U.S. patent application number 13/868882 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-23 for tire status receiving system.
This patent application is currently assigned to CUB ELECPARTS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is CUB ELECPARTS INC.. Invention is credited to Chi-Hung CHEN, Ya-Ling CHI, Chao-Ching HU, Tzu-Wen KO, Tsan-Nung WANG, Yu-Tao YU.
Application Number | 20140313025 13/868882 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51728584 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140313025 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YU; Yu-Tao ; et al. |
October 23, 2014 |
TIRE STATUS RECEIVING SYSTEM
Abstract
A tire status receiving system includes a first signal converter
module including a first microcontroller unit, a wireless receiver
unit for receiving a wireless signal from a tire status sensor and
providing the wireless signal to the first microcontroller unit for
enabling the first microcontroller unit to convert the wireless
signal into a code for information interchange for output through
an output unit being electrically coupled to the first
microcontroller unit, and a second signal converter module
including a second microcontroller unit, a memory unit for storing
tire status sensor ID codes and predetermined alarm threshold
values, an interface unit for communication with the output unit to
receive data, a power supply unit to provide the necessary working
electricity, and a communication port electrically coupled to the
second microcontroller unit and having installed therein signal
transmission circuit and a charging circuit.
Inventors: |
YU; Yu-Tao; (Fuxing
Township, TW) ; WANG; Tsan-Nung; (Hemei Township,
TW) ; HU; Chao-Ching; (Tainan City, TW) ; KO;
Tzu-Wen; (Changhua City, TW) ; CHI; Ya-Ling;
(Taichung City, TW) ; CHEN; Chi-Hung; (Fuxing
Township, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CUB ELECPARTS INC. |
Fuxing Township |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
CUB ELECPARTS INC.
Fuxing Township
TW
|
Family ID: |
51728584 |
Appl. No.: |
13/868882 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/447 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60C 23/0479 20130101;
B60C 23/0447 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/447 |
International
Class: |
B60C 23/04 20060101
B60C023/04 |
Claims
1. A tire status receiving system, comprising: a first signal
converter module comprising: a first microcontroller unit adapted
for converting a modulation code signal into a code for information
interchange; a wireless receiver unit electrically coupled to said
first microcontroller unit and adapted for receiving a modulation
code signal from a tire status sensor and transmitting the
modulation code signal to said first microcontroller unit for
enabling the modulation code signal to be converted by said first
microcontroller unit into a code for information interchange; and
an output unit electrically coupled to said first microcontroller
unit and controllable by said first microcontroller unit to output
each code for information interchange converted by said first
microcontroller unit; and a second signal converter module
comprising: a second microcontroller unit adapted for matching the
content of a code for information. interchange with predetermined
tire alarm threshold values and checking a linking status of said
second signal converter module; a memory unit electrically coupled
to said second microcontroller unit for storing tire pressure
sensor ID codes and tire alarm threshold values; an interface unit
electrically coupled to said second microcontroller unit for
communication with said output unit of said first signal converter
module to receive each data signal outputted by said output unit; a
power supply unit electrically coupled to said second
microcontroller unit to provide electricity to said second signal
converter module for working; and a communication port electrically
coupled to said second microcontroller unit, said communication
port comprising signal transmission circuit means and charging
circuit means.
2. The tire status receiving system as claimed in claim 1, Wherein
said second signal converter module further comprises an alarm unit
electrically coupled to said second microcontroller unit, said
alarm unit being an alarm signal light.
3. The tire status receiving system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said second signal converter module further comprises an alarm unit
electrically coupled to said second microcontroller unit, said
alarm unit being an audio alarm.
4. The tire status receiving system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said power supply unit is electrically coupled to a car battery
power supply.
5. The tire status receiving system as claimed in claim 1, Wherein
said communication port is a USB port.
6. The tire status receiving system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said communication port is linked with a mobile electronic device
comprising a display screen.
7. The tire status receiving system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said output unit of said first signal converter module output
output unit comprises a communication port; said interface unit of
said second signal converter module comprises a communication port
electrically coupled to the communication port of said first signal
converter module output unit.
8. A signal converter module, comprising: a first microcontroller
unit adapted for converting a modulation code signal into a code
for information interchange; a wireless receiver unit electrically
coupled to said first microcontroller unit and adapted for
receiving a modulation code signal from a tire status sensor and
transmitting the modulation code signal to said first
microcontroller unit for enabling the modulation code signal to he
converted by said first microcontroller unit into a code for
information interchange; and an output unit electrically coupled to
said first microcontroller unit and controllable by said first
microcontroller unit to output each code for information
interchange converted by said first microcontroller unit.
9. The signal converter module as claimed in claim 8, further
comprising a power supply unit electrically coupled to said first
microcontroller unit to provide electricity to the signal converter
module for working.
10. The signal converter module as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
output unit comprises a communication port for signal output
through a cable.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to tire status monitoring
technology and more particularly, to a tire status receiving
system, which is a plug-and-play system that is applicable to any
car without permanent installation.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] For driving safety considerations, many cars have a tire
status sensor installed in each tire thereof to provide real-time
tire status data to a receiver unit in the respective car for
display on a linked display screen, enabling the car driver to know
the status of each tire on the real time. However, the application
of this kind of tire status monitoring system has limitations.
Normally, the receiver unit and the display device of a tire status
monitoring system are mounted and fixed inside the car. For
enabling a car without receiver unit to provide a tire status
monitoring function, the car must be modified before operation,
i.e., a receiver unit and a display screen must be mounted inside
the car. This will be a big problem for general users. Therefore,
it is desirable to provide a simple tire status monitoring
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a tire status receiving system, which has
plug-and-play characteristics and is applicable to any car without
the need to modify the body of the car.
[0006] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
a tire status monitoring system comprises a first signal converter
module and a second signal converter module. The first signal
converter module comprises a first microcontroller unit adapted for
converting a modulation code signal into a code for information
interchange, a wireless receiver unit electrically coupled to the
first microcontroller unit and adapted for receiving a modulation
code signal from a tire status sensor and transmitting the
modulation code signal to the first microcontroller unit for
enabling the modulation code signal to be converted by the first
microcontroller unit into a code for information interchange, and
an output unit electrically coupled to the first microcontroller
unit and controllable by the first microcontroller unit to output
each code for information interchange converted by the first
microcontroller unit, The second signal converter module comprises
a second microcontroller unit adapted for matching the content of a
code for information interchange with predetermined tire alarm
threshold values and checking a linking status of the second signal
converter module, a memory unit electrically coupled to the second
microcontroller unit for storing tire status sensor ID codes and
tire alarm threshold values, an interface unit electrically coupled
to the second microcontroller unit for communication with the
output unit of the first signal converter module to receive each
data signal outputted by the output unit, a power supply unit
electrically coupled to the second microcontroller unit to provide
electricity to the second signal converter module for working, and
a communication port electrically coupled to the second
microcontroller unit and having installed therein a signal
transmission circuit and a charging circuit.
[0007] Other advantages and features of the present invention will
be fully understood by reference to the following specification in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
signs denote like components of structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first signal converter module
and a second signal converter module of a tire status monitoring
system in accordance with the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an alternate form of the first
signal converter module in accordance with the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an operational flow chart of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a tire status receiving system in
accordance with the present invention is shown. The tire status
receiving system 1 comprises a first signal converter module 10, a
second signal converter module 50, and a mobile electronic device
90. The mobile electronic device 90 is equipped with a display
screen.
[0012] The first signal converter module 10 comprises a first
microcontroller unit 11, a wireless signal receiver unit 12
electrically coupled to the first microcontroller unit 11 and
adapted for transmitting a modulated signal received from a tire
status sensor to the first microcontroller unit 11, and an output
unit 13 electrically coupled to the first microcontroller unit 11.
The first microcontroller unit 11 is adapted to convert the
modulation code of the modulated signal provided by the wireless
receiver unit 12 into a code for information interchange and then
to output the signal through the output unit 13. The output unit 13
can be configured to output the signal wirelessly. Alternatively,
the output unit 13 can be configured to provide a communication
port 14 for signal output through a cable. For example, the
modulated signal received by the wireless signal receiver unit 12
can be an amplitude-shift keying signal or frequency-shift keying
signal that is converted by the first microcontroller unit 11 into
an ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
signal for output.
[0013] The second signal converter module 50 comprises a second
microcontroller unit 51, a memory unit 52, an interface unit 53, a
power supply unit 54, an alarm unit 55, and a communication port
56. The second microcontroller unit 51 is adapted for matching the
content of a code for information interchange with predetermined
tire alarm threshold values and checking a linking status of the
second signal converter module 50. The memory unit 52 is
electrically coupled with the second microcontroller unit 51 for
storing TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) ID codes and alarm
threshold values. The interface unit 53 is electrically connected
to the second microcontroller unit 51 for communication with the
output unit 13 of the first signal converter module 10 to receive
data outputted by the output unit 13. The interface unit 53 is
configured to it the output unit 13 of the first signal converter
module 10. If the output unit 13 is configured to output signals in
a wireless manner, the interface unit 53 should be configured in
the form of a wireless signal receiver for receiving wireless
signals transmitted by the output unit 53. On the contrary, if the
output unit 13 is configured to output signals in a wired manner,
the interface unit 53 should be electrically connected to the
communication port of the output unit 13 for receiving signals from
the output unit 13. The power supply unit 54 is electrically
connected to the second microcontroller unit 51 to provide t
electricity to the second signal converter module 50 for working.
Further, the first signal converter module 10 and the second signal
converter module 50 can be respectively equipped with one
respective power supply unit. Alternatively, the first signal
converter module 10 and the second signal converter module 50 can
share a common power supply unit. Further, the power supply unit 54
can be a battery, or an external power source, for example, the car
battery power supply. The alarm unit 55 is electrically coupled to
the second microcontro unit 51, and controllable by the second
microcontroller unit 51 to give off a warning signal. Further, the
alarm unit 55 can be an alarm signal light or audio alarm. The
communication port 56 is electrically coupled to the second
microcontroller unit 51, having installed therein a signal
transmission circuit and a charging circuit.
[0014] The mobile electronic device 90 is electrically connected to
the communication port 56 of the second signal converter module 50
by a cable. In this embodiment, the communication port 56 is a USB
port. Further, the mobile electronic device 90 can be a PDA, smart
phone, iPad, or any other tablet computer.
[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tire status receiving system
can use the car battery power supply directly When the TPMS (Tire
Pressure Monitoring System) transmits a modulated signal containing
the measured data, such as pressure, temperature, acceleration
and/or battery level in a wireless manner, the wireless receiver
unit 12 of the first signal converter module 10 can receive this
modulated signal and send it to the first microcontroller unit 11,
enabling this modulated signal to be converted into a code for
information interchange by the first microcontroller unit 11 and
then outputted through the output unit 13. The output unit 13 can
be a physical communication port, or a wireless signal transmitter.
The signal outputted by the output unit 13 can then be received by
the interface unit 53 of the second signal converter module 50, and
then provided to the second microcontroller unit 51. Upon receive
of the signal from the interface unit 53, the second
microcontroller unit 51 interprets the format and content of the
signal, assuring data accuracy and integrity. At this time, the
second microcontroller unit 51 matches the received data with a
predetermined TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) ID code and
alarm threshold value stored in the memory unit 52, and checks the
connection status between the second signal converter module 50 and
the mobile electronic device 90.
[0016] If the second signal converter module 50 is not in
connection with the mobile electronic device 90 and the tire status
is within the safety range, the second microcontroller unit 51
takes no action. However, if the tire status surpasses the alarm
threshold value at this time, the second microcontroller unit 51
provides a signal to the alarm unit 55, driving the alarm unit 55
to give off an alarm signal, for example, to give off a flashing
light or warning sound, reminding the user that the tires are
likely to have safety problems.
[0017] If the second signal converter module 50 is in connection
with the mobile electronic device 90 and the tire status is within
the safety range, the current tire status data is displayed on the
display screen of the mobile electronic device 90. However, if the
tire status surpasses the alarm threshold value at this time, the
second microcontroller unit 51 drives the alarm unit 55 to give off
an alarm signal and enables the display screen of the mobile
electronic device 90 to display the current tire status data,
reminding the user that the tires are likely to have safety
problems.
[0018] Further, the first signal converter module 10 can be used
independently. In a second embodiment of the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 2, the first signal converter module 10 comprises a
first microcontroller unit 11, a wireless signal receiver unit 12
electrically coupled to the first microcontroller unit 11 and
adapted for transmitting a modulated signal received from a tire
status sensor to the first microcontroller unit 11, an output unit
13 electrically coupled to the first microcontroller unit 11, and a
power supply unit 15 electrically coupled to the first
microcontroller unit 11 for providing electricity to the first
signal converter module 10 for working. The first microcontroller
unit 11 is adapted to convert the modulation code of the modulated
signal provided by the wireless receiver unit 12 into a code for
information interchange and then to output the signal through the
output unit 13, The output unit 13 can be configured to output the
signal wirelessly. Alternatively, the output unit 13 can be
configured to provide a communication port 14 for signal output
through a cable. For example, the modulated signal received by the
wireless signal receiver unit 12 can be an amplitude-shift keying
signal or frequency-shift keying signal that is converted by the
first microcontroller unit 11 into an ASCII (American Standard Code
for Information Interchange) signal for output.
[0019] Thus, the first signal converter module 10 can convert the
modulation code signal transmitted by the wire pressure sensor into
a code for information interchange and then outputs the code for
information interchange. Further, the user using the present
invention can use the mobile electronic device to alter the tire
status alarm threshold values. These tire status alarm threshold
values can be stored in the memory unit for matching.
[0020] The tire status receiving system can be used in any car
After installation of a TPMS in the tires of the car, the tire
status receiving system of the present invention can be used with a
smart phone, PDA, tablet computer, or any of a variety of other
mobile electronic devices in the car for monitoring the status of
the tires, greatly saving the installation cost and effectively
increasing driving safety. Further, the charging design of the
communication port of the second signal converter module is capable
of charging the battery of the smart phone, PDA, tablet computer,
or any other mobile electronic device in use, extending the
operating time of the mobile electronic device and overcoming the
problem of high power consumption of the mobile electronic
device.
[0021] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention, Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *