Method and apparatus for monitoring tire pressure

A method of learning associations between a plurality of tires each having a unique identification code and a plurality of locations for tires, the method comprising:

• receiving the unique identification codes from each tire of the plurality of tires in response to a change in tire pressure in said each tire in a predetermined order of the plurality of locations for tires;
• correlating the receipt of the unique identification codes to the predetermined order of the plurality of locations for tires to thereby associate each tire of the plurality of tires to one location of the plurality of locations for tires;
• testing each second and subsequently received identification code to determine if said identification code is unique compared to said identification codes already stored;
• and
• storing only identification codes that are determined to be unique compared to said identification codes already stored.

A tire pressure monitor system for a vehicle having a plurality of tires each mounted on a wheel at one of a plurality of locations relating to said vehicle, the tire pressure monitor system comprising:

• a plurality of tire pressure detectors each coupled to one of the plurality of wheels, each tire pressure detector further comprising:
• a transmitter having a unique identification code;
• and
• a pressure sensor configured to detect changes in the pressure in said one tire mounted on said wheel;
• a receiver configured to receive said transmitted unique identification codes;
• a first processor coupled to said receiver, wherein said processor is configured to respond to a user-supplied command to relearn associations between said identification codes and said locations by accepting said received identification codes in a predetermined order related to said locations;
• and
• a memory coupled to said first processor, wherein said memory is configured to store each said identification code in association with each said respective location, wherein each said detector processor is configured to:
• determine a magnitude of the pressure change within a predetermined time period;
• compare the pressure change magnitude within the predetermined time period to a predetermined threshold;
• control the transmitter to transmit pressure data and the identification code periodically if the determined magnitude is less than the predetermined threshold;
• and
• control the transmitter to transmit at least the identification code immediately if the determined magnitude is greater than the predetermined threshold.