ii
`
`Deeember 10, 2013
`
`CERTIFIED TRANSLATION CERTIFICATE T0 ACCOMPANY
`
`ITALIAN TO ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE ATTACHED
`
`PATENT 121-9753
`
`I, Raquet Deueé Translation Department Manager of University Translators Services, LLC, (A TA
`NUMBER: 231264) attest to thefact and certifiz that this document has been aficiat’ly translated into
`Engfishfi‘om the Italian original as wet? as certgfiz that the transt‘ation is true and accurate and that the
`
`
`
`\Sigtmzur‘e
`
`-~
`
`Date
`
`~
`fiaqfiel ligand personally appeared before me on the 10th day of December, 2013 in Ann Arbor, Michigen,
`“7’: Wgsfiergixw County, USA.
`
`
`
`at
`
`State quichigan, Caumy of Washtenaw
`Acting in the County of Washtenaw
`My commission expires June 26, 201 7
`
`Any inquiries regarding the contents of this translation should be diFected to:
`Raquel Deuel or Laurie Finch
`University Translators Services, LLC
`PO. Box 3768
`
`Ann Arbor, MI 48106—3768
`73456653295
`734/665~l345 FAX
`
`UNIVERSITY TRANSLATORS SERVICES, LLC
`PO. Box 3?68, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48106~3?88 USA. ' TELEPHONE: (734) 665-7295 - FAX: (734) 665-1345 - WEB: WWJ‘.’.UNIV€RANS.COM
`
`Pet’r Exhibit 1004
`
`Continental V. Wasica
`
`IPR2014-01454
`
`Page 000001
`
`

`

`
`
`CCIA [Chamber of Commerce,
`Indust
`and Craf Form set 178
`Form No. I-48 ter
`
`[Seal of the Italian Republic]
`
`MINISTRY OF COMMERCE INDUSTRY AND CRAFT
`
`DGPI [Intellectual Property Directorate] CENTRAL PATENT OFFICE
`INDUSTRIAL INVENTION PATENT
`
`No. 121-9753
`
`This patent is awarded for the invention that is the subject of the petition specified below:
`
`
`
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`Application
`Temp.
`Application SumeSSIOn
`
`
`
`
`No.
`
`YR
`
`Code
`
`UPICA
`
`[groan
`
`
`
`Codes
`
`Date
`
`
`
`P
`
`.
`
`[handwritten]
`
`MOG B
`
`
`
`
`
`67342
`
`88
`
`01
`
`TORINO
`
`21001
`
`D
`13
`
`M
`04
`
`
`
`
`
`Y
`88
`
`H
`00
`
`M
`00
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`OWNER
`
`GREG DI S. GREGANTI & C. S.A.S.
`
`TITLE
`
`In RIVOLI (TORINO)
`SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING MESSAGES FROM SEVERAL SENSORS TO A
`CENTRAL UNIT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE DETECTION OF OPERATIONAL
`ANOMALIES IN THE FIXED AND MOBILE COMPONENTS OF MACHINES AND
`VEHICLES
`
`DESG. INV.
`
`ALBANO OSELIN, MAURIZIO DAL CERO
`
`[Signature]
`
`[Stamp and initiafl
`
`THE DIRECTOR
`
`Rome, date:
`
`[Stamp] 24 May 1990
`
`[Type text]
`
`[Type text]
`
`[Type text]
`
`Page 000002
`
`

`

`Reg. A, File No. 67342 YR-88
`
`PROVINCIAL OFFICE OF INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND CRAFTS OF TORINO.
`
`Record of submission of an application for a patent on an industrial invention
`
`The year 1988 on the THIRTEENTH day of the month of APRIL,
`
`Mnlthe Company
`
`GREG di S. GREGANTI 7 C. S.a.s.
`Corso Francia, 231, 10098 RIVOLI (Torino Province)
`Of Italian nationality.
`
`Represented by Filippo Jacobacci (Enr. No. 262), Guido Jacobacci (Enr. No. 263), Aurelio Perani (Enr.
`No. 277), Gian Antonio Pancot (Enr. No.372), Piero Saconney (Enr. No. 261), Torquato Vannini (Enr. No.
`244), Carlo Mezzanotte (Enr. No. 371), Giovanni Sertoli (Enr. No. 335), Franco Buzzi (Enr. No. 259),
`Roberto Porta (Enr. No. 383), Giancarlo Notaro (Enr. No. 258), Roberto De Nova (Enr. No. 374),
`Giuseppe Quinterno (Enr. No. 257), Massimo Introvigne (Enr. No. 368), Luciano Bosotti (Enr. No. 260),
`Paolo Rambelli (Enr. No. 435), Stefano Cantaluppi (Enr. No. 436), of the company Jacobacci-Casetta &
`Perani SpA, electing address for service with the latter at Via Alfieri 17, 10121 Torino and also electing
`address for service pursuant to Art. 75, para. 3 of Royal Decree No. 1127 of 29 June 1939 and Art. 56,
`para. 2 of Law No. 929 of 21 June 1942 with said attorneys at the aforementioned address of Jacobacci-
`Casetta & Perani SpA at Via Alfieri 17, 10121 Torino, has submitted, and l have signed, an official,
`stamped application to be granted a patent for an industrial invention having the title:
`
`"System for transmitting messages from several sensors to a central unit, especially for the detection of
`operational anomalies in the fixed and mobile components of machines and vehicles"
`
`Designated inventors: Albano OSELIN, Maurizio DAL CERO
`
`Priority: rights of priority are claimed because of:
`
`a)
`
`the preceding application of ***, No. ***, filed on
`
`***
`
`[Stamp of the CCIA with signature]
`
`Miscellaneous Notes: the Officer requesting notarization reports that the attorney states that they do not
`possess authorization from the applicant to issue the statement required by Central Patent Office Circular
`No. 149 of 8 November 1980.
`Attached documentation:
`
`two copies of the description, 37 pages of writing;
`a)
`two copies of the drawings, 2tables;
`b)
`
`c)
`assignment—retainer—engeneraI—prexy letter (reserve)
`d) pner document with Italian translate—Pr
`e)—authenzatiener—transter—eleeel—;
`f)
`inventor designation;
`g) Receipt No 871 of payment of lTL 376,000 (to Post Office Account No. 00668004, held by the
`Registry Office of Taxes and Concessions of Rome) issued by the Torino Office on 13 April 1988;
`h) duty stamp of lTL—3000 lTL 5000.
`
`The application, the descriptions and the designs listed above have been signed by the interested
`parties, countersigned by me, and sealed with the stamp of the office.
`I have signed a copy of this record and delivered it to the interested party.
`
`/rp
`
`For the Applicant
`ALBO TERESA
`[signature]
`
`[Stamp of the CCIA]
`
`THE OFFICER REQUESTING NOTARIZATION
`[signature]
`[illegible stamp] Arbore
`
`[Type text]
`
`[Type text]
`
`[Type text]
`
`Page 000003
`
`

`

`MINISTRY OF COMMERCE INDUSTRY AND CRAFT
`
`CENTRAL PATENT OFFICE - ROME
`
`[Right margin - duty stamp for [TL 2000,
`cancelled by date stamp 13 April 1988; file
`stamp 67342 YR-88]
`
`GREG di S. GREGANTI 7 C. S.a.s.
`
`Corso Francia, 231, 10098 RIVOLI (Torino Province)
`
`Of Italian nationality.
`
`Represented by Filippo Jacobacci (Enr. No. 262), Guido Jacobacci (Enr. No. 263), Aurelio Perani (Enr.
`
`No. 277), Gian Antonio Pancot (Enr. No.372), Piero Saconney (Enr. No. 261), Torquato Vannini (Enr. No.
`
`244), Carlo Mezzanotte (Enr. No. 371), Giovanni Sertoli (Enr. No. 335), Franco Buzzi (Enr. No. 259),
`
`Roberto Porta (Enr. No. 383), Giancarlo Notaro (Enr. No. 258), Roberto De Nova (Enr. No. 374),
`
`Giuseppe Quinterno (Enr. No. 257), Massimo Introvigne (Enr. No. 368), Luciano Bosotti (Enr. No. 260),
`
`Paolo Rambelli (Enr. No. 435), Stefano Cantaluppi (Enr. No. 436), of the company Jacobacci-Casetta &
`
`Perani SpA, electing address for service with the latter at Via Alfieri 17, 10121 Torino and also electing
`
`address for service pursuant to Art. 75, para. 3 of Royal Decree No. 1127 of 29 June 1939 and Art. 56,
`
`para. 2 of Law No. 929 of 21 June 1942 with said attorneys at the aforementioned address of Jacobacci-
`
`Casetta & Perani SpA at Via Alfieri 17, 10121 Torino, has submitted, and l have signed, an official,
`
`stamped application to be granted a patent for an industrial invention having the title:
`
`"System for transmitting messages from several sensors to a central unit, especially for the detection of
`
`operational anomalies in the fixed and mobile components of machines and vehicles"
`
`Designated inventors: Albano OSELIN, Maurizio DAL CERO
`
`[Type text]
`
`[Type text]
`
`[Type text]
`
`Page 000004
`
`

`

`LIST OF DOCUMENTS
`
`This application
`
`Two copies of the description (37 pages)
`
`Two copies of the drawings (two tables)
`
`Assignment letter (reserve)
`
`Inventor designation
`
`Post Office account [deposit] of ITL 376,000.00; No. 871 of 13 April 1988, to Account No. 00668004.
`
`Duty stamp of ITL 5000.
`
`For the purposes of this document, the applicant elects address for service at via Alfieri 17, Torino.
`
`Torino, 13 April 1988
`
`[Stamp of the CC/A with signature]
`
`On behalf of
`
`GREG di S. GREGANTI & C. 8.3.3.
`
`The attorneys
`
`[Stamp] Piero SACONNEY
`Enr. No. 261
`
`(For self and on behalf of others)
`[signature]
`
`[Type text]
`
`[Type text]
`
`[Type text]
`
`Page 000005
`
`

`

`DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention with the title:
`
`"System for transmitting messages from several sensors to a central unit, especially for the detection of
`
`operational anomalies in the fixed and mobile components of machines and vehicles"
`
`from: GREG di 8. GREGANTI & C. S.a.s., Italian nationality, Corso Francia, 231 - RIVOLI (Torino Province)
`
`Designated inventors: Albano OSELIN, Maurizio DAL CERO
`
`Filed on: 13 April 1988.
`
`[Stamp 67342 YR-88]
`
`***
`
`W
`
`The sensors are associated with transmitters capable of generating coded signals consisting of a
`
`sequence of symbols (S1...820), divided at least into a first group of symbols (S1...S4), which identifies the
`
`sensor that has issued the message, and a second group of symbols (S5...S15), which identifies the
`
`central unit to which the message is addressed. This second group of symbols is pseudorandom, and is
`
`recorded in a memory section of the central unit during an initial learning phase; this enables the
`
`unequivocal recognition during normal operation of the system. Each of the sensors sends a message
`
`(820) at a predetermined interval, indicating its operational status. Periodically, the central unit verifies
`
`reception of these messages from all sensors, signaling an anomaly in case of failed operation.
`
`CE
`
`[Signature in right margin]
`
`LB/ps
`
`1
`
`[Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000006
`
`

`

`A preferred application of these systems is for the detection of operating anomalies in fixed and
`
`mobile components of machines and vehicles.
`
`(Figure 1)
`
`TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION
`
`The present invention relates to transmission systems and concerns in particular a system for
`
`transmitting messages from several sensors towards a central unit, having the characteristics indicated in
`
`the preface to claim 1 below.
`
`Previous patent application for industrial invention no. 67238—A/86 held by the same applicant
`
`and corresponding applications GB-A-2 188 459, FR-A-2 596 555 and DE-A-37 09 589 describe one
`
`system of the type indicated above, which can be used advantageously to transmit messages to a central
`
`unit in the driver's compartment of a motor vehicle from sensors associated with the wheels of the motor
`
`vehicle, indicating the fact that the pressure of one or more tires of the vehicle is too low or too high.
`
`2 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000007
`
`

`

`The object of the present invention is to provide a system for transmitting messages of the type
`
`specified above, further perfected with regard to:
`
`-
`
`the possibility of performance according to very elastic criteria; for example, the coding operation
`
`of the system after replacing a sensor, in particular with regard to the definition of the string of
`
`symbols that identify the central unit toward which the messages issued by the sensors are
`
`addressed;
`
`-
`
`-
`
`the possibility of performing system operational checks automatically, without the need to send
`
`interrogation messages from the central unit to the sensors, and
`
`the possibility of discriminating data messages from different sensors of the system with certainty,
`
`even when they are transmitted simultaneously or almost simultaneously.
`
`The object of the present invention is achieved by a system having the characteristics indicated in
`
`the claims below.
`
`The possibility of making the system coding criteria more elastic is very important, mainly to avoid
`
`making the characteristics of each sensor and associated transmitter too specific with respect to each
`
`system. In other words, the invention makes it possible to deploy standardized types of sensor-transmitter
`
`groups (for example, as exchange parts), which can be easily assembled into any system, without the
`
`need to provide sensors specifically adapted (by means of ad hoc programming operations) to use in one
`
`and only one transmission system.
`
`3 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000008
`
`

`

`The invention will now be described, purely by way of example, in no way limited, with reference
`
`to the attached drawings, in which:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`Figure 1 schematically shows a waveform of the signals utilized to transmit signals used in the
`
`system according to the invention.
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of the structure of one of the transmitters used in the system
`
`according to the invention.
`
`Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the structure of the receiver according to the invention.
`
`Figure 4 illustrates one possible configuration for a memory area inside the receiver illustrated in
`
`Figure 3.
`
`By way of reference, one may observe that figures 1, 2 and 3 of the attached drawings may trace
`
`by headings to figures 1, 3 and 7 of the drawings attached to the descriptions of the other applications
`
`held by the same applicant, to which reference was made earlier.
`
`4 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000009
`
`

`

`For this reason, those structural sections and operating criteria of the system directly traceable to
`
`what has already been described in the previous applications will not be further recalled in detail in the
`
`description below. This applies above all to the general operating criteria of the system, which are
`
`fundamentally analogous to those already described in the earlier documents.
`
`In order to understand the present invention, it is sufficient to recall that the system described
`
`below is intended to be mounted preferably on a motor vehicle, such as a motorcar or industrial vehicle,
`
`to present messages to the driver, indicating the operating condition of the tires. Each of the tires of the
`
`motor vehicle is associated with a pressure sensor P (figure 2), and a related transmitter 10. The sensor
`
`P detects the air pressure in the tire, and depending on the pressure level detected, orders the movement
`
`of a switch |. In particular, the sensor P can be configured as to keep the switch | in a "floating" position
`
`while the pressure detected remains within an acceptable range, and to bring one of the two ends of the
`
`switch into contact with the ground M of transmitter 10 when the air pressure inside the tire reaches an
`
`anomalous level, that is, a lower threshold (insufficient pressure) or an upper threshold (excessive
`
`pressure).
`
`[Stamp of the CCIA with signature]
`
`5 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000010
`
`

`

`The transmitter 10 is associated with the pressure sensor P and is mounted inside the wheel of the
`
`vehicle, rotating with it. Depending on the message generated by the pressure sensor P, the transmitter
`
`10 is able to transmit a coded signal by means of the radio frequency oscillator 11 and the antenna 12.
`
`This signal is received by the antenna 21 and a radio-frequency receiver 22, comprising the radio-
`
`frequency stage of a receiver 20 usually mounted inside the cabin of the motor vehicle.
`
`For transmission between the various transmitters 1O (usually provided in the same number as
`
`the number of wheels or sensors of the vehicle) and the receiver 20, a binary code is used, consisting of
`
`a string of symbols of the type illustrated in figure 1.
`
`The string in question consists of a predetermined number of symbols, for example, 20 symbols
`
`S1...820, each of which may assume two different values (the logic positions "0" and "1").
`
`This result may be obtained using any modulating scheme, for example, pulse width modulation
`
`(PWM) actuated by varying the so-called duty cycle of the signal or any analogous solution, which should
`
`be known to an expert technician, as to confer on each symbol S1...820, a logical binary symbol
`
`associated with one bit of data.
`
`6 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000011
`
`

`

`Normally, the string of symbols S1...820 is preceded by an initial symbol So, the rising or falling
`
`front of which is used as a synchronization signal between the transmitter and the receiver.
`
`The string of symbols So...820 is transmitted to the radiofrequency oscillator 11 to be received by
`
`the radiofrequency stage 22 and the receiver 20, so that the latter delivers as an output a string of
`
`symbols analogous to that taken as an input into the oscillator 11.
`
`In this case also, for a more detailed description of one possible form of implementation of the
`
`radiofrequency groups (11, 12, 21, 22) of the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20, please refer to the earlier
`
`documents mentioned several times above. On this subject, it should be remembered that in general,
`
`even if in the present description reference is made to using a single sensor P connected to each
`
`transmitter 10, it is possible to connect several sensors P to each transmitter 10, for example sensors
`
`calibrated differently for different operational situations (running on asphalt versus running on the desert,
`
`loaded vehicle versus unloaded vehicle).
`
`7 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000012
`
`

`

`Because the transmissions from the sensors 10 use structurally analogous signals, on a
`
`frequency that is the working frequency common to the oscillators 11 of all transmitters 10 of the group of
`
`the receiver 20, there is a need to enable the receiver 20 to recognize and identify which of the
`
`transmitters 10 connected to it has sent a message. And this is to be done while avoiding that the
`
`receiver 20 be disturbed by messages sent from transmitters of other systems (for example, when two
`
`vehicles equipped with similar systems are traveling or parked one next to the other).
`
`To this end, the string of symbols S1...Sgo is subdivided into several groups, indicated
`
`respectively as A, B and C.
`
`The first group A, including, for example, two or (as in the case illustrated here) four symbols
`
`S1...S4, is the one that carries the data associated with the transmitter 10 that is issuing the coded signal,
`
`that is, in the example of the embodiment to which reference has been made, the data that identifies
`
`sensor P, and thus the tire, from which the message comes.
`
`The second group of symbols, B, which in the example shown here includes the 10 symbols
`
`S5...S16, is the one that involves the identifying data of the receiver 20, and thus the central unit, to which
`
`the message is sent.
`
`8 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000013
`
`

`

`The third group, G, contains the symbols S17...820, which may be used to specify the nature of the
`
`message, as a function of their logical state.
`
`For example, in the example shown, the symbols of group C could be used to signal data related
`
`to the fact that:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`the message is being sent as part of a test procedure (817);
`
`the transmitted message is an alarm message indicating that the pressure detected by
`
`sensor P has reached an anomalous level (818);
`
`the power supply battery (13) of the sensor-transmitter group has reached a low state of
`
`charge, etc.
`
`One of the symbols (for example, symbol 820) could be used for checking parity functions or, as
`
`will be shown better below, to implement an automatic checking function on the operational availability of
`
`all the various sensor-transmitters 10 without necessarily sending messages from the central unit to them.
`
`Naturally, neither the number of symbols included in each of the groups A, B, and C, nor the
`
`order in which the symbols appear in the signal sequence should be considered binding for the purposes
`
`of implementing the invention.
`
`[Stamp of the CCIA with signature]
`
`9 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000014
`
`

`

`In particular, groups A and B may include any number of symbols, considering the number of transmitters
`
`10 present in the system and the need to minimize interference between messages sent to different
`
`central units. Similarly, the symbols in group C may be transmitted at the end of the sequence or even
`
`interposed among the symbols of the other groups.
`
`The nucleus of the transmitter 10 consists of the circuit 14, which may be suitably implemented
`
`within a GOP 822 circuit. The circuit 14 functions as the transmission coder; it is equipped with a number
`
`of coding terminals or pins 161...1620, equal in number to the symbols 8,... 820, of the coded sequence
`
`used for the transmission to the receiver 20.
`
`The terminals 161...1620 may also be divided ideally into three groups corresponding to the three
`
`groups of symbols A, B, C.
`
`More precisely, the terminals or pins 161...164 are connected to a coding device 17 (for example,
`
`a dip switch) similar in functional terms to several electrically conductive branches all connected to the
`
`ground M of the transmitter 10 and each able to be connected through a conductive bridge 17,
`
`174 to
`
`the respective coding terminals 161...164.
`
`10 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000015
`
`

`

`Consequently, each coding terminal 161...164 of the coder 14 is connected to the ground M of the
`
`transmitter 10 only when a corresponding conductive bridge 171...1712 has been applied between
`
`terminal 161...164 [,] the network and coding device 17.
`
`"100" indicates overall an additional coding circuit connected to the terminals 165... 1616,
`
`corresponding to the second group B of symbols of the signal.
`
`Device 100 essentially consists of a memory registry with as many memory positions as there are
`
`terminals 165... 1616, and able to "cycle" periodically through all its possible binary contents at a rate
`
`established by the clock 101 to then preserve in a stable state the content (or the count) reached when a
`
`corresponding block signal is received from the circuit 102.
`
`The timing signal from the clock 101 is sent toward the circuit 14 through an initial timing circuit
`
`103 and though a counter circuit or frequency divider 104, which functions as a long term clock for the
`
`system.
`
`The timing signal of the clock 101 is what determines the symbol frequency at which the circuit 14
`
`sends the string of symbols to be transmitted to the oscillator 11. The function of the circuit 103 is to
`
`enable the timing signal from the clock 101 to be transmitted towards the circuit 14, causing its activation,
`
`several times in sequence, when it is determined that there is a need to send a message to a central unit.
`
`1 1
`
`[Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000016
`
`

`

`In other words, this means that each transmitter, when it is activated to transmit a message, does
`
`not limit itself to sending the message just once, but repeats it periodically (for example, each millisecond)
`
`fora predetermined amount of time or until the cause that triggered the message is eliminated.
`
`The timing circuit 103 presents a control entry point 105 connected to the memory 100, which
`
`makes it sensitive to the duration of the time separating two successive emissions of the message by the
`
`transmitter 10 to the string of values present inside the memory 100.
`
`The duration of this interval is thus unequivocally determined by the string of values contained in
`
`the memory 100. As will be seen better below, because this string has a pseudo-random character, it is
`
`practically impossible for the timing circuits 103 associated with two different transmitters 10 to set the
`
`duration of the interval for repeating messages of the two transmitters to the same value.
`
`12 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
`
`Page 000017
`
`

`

`This means that even in the highly improbable event that two transmitters 10 should begin
`
`transmitting their messages simultaneously (causing a collision between messages at the receiver 20,
`
`with a consequent impossibility of interpreting the messages themselves), the repetition of those
`
`messages issued by those transmitters would certainly be at different times, and therefore not colliding at
`
`the receiver 20, after one or more recurrence.
`
`The test pushbutton 106 can be actuated from outside the transmitter 10, which, when activated,
`
`causes a predetermined logic level to be applied to the corresponding terminal in the circuit 14 (pin 1617 in
`
`the example shown here), and thus attributing a corresponding logic level to the corresponding symbol
`
`(S17) Of the string 81
`
`820.
`
`The function of frequency divider 104 is to activate circuit 14 periodically (for example, hourly),
`
`with the corresponding transmission of a message in which one of the symbols in group C (for example,
`
`the symbol 820) takes on a predetermined logic value.
`
`The periodic activation of the transmitter 10 (ordered at predetermined intervals, independent of
`
`the emergence of any other phenomenon) is designed to allow the central unit 22 to check the
`
`functionality of the entire system periodically and automatically.
`
`[Stamp of the CCIA with signature]
`
`13 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
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`In general, enabling the oscillator 11 to transmit, with the consequent radiation of a
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`radiofrequency message that carries the string of symbols S1...820, effectively connects ground M of the
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`circuit to an enabling line 11a of the oscillator 11.
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`The function of the auxiliary circuit elements indicated by 18 (the presence of which is optional in
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`the system according to the invention, given the availability of a periodic verification of the functionality of
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`the system) is essentially to signal possible lowering to a minimum level of the charge of the battery 13,
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`which supplies the whole transmitter circuit 10. When there is a lowering of the voltage charge of the
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`battery 13, these elements 18 cause a change in the coding signal presented to the terminal 1618 of the
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`circuit 14, with a consequent change in the logic level of the corresponding symbol 818 in the sequence
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`being transmitted. The structure and function of these elements 18 is altogether similar to that as of the
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`same group of elements illustrated in the earlier application to which reference is been made several
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`times.
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`14 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
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`Finally, 107 and 108 indicate two display devices (for example, LED) which may be provided on
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`the outside surface of the transmitter 10.
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`Activation of the LEDs 107 and 108 may be subject to the logic level of symbols S18 and (issuing
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`an alarm signal after the tire pressure reaches an anomalous level) and S19 (battery discharged). Thus,
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`the lighting of the LEDs makes it possible to be aware of certain conditions in one or more tires even
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`outside the vehicle.
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`The heart of the receiver 20 consists of a decoding circuit 26, the function of which is practically
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`dual with respect to the functioning of the circuit 14.
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`In this case also, the decoder 26 can be implemented as part of a GOP 822 circuit.
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`The operation of the decoding circuit 26 is timed by a principal clock 27, the timing frequency of
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`which is synchronized with the symbol frequency (established by the circuits of the clock 101) of the
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`messages issued by the transmitters 10.
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`The circuit 26 has several terminals 281
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`2820, which can ideally be divided into three groups.
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`15 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
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`The first group (including, in the example shown, the four terminals 281 - 284) includes the coding
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`terminals associated with the first four symbols of the sequence. In other words, this involves the four
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`symbols that contain the "signature" of the transmitter 10 (and therefore of the sensor P) that is sending
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`the message received.
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`The second group (including, in the example shown, terminals 285... 2816) gathers the coding
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`terminals coupled to the second group B of the symbols of the sequence. In other words, this involves the
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`symbols that contain the "address" of the receiver (and therefore of the central unit) to which the
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`transmitted message is sent.
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`The third group gathers the coding terminals associated with the other symbols in the sequence
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`(four symbols S17...Sgo in the example shown), which carry the different messages to be considered
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`(carrying out a test, an alarm message indicating that a tire has reached an anomalous pressure level, a
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`drop in the battery supply voltage of a transmitter, or a transmitter sending the periodic message used for
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`the automatic operations check of the system).
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`16 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
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`All the terminals 281
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`2820 are connected to a memory circuit 200, with an associated arithmetic-
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`logic unit 201. Both the memory 200 and the unit 201 can be implemented in the context of the same
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`COP 822 circuit used to implement the decoder 26.
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`Figure 4 illustrates schematically the structure of the memory 200, which is arrayed with as many
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`rows or addresses as there are transmitters 10 connected or able to be connected to the receiver 20, and
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`as many columns as there are symbols included in the messages sent by the transmitters (20 in the
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`example shown).
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`Thus, the first four columns of the table in figure 4 (indicated with the same symbols S1...S4,
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`which identify the corresponding symbols in the sequence) will count in order all the identifiers from
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`"0000" to "1111" of the various transmitters 10.
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`On the other hand, the columns 85.616 will count on each row a pseudorandom string of logic
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`symbols corresponding to an analogous string used by a corresponding transmitter for communications
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`with the receiver 20.
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`The last four columns S17...820 will count the following information on each row:
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`-
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`-
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`Column S17: indicates the fact that a test is underway (learning phase of the system).
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`Column S18: issues an alarm signal indicating that the pressure in one of the tires of the
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`vehicle has reached an anomalous level.
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`-
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`[Stamp of the CCIA with signature]
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`17 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
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`-
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`-
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`819: indicates the fact that the battery 13 supplying one of the transmitters 10 has
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`reached the minimum charge level allowed.
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`820: indicates the fact that the message sent by the transmitter is the one issued
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`periodically to notify the central unit that the transmitter is functioning normally.
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`Naturally, as said before, implementing the periodic control procedure using the last symbol in the
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`sequence that is can make checking the charge on the battery 13 completely superfluous.
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`In this case, the control circuits 18 inside the various transmitters 10 can be eliminated, making
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`the corresponding symbol in the sequence available for other uses, for example for a parity check on the
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`correctness of the message transmitted or received.
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`The function of the unit 201 is to read the content of the memory 200, carrying out various
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`processing operations depending on the content of the memory itself (in accordance with criteria that will
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`be illustrated better below).
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`In particular, the unit 201 can guide a control circuit 29, which controls a signaling group 300, the
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`function of which is to notify the driver of the motor vehicle that certain operating conditions have arisen.
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`18 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
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`In particular, the group 300, which can include both visual units and acoustic units (buzzers), has
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`the function of notifying the quote driver that:
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`-
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`one of the transmitters 10 has sent a message indicating that its associated sensor P has
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`detected an anomalous pressure level in the corresponding tire (alarm signal associated
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`with symbol S18 of the signal);
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`-
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`one of the transmitters 10 has sent a message that the corresponding power supply
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`battery 13 has reached a minimum level of charge (symbol 819 in the signal sequence);
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`or
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`-
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`one of the transmitters 10 has not sent its periodic signal indicating that it is in working
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`order (data associated with symbol 820).
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`In more detail, the signaling group 300 may include:
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`-
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`a display unit with seven segments 32 in which Arabic numbers show the number
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`identifying the transmitter 10 that is issuing a message (after decoding the binary content
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`of columns S1...S4 of the corresponding row of memory 200);
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`19 [Stamp in right margin] JACOBACCI, CASETTA & PARANI, SpA
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`-
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`a synoptic visual display unit 33, in which the numeric data presented by the unit 32 is
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`presented in a more readily perceived manner, by causing a point of light to be turned on
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`in a silhouette in the general shape of the vehicle;
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`-
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`several LEDs 34, 35, 36 of different colors (for example, green, yellow and red), the
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`function of which is to identify the type of message (anomalous tire pressure, drop in
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`battery voltage, absence of a transmitter during the periodic check, etc.)
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`Naturally, in the event that several transmitters send messages simultaneously or almost
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`simultaneously, the device 29 (according to known criteria) can present the signals coming from various
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`transmitters on the display units 32 - 36 alternately, while also identifying them.
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`In general, the signaling group 300 also includes an acoustic warning signal 37 designed to be
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`activated any time that a display unit 32 - 36 is activated, in order to capture the attention of the driver, so
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`that the latt