Why does the car tire pressure monitoring (TPMS) system use Bluetooth?
To ensure driving safety, cars need to deploy TPMS and tire pressure detection systems. These systems automatically monitor tire pressure in real time while driving, providing timely alarms for tire leakage and low air pressure to protect the safety of drivers and passengers. Because Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) offers high stability, low cost, easy deployment, and convenient connection with terminal devices such as smartphones and tablets, it has gradually become integral to TPMS systems.
Bluetooth TPMS System Overview
The Bluetooth TPMS system utilizes a direct system of Bluetooth modules compatible with BLE 4.0 or above. It works in tandem with Bluetooth tire pressure sensors installed on the tires to receive data on air pressure and temperature. Through wireless transmission, the system uses high-sensitivity micro wireless sensing devices fixed in car tires to collect data on tire pressure and temperature, transmitting this to the central display in the cab for digitization. This enables real-time display of tire pressure and temperature data, providing audio or visual alerts when abnormalities are detected, thereby ensuring driving safety.
The Bluetooth sensor is permanently installed on the four tires. Its Bluetooth component handles data collection, processing, and transmission, while the sensor measures tire pressure and temperature changes. The sensor is immediately activated when the car starts, entering a system self-test and automatically waking up. When the car is in motion, it intelligently determines the detection period based on the vehicle speed, setting safe, sensitive, and dangerous periods using software. The sensor transmits data directly via Bluetooth, integrating smoothly into the vehicle's central control and TBOX, and also enabling real-time reception by mobile phones, thus achieving multi-terminal reception.
Types of TPMS
Indirect TPMS
Indirect TPMS, also known as Wheel-Speed Based TPMS (WSB) or ITPMS, uses the wheel speed sensor of the vehicle's ABS system to compare the speed discrepancies between tires to monitor tire pressure.
Direct TPMS
Direct TPMS, also referred to as Pressure-Sensor Based TPMS (PSB) or DTPMS, uses pressure and temperature sensors installed in each tire to directly measure tire pressure and temperature. The collected data is transmitted to the receiver for real-time display, allowing for continuous monitoring of tire pressure changes whether the car is stationary or moving.
The indirect TPMS sensor tool is cost-effective but offers lower data accuracy compared to the direct system. Direct TPMS provides more advanced features, measuring the actual instantaneous pressure inside each tire at any time, easily identifying faulty tires, and significantly enhancing driving safety. In terms of measurement accuracy and real-time performance, the direct method surpasses the indirect method.
Advantages of Bluetooth TPMS System
Run-Flat Tire
Real-time monitoring of tire pressure and temperature sends an alarm and alert if abnormalities occur, preventing potential issues before they escalate.
Save Fuel
TPMS can also contribute to fuel savings. Data suggests that insufficient tire pressure increases fuel consumption. The system can remind drivers to maintain optimal tire pressure, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Low Cost
Equipping a car with a smart display terminal compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 or above and the associated app allows for real-time data monitoring after linking, reducing deployment costs for car manufacturers and after-market users.
Future Development of TPMS
The ongoing trends of car electrification, intelligence, and networking, along with constant updates to the vehicle's electronic architecture, highlight the growing importance of TPMS. Worldwide, legislation is increasingly mandating TPMS as a standard. For example, China, the largest automobile producer and consumer, has required 100% TPMS installation for passenger cars since January 1, 2020. The TPMS system can provide various alarms, including high-pressure, low-pressure, high-temperature, and air leakage warnings. Both traditional and new energy vehicles naturally integrate Bluetooth transmission capabilities through the central control computer or TBOX. As a result, the future development of TPMS communication methods will increasingly focus on Bluetooth transmission, making the installation of tire pressure monitoring systems in vehicles as crucial as ABS and airbags.