TIRE MONITOR

• US 20170368890A1
• Filed: 06/24/2016
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rodriguez Vazquez, Jorge Manuel, Leff Yaffe, Jonatan, Merino, Carlos Emilio, Garcia, Luis Manuel
• Application Number:
  US15/192,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20170368890A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/246 Tread wear monitoring systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/307 using data concerning maintenance or configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/34 of conditions of vehicle components, e.g. of windows, door locks or gear selectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/027 using light, e.g. infrared, ultraviolet or holographic techniques

Abstract

A vehicle includes: a tire monitor, located in a wheel arch and configured to: project beam(s) onto a tire, measure reflection(s) of the beam(s); memory, processor(s) configured to, based on the reflection(s): build a two-dimensional (2D) profile of the tire, compare depths of the built profile to depths of a preloaded profile, assess tire wear based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a tire monitor, located in a wheel arch and configured to;

project beam(s) onto a tire, measure reflection(s) of the beam(s);

memory, processor(s) configured to, based on the reflection(s);

build a two-dimensional (2D) profile of the tire, compare depths of the built profile to depths of a preloaded profile, assess tire wear based on the comparison.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

activate a vehicle theft alarm based on the reflection(s), or lack thereof.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

determine a ride height of the vehicle based on the reflection(s).

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

determine whether the built profile matches the preloaded profile before performing the comparison.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

determine the match by comparing width(s) of the built profile against width(s) of the preloaded profile.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

only determine the match by comparing the width(s) of the built profile against the width(s) of the preloaded profile.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the width(s) extend in a direction perpendicular to a radius of the tire.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

run a tire monitoring program that builds the two-dimensional (2D) profile of the tire, compares the built profile to the preloaded profile, and assesses the tire wear based on the comparison.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

run the tire monitoring program based on a set schedule.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

select the preloaded profile based on tire pressure, tire temperature, and tire load.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

execute a search routine based on the comparison.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

rotate the tire in opposing directions as part of the search routine.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the tire monitor includes a moisture sensor and the processor(s) are configured to:

abstain from building the 2D profile when a sensed moisture level exceeds a predetermined moisture level.

14. A method of monitoring a tire with a vehicle including a tire monitor located in a wheel arch, memory, and processor(s), the method comprising:

with the tire monitor;

projecting beam(s) onto a tire, measuring reflection(s) of the beams;

with the processor(s) and based on the reflection(s);

building a two-dimensional (2D) profile of the tire, comparing depths of the built profile to depths of a preloaded profile, assessing tire wear based on the comparison.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising:

activating a vehicle theft alarm based on the reflection(s) or lack thereof.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

determining a ride height of the vehicle based on the reflection(s).

17. The method of claim 14, comprising:

determining whether the built profile matches the preloaded profile before performing the comparison.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

determining the match by comparing width(s) of the built profile against width(s) of the preloaded profile.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

only determining the match by comparing the width(s) of the built profile against the width(s) of the preloaded profile.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the width(s) extend in a direction perpendicular to a radius of the tire.