Restricting commands for a tire monitoring device including controlling entry into a configuration mode and restricting operation based on detection of an abnormal command pattern. The method includes, at a tire monitoring device: receiving a configuration request from a first device for the tire monitoring device to operate in a configuration mode, the configuration request provided using a first wireless communication protocol; responsive to receipt of the configuration request, initiating communication using a second wireless communication protocol; establishing successful communication using the second wireless protocol; and entering the configuration mode responsive to establishing successful communication using the second wireless communication protocol. In another example, a method restricts operation of a lire monitoring device including receiving instructions via a wireless communication interface; detecting an abnormal instruction pattern based on the received instructions; and restricting the operation of the tire monitoring device responsive to detecting the abnormal instruction pattern.

According to one embodiment, a method of improved communication between a wheel unit sensor and a master controller is disclosed. In this particular embodiment, the method includes determining, by the wheel unit sensor, whether a receive schedule of the wheel unit sensor indicates that a receive window has started. The method also includes in response to determining that the receive schedule indicates that the receive window has started, turning-on, by the wheel unit sensor, for the duration of the receive window, a wireless receiver of the wheel unit sensor. In this embodiment, the wireless receiver is configured to receive messages from the master controller.

A wireless programming method for tire pressure detectors includes the following steps. A wireless programmer sends an activating command. The tire pressure detectors send a responding message. The wireless programmer receives the responding messages and records identification codes in the received responding messages. The wireless programmer sends a stop-responding command to make the tire pressure detector with the identification codes, which is recorded in the wireless programmer, enter a stop-responding mode. The wireless programmer sends the activating command again. The tire pressure detectors not in the stop-responding mode send the responding messages. The wireless programmer receives the responding message and records the identification code in the received responding message. The wireless programmer sends a code to the tire pressure detectors corresponding to the recorded identification code to program the code. With such design, it could be ensured that the code could be sent and programmed into all the tire pressure detectors.

A direct tire data collection and communication device is adapted for use in a pneumatic vehicle tire. The device incorporates a tire-mounted electronics module comprising a microcontroller, and at least one tire property sensor in electronic communication with the microcontroller and capable of measuring at least one operational property of the vehicle tire. The threshold operational property value defines a positive tire safety condition and a negative tire safety condition. The electronics module calculates accumulated travel data of the vehicle tire while in the negative tire safety condition. A transmitter transmits the travel data to an electronic remote terminal.

Embodiments provide a tire pressure measurement device that includes an electromechanical transducer configured to convert mechanical energy from tire deformation of a tire into electrical energy for powering the tire pressure measurement device; and an energy harvesting circuit configured to receive and store the electrical energy from the electromechanical transducer, where the energy harvesting circuit is further configured to supply the stored electrical energy to the tire pressure measurement device.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of automotive technologies, and disclose a tire location positioning method and apparatus, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver, a tire pressure sensor, a TPMS and an automobile. The method includes: controlling a first exciter to send a first excitation signal, and controlling a second exciter to send a second excitation signal; respectively receiving response signals that are generated according to the first excitation signal or the second excitation signal by all tire pressure sensors; performing positioning on front and rear wheels according to times when the response signals are received, to identify response signals sent by tire pressure sensors of the front and rear wheels; and performing positioning on left and right wheels according to the signal strength information, to identify response signals sent by tire pressure sensors of the left and right wheels.

A transceiver of a spare wheel includes a sensing unit having a pressure sensor and an acceleration sensor configured to output a detection signal according to a tire pressure of the spare wheel and an acceleration generated in the spare wheel, a first control unit configured to create a frame that processes the detection signal indicating the tire pressure and stores it as data related to the tire pressure, and a first transmitter receiver configured to transmit the frame. A receiver includes a second transceiver configured to receive a frame and transmit a response signal indicating that the frame is received and a second control unit configured to detect the tire pressure and transmit a response signal from the second transceiver when the frame is received.

A tire communication apparatus of an embodiment includes a pressure sensor, a first wireless control unit and a second wireless control unit. The pressure sensor detects an air pressure of a tire. When receiving a wireless carrier sent out from a monitoring terminal by a first communication method, the first wireless control unit generates a trigger signal. The second wireless control unit is activated by the trigger signal being inputted when the second wireless control unit is stopped, acquires a detection result of the air pressure of the tire from the pressure sensor and transmits the detection result to the monitoring terminal by a second communication method different from the first communication method.

A method of locating a wheel-mounted electronic device, such as a tire pressure monitoring device. A wireless signal is transmitted from an interrogation device from each of a plurality of interrogation locations. The signals are received by the wheel-mounted device and received signal strength is measured for each interrogation location. The wheel-mounted device then transmits, in respect of each interrogation location, a wireless signal indicating the measured signal strength. These signals are received by the interrogation device which determines from them a location of the wheel-mounted device with respect to a wheel.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling vehicle TPMS sensor localization. An example vehicle includes a plurality of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to detect an initiation event associated with the vehicle, and, in response to detecting the initiation event, determine whether first localization information is valid based on information associated with the TPMS sensors. The controller is also to initiate, via the communication module, a localization procedure at the TPMS sensors when the first localization information is not valid.