Tire-Pressure Sensor Unit with Acceleration-Based Transmission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tire-pressure monitor systems cannot effectively transmit tire-pressure information from a spare wheel, as they rely on wheel rotation detection, which is not applicable to a non-rotating spare wheel, leading to incomplete data and increased battery consumption.
Innovation Solution
A tire-pressure sensor unit equipped with a pneumatic sensor, acceleration sensor, transmitter, and transmission control means that periodically transmits data when the vehicle is running and accumulates acceleration data when not running, allowing for estimated transmission based on vehicle movement records, ensuring data transmission from both running and spare wheels while minimizing battery consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the transmission period of the radio signal is lengthened to suppress battery consumption, then battery life is extended, but the acquisition of tire-pressure information by the notification device is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission control means dynamically adjusts the transmission period based on vehicle running state. When the vehicle is running, the transmission period is shortened to ensure timely information acquisition. When the vehicle is stopped, the transmission period is lengthened to suppress battery consumption. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between battery life extension and information acquisition timeliness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the sensor unit transmits tire-pressure information periodically only when the vehicle is running, then battery consumption during vehicle stopping is suppressed, but tire-pressure information on the spare wheel cannot be transmitted
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission control means uses acceleration sensor data to detect vehicle running state and dynamically controls transmission behavior. When acceleration exceeds a threshold indicating vehicle running, transmission is activated. This allows the system to transmit spare wheel information when the vehicle is moving while suppressing transmission during stopping, resolving the contradiction between battery consumption and information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The acceleration sensor acts as an intermediary to detect vehicle running state, which then mediates the transmission control decisions. By using acceleration data as the triggering condition, the system can indirectly detect vehicle motion and activate transmission accordingly, enabling spare wheel information transmission without continuous operation.
3Volume of moving object
If the sensor unit is made small to fit on the air supply valve portion, then installation is simplified, but the battery size is restricted and battery consumption must be heavily suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit transmits data periodically based on vehicle running state rather than continuously. This periodic transmission approach allows the use of a smaller battery while maintaining functional requirements, as transmission occurs only when necessary (during vehicle running), significantly reducing overall power consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous monitoring of tire pressure for all wheels, including spare wheels, while extending battery life by optimizing transmission frequency based on vehicle activity, ensuring accurate and timely data reporting without unnecessary battery drain.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration sensor (13) which detects acceleration generated by rotation of a wheel
Implementation Method 2
a transmitter (16) for transmitting wheel information which is information including tire-pressure information representing the tire pressure detected by said pneumatic sensor and an inherent sensor ID as a radio signal
Data Source
AI summary
It should be enabled to transmit tire-pressure information also on a spare wheel to a tire-pressure notification device, while suppressing battery consumption. A transmission controller of a sensor unit makes a transmitter periodically transmit wheel information, when an acceleration Gx detected by an acceleration sensor is larger than a running-judgment threshold value 5G. The transmission controller accumulates a point P set up according to the acceleration Gx in a predetermined period when the acceleration Gx is not more than the running-judgment threshold value 5G, and makes the transmitter transmit the wheel information when an accumulated value of the point P accumulated in the predetermined period is larger than a running-track-record-judgment threshold value.