Tire Pressure Monitoring via Pneumatic Trail Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire pressure monitoring systems require frequent battery replacements and are less accurate due to reliance on direct tire-mounted sensors, which is costly and inconvenient, and indirect methods provide unsatisfactory results based on tire age.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method using sensor information from motor driven power steering (MDPS) and vehicle dynamic control (VDC) to estimate tire pressure by calculating the pneumatic trail, eliminating the need for additional sensors and battery replacements, and providing real-time monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a direct type measuring scheme with a pressure sensor and wireless module is installed inside the tire, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and maintenance cost increase due to battery replacement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure sensing function from the tire-mounted wireless module and relocates it to the vehicle body's existing sensor system. By removing the need for in-tire sensors and batteries, the system eliminates maintenance requirements while maintaining measurement capability through indirect measurement of tire pressure effects on vehicle dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing vehicle sensors (steering angle sensor, lateral acceleration sensor, yaw rate sensor) serve dual purposes: their original functions plus tire pressure monitoring. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for dedicated tire pressure sensors and their associated power sources, reducing overall system complexity.
2Device complexity
If an indirect type pressure measuring scheme using wheel speed sensor is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates based on tire age condition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from simple wheel speed to a combination of steering angle, lateral acceleration, and yaw rate. By using multiple parameters that collectively reflect tire pressure effects on vehicle dynamics, the system maintains high measurement precision without requiring complex tire-specific sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vehicle dynamic parameters (lateral acceleration, yaw rate, steering angle) as intermediaries to indirectly measure tire pressure. These mediator parameters provide a more accurate reflection of tire pressure effects than direct wheel speed measurement, especially accounting for tire age and condition variations.
3Measurement precision
If a wireless module with battery is installed in the tire, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to frequent battery replacement every 60,000 km
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source requirement from the tire pressure monitoring system by relocating all sensing functions to the vehicle body's existing powered sensor system. This elimination of in-tire batteries completely removes the maintenance burden of battery replacement while preserving accurate measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the tire pressure monitoring system to serve itself by utilizing the vehicle's existing sensor infrastructure and power supply. The system automatically monitors tire pressure without requiring external intervention for battery replacement or sensor maintenance, achieving fully self-service operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for monitoring a tire pressure of a vehicle includes a cornering force estimator configured to estimate a cornering force of a tire using inertial information and steering information of the vehicle, a pneumatic trail calculator configured to calculate a pneumatic trail using the cornering force and the steering information, and a tire pressure checker configured to determine whether the tire pressure is insufficient based on the pneumatic trail calculated by the pneumatic trail calculator.