Tyre Pressure Monitoring with Local Alerts and Proximity Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are cumbersome, require complex programming, and are prone to errors, posing a significant burden for fleet vehicle operators who need to regularly check tyre pressures.
Innovation Solution
A tyre pressure sensing module that determines alert signals locally and transmits only when necessary, eliminating the need for continuous data transmission and programming, and uses proximity checks as a proxy for completing a vehicle walk-around inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous data transmission is implemented in TPMS, then tyre pressure monitoring accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits tyre pressure data periodically or event-driven rather than continuously. The sensing module determines alert signals locally and only transmits when pressure thresholds are exceeded or at scheduled intervals, reducing power consumption while maintaining monitoring accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing module autonomously determines alert signals by comparing tyre pressure against stored thresholds locally. This self-service approach eliminates the need for continuous data transmission to the driver indicator unit, as the module independently decides when transmission is necessary.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex programming is required for driver indicator unit, then tyre pressure parameter customization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing module automatically determines alert signals by comparing tyre pressure against pre-stored thresholds. This eliminates the need for manual programming of pressure parameters in the driver indicator unit, as the sensing module self-configures the monitoring logic locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex programming logic for determining alert signals is extracted from the driver indicator unit and relocated to the sensing module. This extraction simplifies the driver indicator unit to merely displaying received alert information, while the sensing module handles all parameter comparison and decision-making.
3Adaptability or versatility
If programming is required for tyre parameters, then system adaptability is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing module automatically adapts to different vehicle types by locally determining alert signals based on pre-stored pressure thresholds. This eliminates the time-consuming manual programming process during installation, as the system self-configures without user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
Tyre pressure thresholds and vehicle-specific parameters are pre-stored in the sensing module during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for on-site programming during installation, reducing installation time while maintaining system adaptability to different vehicle types.
4Device complexity
If driver indicator unit determines tyre parameters, then centralization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The functionality for determining alert signals is extracted from the driver indicator unit and relocated to the sensing module. This redistribution reduces the programming burden on the driver indicator unit while maintaining centralized monitoring capability through the networked system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into autonomous sensing modules that independently determine alert signals locally, rather than requiring centralized parameter determination in the driver indicator unit. This segmentation distributes computational complexity across multiple independent units.
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
Reduces power consumption, minimizes theft risk, and ensures accurate tyre pressure monitoring with reduced maintenance, enhancing safety and efficiency for fleet vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of a gas retained within the pneumatic tyre
Implementation Method 2
a transmitter configured to transmit to an apparatus, data indicating that the user module has been proximal to the tyre pressure sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for determining whether a vehicle tyre pressure check has been carried out, comprising: receiving from a pressure reader module a request for tyre pressure data indicative of a the pressure of a gas retained within a pneumatic tyre; storing, by a pressure check register, data indicating that the request for tyre pressure data was received; transmitting, by a transmitter to an apparatus, an indication confirming whether a tyre pressure check has been carried out based on whether the request for tyre pressure data was received; receiving, at the apparatus from a plurality of tyre pressure sensing modules, a plurality of indications of whether a tyre pressure reader has been used on each of the plurality of tyre pressure sensing modules to check a corresponding tyre pressure; and determining, by a pressure check confirmer, whether a vehicle tyre pressure check has been carried out based on the received plurality of indications.