Patent ID: 7498931

Claim:
A tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle comprising: a sensor module configured to consume power and transmit a first signal having a first signal strength; a receiver configured to receive the first signal and to determine the first signal strength; and a transmitter in communication with the receiver; wherein the receiver is configured to cause the transmitter to send a second signal for the sensor module if the first signal strength is more than a desired signal strength and wherein the sensor module reduces the power it consumes in response to the second signal; wherein the receiver is further configured to cause the transmitter to send a third signal to the sensor module, and wherein the sensor module transmits the first signal in response to receiving the third signal, and wherein the receiver is further configured to cause the transmitter to increase its power consumption if the receiver does not receive the first signal within a predetermined period of time after the receiver causes the transmitter to send the third signal to the sensor module.