JP2005022602A - Tire information system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly detect a drop in air pressure in a tire mounted in a vehicle by an air pressure detection device for a tire or the like by integrally controlling the information of tire characteristics of the tire. <P>SOLUTION: This tire information system for the vehicle comprises a tire air pressure detection means 2; an information communication means 3 for receiving and delivering the information of the tire characteristics; and an integrated-information control means 4 which transmits the information of the tire air pressure to a driver, detects a tire air pressure drop by the tire air pressure detection means, and controls the delivery and receiving of the information of the tire by the information communication means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle tire information system.

  In a running vehicle, the tire is a component that is in direct contact with the road surface. Therefore, information on the tire air pressure and internal temperature, or the lateral force acting on the tire, braking / driving torque, etc. This is important information. Therefore, in recent years, a technique for monitoring the state of a tire and utilizing information on the detected state of the tire for vehicle travel control or the like has been developed. For example, a system has been proposed that alerts the driver of a decrease in tire air pressure when a tire pressure sensor is attached to the tire and a decrease in tire air pressure is detected (see Patent Document 1). There is also known a device that detects a decrease in the air pressure of any of the tires mounted on the four wheels based on the rotational speed detected for each wheel and warns the driver of the decrease in the tire air pressure. (See Patent Document 2).

  In the apparatus for detecting a decrease in tire air pressure based on the rotational speed of each wheel, information relating to the rotational speed of each wheel detected by the wheel speed sensors mounted on the four wheels may be directly received or Receives information on the rotational speed of each wheel detected by a traveling control device such as ABS (anti-lock braking system), TCS (traction control system), etc., and tires based on the rotational speed of each wheel Air pressure drop is detected. This tire air pressure detection device performs a predetermined calculation from the rotational speed of the wheel, detects a tire whose air pressure has decreased from the calculation result (see Patent Document 3), and also calculates the dynamic load radius of the tire from the rotational speed of the wheel. Is detected to detect a tire whose air pressure has decreased (see Patent Document 4).

  In this apparatus for detecting a decrease in tire air pressure, a threshold value that is a determination index for a decrease in tire air pressure is set in accordance with the tire characteristics of the mounted tire. This threshold value varies depending on the brand of the tire mounted on the vehicle, the filling air pressure, the tire size (tire width, flatness ratio, rim diameter), the load index, the load index, and the like. Therefore, when a new tire is replaced, it is necessary to reset a threshold value that serves as an index for determining a decrease in tire air pressure based on the tire characteristics of the replaced new tire.

  However, now that new tire brands are on the market one after another, it is necessary to obtain new information on the tire characteristics of the new tire by some method and newly input the information on the tire characteristics to the tire pressure detecting device. . In addition, when tire rotation is performed or when air pressure is adjusted, it may be necessary to reset the tire mounting position and threshold value.

  Therefore, conventionally, when the tire characteristics of the tires mounted on the vehicle such as tire replacement, tire rotation, and tire pressure adjustment are different, it is necessary to perform initial setting for newly setting a threshold value. was there. Therefore, for example, an initial setting switch for instructing an initial setting to an instrument panel or the like is provided, and the initial setting is started when the driver turns on this switch at the time of tire replacement or the like. If this initial setting is neglected, the threshold value is not set appropriately, which may cause an erroneous determination of a decrease in tire air pressure, or may cause a problem in driving control due to an erroneous determination of decrease in tire air pressure.

  However, in the past, no system has been proposed to manage information related to tire characteristics of tires in an integrated manner in order to accurately determine the decrease in air pressure in a tire air pressure detection device.

JP 2003-72330 A (Claim 1, Claim 4 etc.) Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-6829 (first page, second column, lines 15 to 27, etc.) JP-A-6-92114 (paragraph numbers 0048 to 0053) JP 7-47821 A (Claim 1 etc.)

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to manage information related to tire characteristics of tires mounted on a vehicle in an integrated manner and accurately detect a decrease in tire air pressure using a tire air pressure detection device or the like. It is an object to provide a vehicle tire information system capable of achieving the above.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, tire pressure detecting means for detecting a decrease in air pressure of a tire mounted on a wheel provided in the vehicle, and communication between the inside and outside of the vehicle exchange information related to the tire characteristics. Information on the tire pressure detected by the information communication means and the tire pressure detection means is transmitted to the driver, the tire pressure detection means detects a decrease in tire pressure, and the information on the tire information by the information communication means. A vehicle tire information system including an integrated information management means for managing delivery is configured as an invention.

  In the present invention, "information on tire characteristics" includes tire brand, filling air pressure, size (tire width, flatness, structure symbol, rim diameter, load index (load index), speed symbol, for example, In the case of radial tires, 205 / 50R15 70V, etc.) and the like, for example, a tire radius at a specified air pressure, or a threshold value that is a determination index of a decrease in air pressure such as tire structure, material, dynamic load radius, etc. This is information used for calculation.

  In this tire information system, the information on the tire characteristics is obtained and managed by the integrated information management means, the information on the tire characteristics is transmitted to the tire pressure detection means as necessary, and the information on the tire is transmitted to the tire pressure detection means. Can be used to detect a decrease in tire air pressure. Further, the decrease in tire air pressure detected by the tire air pressure detecting means is transmitted to the driver by the integrated information managing means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a tire mounted on each wheel is replaced or a change occurs in the tire pressure, such as during tire replacement, tire rotation, or tire pressure adjustment. The integrated information management means automatically obtains and manages information on tire characteristics and information on tire air pressure, and automatically sets a threshold value as an index for determining tire pressure drop in TPMS. be able to. Therefore, TPMS can accurately detect a decrease in tire air pressure. Further, the integrated information management means can appropriately transmit the information related to the decrease in tire air pressure acquired from the TPMS to the driver for the convenience of the driver.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle tire information system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The tire information system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitering System) 2 that detects a decrease in the air pressure of each tire mounted on a wheel, equipment inside and outside the vehicle, or a facility outside the vehicle. A communication device (information communication means) 3 that communicates with each other and an integrated information management means 4.

  In this tire information system 1, the TPMS 2 is transmitted from the vehicle speed sensor mounted on the four wheels W of the vehicle to the traveling control means 5 (see FIG. 1) provided in the in-vehicle ECU, as shown in FIG. In addition, a detection signal relating to the rotational speed of each wheel is received via the integrated information management means 4, and a tire whose air pressure has decreased is detected based on the rotational speed of each wheel. The traveling control means 5 is, for example, an ABS (anti-lock brake system), a VSA (vehicle stability assist), a TCS (traction control system), a lane keeping system, or the like.

  Further, the TPMS 2 detects the presence or absence of a decrease in tire air pressure either spontaneously or in response to a command signal from the integrated information management means 4, and transmits a detection signal relating to the detected tire air pressure decrease to the integrated information management means 4. Configured to do. For example, the TPMS 2 periodically detects a decrease in tire air pressure, and when detecting a decrease in the air pressure of any of the four wheels, sends a detection signal related to the decrease in air pressure to the integrated information management means 4. In addition, it is configured such that the presence or absence of a decrease in tire air pressure can be detected by a command from the integrated information management means 4 and the detection result can be transmitted to the integrated information management means 4. When transmitting these signals, identification information (for example, ID number) for each tire is transmitted at the same time so that the integrated information management means 4 can identify to which tire the transmitted signal relates. Configured. In addition, if TPMS 2 is turned on / off in response to a command signal from the general information management means 4, the TPMS 2 is started and information relating to the required tire pressure is acquired and used appropriately. Because it can be desirable.

  The communication device (information communication means) 3 is a device that communicates with devices inside and outside the vehicle and facilities outside the vehicle via the antenna 6. As the equipment inside and outside the vehicle with which the communication device 3 communicates with each other, a mobile phone owned by the driver, an information transmission device (VICS: Vehicle Information and Communication System, ITS (IntelIigence Transport Systems)) installed on the road, Alternatively, a vehicle-mounted device or the like is included.

  Further, the facilities outside the vehicle with which the communication device 3 communicates with each other include a vehicle dealer 3b, a service center such as JAF, a service center 3a such as a private loader-owned facility for tire replacement, and an INT-NET ( Internet) 3c and the like. The information transmitted from the communication device 3 to the service center 3a and the dealer 3b includes, for example, tire characteristic information of a tire that the vehicle is wearing or is newly attached. Moreover, the communication apparatus 3 can download required tire characteristic information from the website on INT-NET 3c according to a driver | operator's request | requirement.

  The integrated information management means 4 includes a display device (monitor) 9 (see FIG. 4) that transmits information related to a decrease in tire air pressure detected by the TPMS 2 to the driver, and the tire obtained via the communication device 3. Obtain or manage information on characteristics.

That is, the integrated information management means 4 obtains and manages the following information regarding the tire.
(1) Integrated information on tire characteristics when tires are replaced on tires, or when tire pressure changes, such as during tire replacement, tire rotation, or tire pressure adjustment The database stored in the management means 4 is searched and automatically transmitted to the TPMS 2 to enable the TPMS 2 to set a threshold value as a determination index for tire pressure drop. Or the integrated information management means 4 itself determines the threshold value used as the determination criterion of the tire pressure drop from the tire characteristics, and transmits the threshold value to the TPMS 2.
(2) When the information on the tire characteristics of the newly installed tire is not in the database held by the integrated information management means 4, information on the tire characteristics of the tire is obtained via the communication device 3, and the information Is transmitted to TPMS2. Or the integrated information management means 4 itself determines the threshold value used as the judgment reference | standard of the tire pressure fall from the information regarding the acquired tire characteristic, and transmits the threshold value to TPMS2.
(3) Command TPMS 2 to obtain information on the presence or absence of a decrease in tire air pressure.
(4) From the traveling control means 5 (see FIG. 1) (for example, ABS (anti-lock braking system), VSA (vehicle stability assist), TCS (traction control system), lane keeping system, etc.) Obtain information about the rotational speed of each wheel and send that information to the TPMS.
(5) Stop the operation of the TPMS 2 when it is not suitable for the tire pressure drop detection by the TPMS 2. For example, when the vehicle is turning, traveling on a slope, traveling on rough terrain, suddenly accelerating or decelerating, or when other devices are operating, This is the case when the vehicle is traveling at a low speed below the speed.
(6) When a spare tire is attached instead of a punctured tire, the dynamic load radius of the wheel on which the spare tire is attached becomes small, which may cause an erroneous determination of a decrease in tire air pressure. To stop.

  Next, the integrated management of tire information in the tire information system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this tire information system 1, as shown in FIG. 3, detection signals relating to the rotational speeds and the like of the four wheels mounted on the vehicle C are transmitted from the vehicle speed sensors S 1, S 2, S 3, S 4 mounted on each wheel. Is transmitted to the traveling control means 5 mounted on the vehicle. Then, the integrated information management means 4 receives detection signals regarding the rotational speeds of the four wheels from the travel control means 5 and transmits the detection signals to the TPMS 2. The TPMS 2 detects a decrease in tire air pressure based on a detection signal related to the rotational speeds of the four wheels. Detection of a decrease in tire air pressure by the TPMS 2 is performed based on a threshold value set from tire characteristic information of a tire mounted on the vehicle. Note that a detection signal related to the rotational speed of the wheel may be transmitted directly from the traveling control means 5 to the TPMS 2. Alternatively, the TPMS 2 may be incorporated in the traveling control means 5.

  At this time, the integrated information management means 4 displays the information related to the decrease in tire air pressure detected by the TPMS 2 on the monitor 9 disposed on the center console on the left side of the handle 8 operated by the driver, as shown in FIG. Display and obtain or manage information on tire characteristics. Furthermore, the control performance can be improved by transmitting information related to the decrease in tire air pressure to the travel control means 5.

The management of tire information by the integrated information management means 4 is performed as follows.
For example, tires (punctures, bursts, breaks) or tires that are attached to each wheel, such as when the tires are replaced with new tires due to wear, driver preference, etc., or during tire rotation or tire pressure adjustment. When a change or a change in tire air pressure occurs, a driver or an operator who has changed a tire (hereinafter referred to as “driver or the like”) has a setting switch (next to the monitor 9) When the button (not shown) is pressed, the integrated information management means 4 displays a tire initial setting screen on the monitor 9.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5A, a screen for inputting which of tire replacement, tire rotation, or tire pressure adjustment is performed is displayed. Here, when the tire is changed, the switch “1” in the input switch group 10 (see FIG. 4) installed beside the monitor 9 is pushed by the driver or the like.

  When the switch “1” is pressed, the integrated information management means 4 displays on the monitor 9 a screen for selecting the manufacturer (manufacturing company) name of the newly installed tire, as shown in FIG. At this time, for example, if the manufacturer of the newly replaced tire is the company A, the driver or the like performs an operation of pressing the switch “1” to select “1. Company A”. When the operation of selecting the A company such as the driver is performed, the integrated information management means 4 searches the tire brand from the accumulated data on the tires of the A company, and as shown in FIG. A list of brand names is displayed on the screen of the monitor 9.

  Next, when a driver or the like operates a switch in the input switch group 10 to select a brand name of a tire that has been newly replaced, the integrated information management unit 6 selects a tire that is commercially available with the selected brand. A size is retrieved from the data, and a screen for selecting a list of tire sizes is displayed on the monitor 9 as shown in FIG. At this time, for example, when the size of the newly replaced tire is 205 / 50R15 70V, the driver or the like operates the switch “1” in the input switch group 10 to display “1. The operation of selecting “205 / 50R15 70V” is performed. Thereby, the integrated information management means 4 can recognize the tire width, flatness ratio, tire structure, rim diameter, load index (load index), and speed symbol of a newly mounted tire.

  As described above, when selection / input regarding the brand and size of the replaced tire is performed by the driver or the like, the integrated information management unit 4 creates a database held by the integrated information management unit 4 itself based on the information. By searching, it is possible to obtain information relating to the tire characteristics of the tire newly installed in the vehicle.

  In addition, since the newly installed tire is newly sold, if the information on the tire characteristics of the tire is not yet held in the database of the integrated information management means 4, the integrated information management means 4 The information about the tire characteristics of the corresponding tire is acquired by communication with the Internet, other external organizations, dealers, etc. via the communication device 3 by itself or a driver, etc., and input to the integrated information management means 4 It may be. In this case, the integrated information management means 4 displays on the screen of the monitor 9 in the order of FIG. 5 (a), FIG. 5 (b), FIG. 5 (c), FIG. After the manufacturer's name, brand name, and size are recognized by selection / input by the driver, the integrated information management means 4 communicates with the Internet, other external organizations, dealers, etc. Information on the tire characteristics of the tire to be used can be acquired.

Next, the integrated information management means 4 transmits information related to the tire characteristics to the TPMS 2. And TPMS2 which received the information regarding a tire characteristic sets the threshold value used as the determination parameter | index of a tire air pressure fall. The threshold value used as a determination index of the tire pressure drop is, for example, the tire radius at the time of no load determined by the tire width, the flatness ratio, the rim diameter, the specified value of the air pressure, the load applied to the tire, the tire structure, It is set by the dynamic load radius determined by the material and the like. Generally, the dynamic load radius of a tire is constant below a speed indicated by a road index (for example, 240 km / h when the road index is “V”), but if the tire air pressure decreases, the dynamic load radius is constant. The radius decreases. Then, the rotational speed of the wheel on which the tire with the reduced dynamic load radius is mounted increases. Therefore, as described above, a threshold value can be set for the rotational speed of the tire based on the information on the tire characteristics, and when the rotational speed of each wheel increases beyond the threshold value, It can be determined that the air pressure has dropped.
Further, the integrated information management means 4 may set the threshold value based on the tire characteristics of the newly installed tire and transmit information related to the threshold value to the TPMS 2.

  In addition, when the tire pressure is adjusted after a tire rotation, or after repairing a tire failure, instead of attaching a new tire, there is no change in the tire characteristics of the tire. Therefore, the driver “2” or “3” in the input switch group 10 is pressed by the driver or the like who has read the screen displayed as shown in FIG. In this case, since there is no change with respect to the tire characteristics, the integrated information management means 4 commands to detect a decrease in tire air pressure using a threshold value before performing tire rotation or the like as a determination index, or before that. Can be instructed to set the threshold value to TPMS2 by transmitting information on the tire characteristics of the tire.

  Here, in the screen display of the monitor 9 and the input operation by the driver or the like, sound may be added as necessary. Further, the monitor 9 may be configured by a touch panel, and a driver or the like may perform a predetermined input by pressing a corresponding portion on the screen of the monitor 9 with a finger.

  Further, as described above, when information on the tire characteristics of a new tire is acquired, the data on the tire held by the integrated information management means 4 can be updated and enriched. Furthermore, when a vehicle inspection or periodic inspection of a vehicle is performed at a service facility such as a dealer or repair shop, the data held by the integrated information management means 4 can be updated to the latest data held by the service facility. This is desirable because the data held by the integrated information management means 4 can be kept up-to-date. At this time, the data update may be performed via the communication device 3, or the integrated information management means 4 is provided with a data input terminal or the like so that the data can be input from the input terminal or the like. Good. It is also desirable to be able to update data at gas stations, tire stores, and the like.

  The TPMS 2 receives detection signals related to the rotational speeds of the four wheels detected by the travel control means 5 from the integrated information management means 4 or directly receives detection signals related to the rotational speeds of the wheels from the travel control means 5, The tire pressure drop is detected based on the set threshold value. When the TPMS 2 detects a decrease in tire air pressure, the TPMS 2 transmits information related to the decrease in tire air pressure to the integrated information management means 4. As shown in FIG. 6, the integrated information management unit 4 that has received the information related to the decrease in tire air pressure displays an image warning the decrease in tire air pressure on the monitor 9. Thus, the information can be smoothly transmitted to the driver. For example, when the TPMS 2 detects that the air pressure of the left front wheel out of the four tires is lower than a preset threshold value and the air pressure drop is detected, “1. Message is displayed, and a warning sound can be issued to alert the driver. At this time, on the screen of the monitor 9, the schematic diagram 11 of the vehicle may be displayed at the bottom, and the tire with the decreased air pressure (the tire 12 on the left front wheel in FIG. 6) may be flashed or displayed in a different color. .

In the above-described embodiment, after tire replacement, tire rotation, or adjustment of tire pressure, information related to tire characteristics and information are input to the integrated information management means 4 by inputting information related to the brand, size, etc. of the tire. The threshold value can be automatically set in the TPMS 2 or the integrated information management unit 4 based on the above, but the TPMS 2 may perform the initial setting as necessary. For example, when traveling for the first time after exchanging tires, the integrated information management means 4 sets a threshold value (initialization learning) that is used as an index for determining the decrease in air pressure by TPMS. As shown in (a), a message notifying the driver that the tire is to be initially set is displayed on the screen of the monitor 9, and the vehicle is driven for a predetermined time while maintaining a predetermined traveling speed for the initialization learning. Displays a message instructing Then, after the driver travels according to this message and the initialization learning is completed, a message notifying that the initialization learning is completed is displayed on the screen of the monitor 9 as shown in FIG. 7B. To do.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment showed the example which used TPMS2 provided with the mechanism which detects the tire air pressure fall by the rotational speed of the wheel which driving | running | working control means 5, such as ABS, detects as a tire air pressure detection means, this invention Is not limited to this mechanism, and can be applied to a tire information system using TPMS (hereinafter referred to as “TPMS-D”) having another mechanism. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the TPMS-D includes a pneumatic sensor mounted on a tire or a wheel and a mechanism for detecting a decrease in tire pneumatic pressure by an air pressure directly detected by the pneumatic sensor.

  In the tire information system using the TPMS-D, a detection signal related to the air pressure for each tire is transmitted to the TPMS-D independently of the air pressure sensor directly mounted on the tire or the wheel. The TPMS-D detects the air pressure of each tire and a decrease in the air pressure based on the detection signal, and transmits a signal related to the decrease in the tire air pressure to the integrated information management unit 4. At this time, for example, when the tire rotation is performed, if the integrated information management means 4 allows the driver or the like to input the position where each tire is mounted by the tire rotation, it is mounted on the tire. It is possible to automatically specify the position of the measured air pressure sensor. For example, if the change pattern of the tire mounting position of the tire rotation is displayed on the monitor 9 and selected / input by the driver or the like, the tire mounting position can be automatically specified. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to reduce the cost by omitting the auto-relocation function required for this type of TPMS-D to detect where each tire is mounted.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the tire information system of the vehicle in embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram explaining transmission / reception of the information regarding the detection signal of the rotational speed of the wheel in TPMS and vehicle-mounted ECU. It is a block diagram explaining the tire information system of vehicles by TPMS and integrated information management means. It is a figure which shows the example of a monitor. (A), (b), (c), and (d) are the figures which show order for the screen for selecting and inputting the manufacturer name, brand name, and size of the newly mounted tire. It is a figure which shows the image which warns of the pneumatic pressure fall of a tire. (A) is a schematic diagram of a screen displaying a message notifying the driver that the initial setting of the tire is to be performed, and (b) is a diagram of a screen displaying a message notifying that the initial setting has been completed. It is.

Explanation of symbols

1 Tire Information System 2 TPMS (Tire Pressure Detection Means)
3 Communication device (information communication means)
4 Integrated information management means 5 Travel control means 6 Antenna 8 Handle 9 Monitor

Claims (1)

Tire pressure detecting means for detecting a decrease in the pressure of a tire mounted on a wheel of the vehicle; and
Information communication means for communicating with the inside and outside of the vehicle to exchange information on the tire characteristics;
Integration for transmitting information related to tire air pressure detected by the tire air pressure detecting means to the driver, detecting a decrease in tire air pressure by the tire air pressure detecting means, and managing delivery of information related to the tire by the information communication means A vehicle tire information system comprising an information management means.

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