Relative Wheel Speed Patents (Class 340/444)
  • Patent number: 11820179
    Abstract: An embodiment system for monitoring a tire pressure includes a wheel speed sensor mounted on each wheel of a vehicle, a set button for resetting a pressure setting, and a controller configured to determine whether the tire pressure is low using the wheel speed sensor, output a low pressure warning, determine whether a user has an intention to reset the pressure setting when a manipulation of the set button is sensed after the low pressure warning is output, and reset the pressure setting in response to a response of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Sung Cho, Yong Gu Kang
  • Patent number: 11700785
    Abstract: A lawn mowing apparatus may include sensors that are fastened to both its mower deck and its chassis. The sensors may sense a position of the mower deck in relation to the chassis. The sensed position of the mower deck may be presented to the operator via a dashboard display of the lawn tractor or transmitted via a wireless signal to another device. Based on such sensed position, an operator of the lawn tractor may manually adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable operating range. In some embodiments, servomotors may used to adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TRANSFORM SR BRANDS LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Dombrowski, Grant Kiel, Brian Todd Reese
  • Patent number: 11548332
    Abstract: A control device is provided for a wheel-monitoring system of a vehicle which is equipped with vehicle wheels. At least one of the vehicle wheels is equipped with an electronic wheel unit, arranged thereon, for detecting at least one wheel operating parameter of the respective vehicle wheel for transmitting wheel operating data to the control device. The control device makes available an abnormality message in the event of an abnormality which is determined on the basis of the transmitted wheel operating data. The control device also takes into account position data relating to a current position of the vehicle for the determination of the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Fischer, Michael Loeffler
  • Patent number: 11512950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating a current wheel circumference of at least one wheel arranged on a vehicle, said method comprising: determining a reference speed of the vehicle at a point in time by means of a reference apparatus, detecting a wheel rotational speed of the at least one wheel at said point in time by means of a wheel rotational speed sensor, estimating a single wheel-circumference value based on the determined reference speed and the detected wheel rotational speed for said point in time by means of a calculation apparatus, storing at least the estimated single wheel-circumference value in a circular buffer for said point in time, estimating a current wheel circumference based on the single wheel-circumference values stored in the circular buffer by the calculation apparatus, outputting the estimated current wheel circumference as a wheel circumference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Olaf Hinz, Laurens Hufer, Roy Lamping
  • Patent number: 11168981
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimating a current wheel circumference of at least one wheel arranged on a vehicle, said method comprising: determining a reference speed of the vehicle at a point in time by means of a reference apparatus, detecting a wheel rotational speed of the at least one wheel at said point in time by means of a wheel rotational speed sensor, estimating a single wheel-circumference value based on the determined reference speed and the detected wheel rotational speed for said point in time by means of a calculation apparatus, storing at least the estimated single wheel-circumference value in a circular buffer for said point in time, estimating a current wheel circumference based on the single wheel-circumference values stored in the circular buffer by the calculation apparatus, outputting the estimated current wheel circumference as a wheel circumference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Olaf Hinz, Laurens Hufer, Roy Lamping
  • Patent number: 11148544
    Abstract: A backup device includes: a charging unit that charges a second power source unit on the basis of the power supply from a first power source unit; a voltage detection unit detects the output voltage of the second power source unit; a vehicle speed information acquisition unit acquires vehicle speed information; and a control unit sets, on the basis of at least the vehicle speed information acquired by the vehicle speed information acquisition unit, a charging target voltage according to a setting method in which the voltage is set higher as the vehicle speed indicated by the vehicle speed information is greater, and causes, on the basis of the output voltage of the second power source unit detected by the voltage detection unit, the charging unit to perform the charging operation so as to bring the output voltage of the second power source unit close to the charging target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyohei Morita
  • Patent number: 11137768
    Abstract: A position estimation system and the like that prevent accuracy of self-position information from decreasing is provided. A position estimation system 100 according to the present disclosure includes a first sensor configured to output first data including data of an angular velocity of a wheel driven when a moving apparatus 10 moves. The position estimation system further includes a second sensor configured to output second data including position data of the moving apparatus 10 detected not according to the angular velocity of the wheel or data concerning a change in a posture of the moving apparatus 10. The position estimation system further includes a self-position estimation unit configured to set a priority of the first data according to a value of the angular velocity of the wheel and integrate the first data with the second data based on the set priority to estimate a position of the moving apparatus 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Terada
  • Patent number: 10856396
    Abstract: Provided herein are examples of a remote control device that provides a retrofit solution for an existing switched control system. The remote control device may comprise a control circuit, a rotatable portion, a magnetic ring coupled to the rotatable portion, and first and second Hall-effect sensor circuits configured to generate respective first and second sensor control signals in response to magnetic fields generated by the magnetic elements. The control circuit may operate in a normal mode when the rotatable portion is being rotated, and in a reduced-power mode when the rotatable portion is not being rotated. The control circuit may disable the second Hall-effect sensor circuit in the reduced-power mode. The control circuit may detect movement of the rotatable portion in response to the first sensor control signal in the reduced-power mode and enable the second Hall-effect sensor circuit in response to detecting movement of the rotatable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Robert C. Newman, Jr., Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: 10801923
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a shock absorber coupled to a vehicle tire. In one example, a sensor of a tire pressure measurement system coupled inside a tire is used to measure a tire pressure as well as an oscillatory behavior of the tire. A state of health of a shock absorber coupled to the tire is estimated based on the oscillatory behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fakhreddine Landolsi, Imad Makki, Dilip Patel, Craig Stephens
  • Patent number: 10556471
    Abstract: A tire condition detecting device includes a controlling section that determines whether there is an anomaly in the tire based on the condition of the tire detected by the condition detecting section. A protocol that is designated by a trigger device is defined as a first protocol, and protocols that are not designated by the trigger device are defined as second protocols. When determining that there is no anomaly in the tire, the controlling section causes the transmission section to transmit only the data signals using the first protocol. When determining that there is an anomaly in the tire, the controlling section causes the transmission section to transmit the data signals using the second protocols in addition to the data signals using the first protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Tsujita, Takashi Takeyama
  • Patent number: 10446068
    Abstract: A vehicle messaging system is provided. The vehicle messaging system includes a message panel configured to join the vehicle. The message panel includes a secondary power source in addition to the primary power source provided by the vehicle. The message panel includes a thermostat, a heating portion, and a cooling portion that together maintain the message panel at a pre-determined temperature. The message panel also includes alert systems, protection panels, and an image capturing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Andrew L. Butler
  • Patent number: 10414216
    Abstract: A method for adapting the strategy for acquiring measurements of the radial acceleration of the wheel sensors of a tire pressure monitoring system of a motor vehicle during phases in which the vehicle is stationary, in which the wheel sensors periodically measure parameters pertaining to the tires of the corresponding wheels, namely at least pressure, temperature and acceleration parameters. The method includes switching the radial acceleration measurement acquisition strategy of a wheel sensor during the “non-running” phases of the vehicle, between at least two state-of-activity modes, switching from a so-called “sleep” acquisition mode to a so-called “awake” acquisition mode when a pressure event is detected by the tire pressure monitoring system of the motor vehicle, the radial acceleration then being measured according to a period of significantly longer duration in “sleep” mode than in “awake” mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automtive GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Huard, Nicolas Guinart
  • Patent number: 10040460
    Abstract: A system and method for computationally estimating a directional velocity of a vehicle in real time under different configurations and road conditions for use in vehicle antilock braking, adaptive cruise control, and traction and stability control by correcting measured accelerations with respect to the estimated road angles. A time window is used to provide reliable mapped acceleration for the transient regions and maneuvers on gravel surfaces with high fluctuations in the acceleration measurement. Longitudinal and lateral accelerations are mapped from the vehicle's CG into the tire coordinates using the vehicle's geometry, lateral velocity, yaw rate, and the steering wheel angle to generate system matrices of the combined kinematic-force estimation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: SeyedAlireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, Ehsan Hashemi, Amir Khajepour, Shih-ken Chen, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 9996988
    Abstract: An intelligent tire pressure monitoring system and method are provided in present disclosure. The system includes a CAN bus module, a diagnosing module, a processor, a 3G module, a GPS module and a server. The CAN bus module and the diagnosing module detect rotational speed of each tire and steering angle of steering wheel, and send a detecting result data the processor. The GPS module obtains position information of the automobile, and sends it to the processor. The processor calculates and processes the detecting result data and the position information of the automobile, and uploads them to the server through the 3G module. The server calculates a pressuring value of each tire according to the detecting result data, the position information of the automobile, weather conditions of continuous several days, and condition of road traveled by the automobile, and do appropriate treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: LAUNCH TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Liu, Qichao Chen
  • Patent number: 9956907
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle having a continuous track for vehicle propulsion. The controller is programmed to: process (i) a speed value indicative of a speed at which the vehicle is being driven; and (ii) a time value indicative of a period of time for which the vehicle has been driven at that speed; determine an overheating parameter value based on the speed value and the time value; compare the overheating parameter value with a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is representative of undesirable operation for the continuous track; and generate an output signal for the vehicle in accordance with a result of the comparison of the overheating parameter value with the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Vandendriessche
  • Patent number: 9849736
    Abstract: A tire position determination system is provided with: a plurality of tire air pressure transmitters each capable of transmitting a first radio signal including air pressure data and a tire ID; a plurality of axle rotation detection units each generating axle rotation information; and a receiver mounted to a vehicle body and capable of receiving the first radio signal. Each of the plurality of tire air pressure transmitters includes a specific position detection unit capable of detecting the arrival of the tire air pressure transmitter at a specific position on a trajectory of rotation of the tire, and a transmission control unit that, based on a result of detection, generates a second radio signal including data indicating the arrival of the tire air pressure transmitter at the specific position on the trajectory of rotation of the tire and the ID. The receiver includes a position determination unit that determines a tire position of the plurality of tires based on the second radio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Naoki Watanabe, Yuta Tsuchikawa, Katsuhide Kumagai, Masahiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9738254
    Abstract: A tire theft alarming system includes a vehicular device mounted to a vehicle and a mobile device carried by a user of the vehicle. When a main power supply of the vehicle is in an OFF state, the vehicular device transmits a radio wave including a first alarm based on having a variation in air pressure or acceleration of a tire, which is mounted to the vehicle, detected by a sensor transmitter for detecting and transmitting the air pressure of the tire or the acceleration applied to the tire. The mobile device carries out a warning notification to a user based on having reception of a radio wave including a first alarm transmitted by the vehicular device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ichiro Shigetomi
  • Patent number: 9475348
    Abstract: A method is provided to manage data transmitted between an RFID marker, which is mounted on a tire, and a wheel module, which is mounted on a rim. The wheel module includes a memory and at least one sensor. When the tire is mounted on the rim, a mounted assembly is formed, also known as a wheel, which is intended to be installed on a motor vehicle. According to the method, RFID data is transmitted between the RFID marker and the wheel module via an intermediate unit that is separate from the mounted assembly and the motor vehicle. The RFID data is stored in the memory of the wheel module. When the wheel module includes a sensor for detecting tire pressure, the RFID data stored in the memory of the wheel module is erased when a detected tire pressure is less than or equal to a predetermined pressure threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventor: Marc Hammer
  • Patent number: 9387736
    Abstract: A system for detecting deflated tires by making a relative comparison among rotation speeds of tires attached to a vehicle. The system includes a rotation speed information detection means for detecting rotation speed information of the tires; a rotation speed calculation means for calculating rotation speeds of the tires; and a determination means for determining deflated tires by comparing a decreased pressure determination value using the calculated rotation speeds with a predetermined threshold value. The determination means determines that the vehicle is going straight when it is found, with regard to factors composed of a lateral G, a yaw rate, and a steering angle of the vehicle, at least two of the factors including the yaw rate show that a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value at a predetermined time is lower than a predetermined value, thereby detecting deflated tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minao Yanase, Seigou Sakagami, Yuji Oshiro, Tomonori Sakai, Shinya Notomi, Kazutaka Saito, Kazunari Okada, Ichiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 9193475
    Abstract: Tire pressure monitoring systems and methods for detecting a tire burst are disclosed. The system may include a tire pressure sensor, a tire pressure monitor, and a tire burst indicator. The tire pressure sensor may measure tire pressure in an aircraft tire. The tire pressure monitor may analyze data from the tire pressure sensor to detect a tire burst. A tire burst may be detected in response to a rapid decrease in tire pressure. In response to detecting a tire burst, the tire pressure monitor may transmit a tire burst message to the tire burst indicator. The tire burst indicator may indicate to a pilot that a tire burst has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric Cahill
  • Patent number: 9193222
    Abstract: A first data transmission and a second data transmission from a TPMS monitor are received and stored. The first data transmission and the second data transmission are compared and at least one changing portion of the data transmission is identified based upon the comparison. Sensed data is received from a tire pressure sensor. A data resolution is determined and a third data transmission formed. The at least one changing portion of the third data transmission is replaced with the sensed data according to the resolution. The third data transmission is transmitted including the sensed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Deniau, Themi Anagnos, Brian J. Farrell
  • Patent number: 9145033
    Abstract: A method and system for indirect tire pressure monitoring of tires of a vehicle is described. The method may include providing a tire classification database indicating at least one classified tire type. The method may also include determining a vehicle tire type for the vehicle on the basis of vehicle data in including information on at least one tire currently used with the vehicle, and determining whether the vehicle tire type can be associated to one of the at least one classified tire type. The method may also include, in the case an association is determined, monitoring tire pressure according to the associated classified tire type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Nira Dynamics AB
    Inventors: Peter Hall, Tony Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 9008903
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents a wheel diameter variation-detecting device capable of properly detecting relative variation in diameter between a plurality of wheels of a vehicle. The wheel diameter variation-detecting device can detect variation in diameter between a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, can detect rotational speeds of the respective wheels, and can calculate a variation parameter indicative of variation in diameter between the wheels using one of the wheels as a reference wheel, based on a result of comparison between the rotational speed of the reference wheel and that of one of the wheels other than the reference wheel. Further, the wheel diameter variation-detecting device can learn the variation parameter based on a value obtained by averaging a plurality of values of the variation parameter obtained before the detected travelled distance reaches a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kurata, Takahiro Eguchi, Shuichi Fujimoto, Hirohiko Totsuka
  • Patent number: 8978460
    Abstract: A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system for a motor vehicle includes detection of a stationary state of the motor vehicle by way of a centrifugal force measured on the wheel side or a vehicle speed measured on the vehicle side, during a time period during which the vehicle speed is zero; detection and vehicle-side storage of an acceleration force in each wheel during the time period, and renewed detection of an acceleration force in each wheel at the end of the time period. The detected acceleration force in each wheel is transmitted to a vehicle-side control device and compared with earlier-stored acceleration forces associated with the respective wheel position. The tire pressure system is initialized following the stationary state of the motor vehicle in the event of a deviation in any of the wheels. There is also provided a tire pressure monitoring system and a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Kretschmann
  • Patent number: 8922359
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for transmitting information on a location of a tire with information on pressure of the tire. The present disclosure provides logic for calculating rotation angles among a plurality of magnetic field samples obtained from a geomagnetic sensor, calculating rotational directions, and determining the left/right locations of the tire on the basis of the number of times of accumulation of the rotational directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji Hyung Lim
  • Patent number: 8902056
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system where the position and orientation of a receiver antenna associated with the tire pressure monitoring system is at a location that is proximate the tire pressure monitoring system. In one embodiment, the receiver antenna is positioned beneath a vehicle chassis. The location of the receiver antenna can be determined by system performance prediction tools that include mean-time-to-warning verses packet error rate curves for a desired packet error rate and packet error rate verses signal-to-noise ratio curves for various operational scenarios and different classes of vehicle that provides a necessary signal-to-noise ratio for a wireless link, and operational scenarios that established desired levels of performance and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vikas Kukshya, Hyok Jae Song, Hui Pin Hsu, Richard W. Wiese
  • Publication number: 20140340213
    Abstract: A wheel position detector for a vehicle includes: a transmitter at each wheel having a first controller for generating and repeatedly transmitting a frame with specific identification information and an acceleration sensor; a receiver at a vehicle body receiving the frame from one wheel and having a second controller for performing wheel position detection; and a wheel speed sensor for detecting a tooth of a gear. The second controller acquires gear information indicating a tooth position; sets a variation allowance based on the tooth position; registers the one wheel with using the variation allowance; sets another variation allowance based on another tooth position when the receiver receives a new frame; and changes the variation allowance to a new variation allowance provided by an overlap portion between the variation allowance and another variation allowance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Noriaki Okada, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa, Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 8851719
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing adequate lighting and sighting for a bicycle are disclosed. A lighting system that includes an illumination ring configured to be coupled to a wheel is also disclosed. The illumination ring is configured to simultaneously project light forward and to the side of a front wheel and to project light rearward of and to the side of a rear wheel. The illumination ring may be mounted to or integrated with the bicycle wheel. Methods of controlling light sources on the illumination ring are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Revolights, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kent Frankovich
  • Patent number: 8836495
    Abstract: In a wheel position identifying device for a vehicle, transmitters are disposed in wheels, respectively. Each of the transmitters has a dual axis acceleration sensor and a control unit. The dual axis acceleration sensor detects a normal-direction acceleration and a tangential-direction acceleration of the wheel associated with the transmitter. The control unit determines whether the wheel associated with the transmitter is a right wheel or a left wheel based on a sign of a product of a time differential value of the normal-direction acceleration and the tangential-direction acceleration, and stores data regarding a determination result in a frame. A receiver receives the frame from each transmitter and identifies a position of the transmitter based on the data stored in the frame. The wheel position identifying device is for example employed to a tire pressure detecting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Maehara, Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 8760279
    Abstract: In an air pressure information display system of a vehicle tire, a vehicle (1) has air pressure sensors (7-9) for detecting the air pressure of a vehicle tire (2-5), and transmitting air pressure information indicating the detected air pressure via a wireless communication, and an informing unit (100) installed in a gas station or the like has a display module (100b) for displaying the received air pressure information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Fumitaka Andou, Kiyoshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8742911
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the load of vehicle tires which are each contacting a pavement with a circumferential section during travel, by means of monitoring devices (4) which are mounted to the tire (1) and contain a transmitter and a generator which is driven by the flexion of the tire (1), said flexion occurring during vehicle operation, wherein the generator generates a first voltage pulse each time it reaches the beginning of the circumferential section of the tire (1), which is contacting the pavement, and generates a second voltage pulse each time it reaches the end of the circumferential section of the tire (1), which is contacting the pavement, the time intervals (t1) between first and second voltage pulses are measured, the time intervals (t1) or a value calculated therefrom are/is compared with a reference value, and a warning signal is generated if a difference detected in this comparison exceeds a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Wagner, Hendrik Troeger
  • Patent number: 8738308
    Abstract: A method of detecting a decrease in tire air pressure includes calculating tire rotation information obtained from the wheel tires; computing a first determination value showing a difference between the sums of the wheel rotation information of pairs of wheel tires on two diagonal lines and a second determination value showing a difference between the sum of the wheel rotation information of right wheel tires and the sum of the wheel rotation information of left wheel tires; assuming the computed first and second determination values as points on orthogonal coordinates; determining position of tire(s) having a decreased pressure based on the argument of the points on the polar coordinates; and comparing the moving radii of the points on the polar coordinates with a predetermined threshold value to thereby determine a decrease in tire air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Kitano
  • Patent number: 8731771
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure obtaining unit obtains tire inflation pressure. An inflation pressure storing unit stores a tire inflation pressure after start of travel of a vehicle as an after-travel inflation pressure. A pressure reduction determining unit determines reduction in the tire inflation pressure based on the tire inflation pressure obtained. A reference pressure setting unit sets larger one of the after-travel inflation pressure and a predetermined lowest reference pressure as a reference pressure of tire inflation pressure determination when reduction in the tire inflation pressure is determined, and sets the lowest reference pressure as a reference pressure of tire inflation pressure determination when reduction in the tire inflation pressure is not determined. An alarm unit generates an alarm when the tire inflation pressure becomes below an alarm pressure threshold which is determined from the reference pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kusunoki, Hideki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8723662
    Abstract: In a tire pressure detecting apparatus, a receiver stores wheel positions detected by a previous wheel position detection as previous wheel positions. When an ignition switch is turned on and until wheel positions are newly specified by a current wheel position detection, the receiver permits an indicator to indicate tire pressure of each of wheels based on the previous wheel positions to notify a driver of the tire pressure from an earlier timing. The receiver permits the indication of the tire pressure based on the previous wheel positions only when a difference of the tire pressure between the wheels is equal to or less than a threshold. If there is a possibility that tire pressure of one of the wheels is insufficient, the receiver prevents the indicator to indicate the tire pressure until a current wheel position detection finishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Noriaki Okada, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 8680980
    Abstract: A blank tire pressure monitoring device includes a housing having an air valve at one end and connection terminals at an opposite end, a circuit board mounted in the housing and carrying a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, an analog-digital converter electrically connected with the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor and the acceleration sensor, a general purpose I/O terminal unit electrically connected with the connection terminals of the housing; an embedded microcontroller module electrically connected with the general purpose I/O terminal unit and the analog-digital converter and having built therein a flash memory, a microcontroller core and a special-function register controller, a LF receiver electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module, and a transmitter electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module; and a method is still also disclosed for setting up a blank tire pressure monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cub Elecparts Inc.
    Inventors: San-Chuan Yu, Chih-Ming Chiang, Yuan-Tung Hung, Chao-Ching Hu
  • Patent number: 8659411
    Abstract: A method, a sensor, a detector and a system are provided for locating at least one wheel on a vehicle. A signal is received from a first sensor mounted on the wheel, the signal providing a position of the wheel. Additionally, a measurement value is received from a second sensor that measures the angular position of a wheel and that is associated with a specific position of the vehicle. When the phase position of the first signal stays within a predefined tolerance range relative to the measured value within a specific observation period, the first sensor can be associated with the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Fink
  • Patent number: 8653960
    Abstract: A vehicle gauge and method for displaying an electric mode status of a vehicle that can operate in both an electric mode and one or more alternative modes. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method evaluates a number of throttle and non-throttle conditions and allocates portions of the total range of the vehicle gauge to these conditions. Based on these allocations, the method determines an overall vehicle gauge position that is representative of the electric mode status of the vehicle and provides this to the vehicle gauge so that the electric mode status can be displayed to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ian L. Hanna, Jonathan R. Schwarz, Neal A. Chaperon
  • Patent number: 8648703
    Abstract: A vehicle having a sensor apparatus includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion disposed on a side surface of a vehicle frame, wherein the first and second mounting portions are spaced apart in a vehicle length direction, wherein the first and second mounting portions configured to receive a load platform of the vehicle, a wheel assembly comprising a sensor transmitter, and a receiver mounted to the side surface between the first and the second mounting portions, the receiver configured to receive a signal from the sensor transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Inoue, Masanori Usui
  • Patent number: 8634983
    Abstract: A method for indirectly monitoring tire pressure or for detecting damage to a wheel suspension, wherein a pressure loss detection variable (DVE) is determined using an analysis of a vibratory behavior of a wheel of a motor vehicle, and a pressure loss in the tire of the wheel or damage to the wheel suspension is detected by comparing a momentarily determined pressure loss detection variable (DVEakt) to a learned pressure loss detection variable (DVEsoll), wherein at least two dimensional variables are determined from a wheel speed signal (w) of the wheel, each representing a dimension for the extent of a frequency or a frequency range in the vibratory behavior of the wheel, and that the pressure loss detection variable (DVE) is derived from the two dimensional variables (e1, e2, e3), particularly from a ratio of the two dimensional variables (e2/e3), and a tire pressure monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Markus Irth, Daniel Fischer, Andreas Köbe, Christian Suβmann
  • Patent number: 8618925
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring using wireless network includes a remote command device and a valve-stem mountable tire pressure gauge. The tire pressure gauge includes a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of a fluid in a tire and providing an output signal indicative of the detected fluid pressure, and a first radio-frequency module for transmitting data indicative of the detected fluid pressure based on the output signal of the pressure sensor. The remote command device includes a second radio-frequency module for wirelessly receiving the data transmitted by the data transmitted by the first radio frequency module, a wireless communication module for communicating via a wireless network, information based at least one data received by the second radio frequency module, and a display for displaying at least the fluid pressure detected by the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Measurement, Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Petrucelli, Mark Kuskovsky
  • Patent number: 8600607
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for allocating identifiers of wheel electronics of a tire pressure monitoring system to positions of wheels of a vehicle, the simultaneously occurring rotation speeds of the wheels, normalized on a consistently chosen rolling radius of the wheels differ during cornering because of the different positions of the wheels on the vehicle, so that the positions of the wheels can be sorted according to increasing speed of the wheels during cornering, the wheel electronics of each wheel comprising a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, a memory and a transmitter, which transmits signals to a receiver being connected to an evaluation device, which receives the transmitted identifiers and compares the distances which the corresponding wheels have traveled in a defined time span, sorts the identifiers according to the length of the distance traveled in the defined time span and allocates the identifiers to the wheel positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Kessler, Andreas Kraft, Markus Wagner, Juergen Schoenbeck, Peter Brand
  • Patent number: 8581717
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for monitoring and wirelessly signaling data that contains information on the pressure states prevailing in tires of wheels of a vehicle. In the method, electronic modules that are arranged in the wheels wirelessly transmit the data to control device which is arranged in the vehicle. No data is transmitted during a first mode associated with a standstill state of the vehicle, while the respective electronic module transmits the data to the control device in the form of telegrams, during at least one other mode associated with another state of the vehicle. The respective electronic module at least temporarily transmits n telegrams containing the data per time unit to the control device, n being a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Wagner
  • Patent number: 8583327
    Abstract: A tire burst detecting and anti-deviation system comprises an ABS system component, a brake chief-pump (2) and a braking circuit (4) connecting to the ABS system component, and an ESP system component electrically connecting to the ECU of the ABS system component. The ECU further includes an acquisition module for acquiring signals from the sensors in the ABS system and the ESP system, a judging module for judging whether the tire burst has occurred or not based on the acquired signals, and a calculating module for calculating the deviation rectifying angle based on the acquired signal. The ABS system component rectifies deviation based on the deviation rectifying angle. A method used in the tire burst detecting and anti-deviation system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shenzhen Toyi Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dongping Xiao
  • Patent number: 8576058
    Abstract: A method is described for monitoring and wirelessly signaling data that contains information on the pressure states prevailing in tires of wheels. In the method, electronic modules that are arranged in the wheels wirelessly transmit the data to a control device which is arranged in the vehicle. No data is transmitted during a first mode associated with a standstill state of the vehicle, while the respective electronic module transmits the data to the control device in the form of telegrams during at least one other mode associated with another state of the vehicle, the transition from a first mode into at least one other mode being determined by means of at least one acceleration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Wagner
  • Patent number: 8576060
    Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting tire pressure signals includes a transmission buffer and a transmitter. The transmission buffer is configured to store tire pressure monitoring data. The transmitter is configured to transmit a signal including the tire pressure monitoring data. The signal includes a burst that includes plurality of frames and each of the frames includes the tire pressure monitoring information. A plurality of pause spaces is disposed between at least some of the frames in the burst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Deniau, Brian J. Farrell
  • Patent number: 8545068
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing adequate lighting and sighting for a bicycle are disclosed. A lighting system that includes an illumination ring configured to be coupled to a wheel is also disclosed. The illumination ring is configured to simultaneously project light forward and to the side of a front wheel and to project light rearward of and to the side of a rear wheel. The illumination ring may be mounted to or integrated with the bicycle wheel. Methods of controlling light sources on the illumination ring are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Revolights, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kent Frankovich
  • Patent number: 8514062
    Abstract: A method for setting a warm placard tire pressure threshold for a motor vehicle tire pressure monitoring system that initiates a learn mode in the tire pressure monitoring system, starts a timer upon determining a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold, stops the timer upon determining the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the predetermined speed threshold or a predetermined period of time has expired, detects a plurality of tire pressures for a tire location while the timer is timing, stores the plurality of tire pressures, averages the plurality of tire pressures to determine a warm placard tire pressure threshold upon the predetermined period of time expiring, and sets the warm placard tire pressure threshold in the tire pressure monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Dilip B. Patel, Greg Swadling, Thomas Michael McQuade, Jim Michael Weinfurther
  • Patent number: 8510010
    Abstract: A vehicle control device for controlling the driving force and the braking force that is applied to a vehicle to approach a target wheel speed includes a plurality of determination parts that determine the wheel speed at a corresponding wheel; and a calculation part that calculates a valid wheel speed threshold for each wheel based on determined wheel speeds. The vehicle control device also includes a decision part that decides whether wheel speed is valid depending on whether the valid wheel speed threshold calculated for each wheel is below a specific speed threshold value, which is below the target wheel speed, and an estimation part that estimates the vehicle speed using the wheel speeds that are determined as being valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gen Inoue, Yasuhito Ishida
  • Patent number: 8494704
    Abstract: In indirect tire pressure monitoring of tires of a vehicle, the following steps and means to carry out the same, respectively, are contemplated:—providing a tire classification database indicating at least one classified tire type;—determining a vehicle tire type for the vehicle on the basis of vehicle data in including information on at least one tire currently used with the vehicle,—determining whether the vehicle tire type can be associated to one of the at least one classified tire type; and—, in the case an association is determined, monitoring tire pressure according to the associated classified tire type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Nira Dynamics AB
    Inventors: Peter Hall, Tony Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 8471695
    Abstract: A tire air pressure monitoring device for monitoring the air pressure of a tire on a vehicle having two or more tires, including an air pressure sensing device that senses air pressure information of the tire and is adapted to be mounted at a prescribed position on the tire so as to rotate with the tire, a transmitting device that transmits the sensed air pressure information, a rotary position sensing device that senses the rotary position of the air pressure sensing device as the tire rotates, a period of rotation calculating device that calculates the period of rotation of the tire, a period of rotation disruption sensing device that senses disruption in the period of rotation based on a change in the period, and a transmission control device that outputs commands to transmit the air pressure information to the transmitting device based on a disruption in the period of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Maekawa, Syoji Terada