Tire Parameter Validation for Reliable Tread Depth Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire monitoring systems often rely on assumed valid tire parameters, which may be incorrect or invalid, leading to potential incorrect results and conclusions if not validated.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that detect and validate tire parameters by using a validity parameter, where a change in the validity parameter's value indicates the parameter's validity, preventing its use in calculations if unchanged, and allowing its use within a predetermined time window after tire changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tire parameters are used without validation, then the system operation is simple and fast, but the reliability of tire monitoring results deteriorates due to potential incorrect parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of tire monitoring resultsVSAvoidcomplexity of parameter validation system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by validating tire parameters before they are used in monitoring calculations. The control device checks whether a tire parameter (such as reference tread depth) has been updated and is valid before using it to calculate current tread depth. This prevents incorrect parameters from compromising reliability while maintaining a relatively simple validation mechanism that only intervenes when parameter updates occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If tire parameters are validated before use, then the reliability of monitoring results is improved, but the system complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalidity of tire parameterVSAvoidtime for parameter validation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The validation system operates autonomously by automatically detecting when tire parameters are updated and validating them without requiring external intervention. The control device monitors for parameter updates, retrieves the updated parameter, validates it according to predetermined criteria, and uses it if valid - all without user involvement. This self-service approach minimizes time loss while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If invalid tire parameters are used in calculations, then the calculation process remains simple and continuous, but incorrect results are obtained leading to wrong conclusions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuity of tread depth calculationVSAvoidaccuracy of tread depth measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring whether tire parameters are valid before using them in calculations. The control device checks the validity status of the reference tread depth parameter, and only proceeds with current tread depth calculation if the parameter is confirmed valid. This feedback mechanism ensures measurement precision is maintained while allowing continuous operation - when invalid parameters are detected, the system simply waits for valid parameters without interrupting overall functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4244083B1Method and device for determining a validity of a tire parameter
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP4244083B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4244083B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4244083B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining a validity of a tire parameter of a tire (402) of a vehicle (400). The method comprises the following steps: detecting the tire parameter, detecting a value of a validity parameter, the validity parameter being a measure for the validity of the tire parameter, and determining that the detected tire parameter is valid if the detected value of the validity parameter is changed compared to a previous value of the validity parameter.