Tyre Pressure Measurement Using Dual Sensor Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tire pressure measurement systems face inaccuracies due to ignoring tread gaps and sidewall effects, leading to incorrect calculations of tire pressure, load, and vehicle weight.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a base with a platform and two sensor systems: a first load sensor system to measure total load and a second array of load sensors extending across the platform, allowing for direct calculation of tire pressure without footprint area estimation, using a representative load value from the second sensor system to determine inflation pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a linear array of sensors is used to detect tyre footprint shape, then the system can determine tyre pressure, but tread gaps cause measurement inaccuracies because sensors cannot distinguish between no contact and tread pattern gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear sensor array (one-dimensional) to a two-dimensional array of sensors. This dimensional expansion allows the system to capture both the lateral profile and longitudinal extent of the tyre footprint, enabling differentiation between tread gaps and actual contact boundaries. The 2D arrangement provides redundant measurement paths that resolve the ambiguity caused by tread patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the sensor array into multiple independently functioning sensor elements arranged in a grid pattern. Each sensor measures local pressure independently, and the collective data from all sensors reconstructs the complete footprint map. This segmentation allows the system to identify and exclude tread gap regions from contact area calculations, improving measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the contact area is calculated from sensor data, then tyre pressure can be determined, but sidewall effects and tread patterns lead to incorrect contact area estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of the footprint boundaries and tread gap locations before calculating the contact area. By first mapping the complete pressure distribution pattern and identifying regions with zero or negligible pressure (tread gaps and sidewall edges), the system can exclude these interfering regions from the contact area calculation, ensuring only true contact regions are measured.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces data processing algorithms as an intermediary between the raw sensor data and the final contact area calculation. This intermediary layer analyzes the pressure distribution pattern, identifies characteristic features such as tread gaps and sidewall effects, and applies correction factors or exclusion zones to eliminate their influence on the contact area measurement.
3Measurement precision
If a two-dimensional sensor array is used to directly measure footprint area, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the two-dimensional sensor array to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it measures the lateral profile of the footprint, determines the longitudinal extent of contact, identifies tread gap locations, and calculates the total contact area. This multi-functionality justifies the increased device complexity by extracting maximum information from a single sensor array configuration, eliminating the need for separate measurement systems.
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 approach provides accurate tire pressure measurement by accounting for tread gaps and sidewall effects, improving the precision of load and weight calculations, and enabling detection of under- or over-inflation.
Implementation Method 1
a first load sensor system arranged between the platform and the base, for providing data indicative of varying loads exerted on the base by the platform
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor system mounted on an upper surface of the platform and comprising an array of sensors extending across the platform, each of the sensors in the array being a load sensor which provides varying outputs indicative of the value of the load on the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (4; 5) for checking the inflation pressure of a tire (3) of a vehicle (2) while the tire is being moved over the apparatus in a direction of travel (A). The apparatus comprises a base (7), a platform (8) which is mounted over the base, a first load sensor system (9) arranged between the platform and the base, and a second load sensor system (12) mounted on an upper surface of the platform and comprising a linear array of high resolution sensors (13, 25) extending across the platform. A data processing unit (6) processes data obtained by sampling the outputs of the first and second sensor system and provides an indication of the inflation pressure of the tire. The data obtained by sampling the output of the first sensor system may be used to determine the total load borne by the platform, and/or the direction of travel of the tire over the platform, and/or the speed of travel of the tire over the platform and/or the tracking angle of the vehicle tire. The data may also be used to determine a time interval during which data from the second sensor system is to be used to provide a representative sensor load value.