Non-Contact Tire Tread Wear Monitoring via Electromagnetic Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining tire tread conditions do not effectively predict residual mileage, as they lack accurate and non-contact measurement techniques for monitoring tire wear over time, especially in relation to driven distance.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact system that emits electromagnetic radiation, such as light or laser, to the tire tread, capturing reflected signals and processing geometrical information about the tread surface to calculate residual durability by analyzing height or depth data at regular intervals, which can be stored and used to estimate remaining tire life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If non-contact measurement methods are used to monitor tire wear, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based mechanical measurement systems with non-contact optical measurement systems. An emitter directs radiation (e.g., laser) at the tire tread, and a detector captures reflected radiation to determine tread depth and wear patterns without physical contact. This substitution improves measurement precision while avoiding the complexity and wear associated with mechanical probes and sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic radiation (light or laser) as an intermediary medium to transfer information about tire tread condition from the tire surface to the detector. This intermediary enables precise non-contact measurement by carrying geometric and surface information through reflection, eliminating the need for direct mechanical contact and reducing system complexity compared to alternative non-contact methods.
2Reliability
If repeated measurements are taken at regular intervals to predict residual mileage, then reliability of prediction is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements at regular intervals (e.g., every 15,000 km) to establish a wear pattern baseline before the tire reaches critical wear levels. By collecting data in advance and storing it in a database, the system can predict residual mileage more reliably without requiring frequent re-measurements, thus reducing total time investment while improving prediction accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where measurement results from previous intervals are fed into the prediction algorithm to continuously refine residual mileage estimates. The system compares actual wear patterns against predicted patterns, adjusting predictions based on observed deviations. This feedback mechanism improves reliability over time while reducing the frequency of measurements needed.
3Measurement precision
If detailed geometrical information is collected from multiple points on the tire tread, then measurement precision is improved, but quantity of data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tire tread measurement into multiple discrete measurement points distributed across the tread surface. Each point provides localized depth and geometry information. By segmenting the measurement task into discrete points rather than attempting to measure the entire surface continuously, the system achieves high precision at manageable data volumes, as only key geometric parameters at each point need to be captured and processed.
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 method provides accurate and non-contact monitoring of tire wear, enabling early detection of potential tire failure and optimizing maintenance schedules by correlating tread wear with driven distance, offering a precise prediction of residual mileage and potential defects.
Implementation Method 1
A non-contact system that emits electromagnetic radiation, such as light or laser, to the tire tread, capturing reflected signals
Implementation Method 2
An electromagnetic radiation, especially, light or a laser radiation is emitted towards the tire tread. At least one detector is provided for receiving radiation reflected from the tire tread
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a tire tread of a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire configured to perform the steps of: (1) emitting an electromagnetic radiation towards the tread of the tire, (2) receiving a reflected electromagnetic radiation from said tread of the tire in response to the emitted radiation, (3) processing the reflected radiation to obtain height data including respective heights of a plurality of points located on the tread of the tire, (4) repeating the steps (1) to (3) in successive time intervals within which the vehicle wheel has driven a predetermined distance, and storing the respective height data, particularly average values of the height data, each in dependence of the driven distance, and (5) deriving from the succession of the stored height data a residual mileage of the tire.