Electric Patents (Class 73/146.5)
  • Patent number: 8035501
    Abstract: A tire monitoring system in or for a vehicle for determining tire-specific parameters has a distributed bus architecture. At least one intelligent receiving device is configured to receive transmit signals of a wheel electronic system. The receiving device has a signal processing device that carries out an evaluation of the received transmit signals and/or an evaluation of received signals of another subscriber of the bus architecture. The invention also relates to methods for operating the intelligent receiving devices of a distributed bus architecture of the novel tire monitoring or tire pressure system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Alexander Fink, Frank Fischer, Gregor Kuchler
  • Patent number: 8035502
    Abstract: A tire module for sensing deflection of a tire and a method of sensing deflection of the tire. The tire module includes a piezoelectric converter that is configured for installation on an inside surface of the tire. The piezoelectric converter includes at least one elastically deformable region that is formed from piezoelectric material. A deflection limiting means is configured to delimit deflection of the elastically deformable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Heise, Stefan Kammann
  • Patent number: 8031064
    Abstract: A tire pressure detecting apparatus has an identification rewriteable tire pressure detector and a setting apparatus. The tire pressure detector is securely mounted on a valve stem inside a tire of a vehicle and has a micro-processing module, a sensing module, a transmitting module and a receiving interface, where the micro-processing module has a memory unit. The setting apparatus is capable of reading or inputting an identification from a failure tire pressure detector, transmits the identification to the identification rewriteable tire pressure detector and writes the identification into the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Orange Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Chih Yu
  • Patent number: 8024965
    Abstract: A method for analyzing tire vibration characteristics and an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein the apparatus includes a stiff frame including a wheel support for supporting a wheel with a tire to be analyzed. A base part is flexibly connected with the frame by elastic means. The elastic means is embodied such that the frame is flexibly supported in one predefined functional direction. An actuator is provided for exciting vibrations into the wheel. The method and apparatus allow separate analysis of the natural vibrations in all four functional directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Oliver Albohr, Luciano Garro, Jörg Kumpf, Marcus-André Reul, Bernd Sattler, Joachim Schnellbächer, Hermann Winner
  • Patent number: 8026802
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle abnormality detection method detecting an abnormal state in which a high temperature occurs due to maladjustment of a vehicle bearing mechanism section or vehicle brake mechanism section, and a device thereof and a sensor unit thereof. By use of the sensor unit 100 mounted in a rim 31, an air temperature within a tire 2 is sensed as a first temperature and a temperature (second temperature) of the rim 31 is sensed as a temperature related to at least one of a temperature of the vehicle bearing mechanism section and a temperature of the vehicle brake mechanism section 40. Then a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures is calculated and when the temperature difference is a predetermined value or more, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle bearing mechanism section or vehicle brake mechanism section 40. The abnormality is thus detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Shimura
  • Patent number: 8022817
    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: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Paul B. Wilson, Russell W. Koch, Robert J. Trew
  • Publication number: 20110219865
    Abstract: A device for measuring the tire pressure in a pneumatic tire of a vehicle, having an electronic system housing which has an electronic system for measuring values, acted on by a tire valve, for the tire pressure, wherein the electronic system for measuring values is assigned a receiver arranged outside the pneumatic tire, and wherein the electronic system housing is arranged in the region of the rim well of a rim for the pneumatic tire and is indirectly or directly connected to the tire valve, wherein at least one spring element which is operatively connected to the rim well is provided on the electronic system housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Baum
  • Patent number: 8011237
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to energy harvesting piezoelectric modules as may be used, for example, in power supplies for tire pressure monitoring systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ziyang Gao, Man-Lung Sham, Chang Hwa Chung
  • Patent number: 7997129
    Abstract: A split mold for vulcanizing a tire is held at a mold holding section, which is held on a rotatable base, and then a measuring section measures distances to an inner surface of the split mold in the inside diameter direction and in the axial direction. An operating section acquires two-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold from the distances measured above, and further acquires geometric data over the entire circumference by rotating the rotatable base, and the data are combined to acquire three-dimensional geometric data of the inner surface of the split mold and make reference geometric data for tire inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sukegawa, Takao Kokubu
  • Patent number: 7994904
    Abstract: A system for automatically recognizing the locations of respective tires includes tire sensors, startup antennas, and a control unit. Locations of the respective tire sensors can be recognized based information of which antenna is involved and whether signals transmitted are identical. With this system, the locations of respective tires of a vehicle can be recognized in a simpler and more efficient way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: You Keun Kim
  • Patent number: 7971477
    Abstract: A detection method for at least one of acting forces on tire among a back-and-forth directional force, a lateral force, vertical force, and a moment about a tire axis, detects the forces by strain outputs of strain sensors, which are attached on the tire and measure the strains of a sidewall portion. The method includes a strain measuring step to measure the strain of the sidewall portion with each of the above-mentioned strain sensors simultaneously at the rotational position P based on the tire rotational standard position X and to obtain the strain output per each strain sensor, and an acting force calculating step to calculate the above-mentioned force acting on the tire based on the strain output per strain sensor obtained on this strain measuring step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kubota
  • Patent number: 7969292
    Abstract: A tire pressure measuring apparatus provides a warning of an error of a tire air pressure measuring module only when it is not that determined a vehicle stops and also any on of receivers has not received an air pressure data signal for an error determining duration. Therefore, a probability of a false warning can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Ichikawa, Toshihiro Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20110132081
    Abstract: A tire monitoring device may be used in conjunction with a tire monitoring system for a vehicle. The tire monitoring device includes a tire monitoring sensor unit having a state monitoring sensor monitoring a tire state, such as a tire pressure, and a first acceleration sensor and a second acceleration sensor respectively measuring accelerations in first and second directions on a plane perpendicular to a wheel axis, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a wheel is on the left or right side of the vehicle on the basis of a relationship between alternating signals of the first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor and determining whether or not a tire event has occurred with reference to a calculated value based on the accelerations measured by the first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Seetron, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyu Cheol Lee, Sung Sun Uh, Hee Yong Jung
  • Patent number: 7954370
    Abstract: Disclosed ia an apparatus and methodology for detecting tire (1) rotation by associating a piezoelectric sensor (250) with an enclosure housing (210) tire environment related sensors and electronics. The enclosure (210) may be mounted in a tire (1) in a location subject to multi-dimensional strain and a signal processor is employed to separate tire rotation information for other types of strain induced signals that may be produced by the piezoelectric sensor (250).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique
    Inventors: Frank E. Gramling, Jay C. Sinnett, Patrick A. Tyndall
  • Patent number: 7948364
    Abstract: A method for identifying tire location including the steps of transmitting a low frequency signal at different power levels and receiving radio frequency identification signals. Tire identification and location based on low frequency power level for two tire transmitters is determined. Radio frequency signals from two different tire transmitters are received and tire identification and location are determined based on radio frequency signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Xing Ping Lin, David L Juzswik, Michael G. Oszust
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110113876
    Abstract: A tire module for detecting tire condition variables, the module being mounted on an inside of a tire in an area deformed during tread shuffle and including at least one carrier, on which at least one electronic component is disposed, and at least one piezo-sensitive sensor, the piezo-sensitive sensor being disposed such that it is at least partially deformed during deformation of the tire during tread shuffle, and the deformation of the piezo-sensitive sensor being used to determine at least one shuffle variable, and the tire module including at least one battery for at least partially supplying energy to the at least one electronic component, and to use of the tire module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG.
    Inventor: Stefan Kammann
  • Patent number: 7944347
    Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring one or more motor vehicle tire conditions includes a receiver for intercepting signals from sensors mounted on the tires, a processor for identifying, converting, evaluating and storing said sensor signals, a keypad for selecting sensor data, an alarm for indicating an undesirable tire condition, and a display for providing sensor data. An unswitched circuit is connected to the vehicle battery and to the receiver and the processor in the monitoring apparatus. A switched circuit is connected via an ignition switch to the battery and to the monitoring apparatus as a whole. Sensor information obtained by the processor while the ignition switch is off is available to the user as soon as the ignition switch is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Doran Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stegman, Scott Comisar
  • Patent number: 7942048
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Ventech GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Pingel, Martin Pingel
  • Patent number: 7918131
    Abstract: To detect a slip state in a contact region of a rotating tire on a road surface, first, the first radical direction data and the second width direction data of measurement data of acceleration at a tread portion of the rotating tire for a duration corresponding to one round of tire rotation are acquired. Second, time series data of acceleration due to tire deformation is extracted from the first radical direction data and displacement data is obtained by subjecting the time series data of acceleration due to tire deformation to a time integration of second order, thereby a deformation at the tread portion is calculated and a contact region of the rotating tire is determined from the calculated deformation. Next, from the second width direction data, a slip region within the determined contact region is specified based on vibration level of the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Matsuda, Tsuyoshi Kitazaki, Naoshi Miyashita, Yoshiaki Hashimura, Yutaka Hattori
  • Patent number: 7920058
    Abstract: A system and method that, upon connection of a trailer to a tow vehicle, a trailer brake controller informs a tire pressure monitoring system to begin monitoring information at the TPMS and at the same time, activates the initiators, i.e., the electromagnets. Sensors respond to the electromagnetic field that is generated by electric brake magnets. As a result, the sensors transmit RF signals that are received by the tire pressure monitoring system. Transmissions from the sensors are decoded in a controller and processed as necessary for tire pressure monitoring automatically calibrated to the tire pressure monitoring system and the system can request the pressure data from the sensors by way of the low frequency field generated by the electric brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Brian Bennie, Thomas Lee Miller, Thomas Michael McQuade, Ibrahim Issa, Karl Wojcik
  • Patent number: 7916012
    Abstract: Control of running conditions, and particularly physical parameters of tires are recommended to increase automobile safety. A sensor according to the invention is used to determine various factors such as the temperature or pressure of tires. The sensor is a hybrid resonant passive structure that may be integrated in the vehicle ground connection, and particularly in the rubber of the tire when it is manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Lionel Fagot-Revurat, Sylvain Ballandras, Jérémy Masson, William Steichen
  • Patent number: 7916011
    Abstract: A tire monitor system includes a tire monitor sensor unit that has a tire pressure detector, a coupler and a tire valve. The tire valve operates as an antenna to transmit tire data from the tire pressure detector. The coupler provides a capacitive coupling that removably couples the tire pressure detector and the tire valve. The coupler includes two metal layers separated by a dielectric layer. The two metal layers may be formed by the tire valve and a connection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Schrader Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Marguet, Adrian Page
  • Patent number: 7908918
    Abstract: A tire having an internal surface of substantially toroidal conformation, includes an electronic device including an electronic unit and an antenna, the latter being connected with the electronic unit and having an inner perimetral edge, and an anchoring body mounted on the internal surface for engagement between the electronic device and the tire, the anchoring body including at least two portions, said electronic unit being arranged between the portions. Each of the portions has a fastening surface secured to the internal surface of the tire and a groove in which the inner perimetral edge of the antenna is fitted to maintain a constraint between the electronic unit and the anchoring body. Also disclosed is a method of installing an electronic unit into a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Brusarosco, Federico Mancosu, Anna Paola Fioravanti
  • Publication number: 20110056285
    Abstract: A passive RFID transponder sensor system includes a sensor assembly having a focused field transponder antenna with a highly magnetically permeable transponder antenna stem, and a reader antenna with an electrical reader coil generating a magnetic field having magnetic flux extending between the reader antenna and a sensor assembly. The electrical transponder coil and the electrical reader coil are coupled by the magnetic field, so that information can be transferred to and from the sensor assembly through the magnetic field by which the electrical transponder coil and the electrical reader coil are coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: ELDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark D. FINEFROCK
  • Publication number: 20110041596
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring air pressure in vehicle tires using wheel electronics, which comprise a pressure sensor for measuring the air pressure present in the tire, a transmitter for transmitting pressure information, and a receiver for receiving interrogation signals, wherein a transmission activity of the wheel electronics is triggered by the reception of an interrogation signal, which is transmitted as a pulse train comprising a command section that encodes a transmission instruction for the wheel electronics. According to the invention, the pulse train comprises an adjustment section having several pulses before the command section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Markus Wagner, Karsten Sandrock
  • Patent number: 7893820
    Abstract: Method of transmitting an electromagnetic identification request signal, generated by an antenna (11-14) connected to a central unit (15) mounted on a vehicle (1), to an electronic housing (6-9) mounted on a wheel (2-5) of the vehicle. This transmission method includes successively transmitting, after starting of the vehicle (1), a plurality of identical identification request signals (S1 . . . , Si, Si+1, . . . ), and wherein, after each transmission at an instant Ti of a signal Si, the speed of travel V of the vehicle (1) is measured, the time Tr of a complete rotation of the wheel (2-5) is calculated for the speed V, and the following signal Si+1 is triggered at an instant Ti+1 such that: Ti+1=Ti+nTr+T? with n integer ?1 and 0<T?<Tr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventor: Olivier Costes
  • Patent number: 7893821
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system includes receiving antennas installed in a vehicle corresponding to vehicle wheels, a monitoring main unit disposed near a driver's seat, tire pressure sensors respectively installed in the wheels of the vehicle to wirelessly transmit detected data in the form of a data packet for being received by one corresponding adjacent antenna, and a signal combining circuit formed of multiple combiners and having multiple input terminals electrically connected to the receiving antennas and an output terminal electrically connected to the monitoring main unit for combining data packets received from the receiving antennas and transmitting the combined data signal to the monitoring main unit by means of a wired transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiao-Hwa Huang
  • 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: 7882732
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring tire pressurization state in a tire has a magneto-mechanical pressure sensor in or on the tire and an electromagnetic excitation system. The electromagnetic excitation system is for interrogating the magneto-mechanical pressure sensor. The apparatus also has a receiver. The receiver is for receiving information from the electromagnetic excitation system. The apparatus also has a data interpretation system for translating the received information into the tire pressurization state. The data interpretation system is connected to a display. The display communicates the tire pressurization state to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen George Haralampu, Christopher Hume Reynolds, David Vogel, Jerrold Zindler
  • Patent number: 7884708
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system for vehicle wheels and a wireless measurement module. The wireless measurement module is configured to be attached to a vehicle wheel and comprises: an acceleration measurement unit for determining acceleration information associated with wheel motion of the vehicle; a state determination unit for determining a value of at least one parameter characterizing a characteristic or state of the vehicle wheel by using the acceleration information; and a module communication unit for communicating the value of said at least one parameter by means of a wireless communication signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: W-Secure OY
    Inventors: Jarkko Honkonen, Yrjo Jurvansuu, Teijo Hilden, Toivo Vilmi
  • Patent number: 7884706
    Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor comprises a pair of conductive plates surrounding a compressible dielectric to form a capacitor. Changes in pressure create changes in the capacitance of the capacitor which in turn may be measured to determine the changes in pressure. The pressure sensor may be constructed to be temperature and centripetal force compensated so that it may be positioned in a tire. A further embodiment uses the conductive plates to form a radiating element for the sensor such that it may wirelessly communicate with a remote interrogator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • Publication number: 20110023592
    Abstract: A bending transducer for generating electrical energy from deformations includes at least: one deformable support device, on which a first connecting electrode and a second connecting electrode are formed, one piezoelectric element attached to the support device having a least one first electrode and one second electrode, the first connecting electrode being contacted with the first electrode of the piezoelectric element, and the second connecting electrode being contacted with the second electrode of the piezoelectric element. The first connecting electrode and/or the second connecting electrode are applied as a structured conductive layer to the support device in at least some areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Hortig, Thorsten Pannek, Gustav Klett, Marian Keck
  • Patent number: 7880600
    Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor comprises a pair of conductive plates surrounding a compressible dielectric to form a capacitor. Changes in pressure create changes in the capacitance of the capacitor, which in turn may be measured to determine the changes in pressure. The pressure sensor may be constructed to be temperature and centripetal force compensated so that it may be positioned in a tire. A further embodiment uses the conductive plates to form a radiating element for the sensor such that it may wirelessly communicate with a remote interrogator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Forster
  • 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: 7866206
    Abstract: Method and system for determination of wheel position of wheels on vehicles with which Coriolis forces (Chl, Chr, Cvl, Cvr) active for the wheels (Rhl, Rhr, Rvl, Rvr) of a vehicle are determined, the Coriolis forces (Chl, Chr, Cvl, Cvr) determined for the wheels (Rhl, Rhr, Rvl, Rvr) are compared with each other and the wheel positions of the wheels (Rhl, Rhr, Rvl, Rvr) of the vehicle are determined by means of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Global Dynamix AG
    Inventor: Rainer Achterholt
  • Patent number: 7856870
    Abstract: Provided is a method which is free from falling into a state impossible for detecting inner pressure lowering of tires even when GPS signals cannot be received and capable of precisely detecting inner pressure lowering of tires. A method for alarming inner pressure lowering of tires comprising a step of receiving satellite electric wave utilized for GPS and then detecting inner pressure lowering of tires utilizing the information of the satellite electric wave, and a step of detecting inner pressure lowering of tires utilizing wheel speed information, wherein said method comprises a step of judging whether the judgment result of inner pressure lowering of tires detected in the respective steps is adopted or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Nakao
  • Patent number: 7856871
    Abstract: A wheel for vehicles includes a rim, a tyre mounted on the rim, and at least one device for energy generation operatively associated with the tyre. The device for energy generation includes a first element that is fixed relative to the rim or to the tyre, and a second element mounted on the first element and free to rotate relative to the first element around a predetermined rotation axis. The second element has a mass centre eccentric to the predetermined rotation axis. The device for energy generation further includes an electric generator having a stator mounted on the first element and a rotor mounted on the second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Mancosu, Massimo Brusarosco
  • Patent number: 7845218
    Abstract: A tire state estimator includes a lateral force upper limit estimating section, a lateral force estimating section, and a tire slip angle estimating section. The lateral force upper limit estimating section calculates an estimated tire lateral force upper limit, on a basis of an estimated tire slip angle and a measured tire self aligning torque. The lateral force estimating section calculates an estimated tire lateral force, on a basis of the estimated tire lateral force upper limit calculated by the lateral force upper limit estimating section and the estimated tire slip angle. The tire slip angle estimating section calculates the estimated tire slip angle, on a basis of the estimated tire lateral force calculated by the lateral force estimating section and a measured vehicle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Shinichiro Joe, Yoshitaka Deguchi, Yung-Hsiang Judy Hsu, Shad Mitchell Laws, Joseph Christian Gerdes
  • Publication number: 20100288039
    Abstract: Measuring unit with at least a pressure sensor and signal transmission means, intended to be fitted on a tire/wheel assembly, characterized in that it comprises a logic indicator with two states, active and inactive, and in that the logic indicator becomes active each time the pressure measured by the pressure sensor is below a given threshold, close to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicants: SOCIETE DE TECHNOLOGIE MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE, S.A.
    Inventors: Franck Liberge, Philippe Corniot
  • Patent number: 7832264
    Abstract: The position of the rotation of a tire complicates the establishing of a wireless connection between a sensor unit attached to the tire and a sensor control unit attached to a vehicle body. A reflection plate is attached to an inner surface of a wheel housing at a position different from that of a sensor control unit. A transmission electromagnetic field from the sensor control unit is reflected by the metal reflection plate and transmitted to a sensor unit rotated to a position to which the field does not readily reach directly from the sensor control unit. The sensor unit varies an impedance of a coil antenna in accordance with transmission data, and generates a variation in the transmission electromagnetic field. The variation is detected via the reflection plate as a variation in a transmission load of the sensor control unit, and the transmission data from the sensor unit is detected in the sensor control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Suzuki, Eiichiro Kuwako, Takashi Kunimi
  • Patent number: 7834748
    Abstract: An apparatus detects positions of the right/left and front/rear four wheels of a vehicle. The detection is performed using transceivers attached to the respective wheels, a triggering device disposed in a body of the vehicle to output the triggering signal, and a receiver disposed on the body. The triggering device includes a first triggering device located closer to the two front wheels than the two rear wheels and located at a position where distances from the right-front wheel and the left-front wheel are mutually different, and a second triggering device located closer to the two rear wheels than the two front wheels and located at a position where distances from the right-rear wheel and the left-rear wheel are mutually different. Distances between each triggering device and each of the two transceivers receiving the triggering signal from the triggering device are decided at a given ratio in consideration of reception sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Mori, Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 7834749
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor assembly 1 has a housing 2, a pressure sensor mounted in the housing 2 and an antenna 3 connected to the sensor and extending exteriorly of the housing 2 for effecting wireless communication between the sensor and a remote module. The antenna 3 is moveable between a folded position in which it extends around at least a part of the housing 2 so as to lie substantially in the plane of the housing 2 and an erect position in which it upstands from the housing 2 so as, in use, to extend into the inflation area formed between a wheel and tire. The antenna 3 is biased towards its erect position, and further includes a releasable restraining strap 7 for restraining the antenna 3 in its folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Transense Technologies PLC
    Inventors: Bryn James Dixon, Aldrian Simon Nowell
  • Patent number: 7834747
    Abstract: In a tire air pressure monitoring device and/or in a method for performing tire air pressure monitoring by a device, each monitored pneumatic tire is provided with a wheel module, which generates radiotelegrams provided with air pressure data and sends them telemetrically to a control device in the vehicle. In addition, by an acceleration sensor serving as selection signal, a proportionate wheel position signal is generated in the wheel module and entered and stored in a data memory device on the wheel module. The control device generates a selecting demand signal that queries the presence or absence of the selection signal, which requires only the wheel modules that have or do not have the storage selection signal to send a radiotelegram within a stipulated time window or time frame. Thereupon, within the stipulated time window or time frame, only the radiotelegrams originating from the selected wheel module or the selected wheel modules are sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Global Dynamix AG
    Inventor: Rainer Achterholt
  • Patent number: 7826936
    Abstract: The vehicle stationary/moving determination apparatus includes an antenna mounted on a vehicle body of a vehicle; and a determination device determining whether or not the vehicle is moving or stationary on the basis of a reception intensity of a radio signal transmitted from a radio transmitter device mounted on the vehicle at a portion other than the vehicle body and received by the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Saito, Akihiro Taguchi, Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 7825781
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system is capable of ensuring accuracy of the rate of transmission of data via wireless communications without an increase in the number of oscillators and an increase in the cost. The tire pressure monitoring system includes a tire pressure measuring module. The tire pressure measuring module has a microcomputer, an activation control circuit, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a frequency divider, a transmitting circuit, and a battery. The microcomputer has a clock pulse generator, analog-to-digital converter circuits and a controller. The transmitting circuit has an oscillator circuit. The frequency divider divides the frequency of a carrier wave CW output from the oscillator circuit to generate a clock signal, and outputs the clock signal to the controller included in the microcomputer. The clock signal is used for the timing for outputting data to a data signal line DL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takafumi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7825788
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting positions of wheels of a vehicle is provided. In the apparatus, a triggering signal is transmitted from the body side to each transceiver mounted at each wheel. In each transceiver, the strength of the received triggering signal is measured and formatted into a frame of data to be transmitted to a receiver mounted to the vehicle body. The strength of the triggering signal is used to detect wheel positions by determining that each transceiver is disposed at which wheel. The receiver determines if there is a reply of the frame of data containing the strength when the triggering device transmits the triggering signal. When no reply comes from the transceiver, the strength of noise is measured in the transceiver in response to a command from the receiver. When the noise strength is less than a threshold, the receiver commands an alarm member to issue an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 7825787
    Abstract: In a wheel identifying apparatus, first and second devices respectively transmit first and second trigger signals. The first device is mounted on the body of a vehicle closer to the front axle than the rear axle and closer to one of the front wheels than the other; it has the same height as the front axle and an orientation angle in a range of 0 to 90°. The second device is mounted on the vehicle body closer to the rear axle than the front axle and closer to one of the rear wheels than the other; it has the same height as the rear axle and an orientation angle in a range of 0 to 90°. Consequently, the first trigger signal can be reliably received by transceivers on the front wheels, and the second trigger signal can be reliably received by transceivers on the rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Saitou, Akira Takaoka, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Tomohiro Kuno
  • Patent number: 7821385
    Abstract: In a vehicle's wheel position detecting apparatus, plural transceivers respectively attached to the front and rear four wheels are provided. Each transceiver receives a triggering signal, calculates a reception intensity of the triggering signal, stores data indicating the reception intensity into a frame, and transmits the frame to a receiver attached to a vehicle's body. Each triggering signal radio-transmitted from the first and second triggering devices contains a startup command to starts up each transceiver and an execution command to allow each transceiver to calculate the reception intensity. The first and second triggering devices, which are responsible for radio-transmitting the triggering signal toward at least the front wheels and the rear wheels respectively, are positionally offset to either way in the body's lateral direction. A receiver receives the frames and uses the frames radio-transmitted from the transceivers to detect the wheels' positions using the reception intensity in each frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Mori, Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 7817023
    Abstract: Acquired wheel information such as temperature data and inflation pressure data is surely transmitted from a transmitter in a status where the transmitter is not located in a dead space, by controlling timing wherein the transmitter acquires the wheel information, a transmission time width and transmitting timing of the data to be transmitted from the transmitter by radio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Shimura