Method and apparatus for environmental protection of drive-over tire tread depth optical sensors
First Claim
1. A drive-over optical tire tread depth sensor system, comprising, an optical component having an illuminating laser optical axis and an optical imaging sensor field of view;
- a vehicle support surface in spaced proximity to said optical component; and
an air discharge system disposed in proximity to said optical axis or field of view, said air discharge system including at least one air discharge opening oriented to direct pressurized air to displace environmental contaminates, debris or liquids accumulated between said vehicle support surface and said optical component from said optical axis or field of view.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive-over tire tread depth measurement system is configured with components for preventing or impeding environmental contaminates from falling through openings in a vehicle support surface or cover plate onto sensor optical windows and adjacent surfaces. The components may include active mechanisms, in the form of air discharge assemblies, movable shields, guards, wipers or deflectors, and/or passive components such as drip edges, water-accumulating textured surfaces, flow diverters, and selectively placed flanges or fixed guards which operate cooperatively to displace accumulated contaminates, debris, or liquids from the optical windows and adjacent sensor surfaces on a periodic basis.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A drive-over optical tire tread depth sensor system, comprising, an optical component having an illuminating laser optical axis and an optical imaging sensor field of view;
- a vehicle support surface in spaced proximity to said optical component; and
an air discharge system disposed in proximity to said optical axis or field of view, said air discharge system including at least one air discharge opening oriented to direct pressurized air to displace environmental contaminates, debris or liquids accumulated between said vehicle support surface and said optical component from said optical axis or field of view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- a vehicle support surface in spaced proximity to said optical component; and
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18. An improved drive-over optical tire tread depth sensor system having an optical axis or field of view associated with an optical component disposed in proximity to a vehicle support surface or cover plate having at least one opening in alignment with the optical axis or field of view, the improvement comprising:
at least one environmental protection feature selected from a set of environmental protection features including a movable shutter associated with said at least one opening, a fluid flow deflecting element on said vehicle support surface or said cover plate in proximity to said at least one opening, an entrapping gutter below said at least one opening, a wiper mechanism configured to sweep a wiper across said at least one optical axis or field of view, and an air discharge assembly for periodically discharging a flow or blast of pressurize air across said at least one optical axis or field of view. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for preventing an accumulation of environmental contaminates, debris, or liquids on a surface of a drive-over optical tire tread depth sensor system disposed below a vehicle support surface or cover plate having at least one opening in alignment with an illuminating laser optical axis or an optical imaging sensor field of view, comprising:
activating an air discharge assembly to discharge pressurize air to displace accumulated contaminates, debris, or liquids from said illuminating laser optical axis or said optical imaging sensor field of view. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
Specification