Granted Patent B2

US 7,218,209 · App. 11/082,097 · Granted May 15, 2007

Abstract

Claims (65)

1. A method for determining pressure within a tire mounted to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing a pressure of the tire;

calculating whether the sensed tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, within the predetermined pressure range, or less than the predetermined pressure range wherein the step of calculating comprises:

determining a difference between a stored pressure and the tire pressure and comparing the determined difference to a predetermined pressure difference; and

providing one of a first combination of audible and visual indications external to the vehicle that the tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, a second combination of audible and visual indications external to the vehicle that the tire pressure is within the predetermined pressure range, and a third combination of audible and visual indications external to the vehicle that the tire pressure is less than the predetermined pressure range, wherein each of the first, second, and third audible and visual indications are different from one another.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring the tire pressure during a first predetermined time interval;

measuring a second tire pressure during a second predetermined time interval; and

determining a change in the tire pressures of the first and the second predetermined time intervals.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining a change comprises:

measuring a speed of the vehicle;

detecting whether the speed is less than a predetermined speed threshold; and

if the speed is less than the predetermined speed threshold and if the change is greater than a predetermined change threshold, automatically measuring a third pressure of the tire during a third predetermined time interval.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

measuring the tire pressure at a first time instant;

measuring a pressure of the tire at a second time instant after the first time instant;

determining a differential between the second time instant tire pressure and the first time instant tire pressure; and

measuring a third pressure of the tire at a third time instant, if the differential is greater than zero.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

comparing the tire pressure to a predetermined high pressure threshold, wherein the predetermined high pressure threshold is a pressure difference threshold that indicates a high pressure.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

classifying the tire pressure as high, if the determined difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined pressure difference and the tire pressure is greater than or equal to the predetermined high pressure threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

classifying the tire pressure as normal, if the determined difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined pressure difference, the tire pressure is greater than or equal to a placard value, and the tire pressure is less than the predetermined high pressure threshold.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

classifying the tire pressure as low, if the determined difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined pressure difference and the tire pressure is less than the placard value.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the vehicle is in accessory power mode;

sensing a second pressure of the tire;

determining a change between the second tire pressure and the first tire pressure and if the change in tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure change.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising terminating the method if a speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined speed threshold.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising terminating the method if a timer indicates that a predetermined threshold of time has expired.

12. A method for determining pressure within a tire mounted to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a first pressure of the tire during a first predetermined time interval;

measuring a second pressure of the tire during a second predetermined time interval having a duration that is substantially equal to the first predetermined time interval;

determining a pressure change between the first and second tire pressures and detecting whether a speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed threshold;

if the vehicle speed is less than the predetermined speed threshold and the pressure change is greater than a predetermined change threshold, automatically sensing a third pressure of the tire during a third predetermined time interval, wherein the third predetermined time interval is shorter in duration than the first predetermined time interval;

calculating whether the third tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, within the predetermined pressure range, or less than the predetermined pressure range; and

providing one of a first combination of audible and visual indications external to the vehicle if the third tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, a second combination of audible and visual indications external to the vehicle if the third tire pressure is within to the predetermined pressure range, and a third combination of audible and visual indications external to the vehicle if the third tire pressure is less than the predetermined pressure range, wherein each of the first, second, and third audible and visual indications are different.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

determining a difference between a stored pressure and the first tire pressure and comparing the determined difference to a predetermined pressure difference.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

comparing the first tire pressure to a predetermined high pressure threshold, wherein the predetermined high pressure threshold is a pressure difference threshold that indicates a high pressure.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

classifying the first tire pressure as high, if the determined difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined pressure difference and the first tire pressure is greater than or equal to the predetermined high pressure threshold.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

classifying the first tire pressure as normal, if the determined difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined pressure difference, the first tire pressure is greater than or equal to a placard value, and the first tire pressure is less than the predetermined high pressure threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises:

classifying the first tire pressure as low, if the determined difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined pressure difference and the first tire pressure is less than the placard value.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising detecting whether the vehicle is in a particular operating mode and if the pressure change is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising terminating the method if the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined speed threshold.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising terminating the method if a timer indicates that a predetermined threshold of time has expired.

21. A tire pressure monitor system for a vehicle having a plurality of tires each mounted on a wheel at one of a plurality of locations relating to the vehicle, the tire pressure monitor system comprising:

a plurality of tire pressure detectors each coupled to one of the plurality of wheels, each tire pressure detector further comprising:

a transmitter; and

a pressure sensor coupled to the transmitter and configured to detect changes in the pressure in the one tire mounted on the wheel;

a receiver in communication with each of the tire pressure detectors of the plurality of tire pressure detectors and configured to receive the detected pressure changes;

a processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to:

measure a first tire pressure during a first predetermined time interval and measure a second tire pressure during a second predetermined time interval that is substantially equal in duration to the first predetermined time interval;

calculate a pressure change between the first and the second tire pressures and detect whether a speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed threshold;

if the vehicle speed is less than the predetermined speed threshold and if the pressure change is greater than the predetermined change threshold, sense a third tire pressure during a third predetermined time interval, wherein the third predetermined time interval is smaller than the first predetermined time interval;

determine whether the third tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, within the predetermined pressure range, or less than the predetermined pressure range; and

cause one of a first audible and visual indications external to the vehicle to indicate that the third tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, a second audible and visual indications external to the vehicle that the third tire pressure within to the predetermined pressure range, and a third audible and visual indications external to the vehicle that the third tire pressure less than the predetermined pressure range, wherein each of the first, second, and third audible and visual indications are different.

22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising a light coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the light to indicate to the vehicle operator that the third tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, within the predetermined pressure range, or less than the predetermined pressure range.

23. The system of claim 21 , further comprising an audible notification device coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to cause the audible notification device to indicate to the vehicle operator that the third tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, within the predetermined pressure range, or less than the predetermined pressure range.

Assignments (13)