Tire pressure monitor and location identification system and method

In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having a transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle proximate to a corresponding tire and which is capable of receiving signals, and a corresponding tire pressure monitor, which is coupled to the corresponding tire and which is capable of sending a tire pressure signal, a method of verifying that a signal received by the transponder is a tire pressure signal transmitted by the corresponding tire pressure monitor, comprising the steps:

• determining a strength of the signal received by the transponder;
• comparing said signal strength to a reference value;
• and
• selectively providing the signal from the corresponding transponder to a central controller via wireless transmission if said signal strength exceeds a reference value.

In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having (i) a tire pressure monitor, which is coupled to a first vehicle tire and capable of transmitting a tire pressure signal;

• (ii) a first transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle proximate to the first wheel and which is capable of receiving the tire pressure signal, and (iii) at least a second transponder, which is positioned on the vehicle more distant from the tire pressure monitor than the first transponder and which is also capable of receiving the tire pressure signal, a method of identifying the first transponder, comprising the steps:
• determining a first signal strength of the tire pressure signal received by the first transponder;
• determining a second signal strength of the tire pressure signal received by the second transponder;
• and
• comparing said first and second signal strengths to each other.

In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having a tire pressure monitor coupled to a vehicle tire and at least one transponder positioned on the vehicle, a method of providing tire pressure and tire location information, comprising:

• the transponder receiving a tire pressure signal from the tire pressure monitor;
• determining a signal strength of said tire pressure signal;
• comparing said signal strength to a reference value;
• the transponder selectively transmitting said tire pressure signal and a unique transponder identification code to a central controller if said signal strength exceeds said reference value;
• and
• providing tire pressure and tire location information to a vehicle operator based respectively on said tire pressure signal and said unique transponder identification code received from the transponder.

In a vehicle tire pressure monitoring system having a tire pressure monitor coupled to a vehicle tire, a first transponder positioned on the vehicle, and a second transponder positioned on the vehicle, a method of providing tire pressure and tire location information, comprising the steps:

• transmitting a tire pressure signal from the tire pressure monitor;
• receiving said tire pressure signal by the first transponder and the second transponder;
• determining a first signal strength of said tire pressure signal received by the first transponder;
• determining a second signal strength of said tire pressure signal received by the second transponder;
• transmitting said tire pressure signal, said first signal strength, and a first unique transponder identification code from the first transponder to a central controller;
• transmitting said tire pressure signal, said second signal strength, and a second unique transponder identification code from the second transponder to said central controller;
• and
• providing tire pressure information and tire location information to a vehicle operator based respectively on said tire pressure signal and the relative magnitudes of said first and second signal strengths.

A tire pressure monitor and identification system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a tire pressure monitor operatively connected to a vehicle tire, said tire pressure monitor adapted to collect tire pressure data for said vehicle tire;
• a transponder coupled to the vehicle proximate to said tire pressure monitor, said transponder being adapted to receive a tire pressure signal from said tire pressure monitor;
• and
• wherein said transponder is adapted to detect a strength of said tire pressure signal received by said transponder and to selectively provide said tire pressure signal to a central controller based on said signal strength.

A tire pressure monitor and identification system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a tire pressure monitor operatively connected to a vehicle tire, said tire pressure monitor being adapted to collect tire pressure data for said vehicle tire;
• a first transponder coupled to the vehicle proximate to said tire pressure monitor, said first transponder being adapted to receive a tire pressure signal from said tire pressure monitor and to detect a first strength of said tire pressure signal;
• a second transponder coupled to the vehicle at a position more distant from said tire pressure monitor than said first transponder, said second transponder also being capable of receiving said tire pressure signal from said tire pressure monitor and adapted to detect a second strength of said tire pressure signal;
• a central controller adapted to receive said first signal strength from said first transponder and further adapted to receive said second signal strength from said second transponder;
• and
• said central controller further being adapted to compare said first and second signal strengths.