Patents by Inventor Thomas David Stephen McClelland

Thomas David Stephen McClelland has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7423532
    Abstract: A tire monitor system employs a single RF detector mounted on the vehicle. The tire monitor system also includes a control unit and a receiver. The single RF detector is positioned to be proximate a front axle or a rear axle. The RF detector also may be positioned off-center. The control unit distinguishes front tire monitors from rear tire monitors by comparing a number of RF transmissions received by each tire monitor. The control unit also may distinguish between left tire monitors and right tire monitors by comparing the number of RF transmissions received by each tire monitor. In other embodiment, the tire monitor system may further use a received signal strength and/or acceleration signals to determine position information of the tire monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Schrader Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: William David Stewart, Idir Boudaoud, Thomas David Stephen McClelland
  • Patent number: 7088226
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas David Stephen McClelland, David Samuel Porter, Alastair Thomas Johnston
  • Patent number: 6906624
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas David Stephen McClelland, David Samuel Porter, Alastair Thomas Johnston
  • Patent number: 6882270
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Schrader Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: William David Stewart, Idir Boudaoud, Thomas David Stephen McClelland
  • Publication number: 20040183664
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Schrader Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas David Stephen McClelland, David Samuel Porter, Alastair Thomas Johnston
  • Publication number: 20040183665
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: Schrader Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas David Stephen McClelland, David Samuel Porter, Alastair Thomas Johnston
  • Patent number: 6710708
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas David Stephen McClelland, David Samuel Porter, Alastair Thomas Johnston
  • Publication number: 20030080860
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: William David Stewart, Idir Boudaoud, Thomas David Stephen McClelland
  • Publication number: 20020003474
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventors: THOMAS DAVID STEPHEN MCCLELLAND, DAVID SAMUEL PORTER, ALASTAIR THOMAS JOHNSTON