A position estimation device includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to estimate the position of a vehicle using at least a traveled distance of the vehicle. The ECU calculates correction factors for a reference tire rolling radius and stores the correction factors in a storage device. Each of the correction factors is set for a corresponding one of a plurality of vehicle speed ranges. The ECU calculates the traveled distance of the vehicle based on a rotation parameter and the corrected reference tire rolling radius obtained by correcting the reference tire rolling radius using the correction factor.

A connector to connect electric circuits inside and outside the tire includes: a tubular terminal penetrating the connector attachment hole; an outer seal member surrounding outside the tubular terminal and elastically deformed by being pressed against a tire wheel to provide a seal between the tire wheel and the tubular terminal; an inner seal member filled inside the tubular terminal; one or more rod-shaped terminals penetrating the inner seal member; a plurality of communication holes formed at a plurality of positions in a circumferential direction in an intermediate portion in an axial direction of the tubular terminal; and a plurality of seal communication portions integrally formed with one or both of the outer seal member and the inner seal member and arranged in the plurality of communication holes to transmit, to the inner seal member, elastic force toward the tubular terminal by the elastic deformation of the outer seal member.

A method performed by an electronic device to monitor one or more wheels of a vehicle. The method includes receiving first accelerometer measurements of a first accelerometer mounted on the vehicle's first wheel when the vehicle is moving during an interval of time, determining based on the first accelerometer measurements a first path followed by the first accelerometer when the vehicle is moving during the interval of time, receiving second accelerometer measurements of a second accelerometer mounted on a vehicle's second wheel when the vehicle is moving during the interval of time, determining, based on the second accelerometer measurements, a second path followed by the second accelerometer when the vehicle is moving during the interval of time, and determining based on a comparison of the first path with the second path that at least one of the vehicle's first wheel and the vehicle's second wheel is misaligned.

A method performed by an electronic device to monitor one or more wheels of a vehicle. The method includes receiving first accelerometer measurements of a first accelerometer mounted on the vehicle's first wheel when the vehicle is moving during an interval of time, determining based on the first accelerometer measurements a first path followed by the first accelerometer when the vehicle is moving during the interval of time, receiving second accelerometer measurements of a second accelerometer mounted on a vehicle's second wheel when the vehicle is moving during the interval of time, determining, based on the second accelerometer measurements, a second path followed by the second accelerometer when the vehicle is moving during the interval of time, and determining based on a comparison of the first path with the second path that at least one of the vehicle's first wheel and the vehicle's second wheel is misaligned.

A wireless vehicle data communications device is adapted for mounting on a wheel hub assembly of a vehicle. The vehicle data communications device includes a housing, a microprocessor located inside the housing, a signal transmitting device, and a signal receiving device. A self-generating electrical power supply is located within the housing and functions to supply electrical power to components of the vehicle data communications device.

A wireless vehicle data communications device is adapted for mounting on a wheel hub assembly of a vehicle. The vehicle data communications device includes a housing, a microprocessor located inside the housing, a signal transmitting device, and a signal receiving device. A self-generating electrical power supply is located within the housing and functions to supply electrical power to components of the vehicle data communications device.

A computer-implemented method for vehicle wheel position localization includes accumulating in data storage information regarding temperature characteristics corresponding to each of a respective plurality of wheel positions for each of one or more types of vehicles. The information regarding temperature characteristics may be information regarding temperature rise characteristics associated with a given load. Contained air temperature data is collected from sensors respectively associated with a tire mounted on a vehicle. The sensors may for example be TPMS sensors. A local computing unit or remote server identifies a wheel position associated with the tire, based on a comparison of the collected contained air temperature over a period of time with respect to the stored information regarding temperature characteristics. The wheel position information may be implemented to estimate and/or predict tire wear status for the corresponding tire, and optionally further to predict tire traction status further based on collected vehicle-tire data.

An autonomous vehicle has a temperature sensor for sensing an air temperature or a road temperature, a processor communicatively connected to the temperature sensor to receive a signal from the temperature sensor, to process the signal and to generate an estimated instantaneous coefficient of friction between a tire of the vehicle and a snow-covered roadway, and a camera to detect salt and/or sand on the roadway and to apply a salt correction factor and/or a sand correction factor to the coefficient of friction to thereby provide a salt-corrected coefficient of friction or a sand-corrected coefficient of friction.

An autonomous vehicle has a temperature sensor for sensing an air temperature or a road temperature, a processor communicatively connected to the temperature sensor to receive a signal from the temperature sensor, to process the signal and to generate an estimated instantaneous coefficient of friction between a tire of the vehicle and a snow-covered roadway, and a camera to detect salt and/or sand on the roadway and to apply a salt correction factor and/or a sand correction factor to the coefficient of friction to thereby provide a salt-corrected coefficient of friction or a sand-corrected coefficient of friction.

The invention concerns a patch RFID device (1A, 1B, 2, 3) for tires, designed to be applied to an inner liner of a tire before or after tire vulcanization/curing and comprising an innovative flexible multilayer planar structure.