Patent Description:
Recently, as an automobile-based technology, research on fuel efficiency, driver convenience, and driving stability improvement is being actively conducted. In particular, active vehicle body stabilization devices such as a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), an anti-brake system (ABS), and an electronic stability program (ESP) are becoming common, autonomous vehicles are becoming common, and thus, technologies for more effectively measuring road surface information and tire condition information are researched.

For example, a smart tire system that monitors a condition of a tire by attaching a sensor module to an inside of the tire is a representative example.

In such a smart tire system, a tire air pressure, a temperature, or the like is measured using the sensor module, tire state information is stored on a server or in a cloud, and thus, data on tires of multiple vehicles may be collected and managed at once. Meanwhile, in the case of the sensor module in the smart tire system, since the sensor module is attached to an inner liner of the tire, weight and size of the sensor module are limited. Moreover, in preparation for contamination that may occur inside the tire, the sensor module should be completely packed and manufactured. Accordingly, the sensor module has a problem in that it is difficult to provide a separate power supply as hardware.

In addition, in order for the data collected by the sensor module to be efficiently managed on a server or the like, information on a communication module mounted on the sensor module, tire, and vehicle should be transmitted to the server using a protocol that can be handled or managed by the server.

<CIT> discloses an on-vehicle receiver provided with a reception part for receiving data from a transmitter which is mounted on a rim to transmit tire intrinsic information together with tire state information, and a tire intrinsic information storing part for storing the tire intrinsic information.

<CIT> discloses a method for managing data relating to an assembly comprising a tyre, carrying an RFID marker, and a rim, carrying a wheel module including at least one sensor. The assembly can be in different states, notably a mounted state in which the tyre is mounted on the rim to form a mounted assembly, also called a wheel, intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle. According to this method, data are transmitted between the RFID marker and the wheel module via an intermediate unit, separate from the mounted assembly and the motor vehicle, comprising data transmission means. These data, called RFID data, are stored in the wheel module. The wheel module comprises at least one sensor of the pressure of the tyre, and the RFID data stored in the wheel module are erased when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is less than or equal to a predetermined pressure threshold.

<CIT> discloses a method involving transmitting data associated with an identifier to a measurement module by an intermediate unit that is separated from a wheel assembly and a vehicle, where the identifier includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) type tag. Pressure drop in a tire is detected by the measurement module. The data are erased by replacing new data from another tire during pressure drop. The pressure drop over a given period is measured before carrying out the erasing process.

<CIT> discloses a vehicle monitoring system which can readily identify information transmitted from each detecting device without requiring registration of identifying information of the detecting device. Detecting devices transmit vehicle information including at least the result of detection and self-identifying information; a tractor relaying device and a trailer relaying device add their self-identifying information to vehicle data received on the basis of the identifying information of the detecting devices or and transmit the vehicle data, and transmit registration data including their own relaying device IDs and types indicating the registration of the relaying device IDs; the tractor relaying device stores the relaying device ID of the registration data transmitted from the trailer relaying device on the basis of the type information and transmits that registration data, and transmits vehicle data received from the trailer relaying device on the basis of the relaying device ID. The display device receives the registration data and the vehicle data transmitted from the tractor relaying device, and stores the relaying device ID of the registration data on the basis of type information.

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a smart tire system including a tire sensor configuring device that operates a sensor module attached to a tire of a vehicle to manage information on the tire in a field of a smart tire system.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to forming a packet including the tire information according to a protocol that can be handled by a smart tire management server constituting the smart tire system and providing the packet to the smart tire management server.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tire sensor configuring device including: a transceiver configured to receive a communication module identification code of a communication module provided in a vehicle to communicate with a smart tire management server, tire identification codes of a plurality of tires mounted to the vehicle, and sensor identification codes of sensor modules respectively attached to the plurality of tires; and a controller configured to arrange the communication module identification code, the tire identification codes, and the sensor identification codes according to a protocol previously created in association with the smart tire management server to form a packet, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the packet to the communication module.

The packet may further include location information of the plurality of tires.

The protocol may define a location where the tire identification code and the sensor identification code are stored in the packet for each tire.

The transceiver may include: a transmitter configured to transmit a communication module identification code request signal to the communication module; and a receiver configured to receive the communication module identification code transmitted from the communication module in accordance with the communication module identification code request signal, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the sensor identification code and the tire identification code after the receiver receives the communication module identification code.

The transmitter is configured to transmit a power signal for operating the sensor module to the sensor module after the receiver receives the communication module identification code. In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a smart tire system including: a communication module communicating with a smart tire management server, provided in a vehicle including a plurality of tires, and configured to store a communication module identification code; a sensor module provided in each of the plurality of tires and storing a sensor identification code; a tag provided in each of the plurality of tires and storing a tire identification code; and a tire sensor configuring device communicating with the communication module, the sensor module, and the tag, wherein the tire sensor configuring device includes: a controller configured to arrange the communication module identification code transmitted from the communication module, the sensor identification code transmitted from the sensor module, and the tire identification code transmitted from the tag according to a protocol previously created in association with the smart tire management server to form a packet; and a transceiver configured to transmit the packet to the communication module.

According to the protocol previously created in the tire sensor configuring device included in the smart tire system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the packet for storing a sensor identification code of the sensor module and a tire identification code of the tire is formed, the packet is transmitted to the smart tire management server, and thus, the data of the tire can be efficiently managed by the smart tire management server.

The transmitter includes an LF transmitter, a communication unit of the sensor module includes an LF receiver, and thus, the sensor module can be operated without providing a separate power supply in the sensor module.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, a smart tire system <NUM> according to the invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the smart tire system <NUM> according to the invention may include a plurality of sensor modules <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, a smart tire management server <NUM>, and a tire sensor configuring device <NUM>.

The plurality of sensor modules <NUM> may be each provided at a plurality of tires <NUM> provided in a vehicle <NUM>. The sensor module <NUM> may be mounted on an inner liner of each tire <NUM>. The sensor module <NUM> collects tire data such as a temperature, an acceleration, and a wear state of the tire <NUM> and transmits the tire data to the communication module <NUM> attached to the vehicle <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> is shown as a vehicle including four tires <NUM>, but the invention is not limited thereto.

In addition, each of the plurality of sensor modules <NUM> may store different sensor identification codes, and when the sensor module <NUM> is operated by the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>, the sensor module <NUM> may transmit the sensor identification code to the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>.

According to the above, the sensor module <NUM> may include a sensor unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, and a sensor storage unit <NUM>.

The sensor unit <NUM> collects tire data such as the temperature, acceleration, and wear state of the tire <NUM>. The sensor unit <NUM> can be driven by a separate power supply.

The communication unit <NUM> transmits tire data to the communication module <NUM> or the sensor identification code to the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> may include a long frequency (LF) receiver that communicates with a long frequency method. Accordingly, when the communication unit <NUM> receives a power signal transmitted from the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>, the LF receiver generates a wake-up signal, and power is applied according to the wake-up signal to operate the sensor module <NUM>. Therefore, the communication unit <NUM> may transmit the sensor identification code to the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>.

The sensor storage unit <NUM> may store the sensor identification code, and may store tire data collected from the sensor unit <NUM> as the sensor module <NUM> operates. Here, the sensor storage unit <NUM> may include a memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or a NAND.

For example, among the plurality of sensor modules <NUM>, a first sensor module <NUM> attached to a first tire <NUM> may include a first sensor identification code, and a second sensor module <NUM> attached to a second tire <NUM> may include a second sensor identification code. In this case, when a power signal is transmitted to the LF receiver of the first sensor module <NUM>, the first sensor identification code stored in the sensor storage unit <NUM> of the first sensor module <NUM> may be transmitted to the tire sensor configuring device <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM> of the first sensor module <NUM>. Then, when the power signal is transmitted to the LF receiver of the second sensor module <NUM>, the second sensor identification code of the sensor storage unit <NUM> of the second sensor module <NUM> may be transmitted to the tire sensor configuration device <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM> of the second sensor module <NUM>.

The communication module <NUM> is installed in the vehicle <NUM>, and serves to transmit/receive data on a plurality of tires <NUM> to/from the smart tire management server <NUM> or to/from the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>. For example, the communication module <NUM> receives a packet formed in accordance with a protocol P from the tire sensor configuring device <NUM> and transmits the packet to the smart tire management server <NUM>. For example, the communication module <NUM> and the smart tire management server <NUM> may communicate in a long-term evolution (LTE) manner and may communicate in a radio frequency (RF) manner with the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Here, the protocol refers to various communication protocols established to facilitate an exchange of information between devices. Accordingly, the protocol applied to the invention may define a location in which the tire identification code and the sensor identification code are stored in the packet P for each of a plurality of tires <NUM>. This will be described in detail below.

In addition, the communication module <NUM> may include a unique communication module identification code.

As the smart tire management server <NUM> communicates with the communication module <NUM> mounted on the vehicle <NUM>, the smart tire management server <NUM> may receive the packet P configured according to a protocol from the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>. In addition, the smart tire management server <NUM> may manage the tire data included in the packet P for each vehicle, and may provide information related to the tire data to a user of the vehicle <NUM>.

The tire sensor configuring device <NUM> controls the plurality of sensor modules <NUM>, communicates with the plurality of sensor modules <NUM> in order to configure the plurality of sensor modules <NUM>, and forms the packet P according to a protocol to transmit the packet P to the smart tire management server <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the tire sensor configuring device <NUM> may include a transceiver <NUM> and a controller <NUM>, and a storage unit <NUM>.

The transceiver <NUM> receives the communication module identification code of the communication module <NUM>, the tire identification code of each tire <NUM>, and the sensor identification code of each sensor module <NUM>, and transmits the packet formed by the controller <NUM> to the communication module <NUM> again. A tag for storing a tire identification code may be formed at each of the plurality of tires <NUM>, and the tag may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to communicate with the transceiver <NUM>.

The transceiver <NUM> may include a transmitter <NUM> and a receiver <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> transmits various signals to the communication module <NUM> and the sensor module <NUM> to receive a plurality of sensor identification codes and a plurality of tire identification codes as the transmitter <NUM> controlled by the controller <NUM>. Specifically, the transmitter <NUM> may send a communication module identification code request signal to the communication module <NUM>, and when the communication module identification code transmitted from the communication module <NUM> is received by the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM> may be controlled by the controller <NUM> to sequentially transmit a power signal for operating the sensor module <NUM> to the plurality of sensor modules <NUM>.

The transmitter <NUM> may include an LF transmitter that communicates with the LF receiver of each sensor module <NUM>, and according to a protocol definition, the power signal may be transmitted to a plurality of sensor modules <NUM> by the LF transmitter. In addition, the transmitter <NUM> may further include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, a long-term evolution (LTE) modem, and the like. In particular, as described above, since the protocol can define the location where the tire identification code and the sensor identification code are stored in the packet P for each tire or for each tire location, the power signal may be sequentially transmitted to the plurality of sensor modules <NUM> according to the order of tire locations defined in the protocol.

According to the above, the transmitter <NUM> is controlled by the controller <NUM> according to the protocol definition, and first transmits the power signal to the first sensor module <NUM> to operate the first sensor module <NUM>. After the first sensor identification code is received by the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM> may transmit the power signal to the second sensor module <NUM> to operate the second sensor module <NUM> so that the second sensor identification code is received. Accordingly, the receiver <NUM> may sequentially receive the sensor identification code and tire identification code for each tire, and the sensor identification code and tire identification code may be stored in the packet P formed by the controller in the order received by the receiver <NUM>. In addition, the transmitter <NUM> may transmit the packet P formed by the controller <NUM> to the communication module <NUM> according to the protocol definition.

The receiver <NUM> may receive the identification code from tags provided in the communication module <NUM>, the plurality of sensor modules <NUM>, and the plurality of tires <NUM>. Accordingly, the receiver <NUM> may receive the communication module identification code transmitted from the communication module <NUM>, and may receive the sensor identification code transmitted from the sensor module <NUM> operated by the power signal and the tire identification code of the tire to which the operated sensor module is attached.

The receiver <NUM> may include an RFID communication unit <NUM> that communicates with a tag attached to the tire to receive a tire identification code. The RFID communication unit <NUM> may be activated by the controller <NUM>.

Accordingly, the receiver <NUM> may sequentially receive the plurality of sensor identification codes and the plurality of tire identification codes according to the power signal sequentially transmitted according to the protocol definition from the transmitter <NUM>.

For example, when the receiver <NUM> receives the first sensor identification code of the first sensor module <NUM> that has received the power signal, the receiver <NUM> is controlled by the controller <NUM> and communicates with the tag of the first tire <NUM> to which the first sensor module <NUM> is attached, and thus, the receiver <NUM> may receive the first tire identification code. Then, when the receiver <NUM> receives the second sensor identification code of the second sensor module <NUM> that has received the power signal, the receiver <NUM> is controlled by the controller <NUM> and communicates with the tag of the second tire <NUM> to which the second sensor module <NUM> is attached, and thus, the receiver <NUM> may receive the second tire identification code.

The controller <NUM> controls the transceiver <NUM>, and according to the protocol previously negotiated with the smart tire management server <NUM>, the controller <NUM> forms the location information of the plurality of tires <NUM>, the communication module identification code, the plurality of sensor identification codes, the packet P storing the plurality of tire identification codes, as shown in <FIG>.

Accordingly, the controller <NUM> may form the packet P for storing the plurality of sensor identification codes, the plurality of tire identification codes, and the plurality of tire location information received from the receiver <NUM> for each tire location in the order of protocol definition, and transmit the packet P to the communication module <NUM>.

Moreover, the controller <NUM> may allocate information to each of a plurality of location information.

Here, allocation information may include numbers or letters. For example, a number assigned to the location information of the first tire may be set to No. <NUM>, and a number assigned to the location information of the second tire may be set to No. <NUM>. When the allocation information includes characters, a character assigned to the first tire location information may be stored as a character representing a front left, and a character assigned to the second tire location information may be stored as a character representing a front right.

In addition, each allocation information may correspond to each location where the tire identification code and the sensor identification code are stored in the packet P for each of the plurality of tires defined in the protocol.

According to the above, the controller <NUM> may control the transmitter <NUM> to sequentially transmit the power signal to the plurality of sensor modules <NUM> based on the plurality of allocation information in order to store the location information of the tire, the sensor identification code, and the tire identification code in the packet P according to the protocol.

For example, the controller <NUM> may control the transmitter <NUM> to first transmit the power signal to the first sensor module <NUM> of the first tire <NUM> having location information corresponding to the allocation number <NUM> in the order of the allocation number, and after the first sensor identification code and the first tire identification code are received through the receiver <NUM>, may control the transmitter <NUM> to transmit the power signal to the second sensor module <NUM> attached to the second tire <NUM> having the location information corresponding to the allocation number <NUM>.

As a result, as the power signals are sequentially transmitted to the plurality of sensor modules <NUM> in the order of the allocation numbers and the plurality of sensor identification codes and the plurality of tire identification codes are also sequentially received, as shown in <FIG>, the packet P stores the first received communication module identification code in the receiver <NUM>, and thereafter, according to the definition of the protocol, may store the location information of the first tire, the first identification code number, the first tire identification code, and the location information of the second tire, the second identification code number, and the second tire identification code.

Also, when calling any one of the plurality of allocation information, the controller <NUM> may extract tire location information, sensor identification code, and tire identification code corresponding to the allocation information called in the packet P. For example, when the allocation number <NUM> is called, the location information of the first tire <NUM>, the first sensor identification code, and the first tire identification code stored in the packet P may be extracted.

Hereinafter, a sequence of forming the packet P according to the protocol of the tire sensor configuring device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, it will be described that the allocation information is stored as a number. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is applicable even when the allocation information is formed in characters.

First, the transmitter <NUM> of the tire sensor configuring device <NUM> transmits the communication module identification code request signal to the communication module <NUM> attached to the vehicle <NUM>, and accordingly, the communication module <NUM> may transmit the communication module identification code stored therein to the receiver <NUM> of the tire sensor configuring device <NUM>.

As the communication module identification code is received, the controller <NUM> may store the communication module identification code in the packet P.

Thereafter, the controller <NUM> may control the transmitter <NUM> based on the allocation number to receive the sensor identification code and tire identification code according to the protocol definition. Specifically, the controller <NUM> may control the transmitter <NUM> to transmit the power signal to the first sensor module <NUM> of the first tire <NUM> located in the location information of the tire corresponding to the allocation number <NUM>, and control the receiver <NUM> to communicate with the tag of the first tire <NUM> located in the location information of the tire of which allocation number corresponds to No. <NUM>.

Accordingly, as a power signal is transmitted from the transmitter <NUM> to the first sensor module <NUM>, the first sensor module <NUM> may be operated, the receiver <NUM> may receive the first sensor identification code and communicate with the tag to receive the first tire identification code.

Moreover, the controller <NUM> may sequentially store the location information of the first tire <NUM> to which the first sensor module <NUM> to which the power signal is transmitted is attached, and the received first sensor identification code and first tire identification code, in the packet P.

Subsequently, the controller <NUM> may control the transmitter <NUM> to transmit a power signal to the second sensor module <NUM> of the second tire <NUM> located in the location information of the tire corresponding to the allocation number <NUM>, and control the receiver <NUM> to communicate with the tag of the second tire <NUM> located in the location information of the tire of which the allocation number corresponds to No. <NUM>.

Accordingly, as the power signal is transmitted from the transmitter <NUM> to the second sensor module <NUM>, the second sensor module <NUM> may be operated, and the receiver <NUM> may receive the second sensor identification code and communicate with the tag to receive the second tire identification code.

Moreover, the controller <NUM> may sequentially store the location information of the second tire <NUM> to which the second sensor module <NUM> to which the power signal is transmitted is attached, and the received second sensor identification code and the second tire identification code in the packet P after the first sensor identification code and first tire identification code stored in advance.

When the tire identification codes of all tires of the vehicle <NUM> and the sensor identification codes of all sensor modules <NUM> are stored in packet P according to the protocol in the above manner, the controller <NUM> may transmit the packet P to the communication module <NUM> and transmit the packet P to the smart tire management server <NUM>.

The storage unit <NUM> may store the location information of the plurality of tires <NUM> and the allocation information allocated to each of the plurality of location information.

Meanwhile, when any one of the sensor modules <NUM> attached to the plurality of tires <NUM> is damaged or does not work and is replaced with a new sensor module, the controller <NUM> may store an identification code regarding the new sensor module based on the allocation information. For example, when the first sensor module <NUM> provided in the first tire <NUM> is damaged and replaced with a new third sensor module, the controller <NUM> may control the transmitter <NUM> to transmit the power signal to the third sensor module. Moreover, the receiver <NUM> receives the sensor identification code of the third sensor module, the controller <NUM> may call the existing allocation number <NUM> to replace the first sensor identification code stored in the packet P with the third sensor identification code.

The tire sensor configuring device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include at least one of a display unit (not shown) and an operation unit (not shown). Here, the display unit may include a touch pad.

Accordingly, a user may operate the touch pad or the operation unit to store the location information of the plurality of tires <NUM>, the plurality of sensor identification codes, and the plurality of tire identification codes in the packet P according to the protocol, call at least one of the plurality of allocation information, and control the transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM>.

In addition, as the allocation information is called through the controller <NUM> by operating the touch pad or the operation unit, at least one of the allocation information, the location information of the plurality of tires <NUM>, the plurality of sensor identification codes, and a plurality of tire identification codes may be displayed on the display unit.

In addition, the user may change the allocation information previously stored in the controller into numbers or characters by operating the display unit or the operation unit.

Claim 1:
A tire sensor configuring device (<NUM>) comprising:
a transceiver (<NUM>) configured to receive a communication module identification code of a communication module (<NUM>) provided in a vehicle (<NUM>) to communicate with a smart tire management server (<NUM>), tire identification codes of a plurality of tires (<NUM>) mounted to the vehicle (<NUM>), and sensor identification codes of sensor modules (<NUM>) respectively attached to the plurality of tires (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to arrange the communication module identification code, the tire identification codes, and the sensor identification codes according to a protocol previously created in association with the smart tire management server (<NUM>) to form a packet,
wherein the transceiver (<NUM>) is configured to transmit the packet to the communication module (<NUM>).