Abstract: A tire inflation pressure monitoring system (10) and a method for monitoring air pressure within a tire (14) are provided. The system (10) includes a tire based unit (18) for sensing air pressure within the tire (14) and for transmitting a pressure signal indicative thereof. The system (10) also includes a vehicle based unit (16) for receiving the pressure signal and for comparing the pressure signal to a predefined pressure range. The vehicle based unit (16) is operable in one of (i) a normal operating mode that outputs an alert signal in response to the air pressure within the tire (14) being outside of the predefined pressure range and (ii) a pressure gauge operating mode that outputs an in-range signal in response to the air pressure within the tire (14) being within the predetermined pressure range.

Abstract: A tire condition sensor unit (e.g., 18A) is for use within a tire condition communication system (10). The sensor unit (e.g., 18A) is for association with a tire (e.g., 14A) of a vehicle (12) and, via a method, communicates a tire condition to a vehicle-based unit (28). A sensor (58) senses the tire condition. Radio frequency transmit circuitry and an antenna (68 and 22) transmit a radio frequency signal (e.g., 24A) that indicates the sensed tire condition. In one aspect, a low frequency antenna and a signal detector (48 and 52) receive a low frequency initiation signal that causes transmission of the radio frequency signal indicative of the sensed tire condition. In another aspect, the radio frequency signal is also indicative of a fixed identification.

Abstract: An apparatus (12) for tracking an abnormal condition of a vehicle tire (20, 22, 24) includes a receiver (62) that receives a data message having data indicative of a condition of the vehicle tire (20, 22, 24). A controller (64) is connected to the receiver (62) and is responsive to the data message received by the receiver (62). The controller (64) includes a counter that has a value indicative of a duration of an abnormal tire condition. The controller (64) adjusts the counter value as a function of the content of the received data message.

Abstract: A tire condition sensing apparatus (14) includes a tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) for sensing a tire condition and providing a sensor signal indicative thereof. A transmitter (44) transmits a data message having a plurality of data locations for accommodating data. A controller (72) is electrically connected with the tire condition sensor (78, 84, 88) and the transmitter (44). The controller (72) controls the transmitter (44) to transmit tire condition data in selected data locations of the data message based on a parameter associated with the apparatus (14), such as an identification code of the apparatus (14).