LOW PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM (LPWS) FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES

摘要

Method and apparatus (200) for monitoring vehicle tire pressure and warning the driver when a low tire inflation pressure condition occurs includes transponder tags (220a..220d, 300, 300a) and associated sensors (e.g., pressure, temperature) for each tire and a monitor (230a..230d, 400) disposed in close proximity to each tire (204a..204d). In this manner, a low-powered radio transmission can take place between each tire tag and an associated one of the monitors. Each monitor is connected to a vehicle data bus (206, 430) for communicating, preferably bi-directionally, with a computer (208), and a central display (212) provides visual (or audible) warnings to the operator of the vehicle. The system is simple in operation, economical to manufacture, easy to install, and highly reliable, and conforms to standards established for heavy vehicles, and can be used on passenger car applications as well.