Relative Wheel Speed Patents (Class 340/444)
  • Patent number: 7760080
    Abstract: Movable vehicular assembly including an electricity generating system includes a movable substrate such as a tire, a power generating system arranged on, in connection with or within the substrate and to generate energy from movement of the substrate, and a circuit coupled to the power generating system and including an energy storage device. The circuit is operable in an active mode when the substrate moves and the power generating system generates energy or the energy storage device contains energy for powering the circuit and in a passive mode when the substrate is not moving and the energy storage device does not contain sufficient energy to power the circuit. The circuit receives power to operate in the passive mode from a signal received by the circuit. Components which may be part of the circuit include a surface-acoustic-wave device and a radio-frequency identification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall, Wendell C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7760079
    Abstract: A tire-pressure control apparatus includes an air pump AP capable of supplying compressed air to a tire air chamber Rb, a mechanical control valve device VA which permits and prohibits supply of compressed air from the air pump AP to the tire air chamber Rb, a valve-state detection sensor (stroke sensor S1) for detecting the state of the control valve device VA, and an electric control apparatus ECU. The electric control apparatus ECU includes time measurement for measuring a pressure increasing time which is a time period starting when the supply of compressed air from the air pump AP to the tire air chamber Rb is started and ending when the supply of compressed air is stopped, and a pressure decreasing time which is a time period starting when the supply of compressed air is stopped and ending when the supply of compressed air is started (resumed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidcsha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono
  • Patent number: 7750798
    Abstract: A wheel position detecting device and a tire air pressure detecting device including the wheel position detecting device are provided. The wheel position detecting device judges whether reception strength data is correct or incorrect based on whether reception strength indicated by the reception strength data (the reception strength data expresses the reception strength of a trigger signal transmitted from a receiver, provided in a vehicle body, to a receiver of a transceiver on each wheel) transmitted back to the vehicle-mounted receiver from each wheel-mounted transceiver is within a range set in advance. A transceiver is provided on each wheel. The wheel position detecting device judges whether to decide the wheel position using the reception data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 7739529
    Abstract: A system for conserving battery life in a battery operated device such as a tire tag where there are several modes of operation. The typical mode is the deep sleep mode where the tag is generally inactive (no clock is running; however, an RC watchdog timer is running, which uses very little power). The tag spends most of its time in this low power mode. The tag periodically partially awakens to a lucid sleep mode (when the watchdog timer times out), initiates a low-speed clock, determines if it is time to enter a search mode by examining a search mode counter and, if it is not time, adjusts the search mode counter (e.g., decrements the counter by one), and returns to the deep sleep mode. The tag sleeps in the deep sleep mode most of its life in an effort to conserve battery power. During the deep sleep mode, because the clock oscillators are OFF, a deep sleep counter is adjusted (incremented or decremented) periodically (e.g., about every 18 ms) by an internal R/C oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventors: Gordon E. Hardman, John W. Pyne, Molly A. Hardman, David A. Przygocki, David M. Coombs, Paul B. Wilson, Ronald C. Grush, Philip B. Loudin, Brett W. Floyd
  • Publication number: 20100134268
    Abstract: The apparatus for detecting a decreased air pressure of a tire includes an acceleration calculation means for calculating, based on rotation velocity information of tires of respective wheels of a vehicle; an acceleration variation calculation means for calculating acceleration variations of the respective tires; a comparison means for comparing the acceleration variations of the respective tires; an estimation means for estimating, when a comparison result of the comparison means shows that an acceleration variation of a certain tire is greater than acceleration variations of the other tires, a decrease in air pressure of the certain tire; a test means for determining a tire having a rotation velocity that is faster than the rotation velocities of the other tires or that is further slower than a predetermined reference; and a judgment means for judging, when a certain tire identified by the estimation means is identical with the tire identified by the test means, a decrease in air pressure of the certain tir
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Yuji OSHIRO
  • Patent number: 7719406
    Abstract: An inductive signal transmission device including a transponder circuit (1) having at least one first coil, and an interrogation circuit (3) having at least one second coil (4). The transponder circuit is placed on an object (5) capable of rotating about at least one rotational axis (9) passing through the object. The interrogation circuit is placed on a structure, which can be stationary, to which the object is connected. A coupling coil (2), provided with at least one turn describing a ring, is mounted on the structure or the object coaxially to the rotational axis of the object. This coupling coil acts as the inductive coupling interface between the first coil and the second coil such that the inductive signal transmission is independent of the rotation of the object. The transponder circuit is of the passive type and includes at least one sensor for measuring a physical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Smartrac Technology Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Bajahr
  • Patent number: 7714745
    Abstract: A dead-reckoning sensory system includes a receiver unit and a transmitter unit in wireless communication with the receiver unit. The transmitter unit is operable to be mounted to a wheel of a vehicle, determine information characterizing the heading and distance traveled by the vehicle, and transmit the information to the receiver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ron Fang
  • Patent number: 7705716
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method and program for detecting abnormality in tire air-pressure which allow detecting abnormality in tire air-pressure even if pressure in a tire is completely zero. The apparatus for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure includes means of (1) calculating the acceleration variations of respective tires from accelerations of the tires calculated by rotational wheel velocities; (2) comparing the calculated acceleration variations of the respective tires; and (3) detecting air-pressure in a tire is abnormal when the acceleration variation of the tire is larger than the acceleration variations of the remaining tires as a result of comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
  • Patent number: 7693627
    Abstract: A tire steer condition detection and notification apparatus calculates a tire steer angle based on a steering wheel operation when a parked condition of a vehicle is detected, and provides a notification (i.e., warning) regarding a tire steer condition when the tire steer angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle. Further, when the vehicle is determined to be in the parked condition and has a predicted travel course diverted away from a road shape based on the tire steer angle at the time, the tire steer condition detection apparatus provides a notification (i.e., warning) regarding the tire steer condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wataru Natsume
  • Publication number: 20100060443
    Abstract: A vehicle velocity detector 15 is provided, velocity V is detected from position data of the vehicle calculated by using signal from satellites, which is received by a GPS receiver 11 installed to a vehicle body, wheel rotation velocity Vw0 detected by a wheel velocity sensor 12 is corrected in accordance with tire inner pressure detected by a pressure sensor 13 so as to obtain wheel rotation velocity (correction value) Vw, velocity ratio R=(Vw/V), which is ratio of the corrected wheel rotation velocity Vw and the detected wheel velocity V, is calculated and tire wear amount is estimated in accordance with velocity ratio R so that tire wear amount can be measured precisely without processing the tire tread portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA BRIDGESTONE
    Inventors: Yasumichi Wakao, Yasushi Hanatsuka
  • Patent number: 7656282
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus includes a second transceiver provided on the body of a vehicle which changes its operation alternately between a second transmitter and a second receiver mode, thereby intermittently transmitting a radio wave. A first transceiver provided on a wheel of the vehicle operates in a first receiver mode to receive the radio wave, thereby charging a charging unit. When the charging unit has been sufficiently charged, the first transceiver changes operation thereof from the first receiver mode to a first transmitter mode, in which the first transceiver first repeatedly transmits an informing signal at predetermined time intervals for a predetermined time period and then transmits a pressure signal. When the informing signal is received by the second transceiver in the second receiver mode, the second transceiver keeps its operation in the second receiver mode until the pressure signal is completely received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Saitou, Akira Takaoka, Nobuya Watabe, Hideki Saito, Tomohiro Kuno
  • Patent number: 7656110
    Abstract: A control and motor arrangement in accordance with the present invention includes a motor configured to generate a locomotive force for propelling the model train. The control and motor arrangement further includes a command control interface configured to receive commands from a command control unit wherein the commands correspond to a desired speed. The control and motor arrangement still further includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect speed information of the motor, and a process control arrangement configured to receive the speed information from the sensors. The process control arrangement is further configured and arranged to generate a plurality of motor control signals based on the speed information for controlling the speed of said motor. The control and motor arrangement yet still further includes a motor control arrangement configured to cause power to be applied to the motor at different times in response to the motor control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Lionel L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Denen, Neil P. Young, Gary L. Moreau, Martin Pierson, Robert Grubba
  • Patent number: 7652561
    Abstract: A process for monitoring a tire (11 to 14) mounted on a land vehicle (VH), the process being implemented by means of a central control unit (UC) and an electronic chip (21g to 24g) implanted in a sidewall of the tire. A tire is provided with two chips (21g to 24g, 21d to 24d) implanted in its respective sidewalls, but only one of them is operational during use depending on the mounting direction of the tire. The chips of the same tire contain a given tire identification code (K11 to K14) and specific respective codes (Kg, Kd) that indicate their implantation in the tire. The process is implemented by compiling and/or updating, both in the central unit (UC) and in the operational chip (21g, 22d, 23g, 24d), historical records of the use of the tire by memorising updated values of evolutive parameters of the use of the tire, such as the number of kilometers (DIST) it has covered or its highest running speed (VMAX).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Bertrand Pimort
  • Patent number: 7642903
    Abstract: A tire pressure sensing device for a tow trailer that signals the driver of the tow vehicle subsequent to deflation of at least one tire mounted to the trailer. The tire pressure sensing device further includes a base plate mounted to the axle of the tow trailer releasably secured by a generally u-shaped clamp. A switch is superposed on the base plate. The switch further includes an actuating rod support member and an actuating rod extending in a downward direction. The actuating rod biases the switch to a closed position subsequent to deflation of the tire thereby electrically activating a warning indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventors: Charles L. Kuentz, Judith Kuentz
  • Patent number: 7639123
    Abstract: A fasten device for tire pressure alarm transmitter, which comprises a fasten base for fastening a valve core style transmitter, and a strip for binding the fasten base on wheel rim, wherein: the fasten base has a board shaped support portion, and a hole for accepting the strip to drill through is set on the support portion; a securing board is set on the middle portion of the support portion, and a position slot that matches with the valve core of the transmitter is excavated on the securing board; and a buckle that matches with the securing board is set on one end of the support portion to fasten the transmitter corporately. As the fasten base having a support portion, a buckle and a securing board with position slot are provided on the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: China Modern Associated & Industrial Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiangping Liu
  • Patent number: 7636035
    Abstract: A tire pressure control system for a vehicle having wheels with tires includes a controller and tire pressure sensors each having a transceiver. The sensors are within respective tires. Each sensor transmits information regarding the pressure of its tire to the controller. The controller transmits to the sensors a signal having markings based on rotation of a selected wheel. The signal as received by each sensor includes variations resulting from rotation of its associated wheel. The variations of the signal as received by the sensor corresponding to the selected wheel agree with the markings and the variations of the signal as received by each of the remaining sensors vary with the markings. Each sensor correlates the variations of the signal as received by the sensor with the markings. The sensor in which the variations of the signal agree with the markings transmits a confirmation regarding same to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Pretzlaff, Andreas Tombült, Rainer Vens
  • Patent number: 7619510
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method and program for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure which prevent the issuance of an erroneous alarm and thus determine abnormality in tire air-pressure even when a rotational velocity of the tire changes by causes other than a decrease in an air pressure. An apparatus for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure decrease detects a change in a relationship between wheel velocities of front wheel tires and those of rear wheel tires, and replaces a relationship between the wheel velocities of the front wheel tires and those of the rear wheel tires with a relationship between wheel velocities of front wheel tires and those of rear wheel tires obtained after the change of the relationship, thereby determining abnormality in air-pressure when the change is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
  • Patent number: 7613560
    Abstract: A speed control structure for a work vehicle comprises: a speed change operating element for manipulation by an operator; a device for detecting operated position of the speed change operating element; a continuously variable speed change device that receives power from an engine of the work vehicle; speed change position detecting device for detecting a speed change operation position of the continuously variable speed change device; operating device for speed-shifting the continuously variable speed change device; control device for controlling the operating means, wherein the control means: sets a target speed change operating position based on detected information by the operated position detection device and a predetermined correlation data that correlates the operated position of the speed change operating element and the speed change operation position of the continuously variable speed change device, and calculates a deviation between the target speed change operating position and of the continuously
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Nishi, Keishiro Nishi, Atsushi Shinkai, Yasunobu Nakatani
  • Patent number: 7612665
    Abstract: A wireless sensor system in which the sensor signal is hardly affected by disturbance and therefore has an increased reliability, which can be constructed light-weight and compact in structure inclusive of the electric power system and in which communication is possible at all times, and a wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly of a light-weight and compact structure utilizing such wireless sensor system. This wireless sensor system includes a wireless sensor unit and a sensor signal receiving unit. The wireless sensor unit includes a sensor section to detect a target of detection, a digitalizing section to digitalize a sensor signal thereof, and a sensor signal transmitting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Okada, Masatoshi Mizutani, Norihiko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7609151
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method and program for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure which detects abnormality of a tire even under unusual conditions such as offset load on a vehicle or providing a snow chain on one wheel. The apparatus, method and program for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure include means of comparing rotational wheel velocities of respective tires provided on a vehicle and detecting whether or not rotational wheel velocity of one wheel is slower than those of other wheels by comparing rotational wheel velocities of respective tires provided on a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
  • Patent number: 7610150
    Abstract: A route data base generating system avoids GPS satellite signals sources for land based vehicle azimuth and heading determinations in areas where reception of the satellite signals is unavailable or impaired and relies on vehicle part movements that are equitable to the heading and azimuth changes of the vehicle for determining such vehicle orientations. Part movements equitable to the heading changes are found in the vehicle wheel assemblies. A route data base founded on interconnecting linear route segments that are arranged in and end-to-end serial order is advocated and wherein the angular deviation between connecting segments in the order is predetermined. Various uses of the generating systems and related procedures are advocated for both on-the-road and off-road usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Rothar Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Martin, Thurman Sasser
  • Publication number: 20090261961
    Abstract: A method of detecting a decrease in a tire air pressure based on wheel rotation information obtained from tires attached to a four-wheel vehicle. The method includes: a step of calculating wheel rotation information obtained from the respective wheel tires; a step of computing the first to the third judgment values DEL1, DEL2, and DEL3; a step of storing the wheel rotation information, the first judgment value, the second judgment value, and the third judgment value; a step of setting judgment conditions for the first judgment value, the second judgment value, and the third judgment value with regard to the respective wheel tires; and a step of judging, based on the judgment conditions, a decrease in the air pressures of the respective wheel tires. The step of setting the judgment condition sets threshold values used for the judgment conditions depending on a status of a road on which a vehicle runs, a turning level of the vehicle, or a level of the running of the vehicle running on an uphill or a downhill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi MIYAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7592902
    Abstract: The invention provides a monitoring device and tire combination wherein an antenna is mounted to the tire in a location spaced from the monitoring device. In one embodiment, the antenna may be mounted to the tire sidewall outside the body cords of the tire. The antenna may be mounted on the outer surface of the sidewall or embedded within the body of the sidewall. The antenna is connected to the monitoring device with a connector. The connector may be electrically coupled to the monitoring device or may be connected to the monitoring device with a plug and socket connection. When the antenna is outside the body cord, the connector may extend from the antenna through the bead filler, over the top of the turn up, or under the bead ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventors: Paul B. Wilson, Russell W. Koch, Robert J. Trew
  • Publication number: 20090224899
    Abstract: A system comprises at least one contactless readable data carrier (1) which can be attached to a wheel (100) of a vehicle and a reader (10) which can be arranged on the vehicle to receive electromagnetic signals (ES) emitted by the data carrier (1). The reader (10) is designed to determine the revolutions of the wheel (100) from the field strength fluctuation of the received electromagnetic signals (ES), the reader (10) having calculation means (19) designed to calculate from the revolutions and a wheel periphery reference value (RU) determined by the reader and allocated to the wheel (100), such as circumference, diameter or radius, a distance covered by a point on the wheel periphery and/or values derivable therefrom such as the peripheral speed (UV) of the wheel (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Stefan Wieser
  • Patent number: 7586403
    Abstract: A tire sensor that communicates to a remote interrogator in one of two modes depending on the nature of the interrogation. The interrogator may be distributed throughout a vehicle if needed for design options. Further, the interrogator only interrogates the transponder when the interrogator has reason to believe that the transponder is in range of the interrogator. The interrogator and transponder may be configured to operate in different modes for communication during operation of the tire on a vehicle and during non-operation. The transponder may communicate tire condition information to the interrogator concerning environmental or other information sensed about the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventor: Ian J Forster
  • Patent number: 7576640
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for detecting when a spare wheel has been placed onto a rolling wheel location and for taking appropriate action such as providing a driver alert, limiting vehicle speed or alerting the driver when vehicle speed exceeds the maximum safe speed for operation with a spare wheel. The spare wheel transmits a signal with a protocol compatible marker. The vehicle receives the protocol compatible marker. The marker is compared to a predetermined value to determine that the protocol compatible marker signal is indicative of a spare wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Paul Bothe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7574292
    Abstract: A method and system for calibrating speed of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels includes a wheel speed sensor coupled to each of the wheels for providing a first vehicle speed based on an average tire size associated with the plurality of wheels. A GPS sensor provides a second vehicle speed based on a change in position of the vehicle over a predetermined period of time. A control module automatically calibrates the speed of the vehicle based on a comparison of the first and second vehicle speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: James J Hoeffel, David A. Basson, Charles W. Kocher, II
  • Patent number: 7567171
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring the physical integrity of a tire. The system and method include measuring a signal proportional to the speed of rotation of the wheel and calculating a harmonic signal of the round of wheel (e.g., equal to the energies of the harmonics of this signal), then comparing the result with a threshold and activating an alarm when over-passing this threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Dufournier Technologies SAS
    Inventor: Arnaud Dufournier
  • Patent number: 7551069
    Abstract: A vehicle tyre data monitoring system has a wheel mounted sensor means that is adapted to transmit one or more of pressure, temperature, angular velocity, and force vector data for a tyre as a digital serial datagram through a two-wire communication channel to a chassis mounted reader means. The communication channel is adapted to simultaneously supply power to the sensor means and receive the data for processing and subsequent display to a user of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventor: Phillip Albert Cohen
  • Patent number: 7535362
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided for a power supply to a transponder including an antenna resonant circuit and a downstream rectifier circuit for receiving and for rectifying an electromagnetic signal, a charging capacitor connected downstream on the output side of the rectifier circuit to provide a first supply voltage, with a tuning circuit for tuning the antenna resonant circuit to its resonance frequency, and with an auxiliary voltage source, which is designed to provide a second supply voltage, lower than the first supply voltage, for supplying the tuning circuit. A method is also provided for supplying power to a transponder with a first supply voltage, as well as a transponder having a circuit arrangement for a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: ATMEL Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Moser, Helmut Moser
  • Publication number: 20090115590
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a tyre during running includes acquiring and storing, at least temporarily, a first curve representing an acceleration profile of a first point of a tread area of the tyre; acquiring and storing, at least temporarily, at least one second curve representing an acceleration profile of a second point of the tread area; and comparing the first curve and the at least one second curve, or parameters derived from the first curve and the at least one second curve, so as to determine a dynamic behavior of the tyre. The first and second points are located substantially on a same meridian plane of the tyre. A related tyre, wheel for a vehicle, system for monitoring a tyre during running, and method for controlling a vehicle are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Massimo Brusarosco, Anna Paola Fioravanti, Federico Mancosu
  • Patent number: 7522032
    Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting decrease in an inner pressure of a tire with excellent accuracy by calculating accurate dynamic load radii by comparing the GPS speed information with tire rotational speed information collecting data only when a stable measurement of the dynamic load radii is possible, as well as by utilizing GPS positioning information for a running state of a vehicle, and an apparatus and a program thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Nakao
  • Patent number: 7508301
    Abstract: A tire monitoring system for a vehicle having tires determines if two tires share a same side of the vehicle based on a state of each of the two tires. In at least one embodiment, a first output signal indicative of a state of a first tire and a second output signal indicative of a state of a second tire are transmitted and received. A determination as to whether the first tire and the second tire are on a same side of the vehicle based on the state of the first tire and the state of the second tire is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Keith Albert Christenson
  • Patent number: 7498931
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system may adjust the power it consumes. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a receiver that receives a first signal having a signal strength, determines the signal strength, and causes a second signal to be sent if the signal strength is more than a desired signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Zoran Kovac, Riad Ghabra, Bruce Conner, John Nantz
  • Publication number: 20080272899
    Abstract: A system for determining a rollover property of a vehicle includes sensors capable of sensing lateral acceleration, a first left tire rotational speed, a first right tire rotational speed, and a mass property. The sensors output a lateral acceleration signal, a first left tire rotational speed signal, a first right tire rotational speed signal, and a mass property signal. A processing unit receives the signals and uses the received signals to determine a rollover property of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: PACCAR INC
    Inventor: Roger Paul Penzotti
  • Patent number: 7443288
    Abstract: A tire and suspension monitoring and warning system consisting of a set of multi-function sensors that monitor and warn of a failure mode. The system monitors and warns for tire imbalance, tire tread wear, and shock absorbers for a tire attached to a vehicle. The monitoring and warning system includes one axial, radial, and lateral acceleration measurement of the wheel to provide acceleration signal sample power. For tire imbalance, signal sample power in the second harmonic of the tire rotational frequency is compared to that of the first harmonic. For tire tread wear, average signal sample power within a second frequency range is compared to a previously stored baseline value. For shock absorber performance, a sum of all frequency components in a second predetermined frequency range is compared to a baseline value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Barry Dunbridge, Kenneth L. Brown, George W. McIver, Kiran R. Magiawala, Kelley D. Chilcott
  • Patent number: 7432801
    Abstract: A method of detecting a rapid leak of gas contained in an automobile tire based on periodic measurements of a pressure Pa and a temperature Ta of the gas. The method includes determining a reference pressure Pcref, calculating an alarm threshold pressure Sref from the reference pressure Pcref, calculating a temperature-compensated pressure Pc at each measurement acquisition period, and comparing the compensated pressure Pc with the alarm threshold pressure Sref, wherein the leak is detected if the compensated pressure Pc is less than the alarm threshold pressure Sref.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Electronics
    Inventors: Cyrille Verrier, Regis Leberon
  • Publication number: 20080238645
    Abstract: The subject is to provide a method for alarming a decrease in tire air-pressure that can improve the precision of the reduced pressure judgment and a device thereof and a program for judging the decrease in tire air-pressure. Means for solution is a method for alarming a decrease in tire air-pressure that informs the decrease in tire air-pressure based on the rotational speed obtained from tires loaded on a four-wheeled vehicle, a device thereof and a program thereof, wherein the influence of turning and the influence of acceleration to a lateral direction that are the correction factors of the judged value of the decrease in tire air-pressure are excluded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
  • Patent number: 7411488
    Abstract: A tire location detecting apparatus for a vehicle with four wheels includes four rotation direction detecting devices, four transmitters, a triggering device, a receiver, and a controller. Each of the rotation direction detecting devices outputs a rotation direction signal which is then transmitted by an associated one of the transmitters. The triggering device triggers the transmitter on a first one of the four wheels to transmit an identification signal specific thereto. The receiver receives all of the signals transmitted from transmitters and provides those signals to the controller. The controller identifies the transmitter and tire on the first wheel based on the identification signal transmitted from the transmitter on the first wheel and determines, for each of the transmitters, whether the transmitter and the associated tire are located on one of the right-side wheels or one of the left-side wheels based on the rotation direction signal transmitted from the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 7411487
    Abstract: A tire-information administration system includes a plurality of sensor modules installed in tires; at least one reception module configured to receive data from the sensor modules; and a central control module configured to command the reception module to acquire data from the sensor modules. The central control module includes a predetermined number of connection ports for the reception module, assigned in advance to each sensor modules; and a specifically configured control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Takao, Tatehiko Yamada, Yoshinori Imamura
  • Patent number: 7408452
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention, a wireless sensing system is disclosed, where the system has particular application to sensing the speed of a vehicle wheel, for example. To sense wheel speed, a sensing unit senses changes in magnetic flux and wirelessly relays a signal indicative thereof back to a base station or control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Peter Knittl
  • Patent number: 7408453
    Abstract: Wheel for a vehicle includes a wheel rim, a tire mounted on the wheel rim to define an inflatable interior compartment, a pump for pumping air into the compartment, and an energy generating system for generating energy upon rotation of the wheel to power the pump and cause the pump to pump air into the compartment. The energy generating system may include a first coil, a magnetized mass movable upon rotation of the wheel relative to and partly in a chamber surrounded by the first coil, and an energy storage or load device coupled to the first coil. Upon rotation of the wheel, the mass moves relative to the first coil imparting a charge to the first coil which is stored in the energy storage or load device and used to power the pump when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Breed
  • Patent number: 7403103
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wheel condition detection and signalling device. The device includes a chamber which is capable of being attached to a wheel of a truck to rotate therewith and a pendulum having significant mass and is rotatably mounted within the chamber in such a manner that the pendulum remains generally non-rotating during rotation of the chamber. The device also includes a detector means for detecting an unacceptable condition of the wheel and emitting a signal dependent upon such condition and a transmitter for transmitting that signal to a receiver. The chamber carries a wire coil which is mounted on a core having two outside parallel arms provided with end faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Kevin Patrick Pearman
  • Patent number: 7397353
    Abstract: A wireless tire pressure sensing system for an aircraft comprises: dual resonant circuits mounted to a wheel of the aircraft, each resonant circuit comprising: a variable capacitance sensor and a wire loop of a predetermined inductance coupled thereto, one capacitance sensor for monitoring the pressure of a tire mounted to the wheel, and the other capacitance sensor operative as a reference to the one capacitance sensor; an interrogating circuit magnetically coupleable to the dual resonant circuits and operative to induce magnetically a variable frequency current in the dual resonant circuits, the one resonant circuit responding to the induced current with an E-field signal at a first resonant frequency commensurate with the capacitance of the one sensor, and the other resonant circuit responding to the induced current with an E-field signal at a second resonant frequency commensurate with the capacitance of the other sensor; a receiving circuit E-field coupleable to the dual resonant circuits and operative t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Myhre, Mark J. Buenz, John A. Norlien, William G. Kunik, Wade W. Williams
  • Patent number: 7397352
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for localising the position of at least two emission units, especially for monitoring at least one parameter for a plurality of wheels pertaining to a motor vehicle. The average power of the reception signals of a central evaluation and control unit (5) is detected. The aim of the invention is to improve the reliability of a correct localisation. To this end, at least two association criteria are used to associate the reception signals or emission units with positions or regions, when the examination of a reliability criterion for the first association criterion does not produce a sufficiently high reliability for the association carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Fischer, Jürgen Spotka
  • Patent number: 7395145
    Abstract: An apparatus for calculating an initial correction coefficient for correcting rotational angular velocities obtained from outputs of rotational angular velocity detecting means. The apparatus includes a judged value calculating means which calculates a judged value on the basis of the rotational angular velocities; an identifying means which identifies whether the vehicle is performing turning movements at high velocity, straight-ahead running or turning movements at mid/low velocity; and an initial correction coefficient calculating means which obtains an initial correction coefficient when it has been identified by the identifying means that the vehicle is performing straight-ahead running or turning movements at mid/low velocity. It is possible to obtain accurate correction coefficients so that it is possible to accurately detect, for instance, a decrease in tire air-pressure and thus to maintain safe running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Oshiro, Minao Yanase
  • Patent number: 7391308
    Abstract: A transmitter module has a sensor module that includes a plurality of sensors and operates intermittently, a signal processor module that permits transmission of an output of the sensor module to a receiver module at given permission timings, a radio transmission module that wirelessly transmits data when the transmission is permitted, and a power source that supplies power to each module. The signal processor module has a microcomputer and an interval timer that outputs a first timing signal when a count value corresponds to a set value. The microcomputer is activated by the first timing signal and changes the set value in a compare register according to a vehicle operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Iwazumi
  • Patent number: 7388478
    Abstract: A sensor detects values of inflation pressure of a tire of a vehicle one after another. A controller calculates, from the values of the tire inflation pressure, a deflation rate at which the tire is deflating per unit time. When the deflation rate is higher than a first predetermined value, the controller judges that the tire is suddenly punctuated. When the deflation rate is not higher than the first predetermined value but is higher than a second predetermined value, the controller judges that the tire is deteriorated. When the deflation rate is not higher than the second predetermined value, the controller judges that compressed air is naturally leaked from the tire. An alarm unit gives an alarm indicating punctuation or deterioration of the tire or natural air leaking in response to the judgment of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 7385493
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure detection apparatus includes a detection portion provided in a tire of a vehicle for detecting a tire inflation pressure, a transmitting portion for wirelessly transmitting a signal of a tire inflation pressure information, a receiving portion for feeding the signal transmitted from the transmitting portion, a wheel speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of a wheel of the tire, a control portion for feeding a signal from the wheel speed sensor and the signal from the receiving portion, an electric power source wire for connecting the wheel speed sensor to the control portion, a signal input wire for connecting the electric power source wire to the receiving portion, and a filter disposed at the electric power source wire between a connection point with the signal input wire and the control portion for blocking the signal transmitted from the transmitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Kato, Eiji Fujioka
  • Patent number: 7370523
    Abstract: A deformation of a rotating tire on a road surface is calculated the following. At first, time series data of acceleration extracted from measurement data of acceleration corresponding to one round of tire rotation is subjected to a time integration of second order to obtain displacement data so as to calculate the deformation at the tread portion. The time series data of acceleration and the displacement data in the non-contact region excluding a road surface contact region on the tire circumference at the tread portion are respectively approximated to calculate a first and a second approximation curves. The two approximation curves are subtracted respectively from the time series data of acceleration and the calculated displacement data, thereby extracting time series data of acceleration due to tire deformation and obtaining the deformation at the tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kitazaki, Naoshi Miyashita, Noritaka Koguchi