Distributed intelligence vehicular tire air pressurization system and method

A system in a vehicle for adjusting respective tire air pressures in respective sets of tires using an air supply, said system comprising,

• a controller means comprising a memory means for storing programs, processor means for executing said programs, and a communication means for transmitting respective commands communicating sets of respective desired pressures, said controller means for selecting one of a plurality of operating conditions referenced to one of said sets of respective desired pressures and for generating said respective commands communicating respective desired pressures for said respective sets of tires,
• a plurality of respective manifold means comprising respective manifold controller means each of which comprising respective manifold memory means for storing respective manifold programs, respective manifold processor means for executing said respective manifold programs, respective manifold communication means for receiving said respective commands, said respective manifold controller means for monitoring said respective tire air pressures in said respective sets of tires, said respective manifold controller means for respectively responding to said respective commands for adjusting said respective tire air pressures to said respective desired pressures, said plurality of respective manifold means further comprises respective inflation means for supplying respective supply air from said air supply to said respective sets of tires, respective deflation means for exhausting respective exhaust air from said respective sets of tires, and respective air pressure sensors for sensing said respective tire air pressures in said respective sets of tires, said respective commands identifying said respective manifold means independently responding and adjusting said respective tire air pressures to said respective desired pressures in said respective sets of tires, and
• a plurality of respective air channel means respectively connected between said respective inflation means, said respective deflation means, and said respective set of tires for communicating said respective supply air to said respective sets of tires, for communicating said respective exhaust air from said respective sets of tires, and for communicating said respective tire air pressures from said respective sets of tires to said respective air pressure sensor.