Wheel Sensor Position Detection Using Packet Count Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting the position of sensors on vehicle wheels using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology are unreliable due to factors influencing signal strength, requiring pre-calibration that is costly and unsustainable, and fail to accurately determine sensor position in real-life conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method that considers all packets transmitted by sensors, both received and not received, calculates a parameter based on the number of received and total packets, and determines sensor position using this parameter, eliminating the need for pre-calibration and improving reliability by accounting for varying signal strengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pre-calibration is performed to correlate sensor position with RSSI values, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic self-calibration by having the sensor transmit packets and the receiver measure RSSI values during normal operation. The processor automatically correlates sensor ID with measured RSSI values without requiring external calibration equipment or manual intervention, eliminating the need for factory pre-calibration while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs calibration action during the initial operation phase when the sensor is first installed on the wheel. The receiver continuously measures RSSI values as the wheel rotates, and the processor stores the correlation between sensor ID and RSSI patterns before normal detection begins, preparing the system for accurate position detection without separate calibration step
2Reliability
If only received packets are considered for position detection, then reliability is improved under ideal conditions, but reliability deteriorates in real-life conditions with varying signal strength
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors RSSI values of received packets and uses this feedback to determine sensor position. The processor analyzes the pattern of RSSI measurements over time as the wheel rotates, comparing received signal strength against expected patterns to reliably identify wheel position even when signal conditions vary due to obstacles, distance, or environmental factors
Solution Approach 2:
The system considers not only the packets that are successfully received but also accounts for packets that should have been received based on the transmission schedule. By analyzing both received packets and expected packet patterns, the system can determine position more reliably even when some packets are lost or not received due to poor signal conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Method (200) for detecting a position of a plurality of sensors (20) associated to a respective wheel of a vehicle (25), the method (200) comprising: —by each sensor (20), during a determined time window, wirelessly transmitting (1) a respective time sequence of packets, each packet comprising a respective identification code of the sensor (20); —by at least one receiver (21), comprising a respective antenna (23) installed on the vehicle (25) in a determined position, receiving (2) from each sensor (20), during the determined time window, a respective sub-group of packets of the respective time sequence; for each sensor (20): —determining (3, 4) a respective first number representative of an overall number of packets of the respective sub-group, and a respective second number representative of an overall number of packets of the respective time sequence of packets; —calculating (5) a respective parameter as a function of the respective first and second number; —determining (6) the position of the sensors (20) as a function of the determined position of the respective antenna (23) and as a function of a comparison between the respective parameters.