Tire Inflation Testing Installation Patents (Class 73/146.2)
  • Patent number: 7973650
    Abstract: The motor vehicle tire pressure monitoring system includes a computer to receive input data including at least one tire pressure and transmit a warning to a driver of the vehicle in the event of an abnormal pressure in the tire. The system also includes a recording unit designed to record the input data from the monitoring system in the event that the warning is transmitted to the driver. The data recorded in this recording unit is accessible for diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignees: Renault SAS, Continental Automotive France
    Inventors: Anne Caldichoury, Olivier Costes
  • Patent number: 7961082
    Abstract: Transceiver ID information associated with a subject vehicle is accurately registered even when another vehicle having transceivers is nearby. During ID registration, a degree of a variance among received strength data elements is obtained in relation to a plurality of transceivers each having ID information associated therewith. ID information associated with data elements having a small degree of a variance is recognized as ID information of a transceiver attached to the subject vehicle. Therefore, ID information associated with transceivers attached to the subject vehicle can be reliably discriminated from ID information associated with transceivers attached to another vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 7948365
    Abstract: A tire air pressure monitoring system has a plurality of sensor units and a receiver. The pressure sensor units are mounted near corresponding tires to measure tire air pressures and transmit transmission signals indicating the respective measured tire air pressures. The receiver has an antenna element, a variable capacitor and a power supply source. The variable capacitor is coupled to the antenna element. The power supply source supplies electric power to the antenna element. The voltage supplied to the variable capacitor is controlled so that a current flowing in the antenna element is changed and its directivity is changed. Thus, the transmission signals will be received more surely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 7944348
    Abstract: A device to accurately identify the wheel position where each tire has a radio wave transmitter installed without special means or operation during application by using a simple and compact configuration. This TPMS has sensor modules 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D on the transmission side equipped by tires 12FL, 12FR, 12RL, 12RR installed on automobile 10 and main device 16 on the receiving side loaded in automobile 10. Main device 16 is comprised of a group of two antennas 18, 20, receiver 22, and display 24. Two antennas 18, 20 are arranged appropriately to receive the radio waves transmitted by each of sensor modules 14A-14D with a phase difference between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Toshiaki Watasue
  • Publication number: 20110107828
    Abstract: The detection appatatus includes means for detecting rotation speed information of the respective wheels of a vehicle; means for estimating, a frequency characteristic of the wheel rotation speed information; and means for determining, based on the estimated frequency characteristic, a tire having a decreased air pressure. The frequency characteristic estimate means includes, to a time-series signal including the wheel rotation speed information: means for time-series estimating a third order or more linear model parameter; means for generating pseudo input data; means for estimating, based on the estimated linear model parameter and the pseudo input data, output data to a linear model; means for identifying, based on the pseudo input data and the estimated output, a linear model parameter for which the order is reduced to a second order; and means for estimating, based on the identified parameter for which the order is reduced to the second order, a resonance frequency of a tire torsional direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Hiroaki KAWASAKI
  • Patent number: 7940164
    Abstract: Data transmitted from a newly installed tire sensor is integrated into monitoring apparatus having data from previously integrated tire sensors stored therein. Each of the newly installed and previously integrated tire sensors periodically transmits a unique identification code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Doran Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stegman, Scott Comisar
  • Patent number: 7940163
    Abstract: A wireless tire pressure monitoring system includes a monitoring main unit installed in the truck-tractor of a towing vehicle, a receiving antenna electrically connected to the monitoring main unit, and a register set in a location within the wireless communication transmission range of the receiving antenna and stored with an ID code and location code of each sensor at each wheel of the platform of the towing vehicle. When the register receives a triggering signal containing an identification code of the monitoring main unit, the register compares and matches the identification code and the location code of every wheel of the platform with the identification code of the monitoring main unit and then sends matched data in the form of a wireless packet to the receiving antenna for enabling the monitoring main unit to recognize the installation location of every wheel of the platform of the towing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiao-Hwa Huang, Ming-Kaun Liao, Yu-Chang Tsai
  • Patent number: 7938074
    Abstract: A pressure sensing system for a seeding machine such as a planter to measure the down force on a planter row unit uses a wireless pressure sensor embedded in a load carrying wheel of the row unit. In a preferred embodiment, the pressure sensor is a passive piezoelectric pressure sensor that is a transmitter only, transmitting both pressure and RFID the information that identifies the particular sensor. Multiple sensors may be employed in each wheel and sensors may be employed in more than one wheel of the row unit, such as the gauge wheels on opposite sides of the trench opening disks. The sensors may be made of a PVDF, a known piezoelectric material. A wireless receiver is located on the planter frame or could be located elsewhere to receive the signals from the pressure sensor. A controller determines from the signal, any change in down force and commands the change to a down force generator on the row unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: James Z. Liu
  • Patent number: 7930936
    Abstract: A measuring method for measuring physical variables comprises the selection of a working point (AP) lying within a total measurement range (G) of a physical variable (M) to measured, the detection of a measured value (M(t1)) of the physical variable at a first measuring time (t1), the determination of a displacement value (V(t1)) as the result of a subtraction of the measures value (M(t1)) measured at the first measuring time from the working point (AP), the formation of change values (C(t2), C(t3) . . . C(tx)) of the physical variable (M) by acquiring subsequent measured values (M(t2), M(t3) . . . M(tx)) of the physical variable at subsequent measuring times (t2, t3 . . . tx) and addition of the displacement value (V(t1)) to the subsequent measured values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Bernhard Georg Spiess
  • Patent number: 7911332
    Abstract: A wheel having a controlled pressure includes a rim associated with a tank adapted to be filled with a fluid to a first pressure; a tire mounted on the rim and having an inner volume inflated to an operating pressure at a reference temperature, the operating pressure being lower than the first pressure; and at least one valve assembly adapted to establish a communication between the tank, the inner volume of the tire and the external environment. The valve assembly includes a command valve, an exhaust valve and a compensation valve operatively associated with each other. The command valve controls communication between the tank and the inner volume of the tire. The exhaust valve is connected to the external environment, to the inner volume, to the command valve and to the compensation valve. The compensation valve is connected to the exhaust valve and the command valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Caretta, Pier Giuseppe Piantanida, Stefano Sangiovanni, Maurizio Marchini, Giorgia Sgalari
  • Publication number: 20110043343
    Abstract: A tandem tractor and trailer system includes a tractor having a cab and a trailer, each having multiple wheel units, each wheel unit having a mounted tire and a tractor tire pressure measuring device. A first display unit mounts within the cab of the tractor and a second display unit to the exterior of the trailer, each display unit operating to communicate to an operator of the tractor a visible indicia of tractor and trailer tire inflation pressure status, respectively, based upon pressure measurements of the tractor and trailer tire pressure measuring devices, respectively. The second display unit may mount to a forward end of the trailer at a mounting location operatively visible by differentiated colored light emission through a rear view mirror to the operator of the tractor during operation of the tractor and the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Ross Shepler, Robert Leon Benedict, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Dale Edward Umstot, Richard Nicholas Crano
  • Publication number: 20110043354
    Abstract: A multi-tire vehicle tire monitoring system includes a plurality of tire monitoring units mounted to measure at least one measured tire parameter of a respective tire on a vehicle and transmit measured tire parameter data responsive to the tire parameter measurement. The system further includes antennae for receiving the measured tire parameter data from tire monitoring units within a respectively assigned zone of tires of the vehicle, each zone encompassing a plurality of tires, and communicating the received measured tire parameter data to a data processing unit. Each antenna is fixedly mounted in an operable spatial relationship to a respective assigned zone of tires. A display may be operatively coupled to the vehicle data processing unit to visually indicate to a user a status of measured tire parameters of tires by zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Ross Shepler, Robert Leon Benedict, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Dale Edward Umstot, Richard Nicholas Crano
  • Patent number: 7889064
    Abstract: A combined tire pressure gauge and remote tire pressure display includes a port adapted to couple to a vehicle tire valve stem and to open a valve in the valve stem; a chamber in physical communication with the port; a local pressure transducer in the chamber for detecting a pressure of a fluid within the vehicle tire and providing an output signal representative of the detected pressure; a wireless receiver for receiving a signal identifying a tire pressure sensor and having a detected tire pressure and for providing an output signal; a processor for receiving the output signal from the pressure transducer and the output signal from the wireless receiver, and for providing a processor output signal indicative of an identified tire and a value of the detected pressure, in a remote tire display mode, and for providing a processor output signal indicative of a detected tire pressure, in a tire pressure gauge mode; and a display coupled to the processor for providing a visible indication of detected pressure val
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Measurement Limited
    Inventor: Steven Petrucelli
  • Patent number: 7884707
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitor system tool is capable of communicating with a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The tool includes a storing module that stores a plurality of communication protocols that are used for enabling the tool to communicate with a tire pressure monitor system. The tool enables a user to input the parts number of a sensor used by the vehicle having a tire pressure monitor system. Based on the vehicle data input and/or the parts number, the tool determines a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle using information stored by the tool. Based on the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle, the tool determines a protocol used by the tire pressure monitor system to communicate with, for example, the tool and an electronic control unit of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Bill Wittliff, Fred Kaleal, Ray de Schepper
  • Patent number: 7881836
    Abstract: There is provided a tire state monitoring apparatus including transponders mounted on a plurality of tires possessed by a vehicle, and ECUs provided on a vehicle body repeatedly transmit address electric waves for acquiring data showing tire states to the transponders at fixed intervals. The ECUs transmit estimates of the transmission timing of the address electric waves at the predetermined transmission cycle so that the transponders can transmit the address electric waves within a communicable range, maintain the predetermined transmission cycle if the estimated transmission timing satisfies a predetermined condition, and adjust the predetermined transmission cycle if the transmission timing does not satisfy the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hayasaka, Kenichi Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 7880595
    Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system which can readily identify information transmitted from each detecting device without requiring registration of identifying information of the detecting device is to be provided. Detecting devices transmit vehicle information including at least the result of detection and self-identifying information; a tractor relaying device and a trailer relaying device add their self-identifying information to vehicle data received on the basis of the identifying information of the detecting devices and transmit the vehicle data, and transmit registration data including their own relaying device IDs and types indicating the registration of the relaying device IDs; the tractor relaying device stores the relaying device ID of the registration data transmitted from the trailer relaying device on the basis of the type information and transmits that registration data, and transmits vehicle data received from the trailer relaying device on the basis of the relaying device ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Shimura
  • Patent number: 7868749
    Abstract: The method includes: a step of calculating wheel rotation information; a judgment step of judging a decrease in a tire air pressure by comparing a predetermined reference value with a decreased pressure judgment value showing a wheel speed ratio of the front and rear axes; an initialization step of storing the wheel speed ratio between the front and rear axes at the regular internal pressure; and a step of determining whether the distribution of the front and rear driving torque is equidistribution or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Miyamoto, Minao Yanase
  • Patent number: 7831346
    Abstract: A method for detecting decompression of tires based on the rotational speed of wheels mounted on a vehicle, comprising the steps of: detecting the rotational speed of each of the above-mentioned wheels, determining the speed against ground of the vehicle, calculating the speed information of a fixed wheel from the rotational speeds of said wheels, calculating the judgment value of the wheel position by comparing the speed information of the wheels with the speed against ground of the vehicle, comparing the judgment value of the wheel position with the basis value of the wheel position obtained by preliminarily comparing the speed against ground of the vehicle with the speed information of the wheels at prescribed inner pressure, and judging decompression of tires based on relation between the comparison value of the basis value with the judgment value and a fixed threshold. A region of judging decompression of tires can be broadened and the accuracy of reduced pressure judgment can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Masashi Kitano
  • Patent number: 7791461
    Abstract: A tire management system includes a sensor module secured to inside of a tire that is mounted on a vehicle, for measuring a tire state value and transmitting the measured data to the vehicle side, and a receiver module secured to the vehicle side for transmitting a signal demanding the measured data to the sensor module at a predetermined cycle and receiving the measured data transmitted from the sensor module. The sensor module measures a tire status value at a predetermined cycle, judges whether the measured data is out of a predetermined normal range, and immediately transmits the measured data and an abnormal state data through a predetermined channel exclusively used for transmitting the abnormal state data to the receiver module, if the data is judged to be out of the normal range. With this structure, if an abnormal state occurs, the receiver module can receive the abnormality without any delay, while preventing shortening of the cell life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Oda, Koji Takao
  • Publication number: 20100217542
    Abstract: A rotation speed information detection apparatus, including: a wheel sensor for detecting passage of teeth of a gear provided in association with tires of a vehicle; a number-of-teeth calculation means for calculating the number of teeth of the gear passed per a sampling cycle set in advance; and a wheel speed calculation means for regularly calculating rotation speed information of the tire with using the number of teeth calculated. The number-of-teeth calculation means is configured to use a ratio between time information at the point and a remaining time until the time at which the next sampling cycle is started is reached to thereby calculate the number of remaining teeth to calculate the number of teeth passed during the sampling cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Hajime FUJITA, Hiroaki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7783405
    Abstract: There is provided a tire ground contact pattern specifying method and an apparatus thereof for specifying a tire ground contact pattern usable to perform the stable control of a running vehicle. Using a sensor unit 100 mounted in each tire 2 of a vehicle 1, accelerations generated in X, Y and Z directions are sensed and at the same time, a low frequency noise component and high frequency noise component added to the Z axis direction acceleration signal are extracted. Digital values being the sensing result are transmitted as digital information to a monitor device 200 by radio wave. The monitor device 200 compares many pieces of tire ground contact pattern information preliminarily stored with the digital information to thereby specify a tire ground contact pattern. A stability control unit 700 performs, based on the acceleration values and the information on tire ground contact pattern obtained, the correction control of driving of a sub-throttle actuator 412 or a brake drive actuator 640.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Hattori
  • Publication number: 20100180678
    Abstract: An inflation and pressure measurement system having over pressure protection for an attached pressure gauge. A plunger is placed within an internal cavity of a valve body where the plunger can move axially into a first and a second position. In the first position there is gaseous communication between an inflation valve and an operating port. While in the first position, a gauge port may release gas through a wiper seal. In the second position there is gaseous communication between the operating port and the gauge port. The plunger may be biased in the second position. The first and second positions may be located by a locating groove in the plunger and a locating structure passing through the valve body and contacting the locating groove. While the inflatable device can be inflated using high pressures, the pressure gauge is protected from over pressure damage. Some embodiments can inflate and monitor the pressure of multiple inflatable devices from a single position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Casner
  • Patent number: 7743652
    Abstract: A tire pressure detector without the risk of causing a leaky tire includes a base having a forward projected and externally threaded annular wall and an annular limit wall to define an annular groove therebetween; a mating cover having an internally threaded annular wall for screwing to the externally threaded annular wall of the base with a free end of the annular wall received in the annular groove to press against an airtight seal ring set in the annular groove, such that an airtight space is defined in and between the assembled cover and base; a tire pressure detecting assembly being receiving in the airtight space; and a valve control assembly being mounted on the base to locate between the base and the mating cover. The annular limit wall prevents the cover from moving and deforming at the screwed portion to ensure good air-tightness between the cover and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: Teng-Wen Huang
  • Publication number: 20100126264
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotating wheel speed ratio calculation means for calculating, based on rotation velocity information, a rotating wheel speed ratio between front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle; a wheel torque calculation means for calculating a wheel torque of the vehicle; an initialization means for obtaining a relation at a normal internal pressure between the wheel torque and the rotating wheel speed ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels; a storage means for storing the relation obtained; a comparison means for comparing the rotating wheel speed ratio obtained by the rotating wheel speed ratio calculation means with the rotating wheel speed ratio at a normal internal pressure obtained from the wheel torque obtained by the wheel torque calculation means and the relation; and a judgment means for judging whether a tire air pressure is decreased or not based on a comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventor: Yuji OSHIRO
  • Patent number: 7701326
    Abstract: A tire information transmitter measures ambient information in a tire cavity region including at least pressure to wirelessly transmit to outside the tire cavity region. The tire transmitter comprises: a sensor unit having a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the tire cavity region; a control unit for comparing a level of a pressure signal representing pressure measured by the sensor unit with a threshold value and for generating an operation signal indicating that the tire information transmitter is operating; and a transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting the pressure signal or the operation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Nakatani, Toshimitsu Ebinuma, Hideki Nihei
  • Patent number: 7693626
    Abstract: Vehicle with tire monitoring capabilities includes at least one wheel, each including a rim, a tire mounted on the rim, a sensor system for sensing angular, radial, tangential and/or lateral acceleration of the tire and providing acceleration signals based thereon, and an antenna arranged on the rim or tire and coupled to the sensor system for communicating data about the sensed acceleration. A processor receives acceleration signals provided by the sensor system and determines the existence of an anomaly in the tire based thereon. When arranged on the wheel, the processor provides a signal indicative or representative of the determination of the existence of the anomaly via the antenna to a receiving antenna which conveys it to a reactive system. The reactive system may provide a visual and/or audible warning to the driver of the vehicle or to personnel at a vehicle or tire monitoring facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Breed, Vittorio Castelli, Wendell C. Johnson, Wilbur E. DuVall
  • Patent number: 7680610
    Abstract: In a prediction of abrasion characteristic of a tire, a characteristic curve of a tire axis force generated on a tire rotation axis at the slip ratio applied to the tire and changed depending upon the slip ratio is acquired. From the characteristic curve, values of tire dynamic element parameters determining the characteristic curve are derived based on a tire dynamic model constituted by the tire dynamic element parameters. Furthermore, a tire sliding amount based on a sliding region, the sliding region and an adhesive region formed on the contact patch of the tire at the applied slip ratio are calculated by applying the values of the tire dynamic element parameters to the model. Lastly, an abrasion characteristic of a tread part of the tire at the applied slip ratio is predicted by using the tire sliding amount with abrasion characteristic data of a tread rubber of the tread part. According to the prediction results, a tire is designed and produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoshi Miyashita, Kazuyuki Kabe
  • Patent number: 7677095
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires and a hydraulically actuated wheel brake system, a method for enhancing stability of the vehicle by determining whether any tire on the vehicle is deflated, determining the current magnitude of brake pressure at the wheel of the deflated tire when the brakes are applied, and reducing the current magnitude of brake pressure at the wheel of the deflated tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Mark Bartol
  • Publication number: 20100058852
    Abstract: A system for detecting the pressure in a pneumatic vehicle tire which is mounted on a vehicle and/or the speed of the vehicle, having an arrangement composed of load sensors which supplies force signals for a two-dimensional pattern of the distribution of force which is exerted by the vehicle tire in contact with the sensors when the vehicle moves over the arrangement, a computer which is programmed in such a way that it defines the tire pressure and/or the speed on the basis of the distribution of force independently of the method of manufacture or the model of the tire and of the vehicle, and a device for displaying the pressure and/or the speed, is characterized in that the arrangement composed of load sensors comprises at least two series of load sensors which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel, wherein at least one row of load sensors is offset with respect to one or more rows of the load sensors by a predetermined absolute value transversely with respect to the direction of tra
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Ulrich Pingel, Martin Pingel
  • Patent number: 7668695
    Abstract: The present invention includes a sensor malfunction determination unit 207 detects the pressure value corresponding to a signal outputted by a pressure sensor 101 capable of measuring the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire 10. When the detected pressure value is decreasing along the time axis, the sensor malfunction determination unit 207 determines that the pressure sensor 101 is not malfunctioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Ichikawa, Hiromasa Hada, Takao Kokubu
  • Patent number: 7659816
    Abstract: A method and a device for detecting intrusion into or tampering with contents of an enclosure. According to the method at least one gas proof seal-barrier is provided in association with the enclosure and a first environment is produced within said gas proof seal-barrier. Said first environment is different regarding at least one characteristic feature from a second environment surrounding said gas proof seal-barrier. At least one detector is arranged within said gas proof seal-barrier for detecting a predetermined change of the characteristic feature of the said first environment. Said detector is transferred irrevocably from a first state to a second state when there is a predetermined change of the characteristic feature, and the state of the detector is supplied to a position outside said gas proof seal-barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Secure Logistics Sweden AB
    Inventor: Sten Wandel
  • Patent number: 7656282
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus includes a second transceiver provided on the body of a vehicle which changes its operation alternately between a second transmitter and a second receiver mode, thereby intermittently transmitting a radio wave. A first transceiver provided on a wheel of the vehicle operates in a first receiver mode to receive the radio wave, thereby charging a charging unit. When the charging unit has been sufficiently charged, the first transceiver changes operation thereof from the first receiver mode to a first transmitter mode, in which the first transceiver first repeatedly transmits an informing signal at predetermined time intervals for a predetermined time period and then transmits a pressure signal. When the informing signal is received by the second transceiver in the second receiver mode, the second transceiver keeps its operation in the second receiver mode until the pressure signal is completely received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Saitou, Akira Takaoka, Nobuya Watabe, Hideki Saito, Tomohiro Kuno
  • Patent number: 7642904
    Abstract: A tire and wheel rim assembly includes a tire supporting rim having an outward facing mounting surface and at least one tire body mounted to the rim and positioning an internal tire cavity over the rim mounting surface. A tire pressure monitoring module assembly mounts to the rim mounting surface and includes a housing having an internal pressure chamber; a pressure sensing device and/or a temperature measuring sensor within the housing pressure chamber; and an elongate connecting member extending through the housing and the rim mounting surface. A crossover pipe connects the housing pressure chamber with a remote portion of the rim. The inflation pressure in the tire cavity is transferred through the axial passageway of the crossover pipe to the pressure chamber within the module housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Richard Nicholas Crano
  • Patent number: 7639123
    Abstract: A fasten device for tire pressure alarm transmitter, which comprises a fasten base for fastening a valve core style transmitter, and a strip for binding the fasten base on wheel rim, wherein: the fasten base has a board shaped support portion, and a hole for accepting the strip to drill through is set on the support portion; a securing board is set on the middle portion of the support portion, and a position slot that matches with the valve core of the transmitter is excavated on the securing board; and a buckle that matches with the securing board is set on one end of the support portion to fasten the transmitter corporately. As the fasten base having a support portion, a buckle and a securing board with position slot are provided on the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: China Modern Associated & Industrial Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiangping Liu
  • Patent number: 7639122
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitor system tool is capable of communicating with a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The tool includes a storing module that stores a plurality of communication protocols that are used for enabling the tool to communicate with a tire pressure monitor system. The tool enables a user to input vehicle data for identifying a vehicle having a tire pressure monitor system with which to communicate. Based on the vehicle data input, the tool determines a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle using information stored by the tool. The tool determines a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle. Based on the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle, the tool determines a protocol used by the tire pressure monitor system to communicate with, for example, the tool and an electronic control unit of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kochie, Garret Miller
  • Publication number: 20090308150
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a pressure (P) of a tire of a motor vehicle involves measuring a pressure (P) of the tire and comparing the measured pressure with at least one reference value (PrM, Prm, Pr). The reference value (PrM, Prm, Pr) varies in accordance with a temporal law that depends on at least one of the following parameters: a temporal benchmark, a speech of the vehicle, a temperature of the tire, and a parameter that is based on at least one of the previous three parameters. The reference value (PrM, Prm, Pr) varies between first and second extreme values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicants: MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A., TRW AUTOMOTIVE U.S., LLC.
    Inventor: Laurent Branger
  • Patent number: 7623025
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitor system tool stores information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems installed on vehicles. The tool receives information regarding a particular vehicle. Based on this information, the tool may determine a particular tire pressure monitor system installed on a vehicle. Based on the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle, the tool may determine one or more procedures that may be used with that tire pressure monitor system. The tool may then instruct a user how to perform certain procedures by presenting one or more displays to the user on a display of the tool. The tool may also provide feedback to the user regarding a status of an initiation or other procedure, and reference a vehicle user manual. The tool may interface with an electronic control unit of a vehicle. The tool may also simulate a tire pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Garret Miller
  • Patent number: 7619510
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method and program for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure which prevent the issuance of an erroneous alarm and thus determine abnormality in tire air-pressure even when a rotational velocity of the tire changes by causes other than a decrease in an air pressure. An apparatus for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure decrease detects a change in a relationship between wheel velocities of front wheel tires and those of rear wheel tires, and replaces a relationship between the wheel velocities of the front wheel tires and those of the rear wheel tires with a relationship between wheel velocities of front wheel tires and those of rear wheel tires obtained after the change of the relationship, thereby determining abnormality in air-pressure when the change is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
  • Patent number: 7619509
    Abstract: In a tire monitoring system for sufficiently reducing the possibility of cross talk generation of a request signal individually transmitted from a vehicle body side controller to each sensor unit, a vehicle body side antenna for transmitting the request signal and a tire side antenna for receiving the request signal are set to a coil antenna. The vehicle body side antenna is arranged above each tire such that a coil axis of the tire side antenna is set to be parallel to a rotating axis of each of tires, and a coil axis of the vehicle body side antenna is inclined with respect to the rotating axis. An inclination direction of the coil axis of the vehicle body side antenna is set so as to incline the coil axis of the vehicle body side antenna on a transversal outside of the vehicle toward a downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Akitomo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7609151
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method and program for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure which detects abnormality of a tire even under unusual conditions such as offset load on a vehicle or providing a snow chain on one wheel. The apparatus, method and program for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure include means of comparing rotational wheel velocities of respective tires provided on a vehicle and detecting whether or not rotational wheel velocity of one wheel is slower than those of other wheels by comparing rotational wheel velocities of respective tires provided on a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
  • Patent number: 7603895
    Abstract: A first trigger unit and a second trigger unit output trigger signals to transceivers disposed for the four wheels of a vehicle. The first and second trigger units are attached to wall surfaces of tire housings corresponding to the left front and left rear wheels respectively. Each of the first and second trigger units is arranged in a position of the wall surface having an angle from 5 to 25 degrees with respect to the side of the corresponding wheel. Transceivers attached to a right front and right rear wheels are thus located farther from the trigger units than the left front and left rear wheels, respectively. Such arrangement allows the transceivers attached to the right front and right rear wheels to receive the outputted trigger signals with sufficient accuracy due to high field strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Saitou, Akira Takaoka, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 7594433
    Abstract: Method of processing data in a vehicle tire monitoring system. For a first given period of time, referred to as the reference period, a device calculates, for each class of temperature supplied, the corresponding mean pressure in a given tire. Then, for at least a second given period of time, the device calculates, for each class of temperature supplied, the corresponding mean pressure and the difference between this mean pressure and the reference mean pressure, and the device calculates the mean value of these differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Lucien Bondu
  • Patent number: 7592904
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitor system module provides modular products with tire pressure monitor system functionality. The tire pressure monitor system module may be added to a modular product to provide tire pressure monitor system functionality. The tire pressure monitor system module may be a stand-alone module that may be attached, connected or in communication with a modular product. The tire pressure monitor system tool may include all of the functionality available to tire pressure monitor systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Kochie, Edward Lipscomb
  • Patent number: 7592903
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitor system tool that stores information regarding a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The information may include procedures for resetting and diagnosing the tire pressure monitor system. The tool may include a storing module that stores the information and a displaying module that causes the information to be displayed on a display of the tool. The tool may enable a user to input data regarding a vehicle. Based on the vehicle data input by the user, the tool may determine a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle using the information stored. Based on the tire pressure monitoring system installed on the vehicle, the tool may determine one or more reset or diagnostic procedures that may be performed by the tool. The tool may also reference the owner's manual of the vehicle. The tool may also include an updating module that updates the information stored by the tool. The tool may also include an update interface that may be, for example, an RS232 port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Kochie
  • Publication number: 20090210111
    Abstract: A method for detecting the state of a vehicle tire and/or a roadway, in which at least one sensor, in particular an acceleration sensor, disposed in the tire interior generates a signal that is assigned to physical variables of the vehicle tire and/or the roadway. A tire state and/or characteristics of the roadway are/is determined on the basis of the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Laermer, Thorsten Pannek
  • Patent number: 7574292
    Abstract: A method and system for calibrating speed of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels includes a wheel speed sensor coupled to each of the wheels for providing a first vehicle speed based on an average tire size associated with the plurality of wheels. A GPS sensor provides a second vehicle speed based on a change in position of the vehicle over a predetermined period of time. A control module automatically calibrates the speed of the vehicle based on a comparison of the first and second vehicle speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: James J Hoeffel, David A. Basson, Charles W. Kocher, II
  • Patent number: 7551069
    Abstract: A vehicle tyre data monitoring system has a wheel mounted sensor means that is adapted to transmit one or more of pressure, temperature, angular velocity, and force vector data for a tyre as a digital serial datagram through a two-wire communication channel to a chassis mounted reader means. The communication channel is adapted to simultaneously supply power to the sensor means and receive the data for processing and subsequent display to a user of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventor: Phillip Albert Cohen
  • Patent number: 7551992
    Abstract: A method for detecting decompression of tires based on the rotational speed of wheels mounted on a vehicle, comprising the steps of: detecting the rotational speed of each of the above-mentioned wheels, determining the speed against ground of the vehicle, calculating the speed information of a fixed wheel from the rotational speeds of said wheels, calculating the judgment value of the wheel position by comparing the speed information of the wheels with the speed against ground of the vehicle, comparing the judgment value of the wheel position with the basis value of the wheel position obtained by preliminarily comparing the speed against ground of the vehicle with the speed information of the wheels at prescribed inner pressure, and judging decompression of tires based on relation between the comparison value of the basis value with the judgment value and a fixed threshold. A region of judging decompression of tires can be broadened and the accuracy of reduced pressure judgment can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Kitano
  • Patent number: RE41058
    Abstract: The inventor discloses and claims a device for signaling the inflation condition of tires, as externally visible or as may be registered by remote audio or visual cues. The device generally is adapted to be attached to the stem valve of a tire without causing substantial loss of air pressure in the tire. The device may be loaded to register the inflation condition of the tire, following which loading the device may continue to register the inflation condition, without causing substantial loss of pressure in the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventor: Giovanni Barbanti
  • Patent number: RE41756
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the fluid pressure of, with a sensor of a tire pressure management system disposed without, a tire that prevents overinflation of same. The method of monitoring a fluid pressure of a tire with a sensor, disposed in conduit assemblies for conducting fluid to or from the tire, of a tire pressure management system includes providing a pulse of compressed fluid to the conduit assemblies, unless a counter exceeds a count, the fluid in the conduit assemblies thereafter having a conduit pressure. The pulse has a duration that corresponds to a ratio defined by a first predetermined amount divided by a second predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen P. Claussen, Daryl J. Stacer