DE102015223968A1 - Electronic wheel unit for a vehicle wheel, electronic device for a vehicle, and operating method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic wheel unit (RE) for arrangement on a wheel (R) of a vehicle (F), comprising a sensor device with at least one sensor (12, 14) designed to provide a sensor signal (p, a) representative of a sensor is the physical quantity detected by the sensor on the wheel; processing means (16) adapted to process the sensor signal to generate data telegrams (D) containing a wheel operating parameter information (d2) obtained from the sensor signal and representative of at least one wheel operating parameter; and a transmitting device (20) designed to send the data telegrams to a receiving device (22) of the vehicle. The processing device (16) is further configured to store a history information (d4) which is characteristic of at least one feature of a past period of operation of the wheel unit, and / or to include it in a data telegram currently to be sent. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding vehicle-side device (22, 24, ECU).

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic wheel unit according to the preamble of claim 1, an electronic device according to the preamble of claim 6, and method for operating an electronic wheel unit or an electronic device according to the preamble of claim 8 or 9.

• – eine Sensoreinrichtung mit wenigstens einem Sensor ausgebildet zur Bereitstellung eines Sensorsignals, welches repräsentativ für eine mittels des Sensors am Rad erfasste physikalische Größe ist,
• – eine Verarbeitungseinrichtung ausgebildet zum Verarbeiten des Sensorsignals, um Datentelegramme zu erzeugen, die eine anhand des Sensorsignals gewonnene, für wenigstens einen Radbetriebsparameter charakteristische Radbetriebsparameterinformation enthalten,
• – eine Sendeeinrichtung ausgebildet zum Versenden der Datentelegramme an eine (zugeordnete) Empfangseinrichtung des Fahrzeuges.

In so-called tire pressure monitoring systems, electronic wheel units for mounting on a wheel of a vehicle are known, which each have the following:

• A sensor device with at least one sensor designed to provide a sensor signal which is representative of a physical quantity detected by means of the sensor on the wheel,
• A processing device configured to process the sensor signal in order to generate data telegrams which contain a wheel operating parameter information obtained from the sensor signal and characteristic of at least one wheel operating parameter,
• - A transmitting device adapted to send the data telegrams to an (assigned) receiving device of the vehicle.

For the example of an electronic wheel unit for use in a tire pressure monitoring system, the electronic wheel unit may be arranged, for example, on an inner side of a tread of a tire of the relevant wheel, wherein the sensor device detects at least the tire pressure as a physical quantity. The processing device then processes the sensor signal of such a pressure sensor to generate data telegrams which contain at least one information characteristic of the wheel operating parameter "tire pressure" as wheel operating parameter information. The transmitting device is used to send the generated data telegrams to an associated receiving device of the vehicle.

• – eine Empfangseinrichtung ausgebildet zum Empfangen der von der elektronischen Radeinheit versandten Datentelegramme,
• – eine Auswerteeinrichtung ausgebildet zum Verarbeiten der empfangenen Datentelegramme, um daraus die Radbetriebsparameterinformation zurückzugewinnen.

In order to be able to use the data telegrams which were sent by the wheel-side, that is to say arranged on a respective wheel, electronic wheel unit on the vehicle side, an associated electronic device has the following:

• A receiving device designed to receive the data telegrams sent by the electronic wheel unit,
• - An evaluation device adapted to process the received data telegrams in order to recover the Radbetriebparameter information.

In a tire pressure monitoring system, at least the information about the wheel operating parameter "tire pressure" is thus recovered from the received data telegrams.

The transmitting device of the wheel-side, d. H. arranged on a wheel electronic wheel unit, and the receiving means of the vehicle side, d. H. On the vehicle arranged electronic device are usually designed as a radio transmitting device or radio receiving device, so that the data telegrams are transmitted accordingly via a radio link.

Typically, electronic wheel units detect in addition to the tire pressure even more physical variables such. As a tire temperature and / or acceleration (or alternatively a deformation), so that accordingly also information about other wheel operating parameters such. As tire temperature, Raddrehgeschwindigkeit, Reifenlatschlänge etc. can be included in the data telegrams to be sent. This also applies in a preferred embodiment of the invention described below.

If the electronic wheel unit z. B. has a deformation, shock or acceleration sensor, so it can in a conventional manner, for. B. also the length of the tire contact patch ("tire lap length") are measured.

The principle of operation of this measurement is based on the fact that characteristic characteristics in the signal recorded by the sensor occur during a rotation of the wheel at each passage of the sensor through the tire lash, in particular z. B. when the location of the sensor on the driving surface "hits" and after passing through the tire lash again "lifts". At a known wheel speed, the z. B. can also be determined by means of an evaluation of the signal from the sensor, can be calculated from the time difference between the entrance and exit of the location of the sensor in the tire lash or from the tire rollover out the Reifenlatschlänge.

Furthermore, electronic wheel units can have a digital storage unit (eg, as a component of the processing device) in which (eg, in addition to software for operating the processing device) "tire type data" is stored in the broadest sense and thus made available for readout. A storage can z. B. by workshop personnel after a wheel change or tire change done to update the relevant tire type data. The tire type data may, for. Characteristic of at least one of the following: winter / summer / all-season tires, run-flat tires, tire type (eg radial tires), tire brand, Tire dimension (s), specification or properties of the rubber compound, tire stiffness (s), speed index, load index, date of manufacture of the tire (eg DOT code). This too represents a preferred embodiment in the invention described below.

The provision of the tire type data by the electronic wheel unit, such data optionally being processed by the processing means e.g. B. from time to time or, if necessary, can also be included in the data telegrams to be sent, advantageously extends the performance of the overall system, which is formed from the wheel side electronic wheel units and the electronic equipment provided for receiving and evaluating the data telegrams. As far as a knowledge of such tire type data z. B. for certain wheel-side processing steps and / or vehicle-side evaluation steps is not required anyway (for example, the determination of the tire lane length on the basis of the sensor signal of an acceleration sensor requires knowledge of the tire diameter or tire circumference), so in particular tire-related evaluations of the transmitted Radbetriebparameter information z. B. provide more meaningful and / or more precise evaluation results (by depending on the evaluation required details of the tire type data are taken into account).

The DE 10 2007 060 861 A1 and the DE 10 2012 216 576 A1 disclose (wheel-side) electronic wheel units and (vehicle-side) electronic devices, wherein tire type data stored in the electronic wheel unit is detected by the vehicle-mounted electronic device, e.g. B. for applications such as ABS control, steering tuning, suspension tuning (eg damper control) etc. can be used.

The aforementioned publications DE 10 2007 060 861 A1 and DE 10 2012 216 576 A1 In this context, the task is to ensure that no faulty tire data is stored in the wheel unit or used by the electronic device.

In order to achieve this object, measures are proposed in each of the cited publications, which amount to designing the electronic wheel unit such that a potential conversion event relating to a wheel unit, ie removal of the wheel unit from one tire and replacement in another tire, from the wheel unit itself is recognized, whereupon, in the case of such recognition, the stored tire data is blocked ( DE 10 2007 060 861 A1 ) or are no longer storable and / or deleted ( DE 10 2012 216 576 A1 ).

Such measures, namely an embodiment of the electronic wheel unit such that a potential remodeling event is detected to currently stored tire type data z. B. to delete or provide the potential invalidity of this data indicating additional information or store (eg., Setting a "status flag"), can also be advantageously provided in the invention described below.

A disadvantage of the known electronic wheel units or the total systems formed with the vehicle-side electronic device that in practice there are also "remodeling events" that can not be detected with the known method of detecting a potential removal and replacement of a wheel unit. An example of this is when a wheeled wheel is removed from one vehicle and then mounted and operated on another vehicle (and then, for example, re-mounted and operated on the former vehicle). The in the publications DE 10 2007 060 861 A1 and DE 10 2012 216 576 A1 in this case, no "potential remodeling event" would be detected (if or as long as the electronic wheel unit remains installed in the filled tire).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel way of obtaining information on any "rebuilding events" relating to the wheel equipment (including wheels, tires, electronic wheel units) of vehicles and thus making them usable.

In order to achieve this object, the electronic wheel unit according to the invention is characterized in that the processing device is further adapted to store and / or (at least one) history information characteristic of at least one characteristic of past operation of the electronic wheel unit Times) in a data telegram currently to be sent.

Accordingly, the electronic device according to the invention for a vehicle having at least one wheel, wherein an electronic wheel unit according to the invention is arranged on the at least one wheel, characterized in that the evaluation device is further adapted to retrieve the history information (at least once) from the electronic wheel unit and / or (at least once) recover from a currently received data telegram and with an electronic part Device to compare their own history information to compare.

The provided in the invention by the wheel unit storage and / or recording the "history information" in a data telegram or provided in the vehicle-mounted device retrieving and / or recovering the history information make it advantageous to determine whether a currently operated wheel unit in the said past Period was also already operated on the same vehicle or not. This can be accomplished by comparison with the own history information obtained from the electronic device.

The "elapsed time period" can, viewed for a certain wheel unit, at the longest be the period over which this wheel unit was previously operated (for example, preferably since "initial startup, or since a last" battery change ", or since, for example, performed by qualified personnel "reset").

For a given vehicle-mounted electronic device, the "past period" may, at the longest, be the period over which this electronic device has been operated (eg, preferably since "initial start-up" or since a reset carried out, for example, by qualified personnel ").

By contrast, however, a "shorter time span" may be provided as a "past period" (be it on the wheel side and / or on the vehicle side), for example a time span of a predetermined, in particular fixed, length in the immediate past. This period could z. B. in the range of 3 to 10 years.

The history information provided on the wheel side effectively represents a "memory" of the wheel unit over a past operation of the same, in the history information by no means all details of this past operation must be considered, but rather a kind of "fingerprint" information in practice mostly completely is sufficient.

Due to the already existing transmission path between the wheel unit and the vehicle-side electronic device can be implemented for all described here, arising from the wheel unit information or data, a transferability to the vehicle-side electronic device. In bidirectional execution of the transmission path, this also applies in the opposite direction.

In one embodiment of the invention, the history information is characteristic of contents of data telegrams sent in the past period.

In this embodiment, so z. For example, values of the physical variable (s) detected by the wheel unit in the past period and / or values of the wheel operating parameter (s) determined therefrom may be included in the formation (eg calculation) of a (preferably data-reduced) "fingerprint".

In one embodiment, the history information is characteristic of times of and / or time intervals between data messages sent in the past period.

In this embodiment, so z. B. are used to form the fingerprint information said time and / or time intervals. All that is required is that wheel and vehicle-side "timers" (watches) be provided and operated.

In one embodiment, the history information is characteristic of a number of data messages sent in the past period.

The specification of such a number (mathematically a natural number) does not require a particularly large capacity in terms of the amount of data for their specification or storage or transmission. In this respect, in an embodiment in which the history information is exclusively characterized by such a number, the formation of a (data-reduced) fingerprint can be dispensed with, and instead this number itself can be used as history information.

For wheel-side implementation of the latter embodiment may, for. For example, it may be provided that the wheel unit has a digital counter (for example as a component of the processing device or of the transmitting device) whose count is incremented each time a data telegram is sent. In a further development, it is provided that this wheel-side counter can be read out by the vehicle-mounted device. In another development is (alternatively or additionally) provided that the processing means of the wheel unit is further adapted to a characteristic of the meter reading information, in particular z. B. the counter itself, to include in a current data telegram to be sent. In a particularly simple embodiment, the respective current counter reading is included in each data telegram to be sent, which in a sense is synonymous with that of the the Radeinheit sent data telegrams are "numbered". In another embodiment, a numbering of the data telegrams is also provided, but not every data telegram to be sent receives a corresponding "number", but z. B. only every n-th data telegram, where "n" z. B. a predetermined, in particular fixed predetermined natural number. This number n could be z. B. in a range of 10 to 100 are given. Finally, it is also conceivable that, although the data telegrams are all numbered, the corresponding information about them ("number") is not included in every data telegram (but, for example, only in every nth data telegram).

In another embodiment of the embodiment in which the history information is characteristic of a number of data telegrams sent in the past period, it is provided that the number relates to specific data telegrams sent by the electronic wheel unit. In particular, the number may refer to data telegrams sent by the electronic wheel unit, which were sent immediately after a transition of the electronic wheel unit from a sleep mode to a normal operating mode in the past period. Such data telegrams are also referred to below as so-called "wake-up" data telegrams. In the latter case, therefore, only wake-up data telegrams (eg all, or for example only a part thereof, eg every nth wake-up data telegram) are counted in order to form the history information from the count result.

As already explained, the term "wake-up data telegram" denotes a data telegram which is sent to the wheel side or received on the vehicle side immediately after the electronic wheel unit has passed from a "sleep mode" to a "normal operating mode". Namely, electronic wheel units are usually placed in a power-saving sleep mode for energy saving when their sensor device detects no rotation (wheel rotation), such as when the vehicle is parked for a long time. In this rest mode, a limited operation is sufficient in which only a possible resumption of the wheel rotation is monitored. Once this is determined, the operation of the wheel unit is switched to the normal operation mode to restore the full functionality of the wheel unit. The fact that a specific data telegram is a wake-up data telegram can (optionally) be coded in the relevant data telegram itself. Alternatively or additionally, on the vehicle side, an identification of a wake-up data telegram z. B. also be carried out on the basis of a typical previous longer break in the data telegram transmission.

If the explained formation of the history information, e.g. B. counting of sent data telegrams, refers only to wake-up data telegrams, so this has the particular advantage of a reduced amount of data. A counter used for this purpose, be it on the wheel side or on the vehicle side, can advantageously be dimensioned to be smaller (as far as the maximum meter reading that can be represented thereby). The number of wake-up data telegrams sent over a certain period of time is naturally much smaller than the total number of data telegrams sent in this period.

The particular embodiments and developments described here with regard to the manner of wheel-side formation of the history information can also be used analogously as special embodiments or developments of the vehicle-side electronic device provided according to the invention.

If, for example, the wheel unit provides history information that is characteristic of the contents of the data telegrams, then the evaluation device of the vehicle-side device can easily form the same history information and thus make it available for the vehicle-side comparison, since the evaluation device will, of course, copy precisely these contents of the data telegrams (after reception) the same) are available. The same applies to the other embodiments already described above, in which the history information z. B. is characteristic of times, time intervals or a number of data telegrams.

This means, provided that there is a matching "education algorithm" for forming the history information on the one hand wheel side and on the other side vehicle specified that in case of uninterrupted operation of a particular wheel unit on a particular vehicle (or its electronic device) the vehicle-side comparison of the two history information to the result will have that history information is identical (or, if measurement inaccuracies and / or rounding errors play a role, at least substantially identical).

For this purpose, a simple example: Assuming the history information formed on the wheel side is the number of wake-up data telegrams sent by the wheel unit in the past period and the history information formed on the vehicle side is the number of received wake-up data telegrams "counted" accordingly by the electronic device itself. Now, if the wheel-side history information indicates that so far z. B. Wake up data telegrams were sent in 1966, whereas the own history information obtained on the vehicle side by the electronic device indicates that only 1305 data telegrams were received from the relevant wheel unit (eg identifiable unambiguously on the basis of their identification codes contained in the data telegrams), ie a deviation between the two exists two history information, this can be interpreted by the vehicle on the side of the evaluation so that (at least) a "remodeling event" must have taken place. In the above example, 1966 - 1305 = 661 data telegrams are "missing", which in turn indicates that the relevant wheel unit or z. B. the wheel on which this wheel unit is arranged, has been operated in the meantime on another vehicle. This knowledge can then be used or used on the vehicle side for a wide variety of further applications. An example of this would be a use of this knowledge for an application in which tire tread depth plays a role. In the above example, based on the number of "missing wake-up data telegrams" z. For example, it can even be estimated by what amount the tread depth has decreased due to the use of the assumed identical tire in the meantime on (at least) another vehicle. If in a memory unit of the electronic wheel unit or the vehicle-side electronic device tire type data containing the attribute "tire tread depth" are stored, so could possibly z. B. be provided to declare the stored tire type data (or at least a part thereof) as invalid, for. B. by storing or providing a corresponding additional information (eg., "Tire tread depth due to interim use now about 1.2 mm smaller").

Against this background, an embodiment of the electronic device is advantageous in which the evaluation device is also designed to store and / or output status information as a function of the result of the comparison performed.

The retrievability and / or output of the corresponding status information can, for. B. for this status information using further device (eg., ABS system, etc.) of the vehicle may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, a retrieval or an output may also be provided for a user (eg driver of the vehicle or workshop personnel). An issue to such a person may, for. B. as a corresponding "message" on a man-machine interface of the vehicle (eg display of an on-board electronics) to be accomplished.

According to further aspects of the present invention, a method for operating an electronic wheel unit according to claim 8 and a method for operating an electronic device according to claim 9 is proposed.

The particular embodiments and further developments already described here for the wheel unit and the vehicle-side device can be provided in an analogous manner for the relevant one of the aforementioned operating methods.

According to yet another aspect, a computer program product comprising a program code is proposed which carries out a corresponding operating method (see claims 8 or 9) on a data processing device (eg wheel-side processing device or vehicle-side evaluation device).

The invention will be further described by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

1 an exemplary first scenario for "rebuilding events" concerning a vehicle wheel provided with an electronic wheel unit,

2 an exemplary second scenario for "rebuilding events" relating to an electronic wheel unit intended to be arranged on vehicle wheels,

3 a schematic block diagram of an electronic wheel unit according to an embodiment, and

4 a schematic representation of a sent by an electronic wheel unit data telegram.

1 illustrates, by way of example only, a possible "conversion scenario" relating to a vehicle-mounted wheel R1 having an electronic wheel unit RE1 disposed thereon.

In the upper part of 1 FIG. 12 illustrates a first situation or phase in which the wheel R1 (typically as one of a plurality of wheels) is mounted on a vehicle F1 and the electronic wheel unit RE1 in FIG 1 symbolized at D1 data telegrams via a radio link to a vehicle-side evaluation ECU1 of the vehicle F1.

The designations R1, RE1, F1, ECU1, D1 are intended to mean that they are very specific to the relevant components (wheel, wheel unit, vehicle, evaluation device) or data telegrams a certain operating phase. Hereinafter, these components (individually or in total) are also designated by the corresponding "unnumbered" reference numerals (R, RE, F, ECU, D).

The data telegrams D contain for at least one wheel operating parameters such. Tire pressure, tire temperature, wheel rotational speed, tire lap length, etc. characteristic wheel operating parameter information. The data telegrams D are generated by processing corresponding sensor signals in a processing unit of the wheel unit RE in such a way that the wheel operating parameter information is obtained therefrom and then coded in digital form into the data telegrams D.

The data telegrams D furthermore each contain an identification code in order to provide the evaluation device ECU with an unambiguous assignment of a data telegram D received on the vehicle side to a specific wheel unit RE (eg wheel unit RE1) or a specific actual installation position, for example in the case of a conventional car. B. "front left", "front right", "rear left" and "rear right" to allow equipped with this wheel unit RE wheel R.

In the example illustrated, the data telegrams D further contain tire type data, that is information about the type of tire or physical properties of the tire specifically installed on the relevant wheel R (eg R1). while the data telegrams D, in particular the identification code and the wheel operation parameter information are transmitted relatively frequently (eg periodically) during the travel of the vehicle F, it is sufficient with respect to the tire type data, which is e.g. B. after a wheel or tire change workshop personnel are stored in the wheel unit RE, a possibly sporadic transmission to the evaluation ECU. After such a transmission of the tire type data, these are stored in a copy in a digital memory unit assigned to the evaluation device ECU, so that the evaluation device ECU can advantageously access the tire type data at any time during its evaluations.

In the example shown, the tire type data are stored on the vehicle side, in this case in the memory unit belonging to the evaluation unit ECU, together with the identification code of the wheel unit RE from which these tire type data were sent (or retrieved) in the situation according to FIG 1 above, together with the identification code of the wheel unit RE1.

The wheel unit RE is further designed such that a potential tire change event (in the sense of a conversion of the wheel unit RE from one tire into another specific tire) is detected by means of a corresponding sensor signal and corresponding information (eg "tire type data potentially invalid ") is included as part of the tire type data. For the concrete realization of such a detection can advantageously z. B. on the teaching of the already mentioned DE 10 2007 060 861 A1 (Detection due to excessive pressure drop in the tire) and / or the DE 10 2012 216 576 A1 (Recognition based on a sensor signal of a sensor that responds in case of removal of the electronic wheel assembly from the tire) are used.

In the illustrated example, the vehicle-side evaluation ECU or the program code controlling this is designed so that a plurality of tire type data, in each case together with associated identification code of the relevant wheel unit RE and any information about potential wheel change events in the vehicle-mounted storage unit can be stored. In case of declaration of tire type data as invalid and re-storage of updated tire type data e.g. B. after a tire change so the outdated tire type data are not automatically deleted or overwritten on the vehicle side, but remain (additionally) stored. In this permanent storage (which may, however, be deleted, for example, by workshop personnel) even from outdated tire type data, it is also preferable to include information about the time (eg "timestamp") as part of the outdated tire type data. The same applies to new, i. updated tire type data. Also, for updated tire type data, information about the timing of the update is preferably included in this tire type data.

It should be noted at this point that with the above-described features of (at least) one wheel-side electronic wheel unit (in 1 above: R1) and the associated vehicle-side electronic device including the evaluation ECU (in 1 ECU1) is created to a certain extent in particular a "memory" concerning currently no longer up-to-date tire type data. In this case, a multiplicity of tire type data (sets) can be stored together with their respective validity periods and the respective identification code (the wheel unit used during the period of validity).

Regardless of and essential to the invention, however, is another special feature, which consists in that (wheel side) a history information that is characteristic of at least one feature of a in a past period lying operation of the electronic wheel unit RE is stored is retrievable and / or recorded in a current data telegram D to be sent, and / or (vehicle side) the history information from the electronic wheel unit RE is retrieved and / or from a currently received Data telegram D recovered and is compared with a by the electronic device obtained own history information.

The history information can z. B. characteristic of contents of, a number of, times of and / or time intervals between in the past period sent data telegrams D be.

Im in 1 In the example shown, the history information is characteristic of the number of wake-up data telegrams sent in the past period, ie those data telegrams D, which are sent when the electronic wheel unit RE changes from a sleep mode to a normal mode of operation. A simple implementation is to number the wake-up data telegrams D, ie to include in them a consecutive number assigned according to the chronological order of their dispatch.

By thus giving the system (F, ECU, R, RE) a sort of "memory" relating to a previous operation of each electronic wheel unit RE, it is advantageously possible to detect further potential remodeling events or gain more information about them, ie not just a potential one Conversion of a wheel unit RE from a specific tire to a specific other tire. This is the example of the conversion scenario of 1 explained.

1 shows in the middle part of a subsequent second situation or operating phase after a conversion of the provided with the electronic wheel RE1 wheel R1 from the vehicle F1 to another vehicle F2.

Like the vehicle F1, the vehicle F2 comprises an electronic device (part of the "on-board electronics") comprising an evaluation device ECU2 with a functionality as already described with reference to the vehicle F1. In this respect, the evaluation ECU2 in particular z. B. identical to the evaluation ECU1.

Assume that the wheel R1 in this situation ( 1 Center) is operated for a while on the vehicle F2 (and thereby data telegrams D2 sent to the evaluation ECU2), whereupon the wheel R1 at a later time ( 1 below) back to the former vehicle F1 is mounted.

1 shows in its lower part this third situation in which the wheel R1 is again mounted on the vehicle F1 and in this phase data telegrams D3 sent to the evaluation ECU1.

In the situation according to 1 below can the evaluation ECU1 based on the history information reaching it, be it by a by the evaluation ECU1 itself initiated polling from the wheel unit RE1 (in bidirectionality of the transmission link between RE and ECU) or by recovering from a currently received data telegram D3 Advantageously, the previous conversion scenario (from 1 on top 1 Middle, and continue on 1 below).

Namely, the beginning of the in 1 shown below phase of the vehicle-side electronic device or evaluation ECU1 own history information (concerning the previous operation of the wheel unit RE1) no longer coincide with the transmitted from the wheel unit RE1 history information, so that based on a result of a comparison of the two history information corresponding conclusions are drawn can. Since the history information indicates the number of wake-up data telegrams D sent in the past period in the example shown, the evaluation device ECU1 will detect a "missing" number of wake-up data telegrams D, meaning that the wheel unit RE1 has meanwhile (after completion of the in-service data telegrams D) 1 shown above) must have been operated on at least one other vehicle. From the number of missing data telegrams can also z. B. an estimate of the interim wear (eg., Tread depth reduction) of the corresponding tire done. That it is in the in 1 In the situation illustrated below, tires used for the same tire as before ( 1 top and middle), z. B. based on the existing information in the system on each current and no longer current tire type data are concluded.

Conversely, if different from the scenario according to 1 the wheel unit RE1 in the meantime z. B. operated in another tire, it would be in the situation according to 1 below z. B. recognizable in the system (in the wheel unit RE and / or the vehicle-mounted device) stored (then several) tire type data (or their changes or "validity periods").

2 again exemplifies only in one of 1 corresponding illustration another conversion scenario.

2 illustrates in the upper part of a first situation or first phase of operation, which the situation of 1 above corresponds.

2 shows in the middle part a second situation after removal of the wheel unit RE1 from the tire of the wheel R1, replacement of the wheel unit RE1 in the tire of another wheel R2, and mounting the wheel R2 on another vehicle F2.

2 Finally, below illustrates a third operational phase after removal of the wheel unit RE1 from the wheel R2, re-installation in a wheel R3, and mounting the wheel R3 again on the vehicle F1.

It is understood that with the help of the already explained features of the wheel unit RE1 and the evaluation ECU1 in the situation according to 2 below again advantageous information or conclusions or estimates concerning the previous conversion scenario ( 2 top and middle) can be won.

Thus, for example, an expansion of the wheel unit RE1 from a wheel or the tire of such a wheel can be recognized by the wheel unit RE1 as already explained, so that relevant information in the wheel unit RE1 and / or (after retrieving or sending this information as part of the tire type data ) can be stored permanently in the vehicle-mounted storage unit. Such information about potential tire change events may be made plausible by information about any updates of the tire type data (eg, providing the tire type data with a data element "validity start" and / or data element "validity end"). For example, if at some point a potential tire change event is detected and an update of the tire type data is detected within a predetermined time thereafter, this may be interpreted to mean that this tire change event has actually occurred. Such results of plausibility checks or further conclusions can also be stored permanently in the system (if the transmission path is bidirectional, such results can be transmitted from the vehicle to the wheel units used thereon).

In addition, the evaluation ECU1 at the beginning of in 2 shown below again recognize that previously (after the end of the operating phase according to 2 above) again an "intermediate use" on another vehicle (here: F2) must have taken place (based on the previously explained deviation between the history information compared).

In summary, the invention makes it advantageous, in an electronic wheel unit and / or an electronic device associated with the vehicle while driving the vehicle z. B. in the context of a tire pressure monitoring system or the like anyway beyond the primary purpose (eg., Tire pressure control) to provide further applications, be it on the wheel side by means of the wheel unit or vehicle side, z. B. implemented by the evaluation applications.

3 shows an exemplary structure of an electronic wheel unit RE usable in the invention (for example, the wheel unit RE1 of the above example).

The wheel unit RE includes a pressure sensor 12 for providing a pressure signal representative of the tire pressure "p" and an acceleration sensor 14 for providing a sensor signal "a" representative of the acceleration (at the installation position of the wheel unit RE).

Furthermore, the wheel unit RE1 comprises a computing unit 16 , here z. B. a microcontroller and an associated memory unit 18 (for storing program code and other data). The arithmetic unit 16 processes the sensor signals p, a in order to generate the data telegrams D which contain the wheel operating parameter information obtained on the basis of the sensor signals, in this case z. B. information about wheel operating parameters such as tire pressure, tire rotation speed, Reifenlatschlänge etc.

The arithmetic unit 16 Further generates the history information which is characteristic of the past operation of the wheel unit RE, and continuously stores this history information in the storage unit 18 , The history information is added in the example shown from time to time in a data telegram D currently to be sent.

To send the data telegrams D, the wheel unit RE finally comprises a radio transmission unit 20 ,

In 3 In the right-hand part, the relevant vehicle F (eg F1) containing the evaluation device ECU is also shown by way of example.

The data telegrams D are on the vehicle side by means of a radio receiving unit 22 received and forwarded from there to the evaluation ECU.

The evaluation ECU is a program-controlled data processing device, here z. B. is designed as a microcontroller and communicates with an associated memory unit 24 (for storing program code and other data) in communication connection.

The evaluation ECU is a in 3 at 30 symbolized digital bus system (eg, CAN bus, LIN bus or the like) with optionally further digital data processing devices (eg., In ABS devices) of the vehicle F connected.

The evaluation device ECU is designed to compare the history information originating from the or each electronic wheel unit RE used on the vehicle with own corresponding history information obtained by the electronic device of the vehicle F itself. In this comparison of the history information, a matching "past period" is considered. Results of this comparison and / or status information generated thereon (eg, according to certain conclusions) are stored in the memory unit 22 saved stored. Alternatively or additionally, status information about the digital bus system 30 be transmitted to other parts of the vehicle electronics or these are provided.

4 schematically shows the contents of a data telegram D (eg one of the data telegrams D1 to D3).

• d1: Identifikationscode der betreffenden Radeinheit RE, bevorzugt ein einmalig vergebener Identifikationscode, so dass der Identifikationscode die Radeinheit RE eindeutig identifiziert.
• d2: Radbetriebsparameterinformation, wie z. B. eines oder mehreres von Reifendruck, Reifentemperatur, Reifengeschwindigkeit, Reifenlatschlänge etc., wobei in einem Datentelegramm D jeweils entweder ein Momentanwert des oder der betreffenden Radbetriebsparameter oder aber mehrere Momentanwerte (zu Zeitpunkten unmittelbar vor dem Versand des betreffenden Datentelegramms D aufgenommen) codiert sein können.
• d3: Aktuelle Reifentypdaten, wie z. B. Reifendimension(en), Eigenschaften der Gummimischung, DOT-Code oder dergleichen, etc., bevorzugt auch nicht mehr aktuelle Reifentypdaten, bevorzugt auch Information über Zeitpunkte etwaiger Aktualisierungen der Reifentypdaten (z. B. "Zeitstempel" für jede Aktualisierung), und bevorzugt außerdem gegebenenfalls vorliegende Information über potentielle Reifenwechselereignisse (z. B. Statusflag zur Kennzeichnung ungültiger (nicht mehr aktueller oder potentiell nicht mehr aktueller) Reifentypdaten).
• d4: Historieninformation, z. B. charakteristisch für Inhalte von, eine Anzahl von, Zeitpunkte von und/oder Zeitabstände zwischen in einem vergangenen Zeitraum versandten Datentelegrammen D, z. B. errechnet als ein datenreduzierter "Fingerabdruck" derartiger Informationen.

In the example shown, the data telegram D contains the following individual data:

• d1: identification code of the relevant wheel unit RE, preferably a unique assigned identification code, so that the identification code uniquely identifies the wheel unit RE.
• d2: wheel operation parameter information, such as B. one or more of tire pressure, tire temperature, tire speed, Reifenlatschlänge, etc., wherein in a data telegram D either an instantaneous value of the wheel or the relevant parameters or several instantaneous values (recorded at times immediately before the shipment of the relevant data telegram D) can be encoded ,
• d3: Current tire type data, such as Tire size (s), properties of the rubber compound, DOT code or the like, etc., preferably also no longer current tire type data, preferably also information about times of any updates of the tire type data (eg "timestamp" for each update), and also prefers possibly present information about potential tire change events (eg status flag for identifying invalid (no longer current or potentially no longer current) tire type data).
• d4: history information, e.g. B. characteristic of contents of, a number of, time points of and / or time intervals between in a past period sent data telegrams D, z. B. calculated as a data-reduced "fingerprint" of such information.

In particular, the individual data d3 and d4 can only be recorded from time to time or, if necessary, in a data telegram D to be sent in order to keep the load on the transmission path (radio link) correspondingly low.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

F

vehicle

R

vehicle

RE

electronic wheel unit

D

Data telegram

d1

identification code

d2

Radbetriebsparameterinformation

d3

Tire Type Data

d4

history information

ECU

evaluation

12

 pressure sensor

p

Sensor signal (tire pressure)

14

accelerometer

a

Sensor signal (acceleration)

16

computer unit

18

storage unit

20

Radio transmission unit

22

Radio receiver unit

24

storage unit

30

digital bus system

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102007060861 A1 [0012, 0013, 0014, 0016, 0057]
• DE 102012216576 A1 [0012, 0013, 0014, 0016, 0057]

Claims (10)

Electronic wheel unit (RE) for mounting on a wheel (R) of a vehicle (F), comprising - a sensor device with at least one sensor ( 12 . 14 ) configured to provide a sensor signal (p, a) which is representative of one by means of the sensor ( 12 . 14 ) is a physical quantity detected on the wheel (R), 16 ) configured to process the sensor signal (p, a) to generate data telegrams (D) containing a wheel operating parameter information (d2) obtained from the sensor signal (p, a) characteristic of at least one wheel operating parameter, 20 ) adapted for sending the data telegrams (D) to a receiving device ( 22 ) of the vehicle (F), characterized in that the processing device ( 16 ) is further adapted to store history information (d4) which is characteristic of at least one feature of a past period of operation of the electronic wheel unit (RE), and / or to include it in a data telegram (D) currently to be sent.  An electronic wheel unit according to claim 1, wherein the history information (d4) is characteristic of contents of data telegrams (D) sent in the past period.  Electronic wheel unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the history information (d4) is characteristic of time points of and / or time intervals between data telegrams (D) sent in the past period.  Electronic wheel unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the history information (d4) is characteristic of a number of data telegrams (D) sent in the past period.  An electronic wheel unit according to claim 4, wherein said number relates to data telegrams (D) sent from said electronic wheel unit (RE) which have been sent immediately after a transition of said electronic wheel unit (RE) from a sleep mode to a normal operation mode in the past period. Electronic device ( 22 . 24 , ECU) for a vehicle (F) having at least one wheel (R), wherein on the at least one wheel (R) an electronic wheel unit (RE) according to one of claims 1 to 5 is arranged, comprising - a receiving device ( 22 ) configured to receive the data telegrams (D) sent by the electronic wheel unit (RE), - an evaluation device (ECU) designed to process the received data telegrams (D) in order to recover the wheel operation parameter information (d2) therefrom, characterized in that the evaluation device ( ECU) is further adapted to retrieve the history information (d4) from the electronic wheel unit (RE) and / or to retrieve it from a currently received data telegram (D) and to be provided by an electronic device ( 22 . 24 , ECU) to compare their own history information obtained.  Electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation device (ECU) is further configured to store and / or output status information as a function of the result of the comparison performed. Method for operating an electronic wheel unit (RE) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that by means of the processing device ( 16 ) a history information (d4), which is characteristic of at least one feature of past in the period lying operation of the electronic wheel unit (RE), stored retrievably stored and / or in the generation of the data telegrams (D) in a current data telegram to be sent (D) is recorded. Method for operating an electronic device ( 22 . 24 , ECU) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a history information (d4), which is characteristic of at least one feature of a past period of operation of the electronic wheel unit (RE), by means of the evaluation unit (ECU) from the electronic wheel unit (RE) and / or retrieved from a currently received data telegram (D) and with a part of the electronic device ( 22 . 24 , ECU) compared own history information is compared.  Computer program product comprising a program code, which executes a method according to claim 8 or 9 carried out on a data processing device.

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