Taking the pressure off

While a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) was, at first, predominantly the preserve of Europe’s luxury car fleets, it’s increasingly becoming a legal requirement across the globe. Currently, the EU is mid-way through mandating its installation in all vehicles — commercial and passenger alike. In our latest article, we explore TPMS and the ASIC within.

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The benefits of a TPMS

A TPMS identifies and immediately informs the driver any time the tyre pressure drops below a predetermined threshold.

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A report conducted by the UK’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that vehicles with tyres that are underinflated by 25 per cent are three times more likely to be involved in a road accident, since underinflation results in poorer handling of a vehicle. So having a TPMS, which immediately notifies the driver of a tyre pressure drop, ensures it’s handled as soon as a risk emerges.

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The direct measurement system

There are two options of TPMS — a direct and indirect system. Indirect TPMS works by using data from the vehicle’s antilock braking system (ABS) wheel speed sensors.

However, the more reliable and accurate, and Swindon’s choice, of TPMS is the direct system. To monitor temperature and pressure, the direct system has a sensor within each tyre that is mounted on the valve. The sensor takes a direct pressure reading, which is transmitted via a radio link back to the central electronic control unit (ECU) in real time, where it is analysed.

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A key component of a TPMS sensor is an integrated circuit (IC), which performs the crucial signal conditioning and processing functions that convert, manipulate and process the analogue signals from the tyre pressure data into a digital form for use within the control system. Because of the unique system requirements, it becomes desirable to use a mixed signal application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to perform these functions in order to provide a technical and commercial edge over other design philosophies.

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The ASIC within

Unlike commercial off the shelf integrated circuits (COTS ICs), an ASIC is designed specifically to meet the customer’s unique specification, resulting in an optimised performance.

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The ASIC developers integrate as much of the system as possible into a single package, which reduces size and power consumption — helping to extend the TPMS battery life. This compact size is essential too, since every millimetre of space equates to weight within the tyre.

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Swindon has been the global leader in the TPMS ASIC market for many years, with extensive experience and success in designing and manufacturing ASICs for a wide range of leading vehicle manufacturers.

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As demand for TPMS continues to increase, an ASIC is the crucial component in the evolution of TPMS. Its unique attributes, combined with the knowledge and experience of its designers, is driving the future technology within this sector, by providing bespoke optimal functionality for a safer, more efficient drive.

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To discuss your TPMS project with a no-obligation first meeting, get in touch with the Swindon team here.?