Wheel Module Position Identification via Road Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wheel and tire monitoring systems face challenges in efficiently managing complex configurations and detecting unauthorized tampering or maintenance issues, especially when tires are replaced at different times and wheels are stored, leading to potential safety hazards and maintenance inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for identifying the locations of wheel modules on vehicles by using an elongate feature to generate signals when the wheels contact it, allowing the processing arrangement to compute the location of the modules, and a system for monitoring wheel operation and communicating potential issues to a control center for maintenance coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wheel modules are monitored continuously to detect unauthorized tampering and maintenance issues, then safety and reliability are improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic monitoring instead of continuous monitoring. The ECU receives signals from wheel modules at regular intervals during vehicle operation, enabling detection of unauthorized tampering and maintenance issues while conserving energy by not requiring constant active monitoring of all wheels.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel modules are designed to autonomously generate and transmit their own identification signals and operational data to the ECU. Each module independently monitors its own wheel's condition and communicates status information, eliminating the need for complex centralized monitoring hardware and reducing overall system energy consumption.
2Reliability
If wheel modules are monitored continuously to detect unauthorized tampering and maintenance issues, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into independent wheel modules, each responsible for monitoring a single wheel. Each module contains minimal components (sensor, identifier, transmitter) that independently report to the ECU. This segmentation simplifies individual module design and reduces overall system complexity compared to a centralized monitoring system.
Solution Approach 2:
The ECU serves multiple functions: it receives identification signals from wheel modules, determines wheel positions, detects unauthorized tampering, and monitors maintenance status. By making the ECU a multi-functional central unit, the system avoids duplicating complex monitoring hardware at each wheel, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If wheel positions are identified using an elongate feature to generate signals, then measurement precision is improved, but the method requires additional infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate feature acts as an intermediary element that facilitates precise position identification. As the vehicle passes over the elongate feature, it generates reference signals that the ECU uses to accurately determine wheel positions. This intermediary approach achieves high measurement precision without requiring complex direct measurement hardware at each wheel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the elongate feature as a physical copy or reference marker on the road surface that replicates position information. Instead of complex active sensors at each wheel, the passive elongate feature provides position reference data that the ECU processes to identify wheel locations accurately, simplifying the overall measurement infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a method of identifying locations of modules (400) of an apparatus (600, 680, 690, 2200) for monitoring wheels (10) of a vehicle (900). The sensor modules (400) operatively revolving with the wheels (10). The modules (400) communicate with a processing arrangement (710, ECU 950) of the vehicle (900). The modules (400) sense a physical parameter of the wheels (10) and generate corresponding sensor signals for the processing arrangement (950). The processing arrangement (710, ECU 950) processes the sensor signals to compute information indicative of operation of the wheels (10). The apparatus (1 ) also includes a sensor arrangement (118) for sensing an angular orientation (0) of the wheels (10). The method includes steps of: (b) arranging an elongate feature (1100) in an at least partially transverse direction relative to a direction of travel of the vehicle (900); (c) driving the vehicle (900) over the elongate feature (1100) to cause the wheels (10), together with their associated modules (400), to contact momentarily onto the elongate feature (1100) and communicating signals including signal components stimulated by contact of the wheels (10) onto the elongate feature (1100) to the processing arrangement (950), the signals identifying a time at which their wheels (10) contacted onto the elongate feature (1100) and identification codes (ID) of the modules (400); and (d) from a temporal sequence of the signals received at the processing arrangement (950), identifying whereat modules (400) are located on the wheels (10) of the vehicle (900).