Tire Leak Position Detection from Pressure-Time Curves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire pressure monitoring systems cannot accurately determine the position of a leak in a tire, leading to uncertainty about whether a pressure drop is due to a normal or unusual leak, and if so, its location.
Innovation Solution
A method using a sensor unit with a tire pressure sensor and processing device to establish a time curve of tire pressure, analyzing pressure drops and derivatives to identify characteristic features such as consistent pressure periods or gradients, and correlating these to a tire-fixed coordinate system to determine the leak's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tire pressure monitoring system monitors tire pressure and alerts the driver when pressure drops below a threshold, then the driver is notified of potential leaks, but the driver does not learn whether the pressure drop is due to normal or unusual leakage or at which point the leak is occurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tire into multiple sections (front, rear, left, right) and analyzes pressure data separately for each section. By segmenting the tire pressure monitoring into distinct regions and correlating pressure fluctuations with wheel rotation phases, the system can identify which specific section experiences leakage, thereby providing leak position information that was previously lost.
2Device complexity
If the tire pressure monitoring system only provides alerting based on current pressure values, then the system remains simple, but the driver cannot determine whether the pressure drop is due to normal or unusual leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes baseline pressure characteristics and expected pressure fluctuation patterns under normal conditions before leakage occurs. By pre-defining what normal pressure behavior looks like (including seasonal variations, driving conditions, and tire characteristics), the system can compare actual pressure data against these pre-established benchmarks to automatically characterize whether a pressure drop represents normal or unusual leakage, eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis while providing diagnostic information.
3Measurement precision
If the system continuously monitors tire pressure with high precision, then accurate leak detection is achieved, but the system cannot determine the position or nature of the leak without additional complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously compares actual tire pressure measurements with expected pressure values derived from historical data, environmental conditions, and tire characteristics. When pressure deviations are detected, the system provides feedback about the nature and location of the leak based on the pattern recognition from previous measurements. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain high measurement precision while using simple comparison logic rather than complex analysis to determine leak position and characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining the position of a leak in a tire fitted to a vehicle, which has a sensor unit having a tire pressure sensor for capturing tire pressure data of the tire, wherein the tire pressure data are received and evaluated by a processing device of the vehicle, wherein a time curve of the tire pressure of the tire is established with the aid of the tire pressure data, and wherein the position of the leak is determined based on the curve of the tire pressure.