Method and apparatus for wireless monitoring of tire conditions

A method for wirelessly monitoring tire conditions on a vehicle, the method comprising:

• a) sensing a tire condition using at least one sensor assembly;
• b) wirelessly transmitting sensed data related to the tire condition to a communication module mounted on the vehicle;
• c) sending a signal from the communication module to a display unit mounted on the vehicle so that an operator can monitor tire conditions in real time;
• d) during time periods when the vehicle is not within an RF coverage zone provided by one or more remote monitoring stations, storing sensed data related to the tire condition in non-volatile memory in the communication module;
• and
• e) when the vehicle moves into the RF coverage zone of at least one of the remote monitoring stations, wirelessly transmitting real-time sensed data related to the tire condition, and stored data from the non-volatile memory, via an RF modem to at least one of the remote monitoring stations.

A system for wirelessly monitoring tire conditions on a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a plurality of sensor assemblies mounted on the vehicle, each sensor assembly comprising:
• at least one sensor for sensing a tire condition and generating associated sensor data;
• and
• a transceiver for communication of the sensor data;
• a communication module mounted on the vehicle for two-way communication between the sensor assemblies and at least one remote monitoring station, each communication module comprising:
• at least one transceiver and at least one antenna for communication with the sensor assemblies;
• a radio frequency (RF) modem for wireless communication with the at least one remote monitoring station each station providing an RF coverage zone to the vehicle;
• and
• non-volatile memory for storing sensor data received from the sensor assemblies:
• a display unit mounted on the vehicle configured to receive signals from the at least one communication module and relay the signals so that an operator can monitor tire conditions in real time;
• wherein the communication module is configured to:
• store sensor data received from the sensor assemblies in the non-volatile memory while the vehicle is not within any of the RF coverage zones;
• and
• transmit real-time sensor data from the sensor assemblies and stored sensor data from the non-volatile memory via the RF modem to a remote monitoring station when the vehicle is within the RF coverage zone of that remote monitoring station, wherein the stored sensor data transmitted from the non-volatile memory is sensor data generated while the vehicle was not within any of the RF coverage zones.