System and method for tire pressure monitoring including automatic tire location recognition

In a system for remote monitoring of tire pressure in a vehicle having a plurality of tires, each tire having a location, a system for automatically identifying tire location comprising:

• a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires, each monitor comprising a sensor for sensing tire pressure, a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the sensed tire pressure, and a magnetic switch for actuating the transmitter to transmit a tire pressure signal;
• a plurality of electromagnets, each electromagnet for mounting on-board the vehicle in proximity to one of the plurality of tire locations for association with one of the plurality of tire monitors, each electromagnet for generating a magnetic field causing the magnetic switch of the associated tire monitor to actuate the transmitter of the associated tire monitor to transmit a tire pressure signal;
• a receiver for mounting on-board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals transmitted by the transmitters;
• and
• a controller for mounting on-board the vehicle, the controller to be provided in communication with the plurality of electromagnets and the receiver, the controller for processing tire pressure signals received by the receiver and for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a user, wherein the controller energizes the plurality of electromagnets so that each received tire pressure signal is automatically associated with one of the plurality of tire locations.