Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-22
2004-08-31
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
C340S444000, C340S449000, C340S426220, C340S426250, C340S426330, C073S146200, C073S146300, C073S146500, C701S074000, C701S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06784794
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a tire pressure monitoring system, and more particularly, to a system for reminding the vehicle operator to maintain the spare tire.
2. Background of Invention
Various types of pressure sensing systems for monitoring the pressure within the tires of an automotive vehicle have been proposed. Such systems generate a pressure signal using an electromagnetic (EM) signal, which is transmitted to a receiver. The pressure signal corresponds to the pressure within the tire. When the tire pressure drops below a predetermined pressure, an indicator is used to signal the vehicle operator of the low pressure.
Such systems, however, may not provide a separate sensor for the spare tire. Also, transmissions from a spare tire may not be constantly received due to the packaging location. That is, an RF based system may not operate in the spare tire location. One way in which to provide a reminder is to provide a reminder to the vehicle operator after a predetermined number of miles such as in the case of an oil change reminder system. However, such systems do not reflect real world conditions and therefore are most likely to be inaccurate. If a reminder reminds too much and the tire does not need air, a vehicle operator is inclined to disregard such warning signals.
It is therefore desirable to provide an accurate reminder for the vehicle operator to check the spare tire pressure.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides for timely reminding the vehicle operator to check the spare tire pressure.
In one aspect of the invention, a tire pressure monitoring system for a spare tire of a vehicle includes an indicator and a timer that generates a first time signal corresponding to the time the spare tire is used as a rolling tire and a second time signal corresponding to a time the spare tire is stowed. The temperature sensor generates a temperature profile and a controller that is coupled to the indicator, the timer, and the temperature sensor generates a spare tire warning signal in response to the temperature profile, the first time signal, and the second time signal.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for operating a tire pressure monitoring system for a spare tire of a vehicle comprises: generating a distance signal corresponding to the distance the spare tire is used as a rolling tire; generating a time signal corresponding to a time the spare tire is stowed; generating an ambient temperature signal; determining a temperature profile from the ambient temperature signal; generating a spare tire warning signal in response to the temperature profile, the distance signal and the time signal.
One advantage of the invention is that a separate low frequency initiator is not required for the spare tire. This reduces the cost of implementation for the system.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1948427 (1934-02-01), Moecker
patent: 2578358 (1951-12-01), Jellison
patent: 2589623 (1952-03-01), Merritt et al.
patent: 3852717 (1974-12-01), Hosaka et al.
patent: 3911855 (1975-10-01), Haven
patent: 3965847 (1976-06-01), Deming
patent: 3974477 (1976-08-01), Hester
patent: 4051803 (1977-10-01), Arnone
patent: 4316176 (1982-02-01), Gee et al.
patent: 4376931 (1983-03-01), Komatu et al.
patent: 4510484 (1985-04-01), Snyder
patent: 4742476 (1988-05-01), Schwartz et al.
patent: 5061917 (1991-10-01), Higgs et al.
patent: 5109213 (1992-04-01), Williams
patent: 5463374 (1995-10-01), Mendez et al.
patent: 5517853 (1996-05-01), Chamussy
patent: 5583482 (1996-12-01), Chamussy et al.
patent: 5587698 (1996-12-01), Genna
patent: 5600301 (1997-02-01), Robinson, III
patent: 5612671 (1997-03-01), Mendez et al.
patent: 5656993 (1997-08-01), Coulthard
patent: 5661651 (1997-08-01), Geschke et al.
patent: 5717376 (1998-02-01), Wilson
patent: 5721528 (1998-02-01), Boesch et al.
patent: 5741966 (1998-04-01), Handfield et al.
patent: 5801306 (1998-09-01), Chamussy et al.
patent: 5838229 (1998-11-01), Robinson, III
patent: 5853020 (1998-12-01), Widner
patent: 5913240 (1999-06-01), Drahne et al.
patent: 5926087 (1999-07-01), Busch et al.
patent: 5939977 (1999-08-01), Monson
patent: 5963128 (1999-10-01), McClelland
patent: 5965808 (1999-10-01), Normann et al.
patent: 5969239 (1999-10-01), Tromeur et al.
patent: 5999091 (1999-12-01), Wortham
patent: 6034597 (2000-03-01), Normann et al.
patent: 6043738 (2000-03-01), Stewart et al.
patent: 6046672 (2000-04-01), Pearman
patent: 6078252 (2000-06-01), Kulczycki et al.
patent: 6161071 (2000-12-01), Shuman et al.
patent: 6199575 (2001-03-01), Widner
patent: 6204758 (2001-03-01), Wacker et al.
patent: 6225895 (2001-05-01), Bigelow, Jr.
patent: 6232875 (2001-05-01), DeZorzi
patent: 6246317 (2001-06-01), Pickornik et al.
patent: 6259361 (2001-07-01), Robillard et al.
patent: 6271748 (2001-08-01), Derbyshire et al.
patent: 6275231 (2001-08-01), Obradovich
patent: 6292096 (2001-09-01), Munch et al.
patent: 6327570 (2001-12-01), Stevens
patent: 6339736 (2002-01-01), Moskowitz et al.
patent: 2001/0008083 (2001-07-01), Brown
patent: 2002/0008718 (2002-01-01), Obradovich
McQuade Thomas Michael
Miller Thomas Lee
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Nguyen Tai T.
Wu Daniel J.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for reminding the vehicle operator to... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for reminding the vehicle operator to..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for reminding the vehicle operator to... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3306675