Tire pressure monitoring sensor diagnosis via vehicle antitheft and entry system

Abstract

A vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system, the system including an immobilizer transmitter that transmits at least one low frequency (LF) sensor diagnostic signal, at least one TPM sensor, wherein the at least one TPM sensor includes a transceiver that receives the at least one LF sensor diagnostic signal and, when the at least one TPM sensor is operating properly, presents at least one radio frequency (RF) message signal, and a TPM receiver that receives the at least one RF message signal and provides an indication to an operator when the at least one RF message signal is received, wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted to determine proper operation of the at least one TPM sensor.

1 . A vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system, the system comprising: 
 an immobilizer transmitter that transmits at least one low frequency (LF) sensor diagnostic signal;    at least one TPM sensor, wherein the at least one TPM sensor comprises a transceiver that receives the at least one LF sensor diagnostic signal and, when the at least one TPM sensor is operating properly, presents at least one radio frequency (RF) message signal; and    a TPM receiver that receives the at least one RF message signal and provides an indication to an operator when the at least one RF message signal is received, wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted to determine proper operation of the at least one TPM sensor.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the TPM receiver provides an alert to the operator when the at least one RF message signal is not received in response to the LF sensor diagnostic signal.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the operator initiates transmission of the LF sensor diagnostic signal independently of vehicle immobilization operation.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the immobilizer transmitter transmits at least one second LF signal that is related to at least one vehicle theft deterrent operation.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the TPM receiver is a combination remote keyless entry (RKE) and TPM receiver and provides at least one RKE operation.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is transmitted in connection with at least one of a TPM sensor test, a TPM sensor diagnosis, a TPM system diagnosis, a TPM sensor association to the TPM system, and a TPM sensor location association on a vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the TPM sensor further comprises an antenna that is configured to receive the at least one LF sensor diagnostic signal and present the at least one RF message signal.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the TPM sensor is positioned at a desired location at or near a vehicle.  
     
     
         9 . For use in a vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system, a method of determining proper operation of a TPM sensor, the method comprising: 
 transmitting at least one low frequency (LF) sensor diagnostic signal via an immobilizer transmitter;    providing at least one TPM sensor, wherein the at least one TPM sensor comprises a transceiver that receives the at least one LF command signal and presents at least one radio frequency (RF) message signal;    presenting the RF message signal when the at least one TPM sensor is operating properly; and    providing an indication to an operator when the at least one RF message signal is received by a TPM receiver.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing an alert to the operator when the at least one RF message signal is not received by the TPM receiver in response to the LF sensor diagnostic signal.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the operator initiates transmission of the LF sensor diagnostic signal independently of vehicle immobilization operation.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the immobilizer transmitter transmits at least one second LF signal that is related to at least one vehicle theft deterrent operation.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the TPM receiver is a combination remote keyless entry (RKE) and TPM receiver and provides at least one RKE operation.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the LF sensor diagnostic signal is presented in connection with at least one of a TPM sensor test, a TPM sensor diagnosis, a TPM system diagnosis, a TPM sensor association to the TPM system, and a TPM sensor location association on a vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the TPM sensor further comprises an antenna that is configured to receive the at least one LF sensor diagnostic signal and present the at least one RF message signal.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising positioning a target one of the at least one TPM sensors at a desired location at or near a vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . A vehicle tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system having self-diagnostics, the system comprising: 
 an immobilizer transmitter that transmits at least one low frequency (LF) sensor diagnostic signal;    at least one TPM sensor that comprises a transceiver that receives the at least one LF sensor diagnostic signal, and presents at least one radio frequency (RF) message signal in response to the LF sensor diagnostic signal when operating properly; and    a combination remote keyless entry and TPM receiver that receives the at least one RF message signal and provides an indication to an operator when the at least one RF message signal is received and an alert to the operator when the at least one RF message signal is not received.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the LF command signal is transmitted in connection with at least one of a TPM sensor test, a TPM sensor diagnosis, a TPM system diagnosis, a TPM sensor association to the TPM system, and a TPM sensor location association on a vehicle.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the operator initiates transmission of the LF sensor diagnostic signal independently of vehicle immobilization operation.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the immobilizer transmitter transmits at least one second LF signal that is related to at least one vehicle theft deterrent operation.