Method for transmitting data from a tire module to a receiving unit

Abstract

A procedure with the following steps is proposed: a) Providing a variety of vehicles (1,2,3), wherein the vehicles have at least one vehicle tire (5,7) with a tire module (6,8), wherein the tire module (6,8) comprises a pressure sensor for detecting a tire pressure and a transmitting unit for transmitting data, b) equipping some of the vehicles (1, 2, 3) with a receiving unit (4) for receiving the data sent by the tire modules (6, 8), the vehicles with a receiving unit are receiver vehicles (1) and the vehicles without a receiving unit are standard vehicles (2,3), c) sending the data from the individual tire modules (8) of a standard vehicle (2) to a receiving unit (4) of a receiving vehicle (1), if a receiver vehicle (1) is within radio range of the standard vehicle (2), d) Further processing of the data with the receiving unit (4) and forwarding of the data to an external receiving unit (9).

Description

The invention relates to a method for transmitting data from a tire module to a receiving unit.It is known to use tire pressure monitoring in vehicle tires in order to detect a pressure loss.One possibility for applying tire pressure monitoring to vehicles is to equip the vehicle tires with tire modules.One problem here is that of making the measurement data available from the tire module in a simple manner, for example to a fleet operator.The object of the invention was to provide a method with which data can be transmitted from a tire module to an external receiving unit in a simple manner.The object is achieved by a method comprising the following steps: a) providing a plurality of vehicles (1, 2, 3), wherein the vehicles have at least one vehicle tire (5, 7) with a tire module (6, 8), wherein the tire module (6, 8) comprises at least one sensor for detecting the tire pressure, the tire temperature, forces or accelerations and a transmission unit for transmitting data, b) equipping a part of the vehicles (1, 2, 3) with a receiving unit (4) for receiving the data transmitted by the tire modules (6, 8), wherein the vehicles with a receiving unit are receiver vehicles (1) and the vehicles without a receiving unit are standard vehicles (2, 3), c) transmitting the data from the individual tire modules (8) of a standard vehicle (2) to a receiving unit (4) of a receiver vehicle (1), if a receiver vehicle (1) is located in radio range from the standard vehicle (2), d) processing the data further with the receiver unit (4) and forwarding the data to an external receiver unit (9).An advantage of the invention is to be seen in the fact that the data transmission of the tire modules to an external receiving unit is substantially improved with the novel method. It is no longer necessary to equip each individual vehicle of a fleet of vehicles with its own receiving unit. The equipment of a vehicle with a receiving unit is relatively cost-intensive. Now, only a relatively small proportion of the vehicles of a fleet of vehicles is equipped with a receiving unit. If a standard vehicle without a receiving unit is located in the vicinity of a receiver vehicle with a receiving unit, the tire modules of the standard vehicle transmit their measurement data from the respective tire modules, so that the receiving unit of the receiver vehicle can receive and store this data.The receiving unit of the receiver vehicle then carries out the forwarding of the data to an external receiving unit, for example via a radio connection. The external receiving unit is connected to a data system which can be made available to a fleet operator, for example. The fleet operator can thereby obtain the information as to whether the tire pressure of individual vehicles has to be adjusted on one of his vehicles.In an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the vehicles have sensors, it being possible to detect with the sensors whether a standard vehicle is located in the vicinity of a receiving vehicle. This ensures that the tire modules of the standard vehicle only transmit when a receiver vehicle is located in the vicinity. The sensor could comprise, for example, a camera with which a receiver vehicle can be identified.In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the data of the tire modules are transmitted by the standard vehicle when a receiver vehicle is parked next to a standard vehicle.In this situation, the data can be transmitted to the receiving unit easily and with high accuracy.In a further advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that from 5 to 15% of all vehicles are receiver vehicles.Only a small proportion of the vehicles of a fleet of vehicles is exchanged with receiving units. This number is sufficient to read out the tire modules of the standard vehicles at specific time intervals.In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the vehicles are transport vehicles of a fleet of vehicles.Transport vehicles are used, for example, to transport containers for shipping traffic on a harbour site.In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the vehicles are autonomously driving vehicles for transporting containers.The autonomously driving transport vehicles are driven to specific positions by a central computer unit, for example on a harbour site.In a further advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the movement of the vehicles is controlled by a central computer unit. The central computer unit can be used, for example, to drive a receiver vehicle to a standard vehicle in order to read out the data of the tire modules of the standard vehicle.The invention is described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment.It shows: FIG. 1 : a plan view of three transport vehicles.FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment.The top view of three transport vehicles 1 to 3 has been shown. The transport vehicles can be, for example, transport vehicles for containers which move to and fro on a harbour site.The transport vehicle 1 has four vehicle tires 5, each of which is equipped with a tire module. With the tire modules arranged in the tire cavity, the tire pressure is monitored in particular.The tire module has different electronic components, in particular a pressure gauge and a temperature sensor. In addition, the tire module has a transmission unit, with which measurement data can be transmitted via a radio connection to a reception unit 4. The transport vehicle 1 is a receiver vehicle which is equipped with a receiver unit 4. The receiving unit 4 receives the measurement data of the individual tire modules via a radio connection. Next to the transport vehicle 1 there is a transport vehicle 2 which is not equipped with a receiving unit. This transport vehicle is a standard vehicle without a receiving unit. The transport vehicle 2 likewise has four vehicle tires 7 each having a tire module 8. The tire modules of the standard vehicle 2 transmit their measurement data via a radio connection to the receiving unit 4 of the transport vehicle 1. Subsequently, the measurement data is transmitted to an external receiving unit 9 via a radio connection. The fleet operator of the fleet of vehicles is given access to the data system of the external receiving unit 9.In addition, the fleet operator is directly informed via the external receiving unit 9 when a vehicle tire of a vehicle has a low pressure. The transport vehicle 3 is likewise a standard vehicle without a receiving unit. The measurement data of the tire modules from the standard vehicle 3 are transmitted when the receiver vehicle 1 is located in the vicinity of the transport vehicle 3.List of reference characters1 Receiver vehicle 2 Standard vehicle 1 3 Standard vehicle 2 4 Receiving unit 5 Vehicle tires on the receiver vehicle 6 Tire module 7 Vehicle tires on the standard vehicle 8 Tire module 9 External receiving unit

Claims

Method for transmitting data from a tyre module to a receiving unit, comprising the following steps: a) providing a plurality of vehicles (1, 2, 3), wherein the vehicles have at least one vehicle tyre (5, 7) with a tyre module (6, 8), wherein the tyre module (6, 8) comprises a sensor for detecting the tyre pressure, the tyre temperature, forces or accelerations and a transmitting unit for transmitting data, b) equipping a part of the vehicles (1, 2, 3) with a receiving unit (4) for receiving the data transmitted from the tyre modules (6, 8), wherein the vehicles with a receiving unit are receiving vehicles (1) and the vehicles without receiving unit are standard vehicles (2, 3), c) Transmission of the data from the individual tire modules (8) of a standard vehicle (2) to a receiving unit (4) of a receiver vehicle (1) if a receiver vehicle (1) is located within radio range of the standard vehicle (2), d) Further processing of the data with the receiving unit (4) and forwarding of the data to an external receiving unit (9).Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the vehicles (1, 2, 3) have sensors, it being possible to detect with the sensors whether a standard vehicle (2, 3) is located in the vicinity of a receiving vehicle (1).Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the data of the tyre modules (8) are transmitted by the standard vehicle (2) when a receiver vehicle (1) is parked next to a standard vehicle (2).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that from 5 to 15% of all vehicles (1, 2, 3) are receiver vehicles (2).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicles (1, 2, 3) are transport vehicles of a fleet of vehicles.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicles (1, 2, 3) are autonomously driving vehicles for transporting containers.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement of the vehicles (1, 2, 3) is controlled by a central computer unit.

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