Portable TPMS Trigger Tool With Contact Activation and Capacitor Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional TPMS trigger tools are expensive and require specialized training, often leading to incorrect triggering of multiple tire sensors due to their limited range and reliance on strong batteries that degrade quickly, making them inaccessible to vehicle owners for routine tire rotations and changes.
Innovation Solution
A portable TPMS tool with a manually displaceable trigger contact device, such as a push button, that ensures precise triggering by physical contact with the tire, and a high-density capacitor power source that eliminates the need for traditional batteries, allowing for rechargeable energy storage and extended use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional TPMS trigger tools are used, then TPMS sensors can be triggered to transmit data, but the tools are expensive and require specialized training making them inaccessible to vehicle owners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential triggering function from complex commercial TPMS tools. The portable device contains only the necessary components (trigger signal generator, antenna, power source) to awaken TPMS sensors, eliminating expensive diagnostic databases, decoding/coding capabilities, and other sophisticated features that vehicle owners do not need. This extraction makes the tool accessible to consumers while maintaining the core triggering functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable or rechargeable battery power source instead of requiring connection to vehicle power or complex power management systems. This simplifies the device structure, reduces cost, and makes the tool truly portable and user-friendly for vehicle owners performing routine tire maintenance.
2Reliability
If conventional TPMS tools with strong batteries are used, then reliable triggering can be achieved, but the batteries degrade quickly and require frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the power source from traditional degradable batteries to a capacitor-based energy storage system. Capacitors can be rapidly recharged and do not suffer from the same degradation issues as chemical batteries. The system includes a rechargeable power source that can be charged via USB or vehicle power outlet, providing reliable triggering signals without the frequent replacement issues of conventional batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous availability of the triggering function through a rechargeable power system. Rather than having periods of unreliability when batteries degrade, the capacitor-based system can be quickly recharged during or between use, ensuring the tool is always ready for use without long periods of battery replacement or recharging downtime.
3Measurement precision
If TPMS tools are designed with limited range, then precise triggering of specific tire sensors is achieved, but the risk of incorrect activation of multiple sensors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs directional antenna design and localized signal transmission to concentrate the triggering signal on the specific tire sensor being targeted. By improving the directionality and focus of the signal, the system achieves precise triggering of the intended sensor while minimizing the risk of accidentally activating sensors on other tires, even when the tool is held close to the vehicle.
4Ease of operation
If portable TPMS tools are designed for user portability, then accessibility is improved, but power source reliability and energy storage capacity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/chemical battery systems with an electrical capacitor-based power system that can be rapidly recharged through electrical connections (USB or vehicle power outlet). This substitution maintains portability while providing sufficient energy storage capacity for multiple triggering operations, as capacitors can deliver high power bursts and be quickly recharged without the weight and size penalties of large chemical batteries.
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
The solution provides a cost-effective, user-friendly method for triggering TPMS sensors, ensuring accurate data transmission to the vehicle ECU while reducing the risk of battery degradation and improving user safety by preventing incorrect signal activation.
Implementation Method 1
The TPMS tool further includes a capacitor in electrical communication with the controller, the antenna and the tire sensor trigger signal generator. In one aspect, the TPMS tool does not include a battery.
Implementation Method 2
an antenna in communication with the tire sensor signal generator and configured to transmit a trigger signal to wake up the TPMS tire sensor and receive a data signal from the TPMS tire sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) tool includes a tire sensor trigger device ensuring the TPMS tool is in close proximity to a TPMS tire sensor to trigger or awaken the sensor to emit measured tire data. In one example, a manually displaceable trigger signal contact device in the form of a push button is used. On manual displacement of the push button against the tire, the tool generates the tire sensor trigger signal. In another example, the tool includes a first power source in the form of a high density capacitor. In another example, a second power source in the form of a lithium button-type battery is used to selectively provide power or recharge the first power source between function cycles.