Magnetic Drive-Over Tire Pressure Measurement via Contact Patch Load

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tire pressure monitoring systems either require manual measurement or indirect methods, which can lead to inadequate detection of tire pressure issues, resulting in increased tire wear and safety risks due to under-inflation.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic drive-over system that measures tire pressure by determining the load on the tire and the area of the contact patch using processing circuitry, contact sensors, and load sensors, allowing for real-time internal pressure calculation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If indirect measurement methods (anti-lock brake sensors) are used to detect tire pressure, then the system complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates leading to inadequate detection of tire pressure issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidtire pressure detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an intermediary platform (the drive-over surface) that mediates between the tire and the sensors. The drive-over surface with embedded load sensors and contact patch sensors indirectly measures tire pressure through the relationship between load, contact patch area, and pressure, avoiding direct penetration into the tire while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces indirect mechanical inference methods (like anti-lock brake sensors detecting rotation speed differences) with direct mechanical measurement using load sensors and contact patch sensors on a drive-over surface, substituting a more accurate mechanical measurement system for the indirect sensing approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If direct measurement methods (tire pressure sensors within the tire) are used, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and installation requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire pressure measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pressure measurement function from inside the tire to an external drive-over surface. Instead of placing sensors within the tire, the measurement capability is taken out and implemented in the drive-over platform, simplifying the tire-side components while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive-over surface serves multiple functions: it acts as a weighing platform for load measurement, a contact patch analysis surface for area measurement, and a pressure calculation platform. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors within each tire.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If manual tire pressure measurement is used, then the device complexity is minimized, but the productivity and real-time monitoring capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement system complexityVSAvoidreal-time monitoring capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive-over surface system performs self-service measurement by automatically detecting load and contact patch area as the vehicle drives over it, then calculating pressure without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the vehicle's normal driving motion as the measurement trigger.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary measurement action by capturing load and contact patch data as the vehicle passes over the drive-over surface during normal operation, enabling real-time monitoring before tire pressure issues become critical problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This system provides accurate and real-time tire pressure monitoring, improving tire maintenance and safety by directly measuring internal pressure, reducing the risk of tire failure and improving vehicle control.

Implementation Method 1

A magnetic drive-over system that measures tire pressure by determining the load on the tire and the area of the contact patch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field interaction: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

The load sensor is configured to measure a load on the tire as the tire moves over the drive over surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce measurement: Force

Data Source

PatentUS20250003820A1Magnetic drive-over system providing tire pressure measurement

Publication Date: 2025.01.02 BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS INC

AI summary

A system for measuring an internal pressure of a tire can include processing circuitry and memory coupled to the processing circuitry. The memory can have instructions stored therein that are executable by the processing circuitry to cause the processing circuitry to perform operations. The operations can include determining an area of a contact patch of the tire on a drive over surface. The operations can further include determining a load on the tire. The operations can further include determining the internal pressure of the tire based on the load on the tire and the area of the contact patch.