Abstract: A tire monitor for use in conjunction with a remote tire monitoring system of a vehicle includes in one embodiment a dual-axis accelerometer and a control circuit. The control circuit determines position information such as the right/left position of the tire monitor on the vehicle in response to an acceleration signal from the dual axis accelerometer. The tire monitor transmits tire data and the position information to a control unit of a remote tire monitor system. The control unit determines additional position information such as front/rear position of the transmitting tire monitor by detecting signal strength of the transmission. This allows the system to automatically re-learn the position of tire monitors on the vehicle, even after tire rotation.

Abstract: A tire monitor (100) mountable inside a tire (200) includes a tire data sensor (402) and a transmitter (406). The transmitter is configured to transmit tire data at one or more frequencies within a passband of frequencies of the tire. The transmitter of the tire monitor is tuned in relation to the characteristic frequency response of the tire to ensure reliable transmission and reception of radio signals conveying the tire data to a remote receiver.

Abstract: A tire characteristic monitoring method allows automatic programming of tire position information in a remote tire pressure monitoring system (10). The method includes, from a remotely located exciter (16) using a primary coil (18) to transmit a relatively low frequency signal to a secondary coil (L1) of a tire monitor (12) associated with a tire of a vehicle. The method further includes the step of, at the tire monitor, in response to the relatively low frequency signal, transmitting a relatively high transmitting signal to convey data. The data are received at the exciter and subsequently loaded into a receiving unit (14) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A tire monitor system and method rely on only two RF detector mounted on the vehicle, one in close proximity to one of the front wheels and the other in close proximity to one of the rear wheels. An RF detector can distinguish between its local transmitter and the other transmitter on the same axle by the amount of signal received. Every time the controller decodes transmitted RF data, the controller looks to see if and which RF detector has detected the transmission. The controller can then determine over a short period of time which sensor identifier belongs to which corner of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: A tire characteristic monitoring method allows automatic programming of tire position information in a remote tire pressure monitoring system (10). The method includes, from a remotely located exciter (16) using a primary coil (18) to transmit a relatively low frequency signal to a secondary coil (L1) of a tire monitor (12) associated with a tire of a vehicle. The method further includes the step of, at the tire monitor, in response to the relatively low frequency signal, transmitting a relatively high transmitting signal to convey data. The data are received at the exciter and subsequently loaded into a receiving unit (14) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A tire characteristic monitoring method allows automatic programming of tire position information in a remote tire pressure monitoring system (10). The method includes, from a remotely located exciter (16) using a primary coil (18) to transmit a relatively low frequency signal to a secondary coil (L1) of a tire monitor (12) associated with a tire of a vehicle. The method further includes the step of, at the tire monitor, in response to the relatively low frequency signal, transmitting a relatively high transmitting signal to convey data. The data are received at the exciter and subsequently loaded into a receiving unit (14) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A tire characteristic monitoring method allows automatic programming of tire position information in a remote tire pressure monitoring system (10). The method includes, from a remotely located exciter (16) using a primary coil (18) to transmit a relatively low frequency signal to a secondary coil (L1) of a tire monitor (12) associated with a tire of a vehicle. The method further includes the step of, at the tire monitor, in response to the relatively low frequency signal, transmitting a relatively high transmitting signal to convey data. The data are received at the exciter and subsequently loaded into a receiving unit (14) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body having a passageway and first and second oppositely facing valve seats that extend around the passageway. First and second valve elements are positioned in the passageway to seal against the respective valve seats, and a spring biases the first valve element to the closed position against the first valve seat. The valve seats are spaced sufficiently closely together along the passageway that the first valve element, when positioned against the first valve seat, holds the second valve element away from the second valve seat. For this reason, the spring also biases the second valve element away from the second valve seat.

Abstract: A retractable securement apparatus and system for securing cargo to a support structure to prevent undesired relative movement between the cargo and the support. The apparatus comprises a strap contained in an elongate tubular member that is a component of one or both of the cargo or the support structure. One way strap stops fix ends of the strap relative to the tubular member yet allow the strap to be extended from a normally retracted position to an extended position in which hook members on one or both ends of the straps secure the cargo to the support.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body having a passageway and first and second oppositely facing valve seats that extend around the passageway. First and second valve elements are positioned in the passageway to seal against the respective valve seats, and a spring biases the first valve element to the closed position against the first valve seat. The valve seats are spaced sufficiently closely together along the passageway that the first valve element, when positioned against the first valve seat, holds the second valve element away from the second valve seat. For this reason, the spring also biases the second valve element away from the second valve seat.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: A remote tire monitoring system (10) includes tire monitors (12) positioned at respective wheels of a vehicle (V) for transmitting radio signals modulated by tire data and modulation means positioned above near the tire monitors for imposing a secondary modulation on the radio signals. A receiver (14) receives the radio signals and recovers the tire data (26) from the radio signals and associates the tire monitor with the respective wheels of the vehicle using the secondary modulation.

Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.

Abstract: A remote tire monitoring system (10) includes tire monitors (12) positioned at respective wheels of a vehicle (V) for transmitting radio signals modulated by tire data and modulation means positioned above near the tire monitors for imposing a secondary modulation on the radio signals. A receiver (14) receives the radio signals and recovers the tire data (26) from the radio signals and associates the tire monitor with the respective wheels of the vehicle using the secondary modulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating data in a remote tire pressure monitoring system (10) which includes a plurality of transmitters (12) associated with tires (T(1), T(2), T(3), and T(4)) of a vehicle (V) and a receiver (14) in radio communication with the plurality of transmitters. At each tire, data is collected (82), the data being representative of a tire characteristic, such as tire pressure. Data representative of the tire characteristic is transmitted (86). After a time delay (94, 96) next data are transmitted (98) until a predetermined number of data words have been transmitted. The time delay for each respective data word is defined according to a repeating pattern common to the plurality of tires so that data words are transmitted during a plurality of aperiodic time windows.

Abstract: A remote tire monitoring system (10) includes tire monitors (12) positioned at respective wheels of a vehicle (V) for transmitting radio signals modulated by tire data and modulation means positioned above near the tire monitors for imposing a secondary modulation on the radio signals. A receiver (14) receives the radio signals and recovers the tire data (26) from the radio signals and associates the tire monitor with the respective wheels of the vehicle using the secondary modulation.