CN118024792A - Method and system for monitoring tire inflation pressure - Google Patents
Method and system for monitoring tire inflation pressure Download PDFInfo
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- CN118024792A CN118024792A CN202311499135.2A CN202311499135A CN118024792A CN 118024792 A CN118024792 A CN 118024792A CN 202311499135 A CN202311499135 A CN 202311499135A CN 118024792 A CN118024792 A CN 118024792A
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Abstract
The invention provides a tire inflation pressure method and system. A tire inflation pressure adjustment signal is generated to maintain the centerline length of the tire footprint within a range that achieves good tire performance. In embodiments of the present invention, a linear relationship between tire inflation pressure, footprint centerline length, and vehicle load is utilized to allow for efficient implementation.
Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to tire monitoring systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for monitoring tire inflation pressure. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for estimating tire inflation pressure adjustment based on tire footprint length.
Background
Tire inflation pressure plays an important role in safety, reliability, performance, and the like of a vehicle. Tread wear refers to the loss of tire tread material that directly affects such vehicle factors, while tire inflation pressure is directly related to tread wear. Inaccurate tire inflation pressure can result in energy loss through increased friction while driving the vehicle. Due to uneven wear of the tire tread, there is a possibility that further increases in fuel consumption, increases in tire noise, decreases in traction, and deterioration in handling may be caused.
In known systems, the tire inflation pressure is measured as an absolute value by a dedicated pressure sensor mounted in the tire. If the measured inflation pressure deviates significantly from the predetermined range of values, the control system of the vehicle may issue an alarm and indicate that the inflation pressure should be adjusted. However, such systems ignore the actual performance of the tire at the current inflation pressure, which may further depend on external factors such as wear of the tire, load of the vehicle, or others. Thus, the accuracy of known tire inflation pressure monitoring systems is relatively low.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and system that reliably estimates the required tire inflation pressure adjustment so that the tire may perform well independent of other factors.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention relates to a method according to claim 1 and a system according to claim 10.
The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for monitoring inflation pressure of a tire supporting a vehicle is provided. The method comprises the following steps: data provided in the memory element, wherein the data correlates at least one centerline length of the tire footprint with a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure;
Obtaining a centerline length signal indicative of a centerline length of the tire footprint;
Based on the centerline length signal and the data, a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal is generated that indicates a desired adjustment of the tire inflation pressure.
Preferably, the step of generating the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal may include generating a difference between the center line length indicated by the center line length signal and the target center line length stored in the data, and providing the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.
The tire inflation pressure adjustment signal may preferably comprise an indication of a predetermined target tire inflation pressure associated with said target centerline length in said data.
Preferably, the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal may comprise an indication of the difference between a predetermined tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the centerline length indicated by the centerline length signal and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the target centerline length.
The tire inflation pressure adjustment signal may preferably comprise an indication of the difference between the measured tire inflation pressure and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in said data associated with said target centerline length.
For each centerline length of the tire footprint, a plurality of predetermined tire inflation pressures may preferably be provided in the data. Preferably, each tire inflation pressure may correspond to a predetermined vehicle load, and generating the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal may include evaluating the load of the vehicle.
Preferably, the data may relate at least one centerline length of the tire footprint to a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure using a linear relationship defined by a set of linear parameters.
The data may preferably comprise linear parameters and generating the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal may preferably comprise determining the predetermined target tire inflation pressure by evaluating a linear relationship using the target centerline length and the set of linear parameters.
The centerline length signal may preferably provide the shape of the footprint of the tire.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program comprising computer readable code means which when run on a computer causes the computer to perform a method according to an aspect of the invention.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program according to an aspect of the present invention.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a tire inflation pressure monitoring system is provided that includes a vehicle, a tire supporting the vehicle, a first sensor unit, a storage element, and a processor.
The first sensor unit is mounted on the tire and includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor to measure the centerline length of the tire footprint. The storage element stores data relating at least one centerline length of the tire footprint to a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure.
The processor is in electronic communication with the first sensor unit. The system is remarkable in that the processor is configured to obtain a centerline length signal from the sensor unit, the signal being indicative of the centerline length of the tire footprint, and to generate a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal indicative of a desired adjustment of the tire inflation pressure based on the centerline length signal and on said data.
Preferably, the first sensor unit may be attached to the inner liner of the tyre at the equatorial plane of the tyre.
The first sensor unit may preferably comprise a transmitter having an antenna for wireless data transmission to said processor.
Preferably, the processor may include a transmitter to transmit the inflation pressure adjustment signal to at least one of the display device or the vehicle control system.
Generating the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal may preferably include generating a difference between the centerline length indicated by the centerline length signal and a target centerline length stored in the data. The processor may also preferably be configured to provide a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Further, the processor may preferably be configured to provide an indication of a predetermined target tire inflation pressure associated with said target centerline length in said data.
The processor may preferably be configured to provide an indication of the difference between a predetermined tire inflation pressure in said data associated with the centre line length indicated by the centre line length signal and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in said data associated with said target centre line length.
Preferably, the processor may be configured to provide an indication of the difference between the measured tire inflation pressure and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in said data relating to said target centerline length.
The tire inflation pressure monitoring system may preferably comprise a second sensor unit comprising a vehicle load sensor, wherein the processor is in electronic communication with the second sensor unit, and wherein the processor is configured to obtain a load estimate from the second sensor unit.
In the data, each centerline length of the tire footprint may preferably be associated with a plurality of predetermined tire inflation pressures, each tire inflation pressure corresponding to a predetermined vehicle load. The processor may preferably be configured to generate the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal as a function of the load estimate.
The data may preferably include a linear regression model that correlates a predetermined centerline length of the tire footprint with a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure.
It has been observed that the shape and size of the footprint of a tire (i.e., the area of the tire in contact with the road surface) directly affects the performance of the tire in terms of tread wear. While it has been suggested to characterize the footprint by multiple measurements, the present invention relies on the observation that the variation in the centerline length of the footprint is highly correlated with the overall footprint shape variation, such that monitoring a single measurement provides useful data for monitoring the performance of a tire. Furthermore, it has been observed that there is a linear relationship between the centerline length of the tire footprint and the tire inflation pressure. The present invention uses these observations to indirectly monitor the inflation pressure of a tire by monitoring the length of the footprint centerline of the tire, which itself is the result of the load on the vehicle and the previous wear of the tire. The tire inflation pressure adjustment is quantified using a linear relationship with the length of the tire footprint centerline, resulting in a lightweight and yet efficient tire inflation pressure monitoring solution. The object of the present invention is not to target the nominal inflation pressure, but to achieve a tire footprint that gives good tire performance. The tire inflation pressure is used to act on the centerline length of the footprint and thus on its shape.
The invention provides the following technical scheme:
1. a computer-implemented method for monitoring inflation pressure of a tire supporting a vehicle, comprising:
Data provided in the memory element, wherein the data correlates at least one centerline length of the tire footprint with a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure;
Obtaining a centerline length signal indicative of a centerline length of the tire footprint;
Based on the centerline length signal and the data, a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal is generated that indicates a desired adjustment of the tire inflation pressure.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal comprises generating a difference between a centerline length indicated by the centerline length signal and a target centerline length stored in the data, and providing a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal includes an indication of a predetermined target tire inflation pressure associated with the target centerline length in the data.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal includes an indication of a difference between a predetermined tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the centerline length indicated by the centerline length signal and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the target centerline length.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal includes an indication of a difference between a measured tire inflation pressure and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the target centerline length.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein for each centerline length of the tire footprint, a plurality of predetermined tire inflation pressures are provided in the data, each tire inflation pressure corresponding to a predetermined vehicle load, and wherein generating the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal comprises evaluating the load of the vehicle.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data correlates at least one centerline length of the tire footprint with a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure using a linear relationship defined by a set of linear parameters.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the data comprises linear parameters, and wherein generating the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal comprises determining the predetermined target tire inflation pressure by evaluating a linear relationship using the target centerline length and the set of linear parameters.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the centerline length signal provides a shape of a footprint of the tire.
10. A tire inflation pressure monitoring system comprising
A vehicle;
a tire supporting the vehicle;
A first sensor unit mounted on the tire, the first sensor unit including a footprint centerline length measurement sensor for measuring a centerline length of the tire footprint;
A storage element for storing data relating at least one centerline length of the tire footprint to a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure;
a processor in electronic communication with the first sensor unit and the storage element, the processor configured to
Obtaining a centerline length signal from the sensor unit, the signal being indicative of a centerline length of the tire footprint;
Based on the centerline length signal and the data, a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal is generated that indicates a desired adjustment of the tire inflation pressure.
11. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor unit is attached to the inner liner of the tire at an equatorial plane of the tire.
12. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor unit comprises a transmitter having an antenna for wirelessly transmitting data to the processor.
13. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the processor comprises a transmitter for transmitting the inflation pressure adjustment signal to at least one of a display device or a vehicle control system.
14. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 10, wherein generating the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal comprises generating a difference between a centerline length indicated by the centerline length signal and a target centerline length stored in the data, and wherein the processor is further configured to provide a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.
15. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an indication of a predetermined target tire inflation pressure, the indication being associated with the target centerline length in the data.
16. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an indication of a difference between a predetermined tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the centerline length indicated by the centerline length signal and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the target centerline length.
17. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an indication of a difference between the measured tire inflation pressure and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the target centerline length.
18. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 10, comprising a second sensor unit comprising a vehicle load sensor, wherein the processor is in electronic communication with the second sensor unit, and wherein the processor is configured to obtain a load estimate from the second sensor unit.
19. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 18, wherein in the data, each centerline length of the tire footprint is associated with a plurality of predetermined tire inflation pressures, each tire inflation pressure corresponding to a predetermined vehicle load, and wherein the processor is configured to generate a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal based on the load estimate.
20. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the data comprises a linear regression model that correlates a predetermined centerline length of the tire footprint with a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure.
Definition of the definition
"Axial" and "axially" refer to lines or directions parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire.
"CAN bus" is an abbreviation for controller area network.
"Circumferential" refers to a line or direction extending along the circumference of the surface of the annular tread perpendicular to the axial direction.
"Equatorial plane (CP)" means the plane perpendicular to the tire axis of rotation and passing through the tread center.
"Footprint" refers to the area or contact area formed by the tread of a tire with a flat surface as the tire rotates or rolls.
"Inboard" refers to the side of the tire closest to the vehicle when the tire is mounted on the wheel and the wheel is mounted on the vehicle.
"Lateral" refers to an axial direction.
"Outboard" refers to the side of the tire furthest from the vehicle when the tire is mounted on the wheel and the wheel is mounted on the vehicle.
"Radial" and "radially" refer to directions radially toward or away from the axis of rotation of the tire.
"Rib" means a circumferentially extending rubber strip on the tread defined by at least one circumferential groove and a second such groove or lateral edge, the strip not being laterally separated by a full depth groove.
"Tread element" or "traction element" refers to a rib or block element defined by a shape having adjacent grooves.
Drawings
The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a tire employing an embodiment of a tire inflation pressure monitoring system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the footprint of the tire;
FIG. 3 is a workflow showing the main steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating aspects of an embodiment of a tire inflation pressure monitoring system according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating aspects of an embodiment of a tire inflation pressure monitoring system according to the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of data showing the linear relationship of the footprint centerline length of a tire to its inflation pressure.
Detailed Description
Referring to fig. 1-6, an exemplary embodiment of a tire inflation pressure monitoring system of the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system 10 and accompanying method seek to overcome the challenges presented by prior art methods. The purpose of the proposed tire inflation pressure monitoring system is not to maintain a nominal inflation pressure, but rather to maintain a footprint centerline length that enables the tire to perform well. If the footprint centerline length deviates from a predetermined target centerline length that is known to provide optimal performance for the tire, a inflation pressure adjustment signal is issued that aims to restore a centerline length that approximates the target centerline length.
The centerline length of the tire should be monitored over the life of the tire and compared to a target centerline length. The objective is to keep the footprint centerline length within tolerance. In this case, the center line and shoulder wear of the tire are likely to wear uniformly. However, if the centerline length of the tire exceeds the maximum limit of centerline length, the footprint shape becomes more circular or elliptical, which will indicate faster shoulder wear. When the centerline length is below the minimum range, the footprint shape becomes more square or butterfly, which is a potential indicator of faster centerline wear.
Referring to FIG. 1, a system 100 estimates tire inflation adjustments on each tire 110 supporting a vehicle 10. Although the vehicle 10 is depicted as a passenger car, the invention is not so limited. The principles of the present invention are applicable to other vehicle categories, such as commercial trucks, where the vehicle may be supported by more or fewer tires than those shown in fig. 1.
The tires 110 are of conventional construction and each is mounted on a respective wheel 20 as known to those skilled in the art. Each tire 110 includes a pair of sidewalls 11 (only one of which is shown) extending to a circumferential tread 112, the circumferential tread 112 wearing as the road wears. An inner liner 113 is disposed on the inner surface of the tire 110 and forms an inner cavity 24 when the tire is mounted on the wheel 20, the inner cavity 24 being filled with a pressurized fluid, such as air.
The first sensor unit 130 is attached to the innerliner 113 of each tire 110 by means such as an adhesive, and measures a parameter indicative of the centerline length of the tire footprint, as will be described in more detail below. Preferably, the first sensor unit 130 is attached to the inner liner 113 at the equatorial plane 114 of the tyre 110.
The first sensor unit 130 optionally further comprises an electronic storage capacity for storing identification information of each tyre 110. Alternatively, such information may be included in another sensor unit, or in a separate storage medium, such as a tire identification tag, that is in electronic communication with the first sensor unit 130. The tire identification information may include tire parameters and/or manufacturing information.
Turning to fig. 2, the first sensor unit 130 (fig. 1) preferably measures the length 32 of the centerline 31 of the footprint 30 of the tire 110. When the tire 110 contacts the ground, the contact area created by the tread 11 and the ground is referred to as footprint 30. It has been proposed to characterize the shape of the footprint by measurements of different lengths, for example shoulder lengths 34 along the medial and/or lateral sides of the footprint, and the centerline 31 of the footprint 30. However, it has been observed that these factors, which characterize the overall shape using multiple measurements, show a high correlation with the centerline length 32 of the footprint 30. The centerline 31 of the footprint 30 corresponds to the equatorial center plane of the tire 100, which is a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tire and passing through the center of the tread 112. Thus, the first sensor unit 130 measures the length 32 of the centerline 31 of the print 30, which is referred to herein as the print centerline length 32. The first sensor unit 130 may employ any suitable technique for measuring the print centerline length 32. For example, the first sensor unit 130 may include a strain sensor or piezoelectric sensor that measures the deformation of the tread 112 and thus indicates the centerline length 32.
Embodiments of methods and systems according to the present invention are now described with reference to fig. 3 and 4. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system 100 includes an electronic storage capacity 140 in which a data set 150 is stored. The data 150 correlates at least one centerline length of the footprint of the tire 110 with a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure. While the data 150 may include several such pairs of data as shown in the graph 150, the minimum data set correlates the target centerline length cl_target with the corresponding target inflation pressure p_target of the tire 110. The data 150 is pre-stored in a memory element and is obtained for a given type of tyre 110 by performing test measurements under actual conditions. Alternatively, the storage element 140 may be configured as a database capable of processing queries and generating corresponding result sets. In particular, the storage element 140 may store sets of data 150 corresponding to multiple types of tires, which may be identified by tire identification data. The data 150 provided in the memory element 140 corresponds to step 01 of the method shown in fig. 3.
The tire inflation pressure monitoring system 100 further includes a vehicle, shown at 10, supported by a set of tires 110. Each tire is equipped with a first sensor unit 130, the first sensor unit 130 including a footprint centerline length measurement sensor, such as a strain sensor, to provide a signal 132 indicative of the footprint centerline length 32 (fig. 2) of the tire. The centerline length signal 132 is communicated to the processor 120. Aspects of the proposed tire inflation pressure monitoring method are executed on a processor 120, the processor 120 being capable of inputting data from a first sensor unit 130 and having at least read access to a memory element 140, and being capable of performing specific analyses and algorithms stored in a suitable storage medium and in further electronic communication with the processor. The first sensor unit 130 measures the centerline length and sends it to the processor 150 using the wireless data transmitter 134. Obtaining the centerline length signal 132 at the processor 120 corresponds to step 02 of the method shown in fig. 3.
It should be noted that in embodiments in which the storage element 140 stores multiple sets of data 150 corresponding to multiple types of tires, the data set of interest for the subsequent step is identified by any suitable tire identification data, in which alternative it may also be transmitted from the sensor unit 130 of the tire to the processor along with the centerline length signal 132. The processor 120 uses the tire identification data to retrieve corresponding data from the memory element 140.
Based on the provided input centerline length signal 132 indicative of the actual centerline length 32 of the tire 110 and using the data 150, the processor 120 generates a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal 121 indicative of a desired adjustment of the tire inflation pressure. The output signal 121 is transmitted using a transmitter 122 to a control unit of the vehicle 10, which may for example generate an audible or visual alarm for the driver. In general, both the processor 120 and the memory element 140 may be disposed within the vehicle 10 such that the processor is capable of transmitting the signal 121 to the vehicle control unit via the vehicle's CAN bus or other suitable data transmission channel.
In one embodiment of the invention, the processor 120 is configured by corresponding software code instructions to generate a difference between the centerline length 32 indicated by the received centerline length signal 132 and a predetermined target centerline length at which the tire 110 is known to provide good performance. If the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, such as 10, 20, or 50mm, a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal 121 is generated.
Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system 100 includes an electronic storage capacity 140 in which a data set 150 is stored. The data 150 correlates at least one centerline length of the footprint of the tire 110 with a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure. While the data 150 may include several such pairs of data as shown in the graph 150, the minimum data set correlates the target centerline length cl_target with the corresponding target inflation pressure p_target of the tire 110. The data 150 is pre-stored in a memory element and is obtained for a given type of tyre 110 by means of test measurements under actual conditions.
Specifically, the data 150 includes a plurality of associations between centerline lengths and corresponding tire inflation pressure values, wherein each association corresponds to a particular vehicle load L1, L2 … …. The load supported by the tire 110 of the vehicle 10 affects the centerline length 32 (fig. 2) of the tire because the latter increases with the same tire inflation pressure.
Each tire is equipped with a first sensor unit 130 that includes a footprint centerline length measurement sensor, such as a strain sensor, to provide a signal 132 indicative of the footprint centerline length 32 (fig. 2) of the tire. The centerline length signal 132 is transmitted to the processor 120 using a transmitter 134.
In addition, the vehicle is equipped with at least one load sensor 160 that is capable of transmitting a signal 162 indicative of the vehicle load to the processor 150 using a transmitter 164. Since the storage element 140 stores multiple sets of data 150 corresponding to multiple different vehicle loads, the dataset of interest for the next step is identified by the received load signal 162.
Based on the provided input centerline length signal 132 indicative of the actual centerline length 32 of the tire 110, based on the load signal 162 and using the data 150, the processor 120 generates a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal 121 indicative of a desired adjustment of the tire inflation pressure. All other aspects of the embodiment described in the context of fig. 4 still apply.
Instead of storing discrete value pairs that correlate the centerline length 32 (cl_1, cl_2, … in fig. 4 and 5) with corresponding tire inflation pressure values, the data 150 may be stored by a model, as shown in fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows a linear regression model obtained by a known mathematical method. From the measured centerline lengths and corresponding tire inflation pressure values, a linear approximation of the relationship between the two parameters is provided, as indicated by the circles in FIG. 6. It has been observed that this linear approximation provides a very good fit of the data. The model thus provides a linear relationship of the type p=a cl+b, where a and b are the matching coefficients, P is the inflation pressure in bar (bar), CL is the centerline length in mm (millimeters), and x represents the multiplication. Accordingly, it is sufficient to store the coefficients a and b in the storage element 140 and to have the processor 120 evaluate the corresponding formulas based on the received input signal 132.
Although the model is described as a linear regression model, other regression models may be employed without affecting the overall concept or operation of the invention. For example, the print length as a function of inflation pressure may be linearized over a range of operations to simplify the system. Because the print length as a function of inflation pressure may constitute a non-linear relationship over a large range, the regression model may alternatively comprise a non-linear regression model.
Although not shown, it should be noted that a corresponding linear relationship is also observed between tire inflation pressure and vehicle load. The corresponding model thus provides a linear relationship of the type p=a×cl+b×l+c, where a, b and c are matching coefficients, P is the inflation pressure in bar, CL is the centerline length in mm, L is the load in kg (kilograms), and x represents the multiplication.
In all embodiments, while the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal 121 may only indicate an increase or decrease in pressure that is required depending on the comparison between the measured centerline length 32 and the target centerline length, the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal 121 may instead carry additional information. As a non-limiting example, the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal 121 may include a predetermined target tire inflation pressure p_target at which a desired target centerline length cl_target should be obtained.
Alternatively or additionally, the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal may include an indication of the difference in data 150 between the predetermined tire inflation pressure associated with the centerline length 32 indicated by the centerline length signal 132 and the predetermined target tire inflation pressure corresponding to the target centerline length. This can be better understood with reference to fig. 6, assuming that the load of the vehicle is known. The target centerline length is a known predetermined value for a given tire. The data or linear regression model 150 directly relates the target centerline length to the target inflation pressure. Similarly, the measured centerline length is correlated to a predetermined tire inflation pressure by data or linear regression model 150. Thus, the tire inflation pressure value can be indirectly determined without actually measuring the current tire inflation pressure. The difference between this estimated current tire inflation pressure value and the target tire inflation pressure may then be provided in the output signal 121, thereby providing a clear guide as to how the tire inflation pressure needs to be changed to improve tire performance. The signal 121 allows to inform the control unit or the driver of the vehicle of an indication of the tyre condition that is not otherwise available, allowing to take action according to the signal.
Alternatively, the first sensor 130 may comprise a pressure sensor that provides a pressure measurement to the processor 120 such that an actual difference between the sensed tire inflation pressure and the target tire inflation pressure provided by the data or linear regression model 150 may be included in the output signal.
If the adjusted tire inflation pressure should exceed a predetermined minimum or maximum inflation pressure value above which the tire is unable to perform an operation, the output signal 121 may include a warning signal indicating that maintenance or replacement of the tire is required.
It should be understood that the structure and method of the tire inflation pressure monitoring system described above may be changed or rearranged, or components or steps known to those skilled in the art omitted or added, without affecting the overall concept or operation of the invention. For example, electronic communications may be through wired connections or wireless communications without affecting the overall concept or operation of the invention. Such wireless communications include Radio Frequency (RF) andAnd (5) communication.
In addition, while the present invention has been described in the context of measurement of the length of the centerline of a tire footprint, other measurements may be employed instead without affecting the overall concept or operation of the present invention. For example, measurements of footprint contact time, footprint contact angle, vertical tire deformation, and/or footprint contact area may be employed. Furthermore, although the measurement of the length of the centerline of the footprint of a tire has been described above as being related to a footprint shape change, the invention also includes the measurement of the length of the footprint that is not related to a footprint shape change.
Variations of the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims (10)
1. A tire inflation pressure monitoring system, comprising
A vehicle;
a tire supporting the vehicle;
A first sensor unit mounted on the tire, the first sensor unit including a footprint centerline length measurement sensor for measuring a centerline length of the tire footprint;
A storage element for storing data relating at least one centerline length of the tire footprint to a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure;
a processor in electronic communication with the first sensor unit and the storage element, the processor configured to
Obtaining a centerline length signal from the sensor unit, the signal being indicative of a centerline length of the tire footprint;
Based on the centerline length signal and the data, a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal is generated that indicates a desired adjustment of the tire inflation pressure.
2. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor unit is attached to an inner liner of the tire at an equatorial plane of the tire.
3. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a transmitter for transmitting the inflation pressure adjustment signal to at least one of a display device or a vehicle control system.
4. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein generating the tire inflation pressure adjustment signal comprises generating a difference between a centerline length indicated by the centerline length signal and a target centerline length stored in the data, and the processor is further configured to provide a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.
5. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an indication of a predetermined target tire inflation pressure, the indication being associated with the target centerline length in the data.
6. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an indication of a difference between a predetermined tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the centerline length indicated by the centerline length signal and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the target centerline length.
7. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an indication of a difference between the measured tire inflation pressure and a predetermined target tire inflation pressure in the data associated with the target centerline length.
8. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 1, comprising a second sensor unit comprising a vehicle load sensor, wherein the processor is in electronic communication with the second sensor unit, and wherein the processor is configured to obtain a load estimate from the second sensor unit.
9. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 8, wherein in the data, each centerline length of the tire footprint is associated with a plurality of predetermined tire inflation pressures, each tire inflation pressure corresponding to a predetermined vehicle load, and wherein the processor is configured to generate a tire inflation pressure adjustment signal based on the load estimate.
10. The tire inflation pressure monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a linear regression model that correlates a predetermined centerline length of the tire footprint with a corresponding predetermined tire inflation pressure.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
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