Automatic detection and analysis of tire treads
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for measuring a physical parameter for a tire tread comprising a computer system automatically performing the steps of:
- measuring a pressure distribution produced by a tire on a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor having an array of individual pressure sensing elements; and
processing a pressure map based on the measured pressure distribution to determine a physical parameter for the tire tread, wherein the pressure map comprises sensels, and the step of processing the pressure map comprises removing artifacts from the pressure map based on which sensels within the pressure map are above a threshold pressure.
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Abstract
A pressure sensor is used to automatically calculate physical parameters of a tire, for example, groove area fraction or shoulder center ratio. In one approach, a pressure sensor measures the pressure distribution produced by a tire when a known load is applied to the tire while it is resting on or traversing the pressure sensor. The resulting pressure map corresponds to tread area and features of the tread contact area.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for measuring a physical parameter for a tire tread comprising a computer system automatically performing the steps of:
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measuring a pressure distribution produced by a tire on a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor having an array of individual pressure sensing elements; and processing a pressure map based on the measured pressure distribution to determine a physical parameter for the tire tread, wherein the pressure map comprises sensels, and the step of processing the pressure map comprises removing artifacts from the pressure map based on which sensels within the pressure map are above a threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for measuring a physical parameter for a tire tread, comprising:
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a pressure sensor having an array of individual pressure sensing elements, the pressure sensor measuring a pressure distribution produced by the tire on the pressure sensor; a sensor electronics unit in communication with the pressure sensor, the sensor electronics unit receiving the pressure distribution measurements from the pressure sensor; and a computer in communication with the sensor electronics unit, the computer processing a pressure map based on the measured pressure distribution to determine a physical parameter for the tire tread, wherein the pressure map comprises sensels, and the computer processes the pressure map comprises removing artifacts from the pressure map based on which sensels within the pressure map are above a threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-implemented method for measuring a physical parameter for a tire tread comprising a computer system automatically performing the steps of:
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measuring a pressure distribution produced by a tire on a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor having an array of individual pressure sensing elements; and processing a pressure map based on the measured pressure distribution to determine a physical parameter for the tire tread, wherein the step of processing the pressure map comprises; identifying at least one feature of the tire tread, and calculating the physical parameter using the identified feature; and wherein the step of identifying at least one feature of the tire tread comprises identifying bands of pressure that correspond to ribs in the tire tread.
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19. A computer-implemented method for measuring a physical parameter for a tire tread comprising a computer system automatically performing the steps of:
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measuring a pressure distribution produced by a tire on a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor having an array of individual pressure sensing elements; and processing a pressure map based on the measured pressure distribution to determine a physical parameter for the tire tread, wherein the step of processing the pressure map comprises; identifying at least one feature of the tire tread, and calculating the physical parameter using the identified feature; and wherein the step of identifying at least one feature of the tire tread comprises identifying a center line of the tire tread.
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20. A computer-implemented method for measuring a physical parameter for a tire tread comprising a computer system automatically performing the steps of:
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measuring a pressure distribution produced by a tire on a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor having an array of individual pressure sensing elements; and processing a pressure map based on the measured pressure distribution to determine a physical parameter for the tire tread, wherein the step of processing the pressure map comprises; identifying at least one feature of the tire tread, and calculating the physical parameter using the identified feature; and wherein the step of identifying at least one feature of the tire tread comprises identifying a shoulder rib line of the tire tread.
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Specification