axle force estimation, a measured tire inflation pressure; a tire load estimation; a tire cornering stiffness estimation; and a tire identification by which a specific tire-based correlation model correlates tire inflation pressure, the tire load estimation, the tire cornering stiffness estimation, and the vehicle-based sensor axle force estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Kanwar Bharat Singh
  • Patent number: 9424739
    Abstract: Apparatus for a self-powered wireless transmitter system. One such system includes an inductor, a delay circuit, and a transmitter with an antenna. The magnet interacting with the inductor generates both power and a trigger signal. The inductor generates sufficient power for the transmitter to transmit a wireless signal corresponding to when the magnet interacts with the inductor. Precise timing is insured by the inductor being connected to the trigger input of the transmitter unit and the delay circuit adding a short delay to the signal from the inductor with the delayed signal connected to the supply voltage connection of the transmitter. The transmitter transmits the wireless signal upon being energized through the delay circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Terry Pennisi
  • Patent number: 9350468
    Abstract: A method and a device for measuring an LF field of an LF transmitter. An LF signal is transmitted with the LF signal intensity by way of the LF transmitter. The LF signal is received by way of an LF receiver installed in a tire of a vehicle, wherein the LF receiver is located in an LF receiver position. An RF signal is transmitted in response to the reception of the LF signal. The RF signal is received by way of an RF receiver. Data representing the LF signal intensity and the LF receiver position are stored. Furthermore, there is provided a method for arranging an LF transmitter for transmitting an LF signal to an LF receiver installed in a tire of a vehicle and/or for arranging an RF receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Bettecken
  • Patent number: 9322744
    Abstract: Provided is a tire air pressure monitoring device capable of accurately determining the wheel position of a transmitter. The tire air pressure monitoring device comprises: a transmitter installed on each wheel for transmitting detected air pressure information via a wireless signal; a rotational position detection mechanism disposed on the vehicle body side which detects the rotational position of each wheel and also outputs rotational position information to a communications line at prescribed time intervals; and a vehicle body side rotation position estimation mechanism that estimates the rotational position (i.e., number of teeth) at the time of transmission by the transmitters, on the basis of the reception information for the wireless signal from the transmitters and the rotation position information for the wheels input via the communications line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Shima, Kazuo Sakaguchi, Syoji Terada
  • Patent number: 9269201
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitor system tool that stores information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The information may include procedures for resetting and diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system. The tool may include a storing module that stores the information and a displaying module that causes the information to be displayed on a display of the tool. The tool may enable a user to input data regarding a vehicle. Based on the vehicle data input by the user, the tool may determine a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle using the information stored. Based on the tire pressure monitoring system installed on the vehicle, the tool may determine one or more reset or diagnostic procedures that may be performed by the tool. The tool may also reference the owner's manual of the vehicle. The tool may also include an updating module that updates the information stored by the tool. The tool may also include an update interface that may be, for example, an RS232 port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Kochie