Relative Wheel Speed Patents (Class 340/444)
  • Patent number: 7362218
    Abstract: A tire monitor for mounting to a vehicle as part of a remote tire monitoring system includes a tire condition sensor to produce a tire condition signal, a controller coupled to the tire condition sensor to control operation of the tire monitor, and a radio circuit coupled to the controller to transmit radio signals based at least in part on the tire condition signal. A shock sensor is coupled to the controller of the tire monitor to produce a motion signal indicating motion of the tire monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Schrader Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Kenneth McCall, William David Stewart
  • Patent number: 7350408
    Abstract: This apparatus and system for integration of a sensor into a wheel includes sensors for monitoring temperature, pressure or other variables inside of an inflated tire that are mounted directly to or inside of a wheel for the tire, that are in communication with conditions in the tire's interior via ducts or channels in the wheel, and/or that are held in place by and between rim portions of a two piece wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventors: Larry K. Rogers, Pinkash Bhoratis
  • Patent number: 7333008
    Abstract: A tire deflation warning system having a means for detecting the rotational speeds of wheels on a vehicle and a means for judging tires with reduced air pressure from the rotational speed information of the wheels including a means for judging whether driving force works to respective wheels or not a means for calculating a vehicle speed when driving force works to respective wheels, a means for comparing the average of the rotational speeds of the driving wheels against the average of the rotational speeds of the following wheels, with the average of the rotational speeds of the driving wheels against the average of the rotational speeds of the following wheels at normal air pressure in running state in which the vehicle has driving force and a means for judging that the air pressures of the all wheels which are mounted on the vehicle are simultaneously reduced, or that the air pressures of the driving wheels are reduced by the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Minao Yanase
  • Patent number: 7327244
    Abstract: A valve device includes a metal tube fixed to a tire rim of a vehicle. A valve is mounted in an end of an air passageway of the metal tube. A transmitter includes two switches respectively connected to two contact members fixed on the metal tube. A Bourdon tube includes a fixed end in communication with the air passageway of the metal tube and a movable end. When a tire pressure of the tire is in a normal range, the movable end of the Bourdon tube is between the contact members, leading to an open circuit. When the tire pressure is too high or too low, the movable end of the Bourdon tube is in contact with one of the contact members. One of the switches is turned on to activate the transmitter to send a signal for reminding the driver of the abnormal tire pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Hui-Cheng Chung
  • Patent number: 7327243
    Abstract: A method for warning deflation of tires which can detect the deflation of 2 wheels at the same axle including a following axle, the simultaneous deflation of 4 wheels or the abrasion of tires only by the information of wheel speeds is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7323975
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle with at least one tire includes at least one pressure sensor adapted for sensing pressure inside the at least one tire. The system also includes at least one indicator adapted to communicate a stop signal indicating that pressure inside the at least one tire is equal to a target pressure. The indicator is also adapted to communicate a continue signal indicating that pressure inside the at least one tire is unequal to a target pressure. The continue signal is adapted to indicate how close the pressure inside the at least one tire is to the target pressure. The tire pressure monitoring system further includes a controller in communication with the at least one pressure sensor and the at least one indicator. The controller is adapted to determine the target pressure according to a predicted operating condition of the at least one tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Wallace T. Hall, Richard J. Knoll, Brian K. Bartnick
  • Publication number: 20080018446
    Abstract: It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a method, apparatus and program for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure capable of precisely detecting decrease in tire air-pressure even during turning round a corner with a large bank angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7317381
    Abstract: A wheel condition-monitoring system comprises transmitters (1) installed on individual rotatable wheels, for transmitting conditions of the wheels, and a receiver (11) installed on the side of a vehicle body, for receiving the conditions of the wheels sent from the transmitters. The rotation speed of the wheels are detected, and data that indicate the conditions of the wheels are sent from the transmitters (1) to the receiver (11) at intervals in accordance with the rotation speeds detected, or data that relate to a pressure etc. are sent for a predetermined number of times at a transmission interval of a first cycle that assumes a high speed range. At the same time, data transmission of a predetermined number of times corresponding to the transmission interval of the first cycle is repeated for a predetermined number of times at a transmission interval of a second cycle that assumes a low speed range and is longer than the first cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7315240
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure sensing apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a command signal receiver. The transmitter is provided on a wheel of a vehicle and includes a pressure sensor configured to sense the inflation pressure of a tire on the wheel and generate a pressure signal indicative of the sensed inflation pressure. The receiver is provided on the body of the vehicle and works to receive the pressure signal and determine the inflation pressure of the tire based on the pressure signal. The command signal receiver is operatively connected to the transmitter and works to receive command signals that indicate instructions for the transmitter. The command signal receiver has a variable receiver sensitivity so as to prevent the command signal receiver and transmitter from being activated by noises while ensuring reliable activation of the command signal receiver and transmitter by “true” command signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 7301444
    Abstract: A method for alarming decrease in tire air-pressure, which detects decrease in internal pressure of a tire attached to a vehicle and accordingly issues alarm. The method includes the steps of: detecting rotational information of the respective tires; storing the rotational information of the respective tires; displaying a summer tire, a winter tire and a run-flat tire; designating a currently attached tire from among the displayed tires and switching to a threshold for judging decrease in internal pressure which matches the tire; judging decrease in internal pressure of a tire by using the threshold; and issuing an alarm on the basis of the judgment of the judging means. Since thresholds which match tires can be suitably switched when the driver operates the touch panel for discriminating presently mounted tires, it is possible to eliminate erroneous alarm and to perform judgment of decompression at even higher accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Matsuura
  • Patent number: 7301446
    Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of an undersized, e.g., mini-spare, or an underinflated, oversized or overinflated tire or tires on a passenger motor vehicle improves operation of traction control, stability and anti-lock brake systems by compensating for such operating anomalies. The method includes the steps of sensing the steering angle, sensing the actual rotational speeds of each wheel, determining the actual vehicle speed, calculating each expected wheel speed based upon the sensed steering angle and wheel speeds, calculating each tire diameter based upon the calculated wheel speeds and, finally, determining whether such diameters are within various defined ranges which permit normal operation, permit reduced function operation, or require system shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: E. David Ray, Dan Reich, Todd Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7289021
    Abstract: Apparatus and method in the use thereof attaches an annular transponder unit to an annular tire surface, the transponder unit being of a type having a sensor housing coupled to an annular antenna. The apparatus includes a rotary turntable for supportably rotating a tire having an annular tire surface in an accessible disposition and an arm proximately disposed to the turntable and having end-of-arm tooling for attaching the transponder unit section by section to the annular tire surface as the tire is rotated. The tooling includes a gripping mechanism engaging the sensor housing and placing the sensor housing at a preselected location on the annular tire surface and a guide mechanism engaging the annular antenna and positioning the annular antenna section by section along the annular tire surface as the tire is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Gary Edwin Tubb, Dwayne Richard Huston, James Michael Hart, William Allen Rex, Robert Allen Birch
  • Patent number: 7289022
    Abstract: A communication system for communicating between a tire/wheel assembly and a body of a vehicle of a construction in which the tire/wheel assembly is supported by the vehicle body, has a i) wheel-side communication device that is mounted to the tire/wheel assembly and rotates together with the tire/wheel assembly, and ii) a body-side communication device that is mounted in a fixed position to the vehicle body. The communication system performs communication between the wheel-side communication device and the body-side communication device according to a predetermined rotational position of the tire/wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Shinichi Tomioka
  • Patent number: 7283924
    Abstract: The present device relates to a method for automatically determining the installation positions of wheels in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has a direct measure tire pressure monitoring system includes individual wheel tire pressure measuring devices and transmitting devices for the transfer of TPMS data containing tire air pressure values and identification numbers of the individual wheels to a receiving and evaluating device installed in or on the vehicle. The motor vehicle also includes an indirect measuring tire pressure monitoring system determining DDS data containing air pressure changes and installation positions from the rotational behavior of the individual wheels. The method includes determining correlation coefficients from the TPMS data and the DDS data by using a correlation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Peter Lauer, Stefan Stölzl, Martin Griesser, Andreas Köbe, Frank Edling, Peter Säger, Vladimir Koukes
  • Patent number: 7277008
    Abstract: A sensor unit for recording the direction of rotation of a wheel is embodied to record a variable that is characteristic for a direction of flow of an air stream in a tire of the wheel. To determine a side of a vehicle on which a wheel is disposed, a variable is recorded which is characteristic for a direction of flow of an air stream in a tire of the wheel. Further a direction of movement and an acceleration of the vehicle is recorded. The side of the vehicle is determined depending on the variable, the direction of movement of the vehicle and the acceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Herbert Froitzheim
  • Patent number: 7268678
    Abstract: A receiving antenna with a rigid directional pattern, that is to say with an anisotropic receiving sensitivity of the receiving antenna, is used for localizing a wheel electronics unit in a wheel of the motor vehicle. Suitable evaluation of the received electromagnetic signals is provided in order to obtain a functionality achieved by way of the displacement or rotation of the directional antenna in the case of prior solutions. In this respect, a level of the received electromagnetic signal is compared with a predefined threshold value. As the result of the comparison, the wheel electronics unit is localized as being arranged in a wheel of the first wheel group or as being arranged in a wheel of the second wheel group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Guy-Aymar Chakam, Armin Daiss, Frank Fischer, Herbert Froitzheim, Stefan Hammes, Gregor Kuchler
  • Patent number: 7259663
    Abstract: A pressure detection sensor for detecting a tire internal air pressure and a wheel side communication device for transmitting a detection result of the pressure detection sensor using a preset transmission mode are provided on each wheel. The detection result from the pressure detection sensor is transmitted to an ECU via a vehicle body side communication device provided on a vehicle body. The ECU is able to notify a transmission mode determination device provided on each wheel that adjustment of the tire internal air pressure is being performed by manipulating a state of the tire internal air pressure. The transmission mode determination device determines a transmission mode to be used by the wheel side communication device such that a transmission frequency of a notification related to the occurrence of an abnormality of the wheel is reduced while adjustment of the tire internal air pressure is being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7239232
    Abstract: A magnetic temperature sensing device for rotatably moving parts, of the type including at least a magnetic field source element associated to the rotatably moving part and a magnetic field sensing element associated with a fixed part to measure parameters of a magnetic field determined by the magnetic field source element, the parameters of the magnetic field being a function of the temperature of the rotatably moving part. The magnetic field source element permits rotation along at least an axis the direction of the magnetic field as a function of the temperature of the rotatably moving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: CRF Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventor: Daniele Pullini
  • Patent number: 7236892
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel state monitoring device appropriately determines whether it is probable that a vehicle wheel is damaged by setting a threshold value for damage determination in accordance with a type of the vehicle wheel fitted to the vehicle. A road surface input calculation portion calculates a road surface input that is a load applied to the tire based on an up-down direction force transmitted to the tire from a road surface. A damage determination portion determines whether it is probable that the vehicle wheel is damaged by comparing the road surface input and a threshold value that is pre-set. A vehicle wheel distinguishing portion receives information from a recording device provided on the vehicle wheel, and distinguishes the type of vehicle wheel fitted to the vehicle wheel. A threshold setting portion sets a threshold value in accordance with the distinguished type of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7233236
    Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) used for detecting lift of a wheel includes a speed sensor (20) coupled to the wheel producing a wheel speed signal and a torque control system (57) coupled to the wheel for generating an operating input torque to the wheel. A controller (26) is coupled to the torque control system (57) and the wheel speed sensor (20). The controller (26) determines a wheel response to the operating input torque and generates a wheel lift signal as a function of the operating input torque, the wheel speed signal and the wheel response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 7233237
    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: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Dufournier Technologies SAS
    Inventor: Arnaud Dufournier
  • Patent number: 7233238
    Abstract: A tire air-pressure alarming device includes wheel speed sensors for detecting wheel speeds of wheels of a motor vehicle and also includes a microcomputer-base control device and an alarming unit. The control device is programmed to execute function steps of: deriving a decision value based on the wheel speeds detected by the wheel speed sensors; judging the occurrence of air-pressure drop of the tires constituting wheels, based on the decision value; and outputting a command when the occurrence of the air-pressure drop of the tires is judged. The alarming unit is responsive to the command from the control device thereby to raise an alarm indicating the occurrence of the air-pressure drop of the tire. The tires are monitored by the tire air-pressure alarming device, wherein the control device is also programmed to execute a function step of standardizing the speed dependency of a rolling radius of the tires thereby to standardize the performance in judging the air-pressure drop of the tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoshi Suzuki, Hidenori Kajino, Minao Yanase
  • Patent number: 7227458
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure sensing apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is provided on a wheel of a vehicle and includes a pressure sensor working to sense an inflation pressure of a tire on the wheel and an acceleration sensor working to generate a signal as a function of a component of gravitational acceleration in the sensing direction thereof. The transmitter is configured to determine a position thereof depending on the signal generated by the acceleration sensor and transmit the signal representative of the inflation pressure of the tire toward the receiver when a transmitting request is issued and the determined position thereof falls in a predetermined range. The receiver is provided on the body of the vehicle and is configured to receive the signal transmitted from the transmitter and determine the inflation pressure of the tire depending on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuya Watabe, Ryozo Okumura
  • Patent number: 7224269
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a vehicle (10) includes a vehicle speed sensor (38, 98) that is used to generate a vehicle speed signal. A receiver (28) operates using a first protocol when the vehicle speed signal is below a first speed threshold and operates using a second protocol when the vehicle speed is above the speed threshold. A remote keyless entry system (23) is coupled to the receiver and operates when the vehicle speed is below a speed threshold. The remote keyless entry system (23) receives signals from a keyless entry transmitter (60) using the first protocol. A tire pressure monitoring system (12) has a pressure transmitter (16A-16E) that generates a signal using a first protocol and a second protocol when the speed signal is below the speed threshold and generating the signal using only the second protocol when the speed signal is above the speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Miller, Thomas McQuade, Robert Mince
  • Patent number: 7224268
    Abstract: A vehicle positioning control apparatus includes a vehicle positioning detection device, a vehicle positioning sudden change detection device, a tire air pressure reduction detection device, and a plurality of tire air pressure adjustment mechanisms. The vehicle positioning detection device detects a physical quantity indicating a positioning of a vehicle. The vehicle positioning sudden change detection device detects sudden changes in the positioning based on the physical quantity. The tire air pressure reduction detection device detects which of a plurality of wheels has undergone a reduction in tire air pressure. When a sudden change in positioning is detected, all wheels other than the wheel having undergone a reduction in pressure are designated as pressure reduction target wheels. The tire air pressure of the pressure reduction target wheels is reduced by the tire air pressure adjustment mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 7213453
    Abstract: A method of judging a vehicle loading condition includes detecting rotational speeds of wheels mounted on a vehicle, calculating a judging value of tire pressures based on the difference of the sum of rotational speeds of two pairs of wheels located at the opposing corners of the vehicle and detecting an acceleration to a lateral direction of the vehicle. The loading state of the vehicle is judged by the change of a primary coefficient based on an approximated relation between the acceleration to a lateral direction and the judging value of the tire pressures. A tire deflation warning system detects the stop of the vehicle, and the air pressure of four wheels is judged not to be decreased if the loading condition of a vehicle is changed more than a fixed value before and after a vehicle stop. The tire deflation warning system can prevent a deflation alarm for a vehicle with a heavy load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Matsuura
  • Patent number: 7209032
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for transmitting tire condition variables from a transmission device mounted on a motor vehicle to an electronic evaluating or control unit arranged in the area of the vehicle body, which is detachably fastened to a motor vehicle wheel described hereinbelow for providing an electromechanical compound arrangement. Further, a transmission device is disclosed wherein tire condition variables can be detected, and wherein a coupling device is integrated into the wheel hub (3) and composed of a rotor and a non-rotating stator for producing a field coupling, and its one or more field coupling elements are arranged opposite one another, separated by a narrow air slot (24), and energy and/or signals are coupled by means of electric fields and/or magnetic fields and/or electromagnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Helmut Fennel, Peter Lohberg
  • Patent number: 7205885
    Abstract: A wheel sensor communication system (10) includes a primary coil (30) and a secondary coil (32), which operate as an electromagnetic transformer which is uncoupled mechanically but coupled electrically through a vehicle wheel assembly rotational interface. The electromagnetic transformer provides for the transfer of energy and data from a sensor (18) to a controller (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Steven P. Kulha
  • Patent number: 7205905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a parking assistance system for a vehicle, comprising at least one distance sensor that detects at least sections of the lateral immediate vicinity of the vehicle and at least one path sensor that detects the path travelled by the vehicle. According to the method, a control device determines the length and/or width of a parking space from the values measured by the sensors as the vehicle drives past said parking space. The invention is characterised in that the measured length and/or width of the parking space is/are corrected by a correction value and/or that depending on the speed of the vehicle as it drives past the parking space, the measurement is taken by means of the distance sensor at different time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Gotzig, Miguel Hurtado, Nicolas Jecker, Anton Lill
  • Patent number: 7173521
    Abstract: To issue a warning against an improper (a lowered) air pressure in accordance with a vehicle state and driver's presence/absence, the warning system includes air pressure measuring means for measuring an air pressure of a tire of a vehicle; air pressure judging means for judging whether or not the air pressure is proper; warning issuing means for issuing, if a result of the judgment is negative, a warning; and driver on-board judging means for judging whether or not a driver is on board the vehicle; and driver detecting means for detecting whether or not the driver is in the proximity to the vehicle. If the results of the judgments by the air pressure judging means and the driver on-board judging means are negative and a result of the detection by the driver detecting means is positive, the warning issuing means issues the warning outside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7171297
    Abstract: A comparison/determination part 7 recieves the input of a front wheel speed filtered value ?fF from a front wheel speed filtered value calculation part 5 and a rear wheel speed filtered value ?rF from a rear wheel speed filtered value calculation part 6. It is determined whether the front wheel speed filtered value ?fF has exceeded a preset first threshold C1. It is determined whether the rear wheel speed filtered value ?rF has exceeded a preset second threshold C2 within a time for transmission of vibration from the front wheels to the rear wheels which is experimentally set in advance after the front wheel speed filtered value ?fF exceeded the first threshold C1. The road surface is then determined to be rough when it is determined that the rear wheel speed filtered value ?rF has exceeded the preset second threshold C2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Kogure
  • Patent number: 7132939
    Abstract: A self-powered tire revolution counter includes a motion sensitive power generation mechanism, a power conditioner, a pulse detector, a microcontroller, and, optionally, a radio frequency (RF) transmitting device. In one exemplary embodiment, the power generation mechanism corresponds to a piezoelectric patch that, during movement, provides both operating electrical power and pulsed signals indicative of tire rotation. The power conditioner receives a generator signal from the power generation mechanism and produces a conditioned output voltage that can be used to power associated electronic devices, including the microcontroller. The pulse detector receives the generator signal and produces a detection signal whenever the generator signal meets a predetermined condition. The microcontroller is programmed to determine current and lifetime-accumulated values of selected pulse indications in the detection signal that meet predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Patrick A. Tyndall, George Phillips O'Brien, Timothy R. Tedrow
  • Patent number: 7131323
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure sensing apparatus according to the invention includes a first pressure sensor, a first transmitter, a second pressure sensor, a second transmitter, and a receiver. The first pressure sensor and first transmitter are provided on a running wheel of a vehicle. The first transmitter works to send out a pressure signal generated by the first pressure sensor upon being triggered by a trigger signal. The second pressure sensor and second transmitter are provided on a spare wheel of the vehicle. The second transmitter works to send out a pressure signal generated by the second pressure sensor upon being triggered by the trigger signal. The receiver is provided on the body of the vehicle and works to send out the trigger signal and identify whether a pressure signal received thereby is sent out from the first transmitter or the second transmitter based on a RSSI signal generated therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takahisa Hirota
  • Patent number: 7111508
    Abstract: A method of localizing the location of a received signal from a tire pressure sensor includes sending an AM identification signal. The AM signal is adjusted for speed such that the frequency of the signal equals a constant multiplied by the speed of the vehicle. Each of the tire locations on a vehicle have an expected sequence of black-out points in the signal received by a receiver at any point on the vehicle. That is, given a particular vehicle design, the AM signal described above would be received at a receiver with an expected sequence of received peaks and black-out points. Since the frequency of the signal is adjusted for speed, the received signal will accurately allow the location of black-out points to be utilized to identify the tire location for a particular signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Tejas B. Desai
  • Patent number: 7106184
    Abstract: A rear entertainment system has a voice synthesis circuit, an OSD unit, a video camera, a DVD playback unit, a rear monitor, a navigation unit, a mixer, an IR circuit, and headphones. The voice synthesis circuit and the OSD unit receive driving information from a handle, a brake, a winker, and so on. The voice synthesis circuit presents the driving condition in an audio form, while the OSD unit presents the driving condition in a video form. The video camera takes a scene in a forward direction. The navigation unit supports the driving of the vehicle. The mixer synthesizes the voice output of the voice synthesis circuit, audio signals from the DVD playback unit and audio signals from the navigation unit. The IR circuit converts the synthesized audio signals into IR signals. The headphones receive the IR signals from the IR circuit and convert the IR signals into audio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kaminaga, Takao Inoue
  • Patent number: 7102499
    Abstract: An electronic communication device for a tire includes a radio device and an antenna intended to be attached to or embedded in a tire, the antenna being spirally or helically shaped to absorb tensile and bending stress applied by the tire. The antenna body may be a wire formed of spring steel, brass or zinc coated spring steel, or spring brass. A coating of insulating material coats the radio device and antenna for mounting on or in, and operation in, a tire structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: David Myatt
  • Patent number: 7091841
    Abstract: A tire assembly with integrated electronic components includes a tire structure and an integrated electronics assembly, which preferably includes at least a radio frequency (RF) device and a multi-frequency antenna that enables wireless communication in at least first and second resonant frequency bands. Such multi-frequency antenna further comprises at least first and second antenna wires connected to the RF device, thus facilitating the transmission of RF signals which may include information such as tire identification information or measured condition information such as tire temperature, pressure, and other characteristics. The first and second antenna wires preferably function together as at least two dipole antennas, for example, two half-wave dipole antennas, or one half-wave dipole antenna and one three-half-wave dipole antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A.
    Inventors: John David Adamson, Patrick F. King
  • Patent number: 7069134
    Abstract: A tire blowout control system for a vehicle that has multiple wheels. Each of the wheels has a tire. The system includes a wheel speed sensor and a pressure sensor. The system also includes a first processor to receive the wheel speed, and a second processor to receive the pressure signals. The system also includes a third processor to receive signals from the first processor and the second processor, to generate a tire blowout signal based on the signals from the first processor and the second processor, and to activate an active safety system and a passive safety system with the tire blowout signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Kyle Williams
  • Patent number: 7053760
    Abstract: An apparatus for alarming a decrease in tire air-pressure which alarms the decrease in inner pressure of the tire by using a judged value calculated based on wheel speed information obtained from tires fitted to a four-wheeled vehicle. The apparatus comprises calculating means for calculating the judged value based on the wheel speed information on each of the tires, the calculating means being connected to one of on-vehicle LANs, via which the wheel speed information on each of the tires is transmitted. The calculates means captures the wheel speed information on each of the tires via one of the on-vehicle LANs. The wheel speed information is converted into the digital data, which is then captured into the apparatus for alarming the decrease in tire air-pressure via the on-vehicle LAN, thus remarkably reducing the number of lines laid in the vehicle in comparison with the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Arita
  • Patent number: 7049948
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system includes an on-board detection unit configured to transmit a detection signal indicative of the presence of an occupant entering a vehicle, a vehicle-body-based unit configured to receive the detection signal and transmit a transmission request to receive at least one air pressure signal indicative of tire pressure of the vehicle, and at least one tire-based unit configured to receive the transmission request, measure the tire pressure and transmit the air pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: YAZAKI Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Yagi, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Masaya Sugita
  • Patent number: 7046131
    Abstract: A display apparatus is for mounting on a rotatable object. The display apparatus comprises: (a) a display array for displaying at least one display pattern; (b) a self-contained rotational speed sensor for sensing a rotational speed of the rotatable object, the self-contained rotational speed sensor being entirely mounted on the rotatable object; (c) a wireless receiver for receiving information from a signal source spaced from the rotatable object and, (d) a microprocessor for controlling the display array based on the rotational speed of the rotatable object to display the at least one display pattern using persistence of vision of a viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventor: William Todorox
  • Patent number: 7030743
    Abstract: An tire pressure indicator operative to provide a first visual indication if the tire pressure within a tire to which the indicator is coupled is below a first predetermined pressure and a second different visual indication if the tire pressure is above a second predetermined pressure. The indicator includes first and second magnetic members rotatably mounted within a housing that includes a transparent portion. The first magnetic member rotates in response to air pressure applied to a diaphragm that is mechanically coupled to the first magnetic member. The second magnetic member includes portions having first and second visual characteristics that are viewable through a transparent portion. The second magnetic member is cooperative with the first magnetic member to rotatably orient the second magnetic member such that the first or second visual characteristic is visible through the transparent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Tagg Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Jason A. Morris
  • Patent number: 7026922
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a vehicle (10) has a plurality of tires (14a–d) in respective rolling locations having a respective plurality of tire transmitters (16a–d) that generate a respective plurality of transmitter identification signals. A respective plurality of initiators (20a–d) are fixedly attached to the vehicle at a respective plurality of locations. A controller (22) activates the plurality of initiators and receives a plurality of respective sensor signals having respective tire identifications. When the plurality of respective sensor signals is indicative of an initial status and the respective plurality of tire identification signals is not existing in a memory, the plurality of sensor signals are configured and stored in the memory. When the plurality of respective sensor signals is indicative of an initial status and the plurality of respective tire identification signals is existing in the memory, the controller confirms the first sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Monirul Huq Talukder, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Thomas Michael McQuade
  • Patent number: 7026953
    Abstract: A keyless entry device includes a plurality of antennas which receive high frequency signals, a high frequency receiver which reproduces data from the high frequency signals received by the plurality of antennas, an intermittent controller which changes over an operation of the high frequency receiver between a continuous operation and an intermittent operation in an interlocking manner with turning on or off of an ignition key of an automobile, and a data processor which outputs data as control signals, wherein when the ignition key is turned on, the keyless entry device is operated as the tire pressure monitoring device and when the ignition key is turned off, the keyless entry device is operated as the keyless entry device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohei Fujii
  • Patent number: 7021132
    Abstract: Measuring system for measuring at least one parameter indicative of the state of the tires of a vehicle, which comprises on each wheel a detector (12) having a parameter sensor (13) and an antenna (15) tuned to a defined frequency, and which comprises a central data processing unit (24) coupled by individual wire links (22) to fixed antennas that are installed near the wheels equipped with sensors. Each parameter sensor comprises a transponder associated with a capacitor to store the power from the associated fixed antenna. At least one of the fixed and mobile antennas is configured in such a way that the link with the other antenna corresponding to the same wheel is substantially independent of the angular position of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: TRW France SA
    Inventors: Frederic Nigon, Vincent Portet
  • Patent number: 7023334
    Abstract: When a vehicle travels a bend, tire pressure measurement devices (2) are assigned to wheel positions. For this purpose, it is determined by means of ABS (4) whether it is a left-hand or right-hand bend. Wheel revolution counts are then measured in each tire and sent along with identification codes to a central analysis unit (3). There the wheel revolution counts are collated with the bend data determined by the ABS. The two higher wheel revolution counts are then assigned to the side of the vehicle on the outside of the bend and the two lower wheel revolution counts are assigned to the other side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Georges Fonzes
  • Patent number: 7015801
    Abstract: A tire condition sensor unit (e.g., 18A) is for use within a tire condition communication system (10). The sensor unit (e.g., 18A) is for association with a tire (e.g., 14A) of a vehicle (12) and, via a method, communicates a tire condition to a vehicle-based unit (28). A sensor (58) senses the tire condition. Radio frequency transmit circuitry and an antenna (68 and 22) transmit a radio frequency signal (e.g., 24A) that indicates the sensed tire condition. In one aspect, a low frequency antenna and a signal detector (48 and 52) receive a low frequency initiation signal that causes transmission of the radio frequency signal indicative of the sensed tire condition. In another aspect, the radio frequency signal is also indicative of a fixed identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: David Leonard Juzswik
  • Patent number: 7015803
    Abstract: A tire air pressure detecting device has a tire air pressure detecting device on a wheel. A main transmitting device is provided at the wheel for transmitting an air pressure signal SP to a vehicle body. A main receiving device is provided at the vehicle body for receiving the air pressure signal SP. A main switch turn-on detecting device is provided on the vehicle body for detecting the turn-on of a main switch. A second control device is provided on the vehicle body for receiving the air pressure signal SP and a main switch ON signal Son. An auxiliary transmitting device on the vehicle body transmits a transmission instruction signal SR to the wheel when the second control means receives the main switch ON signal Son. An auxiliary receiving device on the wheel receives the transmission instruction signal SR. A first control device is provided for reading a new air pressure signal SP. When the main switch is turned on, the state of the tire air pressure can immediately be recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Yamagiwa, Tomoyuki Harada, Hiroyuki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7009505
    Abstract: A tire pressure gauge includes a tubular housing, an air ventilating member dividing the housing into receiving and coupling chambers, a flexible diaphragm disposed in the receiving chamber and having a raised portion which is movable in response to an air pressure introduced into the receiving chamber through the coupling chamber, which is coupled to a tire valve, so as to move a pressure indicating member relative to a cap in order to indicate the tire pressure condition, an adjustable member adjustably disposed in the cap, and a biasing member disposed between the pressure indicating member and the adjustable member so as to correct the position of the pressure indicating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventor: Tien-Tsai Huang
  • Patent number: 6998974
    Abstract: The method comprises the steps of monitoring the wheels (R1, R2, R3, R4) of a motor vehicle having an antilock brake system (ABS), for fault states, in particular for incorrect tire pressures, the occurrence of a fault state and the wheel position (FL, FR, RL, RR) of the wheel (R1, R2, R3, R4) at which the fault state has occurred being indicated. Each wheel (R1, R2, R3, R4) to be monitored is assigned a wheel unit (E1, E2, E3, E4) which monitors the respective wheel (R1, R2, R3, R4) for fault states, and wherein at least the wheel position (FL, FR, RL, RR) of a wheel (R1, R2, R3, R4) at which a fault state has occurred is determined by means of output signals of sensors (S1, S2, S3, S4) of the antilock brake system (ABS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nikolas Bergerhoff, Martin Fischer