Tire-Mounted Acceleration Sensing for Accurate Mileage Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for tire mileage determination are prone to errors, particularly in scenarios where tires are exchanged or lifted off the road, and require external devices for complex calculations, increasing complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

A method using a tire-mounted acceleration sensor to measure radial acceleration in multiple measurements, with a measurement sequence time selected to be greater than the contact patch time and less than the tire revolution time, to exclude contact patch-related effects and ensure accurate acceleration measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the measurement sequence time is too short, then the measurement frequency is high, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to contact patch interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement frequencyVSAvoidacceleration measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement sequence time is dynamically adjusted based on tire revolution time and contact patch time. The system adapts the sampling rate to ensure measurements are taken when the sensor is outside the contact patch, optimizing both measurement frequency and accuracy according to actual operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-calculates the optimal measurement sequence time by considering the tire revolution time and contact patch time before actual measurement. This preliminary timing calculation ensures that acceleration measurements are taken at appropriate moments when the sensor is not in the contact patch, preventing measurement errors before they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If individual sensors are mounted to individual tires, then tire mileage can be determined separately, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire mileage determination accuracyVSAvoidsensor and computation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tire-mounted sensor unit performs self-contained acceleration measurements and computations to determine tire mileage independently. The sensor captures raw acceleration data, processes it through the measurement sequence methodology, and calculates tire mileage locally without requiring external computational devices, making the system both reliable and simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If complex tire mileage procedures are used, then measurement accuracy may improve, but external means are required increasing complexity and cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire mileage measurement accuracyVSAvoidexternal computation means
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tire-mounted sensor unit performs self-contained acceleration measurements and computations to determine tire mileage independently. The sensor captures raw acceleration data, processes it through the measurement sequence methodology, and calculates tire mileage locally without requiring external computational devices, making the system both reliable and simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 approach enhances the accuracy, reliability, and efficiency of tire mileage determination by eliminating contact patch-related errors and allowing for on-tire computation, reducing the need for external devices and complex procedures.

Implementation Method 1

an ideal non-deformable tire will produce only a centrifugal acceleration on the sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal acceleration: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

measuring, by an acceleration sensor mounted to the tire, an acceleration in a tire radial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration sensing: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP4559699A1Tire mileage determination of a tire using an acceleration sensor mounted to the tire
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 BRIDGESTONE EURO NV SA
  • EP4559699A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4559699A1 patent drawingFigure 1b~3
  • EP4559699A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method for tire mileage determination of a tire comprises measuring, by an acceleration sensor mounted to the tire, an acceleration in a tire radial direction in a measurement sequence comprising two or more acceleration measurements, wherein a first acceleration measurement and a second acceleration measurement are temporally separated by a measurement sequence time, Tseq. Therein, the Tseq is less than a tire revolution time, Trev, at a predetermined maximum driving speed, vmax, and Tseq is more than a contact patch time, Tcp, in which a portion of the tire is in contact with a ground at a predetermined minimum driving speed, vmin.