FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a wireless tire monitoring system, and more particularly to a wireless tire pressure and temperature monitoring system for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Arriving at the destination conveniently and safely is significantly important for the consumer group who own automobiles. Various types of automobiles or vehicles have become prerequisite traffic means or transporting equipment in the modern society. As a result, people are paying more and more attention to the safety in driving a vehicle. One of the factors that affects the safety of driving is the functionality and proper operation of vehicle's components (such as braking system, tires, ignition system), which is the most important link. In terms of tires, factors that affect the safety include tire pressure and tire temperature in addition to the grooves of the tire surface. As such, the tire pressure and temperature detection are very important for a vehicle.

For example, if the tire pressure is 80% lower than the normally required tire pressure over a long period of time, the tire tends to have a dramatic temperature rise that may result in a blowout when the vehicle is moving at a high speed. If the tire pressure is too high or insufficient, it will cause damage to the tires.

Accordingly, should the tire pressure be 25% higher than a standard tire pressure value; the usable life of the tire will be shortened by 15% - 20%; and when the tire pressure is 25% lower than the standard value, the usable life of tire shortens by 30%. Properly inflated tires not only have enhanced performance and safety in use, but also save more fuel and have prolonged tire life. However, according to statistics, 20% of the currently being used vehicles have insufficiently inflated tires. Moreover, tire temperatures also have important influence on safe driving. The higher the tire temperature is, the lower the tire strength is. That is, tires with high tire temperature are more easily deformed. Moreover, the tire wearing increases by 2% when the tire temperature rises by 1 ⁰ C.

Only when the tire pressure is at the right amount can the tire achieve its optimal performance. When the tire pressure is too high, the fraction of the tire when rolling becomes small. However, because the contact area between the tire and the ground is shortened, the middle of the tire is worn out quickly. Because the tire's surface tension expands, it creates damages as well as cracks. On the other hand, when the tire pressure is insufficient, the fraction of the tire when rolling becomes great, gas consumption increases, and the wear and tear on both sides of the tire increases relatively. As such, it increases the tire temperature and causes surface or ply of the tire to exfoliate easily. When the tire temperature is overheated, blow out may occur.

To ensure safe driving, various types of tire pressure monitoring systems have been developed. Some prior arts teach the incorporation of sensors, either to the tire proper or in proximity thereof, for measuring an operational parameter of the tire. Once the parameter is measured, it is transmitted to a terminal at a remote location, such as for example a maintenance facility, or to a monitor fixedly mounted to the vehicle. Accordingly, the prior art teaches that particular types of interrogators and transmitters have to be designed for a remotely located facility in order for the remote facility to receive information from the tires of the vehicle. In order to be able to provide information relating to the tires to the driver of the vehicle, a special apparatus has to be either incorporated to the vehicle during its manufacture, or retrofitted thereto after the vehicle has been placed into service. Such apparatus specifically designed for receiving the information from the tires are bulky and expensive which are found to be unsatisfactory and reliable such that they have not become widely used.

In view of these and other shortcomings, it is desirous to provide a wireless tire monitoring system for a vehicle which is readily configurable. The system provides safe, reliable and economical reasonable installation solutions, and yet convenient to use. The wireless tire monitoring system of the present invention and its combination of elements thereof will be described and/or exemplified in the detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wireless tire monitoring system for a vehicle. Accordingly, the wireless tire monitoring system includes: a) at least one sensor unit disposed at each tire of the vehicle for measuring at least one parameter relating to the condition of the tire; a mobile communication unit in communication with either the sensor unit or in-car unit; and an internet cloud for storing all information relating to encryption key, user information/identities, or the parameters concerning to the condition of the tire measured by the sensor unit.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system incorporates encryption into the wireless communication and broadcasts all related information between the sensor unit(s), the in-car unit and the mobile communication unit. Accordingly, the mobile communication unit is wirelessly in communication with either the sensor unit or the in-car unit.

By way of example but not limitation, the parameter relating to the condition of the tire includes tire pressure, temperature, wheel speed, acceleration and/or distance information.

In the preferred exemplary of the present invention, the mobile communication unit involves a firmware or software application ("APP"). Said firmware or software application ("APP") of the mobile communication unit is capable of monitoring, observing and/or controlling all related paring information in between the sensor unit(s) or the in- car unit, and the internet cloud. It will be appreciated that the mobile communication unit may be a smartphone, cellular or mobile phone, smart tablet, computer, laptop, personal digital assistants or any smart devices and the like. In accordance with preferred exemplary of the present invention, the wireless communication between the mobile communication unit and the sensor unit or the in-car unit, is performed by using Bluetooth Technology. It will be appreciated that the sensor unit and the in-car unit may be communicated by either wired or wireless communication. Accordingly, the communication between the sensor unit and the in-car unit may be performed by using wire connection or by Bluetooth Technology.

As for the wireless communication between the mobile communication unit and the internet cloud, the wireless communication may be performed through WiFi, near field communication (NFC), or any other wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection.

In the preferred exemplary, the sensor unit is capable of broadcasting encrypted data such that it can be picked up by any devices or other mobile communication units. Accordingly, the sensor unit is encrypted so that other mobile communication units or devices without the encryption key will not be able to pair with the sensor unit and to read the data.

By way of example but not limitation, the sensor unit is provided with sensor(s) disposed inside the tire or at a valve stem of the tire. In the preferred exemplary, the sensor unit further includes a Bluetooth chip with pairing capability, and said sensor unit is preferably battery powered. The sensor unit is also provided with Bluetooth antenna. Optionally, the in-car unit is a built-in unit or a separate unit disposed at the dashboard of the vehicle. Accordingly, the in-car unit also includes a Bluetooth chip with pairing capability. Said in-car unit is also provided with Bluetooth antenna. It will be appreciated that the in-car unit is further provided with a microcontroller for processing all related information received from the sensor unit(s). The in-car unit is optionally provided with a display for displaying all reading, information or parameter relating to the condition of the tire, and said in-car unit is preferably battery powered.

It should be noted that the system is able to perform the wireless communication between the sensor unit and the mobile communication unit, without the need of having the in-car unit. The sensor unit enables to transmit the encrypted data via a Bluetooth broadcast mode to the mobile communication unit. Accordingly, the mobile communication unit enables to scan any transmitted data from the sensor unit, such that the mobile communication unit enables to directly pick up any signals from the sensor unit(s), in the absent or default of the in-car unit.

The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1a is a block diagram illustrating a wireless tire monitoring system in accordance with one preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1b is a block diagram illustrating a wireless tire monitoring system in accordance with another preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a sensor unit of the wireless tire monitoring system according to preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an in-car unit of the wireless tire monitoring system according to preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a wireless tire monitoring system. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The wireless tire monitoring system according to the preferred mode of carrying out the present invention will now be described in accordance to the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1a to 3, either individually or in any combination thereof. With reference to FIGS. 1a, the wireless tire monitoring system ( 00) generally includes sensor unit(s) (200), in-car unit (300), a mobile communication unit (400) and an internet cloud (500) in accordance with one preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, the system includes at least one sensor unit (200) for measuring at least one parameter relating to the condition of the tire. Preferably, the sensor unit (200) is disposed at each tire of a vehicle such that it enables to provide a reading or parameter relating to, for example, the tire pressure, temperature, wheel speed, acceleration, and/or distance information of the vehicle. It will be appreciated that the sensor unit (200) may be disposed inside the tire or at a valve stem of the tire. The system is further provided with a mobile communication unit (400) which is capable of wirelessly being in communication with either the sensor unit (200) or the in-car unit (300). By way of example but not limitation, the mobile communication unit (400) may be a smartphone, cellular or mobile phone, smart tablet, computer, laptop, personal digital assistants or any smart devices and the like.

It should be noted that the mobile communication unit (400) involves a firmware or software application ("APP") that is adapted for monitoring, observing and/or controlling all related paring information in between the sensor unit(s) (200), or the in-car unit (300), and the internet cloud (500). It will be appreciated that the sensor unit (200) and the in- car unit (300) may be communicated by either wired or wireless communication. By way of example but not limitation wireless communication between the sensor unit (200) and the in-car unit (300) is may be performed by wire connection or by using Bluetooth Technology. The system also enables the wireless communication between the mobile communication unit (400) and the sensor unit (200) or the in-car unit (300) using the Bluetooth Technology.

It will be appreciated that the wireless tire monitoring system (100) also enables wireless communications between the sensor unit (200) and the mobile communication unit (400), without the need of having the in-car unit (300) as shown in FIG. 1b. Accordingly, the wireless communication between the mobile communication unit (400) and the sensor unit (200) is performed by using the Bluetooth Technology.

In the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the wireless tire monitoring system (100) is capable of integrating or incorporating encryption between the units into the wireless communication such that to ensure the sensor unit(s) (200) or the in-car unit (300) are in association with the mobile communication unit (400). This is to avoid any violation or theft issues of the sensor unit(s) (200), especially for those sensor unit(s) (200) disposed or attached to the valve stem of the tire. It should be noted that each sensor unit (200) is capable of broadcasting encrypted data such that it can be picked up by any devices or other mobile communication units. It will be appreciated that, the sensor unit (200) is encrypted so that other mobile communication units or devices without the encryption key will not be able to pair with the sensor unit (200) and to read the data. By default, the in-car unit (300) may pick up the encrypted data from the sensor unit(s) (200). It will be appreciated that all encryption keys and/or user information / identities in the mobile communication unit (400) are preferably stored in the internet cloud (500). If desired, the internet cloud (500) may serve to store all parameters relating to the condition of the tire measured by the sensor unit (200). As such, the user is able to retrieve the encryption keys and continue to work with the system should the user change or use a different mobile communication unit (400). By the way of example but not limitation, the wireless communication between the mobile communication unit (400) and the internet cloud (500) may be by way of WiFi, near field communication (NFC), or any other wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection. Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown and illustrated a block diagram of the sensor unit (200) of the wireless tire monitoring system (100) in accordance with preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The sensor unit (200) has pairing capability to enable it to pair with other associated units in the system. Accordingly, sensor unit (200) includes sensor(s) (202) which is preferably disposed inside the tire, or at the valve stem of the tire. The sensor unit (200) is further provided with a Bluetooth antenna (206) connected to a Bluetooth chip (204) for Bluetooth pairing and communications, and the said sensor unit (200) is preferably battery powered (208). FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the in-car unit (300) of the wireless tire monitoring system (100) according to preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the in-car unit (300) also has pairing capabilities to enable it to pair with other associated units in the system. Optionally, the in-car unit (300) may be a built-in unit or a separate unit disposed at the dashboard of the vehicle. The in-car unit (300) is provided with a Bluetooth antenna (306) connected to a Bluetooth chip (304) for Bluetooth pairing and communications, and the said in-car unit (300) is preferably battery powered (308). It should be noted that the in-car unit (300) further includes a microcontroller (302) for processing all related information received from the sensor unit(s) (200). If required, the in-car unit (300) is optionally provided with a display (309) for displaying all reading, information or parameter relating to the condition of the tire.

The paring of the sensor unit(s) (200), the in-car unit (300) and the mobile communication unit (400) will now be described. Accordingly, the pairing process may initiate in the event that a user registers and logs in into an account through the firmware or software application ("APP") of the mobile communication unit (400). After a successful login, the APP will obtain a specific and unique encryption key from the internet cloud (500). It should be noted that only after successful login, the user can start using the APP.

It will be appreciated that the pairing process may be triggered or activated for any unpaired sensor (202), for example but not limited to, by attaching it to the tire's valve stem. The unpaired sensor (202) will then transmit Bluetooth signal to allow the mobile communication unit (400) to identify or detect it. Accordingly, the APP in the mobile communication unit (400) will scan / find the unpaired sensor (202). The APP will trigger or activate a Bluetooth connection with the sensor (202) as soon as the said sensor (202) is found. After a successful Bluetooth connection is established, the APP of the mobile communication unit (400) will send a unique encryption key to the sensor unit (200). As for the in-car unit (300), the user may trigger or active a pairing mode, for example but not limiting, by pressing and holding a designated button on the in-car unit (300). As soon as the pairing mode is trigger, the in-car unit (300) will then transmit Bluetooth signal to allow the mobile communication unit (400) to identify or detect it. Similarly, the APP in the mobile communication unit (400) will scan / find the in-car unit (300). The APP will trigger or activate a Bluetooth connection with the in-car unit (300) as soon as the in-car unit (300) is found. After a successful Bluetooth connection is established, the APP of the mobile communication unit (400) will send the unique encryption key to the in-car unit (300). It will be appreciated that the successful paring of the sensor unit(s) (200), the in-car unit (300) and the mobile communication unit (400) will share the same encryption key and to be used for communication in the system.

As for the communication between the the sensor unit(s) (200), the in-car unit (300) and the mobile communication unit (400), it will be appreciated that the sensor unit (200) will transmit the encrypted measured data (for example the tire's pressure, temperature, wheel speed, acceleration and/or distance information) via a Bluetooth broadcast mode to the mobile communication unit (400). The in-car unit (300) will continue to scan the transmitted data from the sensor unit (200) and decrypt it to obtain the actual data. At the same time, the in-car unit (300) is connected to the mobile communication unit (400) via Bluetooth technology. Accordingly, the in-car unit (300) will send the encrypted data obtained from the sensor unit (200) to the APP of the mobile communication unit (400).

In the event that the in-car unit (300) does not exist or is not present in the system (for example, it could be damaged or spoilt, or the user opts to not installing the in-car unit, etc.), the APP of the mobile communication unit (400) will then scan the transmitted data from the sensor unit (200). Accordingly, in the absent or default of the in-car unit (300), the mobile communication unit (400) will directly pick up the signals from the sensor unit(s) (200).

It should be noted that the arrangements or configurations of various units, components and/or elements used to carry out the above-mentioned embodiments are illustrative and exemplary only, and are not restrictive of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that those arrangements or configurations, components and/or elements used herein may be altered in a manner so as to obtain different effects or desired operating characteristics. As such, the above-described should not be construed as limiting in any way, but as a best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention. The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the principle and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would obvious to one skilled in the art intended to be included within the scope of following claims.