Tire Wear Detection via Optical Circumference Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire wear monitoring systems are complex, require precise calibration, and only measure a single location, failing to account for non-uniform wear and necessitating absolute profile depth measurements instead of estimating running performance.
Innovation Solution
Measuring the length of the tire's mantle surface using a sensor, either fixed on the vehicle or integrated into the tire, which calculates the time of a wheel revolution to determine wear based on changes in circumference, coupled with a tire pressure monitoring system to provide simple and comparative data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor element is introduced into the running surface to measure profile depth, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and calibration effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical profile depth measurement sensors with a simpler optical sensor system that measures tire circumference. Instead of mechanically embedding sensors in the running surface to directly measure profile depth, the invention uses optical sensors to detect the position of a reflector attached to the tire, thereby inferring wear through circumference changes. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity and eliminates calibration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified measurement model by attaching a reflector to the tire and using optical sensors to detect its position. Rather than directly measuring the complex three-dimensional profile depth, the system copies the essential information (circumference change) through a simpler optical detection mechanism. This copying approach maintains measurement precision while eliminating the need for complex sensor placement and calibration procedures.
2Device complexity
If a single location on the tire is measured for profile depth, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to detect non-uniform wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the measurement system universal by measuring the entire tire circumference rather than a single location. The optical sensor system rotates with the tire and continuously tracks the reflector's position throughout the entire revolution, thereby capturing wear information from all locations around the tire. This multi-location measurement capability is achieved without increasing device complexity, as the same simple optical sensors detect wear uniformly across the entire tire perimeter.
3Measurement precision
If absolute profile depth measurement is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to calibration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service measurement system that automatically determines tire wear without requiring external calibration. The optical sensor system measures the actual circumference of the tire in use and automatically compares it to the reference circumference. The system self-adjusts by detecting the position of the reflector and calculating wear based on the difference between actual and reference revolution times, eliminating any manual calibration step and greatly improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determination of the wear on at least one tire of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system, consisting of a pressure sensor, a transmission unit and a reception unit, as well as a computer unit and a data memory having a database. Proceeding from a circumference of the tire (5) defined by the tire manufacturer and thereby a mantle surface having a length L=2πr, wherein r is the radius of the tire (5), the radius decreases during corresponding wear, and thereby the length of the mantle surface also decreases. The length of the flat pattern of a new tire is therefore greater, in terms of length, than the length of the flat pattern of a used tire. This is determined by a sensor (4), the value of which is transmitted by a first module (2) to a second module (3), which is fixed in place. There, the value L is calculated and compared with data in a database and evaluated.