Apparatus and method for controlling a tire condition module of a vehicle tire

A tire condition sensor module for a vehicle tire comprising:

• a tire condition sensor operative to sense a tire condition of an associated vehicle tire and provide a tire condition signal having a characteristic indicative thereof;
• a motion detector operative to detect movement of the associated vehicle tire and provide a motion signal indicative thereof;
• a transmitter operative to transmit a tire transmitter signal having a characteristic based on the tire condition signal;
• and
• a controller connected with said motion detector, said transmitter, and said tire condition sensor, said controller having a normal mode in response to the motion signal indicating at least a first amount of tire movement, said controller having a temporary transition mode in response to determining from the motion signal a change in tire movement from at least the first amount of tire movement to an amount less than the first amount of tire movement, said controller having a sleep mode that occurs after said transition mode so long as said motion signal continues to indicate less than the first amount of tire movement for a time period, said controller controlling said tire condition sensor and said tire transmitter differently in each mode.

A tire condition sensor module for a vehicle tire comprising:

• a tire condition sensor operative to sense a tire condition of an associated vehicle tire and provide a tire condition signal having a characteristic indicative thereof;
• a motion detector operative to detect movement of the associated vehicle tire and provide a motion signal indicating movement of the associated vehicle tire;
• a transmitter operative to transmit a tire transmitter signal having a characteristic based on the tire condition signal;
• and
• a controller connected with said motion detector, said transmitter, and said tire condition sensor, said controller transitioning from a first operating mode to a temporary second operating mode in response to determining from said motion signal a change in tire movement from a first amount of tire movement to an amount that is less than the first amount of tire movement, said controller operating in third operating mode after said second operating mode so long as said motion signal continues to indicate an amount of tire movement that is less than the first amount, said controller, when in the first and second operating modes, controlling said tire condition sensor to sense tire condition at a rate that is greater than when in the third operating mode.

A tire condition sensor module for a vehicle comprising:

• means for sensing a tire condition of an associated vehicle tire and providing a tire condition signal having a characteristic indicative thereof;
• means for sensing movement of the associated vehicle tire and to providing a motion signal having a characteristic indicating movement of the associated vehicle tire;
• means for transmitting a tire transmitter signal having a characteristic based on the sensed tire condition;
• and
• control means for controlling said tire condition sensing means and said tire transmitting means in response to said motion signal, said control means operating in a normal mode in response to said motion signal indicating at least a first amount of tire movement, said control means operating in a temporary transition mode in response to determining a change in tire movement from at least the first amount of tire movement to an amount less than the first amount of tire movement, said control means also operating in a sleep mode after said transition mode so long as said motion signal continues to indicate less than the first amount of tire movement for a time period, said control means, when in the normal and transition modes, controlling said sensing means to sense at a rate that is greater than when in the sleep mode.

In a tire condition module which is mountable at a vehicle tire, a method of controlling operation of the tire condition module comprising the steps of:

• sensing movement of a vehicle tire;
• providing a signal based on the sensed tire movement;
• operating in a first mode while the signal indicates at least a first amount of tire movement;
• changing from the first mode to a second mode in response to the signal indicating that the tire movement has changed from at least the first amount to an amount less than the first amount;
• operating in the second mode during an initial time period when the signal indicates less than the first amount of tire movement;
• changing from the second mode to a third mode after the predetermined time period provided that the signal indicates less than the first amount of tire movement;
• operating in the third mode so long as the signal continues to indicate less than the first amount of tire movement;
• and
• sensing tire condition at a greater rate when in the first and second modes than when in the third mode.