TIRE TREAD TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND DIAGNOSTICS FOR IN-VEHICLE DISPLAY

• US 20140180534A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Son, Young
• Granted Patent: US 9,085,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/34.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only

Abstract

A tire tread temperature sensing and display apparatus, system and method are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a temperature sensor, a controller and a display. The sensor is configured to be mounted to a vehicle and to sense tire tread temperature. The controller is configured to receive and process temperature measurements and to communicate to a display, the display configured to display temperature related information in response to communication from the controller.

Claims

1. A tire tread temperature sensing apparatus comprising:

a measurement device comprising a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the temperature sensor further configured to sense temperature of a tire'"'"'s tread;

a controller, the controller configured to receive and process temperature measurements and to communicate to a display; and

a display configured to display temperature related information in response to communication from the controller.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared thermometer.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermal camera.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple embedded in the tire'"'"'s tread.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an actuator for positioning the sensing element relative the tire'"'"'s tread.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the sensing element comprises a tire pyrometer probe.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense temperature of at least three areas of the tire'"'"'s tread.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least three areas comprise the inner, the outer and the center tread.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display the individual tire'"'"'s tread temperature.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the individual tire'"'"'s tread temperature is displayed as a color.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the individual tire'"'"'s tread temperature comprises temperature of at least three areas of the tire'"'"'s tread.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display tire traction information.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense driving surface temperature.

14. A method of diagnosing tire tread temperature comprising:

receiving tire'"'"'s tread temperature measurement from a vehicle mounted measurement device;

analyzing the tire'"'"'s tread temperature measurement;

diagnosing vehicle state based on the analysis;

displaying information based on the diagnosis of the vehicle state.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the information is a warning that the tire'"'"'s tread temperature is not safe for driving.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the information is indicative of percentage of maximum traction available.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the information is indicative of a condition not correctable with a change in driving style.

18. A system of diagnosing tire tread temperature comprising:

a vehicle comprising at least one tire;

a measurement device comprising a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor mounted to the vehicle, the temperature sensor further configured to sense the temperature of the tire'"'"'s tread;

a controller disposed in the vehicle, the controller configured to receive and process temperature measurements and to communicate with a display; and

a display configured to display temperature related information in response to communication from the controller.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense driving surface temperature.

20. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein the controller and the display are mounted to the vehicle.