Air pressure monitoring apparatus for tire

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) struggle to detect slow punctures effectively, as the slow reduction in air pressure can go unnoticed, potentially leading to tire bursts if unattended.

Innovation Solution

An air pressure monitoring apparatus with an air pressure acquisition unit, a pressure-adjustment determination unit, and a determination unit that corrects data on air pressure changes over time, accounting for adjustments made to the tire pressure, and uses temperature data to accurately detect slow punctures by calculating the reduction rate and notifying the driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional TPMS compares current tire pressure data with past data using a fixed threshold, then usual pressure reductions can be detected, but slow punctures cannot be detected when pressure adjustment occurs between measurements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure reduction detection accuracyVSAvoidslow puncture detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of pressure adjustment events by comparing current pressure data with expected pressure values calculated from historical trends and temperature data. When a pressure adjustment is detected, the system proactively corrects historical data points to maintain continuity, enabling accurate slow puncture detection despite the adjustment event.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the reference parameter from fixed threshold comparison to dynamic expected value calculation based on temperature-compensated historical pressure trends. This allows the detection threshold to adapt automatically to normal pressure variations while maintaining sensitivity to actual slow punctures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If tire pressure is adjusted between detection periods, then proper air pressure can be maintained, but the difference between past and current data decreases making slow puncture detection difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire pressure maintenanceVSAvoidslow puncture detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from temperature sensors and historical pressure data to continuously update expected pressure values. When pressure adjustments occur, the system feeds back corrected historical data that accounts for the adjustment, maintaining the ability to detect slow punctures through continuous monitoring of pressure trends.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 accurate detection of slow punctures, preventing potential tire bursts by correcting for pressure adjustments and temperature influences, thereby enhancing safety and ride comfort.

Implementation Method 1

an air pressure acquisition unit configured to acquire data on the air pressure in a tire attached to a vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Implementation Method 2

a temperature acquisition unit configured to acquire data on the internal temperature of the tire

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 3

The air pressure acquisition unit corrects the data on the air pressure based on the data on the internal temperature of the tire

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature-pressure relationship: Boyle's Law

Data Source

PatentEP4438348A1Air pressure monitoring apparatus for tire
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP4438348A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4438348A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4438348A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air pressure monitoring apparatus includes an air pressure acquisition unit, a pressure-adjustment determination unit, and a determination unit. The air pressure acquisition unit acquires data on the air pressure in a tire attached to a vehicle. The pressure-adjustment determination unit determines whether the air pressure in the tire has been adjusted. The determination unit determines whether the tire has a slow puncture based on time-course changes in the data on the air pressure. When the pressure-adjustment determination unit has determined that the air pressure in the tire has been adjusted, the determination unit corrects lastly acquired data on the air pressure and determines whether the tire has a slow puncture based on the corrected data on the air pressure.