An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for predicting tire temperature levels. In one example, the apparatus receives input data indicating a target route for a target vehicle, attributes associated with the target vehicle, and attributes of the target route and causes a machine learning model to generate output data as a function of the input data. The output data indicate prediction of tire temperature levels of the target vehicle during a period in which the target vehicle traverses the target route. The machine learning model is trained to generate the output data as a function of the input data based on training data indicating events in which vehicles traversed routes. Specifically, the training data include tire temperature levels of the vehicles, vehicle data associated with the vehicles, map data associated with the routes, and environmental data associated with the routes.

Provided is a replacement necessity determination device for a snap-in valve having an inner end to which an air pressure detection device including an air pressure sensor and an acceleration sensor is coupled. A control device of the replacement necessity determination device is configured to predict an angle change amount of the snap-in valve and the air pressure detection device with respect to a wheel caused by a centrifugal force based on a rotational speed of the wheel and an acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, calculate a degradation indication value of an elastic body of the snap-in valve based on a maximum value of the angle change amount during a period set in advance, and determine necessity of replacement of the snap-in valve based on an integrated value of the degradation indication value.

A method and an apparatus configured to acquire, as acceleration information, a peak level a.sub.k which is a magnitude of a peak on a positive side or a negative side of an acceleration signal in a tire circumferential direction or a tire width direction detected by an acceleration sensor, or a peak interval b.sub.k which is a time interval between peaks, or acquire the peak level a.sub.k or the peak interval b.sub.k of a differential acceleration signal in a tire radial direction obtained by differentiating the acceleration signal in the tire radial direction; calculate ratios P.sub.k, Q.sub.k of a difference between the acquired acceleration information a.sub.k, b.sub.k and average values A.sub.k1 of the acceleration information to the average values; and determine that the acceleration sensor is detached from the inside of the tire when the calculated ratio P.sub.k, Q.sub.k exceeds a preset threshold value K.sub.p, K.sub.q by multiple times successively.

Embodiments provide a fail-safe device, a tire pressure measurement system, a vehicle, a tire, a method and a computer program for monitoring a first sensor of a tire pressure monitoring system. The fail-safe device includes a first input for a first signal from the first sensor. The first signal indicates a first physical quantity. The fail-safe device includes a second input for a second signal from a second sensor. The second signal indicates a second physical quantity. The fail-safe device further includes a control module to verify the first signal based on the second signal and a physical relation between the first and the second physical quantities.

A method and TPMS system including a central unit and wheel units. Each wheel unit including a pressure sensor, regularly transmitting pressure and radial acceleration measurements to the central unit. The latter used to calculate a detachment parameter for the wheel unit. A test module determines whether each wheel unit is in a detached or operational state. A return-to-service module toggles the state of a wheel unit from the detached to the operational state if: since the wheel unit was declared detached, a pressure less than or equal to a reference atmospheric pressure is measured while the vehicle was at rest, and if after this rest, at least one of: the detachment parameter has not attained a nominal detachment threshold in a first movement time; an attachment index corresponding to a particular shape of a measurement signal of the wheel unit has been detected under specific evaluation conditions, occurs.

The invention relates to equipment, devices and methods for testing a calibrated leak or passage of pressurized gas from a tire. In one example, a test plug including a calibrated cross section orifice and a predetermined gas flow rate is connected to a tire. The test plug applies a pressure opening the tire valve member to release gas from the tire through the test plug. In one example, a TPMS sensor and a TPMS measurement tool are used to measure the decrease of air pressure in the tire through the test plug and determine if the TPMS sensor is operating properly. In one example, a plurality of test plugs with different gas flow rates are provided. A method for testing the calibrated leak using the test plug is further disclosed.

A method for initialising a tyre monitoring device including a wireless communication interface and tyre monitoring devices and systems using the method are disclosed. The method includes operating the tyre monitoring device in a first mode, in the first mode the tyre monitoring device is only responsive to an initialisation instruction received over the wireless communication interface from the second device; receiving an initialisation instruction over the wireless communication interface while operating in the first mode; and, responsive to the initialisation instruction, operating the tyre monitoring device in a second mode in which the tyre monitoring device is responsive to instructions received over the wireless communication interface. The first mode draws lower power than the second mode so power draw prior to initialisation, for example while storage awaiting use, is reduced.

Embodiments provide a fail-safe device, a tire pressure measurement system, a vehicle, a tire, a method and a computer program for monitoring a first sensor of a tire pressure monitoring system. The fail-safe device includes a first input for a first signal from the first sensor. The first signal indicates a first physical quantity. The fail-safe device includes a second input for a second signal from a second sensor. The second signal indicates a second physical quantity. The fail-safe device further includes a control module to verify the first signal based on the second signal and a physical relation between the first and the second physical quantities.

An abnormality monitoring system includes gas sensors provided in the cavity or the vicinity of a tire provided in a vehicle, a determination unit that determines the presence of an abnormality in the tire on the basis of the detection results of the gas sensors, and an output unit that outputs data based on the determination result of the determination unit. The gas sensors detect a volatile substance when abnormal heat build-up occurs in the tire. The volatile substance is a substance derived from an additive added when a tire is manufactured.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for upgrading a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) diagnostic tool. The TPMS diagnostic tool is provided with a wireless communications interface. The method includes: obtaining latest version information of the TPMS diagnostic tool from a server through the wireless communications interface, the latest version information including a latest version number and an upgrade path, the upgrade path being used for indicating a storage location of an upgrade package of the TPMS diagnostic tool in the server; obtaining a current version number of the TPMS diagnostic tool; obtaining an upgrade package corresponding to the upgrade path from the server through the wireless communications interface when it is determined that the latest version number is different from the current version number; and upgrading the TPMS diagnostic tool according to the upgrade package. In this way, not only the TPMS diagnostic tool can be upgraded in a timely manner, but also a process of upgrading the TPMS diagnostic tool can be simplified.