JP2006250641A - Device and method for determining sensor abnormality - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform a user whether a sensor for measuring the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire is abnormal or not. <P>SOLUTION: A device includes a sensor abnormality determination part 207 for detecting a pressure value corresponding to signals output from at least two sensors 101a, 101b capable of measuring the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire 10, and an output part 209 for outputting a determination result by the sensor abnormality determination part 207. The sensor abnormality determination part 207 determines that all sensors 101a, 101b are not abnormal when the difference of each pressure value does not exceed a threshold, and determines that some sensor 101a, 101b is abnormal when the difference of each pressure value exceeds the threshold. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor abnormality determination device and a sensor abnormality determination method for determining whether or not a sensor capable of measuring an internal pressure of a pneumatic tire is abnormal.

  In recent years, a tire data transmission device provided in a rim to which a pneumatic tire is assembled is used by a sensor capable of measuring a physical quantity of the pneumatic tire with respect to a tire information reception device (for example, ECU) provided in a vehicle. Data corresponding to the output signal (for example, a pressure value of a pneumatic tire) is transmitted by wireless transmission. Then, the tire information receiving device outputs the received data to the display unit.

Thereby, the user can know the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire by looking at the data output by the tire information receiving device. When the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire is equal to or lower than the specified pressure, the user can fill the pneumatic tire with air in response to the fact that the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire is equal to or lower than the specified pressure. Accidents can be prevented.
JP-A-9-104211

  However, despite the fact that the sensor plays an important role in preventing vehicle accidents, the fact is that the sensor is not frequently inspected. Specifically, in order for the user to inspect the sensor, the user must bring the vehicle to a specialty store, etc. I was neglected. For this reason, since the user may adjust the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire with respect to the pressure value of the sensor that is not functioning normally, the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire is very high (or very high) than the specified pressure. (Low), and some accidents may be caused depending on the condition of the pneumatic tire after adjustment.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a sensor abnormality determination device and a sensor abnormality determination method capable of notifying a user whether or not a sensor for measuring the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire is abnormal. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention detects a pressure value detecting unit that detects a pressure value corresponding to signals output by at least two sensors capable of measuring the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire, and a pressure value detecting unit. If the difference between the respective pressure values does not exceed the threshold value, it is determined that all the sensors are not abnormal. If the difference between the respective pressure values exceeds the threshold value, one of the sensors is abnormal. And an output unit that outputs a determination result by the determination unit.

  According to the present invention as described above, when the difference in pressure value corresponding to each sensor does not exceed the threshold value, all the sensors perform substantially the same function, and none of the sensors may be damaged or deteriorated. Therefore, the determination unit determines that each sensor is not abnormal, and the output unit outputs the determination result, so that the user can easily grasp that each sensor is not abnormal. .

  On the other hand, if the difference in pressure value corresponding to each sensor exceeds the threshold value, all the sensors do not perform substantially the same function, and there is a high possibility that one of the sensors is damaged or deteriorated. As a result, the determination unit determines that each sensor is not abnormal, and the output unit outputs the determination result, so that the user can easily grasp that each sensor is abnormal.

  In the above invention, one of the at least two sensors is a sensor serving as a reference with respect to the other sensor, and the determination unit determines that the difference between the pressure values detected by the pressure value detection unit is a threshold value. If it exceeds, it may be determined that the other sensor is abnormal. In this case, when one sensor is a sensor that is harder to break than the other sensor, if the difference between the pressure values detected by the pressure value detection unit exceeds the threshold value, the other sensor Since there is a high possibility that the abnormality is more certain, the determination unit determines that the other sensor is abnormal, and the output unit outputs the determination result, so that the user can select the abnormal sensor. It can be confirmed early.

  In the above invention, the at least two sensors may be provided inside the pneumatic tire. In this case, since each sensor directly measures the pressure value of the pneumatic tire, each sensor can measure the pressure value of the pneumatic tire with high accuracy.

  In the above invention, one sensor may have a wider measurement range of internal pressure than the other sensor. One sensor may have higher measurement accuracy than the other sensor.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a user can be notified whether the sensor which measures the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire is abnormal.

[Embodiment]
(Composition of pneumatic tire and rim wheel)
FIG. 1 is a side view of a pneumatic tire 10 according to the present embodiment and a partially transparent side view of a rim wheel 20. As shown in FIG. 1, a rim wheel 20 to which a pneumatic tire 10 is assembled is provided with a tire data transmission device 100.

  The tire data transmitting apparatus 100 includes sensors 101a and 101b that can measure the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire 10 as will be described later. In this embodiment, pressure sensors are used as the sensors 101a and 101b.

(Configuration of tire data transmission device)
Next, with reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, the structure of the sensor abnormality determination apparatus 200 which receives the data transmitted by the tire data transmission apparatus 100 which concerns on this embodiment, and the tire data transmission apparatus 100 is demonstrated.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating a state of a cross section in the tread width direction of the pneumatic tire 10 and the rim wheel 20 and a relationship between the tire data transmission device 100 and the sensor abnormality determination device 200.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rim wheel 20, specifically, the wheel drop portion of the rim wheel 20 is provided with a tire data transmission device 100. In the present embodiment, the sensors 101a and 101b are connected to the tire data transmission device 100 by wire. Sensors 101a and 101b and tire data transmitting device 100 may be connected wirelessly.

  The sensor abnormality determination device 200 is provided in the vehicle 1 to which the pneumatic tire 10 is attached. The sensor abnormality determination device 200 can be configured as a part of an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of the vehicle 1.

  In the present embodiment, the tire data transmission device 100 converts analog signals output from the sensors 101a and 101b provided in the pneumatic tire 10 into digital data, and uses the wireless communication to convert the digital data to the sensor. It transmits to the abnormality determination apparatus 200.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, tire data transmission device 100 and sensor abnormality determination device 200.
The block configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the tire data transmission device 100 provided in the pneumatic tire 10 includes sensors 101a and 101b, A / D conversion units 103a and 103b, a CPU 105, a memory 107, and wireless communication. A portion 109 and an antenna 111.

  The A / D converters 103a and 103b are connected to the sensors 101a and 101b by wire. The A / D converters 103a and 103b acquire analog signals output from the sensors 101a and 101b, and convert the analog signals into digital data.

  The CPU 105 processes the digital data output from the A / D converters 103a and 103b, and wirelessly communicates the digital data (here, the pressure value of the pneumatic tire 10) to be transmitted to the sensor abnormality determination device 200. Output to the unit 109.

  The memory 107 sequentially stores the digital data converted by the A / D conversion units 103a and 103b. The wireless communication unit 109 modulates the digital data output from the CPU 105 and transmits a predetermined wireless signal to the sensor abnormality determination device 200 via the antenna 111. The antenna 111 is an antenna for transmitting a wireless signal output from the wireless communication unit 109 and is provided inside the housing of the tire data transmitting device 100.

  Next, the sensor abnormality determination device 200 provided in the vehicle 1 includes an antenna 201, a wireless communication unit 203, a data storage unit 205, a sensor abnormality determination unit 207, and an output unit 209.

  The antenna 201 is an antenna for receiving a radio signal transmitted by the tire data transmitting device 100, and is provided in the vicinity of the pneumatic tire 10 in the vehicle 1.

  The wireless communication unit 203 demodulates the radio signal received by the antenna 201 and stores the digital data obtained by the demodulation in the data storage unit 205. The wireless communication unit 203 is provided in the vehicle 1 instead of or in addition to storing the digital data obtained by demodulation in the data storage unit 205. Of course, it is also possible to output to the processing device (computer) constituting the ECU.

  The sensor abnormality determination unit 207 is a pressure value detection unit that detects a pressure value corresponding to signals output from at least two sensors 101a and 101b that can measure the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire 10. Specifically, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 detects each digital data stored in the data storage unit 205 as a pressure value corresponding to the signal output from each sensor 101a, 101b.

  In addition, when the difference between the detected pressure values does not exceed the threshold value, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines that all the sensors 101a and 101b are not abnormal, and the difference between the pressure values corresponds to the threshold value (for example, If it exceeds approximately 0), it is a determination unit that determines that one of the sensors 101a and 101b is abnormal (see FIGS. 5A and 5B described later).

  In the present embodiment, the sensor 101a among the sensors 101a and 101b is less likely to break than the sensor 101b, and is a sensor serving as a reference for the sensor 101b. The sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines that the sensor 101b is abnormal when the difference between the detected pressure values exceeds a threshold value.

  The output unit 209 is an output unit that outputs a determination result by the sensor abnormality determination unit 207. For example, when the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines that the sensors 101a and 101b are abnormal, the output unit 209 outputs a sound effect (for example, a beep) or a special character (for example, “pull air into the tire”). Or a special image (for example, a character image having a specific movement).

(Operation of sensor abnormality determination device)
Next, a sensor abnormality determination method that is an operation of the sensor abnormality determination device 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sensor abnormality determination method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a change in pressure value with respect to the time axis when the sensors 101a and 101b are not abnormal. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a change in pressure value with respect to the time axis when the sensor 101a is not abnormal and the sensor 101b is abnormal.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in S1, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines whether or not the current time point is the specific time point t1. The sensor abnormality determination unit 207 proceeds to the process of S2 when the determination is YES, and repeats the process when the determination is NO. The specific time point t1 is preset in the data storage unit 205 and can be rewritten sequentially.

  In S2, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 detects the pressure values P1 and P3 of the sensor 101a at the specific time point t1 (see FIGS. 5A and 5B).

  In S3, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 detects the pressure values P2 and P4 of the sensor 101b at the specific time point t1 (see FIGS. 5A and 5B).

  In S4, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines whether or not the pressure value of the sensor 101a at the specific time t1−the pressure value of the sensor 101b at the specific time t1 exceeds a threshold value. Specifically, the pressure value P1 of the sensor 101a at the specific time point t1—the pressure value P2 of the sensor 101b at the specific time point t1> the threshold (see FIG. 5A), or the pressure value P3 of the sensor 101a at the specific time point t1. It is determined whether or not the pressure value P4> threshold value (see FIG. 5B) of the sensor 101b at time t1 is established. The sensor abnormality determination unit 207 proceeds to the process of S6 when this determination is YES, and proceeds to the process of S5 when NO.

  In S5, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines that the sensors 101a and 101b are not abnormal, and outputs the determination result to the output unit 209.

  In S6, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines that the sensors 101a and 101b (or only the sensor 101b) are abnormal, and outputs the determination result to the output unit 209.

  In S7, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 updates the specific time point t1, and determines whether or not the sensors 101a and 101b are abnormal in the same procedure as described above.

(Action and effect)
According to the present invention, when the difference between the pressure values corresponding to the sensors 101a and 101b does not exceed the threshold value, all the sensors 101a and 101b perform substantially the same function, and any of the sensors 101a and 101b Since it is highly possible that 101b is not damaged or deteriorated, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines that each of the sensors 101a and 101b is not abnormal, and the output unit 209 outputs the determination result. Can easily grasp that the sensors 101a and 101b are not abnormal.

  On the other hand, when the difference between the pressure values corresponding to the sensors 101a and 101b exceeds the threshold value, all the sensors 101a and 101b do not perform substantially the same function, and either of the sensors 101a and 101b is damaged or Since there is a high possibility that the sensor has deteriorated, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines that each of the sensors 101a and 101b is not abnormal, and the output unit 209 outputs the determination result. , 101b can be easily grasped.

  Further, when the sensor 101a is a sensor that is harder to break than the sensor 101b, if the difference between the pressure values corresponding to the sensors 101a and 101b exceeds a threshold value, the sensor 101b can be more surely abnormal. Therefore, the sensor abnormality determination unit 207 determines that the sensor 101b is abnormal due to this, and the output unit 209 outputs the determination result, so that the user can quickly determine the abnormal sensor. be able to.

  The sensors 101 a and 101 b may be provided inside the pneumatic tire 10. In this case, since the sensors 101a and 101b directly measure the pressure value of the pneumatic tire 10, the sensors 101a and 101b can measure the pressure value of the pneumatic tire 10 with high accuracy.

  In addition, although the sensor abnormality determination apparatus 200 is provided separately from the tire data transmission apparatus 100, it is not limited to this, You may be provided in the inside of the tire data transmission apparatus 100.

  Note that one of the sensors 101a and 101b may have a structure that is less likely to be damaged than the other sensor. For example, one of the sensors 101a and 101b may have a wider internal pressure measurement range than the other sensor.

  In this case, since one sensor has a wider internal pressure measurement range than the other sensor, one sensor is less likely to break than the other sensor. For this reason, when the difference of the pressure value corresponding to each sensor exceeds the threshold value, it is highly possible that the other sensor is damaged. Can be determined to be abnormal. Further, when the output unit 209 outputs the determination result, the user can easily grasp that the other sensor is abnormal.

  In addition, the above-mentioned “non-damaged structure” is not limited to a structure in which one sensor has a wider measurement range of internal pressure than the other sensor, but one sensor is more durable than the other sensor (for example, The structure may be excellent in durability against vibration, water and oil. In this case, the one sensor may have a lower measurement accuracy than the other sensor.

  As mentioned above, although an example of the present invention has been described, it is merely a specific example, and the present invention is not particularly limited, and the specific configuration and the like of each part can be appropriately changed in design. Further, the configuration of the embodiment and the configuration of each modified example can be combined. Further, the actions and effects of the embodiment and each modified example are merely a list of the most preferable actions and effects resulting from the present invention, and the actions and effects according to the present invention are those described in the embodiment and each modified example. It is not limited to.

It is a figure which shows the pneumatic tire and rim wheel in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the state of the tread width direction cross section of the pneumatic tire and rim wheel in this embodiment, and a tire data transmission apparatus and a sensor abnormality determination apparatus. It is a figure which shows the block of the pneumatic tire and sensor abnormality determination apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the sensor abnormality determination method in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the change of the pressure value with respect to the time axis in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 10 ... Tire, 20 ... Rim wheel, 100 ... Tire data transmission apparatus, 101 ... Sensor, 103 ... A / D conversion part, 105 ... CPU, 107 ... Memory, 109 ... Wireless communication part, 111 ... Antenna, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 200 ... Sensor abnormality determination apparatus, 201 ... Antenna, 203 ... Wireless communication part, 205 ... Data storage part, 207 ... Sensor abnormality determination part, 209 ... Output part

Claims (10)

A pressure value detection unit that detects a pressure value corresponding to a signal output by at least two sensors capable of measuring the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire;
When the difference between the pressure values detected by the pressure value detection unit does not exceed the threshold, it is determined that all the sensors are not abnormal, and when the difference between the pressure values exceeds the threshold, A determination unit that determines that any one of the sensors is abnormal;
A sensor abnormality determination device, comprising: an output unit that outputs a determination result by the determination unit. One of the at least two sensors is a sensor serving as a reference for the other sensor,
The said determination part determines that said other sensor is abnormal when the difference of each pressure value detected by the said pressure value detection part exceeds the threshold value. Sensor abnormality determination device.   The sensor abnormality determination device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two sensors are provided inside the pneumatic tire.   The sensor abnormality determination device according to claim 2, wherein the one sensor has a structure that is less likely to be damaged than the other sensor.   The sensor abnormality determination device according to claim 4, wherein the one sensor has a wider internal pressure measurement range than the other sensor. Detecting a pressure value corresponding to signals output by at least two sensors capable of measuring the internal pressure of the pneumatic tire;
If the difference between the detected pressure values does not exceed the threshold value, it is determined that all the sensors are not abnormal. If the difference between the pressure values exceeds the threshold value, one of the sensors is abnormal. Determining that
A sensor abnormality determination method comprising: a step of outputting a determination result. One of the at least two sensors is a sensor serving as a reference for the other sensor,
The sensor abnormality determination method according to claim 6, wherein when the difference between the detected pressure values exceeds a threshold value, the other sensor is determined to be abnormal.   The sensor abnormality determination method according to claim 7, wherein the at least two sensors are provided inside the pneumatic tire.   The sensor abnormality determination method according to claim 7, wherein the one sensor has a structure that is less likely to be damaged than the other sensor. The sensor abnormality determination method according to claim 9, wherein the one sensor has a wider internal pressure measurement range than the other sensor.

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