Systems and methods for vehicle TPMS sensor control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10821787-B2
Application number	US-201916690334-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2019
Priority date	Oct 24, 2017
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a TPMS sensor of a vehicle tire. An example vehicle includes a communication module, a tire, and a TPMS sensor corresponding to the tire. The TPMS sensor is configured to receive a target pressure from the communication module, determine a modified target pressure based on vehicle data determined by a vehicle sensor, and, responsive to determining that a measured pressure differs from the modified target pressure by a threshold amount, transmit an alert to the communication module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a tire;
a TPMS sensor corresponding to the tire; and
a processor in communication with the TPMS sensor and configured to:
receive a target pressure;
dynamically determine a correction factor to modify the target pressure based on vehicle data determined by a vehicle sensor; and
responsive to determining that a measured pressure differs from the modified target pressure by a threshold amount, transmit an alert.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle sensor comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the processor is further configured to receive a tire temperature value determined by the temperature sensor.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle sensor comprises a patch sensor, and wherein the processor is configured to receive a load value of the tire determined by the patch sensor.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit the alert at predetermined intervals, indicating a health of the TPMS sensor.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a trailer, wherein the tire comprises a trailer tire.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tire comprises a first tire having a first target pressure, and wherein the vehicle further comprises a second tire having a second target pressure that is different from the first target pressure.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a body control module, wherein the processor is configured to automatically update the target pressure based on user input received by the body control module.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a plurality of tire pressure values; and
determine the modified target pressure by selecting one of the plurality of tire pressure values.

9. A system comprising:
a vehicle;
a trailer attachable to the vehicle;
a trailer tire;
a TPMS sensor corresponding to the trailer tire; and
a processor in communication with the TPMS sensor and configured to:
receive a target pressure;
dynamically determine a correction factor to modify the target pressure based on trailer data determined by a trailer sensor; and
responsive to determining that a measured pressure differs from the modified target pressure by a threshold amount, transmit an alert to the vehicle.

10. A method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, a target pressure corresponding to a tire of a vehicle;
dynamically determining, by the processor, a correction factor to modify the target pressure based on vehicle data determined by a vehicle sensor; and
transmitting, by the processor and responsive to determining that a measured pressure differs from the modified target pressure by a threshold amount, an alert.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle sensor comprises a temperature sensor, the method further comprising:
receiving, by the processor, a tire temperature value determined by the temperature sensor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle sensor comprises a patch sensor, the method further comprising:
receiving, by the processor, a load value of the tire determined by the patch sensor.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
transmitting the alert at predetermined intervals.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tire comprises a trailer tire of a trailer coupled to the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tire comprises a first tire of a plurality of tires of the vehicle, the first tire having a first target pressure that is different from a second target pressure corresponding to a second tire of the plurality of tires of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving user input to a body control module of the vehicle; and
automatically updating the target pressure based on the user input.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processor, a plurality of tire pressure values; and
determining, by the processor, the modified target pressure by selecting one of the plurality of tire pressure values.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Patel Dilip B
• Hassani Ali
• Van Wiemeersch John Robert

Classifications

• B60C23/009 Primary

  having wheels on a trailer · CPC title

• B60C23/0471

  System initialisation, e.g. upload or calibration of operating parameters · CPC title

• B60C23/0442 Primary

  the transmitted signal comprises further information, e.g. instruction codes, sensor characteristics or identification data · CPC title

• B60C23/0405

  Mechanically generated visible signals, e.g. by using a gauge needle · CPC title

• B60C23/04

  mounted on the wheel or tyre · CPC title