Measurement method and unit for a motor vehicle

A method for detecting a stopping of a motor vehicle (1), where said vehicle (1) has a plurality of wheels each having a tire (34) inflated by inflation gases, the method comprising the steps of:

• using an electronic sensor that registers a temperature of the inflation gases of said tire (34), and a microcontroller in communication with the electronic sensor for periodically measuring (F1), via the electronic sensor, and storing the temperature of the inflation gases of said tire (34), to accumulate a plurality of temperature values over a predetermined time interval, the microcontroller operating in an active mode such that the temperature of the inflation gases of said tire (34) is periodically measured and stored at an activation frequency;
• at the microcontroller, comparing (F2) the temperature values measured over the predetermined time interval to determine whether the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire (34) has decreased by at least a second predetermined temperature value and then stabilizes during the predetermined time interval;
• at the microcontroller, determining (F3) a state of stopping of the vehicle (1) upon a determination that the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire has decreased by at least the second predetermined temperature value then stabilizes during the predetermined time interval;
• and
• at the microcontroller, upon said determining of the state of stopping of the vehicle, switching from the active mode to a standby mode, wherein the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire (34) is periodically measured and stored at a standby frequency, the standby frequency being lower than the activation frequency.

A measurement unit to be mounted in a wheel of a motor vehicle (1) for detecting a movement of said vehicle (1), where said wheel includes a tire inflated by inflation gases, said measurement unit being configured to:

• periodically receive and store, at a standby frequency corresponding to a standby mode of operation, measurements of the temperature of the inflation gases of said tire (34) of the vehicle (1) such to accumulate a plurality of temperature values over a predetermined time interval;
• compare the temperature values received over the predetermined time interval to determine whether the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire (34) has increased by at least a first predetermined temperature value during the predetermined time interval;
• determine a state of movement of the vehicle (1) upon a determination that the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire (34) has increased by at least the first predetermined temperature value during the predetermined time interval;
• and
• upon the determining of the state of movement of the vehicle, switching from the standby mode of operation to an active mode of operation, wherein the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire (34) is periodically measured and stored at an activation frequency higher than the standby frequency.

A measurement unit to be mounted in a wheel of a motor vehicle (1) for detecting a stopping of said vehicle (1), where said wheel includes a tire inflated by inflation gases, said measurement unit being configured to:

• periodically receive and store, at an activation frequency corresponding to an active mode of operation, measurements of the temperature of the inflation gases of said tire (34) of the vehicle (1) such to accumulate a plurality of temperature values over a predetermined time interval;
• compare the temperature values received over the predetermined time interval for detecting stopping of the vehicle to determine whether the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire (34) has decreased by at least a second predetermined temperature value then stabilizes during the predetermined time interval;
• determine a state of stopping of the vehicle (1) upon a determination that the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire (34) has decreased by at least the second predetermined temperature value then stabilizes during the predetermined time interval;
• and
• upon the determining of the state of stopping of the vehicle, switching from the active mode of operation to a standby mode of operation, wherein the temperature of the inflation gases of the tire (34) is periodically measured and stored at a standby frequency lower than the activation frequency.