Xing W Lin, 557008 Marinthana Ave, Youngstown, OH 44512

6340930, Jan 22, 2002

Mar 7, 2001

09/801242

Xing Ping Lin - Waterford MI

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

B60C 2300

340447, 340442, 340443, 340445, 73146, 731462

A system ( ) for monitoring a condition of a tire ( ) of a vehicle ( ) includes a tire-based unit ( ) and a vehicle-based unit ( ). The tire-based unit monitors a condition of the tire ( ), assembles data indicative of the monitored condition, and transmits at least one radio frequency signal ( ) including a signal indicative of the data. The vehicle-based unit ( ) receives the radio frequency signal ( ) and determines an actual reception success rate of the radio frequency signal. The vehicle-based unit ( ) compares the actual reception success rate of each radio frequency signal ( ) to known reception success rates corresponding to known tire positions on the vehicle ( ) and identifies one of the known reception success rates that is closest to equal the actual reception success rate. The vehicle-based unit ( ) associates the radio frequency signal ( ) with the known tire position corresponding to the one of the known reception success rates.

6466137, Oct 15, 2002

Feb 23, 1999

09/255321

Xing Ping Lin - Waterford MI
Kurt Alan Perski - Northville MI

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

G08C 1900

34082569, 3408255, 4552263, 307 102, 83745

A receiver/controller unit ( ) of a remote convenience system ( ) receives an electromagnetic signal ( ). The signal ( ) is comprised of a plurality of pulses that convey a remote convenience function request. In response to the receipt of the signal ( ), the receiver/controller unit ( ) causes performance of the requested function. The receiver/controller unit ( ) has a comparator ( ). A first input of the comparator ( ) is connected to receive an electrical signal ( ) with an electrical characteristic that varies to convey the remote convenience function request. A second input of the comparator ( ) is connected to receive a signal 86 that has a threshold electrical characteristic value. Preferably, the electrical characteristic is voltage amplitude. An output of the comparator ( ) provides a signal indicative of the occurrence of the electrical characteristic of the electrical signal ( ) exceeding the threshold value, and that conveys the remote convenience function request. A microprocessor ( ) adjusts the threshold electrical characteristic value.

6472999, Oct 29, 2002

Mar 8, 1999

09/264555

Xing Ping Lin - Waterford MI

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

G08C 2100

34082569, 340 355, 340526, 34082572, 34082557, 34082565, 340 564

An apparatus ( ) and an associated method determine signal strength of a received electromagnetic signal ( ) that is comprised of a plurality of pulses that convey a remote convenience function request, and which causes performance of the requested function. A comparator ( ) has a first input for receiving an electrical signal ( ) with a voltage that varies to convey the remote convenience function request. A second input of the comparator ( ) receives a threshold voltage value reference signal ( ). An output of the comparator ( ) provides an output signal ( ) that indicates the occurrence of the voltage of the electrical signal ( ) exceeding the threshold value of the reference signal ( ). A microprocessor ( ) and a threshold change trigger ( ) of a controller portion ( ) adjust the threshold voltage value of the reference signal ( ). A microprocessor ( ) and a count memory ( ) of the controller portion ( ) monitor the output signal ( ) of the comparator ( ) during adjustment of the threshold voltage value of the reference signal ( ) to determine strength of the electromagnetic signal ( ).

6501372, Dec 31, 2002

Feb 2, 2001

09/776547

Xing Ping Lin - Waterford MI

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

B60C 2300

340442, 340445, 343712

A system ( ) and associated method for tire condition communication for a vehicle ( ). The system ( ) includes a sensor ( ), associated with a tire ( ), to sense at least one tire condition. Transmitter components ( and ), associated with the tire ( ) and operatively connected to the sensor ( ), provide for transmission of a signal ( ) that has a data rate and that indicates the sensed tire condition. A receiver unit ( ), associated with the vehicle ( ), receives the signal ( ). The receiver unit ( ) includes a plurality of antennas ( A- N), each for receiving the transmitted signal ( ), and a switching device ( ) among the plurality of antennas at a rate that is quicker than the data rate of the transmitted signal ( ).

6509834, Jan 21, 2003

Aug 2, 2001

09/921360

Xing Ping Lin - Orchard Lake MI

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

G08B 108

340539, 340 37, 340 371

A device ( ) is presented for controlling remote convenience function at a vehicle ( ) and for interpersonal communication between two operators. The device ( ) has components located in a common housing ( ). The components include structure (e. g. , ) for communicating input from an operator of the device, structure for generating radio frequency signals responsive to the input from the operator of the device, structure for receiving other radio frequency signals from another device responsive to communication input from a operator of another device, and structure for converting the other signals from the operator of the other device into output perceptible by the operator of the device. The output corresponds to the input communicated from the operator of the other device.

6532359, Mar 11, 2003

Feb 23, 1999

09/256498

Xing Ping Lin - Waterford MI

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

H04B 106

4552771, 455101

A remote convenience system ( ) and an associated method provide for remote control a convenience function. A portable transmitter unit ( ) is operable for remote function requests. The transmitter unit ( ) includes circuitry ( ) for transmitting a signal ( ) that conveys a remote function request. A receiver/controller unit ( ) receives the transmitted signal ( ) and causes performance of the remotely requested function. The receiver/controller unit ( ) includes a plurality of antennae ( ), each for picking-up the transmitted signal ( ) and outputting an electrical signal that conveys the remote function request. Each of the antennae ( ) is configured to have an ability to pick-up the transmitted signal ( ) that is dependent upon direction from the receiver/controller unit ( ) to the transmitter unit ( ). The ability of each of the antennae ( ) is different from the ability of the other antennae. A control portion ( ) determines which one of the antennae ( ) has a better ability to pick-up the transmitted signal.

6809638, Oct 26, 2004

Aug 20, 2002

10/223921

Xing Ping Lin - Orchard Lake MI

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

B60C 2300

340447, 340442, 34042636, 34042617, 731463

An apparatus ( ) comprises a controller ( ) for receiving a control parameter. At least one tire condition sensor ( ) senses a tire condition and transmits a tire condition signal ( ) indicative of the sensed tire condition. A receiver ( ) receives the tire condition signal ( ) and compares the received tire condition signal ( ) to a changeable threshold to output a digital signal indicative of the received tire condition signal ( ). The changeable threshold changes at time intervals determined by a time constant of the receiver ( ). The time constant of the receiver ( ) is variable. The controller ( ) is operatively connected to the receiver ( ) and varies the time constant of the receiver ( ) in response to the received control parameter.

6938468, Sep 6, 2005

Feb 27, 2004

10/789116

Xing Ping Lin - Orchard Lake MI, US
Dino Bortolin - La Salle, CA

TRW Automotive U.S. LLC - Farmington Hills MI
Societe de Technologie Michelin - Clermont-Ferrand

B60C023/02

731465

A tire parameter sensing system () for sensing a parameter of a tire () includes a power transmitting antenna () that is actuatable for producing a magnetic field at a location of the tire (). A rim () upon which the tire () is mounted includes first and second magnetically conductive surface portions ( and ) that form a drop well (). A tire-based unit () is mounted in the drop well () so that a coil antenna () of the tire-based unit () is located adjacent to both the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions (160 and 168). The central axis of the coil antenna () extends in a direction parallel to the first magnetically conductive surface portion () and the first and second magnetically conductive surface portions ( and ) guide magnetic flux of the magnetic field to the coil antenna ().