System and method to monitor wear of an object

• US 20070222614A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patricia Rapp
• Original Assignee: Patricia Rapp
• Inventors: Rapp, Patricia
• Application Number:
  US11/388,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222614A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.800
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/243 Tread wear sensors, e.g. electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0483 Wireless routers between wheel mounted transmitters and chassis mounted receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07764 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier attachable to a tire tire temperature or pressur control arrangements, see B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2241 used in or for vehicle tyres

Abstract

A system and method to monitor wear of an object that uses a radio frequency identification tag embedded in the object at a depth that is indicative of wear conditions of the object, a radio frequency transceiver in communication with the radio frequency identification tag, and a data processing subsystem that receives status information from the radio frequency transceiver and processes the status information to a user interface. When the object reaches a certain wear point, the radio frequency identification tag becomes exposed and damaged from the ongoing wear conditions, causing the radio frequency signal between the tag and the transceiver to cease, thus providing an indication that a wear point on the object has been attained.

Claims

1. A system to monitor wear of an object comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag embedded in the object at a depth that is indicative of wear conditions of the object;

a radio frequency transceiver in communication with the radio frequency identification tag; and

a data processing subsystem that receives status information from the radio frequency transceiver and processes the status information to a user interface.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a tire.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a roller.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a hose.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a gear.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a pulley.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a belt.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a track.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a skid.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, further including an antenna operatively coupled to said radio frequency identification tag.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, further including a wheel strap attached to said radio frequency transceiver for attaching said radio frequency transceiver to a wheel.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, further including a plurality of radio frequency identification tags embedded in the object at depths that are indicative of wear conditions of the object.

13. A system to detect wear of an object comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag embedded in the object;

a data processing subsystem in temporary wireless communication with the embedded radio frequency identification tag; and

a user interface operatively coupled to the data processing subsystem for providing information related to the wear conditions of the object.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the user interface is handheld.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the data processing subsystem further contains a floor mountable transceiver for communicating with said radio frequency identification tag.

16. A method for monitoring wear of an object that contains an embedded radio frequency identification tag, the method comprising the steps of:

interrogating the embedded radio frequency identification tag;

determining if the interrogation of the embedded radio frequency identification tag was successful; and

providing an indication to a user that the object is worn if the interrogation is not successful.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step performed, when the interrogation of the embedded radio frequency identification tag is successful, of:

continuing to interrogate the embedded radio frequency identification tag.

18. A method for monitoring wear of an object that contains a plurality of embedded radio frequency identification tags, the method comprising the steps of:

interrogating a first embedded radio frequency identification tag;

determining if the interrogation of the first embedded radio frequency identification tag was successful;

providing an indication to a user that the object is worn if the interrogation of the first embedded radio frequency identification tag is not successful;

interrogating a second embedded radio frequency identification tag;

determining if the interrogation of the second embedded radio frequency identification tag was successful; and

providing an indication to a user that the object is worn if the interrogation of the second embedded radio frequency identification tag is not successful.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step performed, when the interrogation of the second embedded radio frequency identification tag is successful, of:

continuing to interrogate the first and the second embedded radio frequency identification tags.