BLANK TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING DEVICE AND ITS SETUP METHOD

DISPOSITIF DE SURVEILLANCE DE LA PRESSION DE PNEUS VIERGES ET SON PROCEDE D'INSTALLATION

English Abstract

A blank tire pressure monitoring device includes a housing having an air valve at one end and connection terminals at an opposite end, a circuit board mounted in the housing and carrying a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, an analog-digital converter electrically connected with the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor and the acceleration sensor, a general purpose I/O terminal unit electrically connected with the connection terminals of the housing; an embedded microcontroller module electrically connected with the general purpose I/O terminal unit and the analog-digital converter and having built therein a flash memory, a microcontroller core and a special-function register controller, a LF receiver electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module, and a transmitter electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module; and a method is still also disclosed for setting up a blank tire pressure monitoring device.

French Abstract

Un dispositif de surveillance de la pression de pneus sans jante comprend un logement comportant une vanne d'air à une extrémité et des bornes de connexion à une extrémité opposée, une carte de circuit installée dans le logement et portant un capteur de pression, un capteur de température, un capteur d'accélération, un convertisseur analogique-numérique relié au capteur de pression, au capteur de température et au capteur d'accélération, une unité terminale I/O d'utilisation générale reliée aux bornes de connexion du logement; un module de microcontrôleur intégré raccordé électriquement à l'unité terminale I/O d'utilisation générale et au convertisseur analogique-numérique et comportant une mémoire flash intégrée, un cur de microcontrôleur et un contrôleur de registre spécialisé, un récepteur LF raccordé électriquement au module de microcontrôleur intégré et un émetteur raccordé électriquement au module de microcontrôleur intégré; une méthode est également présentée pour paramétrer un dispositif de surveillance de la pression de pneus sans jante.

Claims

The embodiments of the present invention for which an exclusive property or
privilege
is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A blank tire pressure monitoring device, comprising:
a housing having located on one end thereof an air valve and located on an
opposite end thereof a plurality of connection terminals;
a circuit board mounted inside said housing;
a pressure sensor installed in said circuit board;
a temperature sensor installed in said circuit board;
an acceleration sensor installed in said circuit board;
an analog-digital converter installed in said circuit board and electrically
connected with said pressure sensor, said temperature sensor and said
acceleration
sensor;
a general purpose I/O terminal unit electrically connected with said
connection terminals of said housing;
an embedded microcontroller module electrically connected with said
general purpose I/O terminal unit and said analog-digital converter, said
embedded
microcontroller module comprising therein a flash memory, a microcontroller
core and
a special-function register controller;
a LF (low-frequency) receiver electrically connected to said embedded
microcontroller module; and
a transmitter electrically connected to said embedded microcontroller
module;
wherein said housing has five connection terminals; said general purpose I/O
terminal unit is electrically connected with the five connection terminals of
said
housing; and
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wherein said five connection terminals include a power management
terminal, a ground terminal, a data program clock terminal, a program data
terminal
and a detection terminal for frequency differentiating and error prevention
control.
2. The blank tire pressure monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said detection terminal is electrically conducted with at least one of another
four
terminals.
3. The blank tire pressure monitoring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said transmitter is a 433MHz transmitter.
4. The blank tire pressure monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said embedded microcontroller module further comprises therein a RAM (random
access memory) and a ROM (read only memory).
5. A blank tire pressure monitoring device setup method for setting up a
blank tire pressure monitoring device having a general-purpose I/O terminal
unit,
comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a setup tool having a general-purpose I/O terminal unit and
connecting the general purpose I/O terminal unit of said blank tire pressure
monitoring
device to the general-purpose I/O terminal unit of said setup tool by means of
a wired
connection method;
(b) operating said setup tool to select the desired communication program
and to transmit the selected communication program to a flash memory of said
blank
tire pressure monitoring device for enabling the selected communication
program to be

stored in said blank tire pressure monitoring device; and
(c) separating said setup tool from said blank tire pressure monitoring device
for enabling said blank tire pressure monitoring device to be installed in a
vehicle tire
for application; and
wherein said communication program comprises therein a pressure sensor
control program, a temperature sensor control program, an acceleration sensor
control
program, a power supply information control program, a car body receiver RF
and LF
communication protocol and a pressure and temperature abnormal pre-warning
signal
protocol.
6. The blank tire pressure monitoring device setup method as claimed in
claim 5, wherein said blank tire pressure monitoring device comprises an
embedded
microcontroller module electrically connected with the general purpose I/O
terminal
unit of said blank tire pressure monitoring device, said embedded
microcontroller
module comprising therein said flash memory adapted for storing the
communication
program loaded by said setup tool, a microcontroller core and a special-
function
register controller.
7. A blank tire pressure monitoring device setup method for setting up a
blank tire pressure monitoring device having a general-purpose I/O terminal
unit,
comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a setup tool having a general-purpose I/O terminal unit and
connecting the general purpose I/O terminal unit of said blank tire pressure
monitoring
device to the general-purpose I/O terminal unit of said setup tool by means of
a wired
connection method;
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(b) operating said setup tool to select the desired communication program
and to transmit the selected communication program to a flash memory of said
blank
tire pressure monitoring device for enabling the selected communication
program to be
stored in said blank tire pressure monitoring device; and
(c) separating said setup tool from said blank tire pressure monitoring device
for enabling said blank tire pressure monitoring device to be installed in a
vehicle tire
for application;
wherein said setup tool comprises a circuit board, an embedded
microcontroller module installed in said circuit board, said embedded
microcontroller
module comprising memory means, a microcontroller core and a special-function
register controller, and a transmitter, a 433MHz receiver, a 315MHz receiver,
a USB
port, a keyboard, a display, a buzzer and a general-purpose I/O terminal unit
respectively electrically connected with said embedded microcontroller module.
8. The blank tire pressure monitoring device setup method as claimed in
claim 7, wherein the general-purpose I/O terminal unit of said setup tool
comprises a
power management terminal, a ground terminal, a data program clock terminal, a
program data terminal and a detection terminal for frequency differentiating
and error
prevention control.
9. The blank tire pressure monitoring device setup method as claimed in
claim 8, wherein said blank tire pressure monitoring device has five
connection
terminals; said general purpose I/O terminal unit of the blank tire pressure
monitoring
device is electrically connected with the five connection terminals of said
blank tire
pressure monitoring device; said five connection terminals of the blank tire
pressure
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monitoring device include a power management terminal, a ground terminal, a
data
program clock terminal, a program data terminal and a detection terminal for
frequency differentiating and error prevention control.
10. The blank tire pressure monitoring device setup method as claimed in
claim 9, wherein said detection terminal of the blank tire pressure monitoring
device is
electrically conducted with at least one of another four terminals of the
blank tire
pressure monitoring device.
11. The blank tire pressure monitoring device setup method as claimed in
claim 10, wherein said transmitter is a 433MHz transmitter.
12. The blank tire pressure monitoring device setup method as claimed in
claim 7, wherein said memory means of the embedded microcontroller module of
the
setup tool comprises a RAM (random access memory) and a flash memory.
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Description

CA 02781355 2014-05-26
BLANK TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING DEVICE AND ITS SETUP
METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicle tire pressuring monitoring
technology and more particularly, to a blank tire pressure monitoring device.
The
invention relates also to a method for setting the blank tire pressure
monitoring device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to know the car condition and to assure a safety driving, tire
pressure monitoring means will be installed to monitor the tire pressure and
temperature and to provide the monitored data to the driver for reference. The
communication program in a regular tire pressure monitoring device was
directly
programmed therein during the fabrication of the tire pressure monitoring
device.
However, it may take a long period of time or several methods after the
fabrication of a
tire pressure monitoring device and before installation of the tire pressure
monitoring
device in a vehicle tire for application. During this period, the program
programmed in
the tire pressure monitoring device is not changeable. When a new edition of
communication program is issued after the fabrication of a tire pressure
monitoring
device and before installation of the tire pressure monitoring device in a
vehicle tire,
the tire pressure monitoring device cannot use this new edition.
Further, US6920785 discloses a tire pressure sensor unit and a method of
registering identification code of tire pressure sensor unit. The disclosure
teaches
rewriting data of self-identification code so that a new tire pressure sensor
unit can use
the identification code of an old tire pressure sensor unit. However, this
invention is
not practical due to the following few questions. At first, when the user is
going to
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CA 02781355 2014-05-26
rewrite the identification code, it is because the old tire pressure sensor
unit is failed.
However, how can a damaged tire pressure sensor unit transmit its
identification code
to a new tire pressure sensor unit by a wireless method? Further, the ROM in
the cited
case is another question. As the ROM (read only memory) does not allow
rewriting,
how to write an identification code into the ROM? Even if a RAM is used, the
stored
data will disappear upon a power failure. Thus, the cited case simply
discloses an
identification code rewriting technique. In actual practice, it is not
practical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in
view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a blank tire
pressure
monitoring device and its setup method, which facilitates use and operation
and avoids
error.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a blank tire
pressure monitoring device comprises a housing having an air valve at one end
and
connection terminals at an opposite end, a circuit board mounted in the
housing and
carrying a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, an
analog-digital converter electrically connected with the pressure sensor, the
temperature sensor and the acceleration sensor, a general purpose I/O terminal
unit
electrically connected with the connection terminals of the housing; an
embedded
microcontroller module electrically connected with the general purpose I/O
terminal
unit and the analog-digital converter and having built therein a flash memory,
a
microcontroller core and a special-function register controller, a LF receiver
electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module, and a
transmitter
electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a blank tire
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CA 02781355 2014-05-26
pressure monitoring device setup method is provided for setting up a blank
tire
pressure monitoring device having a general-purpose I/O terminal unit by:
preparing a
setup tool having a general-purpose I/O terminal unit and connecting the
general
purpose I/O terminal unit of the blank tire pressure monitoring device to the
general-purpose I/O terminal unit of the setup tool by means of a wired
connection
method, and then operating the setup tool to select the desired communication
program
and to transmit the selected communication program to a flash memory of the
blank
tire pressure monitoring device for enabling the selected communication
program to be
stored in the blank tire pressure monitoring device, and then separating the
setup tool
from the blank tire pressure monitoring device for enabling the blank tire
pressure
monitoring device to be installed in a vehicle tire for application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the relationship between a blank
tire pressure monitoring device and a setup tool according to the present
invention.
FIG 2 is a circuit block diagram of a 315MHz blank tire pressure monitoring
device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 3 is a circuit block diagram of a 433MHz blank tire pressure monitoring
device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of the setup tool in accordance with the
present invention.
FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of the present invention, illustrating the
315MHz blank tire pressure monitoring device connected to the setup tool.
FIG 6 is a circuit block diagram of the present invention, illustrating the
433MHz blank tire pressure monitoring device connected to the setup tool.
FIG 7 is a schematic circuit block diagram illustrating an example of
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CA 02781355 2014-05-26
connection error.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a blank tire pressure monitoring device in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is a 315MHz blank
tire
pressure monitoring device, comprising:
a housing 10 having located on one end thereof an air valve 11 and located
on an opposite end thereof five connection terminals 12, namely, the power
management terminal, the ground terminal, the data program clock terminal, the
program data terminal and the detection terminal for frequency differentiating
and
error prevention control;
a circuit board 13 mounted inside the housing 10;
a pressure sensor 14 installed in the circuit board 13;
a temperature sensor 15 installed in the circuit board 13;
an acceleration sensor 16 installed in the circuit board 13;
an analog-digital converter 17 installed in the circuit board 13 and
electrically connected with the pressure sensor 14, the temperature sensor 15
and the
acceleration sensor 16;
a general purpose I/O (input/output) terminal unit 19 electrically connected
with the five connection terminals 12 of the housing 10;
an embedded microcontroller module 18 electrically connected with the
general purpose I/O (input/output) terminal unit 19 and the analog-digital
converter 17
and comprising therein a RAM (random access memory) 20, a flash memory 21, a
ROM (read only memory) 22, a microcontroller core 23 and a special-function
register
controller 24;
a LF (low-frequency) receiver 25 electrically connected to the embedded
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CA 02781355 2014-05-26
microcontroller module 18;
a 315MHz transmitter 26 electrically connected to the embedded
microcontroller module 18; and
a battery (not shown) mounted on the circuit board 13 to provide the blank
tire pressure monitoring device with the necessary working power.
FIG 3 illustrates a blank tire pressure monitoring device in accordance with
a second embodiment. According to this second embodiment, the blank tire
pressure
monitoring device is a 433MHz blank tire pressure monitoring device,
comprising:
a housing 10 having located on one end thereof an air valve 11 and located
on an opposite end thereof five connection terminals 12, namely, the power
management terminal, the ground terminal, the data program clock terminal, the
program data terminal and the detection terminal for frequency differentiating
and
error prevention control; further, the detection terminal is electrically
conducted with at
least one of another four terminals;
a circuit board 13 mounted inside the housing 10;
a pressure sensor 14 installed in the circuit board 13;
a temperature sensor 15 installed in the circuit board 13;
an acceleration sensor 16 installed in the circuit board 13;
an analog-digital converter 17 installed in the circuit board 13 and
electrically connected with the pressure sensor 14, the temperature sensor 15
and the
acceleration sensor 16;
a general purpose I/0 (input/output) terminal unit 19 electrically connected
with the five connection terminals 12 of the housing 10;
an embedded microcontroller module 18 electrically connected with the
general purpose I/O (input/output) terminal unit 19 and the analog-digital
converter 17
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CA 02781355 2014-05-26
and comprising therein a RAM (random access memory) 20, a flash memory 21, a
ROM (read only memory) 22, a microcontroller core 23 and a special-function
register
controller 24;
a LF (low-frequency) receiver 25 electrically connected to the embedded
microcontroller module 18;
a 433MHz transmitter 27 electrically connected to the embedded
microcontroller module 18; and
a battery (not shown) mounted on the circuit board 13 to provide the blank
tire pressure monitoring device with the necessary working power.
The invention also provides a setup tool 30 for setting up the blank tire
pressure monitoring device. As shown in FIG. 4, the setup tool 30 comprises a
circuit
board 31, an embedded microcontroller module 32, which is installed in the
circuit
board 31 and comprises a RAM 33, a flash memory 34, a microcontroller core 35
and a
special-function register controller 36, and a transmitter 37, a 433MHz
receiver 38, a
315MHz receiver 39, a USB port 40, a keyboard 41, a display 42, a buzzer 43
and a
general-purpose I/O terminal unit 44 respectively electrically connected with
the
embedded microcontroller module 32. The general-purpose I/O terminal unit 44
comprises five connection terminals 45. The communication programs of
different
vehicle models can be stored in the setup tool or a computer. Further, the
stored
communication programs can be updated through the Internet, assuring each
stored
communication program to be the latest edition.
FIG. 5 illustrates the 315MHz blank tire pressure monitoring device
connected to the setup tool. FIG. 6 illustrates the 433MHz blank tire pressure
monitoring device connected to the setup tool. According to the present
invention, the
general purpose I/O (input/output) terminal unit 19 of the blank tire pressure
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CA 02781355 2014-05-26
monitoring device is connected to the general-purpose I/O terminal unit 44 of
the setup
tool 30 by means of a wired connection method. After connection between the
general
purpose I/O (input/output) terminal unit 19 and the general-purpose I/O
terminal unit
44, the user can operate the keyboard 41 of the setup tool 30 to select the
desired
communication program by inputting the data of the car brand, model year and
car
model, and then transmit the selected communication program to the blank tire
pressure monitoring device. The communication program comprises therein a
pressure
sensor control program, a temperature sensor control program, an acceleration
sensor
control program, a power supply information control program, a car body
receiver RF
and LF communication protocol and a pressure and temperature abnormal pre-
warning
signal protocol. The communication program is stored in the flash memory 20 of
the
blank tire pressure monitoring device. After download, separate the blank tire
pressure
monitoring device from the setup tool 30. Thus, the setup of the blank tire
pressure
monitoring device is done, and the blank tire pressure monitoring device can
be
installed in the car for application. The ID data can be inputted into the
blank tire
pressure monitoring device by means of a keyboard.
Referring to FIG 7, in case of a hardware connection error during connection
of the blank tire pressure monitoring device for downloading the desired
communication program, the setup tool will detect the connection error of the
five
connection terminal structure, causing the buzzer 43 to buzz. For example, if
the
433MHz blank tire pressure monitoring device is connected to the setup tool
and the
communication program for 315MHz blank tire pressure monitoring device is
downloaded, the setup tool will detect the error and gives off a warning
signal and
displays the error message on the display; namely, the setup tool can detect
whether the
detection terminal of the blank tire pressure monitoring device electrically
conducted
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CA 02781355 2014-05-26
with at least one of another four terminals of the blank tire pressure
monitoring device
or not.
The invention has the advantages: the communication program is loaded to
the blank tire pressure monitoring device only when the blank tire pressure
monitoring
device is to be installed in the car; the communication program can be updated
through
the Internet so that the communication program installed in the blank tire
pressure
monitoring device is the latest edition, eliminating the problem of
questioning the
edition of the communication despite the fabrication date of the blank tire
pressure
monitoring device. Further, the loaded communication program will be stored in
the
flash memory and will not disappear in case of a power failure or battery
replacement.
Further, the five connection terminal design can be used for switching between
different frequencies as well as for the purpose of pre-warning. This unique
advantage
is not seen in any prior art designs.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments
set forth herein, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent
with the
description a whole.
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Representative Drawing