David K Coombs

US Patent:

6630885, Oct 7, 2003

Filed:

Jul 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/915858

Inventors:

Gordon E. Hardman - Boulder CO
John W. Pyne - Erie CO
Molly A. Hardman - Boulder CO
Paul B. Wilson - Tallmadge OH
David M. Coombs - Tucson AZ
Brett W. Floyd - Longmont CO

Assignee:

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC - Nashville TN

International Classification:

G08B 2600

US Classification:

340505, 340442, 340444, 340447, 731465, 156 64, 156123

Abstract:

An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter. In one embodiment, the device is a tire tag mounted inside a tire that measures tire data and transmits that data to a remote source in response to an interrogation request, an alert condition, or automatically on a periodic basis.

US Patent:

6885296, Apr 26, 2005

Filed:

Jul 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/626226

Inventors:

Gordon E. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
John W. Pyne - Erie CO, US
Molly A. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
Paul B. Wilson - Tallmadge OH, US
David M. Coombs - Tucson AZ, US
Brett W. Floyd - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC - Nashville TN

International Classification:

G08B026/00

US Classification:

340505, 340 101, 340 104

Abstract:

An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter. In one embodiment, the device is a tire tag mounted inside a tire that measures tire data and transmits that data to a remote source in response to an interrogation request, an alert condition, or automatically on a periodic basis.

US Patent:

7161476, Jan 9, 2007

Filed:

Jul 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/916028

Inventors:

Gordon E. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
John W. Pyne - Erie CO, US
Molly A. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
David A. Przygocki - Longmont CO, US
David M. Coombs - Tucson AZ, US
Paul B. Wilson - Tallmadge OH, US
Ronald C. Grush - Longmont CO, US
Philip B. Loudin - Boulder CO, US
Brett W. Floyd - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC - Nashville TN

International Classification:

B60C 23/00

US Classification:

340442, 340 1033, 731465

Abstract:

An electronic tire maintenance system is provided for measuring a parameter of a device at a first location. The system includes a sensor for measuring the device parameter and generating a data signal representing the measured parameter. The system also includes a microprocessor coupled to the sensor for activating the sensor on a first periodic basis to measure the device parameter. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the generated data signal representing the measured parameter. A transmitter and a receiver are coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically partially awakens to determine, on a second periodic basis, if a received transmission is a valid interrogation signal and, if so, fully awakens and responds to the valid interrogation signal, via the transmitter, by at least transmitting the last stored measured parameter. In one embodiment, the device is a tire tag mounted inside a tire that measures tire data and transmits that data to a remote source in response to an interrogation request, an alert condition, or automatically on a periodic basis.

US Patent:

7739529, Jun 15, 2010

Filed:

Nov 29, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/605825

Inventors:

Gordon E. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
John W. Pyne - Erie CO, US
Molly A. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
David A. Przygocki - Longmont CO, US
David M. Coombs - Tucson AZ, US
Paul B. Wilson - Tallmadge OH, US
Ronald C. Grush - Longmont CO, US
Philip B. Loudin - Boulder CO, US
Brett W. Floyd - Longmont CO, US

International Classification:

G06F 1/00
G06F 1/26
G06F 1/32
G08B 26/00
B60C 23/00
B60C 23/02

US Classification:

713320, 713300, 713324, 455574, 340442, 340444, 340447, 340505, 731465

Abstract:

A system for conserving battery life in a battery operated device such as a tire tag where there are several modes of operation. The typical mode is the deep sleep mode where the tag is generally inactive (no clock is running; however, an RC watchdog timer is running, which uses very little power). The tag spends most of its time in this low power mode. The tag periodically partially awakens to a lucid sleep mode (when the watchdog timer times out), initiates a low-speed clock, determines if it is time to enter a search mode by examining a search mode counter and, if it is not time, adjusts the search mode counter (e. g. , decrements the counter by one), and returns to the deep sleep mode. The tag sleeps in the deep sleep mode most of its life in an effort to conserve battery power. During the deep sleep mode, because the clock oscillators are OFF, a deep sleep counter is adjusted (incremented or decremented) periodically (e. g. , about every 18 ms) by an internal R/C oscillator.

US Patent:

8151127, Apr 3, 2012

Filed:

Jan 27, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/694777

Inventors:

Gordon E. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
John W. Pyne - Erie CO, US
Molly A. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
David A. Przygocki - Longmont CO, US
David M. Coombs - Tucson AZ, US
Paul B. Wilson - Tallmadge OH, US
Ronald C. Grush - Longmont CO, US
Philip B. Loudin - Boulder CO, US
Brett W. Floyd - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC - Nashville TN

International Classification:

G06F 1/00
G06F 1/26
G06F 1/32
G08B 26/00
B60C 23/00
B60C 23/02

US Classification:

713320, 713300, 455574, 340442, 340447, 340505

Abstract:

A battery operated device includes a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble. A sensor, in a tire, measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter. A microprocessor is coupled to the receiver and the sensor. The microprocessor is configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.

US Patent:

8266465, Sep 11, 2012

Filed:

Mar 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/413945

Inventors:

Gordon E. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
John W. Pyne - Erie CO, US
Molly A. Hardman - Boulder CO, US
David A. Przygocki - Longmont CO, US
David M. Coombs - Tucson AZ, US
Paul B. Wilson - Tallmadge OH, US
Ronald C. Grush - Longmont CO, US
Philip B. Loudin - Boulder CO, US
Brett W. Floyd - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operation, LLC - Nashville TN

International Classification:

G06F 1/00
G06F 1/26
G06F 1/32
G08B 26/00
B60C 23/00
B60C 23/02

US Classification:

713320, 713300, 713324, 455574, 340444, 340447, 340505, 731465

Abstract:

A battery operated device includes a receiver for receiving a transmission that includes a postamble. A sensor, in a tire, measures a parameter of the tire and outputs data indicative of the parameter. A microprocessor is coupled to the receiver and the sensor. The microprocessor is configured to periodically partially awaken to determine whether the transmission is likely a forward link packet (FLP) by examining the postamble, and to transmit the data in a reverse link packet (RLP) in response to confirming that the transmission is a FLP.