Direct contact force measurement system
First Claim
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1. A direct contact force measurement system for determining a normal force exerted onto a driving surface from at least one vehicle tire, the direct contact force measurement system comprising:
- a plurality of strain sensors attached to the at least one vehicle tire, the plurality of strain sensors comprising means for sensing the strain on a portion of the at least one vehicle tire proximate each respective strain sensor; and
a data processor in communication with the plurality of strain sensors for receiving a strain signal therefrom indicative of the sensed strain on the at least one vehicle tire, wherein the data processor comprises means for computing the normal force exerted onto the driving surface from the at least one vehicle tire based on the sensed strain on the at least one vehicle tire.
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Abstract
A system for measuring forces from a rotating object is presented. In one aspect, the measurement system has a plurality of strain sensors that are configured to attach to the sidewall of a tire of a vehicle and measure the strain on the sidewall. The system can also have a data processor to relate the strain on the sidewall to the normal force exerted on the driving surface from the tire.
12 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A direct contact force measurement system for determining a normal force exerted onto a driving surface from at least one vehicle tire, the direct contact force measurement system comprising:
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a plurality of strain sensors attached to the at least one vehicle tire, the plurality of strain sensors comprising means for sensing the strain on a portion of the at least one vehicle tire proximate each respective strain sensor; and a data processor in communication with the plurality of strain sensors for receiving a strain signal therefrom indicative of the sensed strain on the at least one vehicle tire, wherein the data processor comprises means for computing the normal force exerted onto the driving surface from the at least one vehicle tire based on the sensed strain on the at least one vehicle tire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A direct contact force measurement system for determining a normal force exerted onto a driving surface from at least one vehicle tire, the direct contact force measurement system comprising:
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a plurality of strain sensors attached to the at least one vehicle tire, the plurality of strain sensors comprising means for sensing the strain on a portion of the at least one vehicle tire proximate each respective strain sensor; a data collection device in communication with the plurality of strain sensors, wherein the data collection device is configured to receive a strain signal therefrom the plurality of strain sensors indicative of the sensed strain on the at least one vehicle tire, and wherein the data collection device is configured to selectively transmit the strain signal; and a data processor in communication with the data collection device, wherein the data processor is configured to receive the strain signal from the data collection device, and wherein the data processor comprises means for computing the normal force exerted onto the driving surface from the at least one vehicle tire based on the sensed strain on the at least one vehicle tire. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for determining a normal force exerted onto a driving surface from at least one vehicle tire, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of strain sensors comprising means for sensing strain proximate each respective strain sensor, each strain sensor configured to produce a strain signal; attaching the plurality of strain sensors to the at least one vehicle tire; positioning the at least one vehicle tire on the driving surface; rotating the at least one vehicle tire; sensing the strain on the plurality of strain sensors during the rotation of the at least one vehicle tire, wherein the strain signal is indicative of the sensed strain on the at least one vehicle tire; and computing, using a processor the normal force exerted onto the driving surface from the at least one vehicle tire based on the sensed strain on the at least one vehicle tire. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification