Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Matthew D McIntyre

Brian Farrell

Jean-Christophe Deniau

Yasser Gad

Dhivya Vijayan

Martin Jankowski

Jean Christophe Deniau

Jean-Chrstophe Deniau

Brian Hillawi

Christin L Broski

Brian J Farrell

Approaches are provided where direct communications between tire pressure sensors are provided. One sensor may act as a teacher while other sensors may act as students and learn from the teacher sensor.

System and method for direct communications between tire sensors

An apparatus and method is provided that includes measuring a tire pressure for at least one tire with at least one tire pressure sensor. The tire pressure sensor has at least a first resolution for transmitting pressure information and a second resolution for transmitting pressure information that is higher than the first resolution. If a measured tire pressure is determined to be above a predetermined pressure threshold, the apparatus and method identify whether the tire pressure sensor has experienced at least one predetermined vehicle operating characteristic, and/or identify whether the tire pressure sensor has been activated by a command. The tire pressure sensor is only locked into the second resolution if the tire pressure sensor has experienced the at least one predetermined vehicle operating characteristic or if the tire pressure sensor has been activated by the command.

Method to lock TPMS sensor protocol pressure definition

The present disclosure relates to methods, system and devices for monitoring tire pressure data of vehicle wheel units. In an example a method of monitoring and expressing tire pressure data information is provided. The method includes selecting a first threshold pressure value for a tire to establish a first pressure range and a second pressure range. The method also includes monitoring pressure of the tire and generating signals indicative of tire pressure. The method further includes that in the first pressure range the signals are converted to digital signals according to a first conversion variable and in the second pressure range the signals are converted according to a second conversion variable.

Tire pressure monitoring with auto-scaling pressure resolution

In a vehicle tire pressure sensor, a wireless, low frequency (LF) receiver identifies a particular type of signal protocol that was used to form a first message that is sent to the sensor by the vehicle. Using the identification of the protocol used to form the first message, the sensor determines a type of signal protocol to be used to transmit information to the vehicle, such as an identifier for the tire pressure sensor in a second message.

Apparatus, system and method for configuring a tire information sensor with a transmission protocol based on vehicle trigger characteristics

The dynamic footprint of a tire is received and the dynamic footprint is determined by and received from a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) sensor. A weight or load of the secondary vehicle attached to the primary vehicle is calculated based at least in part on the footprint. Instructions to alter the operation of the braking system of the secondary vehicle based on the calculated weight or load are transmitted to the secondary vehicle.

Apparatus and method to dynamically adjust electronic braking using TPMS

A method, apparatus and system for controlling the actuation of a movable structure, the moveable structure configured to open and close an aperture in a vehicle, is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a sequence containing a request to at least one of open and close the aperture, interpreting the sequence as a request to one of enable and disable the actuation of the moveable structure, and in response to the interpretation, one of enabling and disabling the actuation of the moveable structure.

Automobile power window enable and disable method

A tire pressure monitoring system includes a plurality of tire pressure monitoring sensors including low frequency wireless receivers and high frequency wireless transmitters. The system further includes a plurality of low frequency transmitters each being disposed proximate one of the plurality of tire pressure monitoring sensors. The system further includes a control module in communication with the plurality of tire pressure monitoring sensors through the plurality of low frequency transmitters. In a first phase of operation the control module causes the low frequency transmitters to transmit low frequency wireless signals to the tire pressure monitoring sensors causing the tire pressure monitoring sensors to transmit data to the control module at a rate. In a second phase or operation the tire pressure monitoring sensors transmit data to the control module at a second rate.

Tire pressure monitoring sensor with changing functionality based upon vehicle action

A TPM sensor measures the pressure of a tire and determines whether the measured pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold. When the measured pressure is greater than the predetermined threshold, an adjustment to the sensitivity is determined by the sensor. The adjustment to the sensitivity is applied to the sensor to yield an adjusted sensitivity. The TPM sensor is operated to make receptions according to the adjusted sensitivity.

Apparatus and method to adjust LF sensitivity of TPM sensor

A TPM sensor is programmed. The TPM sensor is configured with a TPM identifier and makes transmissions according to a current transmission protocol or protocols. A low frequency (LF) signal is received and the LF signal was transmitted according to a predetermined transmission protocol or language. An identity of the predetermined transmission protocol or language associated with the LF signal is determined. Based upon the identity of the predetermined transmission protocol or language, at least one of the TPM identifier or the current transmission protocol or protocols are adjusted, and the TPM sensor subsequently makes transmissions according to the predetermined transmission protocol associated with the LF signal.

Tire pressure monitoring sensor

In some aspects, a plurality of frames to be transmitted is assembled. The averaging factor is determined for each frame. Each frame is transmitted with the averaging power determined for each frame and not with the worst case averaging power from the plurality of frames.

RF transmission method and apparatus in a tire pressure monitoring system

A valve stem for coupling a TPMS wheel unit to a wheel rim, TPMS wheel unit and valve stem assembly and installation thereof are disclosed. The valve stem comprises a bulb, an inner tubular member, and an outer tubular member; the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member being fixedly attached to the bulb.

Valve stem for coupling a TPMS wheel unit to a wheel rim, TPMS wheel unit and valve stem assembly and installation thereof

The present invention relates to systems, methods and devices for the integration of tire pressure monitoring sensors to a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of integrating a tire pressure monitoring sensor with a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. The method includes the step of selecting with a computer a program software for a tire pressure monitoring sensor of a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. The method further includes transmitting the selected program software from the computer to a configuration tool for a tire pressure monitoring sensor. The method further includes utilizing the selected program software to integrate the tire pressure monitoring sensor with the tire pressure monitoring system of the vehicle.

Integration systems, methods and devices for tire pressure monitoring sensors

Localization of a tire pressure monitor is achieved. The tire pressure monitor is disposed at one of the tires on a vehicle equipped with dualies. A message is received from a tire pressure monitor and the message has an associated received signal strength. The message includes information indicating a direction of rotation of a tire and a tire identifier from the tire pressure monitor sensor. The tire pressure monitor is disposed at one of the tires of a vehicle equipped with dualies.

Apparatus and method for tire localization

The present invention relates to recording and storing identification information of tire pressure monitoring sensors and transmission of the stored identification information to a tire pressure monitoring system. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of integrating one or more tire pressure monitoring sensors with a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. The method includes programming and/or configuring a tire pressure monitoring sensor with a suitable program software for a tire pressure monitoring system of a vehicle. The method also includes utilizing a configuration tool to cause the tire pressure monitoring sensor to generate a signal including an identifier. The method further includes recording the identifier on a memory device of the configuration tool. The method further includes transmitting the recorded identifier from the configuration tool to a memory device of a vehicle when the vehicle enters a learning mode.

Methods, systems and devices for recording and transmitting identification information of tire pressure monitoring sensors to a vehicle

An apparatus for coupling a TPMS wheel unit and a valve stem into an assembly, the assembly and the installation method therefore are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an elastic member configured to counteract in response to mechanical communication between a bulb and a wall, wherein the wall is comprised in the TPMS wheel unit and the bulb is comprised in the valve stem; and a fastening mechanism configured to couple the TPMS wheel unit, the valve stem and the elastic unit.

Growing community of inventors

New Baltimore, MI, United States of America

Matthew D McIntyre