With Particular Telemetric Coupling Patents (Class 340/445)
  • Patent number: 7009506
    Abstract: A monitoring device and patch assembly includes a patch that removably and re-attachably holds the monitoring device. The patch is adapted to connect the monitoring device to a pneumatic tire when the monitoring device is held by the patch. The patch is configured to hold a monitoring device having a rounded outer surface. The patch holds the rounded monitoring device by having a resilient tube with an outlet having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the monitoring device. The monitoring device of the invention includes a feature that allows it to be removed from the patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Paul B. Wilson, John D. Rensel, Russell W. Koch
  • Patent number: 7009491
    Abstract: A dual purpose key fob has manipulable keys for, in a normal mode, locking and unlocking a vehicle and keys for opening a vehicle trunk and activating a panic alarm and, in a training mode, for sending code signals to tire pressure sensors to tell the sensors what tire they are in, e.g., after wheel rotation, so that the sensors subsequently can transmit the proper location signals to the vehicle's ECM along with the pressure signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hector H. Rodriguez, Robert A. Newman
  • Patent number: 7004019
    Abstract: A system for the detection of a pressure drop in a tire comprising a tire air pressure sensor, a tire temperature sensor and an evaluating unit. The evaluating unit converts the measured air pressure values and temperature values into temperature compensated air pressure values and produces an alarm signal when the temporal fluctuation exceeds an air pressure fluctuation threshold value. The evaluating unit decreases the air pressure threshold value with increasing deviation from the measured temperature compensated air pressure value of a predetermined temperature compensated air pressure reference value. At least one further sensor may be provided for measuring a parameter which influences the air pressure in the tire whereby the evaluating unit corrects the measured and, regarding to the production of an alarm signal, evaluated air pressure according to this parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Dominik Fuessel, Franz Hillenmayer
  • Patent number: 6999861
    Abstract: A receiver of a tire status monitoring apparatus which can specify tire mounting positions and does not require initial registration work. The tire status monitoring apparatus includes a plurality of transmitters which are provided on the respective tires of a vehicle and transmit data indicating statuses of the respective tires. The data includes an identification code to identify each tire, and the receiver is supplied with an activation signal to activate a drive source of the vehicle. The receiver includes a reception unit which receives the data from the transmitters, and a control circuit which is connected to the reception unit and collates the identification code included in the data upon detection of the activation signal and specifies, based on the identification code, each transmitter which has transmitted the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michiya Katou
  • Patent number: 6985076
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a vehicle (10) has a plurality of tires (14a, b, c and d) in respective rolling locations and a spare tire (14e) generating a spare tire identification. A controller (22) starts the timer (44) and sets a tire status to a rolling status, a pending rolling status, a spare status or a pending spare status in response to the timer and the vehicle speed. The controller (22) stores the status and the spare tire identification in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bennie, Frederick James Porter, Leena Shah, Thomas Michael McQuade, Thomas Lee Miller
  • Patent number: 6982636
    Abstract: A pressure monitoring system (12) for a tire (14a) of an automotive vehicle includes a first pressure sensor (94) coupled to the wheel, a pressure transmitter (90) coupled to the pressure sensor (94) whereby the transmitter generates a pressure signal. A controller (22) is coupled to the pressure transmitter. The controller (22) receives the pressure signal and in a first stage, compares the pressure signal to a pressure threshold to obtain a sensor status. In a second stage, the controller (22) qualifies the sensor status signal by generating a warning status in response to the sensor status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bennie, Dilip B. Patel, Frederick James Porter, Leena Shah, Thomas Michael McQuade, Thomas Lee Miller
  • Patent number: 6972691
    Abstract: When registering the ID code of a transmitter in a receiver, a commander is brought close to the transmitter and then a manipulation switch of the commander is pressed. Then, the commander transmits an instruction signal to the transmitter. In response to the instruction signal, the transmitter transmits a response signal including eight consecutive data frames. When receiving the signal from the transmitter, the receiver counts the number of the data fames in the received signal. f the number of the data frames is eight, the receiver determines that the received signal is a response signal generated based on manipulation of the commander and registered the ID code in the response signal. That is, the receiver determines whether to register the ID code in the received signal based on the number of the data frames included in the received signal. As a result, the ID code of the transmitter is easily registered in the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Okubo
  • Patent number: 6970076
    Abstract: A tire monitor (100) mountable inside a tire (200) includes a tire data sensor (402) and a transmitter (406). The transmitter is configured to transmit tire data at one or more frequencies within a passband of frequencies of the tire. The transmitter of the tire monitor is tuned in relation to the characteristic frequency response of the tire to ensure reliable transmission and reception of radio signals conveying the tire data to a remote receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred L. Starkey
  • Patent number: 6967570
    Abstract: Provided is a tire air pressure monitoring system in which identification (“ID”) registration is automatically made while specifying a tire position to reduce the manpower of the registration operation and further to prevent mistaken registration. In this system, when an ignition switch is changed from an OFF state to an ON state to satisfy a tire position detection condition, a command is issued to a smart control unit so that a transmitter transmits an ID transmission request to an air pressure sensor, and the air pressure sensor returns ID data as a reply to the ID transmission request. The ID data received is collated with a previously registered ID and, if the result of the collation shows that the ID data pertains to the air pressure sensor of his/her own vehicle, the received ID data is registered as an ID related to a specific tire position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsuji, Ryozo Okumura
  • Patent number: 6965306
    Abstract: A transmitter, which is operated by a battery, wirelessly transmits data including data that represents the temperature T in a tire and data that represents the voltage V of the battery. A receiver judges whether or not the life of the battery is ending depending on the battery voltage V read from the received data. More specifically, the receiver performs the judgment regarding the life of the battery based on a comparison between the battery voltage V and a variable voltage reference value V0, which is selected in accordance with the temperature T in the tire. The judgment regarding the life of the battery is thus accurately performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Tsujita, Michiya Katou
  • Patent number: 6965305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor ID registration for a tire air pressure monitor including a sensor unit built in each of tires of a vehicle and a receiver mounted in a vehicle body for monitoring the in-tire air pressure. The registration is conducted through using a control unit and a registration unit, provided for each vehicle manufacturing line. A different control unit number is allocated to each of the control units and transmitted from the control unit to the receiver. Moreover, a specific number identical to the number is transmitted from the registration unit to the sensor unit and data including a sensor ID and the specific number is transmitted from the sensor unit. The receiver registers the sensor ID when the specific number and the control unit number agree with each other. This achieves accurate ID registration without registering an ID of another vehicle in error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Taguchi, Ryozo Okumura
  • Patent number: 6959593
    Abstract: A system for determining interaction between a tire and a contact surface during movement of a motor vehicle includes at least one first sensor and processing means. The at least one first sensor includes one or more first elongated piezoelectric elements which extend along at least a first portion of the tire. The at least one first sensor supplies a first signal to the processing means. The first signal is generated by rotation of the tire and is generated cyclically with each revolution of the tire. The processing means detects variations in time intervals between distinctive elements of the first signal. A tire including the system, a kit for detecting behavior of a tire moving with respect to a contact surface, a method for monitoring events correlated with interactions between tires of a moving vehicle and a contact surface, and related systems, tires, methods, and vehicles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Mancosu, Giuseppe Matrascia, Carlo Monguzzi, Diego Ettore Speziari
  • Patent number: 6958684
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating a signal from an external transmitter located in a remote location to a sensor mountable in an interior of a pressure vessel including a vehicle tire. The method and apparatus include disposing a pressure transducer assembly within the pressure vessel or tire in communication with a fluid. The transducer is operably connected to circuitry including a receiver circuit disposed on a PCB. A signal is transmitted from the external transmitter and received with an antenna disposed on the PCB operably connected with said receiver circuit. The antenna is configured as a trace coil disposed on at least two layers of the PCB with each of the trace coils being wound on a corresponding layer in an essentially spiral configuration. Each of the trace coils are on a corresponding layer being and serially connected to a contiguous trace coil disposed on a contiguous layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjie Lin, Manuel S Sanchez
  • Patent number: 6958685
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system includes a plurality of LF initiators for initiating a localization signal from each of the tire pressure monitoring sensors associated with each of the tires. Each of the initiators requests a signal from its respective sensors on a unique frequency. Thus, a control for the vehicle can sense the reporting frequency of the signal from each of the sensors and associate the signal with a particular location on the vehicle based upon this frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Tejas B. Desai
  • Patent number: 6954688
    Abstract: A tire status monitoring apparatus capable of providing notification of an abnormal status for a tire in accordance with the speed of a vehicle. The tire status monitoring apparatus includes transponders which are provided on the respective tires, detect statuses of the tires in response to a request signal and generate transponder data including data indicative of the statuses of the tires detected, and a transceiver which transmits the request signal to each transponder and receives the transponder data from each transponder. The transceiver determines the number of times the request signal is transmitted per unit time in accordance with the speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michiya Katou
  • Patent number: 6937144
    Abstract: A system for monitoring tire pressure of a vehicle or fleet of vehicles includes a check point through which the vehicles pass. A first interrogation component is positioned proximal the check point and tire pressure monitoring devices associated with the tires of the vehicle are in communication with the first interrogation component. An identification tag associated with the vehicle stores data unique to the particular vehicle and is also in communication with the first interrogation component. Likewise, a data collection device communicates with the interrogation component as well. Finally, an alarm communicates with the interrogation component to alert an operator when the tire pressure falls outside a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Drakes & Christ, LLC
    Inventors: Marshall Drake, Thomas Christ
  • Patent number: 6927679
    Abstract: A transmitter mode switching apparatus switches a transmitter into an ID registration mode, while a receiver mode switching apparatus switches a receiver into an ID transmission mode (step S1). Then, a collation ID to be transmitted from the receiver is set based on an ID assigned inherently to the receiver (step S2). Subsequently, an ID transmitting apparatus of the receiver transmits the collation ID (step S3). An ID receiving apparatus of the transmitter receives the collation ID (step S4). An ID registration apparatus of the transmitter stores the received collation ID as a registered ID of the transmitter (step S5). After the ID registration is accomplished, the transmitter mode switching apparatus returns the transmitter to an ordinary mode, while the receiver mode switching apparatus returns the receiver to an ordinary mode (step S6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Taguchi, Shintarou Itou, Ryozo Okumura
  • Patent number: 6927680
    Abstract: An apparatus operable with a system which includes a body-side device and wheel-side devices and in which vehicle-state data such as wheel-state data representative of wheel states are transmitted by radio communication from the wheel-side devices to the body-side device, together with wheel identification data identifying the wheels. The apparatus includes antennas attached to each wheel inspecting device which is arranged to rotate the corresponding so that the antennas are sequentially aligned with the wheel-side device, and transmit trigger signals in response to which the wheel identification data are transmitted from the wheel-side device to the body-side device and registered in the body-side device. The apparatus assists the system so as to automate the registration of the wheel identification data, thereby eliminating a manual operation to bring a trigger device to the positions of the wheels to command the wheel-side devices to transmit the wheel identification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kusunoki, Shinichi Tomioka, Kazuhisa Meguro, Nobuhiro Ide
  • Patent number: 6922142
    Abstract: Provided is a tire air pressure monitoring system capable of sufficiently lowering the electric power dissipation in a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit acquires, on the basis of information on transmission intervals included in transmitted signals from sensor units, the next transmission timings of signals to be transmitted from the sensor units and is switched from a sleep mode to a waking-up mode to receive the transmitted signals from the sensor unit in synchronism with the next transmission timings. This can efficiently set the monitoring unit in a waking-up condition, i.e., a signal receivable condition, thereby preventing useless electric power dissipation and reducing the electric power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 6919798
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel information obtaining apparatus for obtaining wheel information relating to a wheel of a vehicle. The apparatus includes: (a) a wheel state detector which detects a state of the wheel; (b) a transmitter which is provided on the wheel and which transmits a wheel data set containing a wheel state data representing the detected state of the wheel and a wheel identification data identifying the wheel; (c) a receiver which is provided on a vehicle body and which receives the wheel data set transmitted by the transmitter; (d) a data processor which processes the wheel data set received by the receiver; and (e) a communication-intensity reducing device which reduces a transmission strength of the transmitter or/and a reception sensitivity of the receiver, such that the transmission strength or/and the reception sensitivity is lower when the data processor is in an identification-data registering mode, than when the data processor is in a wheel-state data obtaining mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Ide
  • Patent number: 6919799
    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: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Paul B. Wilson, Robert J. Trew, Russell W. Koch
  • Patent number: 6917285
    Abstract: A device for detecting substantially sudden and significant loss of pressure in a tire, comprising: a pressure variation detector capable on the one hand of responding in a safety time interval to a substantially significant and rapid variation in the pressure inside the tire cavity, and on the other hand of acting on another element cooperating with said detector; a management module, cooperating with said detector and capable, on the basis of the information supplied by said detector, of sending a signal when a given pressure variation threshold is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Francis Boulot
  • Patent number: 6917286
    Abstract: The device comprises: a sensor arranged at the level of each tire whose pressure is to be monitored, a transmitter associated with each sensor, and a common receiver intended to receive the information sent by the transmitters, at least one detector device making it possible to detect a transmission in the transmission frequency range of the transmitters associated with the sensors, and each detector device being linked to a central unit in such a way as to be able to send this central unit a signal indicating that a transmission in the relevant frequency range is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignees: Siemens VDO Automotive, Siemens AG
    Inventors: Georges Fonzes, Philippe Lefaure, Martin Fischer
  • Patent number: 6915229
    Abstract: A system has a memory in a vehicle for registering an identification of a tire air pressure sensor device in the memory. The tire air pressure sensor device is provided for a tire of the vehicle. The system further comprises a receiving unit configured to receive an unlikely signal which is transmitted from the tire air pressure sensor device. The unlikely signal is unlikely to be transmitted therefrom under normal circumstances. The system also comprises a first registering unit configured to register the identification of the tire air pressure sensor device in the memory in response to the receive of the unlikely signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Taguchi, Ryozo Okumura
  • Patent number: 6911904
    Abstract: A system for controlling a magnetic field strength includes a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field for receipt by a responsive device and a controller in communication with the magnetic field generator for determining a strength of the magnetic field to a level sufficient for use in controlling the responsive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Nantz, Thomas J. Lemense, Qingfeng Tang, Riad Ghabra, Ronald O. King
  • Patent number: 6897769
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring ECU receives inputs indicative of identification (ID) codes, each of which is uniquely assigned to each sensor unit provided to each tire of a vehicle, via a bar code reader. It stores the ID codes and compares it with ID codes contained in signals from the sensor units, respectively. When the result of the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition, the stored ID code is registered as an ID code corresponding to the uniquely assigned ID code of the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromasa Hayashi, Ryozo Okumura
  • Patent number: 6897770
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and reporting vehicle tire pressure information. The system includes tire pressure monitors mounted to the tires of a vehicle. The tire pressure monitors detect tire pressure information from their respective tires and transmit that information to transponders that are fixedly-mounted to the vehicle. Each tire pressure monitor corresponds to a single transponder. When a tire pressure monitor transmits tire pressure information, the corresponding transponder receives the signal and transmits the tire pressure signal along with a unique transponder identification code to a vehicle central system controller. Based upon the transponder identification code, the central controller associates the tire pressure information with a particular tire location. However, under certain conditions, a transmitted tire pressure signal is received by one or more of the non-corresponding transponders as well as the corresponding transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Lill
  • Patent number: 6888450
    Abstract: A motor cycle incorporates a sensor detecting a condition of the tire, such as, for example, tire pressure. A transmitter transmits the tire condition and a receiver receives the tire condition. An indicator indicates the tire condition. A battery supplies electric power to an engine of the motorcycle, the receiver and the indicator. A control device controls the power supply to the engine, the receiver and the indicator from the battery. A main switch assembly and an activating switch, which activates the receiver and the indicator, are interposed between the battery and the control device. The control device allows power supply to the engine, the receiver and the indicator when the main switch assembly is turned on. The control device also allows power supply to the receiver and the indicator when the activating switch is turned on. In some arrangements, the activating switch is automatically turned on when another sensor detects a condition change of a frame assembly of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Sasaki, Yoshiaki Uchida
  • Patent number: 6888449
    Abstract: Circuit and method for coupling signals to a tire pressure monitoring system assembled within the interior of a tire in the absence of a receiver are provided. The circuit comprises a coupling circuit that provides capacitance or electromagnetic coupling to pass an externally-derived stream of pulses to a microprocessor therein by either, in the case of capacitance coupling, connecting an external device that generates the stream of externally-derived of pulses to a valve stem of the tire and an electrical ground. In the case of electromagnetic coupling, by placing a suitable external device proximate the coupling circuit. The stream of pulses carries information usable by the microprocessor to perform a respective operational function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjie Lin, Warren Baxter Nicholson
  • Patent number: 6885293
    Abstract: Provided is a tire air pressure monitoring system capable of grasping the tire positions where there are sensor units even in the case of tire rotation. In the tire air pressure monitoring system, a trigger signal is transmitted from a transmission coil antenna to only the corresponding sensor unit in a manner such that a magnetic field is used as a medium and, upon receipt of the trigger signal, the sensor unit measures a tire air pressure and others and transmits a transmission signal including the measurement values to a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit makes a decision on the tire position where there is the sensor unit on the basis of the transmission signal from the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Ryozo Okumura
  • Patent number: 6885291
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for mounting a transponder module (400, 702, 951, 1000, 1020, 1751, 1752, 1852, 1852?, 1951, 1951a) and a separate antenna (1520, 1520?, 1520?, 1620, 1720, 1820, 1920) to an inner surface (1504, 1504?, 1504?, 1704, 1804) of a pneumatic tire (312, 650, 1204, 1350, 1350?, 1550, 1550?, 1550?), and for coupling the transponder module to the antenna by coupling coils which are included with the transponder module (450, 760, 953, 1004, 1024) and the antenna (750, 750?, 866, 938, 968, 1538, 1538?, 1538?, 1638, 1638?, 1738, 1738?, 1838, 1838?, 1938). The transponder module mounting methods generally allow it to be inserted, removed, or accessed for maintenance at any time during the tire's life cycle, and allow sensing access to the tire's inner atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Richard Stephen Pollack, Robert Walter Brown, Joseph Michael Letkomiller, Loren Fielding Hunt
  • Patent number: 6885292
    Abstract: Each of transmitters includes a condition detecting device for detecting the condition of a corresponding tire, and an acceleration detecting device for detecting the direction of acceleration accompanying rotation of the corresponding tire. Each transmitter wirelessly transmits data containing data representing the condition of the tire and data representing the direction of the acceleration. A repeater receives data from the transmitters provided in front tires or data from the transmitters provided in rear tires. When receiving data from any of the transmitters, the repeater wirelessly transmits a response signal when a predetermined period has elapsed after the reception of the data. A receiver receives data from the transmitters and the response signal from the repeater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michiya Katou
  • Patent number: 6865932
    Abstract: A device for mounting a sensor on a motor vehicle wheel rim comprises: a truss rod, a housing receiving the sensor, the housing being articulated relative to the truss rod, a member for locking the truss rod in position on the rim once the housing is in contact with the rim. The housing includes a first stop element designed to co-operate by contact with a first zone of the rim, the first stop element being arranged on one side of a plane P passing through the hinge pin of the housing and a second stop element arranged on the other side of the plane and designed to press on the rim under a force F exerted by the truss rod. The invention also concerns the mounting method associated with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive
    Inventor: Dominique Luce
  • Patent number: 6864785
    Abstract: In a remote tire monitor system, radio frequency (RF) signals including tire data are transmitted from a plurality of tire monitors at wheels of a vehicle. At an RF receiver, the signals are received and tire data is detected. The RF signals are detected at a receiving RF detector associated with the transmitting tire monitor. The receiving RF detector produces a transmission indication in response to the received RF signals. A control unit is coupled to the RF receiver and the RF detector. The control unit receives the tire data and the transmission indication and associates a position of the transmitting tire monitor with the tire data in response to transmission indication. This permits automatic update of the position of tire monitors on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Marguet, William David Stewart
  • Patent number: 6861950
    Abstract: Different types of data included in a signal transmitted by a transmitter, except for synchronous data, are each configured by a binary code signal of a predetermined bit count. The synchronous data is configured by a signal of a pattern different from the bit codes that configure the data other than the synchronous data. This enables a receiver to recognize the synchronous data in the transmitted signal easily and reliably. Further, the data length of the synchronous data is shortened. This shortens the data length of the signal, thus ensuring optimal wireless communication between the transmitter and the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michiya Katou
  • Patent number: 6853347
    Abstract: A wireless communication device coupled to a wave antenna that provides greater increased durability and impedance matching. The wave antenna is a conductor that is curved in alternating sections. The wireless communication device is coupled to the wave antenna to provide wireless communication. The wireless communication device and wave antenna may be placed on objects, goods, or other articles of manufacture that are subject to forces such that the wave antenna may be stretched or compressed during the manufacture and/or use of such object, good or article of manufacture. The wave antenna, because of its curved structure, is capable of stretching and compressing more easily than other structures, reducing the wireless communication device's susceptibility to damage or breakage that might render the wireless communication device coupled to the wave antenna unable to properly communicate information wirelessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Marconi Intellectual Property (US) Inc.
    Inventors: Ian James Forster, Peter Robert George Horrell, Patrick F. King, Michael J. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 6853297
    Abstract: A safety insert comprising a substantially circumferential base intended to come into contact with an adapted wheel rim, a substantially circumferential body intended to support a tread of a tire mounted on the rim during rolling with a pressure capable of causing at least partial flattening of a portion of the tire, and a housing intended to receive a wheel unit, characterized in that the safety insert comprises an aerial which is rigidly connected to the insert and is disposed inside its volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Francis Boulot
  • Patent number: 6842109
    Abstract: A method has acts of detecting pressure value in each tire of the vehicle, calculating a base point of pressure according to the detected pressure values and calculating a safety scope in pressure reference to the base point of pressure. An alarm will be generated when the pressure value in tires has a difference relative to the base point. With the method, a pressure detecting device can fit with different types or models of vehicles, and the use of the pressure detecting device is versatile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Lite-On Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: Sheng-Hsiung Lin
  • Patent number: 6838984
    Abstract: An air pressure detection device for a wheel includes an air pressure sensor provided on the side of a tire for detecting the tire pressure. A detection and transmission unit (transmission unit) is provided for transmitting information detected by the air pressure sensor. An electric cell is provided for driving the detection and transmission unit. The air pressure sensor is located inside the tire and is integrally fitted to an air valve. The electric cell is fitted to a portion of the air valve projecting from a rim. The invention enhances the fitting property of the air pressure sensor, and enhances the convenience in exchange of the electric cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Yamagiwa, Tomoyuki Harada, Takashi Ashigai
  • Patent number: 6838985
    Abstract: A system for remote monitoring of vehicle tire pressure includes monitors mounted in the tires, each including a tire pressure sensor, a transmitter for transmitting a tire pressure signal, a battery for the transmitter, and a receiver for receiving an initiation signal. Initiators are mounted on-board the vehicle, each initiator associated with one of the tire monitors. Each initiator is for use in generating a low frequency initiation signal for receipt by a tire receiver to cause the transmitter to transmit a tire pressure signal. A vehicle mounted controller activates the initiators in order to generate the low frequency initiation signals, and processes the tire pressure signals to convey tire pressure information to a user. The controller further activates the initiators in order to generate a low frequency electromagnetic field for use in recharging the batteries in the tire monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Riad Ghabra, John S. Nantz, Qingfeng Tang, Salman Khreizat
  • Publication number: 20040257213
    Abstract: A transmitter of a tire condition monitoring apparatus wirelessly transmits transmission data containing air pressure data of a tire. The wireless transmission of the transmission data is performed when a reception antennal in the transmitter receives a trigger signal transmitted by an initiator. The reception antenna is arranged relative to the tire such that the orientation of the directivity of the reception antenna is constant irrespective of a rotation angle of the tire. Therefore, the transmitter operates reliably irrespective of the rotation angle of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhisa Tsujita
  • Patent number: 6832514
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system monitors the periodic transmissions from each of the tire pressure monitoring sensors. If a particular sensor fails to report a counter is incremented. The count is compared to a limit, with a lower limit being set for when a vehicle is moving and a higher limit being set for when the vehicle is stationary. If the count exceeds the limit then it is determined that the particular transmitter is failing. When the vehicle transitions from stationary mode to moving mode the count is compared to limits. If the count is between two limits, then the count is reset to a lower number before the control monitors operation in moving mode. In this fashion, inaccurate identifications of a failed transmitter are reduced or eliminated by ensuring that the difference between the two limits does not result in an improper identification of a transmitter as failing when the vehicle transitions from stationary to moving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Anderson, Tim Green
  • Publication number: 20040246117
    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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Shinichi Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20040239492
    Abstract: A transmitter in an apparatus for monitoring a condition of a tire includes a pressure sensor, a transmission circuit, a valve stem, an MR sensor, and a magnetic ring. The valve stem has magnetic pieces. The pressure sensor measures the air pressure in the interior of the tire. The transmission circuit generates a transmission signal containing data that represents the measured air pressure. The magnetic ring magnetizes the magnetic pieces. The position of the magnetic ring relative to the magnetic pieces can be changed. A magnetized state of the magnetic pieces varies according to the position of the magnetic ring relative to the magnetic pieces. The MR sensor detects the magnetized state of the magnetic piece. The transmission signal contains data based on the detected magnetized state in addition to the tire condition data. This is capable of identifying the tire mount position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Michiya Katou
  • Patent number: 6825759
    Abstract: A wheel includes a disk form wheel, a tire fitted to the wheel, and a tire tube contained between the wheel and the tire, and is provided with an air pressure detection device intermediately disposed between the tire tube and the wheel. A metallic line form reception antenna is inserted by molding into a front fender. Since the distance from a transmission means fitted to an air pressure sensor to the reception antenna is reduced, reception sensitivity can be enhanced. In addition, since the reception antenna can be pitched to about the size of the fender, the reception sensitivity can be enhanced. Further, since jigs for fixing the antenna are needless, a reduction in the number of component parts can be contrived, and the antenna can be fixed without spoiling the appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Yamagiwa, Tomoyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 6825758
    Abstract: A system integrated to each of the tires mounted to a vehicle allows each of the tires to communicate with a mobile communicator, such as for example a mobile phone. The system includes at least sensors for monitoring and measuring the pressure and temperature of the tire. The measured parameters of the tire are fed to a processor that compensates the measured pressure with the measured temperature. The temperature corrected tire pressure is then stored in a memory store. A communications module, operating under a wireless data link protocol such as for example the Bluetooth protocol, sends the stored information to a mobile phone, in response to a request thereby. The temperature corrected data of the tire is also transmitted to the other tires of the vehicle. Any one of the tires may act as the server of all of the other tires for transmitting the information of the respective tires of the vehicle to the mobile phone, which acts as the browser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nokian Tyres PLC
    Inventor: Juha M. T. Laitsaari
  • Publication number: 20040231406
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring and reporting instrument is mounted within a valve stem and has a valve cap. A single circuit can be provided having an LED, a sounder, a battery and a switch. A dual stage system, or a continuously variable system can be implemented by using a dual stage pressure switch or a continuously variable pressure switch. The battery may be housed within the cap and electrical contacts between the cap and stem allow discontinuation of the circuit or changing of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Itzhak Sapir
  • Publication number: 20040233050
    Abstract: The invention relates to a telemetric tire pressure monitoring system for the tire pressures at wheels of a vehicle. In this way, the driver can be warned if an excessively low tire pressure or a dangerous drop in the tire pressure occurs. According to the invention, an additional warning is issued if wheel-mounted measuring modules move away from their set point position on the respective wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Joerg Burghardt
  • Patent number: 6822562
    Abstract: A tire differentiating system (21, 121) is employed to differentiate tires (22, 24, 26, 28, 122, 124, 126, 128) in a vehicle (20, 120). Each tire includes a sensor (30, 32, 34, 36, 120, 132, 134, 136) which communicates with a receiver (38, 138). In a first example, when a tire (22, 24, 26, 28) is inflated above a high pressure threshold, a flag bit is stored in the sensor (30, 32, 34, 36) identifying the tire as a rear tire (26, 28). If a rear tire (26, 28) drops below a low pressure threshold, a warning algorithm is initiated to warn the driver. In a second example, the sensor (130, 132, 134, 136) is a transceiver with an RF detector circuit having an identification code. A RF transmitter (144, 146, 148, 150) is located proximate to each of the respective transceivers (130, 132, 134, 136). The receiver (138) sends a signal to each RF transmitter (144, 146, 148, 150) which generates a RF signal that is sent to the transceivers (130, 132, 134, 136).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: James Anthony Poirier, Steve O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20040222882
    Abstract: The sensor unit is operated based on a first timing signal with a first interval. If there is no second timing signal with a second interval longer than the first interval, a tire internal-pressure information signal is transmitted when the alarm device judges a moving of a vehicle based on a signal from the tire rotational-movement detecting means, the signal having the tire internal-pressure data with a start bit, and the transmission of the tire internal-pressure information signal is stopped when the device judges a non-moving of said vehicle. If there is the second timing signal, the tire internal-pressure information signal is transmitted when the device judges the moving of the vehicle and N pieces of tire internal-pressure information signals are transmitted at third intervals (N is a natural number not less than 2) when the device judges a non-moving of the vehicle, each tire internal-pressure information signal having the tire internal-pressure data with said start bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Miyazaki