JP4779901B2 - Wheel position detection unit mounting position identification device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an attachment position specifying device for a wheel state detection unit, and more particularly to an attachment position specifying device for a wheel state detection unit that is provided on each of a plurality of wheels and detects a wheel state.

  In recent years, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS: Tire Pressure Monitoring System) has been installed in vehicles to transmit information such as tire pressure and temperature wirelessly to the vehicle body to inform the driver in order to realize safer vehicle travel. Technology development is underway. A wheel state detection unit that detects a wheel state such as tire air pressure and transmits it to the vehicle body is provided on a vehicle wheel provided with the tire pressure monitoring system. By specifying the position of the wheel to which the wheel state detection unit is attached in advance, it is possible to effectively use the tire pressure monitoring system, for example, to quickly detect a tire in which an abnormality has occurred.

For this reason, for example, in Patent Document 1, front wheels and rear wheels are distinguished from changes in tire air pressure during load movement before and after the vehicle, and right wheels and left wheels are distinguished from changes in tire air pressure during load movement on the left and right sides of the vehicle. In addition, a tire pressure monitoring device including a tire position determination unit that associates each tire position with each ID based on these distinction results has been proposed.
JP 2003-165317 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, for example, it is difficult to specify the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit unless front-rear or left-right load movement occurs during movement of the vehicle. For this reason, for example, when the air pressure of the tire of any wheel gradually decreases while the vehicle is stopped, it is difficult to quickly identify the wheel whose tire air pressure has decreased.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to quickly specify the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit when the stationary vehicle is traveling.

  In order to solve the above problems, a wheel position detection unit mounting position specifying device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives wheel state information related to a detected wheel state from the wheel state detection unit, and a plurality of seats. A wheel state for identifying a wheel to be detected by a wheel state detection unit based on a seating sensor provided to each for detecting the seating of an occupant and the received wheel state information and the detection result of the seating sensor An attachment position specifying unit for specifying the attachment position of the detection unit.

The mounting position specifying unit uses the detection result of the seating sensor to specify a seating order at the seating position where the seating is detected, and changes the wheel state at the same timing using the received wheel state information. The wheel state detection unit that has detected the largest change in the wheel state among the plurality of wheel state detection units that has detected is specified as the maximum change detection unit, and the detection order indicating the order specified as the maximum change detection unit is specified. The mounting position of the wheel state detection unit is specified as the wheel closest to the seating position specified in the same seating order as the detection order specified for the wheel state detection unit.

For example, the tire pressure is considered to change most greatly at the wheel closest to the seating position of the occupant. For this reason, it is considered that the tire air pressure of the wheel closest to the seat changes the most in the order of the seats on which the occupant is seated.

According to this aspect, the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit can be easily specified using the order of the seating positions where the occupant is seated and the relationship between the seating position and the change in the wheel state.

  In this case, the wheel state detection unit may be provided on each of the right front wheel, the left front wheel, the right rear wheel, and the left rear wheel, and the seating sensor includes the right front seat, the left front seat, the right rear seat, And each of the left rear seats. When the corresponding wheel for the right front seat is the right front wheel, the corresponding wheel for the left front seat is the left front wheel, the corresponding wheel for the right rear seat is the right rear wheel, and the corresponding wheel for the left rear seat is the left rear wheel, The mounting position of the wheel state detection unit may be specified as the corresponding wheel of the seat specified in the same seating order as the detection order of the wheel state detection unit.

The right front seat or the left front seat may be used as a driver seat, and may further include a storage unit that stores a change rate of a wheel state of each wheel when an occupant is seated in the driver seat. When there are two or more seats in which the seating of the occupant is not detected, the mounting position specifying unit stores the change in the wheel state of each wheel at substantially the same timing as the seating timing of the occupant in the driver seat, and the stored By comparing the change rate of the wheel state of each wheel, the attachment position of the wheel state detection unit attached to the corresponding wheel of the seat where the seating of the occupant is not detected may be specified.

For example, it is considered that the driver is surely seated in the driver's seat by the time the vehicle starts moving. On the other hand, the change rate of the wheel state of each wheel when an occupant is seated in the driver's seat is considered to be substantially constant regardless of the seating situation in seats other than the driver's seat.

According to this aspect, the wheel state detection unit attached to each of the wheels closest to each of the two or more seating positions where the seating is not detected using the driver's seating in the driver's seat. It is possible to complement and specify the mounting position.

The wheel state detection unit detects tire air pressure as a wheel state, the receiving means receives wheel state information including tire air pressure information related to the detected tire air pressure, and the attachment position specifying unit receives the received wheel state. The mounting position of the wheel state detection unit may be specified based on the tire pressure information included in the information and the detection result of the seating sensor.

When an occupant sits on the seat, the mass supported by the wheels increases, so the tire pressure is considered to increase. At this time, it is considered that the tire air pressure of the wheel closest to the seat on which the passenger is seated changes most greatly.

According to this aspect, it is possible to easily specify the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit using such a change in tire air pressure.

You may further provide the door opening sensor which detects opening of the door of a vehicle, and the vehicle speed sensor which detects the speed of a vehicle. The mounting position specifying unit is configured to detect a detection result of the seating sensor related to seating of an occupant detected by the time when the detected vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value after detecting the opening of the door, and the received wheel state. Among the information, after detecting the opening of the door, the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit is specified using the wheel state information regarding the wheel state detected until the detected vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value. May be.

The occupant usually starts seating on the seat in the vehicle cabin after opening the vehicle door, and the occupant seating should have been completed before the vehicle begins to move.

According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress the detection of the occupant's seating by the seating sensor for specifying the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit in other periods. For this reason, the control for specifying the attachment position of a wheel state detection unit can be made simple and efficient.

  The receiving means is identification information associated with the wheel state information, receives the identification information for identifying the wheel state detection unit, and identifies the identification information and the attachment position specified for each wheel state detection unit. May be further provided with storage means for storing them in association with each other. According to this aspect, in the wheel state detection system such as TPMS, the wheel state in which the received wheel state information is detected by receiving the wheel state information and the identification information in a mutually associated state. It becomes possible to grasp exactly whether it is related.

  According to the wheel position detection unit mounting position specifying device of the present invention, the wheel position detection unit mounting position can be quickly specified when a stationary vehicle is driven.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a vehicle 10 equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system 200 according to the first embodiment. The vehicle 10 includes a left front wheel 12FL, a right front wheel 12FR, and a left rear wheel 12RL (hereinafter collectively referred to as “wheel 12” as necessary) assembled to a vehicle body 30.

  Each wheel 12 has a tire (not shown) and a wheel (not shown). In the vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment, a so-called run-flat tire is adopted as a tire provided on the wheel 12, and specifically, a side-reinforced run-flat that enables run-flat running when the air pressure decreases. Tires are used. However, it goes without saying that general tires other than run-flat tires may be employed.

  A TPMS valve unit is attached to each of the wheels 12. As will be described later, each TPMS valve unit can be identified by an ID. The first TPMS valve unit 16A is provided for the left front wheel 12FL, the second TPMS valve unit 16B is provided for the right front wheel 12FR, and the second TPMS valve unit 16RL is provided for the left rear wheel 12RL. A 3TPMS valve unit 16C and a fourth TPMS valve unit 16D are attached to the right rear wheel 12RR, respectively. Hereinafter, the first TPMS valve unit 16A to the fourth TPMS valve unit 16D are collectively referred to as the TPMS valve unit 16 as necessary.

  Each of the TPMS valve units 16 is integrated with a tire pressure adjusting valve, and each is fixed to a wheel rim of the wheel. Each of the TPMS valve units 16 transmits the wheel state information regarding the detected wheel state to the vehicle body 30 by radio as will be described later.

  The receiver 22 receives wheel state information transmitted from the TPMS valve unit 16 by radio. The receiver 22 is connected to an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as “ECU”) 100, and wheel state information received by the receiver 22 is output to the ECU 100.

  A wheel speed sensor 28 is provided around each wheel 12. The wheel speed sensor 28 detects the rotation of the wheel 12 by detecting a pulser provided on the drive shaft that rotates together with the wheel 12 with a pickup coil. The wheel speed sensor 28 is connected to the ECU 100, and the detection result of the wheel speed sensor 28 is output to the ECU 100.

  In the vehicle compartment of the vehicle body 30, there are a driver seat 62FL, a passenger seat 62FR, a left rear seat 62RL, and a right rear seat 62RR (hereinafter collectively referred to as “seat 62” as necessary) for a passenger to sit on. Is provided. The vehicle 10 according to the first embodiment is a left-hand drive vehicle, the driver seat 62FL is a left front seat, and the passenger seat 62FR is a right front seat.

  A driver seat seat sensor 18FL is provided for the driver seat 62FL, a passenger seat seat sensor 18FR is provided for the passenger seat 62FR, a left rear seat seat sensor 18RL is provided for the left rear seat 62RL, and a right rear seat seat sensor 18RR is provided for the right rear seat 62RR. Are provided respectively. Hereinafter, the driver seat seating sensor 18FL, the passenger seat seating sensor 18FR, the driver seat seating sensor 18FL, and the right rear seat seating sensor 18RR are collectively referred to as “seat sensor 18” as necessary. The seating sensor 18 detects the seating of an occupant on the seat 62 provided with each. Each of the seating sensors 18 is connected to the ECU 100, and the detection result of the seating sensors 18 is output to the ECU 100.

  Four doors (not shown) are provided on the side of the vehicle 10, and a door opening sensor 20 is provided in the vicinity of each door. The door open sensor 20 detects the opening of a nearby door. Each of the door opening sensors 20 is connected to the ECU 100, and the detection result of the door opening sensor 20 is output to the ECU 100.

  The display 24 is disposed at a location that can be visually recognized by the driver, such as an instrument panel in the vehicle compartment. The display 24 is connected to the ECU 100 and displays information on the screen according to display data output from the ECU 100.

  The tire pressure monitoring system 200 according to the first embodiment includes the ECU 100, the TPMS valve unit 16, the receiver 22, the seating sensor 18, the door opening sensor 20, the wheel speed sensor 28, the display 24, and the like described above.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the TPMS valve unit 16. The TPMS valve unit 16 includes an air pressure sensor 40, a temperature sensor 42, a processing device 32, and a transmitter 14.

  The air pressure sensor 40 detects the air pressure in the tire chamber (hereinafter referred to as “tire pressure”) as a wheel state. The temperature sensor 42 detects the temperature in the tire chamber as a wheel state. Therefore, the TPMS valve unit 16 functions as a wheel state detection unit that detects a wheel state. The air pressure sensor 40 and the temperature sensor 42 are connected to the processing device 32, and the detection results by the air pressure sensor 40 and the temperature sensor 42 are output to the processing device 32.

  The processing device 32 is configured by a microprocessor and includes an information processing unit 34, a timer 36, and a storage unit 38. The timer 36 measures time. The storage unit 38 stores a unit ID used as identification information for identifying the TPMS valve unit 16. In the tire pressure monitoring system 200 according to the first embodiment, the unit ID “A” is stored in the storage unit 38 of the first TPMS valve unit 16A, and the unit ID “B” is stored in the storage unit 38 of the second TPMS valve unit 16B. The storage unit 38 of the third TPMS valve unit 16C stores a unit ID “C”, and the storage unit 38 of the fourth TPMS valve unit 16D stores a unit ID “D”.

  The information processing unit 34 refers to the time measured by the timer 36 and uses the detection results of the air pressure sensor 40 and the temperature sensor 42 for every predetermined time such as every 10 seconds, for example, tire pressure information and tire air temperature information. To get. The information processing unit 34 generates unit data including the acquired tire air pressure information and tire air chamber temperature information.

  The structure of the unit data 50 is shown in FIG. The information processing unit 34 generates detection timing information 60 using the detection time measured by the timer 36. The information processing section 34 generates wheel state information 54 by combining the generated detection timing information in addition to the acquired tire air pressure information 56 and tire air chamber temperature information 58. The information processing unit 34 acquires the unit ID 52 from the storage unit 38. The information processing unit 34 generates a series of unit data 50 by combining the unit ID 52 and the wheel state information 54. Therefore, the unit data 50 is composed of a unit ID 52 and wheel state information 54, and the wheel state information 54 is composed of tire air pressure information 56, tire air chamber temperature information 58, and detection timing information 60.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the transmitter 14 transmits the unit data 50 generated by the information processing unit 34 of the processing device 32 to the vehicle body 30 at predetermined time intervals. However, in consideration of the power saving of the battery, the transmission time interval of the unit data 50 by the transmitter 14 is set longer than the detection time interval by the air pressure sensor 40 and the temperature sensor 42. The unit data 50 is transmitted to the vehicle body 30 every time. For this reason, until the transmission by the transmitter 14 is performed, the tire pressure information 56, the tire chamber temperature information 58, and the detection timing information 60 for several times of detection are stored in the storage unit 38 of the processing device 32. These are included in the wheel state information 54.

  The TPMS valve unit 16 also has a battery (not shown) that supplies electric power to these components constituting the TPMS valve unit 16. The TPMS valve unit 16 can detect the tire air pressure and the temperature in the tire compartment and transmit the wheel state information without receiving the supply of electric power from the vehicle body 30 by using the electric power of the battery.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the tire pressure monitoring system 200. In FIG. 4, the ECU 100 is realized by cooperation of hardware such as 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, and software. The function block to be performed is drawn. Therefore, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

  The ECU 100 includes an attachment position specifying unit 102, a wheel state determination unit 104, a display control unit 106, and a storage unit 108. The wheel state determination unit 104 uses the tire pressure information 56 and the tire chamber temperature information 58 included in the unit data 50 input from the receiver 22 to determine whether the tire pressure is higher than a predetermined threshold pressure, and It is determined whether the tire chamber temperature is higher than a predetermined threshold temperature.

  The display control unit 106 uses the tire air pressure information 56 and the tire air chamber temperature information 58 to generate display data for displaying the tire air pressure and the tire air chamber temperature on the display 24. Further, when it is determined that the tire pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold pressure, or when it is determined that the tire chamber temperature is higher than the predetermined threshold temperature, the display control unit 106 displays a warning on the display 24. Generate display data. The display 24 displays information such as a warning message using the display data generated by the display control unit 106. As described above, the display control unit 106 and the display 24 function as a warning display unit when an abnormality occurs in the wheel 12.

  Needless to say, a warning light or the like may be used instead of the display 24. Of course, a warning sound or a warning message may be output from a speaker instead of the display 24. In this case, when it is determined that the tire air pressure is higher than the predetermined threshold pressure, or when it is determined that the tire chamber temperature is higher than the predetermined threshold temperature, the display control unit 106 turns on a warning lamp or a speaker. A warning sound or warning message is output from the vehicle to notify the driver that an abnormality has occurred in the wheel 12.

  The unit data 50 includes a unit ID 52 for identifying the unit data 50. However, considering the rearrangement of the wheels 12, the TPMS valve unit 16 that transmitted the unit data 50 is attached to which wheel 12. It does not contain information that indicates whether or not For this reason, it is difficult for the wheel state determination unit 104 to determine which wheel 12 is abnormal in this state.

  For this reason, the ECU 100 has an attachment position specifying unit 102. The mounting position specifying unit 102 mounts the TPMS valve unit 16 so as to specify the wheel 12 to be detected by the TPMS valve unit 16 based on the unit data 50 input from the receiver 22 and the detection result of the seating sensor 18. Identify the location. Therefore, the tire pressure monitoring system 200 functions as an attachment position specifying device that specifies the attachment position of the wheel state detection unit.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for specifying the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 in the tire pressure monitoring system 200 according to the first embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 5 is started by turning off the ignition switch, and then repeated every predetermined time.

  The attachment position specifying unit 102 determines whether the door is opened using the detection result of the door opening sensor 20 (S11). If the door remains closed (N in S11), the following processing is skipped and the processing in this flowchart ends. When it is determined that the door is opened (Y in S11), the attachment position specifying unit 102 causes the seating sensor 18 to start detecting the seating of the occupant (S12). Further, the attachment position specifying unit 102 operates the receiver 22 (S13), and starts receiving the unit data 50 from the TPMS valve unit 16. The unit data 50 received from the TPMS valve unit 16 is input to the ECU 100 and continuously stored and accumulated in the storage unit 108 until the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 is specified.

  Whether the occupant is seated in any of the seats 62 using the detection result of the seating sensor 18 every predetermined time after the detection of the occupant's seating by the seating sensor 18 is started. Is determined (S14).

  When it is determined that an occupant is seated in any of the seats 62 (Y in S14), the attachment position specifying unit 102 first determines the seat on which the occupant is seated depending on which seating sensor 18 detects the seating of the occupant. 62 is specified. Specifically, when the seating of the occupant is detected by the driver seat seating sensor 18FL, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the seating position of the occupant as the driver seat 62FL, and the passenger seating sensor 18FR seats the occupant. Is detected as the passenger seat 62FR, and when the occupant's seating is detected by the left rear seat seating sensor 18RL, the occupant's seating position is specified as the left rear seat 62RL. When the seating of the occupant is detected by the right rear seat seating sensor 18RR, the seating position of the occupant is specified as the right rear seat 62RR.

  Next, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the seating order of the seating positions where the seating of the occupant is detected (S15). Specifically, the attachment position specifying unit 102 first refers to the storage unit 108 and determines whether or not the seating order has already been registered in the seat 62 where seating of the occupant is detected. When the seating order is not already registered in the seat 62 where the seating of the occupant is detected, the attachment position specifying unit 102 refers to the storage unit 108 and acquires the last seating order currently stored. The attachment position specifying unit 102 adds 1 to the last seating order acquired and sets this as the new seating order of the seat 62 where the seating of the occupant is detected, and the storage unit 108 stores and registers this new seating order. To do. The storage unit 108 rewrites the last seating order stored so far in the new seating order. When the seating order is already registered in the seat 62 where the seating of the occupant is detected, the attachment position specifying unit 102 does not newly register the seating order of the seat 62.

  For example, when the driver seat seating sensor 18FL detects the driver's seating on the driver seat 62FL, the attachment position specifying unit 102 determines whether or not the seating order is already registered in the driver seat 62FL. When the driver is seated in the driver's seat 62FL for the first time after the door is opened, the seating order is not yet registered in the driver's seat 62FL. For this reason, the mounting position specifying unit 102 specifies the seating order of the driver seat 62FL as “1”, and stores the driver seat 62FL and the seating order “1” in the storage unit 108 in association with each other.

  For example, when the passenger seat seating sensor 18FR next detects the seating of the passenger on the passenger seat 62FR, the attachment position specifying unit 102 determines whether the seating order is already registered in the passenger seat 62FR. When the occupant sits on the passenger seat 62FR for the first time after the door is opened, the seating order is not yet registered in the passenger seat 62FR. For this reason, the mounting position specifying unit 102 specifies the seating order of the passenger seat 62FR as “2”, which is obtained by adding 1 to “1” of the seating order of the driver seat 62FL, and the seating order of the passenger seat 62FR and the seating order. “2” is stored in association with each other. In this manner, the attachment position specifying unit 102 sequentially specifies the order of seating for the seats 62 where seating has been detected.

  The occupant usually does not get on the vehicle 10 and sit on the seat 62 after the vehicle 10 starts running. In this flowchart, the seating order of the seating positions where the seating of the occupant is detected is identified (S15), or when it is determined that no occupant is seated in any seat 62 (N in S14), the mounting position is identified. The unit 102 determines whether or not the vehicle speed Vc is greater than zero, that is, whether the vehicle 10 is traveling or stopped (S16).

  When it is determined that the vehicle speed Vc is zero, that is, when the vehicle 10 is determined to be stopped (N in S16), there is a possibility that an occupant may still enter the vehicle 10 and sit on the seat 62. The identifying unit 102 determines again whether or not an occupant is seated in any one of the seats 62 (S14). Since it is considered that all the passengers are seated before the vehicle 10 starts traveling, the attachment position specifying unit 102 repeats the processes of S14 to S16 until the vehicle 10 starts traveling.

  When it is determined that the vehicle speed Vc is greater than zero, that is, when the vehicle 10 starts traveling (Y in S16), the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the detection order of the TPMS valve units 16 (S17). Specifically, the mounting position specifying unit 102 first uses the tire pressure information 56 of the wheel state information 54 included in the unit data 50 received from each TPMS valve unit 16 to first exceed the predetermined pressure increase width. A detection timing at which an increase in tire air pressure is detected is specified. Since the total mass of the vehicle body 30 increases when the occupant sits on any one of the seats 62, the tire air pressure of the wheels 12 that support the vehicle body 30 also increases. In this case, the predetermined pressure increase width is set to a value that allows all the TPMS valve units 16 to specify the detection timing regardless of the seat 62 where an occupant having a predetermined minimum weight or more is seated. . Specifically, when it is assumed that an occupant having a predetermined minimum weight is seated on any one of the seats 62, the tire air pressure is set to be larger than the pressure increase width in all the wheels 12.

  When the vehicle 10 has already started running, it is considered that at least the driver is seated on the driver's seat 62FL in the vehicle 10, and thus usually such a detection timing is always specified. The attachment position specifying unit 102 compares the change in tire air pressure detected by each TPMS valve unit 16 at the same detection timing, and detects a change in tire air pressure greater than a predetermined pressure increase width at the same detection timing. The TPMS valve unit 16 that has detected the largest change in tire air pressure among the valve units 16 is specified as the maximum change detection unit. Furthermore, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the detection order indicating the order specified as the maximum change detection unit for the TPMS valve unit 16.

  For example, it is assumed that an occupant is first seated on the driver's seat 62FL from a state in which no occupant is seated on the seat 62. In this case, the tire air pressure of all the wheels 12 increases at the timing when the occupant is seated, but the tire air pressure of the left front wheel 12FL closest to the driver's seat 62FL increases most. Since the first TPMS valve unit 16A is attached to the left front wheel 12FL, the first TPMS valve unit 16A detects the largest change in tire air pressure at the same detection timing. Therefore, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the first TPMS valve unit 16A as the maximum change detection unit.

  Since the occupant first sat in the driver's seat 62FL, the first TPMS valve unit 16A was first specified as the maximum change detection unit. For this reason, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the detection order of the first TPMS valve unit 16A as “1”.

  Next, it is assumed that an occupant is seated in the passenger seat 62FR. Also in this case, the tire air pressure of all the wheels 12 is increased at the timing when the occupant is seated, but the tire air pressure of the right front wheel 12FR closest to the passenger seat 62FR is increased the most. Since the second TPMS valve unit 16B is attached to the right front wheel 12FR, the second TPMS valve unit 16B detects the largest change in tire air pressure at the same detection timing. Therefore, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the second TPMS valve unit 16B as the maximum change detection unit this time.

  The second TPMS valve unit 16B is specified as the maximum change detection unit next to the first TPMS valve unit 16A. For this reason, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the detection order of the second TPMS valve unit 16B as “2”. The attachment position specifying unit 102 performs the above-described processing at each specified detection timing, and specifies the detection order of each TPMS valve unit 16.

  When the detection order of the TPMS valve units 16 is specified, the attachment position specifying unit 102 executes an attachment position specifying process (S18). This attachment position specifying process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the attachment position specifying process in S18 of FIG. The storage unit 108 stores the relationship between the seat 62 and the corresponding wheel, with the wheel 12 closest to each seat 62 as the “corresponding wheel” of the seat 62. Specifically, the corresponding wheel of the driver seat 62FL is the left front wheel 12FL, the corresponding wheel of the passenger seat 62FR is the right front wheel 12FR, the corresponding wheel of the left rear seat 62RL is the left rear wheel 12RL, and the corresponding wheel of the right rear seat 62RR is the rear right. These relationships are stored in the storage unit 108 as the wheel 12RR. The attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the attachment position of the TPMS valve unit 16 as the corresponding wheel of the seat 62 in the same seating order as the detection order specified for the TPMS valve unit 16 (S31).

  For example, in the above-described example, the detection order of the first TPMS valve unit 16A is specified as “1”, and the detection order of the second TPMS valve unit 16B is specified as “2”. Further, since the occupant is first seated in the driver seat 62FL and then the occupant is seated in the passenger seat 62FR, the seating order of the driver seat 62FL is specified as “1”, and the seating order of the passenger seat 62FR is “2”. Is specified. Therefore, the mounting position specifying unit 102 specifies the mounting position of the first TPMS valve unit 16A as the corresponding wheel of the driver seat 62FL that is specified in the same seating order as “1” that is the detection order of the first TPMS valve unit 16A. Is specified. Further, the mounting position of the second TPMS valve unit 16B is specified as the right front wheel 12FR that is the corresponding wheel of the passenger seat 62FR specified in the same seating order as “2” that is the detection order of the second TPMS valve unit 16B.

  Here, FIG. 7 shows a case that can be considered when an occupant is seated on the seat 62. In FIG. 7, for each case, the driver's seat 62FL, the passenger seat 62FR, the left rear seat 62RL, and the right rear seat 62RR are schematically drawn. The passenger is a black circle, and the driver is a white circle. It is represented.

  Note that the vehicle 10 in the first embodiment has two rows of seats, a front seat and a rear seat, but even if another row of seats is provided between the front seat and the rear seat. Good. In this case, the tire pressure monitoring system 200 does not use the seating situation of the passengers in another row between the front seat and the rear seat in order to specify the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16.

  Since the driver is considered to be seated in the driver's seat 62FL when the vehicle starts to travel, eight cases shown in FIG. Case 1 is a case in which only the driver is seated, cases 2 to 4 are cases in which another passenger is seated in addition to the driver, and cases 5 to 7 are 2 in addition to the driver. This is a case where a passenger is seated. Case 8 is a case where four passengers including the driver are seated.

  Thus, except for the case 8, there is a seat 62 in which no occupant is seated, that is, an “empty seat”. Since the seating order is not specified for the vacant seat, the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 attached to the wheel corresponding to the vacant seat is not specified only by using the seating order.

  Returning to FIG. 6, for this reason, when the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 is specified, the mounting position specifying unit 102 determines whether there is any TPMS valve unit 16 whose mounting position has not been specified yet (S32). ).

  When there is no TPMS valve unit 16 whose mounting position is not specified, that is, when an occupant is seated in all four seats 62 as in case 8 and the mounting positions of all TPMS valve units 16 have been specified. (Y in S32), the process in this flowchart is terminated.

  When it is determined that there is a TPMS valve unit 16 whose mounting position is not specified (N in S32), it is determined whether there is one TPMS valve unit 16 whose mounting position is not specified (S33).

  When it is determined that there is one TPMS valve unit 16 whose mounting position is not specified, that is, when there is one vacant seat as in cases 5 to 7, the mounting position of one TPMS valve unit 16 cannot be specified (S33). Y), there is one wheel 12 that is not specified as an attachment position, and the attachment position of the TPMS valve unit 16 is considered to be the wheel 12. For this reason, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the attachment position of the TPMS valve unit 16 whose attachment position is not specified as the wheel 12 that is not specified as the attachment position (S34).

  When it is determined that there are two or less TPMS valve units 16 whose mounting positions are not specified, that is, there are three vacant seats as in Case 1 or two vacant seats as in Cases 2 to 4. When the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 cannot be specified (N in S33), there are a plurality of wheels 12 that are not specified as the mounting position, so the TPMS valve unit 16 whose mounting position is not specified is attached to any wheel 12. It is difficult to specify whether or not it is used only by using the sitting order.

  For this reason, when there are two or more seats where seating of the occupant is not detected, the attachment position specifying unit 102 is detected by each TPMS valve unit 16 at substantially the same timing as the seating time of the occupant on the driver seat 62FL. By comparing the change in the tire air pressure and the rate of change in the tire air pressure at each wheel 12 caused by the occupant sitting on the driver's seat 62FL, the attachment position of the TPMS valve unit 16 whose attachment position is not specified is determined. Specify (S35).

  When an occupant sits on any one of the seats 62, the tire air pressure of each wheel 12 changes. For example, when the driver is seated in the driver's seat 62FL, the change rate of the tire air pressure of each wheel 12 is 1 if the change width of the tire air pressure of the left front wheel 12FL corresponding to the driver's seat 62FL is 1. The change ratio is substantially constant regardless of the weight of the passenger, such as 0.3, the change width of the left rear wheel 12RL is 0.5, and the change width of the right rear wheel 12RR is 0.2.

  The storage unit 108 stores the change rate of the tire air pressure of each wheel 12 when the driver is seated on the driver seat 62FL. The mounting position specifying unit 102 refers to this, and the TPMS valve unit 16 whose mounting position is not specified is compared with the change value of the tire air pressure detected at the timing when the driver is seated on the driver seat 62FL. The mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 is specified.

  For example, when the left rear seat 62RL and the right rear seat 62RR are empty as in the case 2, the mounting position of the third TPMS valve unit 16C attached to the left rear wheel 12RL and the right rear wheel 12RR are attached. It is difficult to specify the mounting position of the fourth TPMS valve unit 16D by simply using the seating order.

  Here, the change rate of the tire air pressure of each wheel 12 when the driver is seated on the driver's seat 62FL as described above is defined as 1 as the change width of the tire air pressure of the left front wheel 12FL corresponding to the driver seat 62FL. If the relationship between the change rate of the tire air pressure is stored in the storage unit 108 that the change width of the left rear wheel 12RL is 0.5 and the change width of the right rear wheel 12RR is 0.2, the driver seat 62FL is driven. It can be said that the tire pressure of the left rear wheel 12RL increases more than the right rear wheel 12RR when the person is seated.

  Therefore, the attachment position specifying unit 102 compares the detection values of the third TPMS valve unit 16C and the fourth TPMS valve unit 16D at the timing when the driver is seated on the driver seat 62FL. In this case, since the tire pressure of the third TPMS valve unit 16C is larger, the mounting position specifying unit 102 specifies the mounting position of the third TPMS valve unit 16C as the left rear wheel 12RL, and the remaining third TPMS valve unit. The attachment position of 16C is specified as the right rear wheel 12RR. As described above, the tire air pressure monitoring system 200 according to the first embodiment uses the change rate of the tire air pressure of each of the wheels 12 when the driver is seated on the driver seat 62FL, and the mounting position is determined only by the seating order. The mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 that cannot be specified is specified.

  Returning to FIG. 5, when the attachment position specifying process is completed, the storage unit 108 stores the unit ID and the wheel 12 specified as the attachment position of the TPMS valve unit 16 having the unit ID in association with each other (S19). ). In the example shown in the first embodiment, the storage unit 108 stores “A”, which is the unit ID of the first TPMS valve unit 16A, and “left front wheel” specified as the mounting position in association with each other. Further, “B”, which is the unit ID of the second TPMS valve unit 16B, and “right front wheel” specified as the mounting position thereof are stored in association with each other. Further, “C”, which is the unit ID of the third TPMS valve unit 16C, and “left rear wheel” specified as the mounting position thereof are stored in association with each other. Further, “D”, which is the unit ID of the fourth TPMS valve unit 16D, and “right rear wheel” specified as the mounting position thereof are stored in association with each other.

  As a result, the wheel state determination unit 104 refers to the correspondence between the unit ID and the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16, and based on the unit ID 52 and the wheel state information 54 included in the unit data 50 received thereafter, It is possible to determine whether an abnormality has occurred in the wheel 12. For this reason, it becomes possible to promptly notify the wheel 12 in which an abnormality has occurred to the driver.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for specifying the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 in the tire pressure monitoring system 200 according to the second embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 5 is started by turning off the ignition switch, and then repeated every predetermined time. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the tire pressure monitoring system 200 according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the tire pressure monitoring system 200 according to the first embodiment.

  Since S41 to S43 are the same as S11 to S13 in FIG. Whether the occupant is seated in any of the seats 62 using the detection result of the seating sensor 18 every predetermined time after the detection of the occupant's seating by the seating sensor 18 is started. Is determined (S44).

  If it is determined that an occupant is seated in any of the seats 62 (Y in S44), the attachment position specifying unit 102 uses the detection result of the seating sensor 18 to specify the seat 62 as the seating position where the occupant is seated. To do. Further, the ECU 100 has a timer (not shown) for measuring time, and the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the seating timing when the occupant is seated with reference to the time of this timer (S45). The storage unit 108 stores the seating position and the seating timing specified in this manner until the mounting position of each TPMS valve unit 16 is specified.

  When the seating position and the seating timing are specified (S45), or when it is determined that no occupant is seated in any seat 62 (N in S44), the mounting position specifying unit 102 has the vehicle speed Vc greater than zero. Whether or not the vehicle 10 is running or stopped (S46).

  When the vehicle speed Vc is determined to be zero, that is, when it is determined that the vehicle 10 is stopped (N in S46), there is a possibility that an occupant may still enter the vehicle 10 and sit on the seat 62. The identifying unit 102 determines again whether or not an occupant is seated in any one of the seats 62 (S44). Since it is considered that all the occupants are seated before the vehicle 10 starts traveling, the attachment position specifying unit 102 repeats the processes of S44 to S46 until the vehicle 10 starts traveling.

  When it is determined that the vehicle speed Vc is greater than zero, that is, when the vehicle 10 starts traveling (Y in S46), the attachment position specifying unit 102 detects the detection timing included in the wheel state information 54 of the received unit data 50. Using the information 60, the detection timing at which the TPMS valve unit 16 detects an increase in tire air pressure greater than a predetermined pressure increase width is specified (S47). The predetermined pressure increase width in this case is the same as the predetermined pressure increase width in the description related to S17 of FIG.

  When the detection timing of the TPMS valve unit 16 is specified, the attachment position specifying unit 102 executes an attachment position specifying process (S48). This attachment position specifying process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the attachment position specifying process in S48 of FIG. The mounting position specifying unit 102 first specifies the TPMS valve unit 16 that has detected the largest change in tire air pressure among the plurality of TPMS valve units 16 that have detected a change in tire air pressure exceeding a predetermined pressure increase width at the same detection timing. To do. Next, the mounting position specifying unit 102 specifies the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 specified in this way as the corresponding wheel of the seat 62 where the seating of the occupant is detected at the same timing as the detection timing. The corresponding wheel is the same as described above in relation to S31 in FIG.

  For example, in the first TPMS valve unit 16A, it is assumed that the largest change in tire air pressure among the TPMS valve units 16 is detected at time t1. In this case, the attachment position specifying unit 102 specifies the seat 62 seated between the time t1 and the detection time interval of the TPMS valve unit 16 based on the seating position and the seating timing specified in S45. The period from the time t1 until the detection time interval of the TPMS valve unit 16 is traced is that the seating sensor 18 detects the seating of an occupant in a very short cycle such as every several hundred milliseconds, The TPMS valve unit 16 detects tire air pressure at a relatively long cycle, for example, every 10 seconds. For this reason, even if the tire air pressure of one of the wheels 12 increases simultaneously with the seating of the occupant, the seating of the occupant by the seating sensor 18 and the increase in tire air pressure by the TPMS valve unit 16 may not be detected at the same time. It is.

  When it is determined that an occupant is seated in the driver's seat 62FL at time t1, the mounting position specifying unit 102 specifies the mounting position of the first TPMS valve unit 16A as the left front wheel 12FL corresponding to the driver's seat 62FL. . Thus, by specifying the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 using the seating position, the seating timing, and the detection timing, attention is paid only to the seating of the occupant at the timing when the TPMS valve unit 16 detects the change in the tire air pressure. Thus, the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 can be specified. For this reason, even if the occupant repeatedly gets on and off the vehicle 10 during the detection time interval (for example, 10 seconds) of the TPMS valve unit 16, for example, the occupant is seated at the timing when the TPMS valve unit 16 detects the change in the tire air pressure. Only can be identified easily. Therefore, by specifying the seating position at this timing, it is possible to accurately determine the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16.

  Since S62 to S65 are the same as S32 to S36 in FIG. Returning to FIG. 8, S49 is the same as S19 in FIG.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and an appropriate combination of the elements of each embodiment is also effective as an embodiment of 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 embodiments to which such modifications are added can also be included in the scope of the present invention. Here are some examples.

  When a plurality of occupants are seated on the plurality of seats 62 at the same time, the attachment position specifying unit 102 may not be able to specify the seating order, and may not be able to specify the maximum change detection unit. For this reason, in a modification, when an occupant is seated in a plurality of seats 62 within a predetermined time interval, the display control unit 106 displays a message prompting the occupant to sit at a predetermined time interval. Display data is generated and display 24 displays such a message. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a plurality of passengers from being seated on the plurality of seats 62 substantially simultaneously.

  In another modified example, when the seating order of the three seats 62 is specified in S15 of FIG. 5, it is possible to specify the mounting positions of all the TPMS valve units 16 at that time. Is skipped and the process of S17 is executed. In another modification, when the seating timings of the three seats 62 are specified in S45 of FIG. 8, it is possible to specify the mounting positions of all the TPMS valve units 16 at that time. The process is skipped and the process of S47 is executed. Thus, the mounting position of the TPMS valve unit 16 can be specified before the vehicle 10 starts traveling. For example, even when the tire air pressure decreases while the vehicle 10 is stopped, the tire air pressure of any wheel 12 is increased. It is possible to promptly notify the occupant whether or not the vehicle has fallen.

  In another modification, when it is determined that the tire air pressure is higher than a predetermined threshold pressure, or when it is determined that the tire chamber temperature is higher than the predetermined threshold temperature, the wheel state determination unit 104 performs the run flat. An estimated travelable distance that can be traveled is calculated. The storage unit 108 stores a map in which the distance traveled from the time when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the wheel 12, the tire air pressure, and the tire interior temperature and the estimated travelable distance are associated with each other. The determination unit 104 calculates an estimated travelable distance with reference to this map. The display control unit 106 generates display data for displaying the estimated travelable distance, and the display 24 displays the estimated travelable distance.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a vehicle equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system according to a first embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of a TPMS valve unit. It is a figure which shows the structure of unit data. It is a functional block diagram of a tire pressure monitoring system. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which pinpoints the attachment position of a TPMS valve unit in the tire pressure monitoring system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the attachment position specific process of S18 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the case considered with the passenger | crew sitting on the seat. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which pinpoints the attachment position of a TPMS valve unit in the tire pressure monitoring system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the attachment position specific process of S48 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Vehicle, 12 Wheel, 16 TPMS Valve Unit, 18 Seat Sensor, 20 Door Open Sensor, 22 Receiver, 24 Display, 28 Wheel Speed Sensor, 30 Car Body, 40 Air Pressure Sensor, 52 Unit ID, 54 Wheel State Information, 56 Tire Air pressure information, 58 Tire interior temperature information, 60 detection timing information, 62 seats, 100 ECU, 102 mounting position specifying unit, 108 storage unit, 200 tire pressure monitoring system.

Claims (6)

Receiving means for receiving wheel state information relating to the detected wheel state from the wheel state detection unit;
A seating sensor for detecting seating of an occupant provided in each of a plurality of seats;
Based on the received wheel state information and the detection result of the seating sensor, an attachment position specifying unit for specifying an attachment position of the wheel state detection unit to specify a wheel to be detected by the wheel state detection unit;
Equipped with a,
The mounting position specifying part is
Using the detection result of the seating sensor, specify the seating order at the seating position where the seating was detected,
Using the received wheel state information, the wheel state detection unit that has detected the largest wheel state change among the plurality of wheel state detection units that have detected the wheel state change at the same timing is identified as the maximum change detection unit. And the detection order indicating the order identified as the maximum change detection unit,
The mounting state of the wheel state detection unit is characterized in that the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit is specified as the wheel closest to the seating position specified in the same seating order as the detection order specified for the wheel state detection unit. Positioning device. The wheel state detection unit is provided on each of the right front wheel, the left front wheel, the right rear wheel, and the left rear wheel,
The seating sensor is provided in each of the right front seat, the left front seat, the right rear seat, and the left rear seat,
The mounting position specifying unit is configured such that the corresponding wheel of the right front seat is the right front wheel, the corresponding wheel of the left front seat is the left front wheel, the corresponding wheel of the right rear seat is the right rear wheel, and the corresponding wheel of the left rear seat is the left rear wheel. the mounting position of the detection unit, the mounting position determination device of the wheel state detecting unit of claim 1, wherein the identifying the corresponding wheel seat identified in the detection order and the same seating order of the wheel state detection unit . The right front seat or the left front seat is used as a driver seat, and further includes a storage unit that stores a change rate of a wheel state of each wheel when an occupant is seated in the driver seat,
When there are two or more seats where no occupant seating is detected, the mounting position specifying unit stores the change in the wheel state of each wheel at substantially the same timing as the occupant seating timing in the driver seat. by comparing the rate of change of the wheel state of each wheel was, claim 2, characterized in that to identify the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit attached to the corresponding wheel of the seat occupant sitting is not detected The mounting position specifying device for the wheel state detection unit according to claim 1. The wheel state detection unit detects the tire pressure as the wheel state,
The receiving means receives wheel state information including tire pressure information related to the detected tire pressure;
The attachment position specifying unit, based on the detection result of the tire air pressure information contained in the received wheel state information and the seating sensor, claims 1 to 3, characterized in that to identify the mounting position of the wheel state detection unit The wheel position detection unit mounting position specifying device according to any one of the above. A door opening sensor for detecting opening of a vehicle door;
A vehicle speed sensor for detecting the speed of the vehicle,
The attachment position specifying unit detects the detection result of the seating sensor related to the seating of the occupant detected by the time when the detected vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value after detecting the detection of the opening of the door, and the received Of the wheel status information, after detecting the opening of the door, the wheel status information relating to the wheel status detected until the detected vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value is used to determine the mounting position of the wheel status detection unit. The wheel position detection unit mounting position specifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the wheel position detection unit is specified. The receiving means is identification information associated with wheel state information, and receives identification information for identifying a wheel state detection unit;
The wheel position detection unit mounting position according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising storage means for storing the identification information and the specified mounting position in association with each other for each wheel state detection unit. Specific device.

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