Tire Vibration Signal Processing for Road Surface Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing road surface condition estimation devices require frequency analysis, leading to increased power consumption and costs due to the need for additional electronic components.

Innovation Solution

A road surface condition estimation device that calculates the level of high frequency components of vibration signals during tire ground contact duration, transmitting this data without performing frequency analysis, thereby reducing power consumption and component requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If frequency analysis is performed on the detection signal to estimate road surface condition, then the road surface condition estimation accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases and additional electronic components are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad surface condition estimation accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary information (ground contact duration and high-frequency component levels) from the detection signal without performing complete frequency analysis. By taking out only the essential features needed for road surface condition estimation, the system achieves accurate estimation while avoiding the high computational cost and power consumption of full frequency analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing complete frequency analysis (excessive action), the patent applies partial action by only analyzing specific characteristics of the detection signal during ground contact duration. This partial analysis approach provides sufficient information for road surface condition estimation while significantly reducing computational requirements and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If frequency analysis components are added to perform frequency analysis on the detection signal, then the road surface condition estimation capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad surface condition estimation capabilityVSAvoidnumber of electronic components

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts essential road surface condition information from the detection signal by measuring ground contact duration and high-frequency component levels, without requiring complex frequency analysis components. This extraction approach maintains estimation capability while minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex electronic frequency analysis systems with simpler measurement approaches. By using basic signal processing to measure ground contact duration and high-frequency levels, the system achieves road surface condition estimation without requiring sophisticated frequency analysis hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 efficient estimation of road surface conditions by reducing power consumption and component count, while maintaining accurate data transmission and analysis.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration detection unit, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a magnitude of a vibration of the tire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration detection: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS10099699B2Road surface condition estimation device

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A road surface condition estimation device includes a tire side device and a vehicle side device. The tire side device includes a vibration detection unit attached to a back surface of a tire tread and outputting a detection signal indicating a tire vibration magnitude, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The signal processing unit extracts a ground contact duration during which a portion of the tread corresponding to an arrangement position of the vibration detection unit is in contact with a ground, and calculates a high frequency component level of the detection signal detected during the ground contact duration as road surface condition data. When the ground contact duration is ended, a transmission trigger is transmitted to the transmitter and the transmitter transmits the road surface condition data. The vehicle side device estimates a road surface condition of the travelling road based on the road surface condition data.