Thermal monitoring system for a tire
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a tire comprising:
- a pair of sensors comprising a first and a second thermal sensor each to be carried by a vehicle, the first thermal sensor for sensing the temperature difference between a first and second location on the tire, the second thermal sensor for sensing the temperature difference between a third and fourth location on the tire;
a signal processing device in communication with the first and second thermal sensors, the signal processing device for producing a processing device output signal representative of a potential damage condition of the tire; and
an indication device in communication with the signal processing device for indicating to a user of the vehicle that the tire is experiencing the potential damage condition.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal monitoring system for use with a tire is provided. The system includes one or more thermal sensors that are carried by a vehicle. One of the thermal sensors may produce a first sensor output signal that is representative of the temperature of a first location on the tire. Additionally, a second sensor output signal may be produced that is representative of the temperature of a second location on the tire. A signal processing device is included that receives the first and second sensor output signals. The signal processing device produces a processing device output signal that is representative of a potential damage condition of the tire. This signal is produced in response to a particular temperature difference between the first and second locations as indicated by the first and second sensor output signals. An indication device receives the processing device signal and indicates to a user of the vehicle that the tire is experiencing a potential damage condition.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a tire comprising:
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a pair of sensors comprising a first and a second thermal sensor each to be carried by a vehicle, the first thermal sensor for sensing the temperature difference between a first and second location on the tire, the second thermal sensor for sensing the temperature difference between a third and fourth location on the tire;
a signal processing device in communication with the first and second thermal sensors, the signal processing device for producing a processing device output signal representative of a potential damage condition of the tire; and
an indication device in communication with the signal processing device for indicating to a user of the vehicle that the tire is experiencing the potential damage condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a tire,
the tire having a first and second location on the outer surface of the tire at a location proximate to a first side edge of a radial belt section of the tire, the second location on the outer surface of the tire and circumferentially spaced from the first location, the tire having a third and fourth location on the outer surface of the tire at a location proximate to a second side edge of the radial belt section of the tire, the fourth location on the outer surface of the tire circumferentially spaced from the third location; - the apparatus comprising;
a pair of sensors comprising a first and a second thermal sensor each being carried by the vehicle, the first thermal sensor for sensing the temperature difference between the first and second locations on the tire, the second thermal sensor for sensing the temperature difference between the third and fourth locations on the tire;
a signal processing device in communication with the first and second thermal sensors, the signal processing device generating a processing device output signal representative of a potential damage condition of the tire, the processing device output signal being produced when at least an approximately five degree Celsius temperature difference between the first and second locations or at least an approximately five degree Celsius temperature difference between the third and fourth locations occurs for a time period greater than approximately ten minutes; and
an indication device in communication with the signal processing device for indicating to a user of the vehicle that the tire is experiencing the potential damage condition.
- the apparatus comprising;
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12. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a tire comprising:
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a first thermal sensor carried by a vehicle, the first thermal sensor for producing a first sensor output signal representative of the temperature of a first location on a tire, and a second sensor output signal representative of the temperature of a second location on the tire;
a signal processing device for receiving the first and second sensor output signals, the signal processing device producing a processing device output signal representative of a potential damage condition of the tire in response to a particular temperature difference between the first and second locations as indicated by the first and second sensor output signals; and
an indication device for receiving the processing device output signal and indicating to a user of the vehicle that the tire is experiencing the potential damage condition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a tire comprising:
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a thermal array to be carried by a vehicle, the thermal array producing a first array location output signal representative of the temperature of a first array location on a tire, the thermal array producing a second array location output signal representative of the temperature of a second array location on the tire;
a signal processing device receiving the first and second array location output signals, the signal processing device producing a processing device output signal representative of a potential damage condition of the tire in response to a particular temperature difference between the first and second array locations as indicated by the first and second array location output signals; and
an indication device receiving the processing device output signal and indicating to a user of the vehicle that the tire is experiencing the potential damage condition.
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25. A method for monitoring the condition of a tire, comprising:
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producing a first sensor output signal representative of the temperature at a first location on the outer surface of a tire;
producing a second sensor output signal representative of the temperature at a second location on the tire;
receiving the first and second sensor output signals;
producing a processing device output signal representative of a potential damage condition of the tire in response to a particular temperature difference indicated by the first and second sensor output signals; and
indicating to a user that the tire is experiencing the potential damage condition in response to the processing device output signal. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a tire, comprising:
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a pair of sensors comprising a first and a second thermal sensor each carried by a vehicle, the first and second thermal sensors sensing the temperature at different locations on the tire;
a signal processing device in communication with the first and second thermal sensors, the signal processing device producing a processing device output signal representative of a potential damage condition of the tire; and
an indicator device in communication with the signal processing device and indicating to a user of the vehicle that the tire is experiencing the potential damage condition. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for monitoring the condition of a tire, comprising:
- at least two sensors carried by a vehicle and positioned so as to sense the temperature at locations on at least two different tires of the vehicle such that the sensors are configured for measuring the temperature difference between different locations on one tire and for measuring the temperature difference between different locations on the other tire;
a signal processing device in communication with the sensors, the signal processing device producing a processing device output signal representative of a potential damage condition of a tire; and
an indicator device in communication with the signal processing device and indicating to a user of the vehicle that at least one tire is experiencing the potential damage condition. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
- at least two sensors carried by a vehicle and positioned so as to sense the temperature at locations on at least two different tires of the vehicle such that the sensors are configured for measuring the temperature difference between different locations on one tire and for measuring the temperature difference between different locations on the other tire;
Specification