US7010968B2 — Determination of wheel sensor position using a wi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 62 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor, determining first acceleration along a first axis and second acceleration along a second axis; based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration, determining rotational direction of a wheel associated with the tire monitor; and determining the position information about position of the tire monitor on a vehicle based on the rotational direction.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 62 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor, determining first acceleration along a first axis and second acceleration along a second axis; based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration, determining rotational direction of a wheel associated with the tire monitor; and determining the position information about position of the tire monitor on a vehicle based on the rotational direction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

The tire monitor method of claim 1 further comprising: producing a first acceleration signal based on the first acceleration and a second acceleration signal based on the second acceleration; determining a lag/lead relationship of the first acceleration signal and the second acceleration signal; and determining the rotational direction based on the lag/lead relationship.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 83 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor, determining first acceleration along a first axis and second acceleration alone a second axis; based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration, determining position information about position of the tire monitor on a vehicle, transmitting radio signals to communicate data representative of the position information; determining a received amount of the radio signals; and based on the received amount, determining additional position information about the position of the tire monitor on the vehicle.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 83 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor, determining first acceleration along a first axis and second acceleration alone a second axis; based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration, determining position information about position of the tire monitor on a vehicle, transmitting radio signals to communicate data representative of the position information; determining a received amount of the radio signals; and based on the received amount, determining additional position information about the position of the tire monitor on the vehicle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The tire monitor method of claim 3 wherein the position information comprises right/left position information and the additional position information comprises front/rear position information.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 151 words

A remote tire monitoring system for a vehicle, the remote tire monitoring system comprising: a plurality of tire monitors associated with respective tires of the vehicle, each tire monitor including an accelerometer, a monitor position information determining circuit responsive to an acceleration signal from the accelerometer, and a position information radio transmitting circuit; and a control circuit including a position information radio receiving circuit, and a respective tire monitor position determining circuit, wherein the accelerometer is configured to provide accelerometer signals indicative of acceleration in two or more axes substantially in a rotational plane of the respective tire with which the each tire monitor is associated, wherein the monitor position information determining circuit is configured to receive the accelerometer signal and determine right/left position information for the each tire monitor, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine an amount of signal received from each respective position information radio transmitting circuit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 151 words

A remote tire monitoring system for a vehicle, the remote tire monitoring system comprising: a plurality of tire monitors associated with respective tires of the vehicle, each tire monitor including an accelerometer, a monitor position information determining circuit responsive to an acceleration signal from the accelerometer, and a position information radio transmitting circuit; and a control circuit including a position information radio receiving circuit, and a respective tire monitor position determining circuit, wherein the accelerometer is configured to provide accelerometer signals indicative of acceleration in two or more axes substantially in a rotational plane of the respective tire with which the each tire monitor is associated, wherein the monitor position information determining circuit is configured to receive the accelerometer signal and determine right/left position information for the each tire monitor, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine an amount of signal received from each respective position information radio transmitting circuit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

The remote tire monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the respective tire monitor position determining circuit is configured to determine front/rear position information based on the amount of signal received for each respective position information radio transmitting circuit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 91 words

A tire monitor method for a tire monitor positioned at a wheel of a vehicle, the tire monitor method comprising: receiving a tire motion indication; sampling an accelerometer signal produced by a multiple-axis accelerometer; determining rotation direction for the wheel based on the accelerometer signal; determining position information for the wheel based on the rotation direction; and transmitting data to a remote receiver based on the position information, powering up the accelerometer prior to sampling the accelerometer signal; and powering down the accelerometer after determining the rotation direction of the wheel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 91 words

A tire monitor method for a tire monitor positioned at a wheel of a vehicle, the tire monitor method comprising: receiving a tire motion indication; sampling an accelerometer signal produced by a multiple-axis accelerometer; determining rotation direction for the wheel based on the accelerometer signal; determining position information for the wheel based on the rotation direction; and transmitting data to a remote receiver based on the position information, powering up the accelerometer prior to sampling the accelerometer signal; and powering down the accelerometer after determining the rotation direction of the wheel.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 74 words

A tire monitor method for a tire monitor positioned at a wheel of a vehicle, the tire monitor method comprising: sampling an accelerometer signal produced by a multiple-axis accelerometer; if an acceleration indication of the accelerometer signal exceeds a threshold, determining rotation direction for the wheel based on the accelerometer signal; determining position information for the wheel based on the rotation direction; and transmitting data to a remote receiver based on the position information.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 74 words

A tire monitor method for a tire monitor positioned at a wheel of a vehicle, the tire monitor method comprising: sampling an accelerometer signal produced by a multiple-axis accelerometer; if an acceleration indication of the accelerometer signal exceeds a threshold, determining rotation direction for the wheel based on the accelerometer signal; determining position information for the wheel based on the rotation direction; and transmitting data to a remote receiver based on the position information.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 49 words

The tire monitor method of claim 8 further comprising: waiting for a predetermined triggering event; powering up the accelerometer to sample the accelerometer signal; if vehicle speed as indicated by the accelerometer signal does not exceed a threshold, powering down the accelerometer; and waiting for a subsequent triggering event.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The tire monitor method of claim 9 further comprising: comparing the acceleration indication with a turn on threshold to determine the vehicle speed.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The tire monitor method of claim 9 further comprising: comparing the acceleration indication with a turn on threshold to determine if the vehicle is travelling forward or in reverse.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

The tire monitor method of claim 9 further comprising: if the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold, determining if the vehicle speed has previously exceeded the threshold; if the vehicle speed has previously exceeded the threshold, powering down the accelerometer; and waiting for a subsequent triggering event.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 123 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor associated with a tire of a vehicle, determining right/left position data based on acceleration detected at a dual axis accelerometer; at the tire monitor, determining a vehicle acceleration condition from the dual axis accelerometer; at the tire monitor, determining tire pressure data associated with the acceleration condition; transmitting from the tire monitor tire pressure information, acceleration information related to the acceleration condition and right/left position information for determination of position of the tire monitor on the vehicle, detecting acceleration of the vehicle based on an acceleration signal from the dual axis accelerometer; comparing the detected acceleration with an acceleration threshold; and transmitting the acceleration information only when the detected acceleration exceeds the acceleration threshold.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 123 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor associated with a tire of a vehicle, determining right/left position data based on acceleration detected at a dual axis accelerometer; at the tire monitor, determining a vehicle acceleration condition from the dual axis accelerometer; at the tire monitor, determining tire pressure data associated with the acceleration condition; transmitting from the tire monitor tire pressure information, acceleration information related to the acceleration condition and right/left position information for determination of position of the tire monitor on the vehicle, detecting acceleration of the vehicle based on an acceleration signal from the dual axis accelerometer; comparing the detected acceleration with an acceleration threshold; and transmitting the acceleration information only when the detected acceleration exceeds the acceleration threshold.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 105 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor associated with a tire of a vehicle, determining right/left position data based on acceleration detected at a dual axis accelerometer; at the tire monitor, determining a vehicle acceleration condition from the dual axis accelerometer; at the tire monitor, determining tire pressure data associated with the acceleration condition; and transmitting from the tire monitor tire pressure information, acceleration information related to the acceleration condition and right/left position information for determination of position of the tire monitor on the vehicle, wherein determining tire pressure data comprises: determining a variation in tire pressure from a tire pressure baseline value.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 105 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor associated with a tire of a vehicle, determining right/left position data based on acceleration detected at a dual axis accelerometer; at the tire monitor, determining a vehicle acceleration condition from the dual axis accelerometer; at the tire monitor, determining tire pressure data associated with the acceleration condition; and transmitting from the tire monitor tire pressure information, acceleration information related to the acceleration condition and right/left position information for determination of position of the tire monitor on the vehicle, wherein determining tire pressure data comprises: determining a variation in tire pressure from a tire pressure baseline value.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The tire monitor method of claim 14 wherein transmitting tire pressure information comprises: transmitting information about the variation in tire pressure.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 137 words

A tire monitor method for a tire monitor system of a vehicle, the tire monitor method comprising: receiving tire monitor transmissions from tire monitors positioned at all wheels of the vehicle, determining left/right position information for each of the tire monitors to identify right side tire monitors and left side tire monitors; and subsequently, determining which right side tire monitor is a right-front tire monitor and which right side tire monitor is a right-rear tire monitor, and determining which left side tire monitor is a left-front tire monitor and which left side tire monitor is a left-rear tire monitor, determining amount of signal received for respective tire monitor transmissions; and distinguishing the right-rear tire monitor from the right-front tire monitor and the left-rear tire monitor from the left-front tire monitor based on the amount of signal received.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 137 words

A tire monitor method for a tire monitor system of a vehicle, the tire monitor method comprising: receiving tire monitor transmissions from tire monitors positioned at all wheels of the vehicle, determining left/right position information for each of the tire monitors to identify right side tire monitors and left side tire monitors; and subsequently, determining which right side tire monitor is a right-front tire monitor and which right side tire monitor is a right-rear tire monitor, and determining which left side tire monitor is a left-front tire monitor and which left side tire monitor is a left-rear tire monitor, determining amount of signal received for respective tire monitor transmissions; and distinguishing the right-rear tire monitor from the right-front tire monitor and the left-rear tire monitor from the left-front tire monitor based on the amount of signal received.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 30 words

The tire monitor method of claim 16 wherein determining left/right position information for each of the tire monitors comprises: detecting left/right position data contained in each respective tire monitor transmission.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 82 words

A tire monitor for use in conjunction with a remote tire monitoring system of a vehicle, the tire monitor comprising: a sensing device configured to determine first acceleration along a first axis and second acceleration along a second axis; a control circuit configured to determine rotational direction of a wheel associated with the tire monitor based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration and determine position information about position of the tire monitor on the vehicle based on the rotational direction.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 82 words

A tire monitor for use in conjunction with a remote tire monitoring system of a vehicle, the tire monitor comprising: a sensing device configured to determine first acceleration along a first axis and second acceleration along a second axis; a control circuit configured to determine rotational direction of a wheel associated with the tire monitor based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration and determine position information about position of the tire monitor on the vehicle based on the rotational direction.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 14 words

The tire monitor of claim 18 , wherein the sensing device comprises an accelerometer.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The tire monitor of claim 18 , wherein the first acceleration and the second acceleration are generated from the wheel associated with of the tire monitor.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 88 words

A tire monitor for use in conjunction with a remote tire monitoring system of a vehicle, the tire monitor comprising: a sensing device configured to produce a first acceleration signal and a second acceleration signal; a control circuit configured to determine rotational direction of a wheel associated with the tire monitor based on a comparison of a wheel angular position between the first acceleration signal and the second acceleration signal and determine position information about position of the tire monitor on the vehicle based on the rotational direction.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 88 words

A tire monitor for use in conjunction with a remote tire monitoring system of a vehicle, the tire monitor comprising: a sensing device configured to produce a first acceleration signal and a second acceleration signal; a control circuit configured to determine rotational direction of a wheel associated with the tire monitor based on a comparison of a wheel angular position between the first acceleration signal and the second acceleration signal and determine position information about position of the tire monitor on the vehicle based on the rotational direction.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 14 words

The tire monitor of claim 21 , wherein the sensing device comprises an accelerometer.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 27 words

The tire monitor of claim 21 , wherein the first acceleration signal and the second acceleration signal are generated from the wheel associated with the tire monitor.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 125 words

A remote tire monitoring system for a vehicle, the remote tire monitoring system comprising: a plurality of tire monitors associated with respective tires of the vehicle, each tire monitor including a sensing device configured to produce an acceleration signal, a monitor position information determining circuit responsive to the acceleration signal from the sensing device, and a position information radio transmitting circuit; and a control circuit including a position information radio receiving circuit, and a respective tire monitor position determining circuit, wherein the monitor position information determining circuit is configured to receive the acceleration signal and determine right/left position information for the each tire monitor, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine an amount of signal received from each respective position information radio transmitting circuit.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 125 words

A remote tire monitoring system for a vehicle, the remote tire monitoring system comprising: a plurality of tire monitors associated with respective tires of the vehicle, each tire monitor including a sensing device configured to produce an acceleration signal, a monitor position information determining circuit responsive to the acceleration signal from the sensing device, and a position information radio transmitting circuit; and a control circuit including a position information radio receiving circuit, and a respective tire monitor position determining circuit, wherein the monitor position information determining circuit is configured to receive the acceleration signal and determine right/left position information for the each tire monitor, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine an amount of signal received from each respective position information radio transmitting circuit.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 16 words

The remote tire monitoring system of claim 24 , wherein the sensing device comprises an accelerometer.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 38 words

The remote tire monitoring system of claim 24 wherein the respective tire monitor position determining circuit is configured to determine front/rear position information based on the amount of signal received for each respective position information radio transmitting circuit.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 91 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor, sensing first acceleration along a first axis and second acceleration along a second axis; and, producing a first acceleration signal based on the first acceleration and a second acceleration signal based on the second acceleration; based on a comparison of a wheel angular position between the first acceleration signal and the second acceleration signal, determining rotational direction of a wheel associated with the tire monitor; based on the rotational direction, determining position information about position of the tire monitor on a vehicle.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 91 words

A tire monitor method comprising: at a tire monitor, sensing first acceleration along a first axis and second acceleration along a second axis; and, producing a first acceleration signal based on the first acceleration and a second acceleration signal based on the second acceleration; based on a comparison of a wheel angular position between the first acceleration signal and the second acceleration signal, determining rotational direction of a wheel associated with the tire monitor; based on the rotational direction, determining position information about position of the tire monitor on a vehicle.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 48 words

The tire monitor method of claim 27 further comprising: transmitting radio signals to communicate data representative of the position information; determining a received amount of the radio signals; and based on the received amount, determining additional position information about the position of the tire monitor on the vehicle.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 24 words

The tire monitor method of claim 28 wherein the position information comprises right/left position information and the additional position information comprises front/rear position information.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-03-13	2009-09-12	2010-03-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-03-13	2013-09-12	2014-03-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-03-13	2017-09-12	2018-03-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Determination of wheel sensor position using a wireless solution

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