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EP-4253100-B1 - TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING DEVICES

EP4253100B1EP 4253100 B1EP4253100 B1EP 4253100B1EP-4253100-B1

Inventors

  • BILL, Andrew
  • MARWEDEL, STEPHAN
  • DUCHOSSOY, Christelle
  • STANLEY-ADAMS, Kevin

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220330

Claims (17)

  1. A method of performing a configuration procedure for first (10) and second (202) tire pressure monitoring devices, the method comprising loading the first tire pressure monitoring device (10) with first configuration data (20), subsequently transmitting, from the first tire pressure monitoring device (10), a first configuration data signal (22) which encodes the first configuration data (20), subsequently loading the second tire pressure monitoring device (202) with second configuration data (20), and subsequently ending the configuration procedure without transmitting a second configuration data signal which encodes the second configuration data (20).
  2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the first configuration data signal (22) is configured to be received and understood by a human.
  3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first configuration data signal (22) comprises a signal indicative of any of a reference pressure for a tire and an installed location of the first tire pressure monitoring device (10).
  4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first configuration data signal (22) comprises a visual signal, and the visual signal is transmitted using a visual indicator of the first tire pressure monitoring device.
  5. A method according to Claim 4, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light source (18), and the method comprises selectively illuminating the light source (18) to transmit the first configuration data signal (22).
  6. A method according to Claim 5, wherein the first configuration data signal (22) comprises a number, and the selective illumination of the light source (18) comprises encoding the number into an illumination sequence representing individual digits of the number.
  7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the method comprises verifying, by a human (24), that the configuration data (20) encoded by the first configuration data signal (22) matches expected configuration data, and verification by a human (24) that the first configuration data (20) matches expected configuration data takes place using an untrusted device (32).
  8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first (10) and second (202) tire pressure monitoring devices correspond to a wheel group (102) of an aircraft (100).
  9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first (10) and second (202) tire pressure monitoring devices are part of a set (212) of tire pressure monitoring devices, and the method comprises: loading each of a further set (214) of tire pressure monitoring devices with respective configuration data (20); and transmitting, from a subset of fewer than all of the further set (214) of tire pressure monitoring devices, a configuration data signal (22) which encodes the respective configuration data (20).
  10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein the set (212) of tire pressure monitoring devices correspond to a first wheel group (102) of an aircraft (100), and the further set (214) of tire pressure monitoring devices correspond to a second wheel group (104) of the aircraft (100) different to the first wheel group (102).
  11. A method according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, where the subset of the further set (214) of tire pressure monitoring devices comprises a single tire pressure monitoring device (204) of the further set (214) of tire pressure monitoring devices.
  12. A method according to any preceding claim wherein loading each of the first (10) and second (202) tire pressure monitoring devices with respective first and second configuration data (20) comprises utilising an untrusted device (32).
  13. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first (10) and second (202) tire monitoring devices form part of a set (212) of tire monitoring devices, and the transmitting the first configuration data signal (22) which encodes the first configuration data (20) takes place in a configuration data check procedure, and the method comprises: transmitting, from a further subset of the set (212) of tire pressure monitoring devices, further respective configuration data (20) to at least one of the first (10) and second (202) tire pressure monitoring devices in a tire pressure check procedure different to the configuration data check procedure; and determining, at the at least one of the first (10) and second (202) tire pressure monitoring devices, whether the further configuration data matches the respective first or second configuration data (20).
  14. A method according to Claim 13, wherein the method comprises, when the further configuration data differs from the respective first or second configuration data (20), transmitting, from any of the set (212) of tire pressure monitoring devices, an error signal.
  15. A system comprising first (10) and second (202) tire pressure monitoring devices configured to operate according to the method of any preceding claim.
  16. A tire pressure monitoring device (10, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210) configured to operate as part of the system according to claim 15.
  17. An aircraft (100) comprising at least one of a system according to Claim 15 and a tire pressure monitoring device (10, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210) as claimed in Claim 16.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to tire pressure monitoring devices. BACKGROUND Checking tire pressure is an important part of the maintenance of a vehicle. Tire pressures should be maintained at predetermined pressures to ensure that a tire performs as intended by the manufacturer. To check a tire pressure it is important to know what reference pressure is defined for the tire. EP3991996A1 describes a method of communicating configuration data of a tire pressure monitoring device configured to be affixed to a wheel in use. The method includes, at the tire pressure monitoring device, receiving a request to confirm configuration data, and responsive to receipt of the request to confirm configuration data, transmitting a configuration data signal which encodes the configuration data. EP3991996A1 falls within the terms of Article 54(3) EPC with respect to the present application. US6087930A describes an active integrated circuit transponder with on-board power supply which is mounted in or on a vehicle tire. A pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a tire rotation sensor are mounted on a substrate with the integrated circuit transponder. Upon receiving an interrogation signal from a remote source, the transponder activates the sensors to sense tire pressure and temperature and transmits an encoded radio frequency signal to the remote source. US2014/070928A1 describes a parameter setting method of a tire monitor which is applied in a setter for setting a parameter of the tire monitor via a cable or wireless transmission. US2022/055420A1 describes a method of configuring a tire monitoring device. In response to entering a configuration mode, the tire monitoring device transmits a message to a second device indicating that the second device should transmit configuration data to the tire monitoring device. Configuration data is received from the second device in response to the first message, and the tire monitoring device is configured based on the configuration data. SUMMARY A first aspect of the present invention provides a method of performing a configuration procedure for first and second tire pressure monitoring devices, the method comprising loading the first tire pressure monitoring device with first configuration data, subsequently transmitting, from the first tire pressure monitoring device, a first configuration data signal which encodes the first configuration data, subsequently loading the second tire pressure monitoring device with second configuration data, and subsequently ending the configuration procedure without transmitting a second configuration data signal which encodes the second configuration data. The first and second tire pressure monitoring devices may form part of a set of tire pressure monitoring devices and a configuration data signal may be transmitted for each of a subset of fewer than all of the set of tire pressure monitoring devices. The configuration data signal may be transmitted by the respective tire pressure monitoring device of the subset once the respective tire pressure monitoring device has been loaded, and before a next tire pressure monitoring device of the set of tire pressure monitoring devices is loaded. The first configuration data signal may be configured to be received and understood by a human. The first configuration data signal may comprise a signal indicative of any of a reference pressure for a tire, for example a tire to which the respective tire pressure monitoring device is attached, and an installed location of the first tire pressure monitoring device. The first configuration data may comprise a reference pressure for the tire to which the first tire pressure monitoring device is attached. The first configuration data signal may comprise a visual signal, and the visual signal may be transmitted using a visual indicator of the first tire pressure monitoring device. The visual indicator may comprise a light source, and the method may comprise selectively illuminating the light source to transmit the first configuration data signal. The first configuration data signal may comprise a number, and the selective illumination of the light source may comprise encoding the number into an illumination sequence representing individual digits of the number. The method may comprise verifying, by a human, that the first configuration data encoded by the first configuration data signal matches expected configuration data, and verification by a human that the first configuration data matches expected configuration data may take place using an untrusted device. The first and second tire pressure monitoring devices may correspond to a wheel group of an aircraft. The first and second tire pressure monitoring devices may be part of a set of tire pressure monitoring devices, and the method may comprise loading each of a further set of tire pressure monitoring devices with respective configuration data; and transmitting, from a subset of fewer than all of the