Tire Pressure Monitoring Using Cold Pressure Leak-Rate Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire monitoring systems lack precision in distinguishing between rapid and slow air pressure leaks, leading to unnecessary alerts and inadequate preventive measures.

Innovation Solution

A tire pressure monitoring system that includes sensors to measure tire pressure and temperature, a processor to execute a tire pressure model, and a detection module to determine air pressure leak rates, generating corresponding notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If prior art techniques compare measured pressure to threshold value and transmit alert when pressure drops below threshold, then alert notification is generated, but precision is lacking and unnecessary alerts are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleak detection precisionVSAvoidfalse alert information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the leak detection process into multiple stages: initial pressure threshold comparison, followed by continuous monitoring of pressure change rate over time. This segmentation allows differentiation between temporary pressure fluctuations and actual leaks, improving detection precision while reducing false alerts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by establishing a pressure threshold and immediately beginning continuous monitoring when pressure drops near the threshold. This preliminary monitoring phase captures the pressure change rate data needed to distinguish between false alerts and actual leaks before generating final notifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If prior art techniques only distinguish between pressure below threshold and above threshold, then simple binary alert is generated, but distinction between rapid leak and slow leak condition is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleak condition differentiationVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies dynamics by transitioning from a static threshold comparison to a dynamic analysis of pressure change rate over time. The system continuously monitors how pressure changes between measurement intervals, enabling differentiation between rapid leaks (high change rate) and slow leaks (low change rate) while maintaining manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds another dimension to leak detection by incorporating the time dimension. Instead of only comparing pressure values (one dimension), the system analyzes pressure change rate over time (adding temporal dimension), enabling differentiation between leak conditions without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If fleet manager receives alert for pressure below threshold, then vehicle may be removed from service, but unnecessary removal occurs for slow leaks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefleet management efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the notification parameter from a simple binary alert to a differentiated notification based on pressure change rate. By analyzing the rate of pressure change, the system provides fleet managers with information about leak severity, enabling them to make informed decisions about vehicle removal and avoid unnecessary downtime for vehicles with slow leaks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by providing fleet managers with differentiated information about leak conditions. Instead of uniform alerts, the system feeds back specific information about pressure change rates, enabling managers to adjust their response based on the actual leak severity and maintain optimal fleet utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4140783B1Tire pressure monitoring system and method
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO
  • EP4140783B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4140783B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4140783B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tire pressure monitoring system (10) and method for monitoring the pressure in at least one tire (12) supporting a vehicle (14) is disclosed. The system (10) comprises at least one sensor (30) mounted on the at least one tire (12) for measuring a pressure and a temperature of the at least one tire (12); means for transmitting the measured pressure data (62) and temperature data to a processor (38, 48); and a tire pressure model (54) being executed on the processor (38, 48), the tire pressure model (54) including: a driving event extractor (56) to extract cold pressure data (60) from the measured pressure data (62); a temperature compensator (64) to generate a compensated cold tire pressure (68) from the cold pressure data (60); a noise filter (70) to filter sensor noise and generate a filtered cold tire pressure (72) from the compensated cold tire pressure (68); a detection module (76) receiving the filtered cold tire pressure (72) and determining an air pressure leak rate of the at least one tire (12); and a leak notification (86) corresponding to the air pressure leak rate generated by the tire pressure model (54).