JP2008074223A - Wheel information transmitter, wheel information processor and wheel attachment position presumption method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of easily specifying the relative position of wheels attached to a vehicle body. <P>SOLUTION: A TPMS valve 20 capable of sending wheel information related to the wheel is provided with an air pressure sensor 21 for detecting wheel information; a control circuit 23 for storing discrimination information for discriminating one's own wheel from the other wheel; and a wheel side communication unit 22 for sending the discrimination information of one's own wheel with the wheel information and receiving the discrimination information of the other wheel transmitted from the other TPMS valve 20. The control circuit 23 compares the magnitude of a signal including the received discrimination information of the other wheel with a predetermined threshold and calculates position information indicating whether or not the one's own wheel is one of a double-tire. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for processing wheel information related to a wheel, and more particularly to a technique for easily performing individual recognition of a wheel mounted on a vehicle body.

  If the vehicle is run for a long time with the tire at a low pressure or a high temperature, the reliability of the tire may be impaired. Therefore, a technique for appropriately monitoring the air pressure, temperature and other conditions of the tire is desired. In order to know the state of each tire, a technique is known in which a sensor and a transmitter are provided in each tire, and information such as air pressure detected by the sensor is transmitted to a receiver on the vehicle body side by the transmitter.

  An ID code, which is identification information for each tire, is allocated to the transmitter provided in each tire in advance. Therefore, by correctly associating the ID code of each tire and the position of the tire at the time of vehicle shipment, the tire that has transmitted information on the vehicle body side based on the ID code is the left front wheel, the right front wheel, and the left rear wheel. It can be specified whether the wheel is a right rear wheel.

  However, if the user, for example, a driver or the like rotates the tire after the vehicle is sold, the correspondence between the ID code and the position of the tire is broken. As a result, it becomes impossible to determine from which tire the information sent from the tire transmitter is, and management of each tire becomes impossible.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 uses the fact that the voltage pattern induced in the receiving antenna on the vehicle body side by the radio wave transmitted from the transmitter differs according to the mounting position of the tire on the vehicle body. There is disclosed a tire condition monitoring device that can specify which tire is attached to which position of a vehicle body even if the position is changed.
JP 2003-175711 A

  As described above, the method for identifying individual tires and identifying the position where the tire is mounted on the vehicle body is to deal with a failure of the tire, rotation of the tire or purchase of the tire. Considering registration of the ID code and the mounting position at the time of replacement, a simpler and more accurate technique is required. Some trucks, freight vehicles, and the like having more wheels than a normal four-wheeled vehicle include a so-called double tire in which a plurality of tires are provided in parallel.

  However, in the tire condition monitoring device described in Patent Document 1, the relative position of each tire with respect to the receiving antenna can be specified, but the relative position of a plurality of tires such as a double tire cannot be specified. In addition, since the individual tires of the double tire are arranged close to each other, even if a failure occurs in any of the tires of the double tire, it is determined whether the tire in which the failure occurred is a tire of the double tire. It is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can easily specify the relative positions of wheels mounted on a vehicle body.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a wheel information transmission device according to an aspect of the present invention is a wheel information transmission device capable of transmitting wheel information related to a wheel, and includes a detection unit that detects the wheel information, A storage unit that stores identification information for identifying a wheel from another wheel, a wheel-side transmission unit that transmits identification information of its own wheel together with the wheel information, and another wheel transmitted by another wheel information transmission device A wheel-side receiving unit that receives the identification information of the vehicle, and a wheel-side computing unit that calculates position information indicating the relative position between the own wheel and the other wheel based on the intensity of the signal including the received identification information of the other wheel. With. The wheel side transmitter transmits the identification information of the other wheel and the position information together with the identification information of the own wheel at a predetermined timing.

  Here, the wheel information related to the wheels includes, for example, information that affects the running of the vehicle and the durability of the wheels, such as tire air pressure and temperature. Further, the wheel information transmitting device may be able to transmit the detected wheel information together with the identification information of the own wheel periodically or at a predetermined timing. Further, the wheel side transmitter and the wheel side receiver may be separate devices or may be integrated communication devices.

  According to this aspect, when the wheel-side receiving unit receives a signal including the identification information of the other wheel transmitted by the other wheel information transmitting device, the wheel-side calculation unit determines that the wheel and the other wheel are based on the strength of the signal. Position information indicating a relative position with the wheel is calculated. The intensity of a signal when a signal transmitted from another wheel information transmission device reaches a certain wheel information transmission device changes according to the distance between the certain wheel information transmission device and the other wheel information transmission device. Therefore, for example, when the intensity of the signal when transmitting from the wheel information transmitting apparatus is defined in advance, the wheel side calculation unit calculates the relative position between the own wheel and the other wheel based on the intensity of the received signal. be able to. Therefore, if the mounting position of at least one of the plurality of wheels on the vehicle body is specified, the mounting positions of the other wheels are also indirectly specified. In addition, when signals are transmitted / received between the antenna provided on the vehicle body side and the wheels using radio waves, the transmitted / received signal exists, for example, between the antenna provided on the vehicle body side and the tire. It was easy to be affected by the position and quantity of passengers and luggage. However, according to this aspect, the position information is calculated by transmitting and receiving signals between the wheels using radio waves, so that the transmitted and received signals are occupants existing between the antenna provided on the vehicle body side and the tire. The position information calculated based on the transmitted / received signal is highly resistant to the influence of the position and quantity of the baggage.

  Another aspect of the present invention is also a wheel information transmitting device. This device is a wheel information transmitting device capable of transmitting wheel information related to a wheel, and includes a detection unit for detecting the wheel information, and a memory for storing identification information for identifying the own wheel from other wheels. A wheel side transmission unit that transmits the identification information of the own wheel together with the wheel information, a wheel side reception unit that receives the identification information of other wheels transmitted by another wheel information transmission device, and the other received A wheel side calculation unit that compares the intensity of the signal including the wheel identification information with a predetermined threshold and calculates position information indicating whether or not the own wheel is one of the double tires. The said wheel side transmission part transmits the said positional information with the identification information of the said own wheel in predetermined timing, when the own wheel is one side of a double tire.

  According to this aspect, when the wheel-side receiving unit receives a signal including the identification information of the other wheel transmitted by the other wheel information transmitting device, the wheel-side calculation unit determines that the wheel and the other wheel are based on the strength of the signal. Position information indicating a relative position with the wheel is calculated. The intensity of a signal when a signal transmitted from another wheel information transmission device reaches a certain wheel information transmission device changes according to the distance between the certain wheel information transmission device and the other wheel information transmission device. In particular, in the case of a vehicle having a so-called double tire provided with a plurality of tires in parallel, a wheel information device provided on one wheel constituting the double tire is provided on the other wheel. When the signal transmitted from the information transmitting apparatus is received, the signal strength becomes the largest. Therefore, the wheel side calculation unit compares the intensity of the received signal with a predetermined threshold, and if the signal intensity is greater than the predetermined intensity, the wheel side calculation unit confirms that its own wheel is mounted at a position that is one of the double tires. The position information shown is calculated.

  The wheel side transmission unit may transmit identification information of the other wheel together with the position information. Accordingly, it can be determined that the wheel corresponding to the identification information of the own wheel and the wheel corresponding to the identification information of the other wheel constitute a set of double tires.

  The detection unit outputs an air pressure detection signal corresponding to a tire air pressure as the wheel information, and outputs an acceleration detection signal corresponding to an acceleration generated with the rotation of the wheel as the wheel information. You may have the acceleration sensor provided in the wheel so that the code | symbol of the said acceleration detection signal may change with rotation directions. The wheel-side transmission unit may transmit the acceleration detection signal together with the identification information of the own wheel.

  According to this aspect, since the acceleration sensor is provided on the wheel such that the sign of the acceleration detection signal differs depending on the rotation direction of the wheel, the acceleration sensor is normally provided on a pair of wheels mounted on the left and right ends of the same rotation shaft. The signs of the acceleration detection signals output from the existing acceleration sensors are opposite to each other. That is, for example, when the acceleration detection signal output from the wheel mounted on the left side of the vehicle is positive, the acceleration detection signal output from the wheel when the same wheel is mounted on the right side of the vehicle is negative. Therefore, the wheel information transmitting apparatus having such an acceleration sensor has a different rotation direction depending on the mounting position of the wheel provided with the wheel information transmitting apparatus, and the sign of the output acceleration detection signal is also different. Therefore, the wheel mounting position is estimated by determining the sign of the output acceleration detection signal.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a wheel information processing apparatus that processes wheel information related to a wheel. The device includes a vehicle body side receiving unit that receives the identification information of the own wheel and the position information transmitted from the wheel information transmission device, and the wheel based on the received identification information of the own wheel and the position information. A vehicle body side calculation unit that estimates a mounting position of the wheel on which the information transmission device is provided on the vehicle body.

  According to this aspect, the wheel information processing apparatus receives the signal including the position information and the identification information of the own wheel, and attaches the wheel corresponding to the identification information of the own wheel to the vehicle body based on the information. The position can be estimated. Further, when a double tire is mounted on the vehicle, the wheel information processing apparatus receives a signal including position information as one of the above-described double tires and identification information of the own wheel, and based on the information, The wheel mounting position corresponding to the wheel identification information can be estimated.

  The vehicle body side receiving unit receives the identification information of the other wheel together with the identification information of the own wheel and the position information, and the vehicle body side calculating unit receives the received identification information of the own wheel and the position information. And the mounting position to the vehicle body of the wheel provided with the wheel information transmitting device is estimated based on the identification information of the other wheel.

  According to this aspect, if the mounting position of the wheel corresponding to the identification information of the own wheel is estimated, the mounting position of the wheel corresponding to the identification information of the other wheel is also estimated at the same time. become. Therefore, the wheel information processing apparatus can estimate the mounting positions of the plurality of wheels on the vehicle body by receiving the signal once in the vehicle body side receiving unit, and efficiently associates the mounting positions of the plurality of wheels with the identification information. You can register well.

  The vehicle body side receiving unit receives an acceleration detection signal which is output according to the acceleration generated with the rotation of the wheel as the wheel information and the sign which is output depending on the rotation direction of the wheel, as well as the identification information of the own wheel. And the said vehicle body side calculating part estimates the mounting position to the vehicle body of the wheel in which the said wheel information transmission apparatus is provided based on the identification information of the self-wheel, and the code | symbol of the said acceleration detection signal.

  According to this aspect, the wheel information processing device receives the signal including the acceleration detection signal together with the identification information of the own wheel transmitted from the wheel information transmission device, and corresponds to the identification information of the own wheel based on the information. It is possible to estimate the mounting position of the wheel on the vehicle body.

  You may further provide the wheel speed sensor which outputs the wheel speed detection signal according to the rotational speed of each wheel with which the vehicle body was mounted | worn. The vehicle body side calculation unit attaches the wheel on which the wheel information transmission device is provided to the vehicle body based on the sign and intensity of the acceleration detection signal and the wheel speed detection signal when the acceleration detection signal is detected. Estimate the position.

  According to this aspect, for example, the steering direction of the vehicle can be determined from the wheel speed detection signal corresponding to the rotational speed of each wheel. More specifically, when the steering direction of the vehicle is changed from the straight traveling direction of the vehicle, the difference in turning radius between the left front wheel and the right front wheel as the steering wheels, or between the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel. Because of this, a difference occurs in the rotational speed, so that the steering direction of the vehicle can be determined by comparing the wheel speed of the left rear wheel and the wheel speed of the right rear wheel. Further, when a difference occurs in the rotation speed of each wheel, a difference also occurs in the acceleration in each wheel. For example, when the vehicle is steered to the right, the intensity of the acceleration detection signal of the wheel mounted on the left side of the vehicle body has an absolute value that is greater than the intensity of the acceleration detection signal of the wheel mounted on the right side of the vehicle body. growing.

  Therefore, the mounting position where each wheel is mounted can be estimated from the acceleration of each wheel when the vehicle is steered in a predetermined direction. In particular, when the rear wheel is a double tire, a wheel having the same rotation direction may be attached to each of the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel, so that the wheel information transmission device is based on the strength of the acceleration detection signal as well as the sign thereof. It is possible to estimate the mounting positions of the wheels constituting the double tire provided with the vehicle body.

  The vehicle body side calculation unit may estimate the mounting position of the wheel on which the wheel information transmission device is provided on the vehicle body based on the identification information of the own wheel and the strength of a signal including the position information. For example, when there are two or more rear wheel axles equipped with double tires, since the arrangement and rotation direction of a plurality of wheels attached to each rear wheel axle are the same, the estimation of the wheel mounting position can be performed only with the acceleration detection signal and position information. It becomes difficult. Therefore, when the vehicle body side receiving unit is arranged at a position where the distance between each rear wheel shaft and the vehicle body side receiving unit is different, the identification information and the position of the own wheel transmitted from the wheel information transmitting device included in each wheel The reception intensity of the signal including information also changes. Therefore, the vehicle body side calculation unit can estimate the mounting position of the wheel provided with the wheel information transmitting device on the vehicle body based on the strength of the signal including the identification information and the position information of the own wheel.

  Yet another aspect of the present invention is a wheel mounting position estimation method. This method is a wheel mounting position estimation method for estimating a mounting position of a wheel on a vehicle body provided with a wheel information transmission device capable of transmitting wheel information related to the wheel, and the wheel information transmission device is configured to transmit other wheel information. Position information indicating the relative position between the own wheel and the other wheel based on the reception step of receiving the identification information of the other wheel transmitted from the transmission device and the intensity of the signal including the received identification information of the other wheel A calculation step for calculating the wheel information, a transmission step for transmitting the position information together with the identification information of the own wheel, and the wheel information transmitting device provided on the basis of the identification information of the own wheel and the position information. An estimation step of estimating a mounting position on the vehicle body.

  According to this aspect, when the signal including the identification information of the other wheel transmitted by the other wheel information transmitting device is received, the position information indicating the relative position between the own wheel and the other wheel is obtained based on the strength of the signal. calculate. Then, the position information calculated together with the identification information of the own wheel is transmitted, and the mounting position of the wheel provided with the wheel information transmission device on the vehicle body is estimated based on the identification information and the position information of the own wheel. be able to.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily specify the relative positions of wheels mounted on a vehicle body.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a vehicle including a wheel information transmission device and a wheel information processing device according to the first embodiment. The vehicle 10 shown in the figure includes four wheels 14FR, 14FL, 14RR, and 14RL provided on the vehicle body 12 (hereinafter, the wheels 14FR to 14RL are collectively referred to as “wheels 14” as appropriate). A steering device (not shown) for steering the wheels 14FR and 14FL, which are steering wheels, and a travel drive source (not shown) for driving the driving wheels of these wheels 14 are provided. Each wheel 14 includes a wheel and a tire.

  Each of the above-described wheels 14 functions as a tire pressure adjusting valve and as a tire pressure monitoring system (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) for monitoring the tire pressure, TPMS valves 20FR, 20FL, 20RR, 20RL (hereinafter referred to as “tire pressure monitoring system”). As appropriate, the TPMS valves 20FR to 20RL are collectively referred to as “TPMS valve 20”).

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the wheel 14 provided with the TPMS valve 20. The TPMS valve 20 is attached to a mounting hole 40b provided in the wheel rim 40a of the wheel 40 via a grommet, a washer, a bolt, and the like made of elastic rubber. The valve cap 20a of the TPMS valve 20 protrudes to the outside of the wheel rim 40a. If the valve cap 20a is removed and a hose of an air supply device is connected to a valve port (not shown), air is supplied to the internal space of the tire 18. Supply becomes possible. Each TPMS valve 20 has a housing 20b.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a TPMS valve included in the vehicle of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, an air pressure sensor 21, a wheel side communicator 22, a control circuit 23, and a battery 24 are accommodated in the housing 20 b of the TPMS valve 20. Thereby, the TPMS valve 20 functions as a wheel information transmission device that acquires tire pressure as wheel information related to the wheel and can periodically transmit the acquired wheel information.

  The air pressure sensor 21 is, for example, a semiconductor sensor, detects air pressure in the tire internal space, and outputs an air pressure detection signal corresponding to the air pressure. The wheel-side communicator 22 can periodically wirelessly transmit a signal indicating the detection value of the air pressure sensor 21 at a predetermined cycle (for example, every 1 minute). The control circuit 23 is mounted on an IC chip or the like, and controls the air pressure sensor 21 and the wheel side communication device 22. The battery 24 supplies power to the air pressure sensor 21, the wheel side communication device 22, and the control circuit 23. The TPMS valve 20 may further include a temperature sensor that detects the air temperature in the tire interior space, a longitudinal acceleration sensor, a lateral G sensor, a ground pressure sensor, and the like.

  Further, the vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment has identification information for identifying its own wheel from other wheels with respect to the storage unit of the wheel side communication device 22 included in the TPMS valve 20 of each wheel 14. A unique ID code is assigned. In the present embodiment, for example, an ID code = 1 is assigned to the wheel side communication device 22 of the TPMS valve 20FR attached to the right front wheel 14FR, and the wheel side of the TPMS valve 20FL attached to the left front wheel 14FL is provided. ID code = 2 is assigned to the communicator 22, and ID code = 3 is assigned to the wheel side communicator 22 of the TPMS valve 20RR attached to the right rear wheel 14RR, and the TPMS valve is attached to the left rear wheel 14RL. The ID code = 4 is assigned to the 20 RL wheel side communication device 22.

  The signal periodically transmitted from each wheel-side communication device 22 includes an ID code indicating the transmission-side wheel-side communication device 22 along with the detection value by the air pressure sensor 21. That is, each wheel side communicator 22 periodically transmits a signal including information detected by the air pressure sensor 21 and its own ID code as information. The periodic transmission of the signal of the wheel side communicator 22 is started from the stage when the TPMS valve 20 is mounted on the wheel 14 configured by mounting the tire on the wheel and shipped from the factory as an assembly. Yes.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the vehicle body 12 of the vehicle 10 has an electronic control unit as processing means for executing various controls using information transmitted from the wheel side communication device 22 of the TPMS valve 20. (Hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) 30 is mounted. The ECU 30 includes a CPU that executes various arithmetic processes, a ROM that stores various control programs, a RAM that is used as a work area for data storage and program execution, an input / output interface, a storage device, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the ECU 30 is connected to a vehicle body side communication device 25, a sensor group 26, and an alarm device 27.

  The vehicle body side communication device 25 performs signal transmission / reception with the wheel side communication device 22 included in the TPMS valve 20 of each wheel 14, and receives a signal wirelessly transmitted from the wheel side communication device 22. It gives to ECU30. The sensor group 26 includes, for example, a wheel speed sensor (not shown) that is provided for each wheel 14 and detects the speed of the corresponding wheel 14. The warning device 27 issues a warning to the driver under a predetermined condition under the control of the ECU 30, and includes, for example, a warning display device provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle 10.

  The wheel information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is mainly configured by the vehicle body side communication device 25, the ECU 30, and the like, and processes wheel information related to the wheels transmitted from the TPMS valve 20. While the vehicle 10 is traveling, the air pressure of the wheel 14 is detected by the air pressure sensor 21 of each TPMS valve 20, and a signal indicating the detected value of the air pressure sensor 21 and its own ID code is sent from each wheel side communication device 22 to the vehicle body. Periodically transmitted to the side communication device 25. When the vehicle body side communication device 25 receives a signal from the wheel side communication device 22, the ECU 30 stores (registers) the ID included in the signal received by the vehicle body side communication device 25 in the storage device. When the ID matches one of the IDs, a predetermined process using the received signal is executed.

  Therefore, in order for the wheel information processing apparatus to function, it is necessary to register the ID code of the wheel side communication device 22 of each TPMS valve 20 in the ECU 30. In addition to the registration of the ID code, it is also required to register the position information on which position of the vehicle body 12 the wheel 14 provided with the wheel side communication device 22 storing the ID code is mounted. Yes. Such registration is preferably performed with a simple configuration. Therefore, in the present embodiment, before registering the ID code in the wheel information processing apparatus, the relative position between the wheels 14 is estimated by communication between the TPMS valves 20 functioning as a wheel information transmitting apparatus.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for registering information on the relative position between wheels provided with each TPMS valve of FIG. 1 in each TPMS valve.

  In the vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment, the information on the relative position between the wheels 14 provided with each TPMS valve 20 is registered in each TPMS valve 20. This is executed on the production line of the vehicle 10 after being mounted, or when the wheels 14 are exchanged or rotated by inspection or maintenance. In this case, when the power of each TPMS valve 20 is not turned on, first, the power of each TPMS valve 20 is turned on by a signal from an external device or manually.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the TPMS valve 20 is set to the relative position specifying mode (S10). Although the relative position specifying mode is executed by each TPMS valve 20, the TPMS valve 20RR provided in the right rear wheel 14RR will be described below for convenience. When a signal including another ID code transmitted by another TPMS valve 20 is received by the wheel side communication device 22 provided in the TPMS valve 20RR (Yes in S12), the intensity Is of the signal is calculated by the wheel side calculation of the control circuit 23. (S14).

  The control circuit 23 calculates position information indicating a relative position between the wheel 14 provided with the TPMS valve 20 that has transmitted the signal and its own wheel 14RR, according to the intensity of the received signal. In the present embodiment, the threshold value Th1 is set based on the strength of the received signal when transmission / reception is performed between coaxial left and right wheels, which are closest to each other in a normal four-wheel vehicle. When the intensity Is of the signal received by the TPMS valve 20RR is larger than the threshold Th1 (Yes in S16), the ID code included in the received signal is stored in the wheel side communicator 22 or the storage unit provided in the control circuit 23. . In the present embodiment, when the signal transmitted from the TPMS valve 20RL is received by the TPMS valve 20RR, the signal strength Is is greater than the threshold value Th1, so that 4 is stored as the ID code (S18).

  In addition, the intensity of a signal when a signal transmitted from another TPMS valve 20 reaches a certain TPMS valve 20 changes according to the distance between the certain TPMS valve 20 and the other TPMS valve 20. Therefore, for example, when the intensity of a signal when transmitting from each TPMS valve 20 is specified in advance, the control circuit 23 calculates the relative position between its own wheel and another wheel based on the intensity of the received signal. Can do.

  Specifically, the TPMS valve 20RR is mounted on the opposite side of the vehicle body 12 coaxially with the TPMS valve 20RR as position information indicating the relative position with the TPMS valve 20RL in the control circuit 23. Is calculated, and the relative position code is stored together with the ID code of the TPMS valve 20RL (S20). Thereafter, the relative position specifying mode is terminated (S22).

  On the other hand, when no signal is received (No in S12), it is determined whether or not the state continues for a predetermined time (S24). If no signal is received but a predetermined time has not elapsed since the relative position specifying mode was started (No in S24), the process returns to S12. When a proper signal is not received in the relative position specifying mode and a predetermined time has elapsed (Yes in S24), there is a possibility that the TPMS valve 20RR itself or another TPMS valve 20 has some trouble, so that other TPMS The operator and the user are notified that the ID code or relative position code of the valve 20 is not registered, for example, via the alarm device 27 (S26), and the relative position specifying mode is terminated (S22).

  Note that the TPMS valve 20RR does not always receive only the signal transmitted by the nearest TPMS valve 20RL. For example, there is a possibility of receiving signals from the TPMS valve 20FR and the TPMS valve 20FL that are located away from the TPMS valve 20RL with respect to the TPMS valve 20RR, as well as signals from TPMS valves mounted on other vehicles. Therefore, when the intensity Is of the received signal is equal to or smaller than the threshold Th1 (No in S16), the ID code included in the signal is not stored, and the process returns to S12.

  Then, the wheel side communicator 22 of the TPMS valve 20RR transmits the ID code and the relative position code of the other wheel stored in the relative position specifying mode together with the ID code of the own wheel at a predetermined timing. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of transmission data transmitted from the wheel side communication device 22 of the TPMS valve 20RR. The transmission data includes a synchronization pattern, its own ID code, another ID code, a relative position code, and the like. In some cases, the pressure data of the wheel 14RR can be included. Then, the wheel information processing apparatus that has received the transmission data, if the mounting position of at least one wheel among the plurality of wheels having the ID code included in the transmission data is specified, the mounting position of other wheels Can also be specified indirectly. Thereby, the wheel information processing apparatus can estimate the ID data of a plurality of wheels and the position where the wheels are mounted only by receiving one transmission data.

  In the present embodiment, only the position information of the relative position between a certain wheel and the wheel mounted at the closest position is stored in the TPMS valve of the wheel, but a plurality of threshold values are set in the control circuit. Thus, position information of relative positions of a certain wheel and a plurality of other wheels may be calculated.

  For example, when the threshold Th2 is set on the basis of the strength of the received signal when transmission / reception is performed between the front and rear wheels mounted on the same side of the vehicle body, which is the second closest relative position in a normal four-wheel vehicle, When the intensity Is of the signal received by the TPMS valve 20RR is greater than the threshold Th2 and equal to or less than Th1, the following processing is performed. The TPMS valve 20RR is position information indicating a relative position with respect to the TPMS valve 20FR in the control circuit 23. The TPMS valve 20FR is mounted on the same side of the vehicle body 12 and in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 12 with respect to the TPMS valve 20RR. The relative position code shown, for example 3, may be calculated, and the relative position code may be stored together with the ID code of the TPMS valve 20FR.

  In addition, the threshold Th3 is set based on the strength of the received signal when transmission / reception is performed between wheels mounted on the opposite side of the vehicle body that are not coaxial and are located at the farthest relative positions in a normal four-wheel vehicle. If the intensity Is of the signal received by the TPMS valve 20RR is greater than the threshold Th3 and equal to or less than Th2, the following processing is performed. The TPMS valve 20RR is position information indicating the relative position of the TPMS valve 20FL in the control circuit 23, and the TPMS valve 20FL is a relative position indicating that the TPMS valve 20FL is mounted at a position opposite to the TPMS valve 20RR and not coaxial. A position code, for example, 4 may be calculated and the relative position code may be stored together with the ID code of the TPMS valve 20FL.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a vehicle including a wheel information transmission device and a wheel information processing device according to the second embodiment. The vehicle 110 shown in the figure is greatly different from the vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 1 in that it has a so-called double tire structure in which a plurality of wheels are provided in parallel on the left and right of the rear wheel axle. In the following, a description overlapping with the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

  A vehicle 110 shown in FIG. 6 includes two wheels 14FR and 14FL provided on the front wheel shaft of the vehicle body 12, and four wheels 14RRin, 14RRout, 14RLin and 14RLout provided on the rear wheel shaft (hereinafter, as appropriate, Wheels 14FR to 14RLout are collectively referred to as “wheel 14”).

  Further, in the vehicle 110 according to the present embodiment, as the identification information for identifying the own wheel from the other wheels with respect to the storage unit of the wheel side communication device 22 included in the TPMS valve 20 of each wheel 14. Each has a unique ID code. In the present embodiment, for example, an ID code = 1 is assigned to the wheel side communication device 22 of the TPMS valve 20FR attached to the right front wheel 14FR, and the wheel side of the TPMS valve 20FL attached to the left front wheel 14FL is provided. ID code = 2 is assigned to the communicator 22, and ID code = 3 is assigned to the wheel side communicator 22 of the TPMS valve 20RRin attached to the wheel 14RRin on the right rear inner side, and attached to the wheel 14RLin on the left rear inner side. An ID code = 4 is assigned to the wheel side communication device 22 of the TPMS valve 20RLin, and an ID code = 5 is assigned to the wheel side communication device 22 of the TPMS valve 20RRout attached to the wheel 14RRout on the right rear outer side. An ID code = 6 is assigned to the wheel side communication device 22 of the TPMS valve 20RLout attached to the wheel 14RLout.

  In the present embodiment, first, in the TPMS valve 20, position information indicating whether each wheel is one of double tires is calculated in the relative position specifying mode described in the first embodiment. For example, the TPMS valve 20RRin provided in the wheel 14RRin compares the intensity of the received signal with a predetermined threshold by the control circuit 23 and transmits the signal to the wheel 14 provided with the TPMS valve 20 and its own wheel. Position information indicating a relative position with respect to 14RRin is calculated. In the present embodiment, the threshold Th0 is set based on the strength of the received signal when transmission / reception is performed between the wheels constituting the double tire, the relative position of which is closest in the vehicle (for example, six-wheeled vehicle) constituting the double tire. Has been.

  When the intensity Is of the signal received by the TPMS valve 20RRin is larger than the threshold Th0, the ID code included in the received signal is stored in the storage unit provided in the wheel side communication device 22 or the control circuit 23. In the present embodiment, when the signal transmitted from the TPMS valve 20RRout is received by the TPMS valve 20RRin, the signal strength Is is greater than the threshold value Th0, so 5 is stored as the ID code in the storage unit.

  In addition, the control circuit 23 calculates a relative position code indicating that the TPMS valve 20RRin is one of the double tires together with the TPMS valve 20RRout, for example, as position information indicating the relative position of the TPMS valve 20RRin with the TPMS valve 20RRout. The relative position code is stored. As a result, the relative position code 1 is stored as position information indicating that the wheel 14RRin, 14RRout, 14RLin, 14RLout is mounted on one of the positions of the double tire in the TPMS valves 20RRin, 20RRout, 20RLin, 20RLout. Will be. On the other hand, the relative position code 0 is stored in the TPMS valves 20FR, FL included in the wheels 14FR, 14FL as position information indicating that the wheels 14FR, 14FL are mounted at positions where ordinary single tires are mounted.

  And the wheel side communication apparatus 22 of each TPMS valve | bulb 20 transmits a relative position code with the ID code of a self-wheel at a predetermined timing. The wheel side communicator 22 may transmit ID codes of other wheels together with the relative position code. Accordingly, it can be determined that the wheel corresponding to the ID code of the own wheel and the wheel corresponding to the ID code of the other wheel constitute a pair of double tires.

  Moreover, each wheel 14 (14FR-14RLout) which concerns on this Embodiment outputs the acceleration detection signal according to the acceleration generate | occur | produced with rotation of a wheel as wheel 40 (40FR-40RLout) and wheel information, and a wheel. The acceleration sensor 42 (42FR to 42RLout) is provided on the wheel so that the sign of the acceleration detection signal differs depending on the rotation direction of the wheel. In addition, the direction of each wheel 40 at the time of attaching to a vehicle body changes with wheels. In the vehicle 110 shown in FIG. 6, the direction of the wheel 40 at the wheels 14FR, 14RRin, 14RLout and the direction of the wheel 40 at the wheels 14FL, 14RRout, 14RLin are opposite. Therefore, even when the vehicle 110 goes straight and the rotational speeds of the wheels 14 are the same, the sign of the acceleration detection signal output from the acceleration sensors 42FR, 42RRin, 42RLout and the acceleration detection signal output from the acceleration sensors 42FL, 42RRout, 42RLin. The sign is reversed.

  Therefore, in vehicle 110 according to the present embodiment, wheel-side communicator 22 of each TPMS valve 20 transmits an acceleration detection signal together with its own identification code. As a result, the wheel information processing apparatus that has received this signal determines the sign of the acceleration detection signal and estimates the mounting position of the wheel.

  The wheel information processing apparatus executes the wheel position specifying mode shown below with the position information indicating whether or not each wheel 14 is a double tire, thereby identifying each wheel in a vehicle equipped with a double tire. The information and the mounting position of the wheel on the vehicle body can be easily specified with a simple configuration.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for registering information on the mounting position of each wheel provided with each TPMS valve of FIG. 6 in the wheel information processing apparatus together with the identification information of the wheel. In the vehicle 110 according to the present embodiment, registration of information on the mounting position of the wheel 14 provided with each TPMS valve 20 on the vehicle body to the ECU 30 is implemented, for example, by the wheel 14, the ECU 30, etc. on the vehicle body 12. It is executed when the vehicle 110 travels after the vehicle has been moved, or during travel after the wheels 14 have been replaced or rotated by inspection or maintenance.

  First, as shown in FIG. 7, the ECU 30 is set to the wheel position specifying mode (S30). Then, the ECU 30 determines whether or not the signal transmitted from the wheel side communication device 22 of each TPMS valve 20 is received by the vehicle body side communication device 25 (S32). When it is determined that the vehicle body side communication device 25 has not received a signal from any of the wheel side communication devices 22 (No in S32), the ECU 30 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed after setting the wheel position specifying mode. It is determined whether or not there is (S34). If the ECU 30 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (No in S34), the process of S32 is executed again.

  When it is determined that the vehicle body side communication device 25 has received a signal from any of the wheel side communication devices 22 (Yes in S32), the ECU 30 determines the ID code and relative position included in the signal received by the vehicle body side communication device 25. The mounting position of the wheel on the vehicle body is estimated from the code, the acceleration detection signal, and the like. Specifically, the ECU 30 first determines whether or not the relative position code is 1 (S36). When the ECU 30 determines that the relative position code is not 1 (No in S36), the ECU 30 estimates that the wheel corresponding to the ID code included in this signal is the right front wheel 14FR or the left front wheel 14FL. Can do.

  Further, the ECU 30 determines whether or not the acceleration is positive from the acceleration detection signal received by the vehicle body side communication device 25 (S38). In the present embodiment, when the vehicle 40 is moving forward when the direction of the wheel 40 with respect to the vehicle 110 is the wheels 14FL, 14RRout, 14RLin, the sign of the signal output from each acceleration sensor 42 is Become positive. Therefore, if the acceleration detection signal is determined to be positive (Yes in S38), the ECU 30 identifies the wheel corresponding to the ID code as the left front wheel 14FL, and registers the ID code as the left front wheel (S40). On the other hand, if the ECU 30 determines that the acceleration detection signal is not positive (No in S38), the wheel corresponding to the ID code is identified as the wheel 14FR that is the right front wheel, and the ID code is registered as the right front wheel (S42). . Thereafter, the ECU 30 determines whether or not the ID code registration for all the wheels has been completed (S44). If the registration for all the wheels has not been completed (No in S44), the process of S32 is executed again. On the other hand, if the registration for all the wheels has been completed (Yes in S44), the wheel position specifying mode is terminated (S46).

  Next, when the ECU 30 determines that the relative position code is 1 (Yes in S36), the ECU 30 determines that the wheel corresponding to the ID code included in this signal is the wheel 14RRin, 14RRout, 14RLin, 14RLout constituting the double tire. It can be estimated that either. However, it is not possible to determine which ID code of these wheels only by determining whether the acceleration detection signal is positive or negative thereafter.

  Therefore, the wheel information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment outputs a wheel speed detection signal corresponding to the rotational speed of each wheel 14 mounted on the vehicle body 12 as the sensor group 26 in addition to the ECU 30 and the vehicle body side communication device 25. A wheel speed sensor is further provided. Thereby, the steering direction of the vehicle 110 can be determined from the wheel speed detection signal corresponding to the rotational speed of each wheel 14. More specifically, when the steering direction of the vehicle 110 is changed from the straight traveling direction of the vehicle 110, the wheel 14RLin, 14RLout, which is the left rear wheel, and the 14RRin, 14RRout, which is the right rear wheel, rotate due to a difference in rotation radius. Since there is a difference in speed, the steering direction of the vehicle can be determined by comparing the wheel speed of the left rear wheel with the wheel speed of the right rear wheel. Further, when a difference occurs in the rotation speed of each wheel, a difference also occurs in the acceleration in each wheel. For example, when the vehicle is steered in the right direction, the strength of the acceleration detection signal of the wheels 14RLin and 14RLout mounted on the left side of the vehicle body is the intensity of the acceleration detection signal of the wheels 14RRin and 14RRout mounted on the right side of the vehicle body. Its absolute value is larger than strength.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the intensity of the acceleration detection signal corresponding to the acceleration generated at each rear wheel when turning right at a constant steering angle. In the present embodiment, as described above, the wheels 14RRout and 14RLin have positive acceleration detection signals when the vehicle is moving forward among the rear wheels. Similarly, of each rear wheel, the wheels 14RRin and 14RLout have negative acceleration detection signals when the vehicle is moving forward. Therefore, the acceleration detection signal P1 is a signal transmitted from the wheel 14RLin, the acceleration detection signal P2 is a signal transmitted from the wheel 14RRout, the acceleration detection signal P3 is a signal transmitted from the wheel 14RRin, and the acceleration detection signal P4 is transmitted from the wheel 14RLout. Signal.

  Therefore, the ECU 30 detects detection signals from a left rear wheel speed sensor and a right rear wheel speed sensor (not shown) included in the sensor group 26 at the timing when the acceleration of each wheel is detected, and the left signal is detected based on the detection signal. It is determined whether the rear wheel speed is faster than the right rear wheel speed (S48). When it is determined that the left rear wheel speed is not faster than the right rear wheel speed (No in S48), the ECU 30 determines that each rear wheel cannot be specified at this time, and executes the process of S32 again. On the other hand, when the ECU 30 determines that the left rear wheel speed is faster than the right rear wheel speed (Yes in S48), the ECU 30 identifies each rear wheel by the processing after S50.

  The ECU 30 determines whether or not the acceleration is positive from the acceleration detection signal received by the vehicle body side communication device 25 (S50). When the ECU 30 determines that the acceleration detection signal is positive (Yes in S50), the ECU 30 may estimate that the wheel corresponding to the ID code is either the left rear inner wheel 14RLin or the right rear outer wheel 14RRout. it can. Therefore, the ECU 30 compares the intensity of the acceleration detection signal with a predetermined threshold C1 (S52). When it is determined that the intensity of the acceleration detection signal is larger than the threshold value C1 (Yes in S52), the ECU 30 identifies the wheel corresponding to the ID code as the wheel 14RLin that is the left rear inner ring, and the ID code is identified as the left rear inner ring. (S54). On the other hand, when it is determined that the intensity of the acceleration detection signal is not greater than the threshold value C1 (No in S52), the ECU 30 identifies the wheel corresponding to the ID code as the wheel 14RRout that is the right rear outer wheel, and the ID code is determined. The right rear outer ring is registered (S56).

  If the ECU 30 determines that the acceleration detection signal is not positive (No in S50), the wheel corresponding to the ID code is estimated to be either the left rear outer wheel 14RLout or the right rear inner wheel 14RRin. can do. Therefore, the ECU 30 compares the intensity of the acceleration detection signal with a predetermined threshold C2 (S58). When it is determined that the intensity of the acceleration detection signal is smaller than the threshold value C2 (Yes in S58), the ECU 30 identifies the wheel corresponding to the ID code as the wheel 14RLout which is the left rear outer wheel, and the ID code is identified as the left rear outer wheel. (S60). On the other hand, when it is determined that the intensity of the acceleration detection signal is not smaller than the threshold value C2 (No in S58), the ECU 30 identifies the wheel corresponding to the ID code as the wheel 14RRin that is the right rear inner wheel, and the ID code is determined. The right rear inner ring is registered (S62). Thereafter, the ECU 30 determines whether or not the ID code registration for all the wheels has been completed (S44). If the registration for all the wheels has not been completed (No in S44), the process of S32 is executed again. On the other hand, if the registration for all the wheels has been completed (Yes in S44), the wheel position specifying mode is terminated (S46).

  In addition, when there is no signal reception and a predetermined time has elapsed (No in S32, Yes in S34), there is a possibility that any of the TPMS valve 20 or the wheel information processing apparatus has some trouble, so all wheels are registered. Even if it is not completed, the wheel position specifying mode is forcibly terminated (S46).

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a vehicle including a wheel information transmission device and a wheel information processing device according to the third embodiment. The vehicle 210 shown in the figure is greatly different from the vehicle 110 shown in FIG. 6 in that there are a plurality of rear wheel shafts having a double tire structure. For convenience of explanation, a wheel mounted on a rear wheel shaft (hereinafter referred to as a rear rear wheel shaft) located behind the vehicle among a plurality of rear wheel shafts and a part associated with the wheel include a rear wheel shaft (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle rear wheel shaft). The same reference numerals as those attached to the corresponding wheels and parts attached to the wheels attached to the front rear wheel axle are added with a suffix “′”. In the following description, matters overlapping with the above-described embodiments are omitted as appropriate.

  In the case of a vehicle 210 having two rear wheel shafts equipped with double tires, since the arrangement and rotation direction of a plurality of wheels attached to each rear wheel shaft are the same, the estimation of the wheel mounting position can be performed only with the acceleration detection signal and position information. It becomes difficult. Specifically, when the wheel position specifying mode described in the second embodiment is executed in the vehicle 210, for example, a signal transmitted from a certain wheel 14 is an acceleration detection signal included in the signal in S52. Even if it is determined that the strength of the vehicle is greater than the threshold value C1, it is not possible to specify which signal is transmitted from the wheel 14RLin mounted on the front rear wheel axle or the wheel 14RLin ′ mounted on the rear rear wheel axle. .

  Therefore, the ECU 30 estimates the mounting position of the wheel 14 provided with the TPMS valve 20 on the vehicle body based on the strength of the signal including the ID code and the relative position code of its own wheel. In the vehicle 210 according to the present embodiment, the antenna 32 connected to the vehicle body side communication device 25 is arranged at a position where the distance between each rear wheel shaft and the antenna 32 is different. As a result, the ID code and the relative position code of the own wheel transmitted from the TPMS valve 20RLin and the TPMS valve 20RLin ′ included in the wheel 14RLin mounted on the front rear wheel shaft and the wheel 14RLin ′ mounted on the rear rear wheel shaft are obtained. The intensity of the received signal that is included also changes. Therefore, the ECU 30 can specify the mounting position of the wheel 14 provided with the TPMS valve 20 on the vehicle body 12 based on the intensity of the received signal.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the intensity of signals transmitted from the wheel 14RLin attached to the front rear wheel axle and the wheel 14RLin 'attached to the rear rear axle. As shown in FIG. 10, the reception intensity of the signal transmitted from the wheel 14RLin mounted on the front rear wheel axle is greater than the reception intensity of the signal transmitted from the wheel 14RLin 'mounted on the rear rear wheel axle. The reception intensity of the signal transmitted from the wheel 14RLout and the reception intensity of the signal transmitted from the wheel 14RLout ′, the reception intensity of the signal transmitted from the wheel 14RRout and the reception intensity of the signal transmitted from the wheel 14RRout ′, and the wheel 14RRin There is also a magnitude relationship as shown in FIG. 10 between the reception intensity of the signal transmitted from the wheel and the reception intensity of the signal transmitted from the wheel 14RRin ′. Therefore, after the processing of S52 and S58 shown in FIG. 7, the ECU 30 can identify the mounting position of each wheel 14 on the vehicle body 12 by comparing the intensity of the received signal with a predetermined threshold value.

  As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the configurations of the embodiments are appropriately combined or replaced. Those are also included in the present invention. Various modifications such as design changes can be added to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and the embodiments to which such modifications are added are also included in the scope of the present invention. sell.

  For example, the determination of the relative position and the mounting position of the wheel in the relative position specifying mode and the wheel position specifying mode described above may be performed during traveling. As a result, even when other vehicles other than the host vehicle exist within a range that can be received by a certain TPMS valve 20, it is unlikely that the signals transmitted from the double tires of the host vehicle and the other vehicle will be exactly the same during traveling. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneously storing wheel identification codes provided in other vehicles.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the vehicle provided with the wheel information transmission apparatus and wheel information processing apparatus which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the wheel provided with the TPMS valve | bulb. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the TPMS valve | bulb contained in the vehicle of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the procedure which registers the information of the relative position between the wheels with which each TPMS valve of FIG. 1 is provided to each TPMS valve. It is a figure which shows the structure of the transmission data transmitted from the wheel side communication apparatus of a TPMS valve. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the vehicle provided with the wheel information transmission apparatus and wheel information processing apparatus which concern on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the procedure which registers into the wheel information processing apparatus the information of the mounting position of each wheel with which each TPMS valve | bulb of FIG. 6 is equipped with the identification information of the wheel. It is the figure which showed typically the intensity | strength of the acceleration detection signal according to the acceleration which generate | occur | produces in each rear wheel at the time of turning right at a fixed steering angle. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the vehicle provided with the wheel information transmission apparatus and wheel information processing apparatus which concern on 3rd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed typically the intensity | strength of the signal transmitted from the wheel with which the front rear-wheel axle was mounted | worn, and the wheel with which the back rear-wheel axle was mounted | worn.

Explanation of symbols

  10 vehicle, 12 vehicle body, 14 wheel, 18 tire, 20 TPMS valve, 21 air pressure sensor, 22 wheel side communication device, 23 control circuit, 24 battery, 25 vehicle body side communication device, 26 sensor group, 27 alarm device, 30 ECU, 32 antennas, 40 wheels, 42 acceleration sensors.

Claims (10)

A wheel information transmission device capable of transmitting wheel information related to a wheel,
A detection unit for detecting the wheel information;
A storage unit for storing identification information for identifying the own wheel from other wheels;
A wheel-side transmitter that transmits identification information of its own wheel together with the wheel information;
A wheel side receiver for receiving identification information of other wheels transmitted by other wheel information transmitters;
A wheel side calculation unit that calculates position information indicating a relative position between the own wheel and the other wheel based on the strength of the signal including the received identification information of the other wheel;
The wheel side transmission unit transmits the identification information of the other wheel and the position information together with the identification information of the own wheel at a predetermined timing. A wheel information transmission device capable of transmitting wheel information related to a wheel,
A detection unit for detecting the wheel information;
A storage unit for storing identification information for identifying the own wheel from other wheels;
A wheel-side transmitter that transmits identification information of its own wheel together with the wheel information;
A wheel side receiver for receiving identification information of other wheels transmitted by other wheel information transmitters;
A wheel side calculation unit that compares the strength of the signal including the received identification information of other wheels with a predetermined threshold and calculates position information indicating whether or not the own wheel is one of the double tires;
The wheel side transmission unit transmits the position information together with the identification information of the own wheel at a predetermined timing when the own wheel is one of double tires.   The wheel information transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the wheel side transmission unit transmits identification information of the other wheel together with the position information. The detector is
An air pressure sensor that outputs an air pressure detection signal corresponding to the tire air pressure as the wheel information;
As the wheel information, an acceleration detection signal corresponding to the acceleration generated with the rotation of the wheel is output, and an acceleration sensor is provided on the wheel so that the sign of the acceleration detection signal varies depending on the rotation direction of the wheel. ,
The wheel information transmitting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the wheel side transmitting unit transmits the acceleration detection signal together with identification information of the own wheel. A wheel information processing apparatus for processing wheel information related to a wheel,
A vehicle body side receiving unit for receiving the identification information of the own wheel and the position information transmitted from the wheel information transmitting device according to claim 1 or 2,
A vehicle body side calculation unit that estimates the mounting position of the wheel on which the wheel information transmission device is provided based on the received identification information of the own wheel and the position information;
Wheel information processing apparatus comprising: The vehicle body side receiving unit receives the identification information of the other wheel together with the identification information of the own wheel and the position information,
The vehicle body side calculation unit estimates the mounting position of the wheel provided with the wheel information transmitting device on the vehicle body based on the received identification information of the own wheel, the position information, and the identification information of the other wheel. To
The wheel information processing apparatus according to claim 5. The vehicle body side receiving unit receives an acceleration detection signal which is output according to the acceleration generated with the rotation of the wheel as the wheel information and the sign which is output depending on the rotation direction of the wheel, together with the identification information of the own wheel. And
The vehicle body side calculation unit estimates the mounting position of the wheel on which the wheel information transmission device is provided on the vehicle body based on the identification information of the own wheel and the sign of the acceleration detection signal.
The wheel information processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by the above. A wheel speed sensor that outputs a wheel speed detection signal corresponding to the rotational speed of each wheel mounted on the vehicle body;
The vehicle body side calculation unit attaches the wheel on which the wheel information transmission device is provided to the vehicle body based on the sign and intensity of the acceleration detection signal and the wheel speed detection signal when the acceleration detection signal is detected. Estimating the position,
The wheel information processing apparatus according to claim 7.   The vehicle body side calculation unit estimates the mounting position of the wheel provided with the wheel information transmitting device on the vehicle body based on the strength of a signal including the identification information of the own wheel and the position information. The wheel information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8. A wheel mounting position estimation method for estimating a mounting position of a wheel on a vehicle body provided with a wheel information transmission device capable of transmitting wheel information related to the wheel,
A receiving step in which the wheel information transmitting device receives identification information of other wheels transmitted from another wheel information transmitting device;
A calculation step for calculating position information indicating a relative position between the own wheel and the other wheel based on the strength of the signal including the received identification information of the other wheel;
A transmission step of transmitting the position information together with identification information of the own wheel;
An estimation step for estimating the mounting position of the wheel on which the wheel information transmission device is provided based on the identification information of the wheel and the position information on the vehicle body;
Including a wheel mounting position estimation method.

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