Abstract: A system includes sensor modules, each associated with a wheel on a vehicle, and a receiver unit. Each sensor module calculates a rotation period associated with the wheel during turn mode vehicular motion and determines rotation direction of the associated wheel during straight vehicular motion. A data packet that includes a unique identifier for the sensor module, the rotation period, and the rotation direction are transmitted from each sensor module for receipt at the receiver unit. The receiver unit determines the steered wheels and non-steered wheels based on the rotation period, and the receiver unit can determine which wheels are on the right side or the left side of the vehicle based on the rotation direction. Knowledge of the steered and non-steered wheels and the rotation direction of the wheels, enables the receiver unit to assign locations of the sensor modules, and hence positions of the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) module coupled with a wheel on a vehicle and a vehicle navigation system of the vehicle. A method entails determining a movement signal at the TPMS module and receiving the movement signal at the vehicle navigation system. The vehicle navigation system includes an inertial sensor system configured to supply motion signals indicative of motion of the vehicle and the vehicle navigation system determines output data in response to the motion signals. The vehicle navigation system output data is calibrated at the vehicle navigation system by utilizing movement signals from the TPMS module to remove an error component from the vehicle navigation system output data. Thus, calibration can be performed in lieu of or in addition to utilizing signals from satellites, which may not be available at all times.

Abstract: A system includes sensor modules, each associated with a wheel on a vehicle, and a receiver unit. Each sensor module calculates a rotation period associated with the wheel during turn mode vehicular motion and determines rotation direction of the associated wheel during straight vehicular motion. A data packet that includes a unique identifier for the sensor module, the rotation period, and the rotation direction are transmitted from each sensor module for receipt at the receiver unit. The receiver unit determines the steered wheels and non-steered wheels based on the rotation period, and the receiver unit can determine which wheels are on the right side or the left side of the vehicle based on the rotation direction. Knowledge of the steered and non-steered wheels and the rotation direction of the wheels, enables the receiver unit to assign locations of the sensor modules, and hence positions of the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) module coupled with a wheel on a vehicle and a vehicle navigation system of the vehicle. A method entails determining a movement signal at the TPMS module and receiving the movement signal at the vehicle navigation system. The vehicle navigation system includes an inertial sensor system configured to supply motion signals indicative of motion of the vehicle and the vehicle navigation system determines output data in response to the motion signals. The vehicle navigation system output data is calibrated at the vehicle navigation system by utilizing movement signals from the TPMS module to remove an error component from the vehicle navigation system output data. Thus, calibration can be performed in lieu of or in addition to utilizing signals from satellites, which may not be available at all times.