TPMS Sensor Resolution Locking via Vehicle Operating Characteristics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) often incorrectly lock into higher pressure resolution settings for vehicles due to reliance on pressure measurements alone, leading to inaccurate readings when technicians overfill tires during installation, especially between passenger and heavy-duty vehicles.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where tire pressure sensors adjust their resolution based on vehicle operating characteristics, such as speed and intentional activation via a low-frequency trigger command, rather than solely on pressure measurements, to ensure accurate setting for specific vehicle types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the TPMS sensor locks into resolution based solely on pressure measurement, then the sensor can automatically adapt to different vehicle types, but the sensor may incorrectly lock into higher pressure resolution when technicians overfill tires during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by monitoring vehicle operating characteristics (speed, distance traveled) before finalizing the resolution lock. This preliminary monitoring phase allows the system to distinguish between temporary high pressure conditions during tire installation and actual heavy-duty vehicle operation, preventing premature or incorrect resolution locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple parameters (pressure, vehicle speed, distance traveled) to continuously evaluate whether the sensor should lock into a specific resolution. The feedback mechanism compares actual vehicle operating conditions against thresholds to make intelligent decisions about resolution locking, rather than relying on pressure alone.
2Measurement precision
If the TPMS sensor uses higher pressure resolution (second resolution) for all conditions, then accuracy is improved for heavy-duty vehicles, but unnecessary precision is used for passenger vehicles increasing data transmission overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different resolution qualities locally based on the specific vehicle type and operating conditions. Passenger vehicles use the first (lower) resolution while heavy-duty vehicles use the second (higher) resolution. This local quality approach ensures each vehicle type receives the appropriate measurement precision without unnecessary data overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the resolution parameter based on detected vehicle operating characteristics. When the system determines the vehicle is a heavy-duty type through monitoring speed and distance parameters, it switches to the higher resolution setting. For passenger vehicles, it maintains the lower resolution setting, optimizing data transmission efficiency.
3Productivity
If the sensor locks into resolution based on pressure threshold alone, then the setting process is simple and fast, but it cannot distinguish between intentional high pressure (heavy-duty vehicle) and installation error (overfilling)
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of vehicle operating characteristics (speed, distance) before making the final resolution locking decision. This preliminary phase allows the system to gather sufficient data to accurately identify vehicle type, distinguishing between intentional high pressure operation and installation errors, while still maintaining relatively fast setup times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple parameters including vehicle speed and distance traveled to accurately identify vehicle type. The feedback mechanism analyzes patterns in operating characteristics to distinguish between heavy-duty vehicle operation and temporary high pressure conditions during installation, improving identification accuracy without significantly increasing setup time.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method is provided that includes measuring a tire pressure for at least one tire with at least one tire pressure sensor. The tire pressure sensor has at least a first resolution for transmitting pressure information and a second resolution for transmitting pressure information that is higher than the first resolution. If a measured tire pressure is determined to be above a predetermined pressure threshold, the apparatus and method identify whether the tire pressure sensor has experienced at least one predetermined vehicle operating characteristic, and/or identify whether the tire pressure sensor has been activated by a command. The tire pressure sensor is only locked into the second resolution if the tire pressure sensor has experienced the at least one predetermined vehicle operating characteristic or if the tire pressure sensor has been activated by the command.