JP2007216705A - Tire information acquisition system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tire information acquisition system which reduces a manpower, a time, and a cost generated for acquiring tire information such as a tire internal pressure and the temperature in the tire. <P>SOLUTION: Sensor modules 3 (SM 1 to SM 6) are mounted to respective wheels 4 of a vehicle 6. When the vehicle 6 passes between a transmitter-receiver 1 (RM 1) and the transmitter-receiver (RM 2) provided on both sides of a passage way, the transmitter-receivers 1 (RM 1, RM 2) acquire the data of the tire pressure from the sensor modules 3 (SM 1 to SM 6). A central control device 5 acquires the data of the tire pressure from the transmitter-receivers 1(RM 1, RM 2), determines whether the tire pressure is within the reference range, and displays the determination result on a display device 7 installed in obliquely front of the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tire information acquisition system that acquires tire information such as tire internal pressure and tire internal temperature.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for checking whether or not the air pressure (internal pressure) filled in a pneumatic tire for automobiles is normal, a method of directly measuring the internal pressure with an air pressure measuring device (tire pressure gauge) has been widely used.

Furthermore, in recent years, a sensor module that measures tire state quantities such as tire internal pressure and tire temperature is mounted inside the tire, and measurement data transmitted by wireless communication from this sensor module is received by the receiving module on the vehicle body side. It has been proposed that a tire pressure monitoring system (Tire Pressure Monitoring System, hereinafter referred to as TPMS) configured to transmit received data to a vehicle operation management center that manages a plurality of vehicles is mounted on the vehicle ( For example, Patent Document 1). There is also a handy tire internal pressure reader using wireless communication.
JP-A-10-104103

  However, in the method of directly measuring the internal pressure with an air pressure measuring instrument (tire pressure gauge), the tire internal pressure is measured by removing the valve cap of the tire and guiding the air in the tire to the tire pressure gauge. In addition to requiring a lot of man-hours and time, troubles may occur due to reading errors of measured values and recording errors in data tables. There was also dirt due to work.

  In addition, on-board tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a medium-low speed, relatively short distance, and in buses traveling on a certain route, there is little variation in running condition, so tire condition quantities such as internal pressure and temperature are always constant. The necessity for measurement is low, and the vehicle cost is high, which is not suitable.

  In addition, a handy tire internal pressure reader using wireless communication is unsuitable for reading the tire internal pressure of buses and the like having a large number of vehicles because the reading operation is performed manually.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the man-hours and time required to acquire tire information such as tire internal pressure and tire internal temperature. It is another object of the present invention to provide a tire information acquisition system that can reduce the cost.

  To achieve the above object, a tire information acquisition system according to the present invention includes a sensor module that is attached to a wheel mounted on a vehicle and measures a tire state quantity, and a first module provided on each side of a passage through which the vehicle passes. The tire state is configured by 1 and a second transmission / reception device, and the vehicle is sent by a radio signal from the sensor module as the vehicle passes between the first transmission / reception device and the second transmission / reception device at a low speed. Quantity measurement data is received by the first and second transmission / reception devices.

  It is preferable to determine whether or not the tire state quantity received by the first and second transmission / reception devices is within a reference range, and display the determination result on a display device disposed obliquely forward of the vehicle. Preferably, when the first and second transmission / reception devices detect the approach of a vehicle, the first and second transmission / reception devices instruct the sensor module to acquire tire state quantity data. The amount is preferably the tire internal pressure and / or the tire internal temperature. The vehicle is preferably a vehicle having a substantially constant vehicle width such as a bus or a truck.

  In the tire information acquisition system of the present invention, the measurement, recording, and management of tire information such as tire internal pressure are fully automated, so the number of steps and time for acquiring tire information can be greatly reduced. Further, since only the sensor module is attached to the wheel, the vehicle cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the vehicle-mounted tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is provided.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram showing a configuration of a tire information acquisition system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a tire information acquisition system is attached to each wheel 4 of a vehicle 6 and includes a sensor module 3 (SM1 to SM6) that measures a tire state quantity such as a tire internal pressure and / or a tire internal temperature of the wheel 4. The tire internal pressure and / or sent from the sensor module 3 (SM1 to SM6) by radio signals is provided on both sides of the passage through which the vehicle 6 having a substantially constant vehicle width passes at a substantially constant interval from the vehicle 6. When transmission / reception device 1 (RM1, RM2) that acquires measurement data of tire state quantities such as tire internal temperature is detected, and when approach of vehicle 6 is detected, transmission / reception device 1 (RM1, RM2) is instructed to acquire data from sensor module 3. The pressure and temperature data acquired by the transceiver 1 (RM1, RM2) are collected to determine whether the tire pressure and temperature are within the reference range. A central control device 5, a display 7 installed obliquely in front of the vehicle 6 and displaying the determination result in the central control device 5, and a tire management device 8 for managing the acquired pressure and temperature data for each vehicle number; It is composed of The transmission / reception device 1 (RM1, RM2) and the central control device 5 constitute a measurement data reading device (gate reader) 9.

  The sensor module 3 is attached to the inner surface of the tire by baking, and is provided so as not to be separated from the tire or broken even when the running tire is deformed under load. The sensor module 3 includes a detection unit that detects an internal pressure of the tire, an antenna 3a that controls transmission / reception with the transmission / reception device 1, a transmitter, and a control unit that controls these. As a detection means, what detects a tire internal temperature other than a tire internal pressure can also be included. The sensor module 3 can be attached to the wheel 4 in the tire inner space, or can be held in the tire inner space by a separate means.

  The transmitting / receiving device 1 (RM1, RM2) includes an antenna 1a that receives a radio signal including pressure and temperature measurement data from the sensor module 3 (SM1 to SM6), and acquires pressure and temperature measurement data from the antenna 1a. . Moreover, the vehicle detection sensor (not shown) which detects the approach of the vehicle 6 is provided in the transmission / reception apparatus 1 (RM1, RM2). For example, an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor is used as the vehicle detection sensor, and light is transmitted / received between the transmission / reception device 1 (RM1) and the transmission / reception device 1 (RM2). Alternatively, the presence of the vehicle 6 may be detected.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the central controller. When the central control device 5 receives a signal informing the approach of the vehicle 6 from the vehicle detection sensor of the transmission / reception device 1 (RM1, RM2) (step 11), all the sensor modules 3 are transmitted via the transmission / reception device 1 (RM1, RM2). (SM1 to SM6) are instructed to acquire data (step 12), and each sensor module 3 is transmitted with a data signal including pressure and temperature measurement data, and the measurement data transmitted from each sensor module 3 is transmitted and received. Obtained via the device 1 (RM1, RM2) (step 13). Further, the central control device 5 determines whether or not all the acquired measurement data is within the reference range (step 14), displays the determination result on the display 7 installed diagonally forward of the driver, Then, the measurement data is transmitted to the tire management device 9 (step 15). The central control unit 5 includes a CPU, a memory, a program stored in the memory, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which measurement data from a tire is actually read by a measurement data reading device (gate reader). A measurement data reading device (gate reader) 9 is attached to an existing car wash machine 10, and a vehicle 6 such as a bus or a truck having a substantially constant vehicle width is transmitted and received by the measurement data reading device 9 installed in a gate shape. Tire information can be acquired simply by passing between the device 1 (RM1) and the transmission / reception device 1 (RM2) at a low speed.

  The central control device 5 provided in the measurement data reading device 9 automatically determines whether or not all the tire internal pressures are within a reference range, and signals the tire condition to a display 7 installed diagonally forward of the driver. indicate. For example, if the indicator 7 is green, the internal pressure of all tires is normal, if it is yellow, the internal pressure of any tire is reduced, and if it is red, the internal pressure of any tire is significantly reduced. Represents that If the indicator 7 is red, the driver can immediately know that one of the tires has insufficient air pressure. The measured pressure is transmitted to a tire management device (not shown), which is a computer, and is automatically managed for each vehicle number.

  It is to be noted that an identification ID is assigned to each sensor module, and when the tire measurement data is acquired by the transmission / reception device 1 (RM1, RM2), the sensor module is also configured to acquire the identification ID. It is also possible to display information for each module, that is, for each tire on the display unit 7.

  In the tire information acquisition system of the present invention, measurement, recording, and management of tire information such as tire internal pressure by manual operation are fully automated so that the number of steps and time for acquiring tire information can be greatly reduced. . Further, since only the sensor module is attached to the wheel, the vehicle cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the vehicle-mounted tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is provided. Further, since the management data is directly recorded on the tire management device (computer), paperless can be realized. Moreover, if a measurement data reader (gate reader) is attached to an existing car wash machine, the installation cost can be reduced. Furthermore, the driver does not generate any new work for pressure management. In addition, since the pressure check is performed every day from 30 to 40 days, it is possible to cope with fuel consumption reduction due to insufficient air pressure, insufficient air pressure during operation, and puncture trouble.

1 is a schematic arrangement diagram showing a configuration of a tire information acquisition system of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of a central control apparatus. It is a figure which shows a state when the measurement data from a tire is actually read with the measurement data reader (gate reader).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmission / reception apparatus 1a, 3a Antenna 3 Sensor module 4 Wheel 5 Central controller 6 Vehicle 7 Display 8 Tire management apparatus (computer)
9 Measurement data reader (gate reader)
10 Car wash machine

Claims (5)

A sensor module that is attached to a wheel mounted on a vehicle and measures a tire state quantity; and first and second transmission / reception devices provided on both sides of a passage through which the vehicle passes,
When the vehicle passes between the first transmission / reception device and the second transmission / reception device at a low speed, the measurement data of the tire state quantity sent from the sensor module as a wireless signal is transmitted to the first and second The tire information acquisition system characterized by receiving with the transmission / reception apparatus.   It is determined whether or not the tire state quantity received by the first and second transmission / reception devices is within a reference range, and the determination result is displayed on a display device disposed diagonally forward of the vehicle. Item 14. The tire information acquisition system according to Item 1.   The first or second transmission / reception device instructs the sensor module to acquire tire state quantity data when the first and second transmission / reception devices detect approach of a vehicle. 2. The tire information acquisition system according to 2.   The tire information acquisition system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tire state quantity is a tire internal pressure and / or a tire internal temperature.   The tire information acquisition system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle is a vehicle having a substantially constant vehicle width such as a bus or a truck.

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