Wheel Sensor BLE Scheduling for Low-Power TPMS Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) face challenges with battery life due to high power consumption, necessitating non-user replaceable batteries and limiting device longevity, and require motion detection hardware for data transmission timing, which increases power and space consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing two-way communication between wheel unit sensors and a master controller using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, with synchronized receive and transmit windows to minimize wireless receiver activation times and eliminate the need for motion detection hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless receiver is kept continuously activated to enable two-way communication, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless receiver operates in periodic intervals with defined receive windows rather than continuously. The master controller transmits messages at specific periodic intervals, and the sensor activates its receiver only during these scheduled windows, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliable two-way communication capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-schedules communication windows and synchronizes the sensor's receive activation with anticipated master controller transmissions. By knowing in advance when messages will be sent, the receiver can be activated only during these predetermined windows rather than continuously monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If motion detection hardware is added to determine data transmission timing, then data transmission accuracy is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission timing accuracyVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical motion detection hardware with a software-based scheduled communication system. Instead of using accelerometers or motion sensors to trigger transmissions, the system uses pre-programmed timing schedules and synchronized communication windows to achieve accurate data transmission timing without additional hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The master controller and sensor autonomously manage communication timing through synchronized schedules without requiring external motion detection inputs. The system self-regulates transmission and reception timing based on internal clocks and pre-established communication protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3969298B1Improving communication between a wheel unit sensor and a master controller

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES INC

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AI summary

According to one embodiment, a method of improved communication between a wheel unit sensor and a master controller is disclosed. In this particular embodiment, the method includes determining, by the wheel unit sensor, whether a receive schedule of the wheel unit sensor indicates that a receive window has started. The method also includes in response to determining that the receive schedule indicates that the receive window has started, turning-on, by the wheel unit sensor, for the duration of the receive window, a wireless receiver of the wheel unit sensor. In this embodiment, the wireless receiver is configured to receive messages from the master controller.