Tire Deflation Or Inflation Patents (Class 340/442)
  • Patent number: 10286738
    Abstract: A tire pressure detector includes: an air pressure detector to repeatedly detect air pressure of a target tire; a transmission device to wirelessly transmit air pressure information about the air pressure detected by the air pressure detector; a reception device to receive the air pressure information transmitted by the transmission device; an estimation device to calculate, when the reception device receives the air pressure information on the identical target tire a plurality of times, an estimated air pressure based on a plurality of pieces of the latest air pressure information received by the reception device, the estimated air pressure being an estimated value of the air pressure at current time; and an alarm generation device to raise an alarm when the estimated air pressure becomes equal to or less than a specified threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Taki
  • Patent number: 10266119
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror head with a mirror reflective element. The mirror reflective element includes a transflective mirror reflector. A video display screen is disposed behind the mirror reflective element and is operable for displaying video images viewable through the transflective mirror reflector of the mirror reflective element. When not operated to display video images, the presence of the video display screen behind the mirror reflective element is rendered covert by the transflective mirror reflector. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mechanism operable to change the orientation of the mirror reflective element relative to the vehicle driver. The mechanism operates to flip the orientation of the mirror reflective element between a first position that is tilted towards the vehicle driver and a second position that is tilted away from the vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Hamid Habibi, Michael J. Baur
  • Patent number: 10245904
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate TPMS broadcast mode selection. An example vehicle comprises sensors, a processor, and memory. The processor is in communication with the memory and with the sensors. The processor is configured to: receive an unencrypted signal indicating an abnormal tire pressure, enter an encrypted mode with the sensors, receive an encrypted follow up tire pressure status from the sensors, and determine whether the unencrypted signal is authentic based on the encrypted follow up tire pressure status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ali Hassani, Dilip B. Patel
  • Patent number: 10232673
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for tire pressure monitoring with vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes tires, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors, a park-assist controller to determine a parking path, and a TPMS controller. The TPMS controller is to determine tire characteristics based on the parking path, calculate tire indexes for the tires based on the tire characteristics, and select one or more of the TPMS sensors based on the tire indexes. The TPMS controller also is to instruct, via a communication module, the selected TPMS sensors to collect pressure measurements during park-assist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 10232822
    Abstract: Provided are a vehicle-mounted communication system with which a vehicle-mounted machine is able to continue receiving a wireless signal even if the signal is interrupted. When an ID signal, indicating identification information (ID) corresponding to a vehicle, and more than M (where M is a natural number) data signals, indicating control content, are caused to be included in a wireless signal by the portable machine, and the portable machine transmits the wireless signal, the portable machine adds the ID signal into the wireless signal each time M data signals have been transmitted, and continues to transmit the wireless signal. Meanwhile, each time the vehicle-mounted machine receives the ID signal included in the wireless signal, the vehicle-mounted machine verifies the identification information the received ID signal against identification information stored in a ROM, and continues to receive the wireless signal when there is a match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Furuta
  • Patent number: 10226973
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for communicating measurement messages between a plurality of electronic measurement modules and an electronic control unit of a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps of measurement (E1), by a primary emitter module, of parameter values associated with the wheel in which the module is mounted, of sending (E2), by the primary emitter module, of measurement messages to a relay module, of reception (E3) by the relay module, of the measurement messages sent, of measurement (E5), by the relay module, of parameter values associated with the wheel in which the relay module is mounted and of sending (E6), by the relay module, of the measurement messages received and of its own measurements to the electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Nicolas Guinart, Jean-Philippe Boisset, Olivier Fudulea, Jean-Charles Huard
  • Patent number: 10229348
    Abstract: A device for use in detecting metallic objects includes a processor and an electromagnetic radiation source in communication with the processor. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit radiation to heat a metallic object. The device also includes a temperature sensor in communication with the processor. The temperature sensor is configured to detect heat emitted from the metallic object. The device also includes an alarm configured to notify an operator of the presence of the metallic object responsive to a determination by the processor that a temperature threshold has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: Bernard Fryshman
  • Patent number: 10214137
    Abstract: A dual color temperature vehicle lamp able to judge a driving environment based on invisible light includes a vehicle lamp body in the form of an LED. The vehicle lamp body includes a light emitting unit capable of performing a conversion of at least two kinds of color temperature light. A front end face of the vehicle lamp body is provided with at least one invisible light emitting source, at least one reflected light receiver, and a partition plate between the invisible light emitting source and the reflected light receiver. The invisible light emitting source is embedded in a recess at a front end of the vehicle lamp body. The vehicle lamp body includes a preamplifier circuit connected with the reflected light receiver, an MCU connected with the preamplifier circuit, and a wireless transceiver module connected with the MCU therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: LEIMAN LIGHTING (DOGGUAN) TECH. LIMITED
    Inventors: Jianhua Tong, Yucheng Lin
  • Patent number: 10183534
    Abstract: A tire pressure sensor device (122) for a wheel (112) of an aircraft (102) including a pressure sensor (124) for measuring the internal pressure of a tire, a temperature sensor (126) for measuring a temperature local to the tire (116), a memory unit (131) local to the tire for storing data, and a control unit (128) local to the tire arranged to record in the memory unit (131) data of the readings taken at intervals of time. The data recorded for each reading includes an indication of the time of the reading, the tire pressure and the temperature local to the tire. Measurements may be taken and recorded over time, both when the aircraft is on the ground and when the aircraft is in flight. Data may be uploaded to a portable handheld device (140) for analysis when maintaining the tires in their correctly inflated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Raymond Bill
  • Patent number: 10173483
    Abstract: An electronic air pump pressurizes object in either manual or automatic mode. In automatic mode, the electronic air pump determines air pressure needed to adjust an object to a set target pressure. The electronic air pump inflates or deflates the ball automatically until the air pressure inside the ball matches the preset value. In manual mode regulation of the air pressure is adjusted by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TORRX, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Neir, Sally Otten
  • Patent number: 10160270
    Abstract: A vehicle is mounted with a pulse detecting unit that detects rotation of a wheel as pulses, a wheel rotation number storage unit that stores the number of pulses in correspondence with time, and a wheel position specifying device that specifies on which of the plurality of wheels the tire state detecting device arranged on each wheel is arranged. The wheel position specifying device includes a reception unit that receives a transmission signal, including a time required for the wheel to make a predetermined number of rotations, transmitted from each tire state detecting device, and a specifying unit that specifies the wheel on which each tire state detecting device is arranged from a difference of the number of pulses counted during the time included in the transmission signal and the number of pulses while the wheel makes the predetermined number of rotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takao Araya
  • Patent number: 10147246
    Abstract: A wheel bolt torque monitoring system for a vehicle includes a torque sensor disposed at each bolt that is used to mount a wheel at a wheel mount of a vehicle. A transmitting device is disposed at the wheel mount of the vehicle, and the transmitting device receives data from the torque sensors at the wheel mounted at the wheel mount. The transmitting device transmits data to a control unit, which processes data received from the transmitting device to determine when a torque at a bolt is below a threshold torque level. Responsive to the control unit determining that a torque at a bolt is below the threshold torque level, the control unit generates an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Arno Krapf, Ruediger Boegel
  • Patent number: 10147032
    Abstract: A method, system and tag for low power radio frequency communication is described. In one embodiment, the RF tag comprises: an energy harvesting unit operable to convert incident RF energy to direct current (DC); a storage unit operable to store recovered DC power; one or more sensors for sensing; a backscatter communicator to backscatter energy to communicate; and a microcontroller coupled to the energy harvesting and storage units, the one or more sensors, and the backscatter communicator, the microcontroller operable to wake up from a sleep state and cause the radio to communicate sensed data from at least one of the one or more sensors while powered by energy previously harvested and stored by the energy harvesting and storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: RICOH CO., LTD., DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ken Gudan, Sergey Chemishkian, Jonathan J. Hull, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10118446
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tire pressure monitoring system and a method for performing auto-location thereof that simply identifies the position of a tire pressure monitoring module in a direct scheme tire pressure monitoring system to perform auto-location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Autron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-Taek Kim
  • Patent number: 10093138
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring tires of vehicles via personal area networks. An example vehicle includes a body, nodes spaced apart on the body, a tire, a transceiver coupled to the tire, and a tire detector. The tire detector is to determine a tire position based on wireless communication between the transceiver and the nodes, identify a duration that the tire is at the tire position, and present a warning to rotate the tire position when the duration is greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nunzio DeCia, David A Herman, Arun Dutta
  • Patent number: 10093137
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a device, a system, a method and a computer program for locating a plurality of positions of a plurality of wheels on a vehicle. The device comprises an input to obtain information related to a position of one wheel from the plurality of wheels, and a detector to obtain information related to rotational frequencies of the one wheel and of at least one other wheel of the plurality of wheels. The device further comprises a locator coupled to the input and to the detector. The locator is configured to determine information related to the position of the at least one other wheel based on the information related to the position of the one wheel and based on the information related to the rotational frequencies. Additionally or alternatively, an embodiment of the device may comprise one or more inputs to obtain information related to rotational frequencies of the plurality of wheels and information related to accelerations at the plurality of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andre Peine, Michael Kandler, Emanuele Bruno Bodini
  • Patent number: 10088379
    Abstract: A data transmitting device capable of configuring different operating frequencies for use by a tire pressure monitoring detector includes: a standard oscillator; a phase locked loop including a phase frequency comparator, a filter, and a pressure-controlling oscillator; a microcontrol unit electrically connected to the standard oscillator and the phase frequency comparator and adapted to store a first ratio and a second ratio; and a signal output unit electrically connected to the output end of the pressure-controlling oscillator and the microcontrol unit. The microcontrol unit allows a user to select and send the first or second ratio to the phase frequency comparator. The phase locked loop generates a target frequency signal according to the first or second ratio selected by the user. The microcontrol unit sends a data to the signal output unit, and the signal output unit outputs the data according to the frequency of the target frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: CUB ELECPARTS INC.
    Inventors: San-Chuan Yu, Tsan-Nung Wang, Chao-Ching Hu, Chi-Hung Chen, Wei-Hung Ma
  • Patent number: 10071607
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting and removing a tyre on and from a respective rim comprises: an element for moving a bead of the tyre in order to insert/remove the bead into/from a respective groove in the rim, the element comprising a tool connected to a respective supporting arm for moving the bead; a rotatable support for the rim, in such manner as to turn the rim and the tyre about a corresponding longitudinal axis of the rim; at least one sensor associated with the supporting arm for measuring the mechanical strain applied to the bead of the tyre when the latter is mounted on, and removed from, the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NEXION S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giulio Corghi
  • Patent number: 10065460
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an air pressure in at least one tire of a motor vehicle, wherein at least one air pressure in the tire is detected by at least one measuring electronics unit present in the tire and data is transmitted by the measuring electronics unit to a control unit. Depending on the data, the control unit activates components of the motor vehicle to generate optical and/or acoustic signals. The control unit is switched into an after-running mode for a defined period of time when an ignition of the motor vehicle is shut off, in which mode the control unit can continue to receive data from the measuring electronics unit and may activate components of the motor vehicle to generate optical and/or acoustic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Klaus-Jürgen Gier
  • Patent number: 10053069
    Abstract: The present invention provides a graded braking control device and control method for vehicle tire burst, and belongs to the technical field of vehicles. It solves the problems of rear-end collision and more instability of the vehicle resulting from emergency brake after vehicle tire burst. The device includes a tire pressure sensor, a controller, a radar sensor, a stability detection module and an ESC, wherein the radar sensor and the stability detection module are respectively connected with input ends of the controller, the tire pressure sensor is in wireless connection with the controller, and the ESC is connected with an output end of the controller. The control method includes: 1. monitoring vehicle tire condition; 2. carrying out traffic state assessment and determining a first maximum braking deceleration value for preventing the rear-end collision with the follower vehicle after emergency brake of the present vehicle; 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD, ZHEJIANG GEELY HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shuncheng Wei, Xiaozhen Zhu, Yujian Chen, Jiansheng Zhu, Bo Li, Xiang Meng, Wei Liu, Zhijie Pan, Chengming Wu, Qingfeng Feng
  • Patent number: 10041850
    Abstract: System method and computer operable application for estimating pneumatic pressure in tires of vehicles, using a handheld device having at least one camera installed therein that allow acquiring an image of a wheel of a vehicle, using the camera of the handheld device, analyzing the acquired image for estimating value of at least one parameter of the tire of the wheel in the image, where the parameter is related to pneumatic pressure of the tire, estimating pneumatic pressure state of the respective tire by using the parameter and presenting an indication of the estimated pneumatic pressure state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Kfir Wittmann
  • Patent number: 9983097
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assessing tire health through monitoring an effective tire rolling radius are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining velocity data for a vehicle from a global positioning system, obtaining angular speed data for a wheel of the vehicle, processing the velocity data and the angular speed data using a digital filter, and determining an effective rolling radius of a tire coupled to the wheel based on the processed velocity data and angular speed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Tomas Poloni, Jianbo Lu
  • Patent number: 9956833
    Abstract: Provided are an in-vehicle reporting apparatus and a reporting system configured to prevent errors in reporting. The in-vehicle reporting apparatus stores a mounting position of each tire in association with identification information identifying the tire, a vehicle height acquisition unit acquires a vehicle height of the vehicle, a vehicle height determination unit determines whether the vehicle height is greater than or equal to a predetermined height, and a reporting unit reports information that depends on the mounting position of a tire stored in the storage unit in association with acquired identification information and on acquired air pressure information of the tire when the acquired vehicle height is not greater than or equal to the predetermined height, and does not report information that depends on the mounting position of the tire, when the acquired vehicle height is greater than or equal to the predetermined height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Norichika Oomi
  • Patent number: 9950577
    Abstract: The location of a replacement tire pressure sensor for a tire pressure monitoring system is determined by comparing received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values for the replacement sensor as received by several different receivers to an array of stored RSSI values provided by each sensor at each wheel by the same receivers when the vehicle is manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Marlett, Michael Eric Pierfelice, Troy Allen Bartz
  • Patent number: 9937844
    Abstract: A method for tipping a load by a working machine is provided. The working machine includes a load carrier and at least one lift cylinder adapted to raise the load carrier for tipping the load. The method includes obtaining a measure of the inclination angle of the working machine, where the inclination of the working machine is such that the rear end of the working machine is higher than the front end thereof, allowing a first maximal tipping pressure to the lift cylinder for raising the load carrier when the inclination angle is smaller than a predefined inclination angle, and allowing a second maximal tipping pressure to the lift cylinder for raising the load carrier when the inclination angle is greater than the predefined inclination angle, and where the second maximal tipping pressure exceeds the first maximal tipping pressure. A tipping device, a working machine comprising such a tipping device, a computer program and a computer program product are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Kent Cronholm
  • Patent number: 9940564
    Abstract: In a wireless IC device, a columnar body includes a metal body with an insulating film. A loop-shaped antenna conductor is provided on an upper surface of the columnar body via an insulating pedestal. The loop surface of the antenna conductor is parallel or substantially parallel to the upper surface of the columnar body. On the lower surface of a RFIC element, two terminal electrodes are provided. The RFIC element is mounted on the antenna conductor such that the two terminal electrodes are connected to both ends of the antenna conductor, respectively. One end of the connecting conductor is connected to the vicinity of one end of the antenna conductor, and the other end of the connecting conductor is connected to the upper surface of the columnar body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kunihiro Komaki
  • Patent number: 9934622
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are provided of telematics devices and exemplary corresponding methods. In an exemplary embodiment, a telematics device generally includes a controller, a wireless communication module to transmit ignition information to a remote station, a power input terminal to sense a voltage of the battery, and an ignition input terminal to couple to an ignition line of the vehicle. The controller determines whether the ignition input terminal is coupled to an ignition line of the vehicle, and when the terminal is coupled to an ignition line, the controller determines vehicle ignition turn on and ignition turn off events by detecting voltage changes on the ignition line. When the ignition input terminal is not coupled to an ignition line of the vehicle, the controller senses the voltage of the battery of the vehicle to determine vehicle ignition turn on and turn off events based on sensed voltage changes of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Laird Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Balachander Rajakondala
  • Patent number: 9925836
    Abstract: An ECU is used to a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. The ECU includes a contact storage portion and a post-replacement ID reporting section. The contact storage portion stores previously a contact of a management computer of a facility that the vehicle uses. The post-replacement ID reporting section transmits a post-replacement tire ID of a tire, which is substituted in the tire replacement, to the contact in the contact storage portion via a communication network when the tire replacement is detected by a tire replacement detection section. The management computer includes a registration change section that registers the post-replacement tire ID in a registration portion upon receiving the post-replacement tire ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruhiko Sogabe
  • Patent number: 9916702
    Abstract: A vehicle may include at least one operative sub-system that includes at least one sensor configured to output one or more sensor signals related to the at least one operative sub-system. A monitoring system is in communication with the operative sub-system(s). The monitoring system is configured to correlate the one or more sensor signals with respect to time, compile initial statistics of the one or more sensor signals with respect to a plurality of variables; and correlate the plurality of variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Alexey Rudenko, Tsai-Ching Lu, Craig A. Lee, Franz David Betz
  • Patent number: 9911340
    Abstract: A multi-sensor, multi-modal data collection, analysis, recognition, and visualization platform can be embodied in a navigation capable vehicle. The platform provides an automated tool that can integrate multi-modal sensor data including two-dimensional image data, three-dimensional image data, and motion, location, or orientation data, and create a visual representation of the integrated sensor data, in a live operational environment. An illustrative platform architecture incorporates modular domain-specific business analytics “plug ins” to provide real-time annotation of the visual representation with domain-specific markups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Supun Samarasekera, Raia Hadsell, Rakesh Kumar, Harpreet S. Sawhney, Bogdan C. Matei, Ryan Villamil
  • Patent number: 9908522
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle enables an engine to be operated at an operating point with a good fuel consumption efficiency, to perform power generation, without causing a sense of incongruity about noise or vibrations to a driver. With the control device, the engine is operated so that generated power of a generator increases in response to electric power required of the vehicle. Thus, the engine can be operated at an operating point with a satisfactory fuel consumption efficiency. When in an acceleration state, the engine is operated so that the increase amount of generated power is set to be larger than when in a deceleration state. When in the deceleration state, the engine is operated so that an increase in generated power is suppressed and an increase in noise is curbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisakazu Ikedaya, Tadayoshi Hirao, Shigetoshi Hirano
  • Patent number: 9895944
    Abstract: A module (25) for measuring at least one parameter of a tire of a wheel of a motor vehicle, the wheel having a wheel rim (1). The measurement module (25) includes an inflation valve (30) designed to be assembled on the wheel rim (1) and including a deformable body (32) and a hollow rod (31) passing through the body (32) including an assembly notch (36) and a sensor device (40), mounted slidingly on the hollow rod (31), including at least one sensor for measuring the value of the parameter and an element (42) for immobilizing the sensor device (40) in the assembly notch (36). The assembly notch (36) has a setting range enabling the movement of the immobilizing element (42) in the assembly notch (36) between a first setting position and a second setting position to adapt to the thickness of the wheel rim (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Olivier Gout, Frederic Gaugain
  • Patent number: 9896046
    Abstract: A receiving assemblage is provided for a control device in a vehicle, having a voltage generator for generating a synchronization pulse, which encompasses a first voltage source, a current source, and a current sink, the voltage generator generating the synchronization pulse within predefined specification limits with a predefined shape and a predefined time-related behavior, and the receiving assemblage outputting the synchronization pulse via a data bus to at least one sensor for synchronization of a subsequent signal transfer, the voltage generator generating the synchronization pulse via the current source and the current sink, substantially as a sinusoidal oscillation, by charging and/or discharging a bus load, and to a method for generating a synchronization pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Massoud Momeni, Matthias Siemss
  • Patent number: 9895942
    Abstract: A method for the hands-free access to a motor vehicle (V) is combined with a method for monitoring tire pressure. More particularly, wheel units (20, 21, 22, 23) belonging to the tire pressure recognition system detect the cessation of low frequency LF transmissions caused by the recognition of a badge B paired with the vehicle in order to trigger the measurement via the wheel units of the pressure and temperature values prevailing in each tire of the vehicle. These pressure and temperature measurements are sent to a central unit (14), which is mounted on the vehicle, so as to provide the driver with this information. The temperature and pressure measurements are transmitted to the central unit as soon as the measurements have been taken, irrespective of whether or not the driver has entered the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Youri Vassilieff, Helene Garnier
  • Patent number: 9893914
    Abstract: A protocol to be used in the transmission is determined. Based upon the protocol, the transmission frequency range of a clock is selectively altered. TPMS data is transmitted according to the altered transmission frequency range of the clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Deniau, Brian J Farrell
  • Patent number: 9835432
    Abstract: A rotation angle of at least one wheel of a vehicle is determined during an operation of the vehicle. The method includes acquiring a plurality of pressure values of a tire pressure of the at least one wheel by way of a tire pressure sensor, and determining a rotation angle of the at least one wheel by determining a change of the pressure of the tire based on the acquired plurality of pressure values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Andrei Cimponeriu
  • Patent number: 9835477
    Abstract: A wheel assembly rotational position identifying apparatus includes an acceleration detector, a control section, and a battery. The control section identifies the rotational position of the wheel assembly based on an acceleration detected by the acceleration detector. The control section operates in a control mode that is a selected one of a normal mode and a power saving mode, in which a power consumption associated with identification of the rotational position of the wheel assembly is smaller than that in the normal mode. The control section switches the control mode to the normal mode when an initiation condition is met in accordance with an input from outside. The control section also switches the control mode to the power saving mode when a termination condition is met in the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Tsujita
  • Patent number: 9821766
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for anti-theft and tracking of automobile and automobile wheels. The system comprises of an alert and tracking device (105) installed on the inside of an air stem of a wheel along with tire pressure monitor system (TPMS), wherein the alert and tracking device (105) detects and alerts of theft when there is an unauthorized movement such as lifting, tampering, removal of the wheel and also tracks and monitors the position of the stolen wheel. The system further comprises of a remote tracking application (111) to control and track the stolen wheel from the remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Terrence Gaskin
  • Patent number: 9815342
    Abstract: A controller may be configured to generate commands to position a vehicle relative to primary inductive charge coils that are configured to charge TPMS arrangements. A controller may further be configured to generate commands based on data indicative of electromagnetic field strength between TPMS arrangements and a corresponding coil to reduce a difference in power received by the arrangements during a charge period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Patent number: 9802447
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system includes a tire valve stem mounted tire pressure gauge and an externally powerable remote display unit. The pressure gauge includes a pressure sensor, a wake circuit, a processor, and a first radio frequency (RF) module. The remote display unit includes a second RF module and a display. The wake circuit is adapted to activate the processor periodically at a predetermined interval of time and causes the processor to receive an output signal from the pressure sensor. The output of the pressure sensor is indicative of a tire pressure detected by the pressure sensor. The remote display unit is adapted to display the measured tire pressure value without any user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MEASUREMENT LTD.
    Inventor: Steven Petrucelli
  • Patent number: 9796220
    Abstract: A device for detecting a pressure change in a tire includes a first temperature sensor located outside the tire, the first temperature sensor being configured to produce a first temperature signal indicative of a first temperature, an input apparatus configured to receive the first temperature signal from the first temperatures sensor, and to receive a second temperature signal from a second temperature sensor, the second temperature signal being indicative of a second temperature, and to receive a tire pressure signal from a tire pressure sensor, the tire pressure signal being indicative of a tire pressure of the tire, and a processor configured to output an evaluation signal including information about a change of tire pressure based on the pressure signal and based on the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Jens Graf, Milen Kourtev
  • Patent number: 9793830
    Abstract: A self-powered sensing system is provided for the monitoring of quasi-static structural responses. The sensing system is comprised of: an energy concentrator having a member configured to detect a variation of a physical stimuli and change shape in response to the variation of the physical stimuli, where the variation typically occurs at a frequency less than one Hertz; a transducer coupled the member of the energy concentrator and generates a voltage in response to the change in shape of the member; and an event logging circuit configured to receive the voltage from the transducer and log the voltage in a non-volatile memory. Physical stimuli may include temperature, pressure or an applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Nizar Lajnef, Shantanu Chakrabartty, Rigoberto Burgueno, Borchani Wassim
  • Patent number: 9776462
    Abstract: A system to perceive the structure of a tire chamber is presented herein. The system includes: a memory, controller, wheel, vehicle tire, and sensor. The memory includes executable instructions. The controller is in turn configured to read and execute the executable instructions. The wheel is adapted to connect to a vehicle axle. The tire is connected to the wheel. The sensor is located within the interior chamber of the tire. The sensor is moreover configured to measure a selected portion of the tire chamber. The sensor is further configured to communicate the measurement to the controller. The executable instructions enable the controller to: operate the sensor so as to make measurements of the tire chamber; retrieve (from the sensor) measurement information of the tire chamber; and generate tire-chamber-perception information from the measurement information of the tire chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy P. Gray
  • Patent number: 9776463
    Abstract: A number of frames in a burst is adjusted such that a first optimal number of first frames from a first manufacturer are included in the burst, the first optimal number of frames chosen to enable the detection of the burst by first receivers that are tuned to receive the first frames from the first manufacturer. The number of frames in the burst is adjusted such that a second optimal number of second frames from a second manufacturer are included in the burst, the second optimal number of frames chosen to enable detection of the burst by second receivers that are tuned to receive the second frames from the second manufacturer. The number of frames in the burst maintains a configuration compliant with government regulations regarding one or more of a burst length and a power emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Deniau, Brian J Farrell
  • Patent number: 9757999
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for monitoring a tire pressure using a speed section. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus using a speed section of the present invention includes a frequency measuring unit which measures frequency data for every wheel mounted on a vehicle; a frequency calculating unit which calculates a mean frequency for every speed section by accumulating the measured frequency data for every predetermined speed section to obtain a mean; a frequency calibration unit which performs the frequency calibration by calculating a deviation of the mean frequency for every adjacent speed section and comparing the calculated deviation of the mean frequency with the predetermined frequency range; and a low pressure determining unit which determines a low pressure by performing the frequency analysis in accordance with the speed section in which the frequency calibration is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Autron Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-Hwan Shin, Seung-Geun Ham
  • Patent number: 9731564
    Abstract: A method via which tire modules can be associated with tire positions on a vehicle includes: inputting vehicle data and tire information via a mobile detecting device; analyzing the input information via the detecting device; providing an instruction to the user of the detecting device indicating the first tire for performing a first tire module identification; positioning the detecting device near the first tire which is specified by the detecting device; activating an inquiry signal having a transmission frequency specified by the detecting device and a specified signal amplitude to a tire module arranged in the tire, wherein the tire module includes at least one sensor for tire-pressure monitoring; capturing a response signal from the tire module, wherein the response includes the identification data of the tire module; and, evaluating the response signal of the tire module and associating the identified tire module with a tire position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutchland GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Lehmann, Adrian Cyllik, Joerg Hanna, Siva Sankar Surisetti, Andreas Scher
  • Patent number: 9694631
    Abstract: A tire position determination system includes a position determination unit that determines a tire position by obtaining axle rotation information when each of tire pressure transmitters reaches a specific position on a tire rotation path of a corresponding tire and specifying a tire that rotates in synchronism with the axle rotation information of each axle. A cycle calculator calculates a rotation cycle of each axle based on the axle rotation information. A validity determination unit determines validity of accuracy of gravity sampling based on the rotation cycle, a gravity sampling interval time of a gravitational component acting on each tire pressure transmitter, and a gravity sampling frequency in the rotation cycle. The position determination unit determines the tire position based on a determination result of the validity determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Yuta Tsuchikawa, Naoki Watanabe, Katsuhide Kumagai
  • Patent number: 9679422
    Abstract: The present invention is for a method of creating new vehicle data using existing vehicle data. The method relies on using vehicle parameter(s) to adjust a less accurate parameter or create a new related parameter for subsequent use. This will be useful in situations where the vehicle network signal provided to a device such as an OBDII data collection system is not accurate or does not have enough resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: William D. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9669667
    Abstract: A low-frequency emission electronic unit (20?) includes two low-frequency antennas (B1, B2). The second antenna (B2) is passive and resonant, oriented along the main axis (Y) of the first low-frequency antenna (B1) and is adapted to generate two low-frequency fields (D2, D2?) at right angles to the field (D1) emitted by the first antenna (B1). The low-frequency emission electronic unit (20?) makes it possible to reduce the zones of rupture of reception of the low-frequency signals by the wheel unit (13) situated in proximity in which the low-frequency signals emitted by the low-frequency emission electronic unit are not received by the closest wheel unit (13). A low-frequency signal transmission method alternating the emissions of waves by the two antennas (B1, B2) is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Mohamed Cheikh, Sebastien Kessler
  • Patent number: 9649895
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a missing vehicle tire and notifying a user of the vehicle about a potential vehicle tire theft. The method carried out by the system involves detecting that a tire is missing from a vehicle using a vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system and thereafter providing a notification of the missing tire via a wireless communication sent from a telematics unit on the vehicle. The wireless communication can be sent automatically by the telematics unit in response to the detection. Identification numbers or other data reported by sensors used in the TPM system can be used to determine if a tire is missing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Catherine L. McCormick, Steven Swanson