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

In a vehicle having a plurality of tires, each tire having a tire location associated therewith, a system for monitoring tire pressure comprising:

• a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires, each monitor comprising means for determining tire pressure and a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the tire pressure determined;
• a receiver for mounting on board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals, the receiver comprising an antenna to be located on the vehicle at a site, wherein each tire pressure signal has an amplitude and, for each tire location, the amplitude has a unique pattern over time for the antenna site;
• and
• a controller for mounting on board the vehicle, the controller to be provided in communication with the receiver for collecting and processing the tire pressure signals to automatically identify the tire locations associated therewith based on the unique amplitude patterns, the controller further for generating control signals for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a vehicle occupant, wherein the amplitude patterns of the tire pressure signals vary depending on vehicle speed, and the controller is further to be provided with vehicle speed information so that, for each tire location, a stored amplitude pattern of the tire pressure signal at a vehicle speed can be used in identifying the tire location.

In a vehicle having a plurality of tires, each tire having a tire location associated therewith, a method for monitoring tire pressure comprising:

• providing a plurality of tire monitors, each monitor for mounting in one of the plurality of tires, each monitor comprising means for determining tire pressure and a transmitter for transmitting a signal representative of the tire pressure determined;
• providing a receiver for mounting on board the vehicle for receiving the tire pressure signals, the receiver comprising an antenna to be located on the vehicle at a site, wherein each tire pressure signal has an amplitude and, for each tire location, the amplitude has a unique pattern over time for the antenna site without regard to a data encoding scheme for the tire pressure signal;
• and
• providing a controller for mounting on board the vehicle, the controller to be provided in communication with the receiver for collecting and processing the tire pressure signals to automatically identify the tire locations associated therewith based on the unique amplitude patterns, the controller further for generating control signals for use in conveying tire pressure and location information to a vehicle occupant.