Schrader Electronics Limited

Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Alan Millen

John Greer

Gary Graham

Peter Walker

Paul McGrotty

Philip Catherwood

David Galbraith

Pete Tasker

Steven Baird

James Coalter

Edward Friel

A method establishes a vehicle area network on a vehicle having a tractor with a tractor wireless hub, the tractor being connected to a first trailer having a first trailer wireless hub. The method activates the tractor hub and the first trailer wireless hub, and shares credentials between the tractor wireless hub and the first trailer wireless hub in accordance with out of band pairing techniques. Typically, the tractor wireless hub acts as an access point for the vehicle area network but the access point can be centralized by: searching down a length of the vehicle to determine relative locations of the tractor wireless hub, the first trailer wireless hub and the second trailer wireless hub; determining a centrally located hub based on the locations; and establishing the centrally located hub as the access point.

Tractor trailer vehicle area network with trailer sub-network

Auto-location systems and methods of tire pressure monitoring sensor units arranged with a wheel of a vehicle detect a predetermined time (T1) when a wheel phase angle reaches angle of interest using a rim mounted or a tire mounted sensor. The systems and methods transmit a radio frequency message associated with a wheel phase angle indication. The wheel phase angle indication triggers wheel phase and/or speed data such as ABS data at the predetermined time (T1) to be stored. A correlation algorithm is executed to identify the specific location of a wheel based on the wheel phase and/or speed data at the predetermined time (T1). TPM sensor parameters from a tire pressure monitoring sensor unit are assigned to the specific location of the wheel based on a confidence interval width analysis of the ABS data at the predetermined (T1). The confidence interval width analysis identifies the specific location of the wheel whose ABS sensor shows a lowest confidence interval width as a result of a normal distribution pattern or similar pattern. The confidence interval width analysis may calculate a weighted cumulative confidence interval width for the ABS data which experience rollback events.

System and method for performing auto-location of a tire pressure monitoring sensor arranged with a vehicle wheel using confidence interval analysis and rollback events

A method for determining change of direction of a vehicle includes steps of maintaining a rolling window of ABS data indicative of ABS tooth count and capturing a relevant rolling window of ABS data at the predetermined one-measurement point; storing the rolling window of the ABS data indicative of ABS tooth in a buffer; monitoring the ABS data and detecting a valid stop event which causes the rate of change of ABS tooth count to substantially decrement to zero; and monitoring the ABS data and detecting a valid move event which causes the rate of change of ABS tooth count to substantially increment from zero. The method also includes steps of determining a pre-stop phase relationship between at least two wheels based on the ABS tooth count stored in the buffer immediately prior to the valid stop event; determining a post-start phase relationship between at least two wheels based on the ABS tooth count stored in the buffer immediately subsequent to the valid move event; and correlating the pre-stop phase relationship and the post-start phase relationship to determine change of direction and confidence level.

System and method for performing auto-location of a tire pressure monitoring sensor arranged with a vehicle wheel using confidence interval analysis and change of wheel direction

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Co. Londonderry, United Kingdom

Alan Millen