Trw Limited

Ford Motor Company Limited

Thomas John LeMense

Tejas Bhupendra Desai

David Leonard Juzswik

David Richard Tengler

Daniel J Wyman

Dennis James Shelton

Tejas B Desai

A tire inflation pressure monitoring system ( ) and a method for monitoring air pressure within a tire ( ) are provided. The system ( ) includes a tire based unit ( ) for sensing air pressure within the tire ( ) and for transmitting a pressure signal indicative thereof. The system ( ) also includes a vehicle based unit ( ) for receiving the pressure signal and for comparing the pressure signal to a predefined pressure range. The vehicle based unit ( ) is operable in one of (i) a normal operating mode that outputs an alert signal in response to the air pressure within the tire ( ) being outside of the predefined pressure range and (ii) a pressure gauge operating mode that outputs an in-range signal in response to the air pressure within the tire ( ) being within the predetermined pressure range.

Tire pressure monitoring system with pressure gauge operating mode for indicating when air pressure within a tire is within a predetermined pressure range

An arrangement ( ) and method for identifying a vehicle tire ( ) to a vehicle-based tire condition unit ( ) that utilizes the tire identification. An ECU ( ) and an indication and control panel ( ) of the vehicle-based tire condition unit ( ) cooperate to prompt a person to spin the tire ( ). A signal that is indicative of the tire being spun is provided to the vehicle-based tire condition unit ( ). In one embodiment, the signal is provided by a wheel speed sensor ( ). In another embodiment, the signal is provided by a sensor transponder ( ) at the tire ( ).

Arrangement and method of vehicle tire identification

A remote convenience system ( ) includes a portable transmitter unit ( ) and a receiver unit ( ), and by a method, permits remote control of performance of a function, via a signal ( ). Preferably, the system ( ) is a remote convenience system for a vehicle ( ). The transmitter unit ( ) has a microcomputer ( ) that provides a message that contains a function request. First and second signals are transmitted from the transmitter unit ( ). Each signal is provided by a transmitter portion ( ) at a different frequency and conveys the complete message. The receiver unit ( ) has a detector (e.g., ) tuned to receive the signal ( ) for both the first and second frequencies, and can discern the complete message provided via both frequencies or either frequency. Thus, if the transmitter unit ( ) is in a frequency dependent &ldquo;dead spot&rdquo;, communication is not prevented.

Apparatus and method for remote convenience message reception and control utilizing frequency diversity

A remote convenience system (,) includes a portable transmitter unit (,) and a receiver unit (,), and by a method, permits remote control of performance of a function, via a signal (,). Preferably, the system (,) is a remote convenience system for a vehicle (,). The transmitter unit (,) has a microcomputer (,) that provides a message that contains a function request. First and second signals are transmitted from the transmitter unit (,). Each signal is provided by a transmitter portion (,) at a different frequency and conveys the complete message. The receiver unit (,) has a detector (e.g.,,) tuned to receive the signal (,) for both the first and second frequencies, and can discern the complete message provided via both frequencies or either frequency. Thus, if the transmitter unit (,) is in a frequency dependent &ldquo;dead spot&rdquo;, communication is not prevented.

Apparatus and method for remote convenience message transmission and control utilizing frequency diversity

An apparatus (,) senses the presence of a rearward facing child restraint seat (,) in a vehicle. Signal generating components (,and,) of a driver/receiver circuit (,) provide an electrical transmit signal, at a first frequency, which is applied to an antenna (,) during a first time period. The antenna (,) transmits an electromagnetic (EM) signal (,) at the first frequency during the first time period. At the end of the first time period, the EM transmit signal (,) is terminated. During a second time period, a component (,) of the driver/receiver circuit (,) provides a signal at a second, different frequency. An identification tag (,) is securable to the child restraint seat (,) and provides an EM return signal (,) in response to the EM transmit signal (,). The EM return signal (,) has the same frequency as the EM transmit signal (,) and continues past the termination of the EM transmit signal into the second time period. The antenna (,) receives the EM return signal (,) and provides an electrical return signal in response to the EM return signal. A mixer (,) is coupled to receive both the second frequency signal and the electrical return signal in the second time period, and provides a beat frequency signal. The presence and duration of the best frequency signal is indicative of the presence of the identification tag (,).

Apparatus and method for sensing a rearward facing child seat using beat frequency detection

An energy efficient remote control protocol uses a start bit which has a variable length which corresponds to the parity of the transmitted symbol, a guard time which is fixed at a predetermined length, and a data transmission time which corresponds to the data to be transmitted. The data to be transmitted is transmitted as a logic low, thus improving the energy efficiency of the system. During the transmission of a code, only one stop bit is used at the end of the transmission. The guard time and parity check are used to verify proper transmission.

Energy efficient remote control protocol with improved reliability

An apparatus (52) senses the presence of a rearward facing child restraint seat (34) in a vehicle. Signal generating components (80, 84 and 90) of a driver/receiver circuit (64) provide an electrical transmit signal, at a first frequency, which is applied to an antenna (60) and the antenna transmits an electromagnetic (EM) signal (62) at the first frequency during a first time period. During a second time period, a component (84) of the driver/receiver circuit (64) provides a signal at a second, different frequency. An identification tag (54) is securable to the child restraint seat (34) and provides an EM return signal (68) in response to the EM transmit signal (62). The antenna (60) receives the EM return signal (68) and provides an electrical return signal in response to the EM return signal. A mixer (122) is coupled to receive both the second frequency signal and the electrical return signal in the second time period, and provides a beat frequency signal. The presence and duration of the beat frequency signal may be indicative of the presence of the identification tag (54). An output signal from the driver/receiver circuit (64) is a function of the beat frequency signal and contains information. A processor (70) processes the information in the output signal and determines: (i) presence of the identification tag (54) and (ii) whether the information is unreliable thus affecting the determination of presence of the identification tag.

Apparatus and method for sensing a rearward facing child seat with error

An apparatus (32) senses the presence of a rearward facing child restraint seat (34) in a vehicle. A frequency oscillator (80) is used to provide an electrical transmit signal which is applied to an antenna (60). The antenna (60) transmits an electromagnetic (EM) signal (62) which has a frequency and a time duration. An identification tag (54) is securable to the child restraint seat (34) and provides an EM return signal (64) in response to the EM transmit signal (62). The EM return signal (64) has the same frequency as the EM transmit signal (62) and continues past the EM transmit signal. The antenna (60) receives the EM return signal (64) and provides an electrical return signal in response to the EM return signal. A product detector (100) is coupled to receive both the electrical transmit signal and the electrical receive signal for determining the presence of the identification tag (54).

Apparatus and method for sensing a rearward facing child seat

A transmitter direction identifier is disclosed in conjunction with an automotive keyless entry assembly. The transmitter direction identifier includes a transmitter for sending a coded signal; a receiver for receiving the coded signal from the transmitter; a spatial differentiator for identifying the direction of the transmitter relative to a receiver from the coded signal received from the transmitter, the spatial differentiator creating a location signal; and a control unit electrically connected to the spatial differentiator wherein the control unit converts the location signal into command signal for subsequent use.

Transmitter direction identifier

A remote controlled anti-theft system for transportation vehicles allows the user to easily determine at will if a faulty door position sensor or an open door will inhibit proper operation of the anti-theft system by pressing the lock button on the remote transmitter in a predetermined sequence. A first lock code from the remote transmitter initiates a locking and arming sequence of the anti-theft system. A second lock code received within a predetermined time of the first lock code causes an audible verification to be produced identifying whether the anti-theft system is successfully arming or whether a door ajar or faulty door sensor is preventing the anti-theft system from arming.

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Thomas John LeMense