JP2006273077A - Wheel installing position determining device, wheel position information setting device and wheel information acquisition device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire and set recognition information which a transmission means to transmit wheel information of each of wheels and correspondence related information of an installing position in a vehicle of the wheel on which each of transmitting means is provided concerning a plurality of the wheels installed to the vehicle without requiring complicated work even with the vehicle arranged with a dual wheel constituted as a pair of the wheels are installed in close proximity to each other on one axle. <P>SOLUTION: The respective installing position of each of the wheels on the vehicle is determined by providing a temperature information acquisition means to acquire the temperature information of each of the wheels for each of the wheels of the dual wheel and the transmission means to transmit the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition means of each of the wheels, arranging a receiving means to receive the temperature information transmitted from each of the transmission means and discriminating a difference between the outer wheel and the inner wheel on the dual wheel of each of the wheels having each of the temperature information on the basis of the respective temperature information of each of the wheels. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention determines the mounting position of each wheel constituting a multi-wheel in a vehicle in which a multi-wheel having a pair of wheels mounted close to one axle such as a bus or a truck is provided. Wheel setting position determination device, identification information held by transmission means for transmitting wheel information of each wheel, and wheels for acquiring and setting information on the correspondence of the mounting positions in the vehicle of the wheels provided with each transmission means The present invention relates to a mounting position information setting device and a wheel information acquisition device that acquires wheel information of each wheel separately from the wheel mounting position of each wheel using information on the corresponding positional relationship.

  2. Description of the Related Art Today, it is proposed to install a tire internal pressure alarm system in various vehicles having wheels with tires assembled on a rim so as to constantly monitor the internal pressure of the tire and notify the abnormality of the internal pressure of the tire when necessary.

In the tire internal pressure warning system, for example, a pressure sensor for measuring internal pressure and internal pressure data measured by the pressure sensor are filled into a tire cavity region filled with air surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the tire and the bottom surface of the rim bottom. And a transmitter for wireless transmission.
On the other hand, on the vehicle body side, a receiver for receiving the internal pressure data transmitted wirelessly from the transmitter, and a display for notifying the vehicle operator of the tire condition based on the internal pressure data acquired by the receiver. Means are provided. Whether or not the tire internal pressure is abnormal is constantly monitored by the receiver, and in the case of the abnormality, the display means notifies the vehicle operator that the tire internal pressure is abnormal.

  In such a tire internal pressure warning system, it is important for the vehicle operator to individually grasp the state of each of a plurality of tires mounted on the vehicle. By grasping the status of each of the tires individually, the vehicle operator can quickly replenish the air pressure and replace the tires for each tire in which an abnormality has occurred. Work can be done. In such a tire internal pressure alarm system, the tire mounting position and the measured tire internal pressure are displayed in association with each other on the display means, thereby allowing the vehicle operator to grasp the state of each tire.

  In the conventional tire internal pressure warning system, in order to display the tire mounting position and the measured tire internal pressure in association with each other on the display means, internal pressure data transmitted wirelessly from a transmitter of each tire in advance, and each tire It is necessary to set and register the correspondence relationship with the mounting position in the storage means accessible by the receiver. If this correspondence is set and registered, the receiver can use this correspondence to determine the mounting position of the tire corresponding to the internal pressure data transmitted from each transmitter.

  However, a tire mounted on a vehicle is a so-called tire that changes the mounting position of the wheel every time the vehicle travels or as necessary so that uneven wear of the tire tread portion does not occur and the life of the tire is shortened. Rotation of the wheel including In this case, since the transmitter is provided and fixed in the cavity region of the tire, the wheel is mounted at another mounting position while the transmitter is fixed when the wheel is rotated. For this reason, the correspondence between the identification information of the transmitter and the mounting position of the vehicle changes every time the rotation is performed.

When such tire rotation is performed, the correspondence relationship stored in advance differs from the actual correspondence relationship, and the tire from which the internal pressure data has been acquired cannot be accurately specified. In order to accurately specify the tire from which the internal pressure data has been acquired even after the tire rotation, it is necessary to perform setting registration work for storing the correct correspondence relationship every time the tire rotates. As described above, the setting registration work for registering the mounting positions of the plurality of tires mounted on the vehicle is a very troublesome work, and today, the setting registration for automatically performing such a troublesome setting registration work. Equipment is being considered. Patent Document 1 below discloses an ID registration method for an air pressure sensor and an ID registration system for an air pressure sensor, which are examples of such a setting registration device.
JP 2004-58964 A

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the ID registration system for the air pressure sensor and the ID registration method for the air pressure sensor described in Patent Document 1. The pneumatic sensor ID registration system 100 (system 100) described in Patent Document 1 is a system provided in a vehicle 101 provided with four wheels 102a to 102d, and tire internal pressure information of each wheel 102a to 102d. The sensors 104a to 104d that acquire and transmit the signals, the transmitters 108a to 108d that are provided corresponding to the wheels 102a to 102d, and that are disposed in the vicinity of the wheels 102a to 102d, and the sensors 104a to 104d. Receiving device 110 for acquiring tire internal pressure information and ID information of each sensor. The receiving device 110 includes a storage unit 112 and a setting registration unit 114. The setting registration unit 114 performs setting registration in the storage unit 112 of the receiving device 110 in association with the ID of each sensor and information for specifying the mounting position of each wheel.

  Each of the transmitters 104a to 104d is configured to transmit an ID transmission request signal to be described later only to a limited area (transmission range) around the position where each transmitter is arranged. The receiving device 110 transmits a transmitter operation command to transmit an ID transmission request signal from a specific transmitter among the transmitters 104a to 104d, and is provided on a specific wheel around the position where the specific transmitter is arranged. The ID of the specific sensor transmitted from the specific sensor is received. In the receiver 112, the arrangement positions of the transmitters 104a to 104d in the vehicle 101 are stored in advance. The receiving device 110 sequentially transmits an ID transmission request signal from each of the plurality of transmitters 104a to 104d. In the setting registration unit 114, the arrangement position of the specific transmitter that has transmitted the ID transmission request signal and the specific transmitter. The IDs received in response to the transmitted ID transmission request signals are sequentially associated with each other and stored in the storage unit 112. In this way, in the system 100, the ID of each sensor is associated with the information for specifying the mounting position of each wheel, and set and registered in the storage unit 112 of the receiving device 110.

  In system 100, which is an example of such a conventional setting registration device, only one sensor that receives the ID transmission request signal and transmits an ID in each transmission range of each transmitter to which the ID transmission request signal is transmitted. It needs to exist. When an ID transmission request signal of sufficient strength that can be received by a sensor provided on the rotationally driven wheel is transmitted from a position away from the rotationally driven wheel to some extent, the transmission range of each transmitter (ID of sufficient strength) The range within which the transmission request signal reaches) is an area that extends to some extent including each wheel (see Patent Document 1 and FIG. 3). For this reason, for example, in the case of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels in which a plurality of tires are mounted close to one axle, such as a truck vehicle, corresponding to each of a pair of wheels constituting the compound wheel, Even if the transmitter is arranged in the vicinity, when transmitting the ID transmission request signal from the transmitter arranged corresponding to one of the pair of wheels, from the sensors of both the pair of wheels constituting the double wheel, The ID will be transmitted. In such a case, the receiving device 110 stores two IDs (each of the pair of wheels constituting the double wheel) with respect to the arrangement position of the transmitter (transmitter corresponding to the double wheel) stored in the vehicle 101 in advance. ID) is acquired. In a conventional setting registration device, in the case of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the pair of wheels constituting the two-wheeled wheel is a wheel (inner wheel) arranged on the inner side of each wheel, and which wheel There is a problem that it cannot be determined whether the wheel is a wheel (outer ring) arranged on the outside.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention does not require a cumbersome work, the identification information possessed by the transmission means for transmitting the wheel information of each wheel for a plurality of wheels mounted on the vehicle, The wheel mounting position information setting device that acquires and sets the information on the correspondence of the mounting position in the vehicle of the wheel provided with each transmission means, and the wheel information of each wheel using the information on the corresponding positional relationship It aims at providing the wheel information acquisition device acquired separately according to the wheel mounting position of each wheel.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle in which a plurality of wheels each having a pair of wheels mounted in close proximity to a single axle is provided on each of the pair of wheels. Temperature information acquisition means for acquiring the temperature information of the wheels, transmission means for transmitting the temperature information acquired by the temperature information acquisition means of each wheel, provided on each wheel, and the vehicle body provided with each wheel Based on the temperature information of each of the wheels, the receiving means that is arranged and receives the temperature information transmitted from the transmission means, respectively, and discriminates between the outer ring and the inner ring in the compound wheel of each wheel having each temperature information And determining means for determining the mounting position of each wheel in the vehicle.

  Further, the temperature information used in the determination unit is information on absolute temperature in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of traveling of the vehicle. It is preferable that the wheel having the higher absolute temperature information is determined as the inner ring in the compound wheel, and the wheel having the lower absolute temperature information is determined as the outer wheel in the compound wheel.

Further, the temperature information used in the determination means is information on the magnitude of the temperature increase gradient in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels during the traveling of the vehicle,
The determination means determines that the wheel having the higher gradient magnitude information is the inner ring in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower gradient magnitude information as the outer wheel in the compound wheel. It is preferable to determine that there is.

  The present invention also provides a vehicle in which a plurality of wheels each having a pair of wheels mounted close to one axle are provided, and each transmission means provided on each of the pair of wheels includes at least each wheel. Wheel information including temperature information in the tire cavity region is wirelessly transmitted together with identification information held by each transmission means, while the transmitted wireless signal is a wheel provided on the vehicle body to which the wheel is mounted. Wheel mounting position information for setting and registering in the predetermined storage means correspondence information used for identifying the mounting position of the wheel having the wheel information in the vehicle body when the information receiving means receives the wheel information receiving means. In the vehicle, the setting device is provided near a deployment position of the multi-wheel, and simultaneously receives a radio signal transmitted from each of a pair of wheels constituting the multi-wheel. An antenna whose installation position is known in advance and the radio signal received by the antenna are received in the compound wheel of each wheel having each temperature information based on the temperature information of each wheel included in the radio signal. Setting registration means for discriminating between the outer ring and the inner ring and setting and registering the correspondence between the mounting position of each wheel having each temperature information in the vehicle and the identification information transmitted together with each temperature information in the storage means; A wheel position information setting device is provided.

The temperature information used by the setting registration means is information on the absolute temperature in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of traveling of the vehicle,
The setting registration means determines that the wheel having the higher absolute temperature information is the inner ring in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower absolute temperature information as the outer wheel in the compound wheel. Is preferred.

Further, the temperature information used in the setting registration means is information on the magnitude of the temperature increase gradient in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels during the traveling of the vehicle,
The setting registration means determines that the wheel having the higher gradient magnitude information is the inner wheel in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower gradient magnitude information as the outer wheel in the compound wheel. It is preferable to determine that

  The present invention also provides a wheel information sensor for acquiring wheel information relating to each wheel, including temperature information in at least a tire cavity region of each wheel, provided on each wheel in a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, and each wheel. The transmission means for transmitting the vehicle information on each wheel acquired by each wheel sensor together with the identification information owned by the wireless signal together with the wireless signal, and the vehicle main body provided with each wheel near the mounting position of each wheel Each installed and receiving a radio signal transmitted from the transmitting means, an antenna whose installation position in the vehicle is known in advance, and the radio signal received by the antenna are received, based on the installation position of each antenna, It determines the mounting position in the vehicle of each wheel having each wheel information included in the radio signal received by the antenna, and has each wheel information The setting registration means for setting and registering the correspondence between the mounting position of each wheel in the vehicle and the identification information transmitted together with each wheel information in a predetermined storage means, and the radio signal received by the antenna, Based on the identification information included in the radio signal and the correspondence stored in the storage means, by identifying the mounting position of the wheel having the wheel information included in the radio signal, the wheel information of each wheel is A wheel information acquisition device including wheel information notification means for notifying each wheel mounting position of a wheel, wherein the vehicle is provided with a plurality of wheels in which a pair of wheels are mounted close to one axle. The antenna is installed in the vicinity of the position where each compound wheel is disposed, corresponding to each compound wheel composed of a pair of wheels, and each antenna is The wireless signal transmitted from each of the pair of wheels of the corresponding multi-wheel is received simultaneously, and the setting registration means is configured to transmit the radio signal received by the antenna installed in the vicinity of the position where each of the multi-wheel is installed. Based on the temperature information of each wheel included in the radio signal, determine the distinction between the outer ring and the inner ring in the compound wheel of each wheel having each temperature information, and based on the determination result and the installation position of the antenna, Provided is a wheel information acquisition device that determines a mounting position of each of a pair of wheels having temperature information in the vehicle.

The temperature information used by the setting registration means is information on the absolute temperature in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of traveling of the vehicle,
The determination means determines that the wheel having the higher absolute temperature information is an inner ring in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower absolute temperature information is an outer wheel in the compound wheel. preferable.

Further, the temperature information used in the setting registration means is information on the magnitude of the temperature increase gradient in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels during the traveling of the vehicle,
The setting registration means determines that the wheel having the higher gradient magnitude information is the inner wheel in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower gradient magnitude information as the outer wheel in the compound wheel. It is preferable to determine that

  According to the wheel mounting position determination device, the wheel position information setting device, and the wheel information acquisition device of the present invention, even in a vehicle in which a plurality of wheels in which a pair of wheels are mounted close to one axle is provided, When the wheel mounting position is changed by rotation or the like, the identification information held by the transmission means for transmitting the wheel information of each wheel and the wheels provided with the respective transmission means without performing troublesome association work It is possible to acquire information on the correspondence between the mounting positions in the vehicle. Moreover, it becomes possible to acquire the wheel information of each wheel according to the wheel mounting position of each wheel by using the information on the correspondence.

Hereinafter, a wheel mounting position determination device, a wheel position information setting device, and a wheel information acquisition device according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a tire internal pressure monitoring system (hereinafter referred to as a system) 10 for a truck vehicle, which is an example of a wheel information acquisition apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, wheels 12a to 12j, which are tire and rim assemblies, are mounted at each wheel mounting position of a truck vehicle 14 (vehicle 14). The vehicle 14 is provided with multiple wheels 17s to 17v in which a pair of wheels are mounted close to one axle. The compound wheel 17s is composed of a pair of wheels mounted in parallel in the vicinity of the axle of the vehicle 14, and is mounted on the outer side of the vehicle 14 with respect to one axle as shown in FIG. It consists of a wheel 12c (outer ring) and a wheel 12d (inner ring) mounted relatively inside the vehicle 14. The double wheels 17s to 17v are the same, and the double wheel 17t is composed of a wheel 12e (inner ring) and a wheel 12f (outer ring), and the double wheel 17u is composed of a wheel 12g (inner ring) and a wheel 12h (outer ring). The wheel 17v includes a wheel 12i (inner wheel) and a wheel 12j (outer wheel).

Transmitters (first communication devices) 16a to 16j that wirelessly transmit the measured internal pressure data are installed on the bottom surface of the rim that is the wall surface of each tire of the wheels 12a to 12j. It is fixed. Each transmitter 16a-16j is connected with a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.
Also, a receiver communication unit having an antenna and an amplifier for receiving information transmitted from the transmitters 16a to 16j wirelessly in the vicinity of the tire house at each mounting position in the vehicle body to which the wheels 12a to 12j of the truck vehicle 14 are mounted. 18a, 18b, and 18s to 16v are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver communication units 18a and 18b are provided in the vicinity of the tire house to which the wheels 12a and 12b are respectively attached. The receiver communication units 18s to 18v are respectively provided in the vicinity of the deployment positions of the multi-wheels 17s to 17v each including a pair of wheels (outer ring and inner ring). The receiver communication units 18 a to 18 v are connected to one receiver body unit 20 by wire. Furthermore, the receiver body 20 is connected to a display 22 that displays internal pressure data to the driver of the truck vehicle 14. The transmitters 16a to 16j also have a reception function for receiving a predetermined signal in addition to a transmission function for mainly transmitting internal pressure data and temperature data. In FIG. 1, the receiver communication unit 18s transmits an ID transmission request signal, which will be described later, to both the transmitters 16c and 16d provided on the wheels 12c and 12d constituting the multi-wheel 17s, and transmits them. The signal (ID mentioned later) transmitted from both the devices 16c and 16d is received. In addition, the receiver communication unit 18t transmits an ID transmission request signal described later to both the transmitters 16e and 16f provided on the wheels 12e and 12f constituting the double wheel 17t, and the transmitters 16e and 16f. A signal transmitted from both sides is received. The same applies to the receiver communication unit 18u and the receiver communication unit 18v.

Since the transmitters 16b to 16j have the same configuration as the transmitter 16a, the transmitter 16a will be described as a representative of the transmitters 16a to 16j, and description of the transmitters 16b to 16j will be omitted. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the transmitter 16a.
The transmitter 16a has each circuit provided on the circuit board 24, and is connected to a pressure sensor 26 and a temperature sensor 27 that measure the internal pressure of the tire.
The pressure sensor 26 is a semiconductor pressure sensor or a capacitive pressure sensor that measures gauge pressure, differential pressure, or absolute pressure, and measures the internal pressure of the tire. The temperature sensor 27 is a semiconductor temperature sensor or a resistance element type temperature sensor, and measures the temperature in the cavity region of the tire. The pressure sensor 26 and the temperature sensor 27 are connected to an AD conversion circuit 28 described later.

The circuit board 24 includes an AD conversion circuit (AD) 28, a timer circuit 30, a microprocessor (MP) 32, a memory 34, a transmission circuit 36, a reception circuit 38, a transmission antenna 40, a reception antenna 42, and a power supply for each circuit. A battery 44 is provided.
The AD conversion circuit 28 is connected to the pressure sensor 26 and the temperature sensor 27, and digitally converts the pressure data measured by the pressure sensor 26 and the temperature data measured by the temperature sensor 27 into a signal of, for example, 8 bits. It is.

  When the tire internal pressure is normal (when the internal pressure is within a preset allowable range), the timer circuit 30 measures the tire internal pressure and temperature at regular time intervals, for example, every 15 minutes. For example, it is a part that manages the measurement time interval and the transmission time interval for repeatedly transmitting the internal pressure data and the temperature data from the transmitting antenna 40 to the receiver communication unit 18a every hour interval. The timer circuit 30 receives the ID transmission request (described later) from the transmitter 16a (specifically, the MP32), and receives a setting time interval (for example, 3 minutes) shorter than the predetermined time interval. The internal pressure and temperature of the tire are measured, and the internal pressure data, the temperature data, and an ID described later are repeatedly transmitted from the transmitting antenna 40 toward the receiver communication unit 18a. The transmission at every setting time interval is continued for a predetermined duration (for example, 1 hour). The timer circuit 30 may be configured by a dedicated circuit or may be programmed in the MP32. When the AD converter circuit 28, the MP32, and the transmission circuit 36 are always driven, a large amount of driving power is required. Therefore, when the tire internal pressure is normal, the AD converter circuit 28, the MP32, and the transmission circuit 36 are driven at regular time intervals. The sleep mode is set to pause transmission. Thereby, consumption of the battery 44 is reduced, and the transmitter 16a can monitor the internal pressure of the tire over a long period of time. Of course, when it is determined that the tire internal pressure is out of the preset allowable range and is abnormal, the measurement time interval and the transmission time interval are changed short.

The MP 32 receives the internal pressure data and temperature data supplied after AD conversion in the AD conversion circuit 28, and the identification information (ID) of the transmitter 16a called from the memory 34 and distinguishable from the other transmitters 16b to 16j. ) And the word signal are used to generate a transmission signal to be transmitted to the receiver communication unit 18a and to control and manage the operation of each circuit. The transmission signal generated by the MP32 is a signal generated so that a signal of a predetermined format continues repeatedly. The ID or word signal is a signal in which 0 and 1 having a specific number of bits are continuously arranged according to a predetermined rule. The word signal is a signal in which, for example, a block in which 10 bits of 0 are arranged and then 10 bits of 1 are arranged is repeated 3 blocks.
The memory 34 stores the ID of the transmitter 16a stored in advance, and can store measured internal pressure data and temperature data.

  The transmission circuit 36 includes an oscillation circuit (not shown) that generates a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency, for example, 315 MHz, a modulation circuit (not shown) that generates a high-frequency signal obtained by modulating the carrier wave according to the transmission signal generated by the MP 32, and a high-frequency signal. And an amplifier circuit (not shown) for amplifying. Here, the carrier modulation method is an ASK (Amplitude shift keying) method, an FSK (Frequency shift keying) method, a PSK (Phase shift keying) method, a multi-value PSK method such as QPSK or 8-layer PSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, etc. Any known method such as a multi-value ASK method may be used.

  The receiving circuit 38 is a part that receives an ID transmission request signal, which will be described later, transmitted from the receiver communication unit 18a (in the case of the transmitter 16a) and supplies it to the MP32. The receiving circuit 38 has a full-wave rectifying circuit that demodulates the signal and supplies it to the MP 32. When the ID transmission request signal is supplied to the MP 32, the MP 32 calls the identification information (ID) of the transmitter 16 a that can be identified from the other transmitters 16 b to 16 f from the memory 34, and sends this ID to the transmission circuit 36. To the receiver communication unit 18a.

The antenna 40 is configured to radiate, for example, a 315 MHz radio wave toward the receiver communication unit 18a. The antenna 42 is configured to receive, for example, a 125 kHz radio wave from the setting device. Since the operating frequency, which is the operating condition of the radio waves in the antennas 40 and 42, has a very large difference, the antenna 40 and the antenna 42 have different configurations so that the antenna can transmit and receive efficiently.
As the battery 44, for example, a known battery such as CR-2032 (coin-type manganese dioxide lithium battery) is used.
The above is the configuration of the transmitter 16a.

  As described above, the receiver communication units 18s to 18v transmit IDs to both of the pair of wheels (that is, both the outer ring and the inner ring) that constitute each of the corresponding multi-wheels 17s to 17v. The request signal is transmitted, and the ID transmitted from both of the pair of wheels is received. This is because the pair of wheels constituting each compound wheel is disposed close to one axle. In order to transmit a signal limited to each of a pair of wheels constituting each compound wheel, or to receive a signal transmitted from each of a pair of wheels constituting each compound wheel, for example, a receiver communication unit The communication range of the transmitter and the communication range of the transmitter are narrow, and there is means for providing one receiver communication unit corresponding to each of the pair of wheels constituting the double wheel (that is, the inner ring and the outer ring of each double wheel) Corresponding to each, it is only necessary to provide two receiver communication units for each of the multiple wheels). However, in order to limit the communication range in this way, it is necessary to reduce the output of a signal transmitted from the receiver communication unit or the transmitter, and signal transmission / reception errors frequently occur. In the first place, each wheel provided in the vehicle is driven to rotate at a high speed, and in order to stably transmit and receive signals regardless of the rotation speed and rotation angle of each wheel at the timing of transmitting and receiving signals. The signal transmitted from the receiver communication unit or the transmitter needs to be able to transmit a signal within a sufficient transmission range while maintaining a certain signal strength. Transmitting the ID transmission request signal with sufficient strength from the receiver communication units 18s to 18v to both of the pair of wheels (that is, both the outer ring and the inner ring) constituting each of the multi-wheels 17s to 17v, and Each signal is stably transmitted and received by adopting a configuration for receiving IDs transmitted with sufficient strength from both of the pair of wheels.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating the receiver main body 20 and the receiver communication units 18a, 18b, and 18s to 18u connected to the receiver main body 20.
Since the receiver receivers 18a, 18b, and 18s to 18u all have the same configuration, the receiver communication unit 18j will be described as a representative.
The receiver communication unit 18a generates a high-frequency signal obtained by modulating a carrier wave of a predetermined frequency by the antennas 64 and 65 and the ID transmission request signal supplied from the receiver body unit 20, and amplifies the high-frequency signal to amplify the antenna 64. In addition to being supplied to the antenna 65, a signal received by the antenna 65 is demodulated to obtain internal pressure data, temperature data, and ID, and a transmitter / receiver 62 that supplies these signals to the receiver body 20 is configured. Is done. The antenna 64 radiates radio waves to be transmitted to the transmitter 16a, and the antenna 65 receives radio waves returned from the transmitter 16a.

  The receiver main body 20 associates each ID of the transmitters 16a to 16j with the mounting position information of each wheel 12a to 12j provided with each transmitter, and sets and registers (stores) the result of this association. . Also, the internal pressure data, temperature data and ID supplied from the receiver communication units 18a to 18f are taken out, and the transmitted internal pressure data and temperature data are the internal pressure and temperature of the tire of the wheel mounted at which mounting position. Is acquired from the extracted ID using the pre-set and registered association result, and the internal pressure is monitored using the internal pressure data corrected for the temperature using the tire temperature data for each acquired mounting position information. To do.

  The receiver main unit 20 includes a timer circuit 54, a data processing / control unit 56, a memory 58, and a signal processing circuit 59. The timer circuit 54 is used to drive the data processing / control unit 56 and the signal processing circuit 59 by starting up the receiver main body 20 from the sleep mode to the drive mode at regular time intervals. As the power source, a battery of a truck vehicle 14 (not shown) is used. Alternatively, a battery built in the receiver main body 20 may be used. The memory 58 stores in advance information on the arrangement positions of the receiver communication units 18a, 18b, and 18s to 18v in the vehicle 14.

  The data processing / control unit 56 includes a setting registration unit 46 and an internal pressure monitoring unit 48. The setting registration means 46 receives internal pressure data, temperature data, and ID from each transmitter 16a-16j by controlling each transmission / reception operation | movement of the receiver communication parts 18a, 18b, 18s-18v, and each transmitter 16a The association result is set and registered (stored) in the memory 58 in association with the ID of ˜16j and the mounting position information of the wheels 12a to 12j provided with the transmitters 16a to 16j. The internal pressure monitoring means 48 uses the result of the correspondence registered and set in advance from the taken-out ID as to which mounting position the transmitted internal pressure data and temperature data are the internal pressure and temperature of the tire of the wheel mounted. For each of the acquired mounting position information, the internal pressure is monitored using the internal pressure data that is temperature-corrected using the tire temperature data. The memory 58 sets and registers the association data between the ID set by the setting registration means 46 and the mounting position, and stores and holds the data. The receiver communication units 18a to 18f and the receiver main body 20 are configured as described above. The wheel mounting position determination device, the wheel mounting position information setting device, and the wheel information acquisition device of the present invention are configured by this setting registration means (determination The operation of the determination means, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the contents of communication performed between the setting registration means 46 and the transmitter / receiver communication unit. In the communication performed by the setting registration means 46, the communication with the transmitters 16a and 16b and the receiver communication units 18a and 18b is the same (in the case of a wheel that is not a multi-wheel), and the transmitters 16c to 16j and the receiver Communication with the communication units 18s to 18v is the same (in the case of multiple wheels). In FIG. 4, communication performed between the transmitter 16a and the receiver communication unit 18a, and communication performed between the transmitter 16c, the transmitter 16d, and the receiver communication unit 18s are shown as representatives.

  The setting registration means 46 controls the operations of the receiver communication units 18a, 18b, and 18s to 18v, respectively, and first transmits the IDs one by one from each of the receiver communication units 18a, 18b, and 18s to 18v. Send a request signal. The setting registration unit 46 is connected to, for example, the control system of the vehicle 14 and can detect the start of the engine of the vehicle 14. Transmission of these ID transmission request signals is started upon the start of the engine of the vehicle 14. When the ID registration request signal is transmitted from each receiver communication unit, the setting registration unit 46 stores the position of each receiver communication unit stored in the memory 58 in advance in the vehicle 14 that transmits the ID transmission request signal. Recall information. Then, an ID returned in response to the transmitted ID transmission request signal is received, information on the arrangement position of each receiver communication unit 18a, 18b, 18s-18v is associated with the returned ID, and the memory 58 Register settings to.

  Specifically, first, an ID transmission request is transmitted from the receiver communication unit 18a. Then, as described above, under the control of the measurement / transmission time interval by the timer circuit 30, the ID of the transmitter 14a, the tire internal pressure information and the tire temperature information of the wheel 12a are transmitted from the transmitter 14a provided on the wheel 12a. Is sent. The setting registration means 46 registers the information of the arrangement position of the receiver communication unit 18a (in the illustrated example, for example, information indicating that it is the left front wheel unit) and this ID in the memory 58 in association with each other. When the setting registration work for the receiver communication unit 18a is completed, the setting registration work is similarly performed for the receiver communication unit 18b.

  Next, setting registration work is performed for the receiver communication unit 18s. When an ID transmission request is transmitted from the receiver communication unit 18s provided corresponding to the compound wheel 17s, as described above, the transmitter 14c provided on the wheel 12c and the transmitter 14d provided on the wheel 12d, respectively. From, the ID of each transmitter is transmitted. That is, two IDs of the transmitter 14c and the transmitter 14d are obtained corresponding to the ID transmission request signal transmitted from the receiver communication unit 18s. The setting registration means 46 is information on the arrangement position of the receiver communication unit 18s that is called from the memory 58 when transmitting the ID transmission request from the receiver communication unit 18s (in the illustrated example, for example, the left rear front wheel unit). Information) and the two IDs of the transmitter 14c and the transmitter 14d are registered in the memory 58 in association with each other. When the setting registration work for the receiver communication unit 18s is completed, the setting registration work is sequentially performed for the receiver communication units 18t to 18v.

  When the setting registration work for the correspondence relationship between the information on the arrangement positions of the receiver communication units 18a, 18b, and 18s to 18v and the returned IDs is completed, the setting registration unit 46 continues the multi-wheel 17s. The detailed mounting positions of the wheels 12c to 12j constituting each of .about.17v are determined. And while driving | running | working of the vehicle 10, based on the tire temperature information of each wheel 12c-12j provided with each transmitter 14c-14j transmitted from each transmitter 14c-14j, each wheel 12c-12j, The memory 58 stores the correspondence between the IDs of the transmitters 14c to 14j and the determined detailed mounting positions.

  If the multi-wheel 17s is described, at the stage where the above-described setting registration work is completed, information on the arrangement position of the receiver communication unit 18s (in the illustrated example, for example, information indicating that it is the left rear front wheel unit) The two IDs of the transmitter 14c and the transmitter 14d are associated with each other and registered in the memory 58. The setting registration means 46 is continuously transmitted from the transmitters 14c and 14d of these multiple wheels 17s at the set time interval (3 minutes) under the control of the measurement / transmission time interval by the timer circuit 30. The ID of each of the transmitters 14c and 14d and the tire temperature information of each of the wheels 12c and 12d transmitted together with each ID are received. The transmission of the ID transmission request signal is started upon the start of the engine of the vehicle 14, and the setting registration means 46, together with the ID of each transmitter 14c and 14d, each wheel 12c and 12d while the vehicle 14 is traveling. Each tire temperature information will be received.

  The setting registration means 46 sequentially receives the tire temperature information of each of the wheels 12c and 12d transmitted at the set time interval described above, and the gradient of the temperature rise of each tire temperature information (that is, the amount of temperature rise per predetermined time). Are calculated respectively. It is known that the temperature of a tire mounted on a vehicle increases with traveling. The tire temperature of each of the wheels 12c and 12d constituting the double wheel 17s also increases with traveling. It is known that the gradient of this temperature rise varies depending on the load applied to each wheel mounted on the vehicle, and this load varies depending on the mounting position of each wheel on the vehicle. In a compound wheel, an inner ring mounted on the inner side of the vehicle main body of one axle has a larger load than the outer ring mounted on the outer side of the vehicle main body, and the tire temperature rises. It is known that the gradient also increases. According to the present inventor, in a general truck vehicle, in one compound wheel, the inner wheel has a larger temperature gradient than the outer wheel, and a temperature difference of about 20 ° C. occurs after traveling for one hour. Has been confirmed.

  The setting registration means 46 sequentially receives the tire temperature information of each of the wheels 12c and 12d transmitted at the set time interval described above, and the temperature rise gradient of each tire temperature information during traveling (that is, the temperature per predetermined time). Calculate the amount of increase). Then, it is determined that the transmitter that has transmitted the temperature information on the side where the gradient of the calculated temperature rise is large is a transmitter (transmitter 16d in the illustrated example) provided in the inner ring of the double wheel 17s. Corresponding ID that is sent together with temperature information on the side where the temperature rise gradient is large and information on the mounting position on the inner ring side in the multi-wheel 17s (in the case of the example, for example, information indicating the left rear front inner ring part) Subsequently, the setting is registered in the memory 58. Similarly, it is determined that the transmitter that has transmitted the temperature information on the side where the gradient of the calculated temperature rise is small is a transmitter (in the illustrated example, the transmitter 16c) provided on the outer ring of the double wheel 17s. Corresponding ID that is sent together with temperature information on the side where the temperature rise gradient is large and information on the mounting position on the inner ring side in the multi-wheel 17s (in the example shown, information indicating that it is the left rear front outer ring part, for example) Subsequently, the setting is registered in the memory 58. Such setting registration work is similarly performed for the multi-wheels 17t to 17v. In the setting registration means 46, the IDs of the transmitters 14c to 14j provided to the wheels 12c to 12j constituting the respective multi-wheels 17s to 17v and the details of the wheels provided with the transmitters are thus described. The correspondence with the mounting position information is stored in the memory 58.

  In the present invention, as described above, the present invention is not limited to discriminating between the outer ring and the inner ring of each tire in each compound wheel based on the gradient of the temperature rise of each running tire. For example, the distinction between the outer ring and the inner ring of each tire may be determined based on the absolute temperature of each tire constituting the compound wheel when the vehicle 14 travels for a certain time. That is, when the vehicle 14 travels for a certain time, the tire having the higher absolute temperature may be determined as the inner wheel in each compound wheel. However, when the vehicle is stopped and the vehicle is receiving sunlight on the side of the vehicle, the outer ring of the multiple wheels deployed on the side receiving the sunlight is more than the inner wheel. You will receive sunlight (the inner ring receives almost no sunlight). In such a case, the temperature of the outer wheel becomes higher than that of the inner wheel when the vehicle starts to travel. If such a temperature difference is large at the start of traveling, the temperature of the outer ring may remain higher than that of the inner ring even after traveling for a certain period of time. In order to discriminate between the outer ring and the inner ring in the double wheel with higher accuracy, it is preferable to make a determination based on an increase in the temperature rise gradient of each wheel constituting the double wheel.

  In addition, when the tire internal pressure is greatly reduced, the increasing gradient of the tire temperature during traveling is larger than that when the tire internal pressure is normal. As described above, the setting registration means 46 compares the tire internal pressure information received together with the tire temperature information with a reference value registered in advance. The transmitted ID is not associated with detailed position information. That is, for the dual wheel corresponding to the transmitter that has transmitted the tire internal pressure information whose tire internal pressure is equal to or less than the reference value, another determination of the inner ring and the outer ring is not performed. A double wheel is pointed out (the correspondence relationship between the positions of the double wheel is set and registered), and it is displayed that the detailed mounting position cannot be determined.

  Thus, the setting registration means 46 receives internal pressure data, temperature data, and ID from each transmitter 16a-16j by controlling each transmission / reception operation | movement of the receiver communication parts 18a, 18b, and 18s-18v, The IDs of the transmitters 16a to 16j are associated with the mounting position information of the wheels 12a to 12j provided with the transmitters 16a to 16j, and the result of this association is set and registered (stored) in the memory 58.

  The internal pressure monitoring unit 48 refers to the association result stored and held in the memory 58, which is set and registered in the receiver main body 20 in this way, and the internal pressure data and temperature data are obtained from the transmitted ID. It is possible to know the tire internal pressure data and temperature data at which wheel. In the internal pressure monitoring means 48, the internal pressure data, temperature data, and ID supplied from the receiver communication units 18a, 18b, 18s-18t are taken out, and the transmitted internal pressure data and temperature data of the wheel mounted at which mounting position is mounted. Whether it is the internal pressure and temperature of the tire is acquired from the extracted ID using the association result preset and registered, and temperature correction is performed using tire temperature data for each acquired mounting position information The internal pressure is monitored using the internal pressure data. For example, by comparing the temperature-corrected internal pressure data of the tire of the right front wheel with a predetermined set value, for example, the determination is made by distinguishing into three levels of internal pressure states of “normal”, “caution”, and “warning”, for example. . The determination result is supplied to the display 22 connected to the receiver body 20. Further, the display 22 displays the value of the internal pressure data whose temperature has been corrected for each vehicle mounting position. Here, the display 22 displays the numerical value of the internal pressure and the state of the determined internal pressure (“normal”, “caution”, “warning”) on the instrument panel of the truck vehicle 14.

  According to the present invention, even in a vehicle such as a truck or a bus where a pair of wheels are mounted close to each other on a single axle, the wheel mounting position is changed by wheel rotation or the like. In addition, the ID of the transmission means for transmitting the wheel information of each wheel and the information on the correspondence between the mounting positions of the wheels provided with the respective transmission means in the vehicle without performing the troublesome association work. Can do. Moreover, it becomes possible to acquire the wheel information of each wheel according to the wheel mounting position of each wheel by using the information on the corresponding positional relationship. According to the present invention, work efficiency and production efficiency during the manufacturing process and wheel rotation are increased.

  In the above embodiment, a 10-wheel truck vehicle is taken as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a vehicle in which a plurality of wheels each having a pair of wheels mounted close to one axle are provided. Moreover, in the said Example, although the tire internal pressure and temperature were used as wheel information, in this invention, wheel information will not be restrict | limited especially if the state of a wheel is measured with a sensor.

  As described above, the wheel information acquisition device and the wheel mounting position information setting device of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, changes may be made.

  As described above in detail, in the present invention, the receiver is caused to associate the ID with the wheel mounting position information using the wheel mounting position information setting device completely independent of the transmitter and the receiver. Therefore, it is possible to surely know from which wheel the wheel information related to the wheel transmitted from the transmitter and received by the receiver is transmitted, and since it does not have a contact like a magnetic operation switch, it is durable. An excellent system can be constructed.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the internal pressure information acquisition apparatus which is one Example of the wheel information acquisition apparatus of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram explaining the transmitter in the internal pressure information acquisition apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram explaining the receiver main-body part of the internal pressure information acquisition apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the receiver communication part connected to the receiver main-body part. It is a figure explaining the communication content performed between the setting registration means of the internal pressure information acquisition apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and a transmitter and a receiver communication part. It is the schematic explaining the ID registration system of the pneumatic sensor which is an example of the conventional wheel position information setting apparatus, and the ID registration method of a pneumatic sensor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Tire internal pressure monitoring system 12a-12j Wheel 14 Vehicle 16a-16j Transmitter 17s-17v Multi-wheel 18a, 18b, 18s-16v Receiver communication part 24 Circuit board 26 Pressure sensor 27 Temperature sensor 28 AD conversion circuit 30 Timer circuit 32 Micro Processor (MP)
34 Memory 36 Transmitting Circuit 38 Receiving Circuit 40 Transmitting Antenna 42 Receiving Antenna 44 Battery 46 Setting Registration Means 54 Timer Circuit 56 Data Processing / Control Unit 58 Memory 59 Signal Processing Circuit 62 Transmitter / Receiver 64, 65 Antenna 100 ID Registration System 101 Vehicle 102a to 102d wheels 104a to 104d sensors 108a to 108d transmitter 110 receiving device storage means 114 setting registration means

Claims (9)

In a vehicle in which a plurality of wheels each having a pair of wheels mounted close to one axle are deployed,
Temperature information acquisition means for acquiring temperature information of each wheel provided to each of the pair of wheels of the compound wheel;
Transmitting means for transmitting the temperature information obtained by the temperature information obtaining means for each wheel provided to each wheel;
Receiving means arranged on the vehicle body provided with each wheel, each receiving temperature information transmitted from the transmitting means;
Determining means for discriminating between the outer ring and the inner ring in the compound wheel of each wheel having each temperature information based on the temperature information of each wheel, and determining the mounting position of each wheel in the vehicle; A wheel mounting position determination device characterized by the above. The temperature information used by the determination means is information on absolute temperature in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of traveling of the vehicle,
The determination means determines that the wheel having the higher absolute temperature information is an inner ring in the compound wheel, and determines that the wheel having the lower absolute temperature information is an outer wheel in the compound wheel. The wheel mounting position determination device according to claim 1, wherein The temperature information used in the determination means is information on the magnitude of the temperature increase gradient in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels during traveling of the vehicle,
The determination means determines that the wheel having the higher gradient magnitude information is the inner ring in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower gradient magnitude information as the outer wheel in the compound wheel. The wheel mounting position determination device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that there is a wheel. In a vehicle in which a plurality of wheels each having a pair of wheels mounted close to one axle are deployed,
While transmitting each wheel means including temperature information at least in the tire cavity region of each wheel together with the identification information held by each transmitting means from each transmitting means provided to each of the pair of wheels of the compound wheel, When the transmitted wireless signal is received by the wheel information receiving means provided in the vehicle main body to which the wheel is mounted, the wheel information receiving means identifies the mounting position of the wheel having the wheel information in the vehicle main body. A wheel mounting position information setting device for setting and registering information on correspondence relationship used in a predetermined storage means,
An antenna having a known installation position in the vehicle, which is provided in the vicinity of a deployment position of the double wheel, and simultaneously receives radio signals transmitted from a pair of wheels constituting the double wheel;
Receiving the radio signal received by the antenna, based on the temperature information of each wheel included in the radio signal, discriminate between the outer ring and the inner ring in the compound wheel of each wheel having each temperature information, Wheel position information setting, comprising: setting registration means for setting and registering a correspondence relationship between the mounting position of each wheel having information in the vehicle and the identification information transmitted together with each temperature information. apparatus. The temperature information used in the setting registration means is information on the absolute temperature in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of traveling of the vehicle,
The setting registration means determines that the wheel having the higher absolute temperature information is the inner ring in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower absolute temperature information as the outer wheel in the compound wheel. The wheel position information setting device according to claim 4. The temperature information used in the setting registration means is information on the magnitude of the temperature increase gradient in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels during the traveling of the vehicle,
The setting registration means determines that the wheel having the higher gradient magnitude information is the inner wheel in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower gradient magnitude information as the outer wheel in the compound wheel. The wheel position information setting device according to claim 4, wherein the wheel position information setting device is determined. In vehicles with multiple wheels,
A wheel information sensor provided on each wheel for acquiring wheel information about each wheel, including at least temperature information in a tire cavity region of each wheel;
Transmitting means that is provided on each wheel and transmits by radio signal together with identification information that it owns wheel information about each wheel acquired by each wheel sensor;
An antenna that is installed in the vicinity of the mounting position of each wheel of the vehicle body provided with each wheel and receives a radio signal transmitted from the transmitting means, and the installation position in the vehicle is known in advance.
Receiving the radio signal received by the antenna, and determining the mounting position in the vehicle of each wheel having each wheel information included in the radio signal received by each antenna based on the installation position of each antenna, and each wheel information Setting registration means for setting and registering the corresponding relationship between the mounting position of each wheel having the wheel and the identification information transmitted together with each wheel information;
The wireless signal received by the antenna is received, and the mounting position of the wheel having the wheel information included in the wireless signal is identified based on the identification information included in the wireless signal and the correspondence stored in the storage means. Wheel information acquisition device comprising wheel information notification means for notifying the wheel information of each wheel separately for each wheel mounting position of each wheel,
The vehicle is a vehicle in which a plurality of wheels formed by mounting a pair of wheels in close proximity to one axle is provided.
Each of the antennas is installed in the vicinity of the deployment position of each of the multi-wheels corresponding to each of the multi-wheels each composed of a pair of wheels, and each antenna is a pair of wheels of the corresponding multi-wheels, respectively. That simultaneously receive radio signals transmitted from
The setting registration means, for each radio wheel received by an antenna installed near the deployment position of each multi-wheel, based on the temperature information of each wheel included in this radio signal, each wheel having each temperature information A wheel characterized by discriminating between the outer ring and the inner ring of the compound wheel, and determining a mounting position of the pair of wheels having temperature information on the vehicle based on the determination result and the installation position of the antenna. Information acquisition device. The temperature information used in the setting registration means is information on the absolute temperature in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of traveling of the vehicle,
The determination means determines that the wheel having the higher absolute temperature information is an inner ring in the compound wheel, and determines that the wheel having the lower absolute temperature information is an outer wheel in the compound wheel. 8. The wheel information acquisition device according to claim 7, wherein The temperature information used in the setting registration means is information on the magnitude of the temperature increase gradient in the tire cavity region of each of the pair of wheels during the traveling of the vehicle,
The setting registration means determines that the wheel having the higher gradient magnitude information is the inner wheel in the compound wheel, and determines the wheel having the lower gradient magnitude information as the outer wheel in the compound wheel. The wheel information acquisition device according to claim 7, wherein the wheel information acquisition device is determined to be.

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