Apparatus and method for connecting vehicle wheel sensors to a controller
AssigneeDana Corporation
InventorsJames Beverly, Kent Davison, Gerard McCann, Thomas Simma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel sensor apparatus and a method that determine if a vehicle wheel sensor is active or passive, while efficiently providing the necessary connectivity, power, and communication between the sensor and a controller, without requiring a change in controller hardware. For an active sensor, the apparatus provides power and receives speed signals, high frequency vibration or acceleration signals, or other analog signals. For a passive sensor, the apparatus receives speed signals.
Claims10
A vehicle wheel sensor apparatus, comprising:
- a first node, a second node, and a signal return node;
- an active or a passive vehicle wheel sensor;
- and
- a controller;
- wherein the nodes connect the vehicle wheel sensor and the controller, and a vehicle wheel sensor apparatus determines if the vehicle wheel sensor is the active vehicle wheel sensor or the passive vehicle wheel sensor, without requiring a change in controller hardware.
A vehicle having at least one vehicle wheel or vehicle wheel assembly, comprising:
- at least one vehicle wheel sensor apparatus having a first node, a second node, a signal return node, an active or a passive vehicle wheel sensor, and a controller;
- wherein the nodes connect the vehicle wheel sensor to the controller, and the vehicle wheel sensor apparatus determines if the vehicle wheel sensor is active or passive, without requiring a change in controller hardware.
A method of connecting an active or a passive vehicle wheel sensor to a controller that determines if the vehicle wheel sensor is active or passive, comprising:
- providing a controller that utilizes a first communication node and/or a second communication node, and a signal return node;
- providing an active vehicle wheel sensor or a passive vehicle wheel sensor;
- connecting the controller to the active vehicle wheel sensor or the passive vehicle wheel sensor;
- and
- utilizing the controller to determine if the vehicle wheel sensor is active or passive, without requiring a change in controller hardware.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.