Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Trw Limited

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Societe Detechnologie Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Techniques S.a.

David Leonard Juzswik

Xing Ping Lin

Ansaf Ibrahem Alrabady

Michael G Oszust

John S Scales

George W McIver

Carl Andrew Munch

Timothy Dezorzi

Mike Blossfeld

Barry Dunbridge

Thomas John LeMense

Xavier Huchard

Kiran Ramanlal Magiawala

Albert Michael Straub

Stephen Scott Wieland

Mathieu Tupinier

Daniel J Wyman

Andrew R Brown

Dan Rasmussen

John Frederick Schimm

A brake pad wear measuring system for measuring brake pad wear for a vehicle disc brake system includes a first coil excitable to create a first magnetic field, and a first target associated with the first coil. The first coil and the first target are configured for movement relative to each other in response to application of the disc brake system. The relative movement causes the first target to move within the first magnetic field and affect the inductance of the first coil. The brake pad wear measuring system also includes a second coil excitable to create a second magnetic field, and a second target associated with the second coil. The second coil and the second target are configured for movement relative to each other in response to application of the disc brake system. The relative movement causes the second target to move within the second magnetic field and affect the inductance of the second coil. The first coil and the first target are configured so that the inductance of the first coil increases as brake pad wear increases. The second coil and the second target are configured so that the inductance of the second coil decreases as brake pad wear increases.

Brake pad wear sensor

A tire condition monitoring apparatus includes a tire-based sensor configured to sense tire operating conditions and transmit a tire condition signal including the sensed tire operating conditions. The apparatus also includes a vehicle-based controller configured to receive the tire condition signal and monitor the tire operating conditions. At least one of the sensor and the controller are configured to determine that a tire pressure adjustment condition exists in response to determining, based on the sensed operating conditions, that a predetermined change in the number of moles of air in the tire has taken place.

Tire fill assist method and apparatus

A method and apparatus for hand-free opening and/or closing of a vehicle door. The method includes the steps of detecting when an authorized person is in the vicinity of a vehicle door, opening that vehicle door after the authorized person has been in the vicinity of the vehicle door for a least a first time interval, the opening being performed automatically and without action by the authorized person, and providing a perceptible warning of impending opening of the vehicle door, the warning being provided after the authorized person has been detected in the vicinity of the vehicle door and before the vehicle door is opened. An analogous door closing process is performed when the authorized person leaves the vicinity of the vehicle door.

Method and apparatus for hands-free opening of a door

A tire condition sensing apparatus includes a tire-based sensor for sensing two relative rotational positions of its associated tire relative to the earth's horizon as the tire rotates and provides first and second signals indicative thereof. A transmitter for transmits tire condition information and a signal processing time delay value in response to the first and second signals. A vehicle-based sensor monitors tire rotation relative to the vehicle's chassis and provides a signal indicative thereof. A controller for monitors the transmitted tire condition information signal, the signal processing time delay value, and the signal from the vehicle-based sensor and associates tire location in response thereto.

Method and apparatus for determining tire condition and location using wheel speed sensors and acceleration sensors

An apparatus is provided for determining a tire operating condition including a tire-based pressure and temperature sensor and transmitter and a vehicle ignition system. A vehicle-based receiver/controller receives sensor signals and state of the ignition system. The controller provides an error signal when the sensed tire pressure is less than a set threshold value Pand resets the error signal when the sensed tire pressure is greater than a reset threshold value P. The receiver/controller determines the set threshold value Pand the reset threshold value Pas a function of a calculated warm tire pressure value P, determines a mole value N of the tire pressure, and adjusts the determined set threshold value Pand the reset threshold value Pin response to the vehicle ignition state and a change in the determined mole value N. A display is provided for displaying the error signal.

Method and apparatus for determining tire condition using ideal gas law

An apparatus is provided for locating a vehicle electronic key including a fob for receiving a low frequency signal, measuring the low frequency signal strength, and providing a radio frequency response signal, a portion of the response signal including the signal strength determination. A low frequency antenna is located within the vehicle cabin for providing the low signal. A controller receives the response signal and compares the signal strength against a predetermined threshold. A vehicle engine immobilizer is responsive to the controller where the controller controls the immobilizer in response to the comparison.

Apparatus for locating a vehicle electronic key

An apparatus determines a condition and relative location of an inner tire and an outer tire of a tire pair. Each tire has an associated tire-based sensor assembly that senses a tire condition, senses acceleration, and transmits, in response to its associated acceleration signal, having a unique tire identification and associated sensed tire condition. A tire rotation sensor senses rotation of the tire pair during vehicle movement and provides a tire rotation signal indicative thereof. A vehicle-based controller associates each of the unique identification signals with one of the inner tire location and the outer tire location responsive to a phase relationship between the received transmitted signals from the tire-based sensor assemblies and the tire rotation signal.

Method and apparatus for determining a condition and relative location of an inner tire and an outer tire of a tire pair

An apparatus determines a position of a tire on a vehicle including a tire-based sensing unit, each tire on the vehicle having an associated tire-based sensing unit. Each tire-based sensing unit includes a first sensor mounted for rotation with the tire and for generating a first sensor signal indicative of such rotation, a second sensor mounted for rotation with the tire and for generating a second sensor signal indicative of such rotation, and a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of a phase relationship between the first and second sensor signals. An axle position sensor is provided for determining each tire-based sensing unit position relative to a front and rear axle of the vehicle and provides an axle position signal for each tire-based sensing unit. A controller monitors the transmitted phase signals of each tire-based sensing unit and the determines axle position signals. The controller compares the tire-based sensing unit phase relationships for possible tire locations considering the determined axle positions of the tire-based sensing units, determines a confidence value by weighting the compared phase relationships, compares the phase difference of each tire-based sensing unit relative to the phase difference of other tire-based sensing units for each possible vehicle tire location, and associates each tire-based sensing unit with a vehicle location in response to the confidence values.

Method and apparatus for determining tire position on a vehicle

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.

Method and apparatus for determining identifiable tire position location in a tire pressure monitoring system

A system () is provided for monitoring a remote tire monitoring sensor. The system includes a tire-based unit () having a sensor () and transmitter () that receives power from a power supply () located within the tire-based unit (). The transmitter () transmits a signal () relating to a parameter measured by the sensor (). The system () further includes a controller () that evaluates the life of the power supply () by monitoring energy usage of the power supply () by counting the number of occurrences in which the energy usage is above a prescribed amount () and comparing the number of occurrences to an energy threshold ().

System for measuring life expectancy of a tire condition monitoring system

A tire pressure mounting apparatus is provided including a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in a tire. The pressure sensor has a housing. A threaded fastener is secured to the housing and forms a first valve portion. A tire valve stem projects through a first opening in a rim for holding the tire. The tire valve stem carries a second valve portion therein. The first valve portion and the second valve portion form a valve when screwed together.

Method and apparatus for mounting a tire pressure monitoring device

The invention provides a vehicle wheel arch () of the type including an antenna () for interacting with a device () carried by an assembly () of a wheel () and a tire (). The wheel arch includes a shield () overlying the antenna () beside the radially-inner face of the wheel arch (), said shield () being suitable for retaining matter () at a certain distance from the antenna ().

Wheel arch including an antenna

A tire condition sensor unit (e.g.,A) is for use within a tire condition communication system (). The sensor unit (e.g.,A) is for association with a tire (e.g.,A) of a vehicle () and, via a method, communicates a tire condition to a vehicle-based unit (). A sensor () senses the tire condition. Radio frequency transmit circuitry and an antenna (and) transmit a radio frequency signal (e.g.,A) that indicates the sensed tire condition. In one aspect, a low frequency antenna and a signal detector (and) receive a low frequency initiation signal that causes transmission of the radio frequency signal indicative of the sensed tire condition. In another aspect, the radio frequency signal is also indicative of a fixed identification.

Vehicle-controlled tire condition sensor communication utilizing fixed tire identification

A vehicle communication path-tracing system () has a portable transmitter () and transceiver/controllers (A&#x2013;N,T), located separately from the transmitter (). A transmitter/controller (T) is located at a target vehicle (T) and at least one other transceiver/controller (e.g.,A) is located at an intermediate location. An intermediate transceiver/controller receives a command signal intended for the target vehicle and transmits a retransmitted command signal intended for the target vehicle. The target transceiver/controller receives the retransmitted command signal and transmits an acknowledgement signal, intended for reception by the at least one intermediate transceiver/controller that transmitted the retransmitted command signal received at the target vehicle. The at least one intermediate transceiver/controller receives an acknowledgement signal and transmits a retransmitted acknowledgement signal.

Growing community of inventors

Commerce, MI, United States of America

David Leonard Juzswik