JP2013121794A - Tire air pressure monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tire air pressure monitoring device, with which a driver can be informed of air pressure of each tire during driving or the driver can carry out necessary countermeasure when the air pressure of each tire is equal to or lower than a standard air pressure.SOLUTION: A tire air pressure sensor (511, 521, 531, 541) detecting air pressure of each tire and transmitting a radio signal indicating the detected air pressure is mounted on each tire (510, 520, 530, 540) of a vehicle (500). A tire air pressure monitoring device (100) includes a receiving unit (110) receiving the radio signal from the tire air pressure sensor, a monitoring device (131) displaying the air pressure of each tire detected by the tire air pressure sensor, and a transmitting unit (120) transmitting the radio signal received by the receiving unit to a preliminarily determined mobile terminal (130) and the monitoring device (131).

Description

  The present invention relates to a tire air pressure monitoring device that monitors the air pressure of each tire of a vehicle.

As a device for monitoring the tire air pressure, there is a tire air pressure monitoring system described in JP2011-183948A.
This tire air pressure monitoring system is provided on each wheel of a vehicle, detects a tire air pressure, wirelessly transmits a response signal including information on the detected air pressure, and a pressure signal included in the response signal. And a monitoring device that monitors the tire air pressure of each wheel based on the information.

JP 2011-183948 A

In the tire pressure monitoring system, the detected tire pressure is used for internal control of the vehicle.
A separate receiving unit for receiving a response signal transmitted from the sensor unit has been proposed. A monitoring device is attached to the receiving unit in advance, and the air pressure of each tire is displayed on the monitoring device.

However, depending on the vehicle, there has been a problem that there is no space for mounting the monitor device, it is difficult to mount the monitor device at a position that is easy for the driver to view, and it takes time to mount the monitor device.
For this reason, even if the sensor unit detects the air pressure of each tire, there was no opportunity for the driver to know the air pressure of each tire.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems in such a conventional tire pressure monitoring system, and even if it is difficult to attach a monitor device integrated with a separate receiving unit, It is an object of the present invention to provide a tire pressure monitoring device and a tire pressure monitoring system that can be mounted.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention is installed in a vehicle equipped with a tire air pressure sensor that is installed in each tire of the vehicle, detects the air pressure of each tire, and transmits a radio signal indicating the detected air pressure. A tire pressure monitoring device that receives the wireless signal from the tire pressure sensor, a monitor device that displays the pressure of each tire detected by the tire pressure sensor, and the reception unit There is provided a tire pressure monitoring device comprising: a predetermined mobile terminal device and a transmission unit that transmits the wireless signal to the monitoring device.

  The tire pressure monitoring device according to the present invention preferably further includes a signal conversion unit that converts the wireless signal into a Bluetooth (registered trademark) signal. In this case, the transmission unit is converted by the signal conversion unit. The blue signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal device and the monitor device.

  The tire air pressure monitoring device according to the present invention preferably further includes an air pressure comparison unit that compares the detected air pressure of each tire with a standard air pressure. In this case, the tire detected by the air pressure comparison unit. When it is determined that the air pressure is lower than the standard air pressure, the transmission unit transmits a warning signal together with the radio signal to the mobile terminal device and the monitor device.

  The present invention further relates to a tire pressure monitoring system comprising a tire pressure monitoring device installed in a vehicle and a tire pressure monitoring device installed outside the vehicle, wherein the tire pressure monitoring device is the vehicle. The tire pressure sensor is installed in each tire, detects the air pressure of each tire, transmits a radio signal indicating the detected air pressure, a receiving unit that receives the radio signal from the tire pressure sensor, and the received A first transmission unit that transmits a wireless signal to the tire pressure monitoring device, and the tire pressure monitoring device has predetermined air pressure of each tire indicated by the wireless signal received from the first transmission unit. A determination unit for determining whether or not the air pressure is equal to or lower than the air pressure; and When it is determined that because obtained is pneumatic or less, to provide a tire pressure monitoring system is made of a second transmission unit for transmitting a position signal indicating the position of the tire air pressure monitoring system in the receiving unit.

  In the tire pressure monitoring system according to the present invention, the tire pressure monitoring system preferably includes a plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices. In this case, the first transmission unit includes a vehicle position indicating the position of the vehicle together with the radio signal. A signal is transmitted to each of the plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices, and the second transmission unit sends the position signal to the receiving unit only when the tire pressure monitoring device is closest to the vehicle. Send.

  In the tire air pressure monitoring device according to the present invention, a tire air pressure sensor attached to each tire of the vehicle measures the air pressure of each tire and transmits a radio signal indicating the measured air pressure to the receiving unit. The reception unit transfers the received radio signal to the transmission unit, and the transmission unit transmits the radio signal to the mobile terminal device and the monitor device. The air pressure of each tire is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal device and the monitor device that have received the radio signal. Thus, according to the tire air pressure monitoring device of the present invention, the driver can constantly monitor the air pressure of each of the four tires even while the vehicle is driving.

  In the tire pressure monitoring system according to the present invention, when the determination unit receives a radio signal from the first transmission unit, it is determined whether or not the pressure of each tire indicated in the radio signal is equal to or lower than a predetermined standard air pressure. Determine. When the determination unit determines that the air pressure of each tire is equal to or lower than the standard air pressure, the second transmission unit outputs a warning signal indicating that the pressure of any tire is equal to or lower than the standard air pressure and the position of the tire pressure monitoring device. Is transmitted to the receiving unit of the tire pressure monitoring device. Upon receiving the warning signal and the position signal, the receiving unit transmits both signals to the first transmitting unit, and the first transmitting unit transmits both signals to the mobile terminal device. On the screen of the mobile terminal device, a warning indicating that the air pressure of any tire is below the standard air pressure and the location of the tire air pressure monitoring device are displayed. The driver or passenger of the vehicle sees the air pressure of one of the tires below the standard air pressure by looking at the screen of the mobile terminal device, and goes directly to the tire pressure monitoring device when judged necessary. Then, compressed air can be injected into a tire whose air pressure is below the standard air pressure, and the air pressure of the tire can be returned to the standard air pressure.

1 is a schematic view of a tire pressure monitoring device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic of the tire pressure monitoring apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the tire pressure monitoring apparatus which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the tire pressure monitoring system which concerns on 4th embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the tire pressure monitoring system which concerns on 5th embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is installed and used inside a four-wheeled vehicle 500.

  The vehicle 500 includes a left front wheel tire 510, a right front wheel tire 520, a left rear wheel tire 530, and a right rear wheel tire 540. These four tires detect the air pressure of each tire, and the detected air pressures are detected. Tire pressure sensors 511, 521, 531 and 541 for transmitting wireless signals shown are respectively attached.

  In the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, a reception unit 110 that receives radio signals from each of the four tire pressure sensors 511, 521, 531, and 541, and a radio signal received by the reception unit 110 are determined in advance. A transmission unit 120 for transmitting to the mobile terminal device 130 and the monitor device 131, and a monitor device 131 for displaying the air pressure of each tire 510, 520, 530, 540 detected by the tire air pressure sensors 511, 521, 531, 541, and , Is composed of.

  The mobile terminal device 130 is, for example, a portable telephone device or a portable personal computer owned by a driver or a passenger. The monitor device 131 includes a display device that displays the air pressure of each of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540.

The tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment operates as follows.
The tire pressure sensors 511, 521, 531 and 541 measure the air pressure of the left front wheel tire 510, the right front wheel tire 520, the left rear wheel tire 530 and the right rear wheel tire 540, respectively, and receive a radio signal indicating the measured air pressure. Send to.

The reception unit 110 transfers the received radio signal to the transmission unit 120, and the transmission unit 120 transmits the radio signal to the mobile terminal device 130 and the monitor device 131.
Respective air pressures of the left front wheel tire 510, the right front wheel tire 520, the left rear wheel tire 530, and the right rear wheel tire 540 are displayed on the screens of the mobile terminal device 130 and the monitor device 131 that have received the radio signal. The display of the air pressure of each tire is displayed at regular time intervals (for example, every 10 seconds) or continuously.

  Thus, according to the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the driver can constantly monitor the air pressure of the four tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 even while the vehicle 500 is driving. .

  The configuration of the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, the number of mobile terminal apparatuses 130 as wireless signal transmission destinations is not limited to one. Any number of mobile terminal devices 130 greater than or equal to two can be employed. Further, it is possible to remove the monitor device 131 from the tire pressure monitoring device 100 and transmit a radio signal only from the transmission unit 120 to the mobile terminal device 130.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a tire pressure monitoring apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The tire pressure monitoring apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment further includes a signal conversion unit 210 that converts a radio signal into a Bluetooth signal as compared with the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. ing. Except for the point that the signal conversion unit 210 is further provided, the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

In the tire pressure monitoring device 200 according to the present embodiment, the transmission unit 120 transmits the brute signal converted by the signal conversion unit 210 to the mobile terminal device 130 and the monitor device 131.
As described above, by transmitting the brute signal instead of the radio signal to the mobile terminal device 130 and the monitor device 131, various advantages of the brute signal can be utilized.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a tire pressure monitoring apparatus 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The tire air pressure monitoring apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment is compared with the tire air pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, and the detected air pressures of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 and predetermined standard air pressures. A pneumatic pressure comparison unit 310 is further provided. The tire pressure monitoring apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, except that a pneumatic pressure comparison unit 310 is further provided.

  The air pressure comparison unit 310 compares the detected air pressures of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 with the standard air pressure. If any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is lower than the standard air pressure, The command signal is transmitted to the transmission unit 120.

  The transmission unit 120 that has received the command signal from the air pressure comparison unit 310 transmits a warning signal together with a radio signal to the mobile terminal device 130 and the monitor device 131. On the screens of the mobile terminal device 130 and the monitor device 131 that have received the warning signal, tires whose air pressure is lower than the standard air pressure are displayed to alert the driver during driving.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a tire pressure monitoring system 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The tire pressure monitoring system 400 according to the present embodiment includes tire pressure sensors 511, 521, 531, 541 installed in each of the four tires 510, 520, 530, and 540, and the first embodiment described above. The tire pressure monitoring device 100 and the tire pressure monitoring device 410 are configured.

  The tire pressure monitoring device 410 is installed outside the vehicle 500. The tire pressure monitoring device 410 is placed in a place (for example, a gas station or an automobile repair shop) where a compressor for injecting compressed air into the tire and other compressed air injection devices are installed.

  The tire pressure monitoring device 410 determines whether or not the tire pressure is equal to or lower than a predetermined standard pressure, and the determination unit 411 determines that the tire pressure is equal to or lower than a predetermined standard pressure. The transmission unit 412 transmits a position signal indicating the position of the tire pressure monitoring device 410 to the reception unit 110 of the tire pressure monitoring device 100. The transmission unit 120 of the tire pressure monitoring device 100 transmits a wireless signal indicating the air pressure of each tire 510, 520, 530, 540 to the mobile terminal device 130 and the determination unit 411.

The tire pressure monitoring system 400 according to the present embodiment operates as follows.
The tire pressure sensors 511, 521, 531 and 541 measure the air pressure of the left front wheel tire 510, the right front wheel tire 520, the left rear wheel tire 530 and the right rear wheel tire 540, respectively, and receive a radio signal indicating the measured air pressure. Send to.

The reception unit 110 transfers the received radio signal to the transmission unit 120, and the transmission unit 120 transmits the radio signal to both the mobile terminal device 130 and the determination unit 411.
Respective air pressures of the left front wheel tire 510, the right front wheel tire 520, the left rear wheel tire 530, and the right rear wheel tire 540 are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal device 130 that has received the radio signal.
When the determination unit 411 receives the wireless signal from the transmission unit 120, the determination unit 411 determines whether the air pressure of each of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 indicated by the wireless signal is equal to or lower than a predetermined standard air pressure.

  When the determination unit 411 determines that the air pressure of each of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is greater than the standard air pressure, no operation is performed. When the determination unit 411 determines that the air pressure of each of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is less than the standard air pressure, the determination unit 411 transmits a determination signal indicating that to the transmission unit 412.

  When the transmission unit 412 receives the determination signal from the determination unit 411, a warning signal indicating that any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is below the standard air pressure and a position signal indicating the position of the tire pressure monitoring device 410. Is transmitted to the receiving unit 110 of the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100. When receiving the warning signal and the position signal from the transmission unit 412, the reception unit 110 transmits both signals to the transmission unit 120, and the transmission unit 120 transmits both signals to the mobile terminal device 130.

  On the screen of the mobile terminal device 130, a warning indicating that the air pressure of any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is below the standard air pressure and the location of the tire pressure monitoring device 410 are displayed.

When the driver or passenger of the vehicle 500 knows that the air pressure of any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is below the standard air pressure by looking at the screen of the mobile terminal device 130, and determines that it is necessary In this case, it is possible to go straight to the tire pressure monitoring device 410, inject compressed air into a tire whose air pressure is below the standard air pressure, and return the tire air pressure to the standard air pressure.
As in the case of the first to third embodiments, the monitor device 131 can be provided.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a tire pressure monitoring system 600 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the tire pressure monitoring system 400 according to the fourth embodiment includes a single tire pressure monitoring device 410, whereas the tire pressure monitoring system 600 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of tire pressure monitoring systems 600. A tire pressure monitoring device 410 is provided.

  Secondly, only the transmission unit 412 of one tire pressure monitoring device 410 among the plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices 410 sends a position signal indicating the position of the tire pressure monitoring device 410 to the tire pressure monitoring device 100. Transmit to the receiving unit 110.

  Thirdly, the vehicle 500 includes a GPS system and can recognize the current position of the vehicle 500. The transmission unit 120 transmits a vehicle position signal indicating the current position of the vehicle 500 together with the radio signal to each determination unit 411 of the plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices 410.

  Except for these three points, the tire pressure monitoring system 600 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the tire pressure monitoring system 400 according to the fourth embodiment.

The tire pressure monitoring system 600 according to the present embodiment operates as follows.
The tire pressure sensors 511, 521, 531 and 541 measure the air pressure of the left front wheel tire 510, the right front wheel tire 520, the left rear wheel tire 530 and the right rear wheel tire 540, respectively, and receive a radio signal indicating the measured air pressure. Send to.

  The reception unit 110 transfers the received wireless signal to the transmission unit 120. The transmission unit 120 transmits a wireless signal to both the mobile terminal device 130 and each determination unit 411 of the plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices 410, and A vehicle position signal indicating the position of the vehicle 500 is transmitted to each determination unit 411 of the tire pressure monitoring device 410.

  Respective air pressures of the left front wheel tire 510, the right front wheel tire 520, the left rear wheel tire 530, and the right rear wheel tire 540 are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal device 130 that has received the radio signal.

  When each determination unit 411 receives a wireless signal from the transmission unit 120, each determination unit 411 determines whether the air pressure of each of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 indicated by the wireless signal is equal to or lower than a predetermined standard air pressure. When each determination unit 411 determines that the air pressure of each tire 510, 520, 530, 540 is greater than the standard air pressure, no operation is performed.

  When each determination unit 411 determines that the air pressure of any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is equal to or lower than the standard air pressure, the determination unit 411 further determines the determination based on the vehicle position signal received from the transmission unit 120. It is determined whether or not the tire pressure monitoring device 410 including the unit 411 is located closer to the vehicle 500 than the other tire pressure monitoring devices 410 (the determination units 411 are positions of all the tire pressure monitoring devices 410). In advance).

  When the determination unit 411 determines that the tire air pressure monitoring device 410 including the determination unit 411 is located closest to the vehicle 500, the air pressure of any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is determined. A determination signal indicating that the air pressure is below the standard air pressure is transmitted to the transmission unit 412.

  When the transmission unit 412 receives the determination signal from the determination unit 411, a warning signal indicating that the air pressure of any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is below the standard air pressure and a tire pressure monitoring device including the transmission unit 412 A position signal indicating the position 410 is transmitted to the receiving unit 110 of the tire pressure monitoring apparatus 100.

  When receiving the warning signal and the position signal from the transmission unit 412, the reception unit 110 transmits both signals to the transmission unit 120, and the transmission unit 120 transmits both signals to the mobile terminal device 130.

  On the screen of the mobile terminal device 130, a warning indicating that the air pressure of any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is below the standard air pressure and the location of the tire pressure monitoring device 410 are displayed.

  The driver or passenger of the vehicle 500 can see that the air pressure of any of the tires 510, 520, 530, and 540 is less than the standard air pressure by looking at the screen of the mobile terminal device 130, and the current position of the vehicle 500 It is possible to know the location of the tire pressure monitoring device 410 that is closest to (ie, the location where the tire pressure can be increased). Therefore, when it is determined that the driver of the vehicle 500 is necessary, the driver goes straight to the nearest tire pressure monitoring device 410, injects compressed air into a tire whose air pressure is equal to or lower than the standard air pressure, and the air pressure of the tire. Can be returned to standard air pressure.

100 Tire pressure monitoring device 110 according to the first embodiment of the present invention 110 Reception unit 120 Transmission unit 130 Mobile terminal device 131 Monitor device 200 Tire pressure monitoring device according to the second embodiment of the present invention 210 Signal conversion unit 300 Tire pressure monitoring apparatus 310 according to the third embodiment of the invention 310 Pneumatic pressure comparison unit 400 Tire pressure monitoring system 410 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention 410 Tire pressure monitoring apparatus 411 Judgment unit 412 Transmission unit 600 Fifth aspect of the present invention Tire pressure monitoring system 500 according to the embodiment 500 Vehicle 510 Left front wheel tire 520 Right front wheel tire 530 Left rear wheel tire 540 Right rear wheel tire 511, 521, 531, 541 Tire pressure sensor

Claims (5)

A tire pressure monitoring device installed in a vehicle including a tire pressure sensor that is installed in each tire of a vehicle, detects a pressure of each tire, and transmits a wireless signal indicating the detected pressure,
A receiving unit for receiving the wireless signal from the tire pressure sensor;
A monitor device for displaying the pressure of each tire detected by the tire pressure sensor;
A transmission unit for transmitting the wireless signal received by the reception unit to a predetermined mobile terminal device and the monitor device;
Tire pressure monitoring device comprising: A signal conversion unit for converting the radio signal into a bluetooth signal;
The tire pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit the bluetooth signal converted by the signal conversion unit to the mobile terminal device and the monitor device. An air pressure comparison unit that compares the detected air pressure of each tire with a standard air pressure;
When the air pressure comparison unit determines that the detected air pressure of each tire is lower than the standard air pressure, the transmission unit sends a warning signal together with the radio signal to the mobile terminal device and the monitor device. The tire pressure monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the tire pressure monitoring device transmits the tire pressure. A tire pressure monitoring system comprising a tire pressure monitoring device installed in a vehicle and a tire pressure monitoring device installed outside the vehicle,
The tire pressure monitoring device is
A tire pressure sensor that is installed in each tire of the vehicle, detects the air pressure of each tire, and transmits a radio signal indicating the detected air pressure;
A receiving unit for receiving the wireless signal from the tire pressure sensor;
A first transmission unit for transmitting the wireless signal received by the reception unit to the tire pressure monitoring device;
Consists of
The tire pressure monitoring device includes:
A determination unit for determining whether or not the air pressure of each tire indicated by the wireless signal received from the first transmission unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined air pressure;
A second transmission unit that transmits a position signal indicating the position of the tire pressure monitoring device to the receiving unit when the determination unit determines that the air pressure of each tire is equal to or lower than a predetermined air pressure;
Tire pressure monitoring system that consists of The tire pressure monitoring system includes a plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices,
The first transmission unit transmits a vehicle position signal indicating the position of the vehicle together with the wireless signal to each of the plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices,
The said 2nd transmission unit transmits the said position signal to the said receiving unit, only when the said tire pressure monitoring apparatus exists in the nearest position with respect to the said vehicle, The said receiving unit is characterized by the above-mentioned. Tire pressure monitoring system.

Images