Granted Patent B2

US 8,346,502 · App. 12/183,459 · Granted Jan 1, 2013

Abstract

Claims (18)

1. A system for determining speed of a vehicle having a wheel rotatably mounted thereto for facilitating vehicle movement relative to a road surface, the system comprising:

a sensor configured for mounting to the wheel, the sensor configured for sensing centripetal acceleration of the wheel and generating a signal indicative of sensed centripetal acceleration, the sensor arranged to wirelessly transmit the signal;

an electronic control unit configured for receipt of data associated with the wheel, the electronic control unit further configured to receive the signal from the sensor mounted to the wheel and determine speed of the vehicle based on the sensed centripetal acceleration from the signal received and from the data associated with the wheel; and

the electronic control unit further configured for receipt of replacement data associated with a replacement wheel substituted for the wheel and operative to determine speed of the vehicle based on sensed centripetal acceleration and on the replacement data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit receives the signal via a radio frequency and the sensor includes a radio frequency transmitter for wireless communication with the receiver.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit communicates the determined speed to a vehicle display.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit determines the wheel is in a slip condition based on the sensor signal.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the wheel and the replacement wheel includes a rim radius.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the wheel and the replacement wheel includes a tire radius.

7. A vehicle having a wheel rotatably mounted on the vehicle for facilitating vehicle movement relative to a road surface comprising:

a display unit mounted on the vehicle for receiving and displaying vehicle speed;

a sensor configured for mounting to the wheel, the sensor configured for sensing centripetal acceleration of the wheel and generating a signal indicative of sensed centripetal acceleration, the sensor arranged to wirelessly transmit the signal;

an electronic control unit configured for receipt of data associated with the wheel, the electronic control unit further configured to receive the signal from the sensor mounted to the wheel and determine speed of the vehicle based on the sensed centripetal acceleration from the signal received and from the data associated with the wheel, the electronic control unit further configured for transmitting the computed speed to the vehicle display unit, wherein the vehicle speed is displayed; and

the electronic control unit further configured for receipt of replacement data associated with a replacement wheel substituted for the wheel, the electronic control unit operative to determine speed of the vehicle based on sensed centripetal acceleration and on the replacement data and to recalibrate the vehicle display to correct displayed speed in accordance with the replacement data.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the electronic control unit receives the signal via a radio frequency and the sensor includes a radio frequency transmitter for wireless communication with the receiver.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the electronic control unit determines the wheel is in a slip condition based on the sensor signal.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the data associated with the wheel and the replacement wheel includes a rim radius.

11. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the data associated with the wheel and the replacement wheel includes a tire radius.

Assignments (18)