Tire sensor localization utilizing speed corrected frequency

[0001] The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/394,180 filed on Jul. 3, 2002.

[0002] This invention relates to the use of a signal being transmitted from tire pressure sensors wherein a signal is adjusted to have a frequency corrected for the speed of the vehicle. A control receives the signal and identifies characteristics in the signal to identify which tire has sent the signal.

[0003] Modem vehicles are being provided with more and more electronic diagnostic and sensing systems. In particular, tire pressure sensors are now incorporated into most modern vehicles. The tire pressure sensors typically send a wireless signal to a control. The signal will typically include a code, such that the control can identify to which tire the particular signal relates.

[0004] Such tire pressure monitoring systems require some way of initially identifying the code for each sensor and its associated tire with a control. Thus, means for “localization” are incorporated into tire pressure monitoring systems.

[0005] One proposed system looks at characteristics in the signal that would be distinct for each of the tire based sensor transmitters. As an example, due to the relative location of the receiver and the control and each of the sensors on each of the tires, there would be distinct “black spots” within the signal at which the receiver would not receive a portion of the signal. The pattern of black spots could thus be of value in identifying the location of the particular sensor sending the particular signal. A receiver could be programmed to expect a particular series of black spots at particular times, and identify which tire is reporting based upon those black spots. However, the speed of the vehicle would affect the expected timing of the black spots within the signal. Thus, the prior art discussed above is not a practical way of identifying the location of a sensor sending a particular transmission.

[0006] In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a signal is transmitted from sensors associated with each of the tires when a control is in a “learn” mode. This signal has a frequency that is adjusted to be corrected for vehicle speed. The frequency is equal to some constant multiplied by the speed of the vehicle such that the frequency of the transmission of the signal is relatively constant. In this manner, the receiver for a control can receive the signal and compare it to expected “black” spots for a signal from each of the tires. The receiver thus identifies the source of each signal.

[0007] In a most preferred embodiment, the signal is amplitude modulated and the receiver includes an amplitude peak detector for receiving the signal. The signal is preferably imposed upon the transmission from the tire pressure sensors for at least one, and preferably several, rotations of each tire every time the vehicle has stopped for at least a pre-determined period of time.

[0008] These and other features of this invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

[0011] A vehicle 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1 having four tires 22, 24, 26 and 28. The tires have tire pressure monitoring sensors and transmitters 23, 25, 27 and 29. Each of these sensors/transmitters transmit signals S1, S2, S3 and S4.

[0012] All of the signals S1–S4 are received by a common receiver and control 30. Control 30 must be capable of receiving the signals S1–S4 and looking at embedded codes unique to the sensors 23, 25, 27 and 29. Each code is stored at the control such that when subsequent signals are received, the control can identify which tire is associated with a particular signal.

[0013] As also shown in FIG. 1, the signals S1–S4 have a unique sequence of zeros and “black spots” at any one speed. The unique sequence is based upon the geometry of the vehicle, the relative location of the tires and the receiver, etc. For a particular vehicle design, a control can be programmed to expect a particular sequence for each of the four tire locations. Thus, the control 30 could be programmed with the sequence such as shown in the box in FIG. 1. Of course, the illustrated sequences are simply examples made for an understanding of this invention. Actual sequences would be determined experimentally or by prediction once a particular vehicle design has been finalized.

[0014] The present invention makes a practical application of these sequences to identify the location of each of the sensors by correcting the frequency of the transmission for changing vehicle speeds. Many of the known pressure sensors in the tires also contain a speed sensor to determine vehicle speed. Essentially, location signals are sent by the sensors 23, 25, 27, and 29 as an AM signal having a frequency proportional to the speed of the vehicle. Thus, the frequency is equal to some constant times the speed of the vehicle. As the speed increases, the frequency of transmission increases. This correction for speed should ensure that the sequence will be generally the same for each of the tires, regardless of changes in vehicle speed.

[0015] Most preferably, the AM signal being sent at the speed dependent frequency need only be sent for at least one or perhaps a few rotations of each tire after the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time. Each time the vehicle has stopped for a predetermined period of time, on the order of at least several minutes, it is desirable to relearn the codes. This anticipates that during the stoppage of the vehicle, the tires may have been rotated, replaced, etc.

[0016] After the termination of this identification signal, the transmitter would return to its normal transmission of the tire pressure signal information. Typically, the tire pressure information is sent periodically, and includes an identifier code along with pressure information. The control 30 will have stored the identifier code that is also part of the identification signal.

[0017] Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.