A road classification system for determining a road surface condition includes a model having as an input changes in the measured axle vertical acceleration of the vehicle. The model further uses a sensor-measured tire inflation pressure and a tire construction type ascertained from a tire-based identification tag.

A wheel assembly position identifying apparatus includes transmitters, each of which is provided in one of wheel assemblies and includes a transmission section and a control section, and a receiver, which includes a receiving section, a measuring section, and a wheel assembly position identifying section. The wheel assembly position identifying section is configured to detect, more than once, a rotational position of each wheel assembly at which the RSSI has an extreme value, for each position detecting signal received during one rotation of the wheel assembly, and identify the position of the wheel assembly in which the corresponding transmitter is provided based on variation of the rotational position of the wheel assembly at which the RSSI has the extreme value.

This disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods that guard against information piracy by selective activation of tire pressure sensor learning operations in a vehicle. An example method can include receiving, by a processor in a vehicle, a sensor signal from a wheel movement sensor provided in a wheel of the vehicle. The processor may evaluate the sensor signal and detect a tire-changing operation. The tire-changing operation may be detected, for example, based on a major surface of the wheel coming in contact with ground or determining that an angular displacement of a major surface of the wheel exceeds a threshold angle. The processor may then enable a learning mode of operation that can include a wireless pairing of a tire pressure sensor in the wheel to a tire pressure monitoring system of the vehicle. The processor disables the learning mode of operation after a period of time.

A method for estimating a tire state, such as tire wear state, includes utilizing a vehicle-based sensor for measuring a wheel speed of the tire and generating a wheel speed signal, extracting through statistical analysis a first extracted feature such as slip-ratio rate from the wheel speed signal, extracting through statistical analysis a second extracted feature such as median slip-ratio from the wheel speed signal, classifying data from the first extracted feature and data from the second extracted feature using a support vector data classification algorithm and applying the algorithm to estimate the tire state.

A tire wear state estimation system estimates forces and sliding velocity generated in a tire contact patch, determines frictional energy from the tire force and sliding velocity, and generates an estimate of tire wear state based upon the frictional work done by the tire. A tire wear estimate, pursuant to the system and methodology, is made by determining the amount of frictional work performed by the tire through the integrated use of tire-mounted, GPS sourced, and vehicle-mounted sensor information.

A method for estimating a tire state, such as tire wear state, includes utilizing a vehicle-based sensor for measuring a wheel speed of the tire and generating a wheel speed signal, extracting through statistical analysis a first extracted feature such as slip-ratio rate from the wheel speed signal, extracting through statistical analysis a second extracted feature such as median slip-ratio from the wheel speed signal, classifying data from the first extracted feature and data from the second extracted feature using a support vector data classification algorithm and applying the algorithm to estimate the tire state.

[Objective] Unreceived malfunction should be prevented from being reported, at the time of a set replacement of tires. [Means for Solution] About each registered sensor ID, the unreceived malfunction judging portion 56 outputs a malfunction signal to the notification controller 53, when an unreceived period exceeds first setup time Tref1. The total unreceived period calculation portion 57 outputs a self-vehicle ID discrimination initiation instruction to ID discrimination/rewriting portion, when the sum total unreceived period Ttotal which is the sum total of the unreceived period of each registered sensor ID is calculated and the sum total unreceived period Ttotal exceeds second setup time Tref2. Before an unreceived period exceeds first setup time Tref1, registered sensor ID is rewritten and it can avoid reporting unreceived malfunction to a driver by this.

A rubber patch, which is useable for mounting an active electronic component to a tire, is described. The rubber patch includes a base having a connecting face and support face. The connecting face is substantially planar and is intended to be fixed to an internal surface of the tire. The support face is opposite the connecting face and is arranged to support the active electronic component. The rubber patch further includes a passive label arranged between the connecting face and the support face. The passive label is for identifying the tire and is provided with a memory for storing a unique identification data item pertaining to the tire. A corresponding tire monitoring system, which is configured to read at least the identification data item pertaining to the tire, also is described.

A tire valve registration system including: a plurality of tire valves that are respectively installed on a plurality of tires and on a spare tire and that each transmit a radio signal that includes a valve ID and data on tire air pressure; and a receiver that is provided to a vehicle body and that is capable of receiving the radio signal from each of the plurality of tire valves. The system includes: a spare tire ID collecting unit that collects, as at least one spare tire candidate ID, the valve ID of at least one radio signal received by the receiver; and a spare tire ID confirming unit that confirms the ID of the spare tire.

A wheel position detector for a vehicle includes: a transmitter at each wheel having a first control portion for transmitting a frame with specific identification information; and a receiver at a vehicle body receiving the frame from one wheel and having a second control portion for performing wheel position detection; and a wheel speed sensor for detecting a tooth of a gear. The second control portion: acquires gear information indicating a tooth position; sets a variation allowance based on the tooth position; registers the one wheel with using the variation allowance; and performs the wheel position detection by excluding an identified wheel as the one wheel from a candidate of another wheel mounting the transmitter that transmits another frame when the second control portion identifies the one wheel.