Abstract: A brake pad wear measuring system is for use on a vehicle equipped with a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system including a wheel mounted TPM sensor, and a floating caliper disc brake system including a piston supporting an inner brake pad and a floating caliper supporting an outer brake pad, wherein the piston and floating caliper move toward each other along a braking axis in response to application of the brake system so that the brake pads engage and apply a braking force to a brake rotor. The brake pad wear system includes a permanent magnet attached to the floating caliper. The permanent magnet generates a magnetic field and being positioned on the floating caliper so that the TPM sensor of the wheel passes through the magnetic field as the wheel rotates during vehicle operation. The system also includes a field sensor implemented in the TPM sensor. The field sensor detects the magnetic field as the TPM sensor passes through the magnetic field.

Abstract: A brake pad wear measuring system is for use a floating caliper disc brake system including a piston supporting an inner brake pad and a floating caliper supporting an outer brake pad, wherein the piston and floating caliper move toward each other along a braking axis in response to application of the brake system so that the brake pads engage and apply a braking force to a brake rotor. The brake pad wear system includes a sensor mounted on the floating caliper and movable with the floating caliper along the braking axis and an actuator mounted for movement with the piston along the braking axis. The sensor and actuator move toward each other in response to application of the disc brake system. The distance that the sensor and actuator move toward each other in response to application of the disc brake system increases an amount that is equal to the total wear of the inner and outer brake pads. The sensor is responsive to the presence of the actuator to provide a signal indicative of brake pad wear.

Abstract: A brake pad wear measuring system for measuring brake pad wear for a vehicle disc brake system includes a first coil excitable to create a first magnetic field, and a first target associated with the first coil. The first coil and the first target are configured for movement relative to each other in response to application of the disc brake system. The relative movement causes the first target to move within the first magnetic field and affect the inductance of the first coil. The brake pad wear measuring system also includes a second coil excitable to create a second magnetic field, and a second target associated with the second coil. The second coil and the second target are configured for movement relative to each other in response to application of the disc brake system. The relative movement causes the second target to move within the second magnetic field and affect the inductance of the second coil.

Abstract: A tire condition monitoring apparatus includes a tire-based sensor configured to sense tire operating conditions and transmit a tire condition signal including the sensed tire operating conditions. The apparatus also includes a vehicle-based controller configured to receive the tire condition signal and monitor the tire operating conditions. At least one of the sensor and the controller are configured to determine that a tire pressure adjustment condition exists in response to determining, based on the sensed operating conditions, that a predetermined change in the number of moles of air in the tire has taken place.

Abstract: A brake pad wear measuring system for measuring brake pad wear for a vehicle disc brake system includes a first coil excitable to create a first magnetic field, and a first target associated with the first coil. The first coil and the first target are configured for movement relative to each other in response to application of the disc brake system. The relative movement causes the first target to move within the first magnetic field and affect the inductance of the first coil. The brake pad wear measuring system also includes a second coil excitable to create a second magnetic field, and a second target associated with the second coil. The second coil and the second target are configured for movement relative to each other in response to application of the disc brake system. The relative movement causes the second target to move within the second magnetic field and affect the inductance of the second coil.

Abstract: A tire condition monitoring apparatus includes a tire-based sensor configured to sense tire operating conditions and transmit a tire condition signal including the sensed tire operating conditions. The apparatus also includes a vehicle-based controller configured to receive the tire condition signal and monitor the tire operating conditions. At least one of the sensor and the controller are configured to determine that a tire pressure adjustment condition exists in response to determining, based on the sensed operating conditions, that a predetermined change in the number of moles of air in the tire has taken place.

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: A vehicle communication path-tracing system (10) has a portable transmitter (12) and transceiver/controllers (14A–14N, 14T), located separately from the transmitter (12). A transmitter/controller (14T) is located at a target vehicle (16T) and at least one other transceiver/controller (e.g., 14A) is located at an intermediate location. An intermediate transceiver/controller receives a command signal intended for the target vehicle and transmits a retransmitted command signal intended for the target vehicle. The target transceiver/controller receives the retransmitted command signal and transmits an acknowledgement signal, intended for reception by the at least one intermediate transceiver/controller that transmitted the retransmitted command signal received at the target vehicle. The at least one intermediate transceiver/controller receives an acknowledgement signal and transmits a retransmitted acknowledgement signal.

Abstract: A communication system (10) has a portion (28) of a transmitter controller (14) that provides a message package. An encryption portion (36) of the controller (14) encrypts a first fraction of the message package (e.g., a first portion of the message package and a first part of a second portion of the message package) using a second fraction of the message package (e.g., a second part of the second portion of the message package) as an encryption key. Transmitter components (32 and 34) output a signal (18) that conveys the encrypted first fraction of the message package. Receiver components (56 and 58) receive the signal (18). A decryption portion (60) of a receiver/controller unit (16) decrypts the signal using a decryption key, and reassembles the message package using the decryption key as the second fraction of the message package. Preferably, the communication system (10) is a remote convenience system for remotely controlling a convenience function.

Abstract: A system (10) for remotely controlling a function includes a portable transceiver (34) that outputs a request signal (30) at one of a plurality of frequencies. A base unit (24) receives the request signal (30) and performs the requested function in response to the receipt. The base unit (24) includes components (e.g., 66, 70 and 74) that select the one frequency at which the portable transceiver (34) outputs the function request signal (30) and that provide the selected frequency to the portable transceiver.

Abstract: A passive function control system (10) for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the system (10) are provided. The system (10) includes a vehicle based transceiver (14) for transmitting a challenge signal having a random number and an identification code. At least a portion of the random number and at least a portion of the identification code of the challenge signal are encrypted. A portable transceiver (16) receives the challenge signal and decrypts the encrypted portions of the challenge signal. The portable transceiver (16) transmits a challenge response signal having the random number only in response to a comparison of the identification code to a reference identification code indicating a match. A first controller (18) of the vehicle based transceiver (14) responds to the challenge response signal when the challenge response signal is related to the random number.

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 vehicle communication path-tracing system (10) has a portable transmitter (12) and transceiver/controllers (14A-14N, 14T), located separately from the transmitter (12). A transmitter/controller (14T) is located at a target vehicle (16T) and at least one other transceiver/controller (e.g., 14A) is located at an intermediate location. An intermediate transceiver/controller receives a command signal intended for the target vehicle and transmits a retransmitted command signal intended for the target vehicle. The target transceiver/controller receives the retransmitted command signal and transmits an acknowledgement signal, intended for reception by the at least one intermediate transceiver/controller that transmitted the retransmitted command signal received at the target vehicle. The at least one intermediate transceiver/controller receives an acknowledgement signal and transmits a retransmitted acknowledgement signal.

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: A communication system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes a portable identification device (32) for keyless entry into the vehicle (12) and a tire sensor device (e.g., 48A) for providing information regarding a condition at a tire (e.g., 46A) of the vehicle (12). The portable identification device (32) includes an antenna (110) for receiving an interrogation signal (36) and for transmitting an identification indicative signal (38) responsive to the interrogation signal. The tire sensor device (48A) includes a sensor (158) for sensing at least one tire condition. The tire sensor device (48A) includes antennas (148 and 172) for receiving an initiation signal (e.g., 66A) and for transmitting a condition indicative signal (e.g., 50A) responsive to the initiation signal. The system (10) includes a transmitter arrangement (e.g., 72A, 28A, and 64A) for I emitting the interrogation signal (36) at a first frequency and the initiation signal (66A) at a second, different frequency.

Abstract: A communication system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes a portable identification device (32) for keyless entry into the vehicle (12) and a tire sensor device (e.g., 48A) for providing information regarding a condition at a tire (e.g., 46A) of the vehicle (12). The portable identification device (32) includes an antenna (110) for receiving an interrogation signal (36) and for transmitting an identification indicative signal (38) responsive to the interrogation signal. The tire sensor device (48A) includes a sensor (158) for sensing at least one tire condition. The tire sensor device (48A) includes antennas (148 and 172) for receiving an initiation signal (e.g., 66A) and for transmitting a condition indicative signal (e.g., 50A) responsive to the initiation signal. The system (10) includes a transmitter arrangement (e.g., 72A, 28A, and 64A) for emitting the interrogation signal (36) at a first frequency and the initiation signal (66A) at a second, different frequency.

Abstract: A system (10) for monitoring an operating parameter of a tire (12) on a vehicle (14) includes an identification (72) connected to a vehicle rim (50) that conveys a rim identification code. A tire-based unit (20) senses an operating parameter of the tire (12) and provides a radio frequency signal (24) indicative of a sensed operating parameter of the tire and an identification code of the tire-based unit. A rim identification sensor (30) detects the identification (72) and provides a rim identification signal (32) indicative of the rim identification code and the position of the rim (50) on the vehicle (14). The system also includes electronics (40) for receiving the radio frequency signal (24) and the rim identification signal (32). The electronics (40) correlate the radio frequency signal (24) with the rim identification signal (32) to associate the radio frequency signal with the position on the vehicle (14) where the tire (12) is mounted.