DigiTyre Significant Features
- Automatically learns new sensors allowing wheels to be swapped without software changes.
- Continuous data at 1Hz whilst the wheels are rotating.
- Highly advanced bi-directional RF / LF electronics for advanced features.
- Based on a high specification 12-bit absolute pressure sensor.
- Special high capacity military battery allows very high temperature operation.
- High strength lightweight PEEK GL430 housing.
- Patented valve mounted design requires no rim modifications.
Overview
DigiTyre has been specifically designed to meet the more demanding applications where the driver and pits require fast and accurate tyre pressure and temperature data from their wheel electronics. To achieve this,
BERU f1systems have developed the wheel electronics to be even more intelligent to their surroundings - this is achieved by using a bi-directional RF / LF feature and an on board accelerometer.
The wheel electronics contain a battery, absolute pressure sensor, temperature sensor, accelerometer, micro controller and radio transmitter / LF receiver - all housed in a very compact and robust wheel housing. By mounting the lightweight wheel housing onto the rear of a modified valve the installation becomes very straightforward. There is no need for rim modifications and at 35g (1.2 ounces) the wheel sensor is very light.
Using position files, the ECU is setup with wheel sets so that it knows which wheel sensors it can expect on each corner of the car. When the car is moving, the ECU receives data from the aerials, collates the serial numbers and then locks on to the current set of wheels fitted to the car. When the car goes staionary in a pit stop, the system releases the current wheel set, in expectation of a new set being fitted. When the car goes moving again, the system locks onto the new wheel set.
The ECU has a number of outlets so it can be used in a standalone form and / or connected to an on-board data logger system via CAN or RS232 outputs.
Wheel Electronics
The wheel electronics are housed in a PEEK body, giving a high strength and lightweight construction. The sensors are both LF receivers and RF transmitters allowing data to be requested from the wheel regardless of mode state. To preserve battery life the sensor is fitted with an accelerometer, which along with the pressure sensor controls the mode the sensor is in. Each mode has its own set of parameters, which are configured at the production stage but can be defined by the customer at the point of specification. Below are three modes and their typical transmit rates.
Quiet mode - defined as no tyre pressure and no rotation - no transmissions. Pressurised mode - defined as tyre pressurised but no rotation - 1 transmission every 30 seconds. Fast mode- defined as tyre pressurised and wheel rotating - 1 transmission every 1 second.
Parameter options are available on request and we can advise on the best settings depending on the application. As the electronic housing is mounted on the back of a special valve, each rim is carefully evaluated for valve selection and wheel electronic location. With many different valve types to choose from, we can accommodate all wheel rim styles. Custom valve designs are also available.
DigiTyre ECU Features
The ECU, housed in a compact carbon fibre box, is responsible for processing wheel data messages. Once the data is processed it is then available on several outputs to connect to the car's data-logger and / or display.
The ECU continuously collects all the wheel electronic information. Once a packet of information is received, the serial number of the sensor is cross referenced to a BERU supplied permit list. The permit list performs two functions, the first to ensure that the serial number belongs to a team and secondly to allocate that serial number to a wheel position. Thus you're not able to read other wheel sensors and other teams can't read your tyre pressure.
Once a wheel has been allocated a position (rear left for example), its pressure and temperature data are passed to the output stages. There are a number of output formats - High Speed CAN (baud rate configurable) and RS232 & RS422. CAN bus rate, identifiers and packet format, RS232 streams are all configurable to suit the team's logging system. In addition, warning lamps are available on the ECU itself to indicate problems.
A full channel list detailing all the data available can be supplied separately on request.
Digital Antenna Features
The antenna is used to receive the RF datagrams transmitted from the wheel sensors. The antenna process the datagrams and transmit the data back to the ECU via a LIN bus. For closed wheel applications we recommend using four antennae to ensure good reception of the datagrams. For open wheel race cars, only two antennae generally are required.
The high gain antenna are used in conjunction with a position file which is loaded into the ECU by the team, and assigns wheel sensors to specific corners of the car.
Puncture Detection
BERU f1systems use the pressure and temperature sensors together when calculating for a puncture. There are two levels of alarms;
Soft Warning - The tyre has lost a small but significant amount of pressure over time.
Hard Warning - The tyre has dropped below a minimum pressure level OR the rate of pressure loss is large.
The user decides a reference temperature to which all pressures are compensated. When the system is told to 'set pressure' a snapshot of each wheel's pressure and temperature is taken, compensated and then stored as the nominal pressure. There are a number of methods to 'set pressure', a switch input line, wheel speed input or using CAN command.
The system then compensates each wheel pressure and compares this to its stored nominal pressure to calculate any pressure changes. This approach avoids potential false alarms due to natural heating and cooling of the tyres. The compensated pressure and nominated pressure channels are available on the CAN and RS232 outputs.
DigiTyre PC Software Utility
Each system is delivered with a comprehensive windows
based software utility to interface with the ECU and set
the system parameters according to conditions and
application. This tool is also used to set threshold
levels for puncture detection alarms and also features a
'live page' containing constantly updated data for set-up
and diagnostics.
Optional Display Module
For stand alone-alone applications there are several
display modules available. The modules enhance the
functionality of the system by providing internal channel
information such as real time pressure and temperatures,
compensated pressures, set pressures and temperatures,
serial number ids and other packet information.
The modules have a small LCD display and bright LED's for puncture detection warnings. BERU f1systems are able to accommodate any request regarding display modules and have made bespoke displays on customer demand.
Diagnostic Tools
BERU f1systems offers various diagnostic tools. Click here to
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