Tire Information Display System

Abstract

To provide a tire information display system which can easily register in a short time, when performing tire rotation, positional information of tires.SOLUTION: A tire information display system 1 comprises: a transmitter 25 which transmits status information of state of a tire 15; a receiver 30 which receives the status information transmitted by the transmitter 25; a processing unit 40 which stores the status information and positional information of the tire 15; and a display 50 which displays the status information and the positional information of the tire 15 stored by the processing unit 40. The tire information display system 1 includes an input device 60 where an operator selects one change pattern from a plurality of change patterns registered in advance to be inputted into the processing unit 40. The processing unit 40 changes the stored positional information according to information of the change pattern inputted by the input device 60 and displays the changed positional information and the status information responding thereto on the display 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire information display system. [Background technology]

[0002] One such technology is a system that includes a tire condition acquisition device that is installed on a pneumatic tire to acquire the tire condition, and a monitoring device that receives wireless signals from multiple tire condition acquisition devices and performs predetermined processing. In this system, the monitoring device sequentially specifies the sensor IDs of the tire condition acquisition devices to request input of the tire positions of the tire condition acquisition devices. This generates registration information that associates the sensor IDs with the tire positions based on the tire position input results. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-91344 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when tires are rotated, the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires that the input work of associating the tire sensor ID with the tire mounting position be performed for each wheel.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to To provide a tire information display system capable of registering tire position information more easily and in a shorter time when tires are rotated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the tire information display system of the present invention is a tire information display system for a vehicle comprising: a transmitter attached to a wheel of a vehicle, which detects the condition of the tire of the wheel, including the air pressure of the tire, and transmits condition information related to the detected tire condition; a receiver receiving the condition information transmitted by the transmitter; a processing device recording the condition information received by the receiver and position information related to the mounting position of the tire; and a display device displaying the condition information and the position information recorded by the processing device, wherein the processing device has a plurality of change patterns for changing the position information registered in advance, and the tire information display system comprises an input device which allows an operator to select information of one change pattern from the plurality of change patterns and input it to the processing device, and the processing device changes the recorded position information to match the information of the change pattern input by the input device, and outputs the changed position information and the status information corresponding to the changed position information to the display device.

[0007] According to the present invention, when rotating tires, an operator can select one change pattern from a plurality of registered change patterns and input information of the selected change pattern from an input device to a processing device. As a result, the processing device can easily change pre-recorded position information to match the information of the selected change pattern. Furthermore, the processing device can output the changed position information and tire condition information corresponding to the changed position information to a display device. In this way, when rotating tires, tire position information can be more easily registered in the processing device, thereby shortening the registration process.

[0008] In a more preferred embodiment, the processing device identifies position information regarding the tire mounting position while the vehicle is traveling, and if the changed position information differs from the identified position information, corrects the changed position information to the identified position information, and outputs the corrected position information and the status information corresponding to the corrected position information to the display device.

[0009] According to this aspect, position information regarding the tire mounting position can be registered before the vehicle is driven, so information regarding the tire's condition, including the tire's air pressure, can be confirmed via the display device. Furthermore, if the operator makes an error in the change pattern selected, the tire's position information, which was incorrectly registered at the time of change, can be corrected to the correct position information identified by the processing device while the vehicle is driving. Therefore, while driving, the correct tire's position information and the tire's condition information corresponding to this position information can be confirmed via the display device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, when tires are rotated, tire position information can be registered more simply and in a shorter time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic conceptual diagram showing a tire information display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a processing device of the tire information display system shown in FIG. [Figure 3] (a) is a diagram for explaining the display of tire condition information on the display device shown in Figure 1, (b) is a diagram for explaining the display of tire position information, (c) is a diagram for explaining the display of changed tire position information, and (d) is a diagram for explaining the display of tire condition information after the tire position has been changed. [Figure 4]FIG. 1(a) is a diagram for explaining the display of tire position information before the tire position is changed, and FIGS. 1(b) to 1(d) are diagrams for explaining the display of tire position information after the tire position is changed. [Figure 5] 10(a) to 10(e) are diagrams showing modified examples of the tire position changing unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the use of the tire information display system shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a flow chart of the tire position changing unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 8] 10(a) to 10(e) are diagrams showing modified examples of change patterns by the tire position changer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] 1, a vehicle 100 according to this embodiment has a tire information display system (hereinafter referred to as "system") 1. The vehicle 100 may be any of a gasoline vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, and a fuel cell vehicle, and is not particularly limited as long as the tire information display system 1 can be used.

[0013] The system 1 includes at least a transmitter 25, a receiver 30, a processing device 40, a display device 50, and an input device 60. Each wheel 14 of the vehicle 100 is composed of a tire 15 and a wheel 16, and the transmitter 25 is attached to the wheel 16 of each wheel 14 of the vehicle 100.

[0014] The transmitter 25 detects the state of the tire 15, including the air pressure, and transmits state information relating to the detected state of the tire 15. In this embodiment, the transmitter 25 includes an air pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and an acceleration sensor, all of which are not shown. The tire state information includes the air pressure of the tire 15 detected by the air pressure sensor, the temperature of the tire 15 detected by the temperature sensor, and the acceleration of the tire 15 during rotation detected by the acceleration sensor, and the like, and transmits this state information as a wireless signal to the receiver 30. The receiver 30 is an on-board receiver mounted on the vehicle 100, and receives the state information transmitted by each transmitter 25.

[0015] The processing device 40 includes a storage device (not shown) and a calculation device (not shown). The storage device of the processing device 40 stores status information of each tire 15 received by the receiver 30, position information on the mounting position of the tire 15 (mounting position of the wheel 14 relative to the axle), a plurality of pre-registered change patterns for the tire 15, and a program for the change process.

[0016] The arithmetic unit of the processing device 40 performs the following change processing. Specifically, the processing device 40 changes the position information of the tire 15 in accordance with the information of one selected change pattern via the input device 60, which will be described later. The processing device 40 changes the state information of the tire 15 in accordance with the changed position information of the tire 15.

[0017] The input device 60 is a device that allows an operator to select information on one change pattern from a plurality of change patterns registered in advance and input the information to the processing device 40. For example, the input device 60 may be a touch panel type device integrated with the display device 50 described later, or may be a steering switch (operation button) attached to a steering wheel or the like.

[0018] The display device 50 displays the status information and position information of each tire 15 received by the receiver 30, and a plurality of pre-registered change patterns for the tires 15. This allows the driver, who is the operator, to check the status information and position information of the tires 15, and to check one change pattern while checking the plurality of change patterns.

[0019] The processing device 40 will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 2. The processing device 40 includes, as software, a tire information registration unit 41, a tire position change unit 42, a tire position identification unit 43, a tire position determination unit 44, and a tire position correction unit 45.

[0020] 3(a) and 3(b), the tire information registration unit 41 records the current position information of each tire 15 and status information corresponding to that position information, such as the ID of the tire 15 linked to the tire's mounting position (mounting position on the wheel 14), the air pressure of each tire 15, and the temperature of each tire 15. For example, the ID of the right front tire 15 of the vehicle 100 (FR tire ID) is "AAAAAA," and information such as the air pressure of 210 kPa and the temperature of 31°C is stored along with the tire ID. The tire information registration unit 41 outputs the position information of each tire 15 and status information corresponding to that position information to the display device 50.

[0021] 3(c) and 3(d), the tire position changing unit 42 changes the position information recorded by the tire information registration unit 41 to match the information on the change pattern of the tires 15 input by the input device 60. At the same time, the changed position information of the tires 15 is linked to the status information corresponding to the changed position information of the tires 15. As a result, the tire information registration unit 41 can output the changed position information of each tire 15 and the status information of the tires corresponding to that position information to the display device 50.

[0022] 3(b) and (c) show an example of a multi-information display, and four tire rotation patterns (rotation patterns) are displayed on the right side. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(b), when an operator selects the topmost rotation pattern information from a plurality of rotation patterns using the input device 60, the tire position change unit 42 changes the recorded position information to match the rotation pattern information, as shown in FIG. 3(c). Specifically, "AAAAAA (hereinafter, tire ID_A)" in the address (FR address) of the front right (FR) of the vehicle 100 is changed (rewritten) to "DDDDDD (hereinafter, tire ID_D)." The address (RR address) ID of the rear right (RR) of the vehicle 100, "BBBBBB (hereinafter, tire ID_B)," is changed to "Tire ID_A." The ID "CCCCCC (hereinafter referred to as Tire ID_C)" of the rear left (RL) address (RL address) of the vehicle 100 is changed to "Tire ID_B," and the ID (FL tire ID) "Tire ID_D" of the front left (FL) address (FL address) of the vehicle 100 is changed to "Tire ID_C." Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3(d), the tire position change unit 42 changes the state information of the tire 15 based on the tire ID.

[0023] Similarly, when the second change pattern from the top of the four change patterns for the right-hand tires is selected from the state of FIG. 4(a), the tire position change unit 42 changes the recorded position information for the tire 15 to that of FIG. 4(b). Similarly, when the third change pattern from the top of the four change patterns for the right-hand tires is selected from the state of FIG. 4(a), the tire position change unit 42 changes the recorded position information for the tire 15 to that of FIG. 4(c). Finally, when the bottommost change pattern from the four change patterns for the right-hand tires is selected from the state of FIG. 4(a), the tire position change unit 42 changes the recorded position information for the tire 15 to that of FIG. 4(d). Details of these operations will be explained in the flow of FIG. 6.

[0024] Although FIG. 4 shows four tire change patterns, the present invention is not limited to these, and change patterns corresponding to the rotation of tires 15 recommended or specified for vehicle 100 are registered in tire position change unit 42. For example, tire change patterns corresponding to rotation as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) may be registered. When rotating tires 15 including a spare tire (SP), change patterns for tires 15 corresponding to rotation as shown in FIGS. 5(c) to 5(e) may be registered. In this way, by registering tire change patterns in advance, the mounting position of tires 15 can be changed with one touch without any hassle.

[0025] The tire position identifying unit 43 identifies position information relating to the mounting position of the tire 15 while the vehicle 100 is traveling. Specifically, a specific rotational position (e.g., top dead center) of the tire 15 (wheel 14) is detected from (an acceleration sensor of) a transmitter 25 mounted on each wheel 16 of the wheels 14. Next, if the detection timing of the specific rotational position is within a predetermined phase range measured by the wheel speed sensor 35 at the target position, the tire position identifying unit 43 determines that the wheel 14 of that tire 15 is mounted on the axle at the target position.

[0026] On the other hand, if the detection timing of a specific rotational position falls outside the predetermined phase range measured by the wheel speed sensor 35 at the target position, the tire position identification unit 43 determines that the wheel 14 of that tire 15 is not attached to the axle at that target position. In this case, the same determination is made for another wheel speed sensor 35 to determine the position of that tire 15.

[0027] The tire position determination unit 44 determines whether the position information changed by the tire position change unit 42 (specifically, the position information recorded by the tire information registration unit 41) differs from the position information identified by the tire position identification unit 43. If it is determined that the position information differs, the tire position correction unit 45 corrects the changed position information (specifically, the position information recorded by the tire information registration unit 41) to the identified position information. As a result, the tire information registration unit 41 outputs the corrected position information of the tire 15 and status information corresponding to the corrected position information of the tire 15 to the display device 50.

[0028] Hereinafter, a flow using the tire information display system 1 shown in Fig. 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 6, and a flow using the tire position changing unit 42 shown in Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. First, after the rotation of the tires 15 has been performed, in step S71, a change pattern for the tires 15 is input to the tire position changing unit 42 via the input device 60. Next, in step S72, the tire position changing unit 42 changes the registered position information for the tires 15 in accordance with the change pattern for the tires 15.

[0029] Specifically, in step S81, it is determined whether or not the topmost change pattern on the display device 50 is selected. Here, if the switch corresponding to this change pattern is turned on (YES), the process proceeds to step S91; if not (NO), the process proceeds to step S82. In step S91, the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_A from "FR" to temporary address X, and moves tire ID_D from "FL" to "FR". Next, the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_C from "RL" to "FL", and the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_B from "RR" to "RL". Finally, the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_A at temporary address X to "RR". This results in the display state shown in FIG. 3(c).

[0030] In step S82, it is determined whether or not to select the second change pattern from the top on the display device 50. Here, if the switch corresponding to this change pattern is turned on (YES), the process proceeds to step S92; if not (NO), the process proceeds to step S83. In step S92, the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_A from "FR" to temporary address X, and moves tire ID_B from "RR" to "FR". Next, the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_C from "RL" to "RR", and the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_D from "FL" to "RL". Finally, the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_A at temporary address X to "FL". This results in the display state shown in FIG. 4(b).

[0031] In step S83, it is determined whether or not to select the third change pattern from the top on the display device 50. Here, if the switch corresponding to this change pattern is turned on (YES), the process proceeds to step S93; if not (NO), the process proceeds to step S84. In step S93, the tire position changing unit 42 moves tire ID_A from "FR" to temporary address X, moves tire ID_C from "RL" to "FR", and moves tire ID_A at temporary address X to "RL". Next, the tire position changing unit 42 moves tire IC_B from "RR" to temporary address X, the tire position changing unit 42 moves tire ID_D from "FL" to "RR", and the tire position changing unit 42 moves tire ID_B at temporary address X to "FL". This results in the display state shown in FIG. 4(c).

[0032] In step S84, it is determined whether or not to select the fourth change pattern from the top on the display device 50. If the switch corresponding to this change pattern is turned on (YES), the process proceeds to step S94; if not (NO), the process proceeds to the input screen of FIG. 3(b). In step S94, the tire position change unit 42 moves tire ID_A from "FR" to temporary address X, moves tire ID_B from "RR" to "FR", and moves tire ID_A at temporary address X to "RR". Next, the tire position change unit 42 moves tire IC_C from "RL" to temporary address X, moves tire ID_D to "RL", and moves tire ID_C at temporary address X to "FL". This results in the display state shown in FIG. 4(d).

[0033] Next, in step S73, when the vehicle 100 starts traveling, in step S74, the tire position identification unit 43 identifies the position of each tire 15, and the process proceeds to step S75. In step S75, if the tire position determination unit 44 determines that the changed position information of the tire 15 is correct (YES), the flow ends, and if not (NO), the process proceeds to step S76, where the tire position correction unit 45 corrects the tire position information.

[0034] As described above, according to this embodiment, when rotating the tires 15, the operator can select one change pattern from a plurality of registered change patterns and input information of the selected change pattern to the processing device 40 from the input device 60. As a result, the processing device 40 can easily change the pre-recorded position information to match the information of the selected change pattern with a single touch. Furthermore, the position information changed by the processing device 40 and the tire condition information corresponding to the changed position information can be output to the display device 50. In this way, even when rotating the tires 15, the position information of the tires 15 can be more easily registered in the processing device 40, thereby shortening the registration work.

[0035] Because position information regarding the mounting positions of the tires 15 can be registered before the vehicle 100 is driven, information regarding the status of the tires 15, including the air pressure, can be confirmed via the display device 50. Furthermore, if there is an error in the change pattern selected by the worker, while the vehicle 100 is driving, the position information of the tires 15 that was erroneously registered at the time of change can be corrected to the correct position information identified by the processing device 40. Therefore, while the vehicle 100 is driving, the correct position information of the tires 15 that has been corrected and the status information of the tires 15 corresponding to this position information can be confirmed via the display device 50.

[0036] For example, as shown in FIG. 8(a), tire IDs A to E may be displayed in association with tire positions (FR (front right), FL (front left), RR (rear right), RL (rear left), SP (spare)). When any one of tire IDs A to E is changed, the position information is changed in a change pattern corresponding to the change.

[0037] For example, as shown in Fig. 8(b), when tire ID_A is activated and tire ID_A is changed from FR to RL as shown in Fig. 8(c), the position information of the other tire IDs, IDs B to E, is also corrected to a preset change pattern as shown in Fig. 8(d). For example, when tire ID_A is changed from FR to SP as shown in Fig. 8(e), the position information of the other tire IDs, IDs B to E, is also corrected to a preset change pattern. In this way, by changing the position information of one tire ID, the change patterns of the position information of the other tire IDs may also be changed accordingly.

[0038] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1: tire information display system, 15: tire, 25: transmitter, 30: receiver, 40: processing device, 50: display device, 60: input device

Claims

[Claim 1] a transmitter attached to a wheel of a vehicle, for detecting a tire condition including an air pressure of the tire of the wheel, and for transmitting status information relating to the detected tire condition; a receiver for receiving the status information transmitted by the transmitter; a processing device that records the status information received by the receiver and position information relating to the mounting position of the tire; a display device that displays the status information and the position information recorded by the processing device; A tire information display system for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of change patterns for changing the location information are registered in advance in the processing device; the tire information display system includes an input device that allows an operator to select information of one change pattern from the plurality of change patterns and input the selected information to the processing device before the vehicle travels, the processing device changes the recorded position information in accordance with the change pattern information input by the input device before the vehicle travels, and outputs the changed position information and the status information corresponding to the changed position information to the display device; The processing device identifies position information regarding the mounting position of the tire while the vehicle is running, If the changed location information is different from the specified location information, correct the changed location information to the specified location information; a tire information display system that outputs the corrected position information and the status information corresponding to the corrected position information to the display device;

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