Minispare Tire Detection Using Hydraulic Pressure Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
The detection of a minispare tire is temporarily suspended during braking, leading to increased detection times or inaccurate measurements, especially on low-friction surfaces, due to the activation of the brake light switch by two-footed drivers who apply continuous pressure to the brake pedal, causing the vehicle control systems to inaccurately suspend minispare detection.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detect rotational velocities of vehicle wheels and sense hydraulic pressure in the braking system, suspending minispare tire detection only when the hydraulic pressure exceeds a predetermined critical level, allowing accurate wheel speed measurements during light braking conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If minispare tire detection is suspended during braking to avoid inaccurate measurements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but detection time increases and continuous monitoring is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter used to detect braking conditions from brake light switch activation (binary on/off) to hydraulic pressure threshold detection. By monitoring continuous hydraulic pressure values and comparing against a predetermined threshold, the system can distinguish between light braking (below threshold, continue detection) and heavy braking (above threshold, suspend detection), thus maintaining detection continuity while ensuring accuracy when needed.
2Reliability
If detection is suspended when brake light switch is activated, then false positives are reduced, but two-footed drivers cause unnecessary suspension of detection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the detection parameter from discrete brake light switch activation to continuous hydraulic pressure monitoring. This allows the system to differentiate between light braking (where detection should continue) and heavy braking (where detection should be suspended), thereby maintaining detection continuity for two-footed drivers while preserving reliability by suspending detection only when truly necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical/electrical brake light switch mechanism with a hydraulic pressure sensing mechanism. This substitution provides more granular information about braking intensity, enabling the system to make more informed decisions about when to suspend detection, thus improving both continuity and reliability.
3Productivity
If hydraulic pressure threshold is used instead of brake light switch, then detection continuity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic pressure sensor serves multiple functions: it detects heavy braking conditions for detection suspension, and it can potentially provide information for other vehicle control systems. By reusing an existing sensor infrastructure for multiple purposes, the system achieves improved detection continuity without proportionally increasing complexity.
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
Enables continuous and accurate detection of minispare tires during light braking, reducing false positives and maintaining system accuracy by differentiating between minimal brake pressure and actual braking, thus improving vehicle control system performance on various surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
sensing a hydraulic pressure of a braking system of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A method of detecting a minispare tire in a vehicle having a vehicle control system. The method includes detecting a rotational velocity of each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle; determining whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle based on the rotational velocities detected at each of the plurality of wheels; adjusting the vehicle control system if a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle; sensing a hydraulic pressure of a braking system of the vehicle; and suspending determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle if the hydraulic pressure exceeds a predetermined critical pressure level.