Intelligent tire system

• US 9,475,351 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Yeom, Myung Ki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyons, Michael A
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US14/321,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20150153250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/066 by monitoring wheel-centre to ground distance

Abstract

An intelligent tire system may include a bearing assembly enclosing a wheel rim and a sensor module installed to be relatively rotated with respect to the wheel rim by the bearing assembly and continuously sensing an inner surface of a tire contacting a road.

Claims

1. An intelligent tire system, comprising:

a bearing assembly enclosing a wheel rim; and

a sensor module installed to be relatively rotated with respect to the wheel rim by the bearing assembly and continuously sensing an inner surface of a tire contacting a road,

wherein the bearing assembly includes;

an inner race fixed to the wheel rim;

an outer race having the sensor module fixed thereto and relatively rotating with respect to the inner race; and

a roller installed between the inner race and the outer race.

2. The intelligent tire system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor module has a sensor installed at an end portion thereof, the sensor sensing the inner surface of the tire contacting the road.

3. The intelligent tire system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor module has a light source installed at a side portion thereof, the light source illuminating the inner surface of the tire contacting the road.

4. The intelligent tire system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a camera sensor.

5. The intelligent tire system according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the tire is provided with a pattern, and the sensor senses the pattern.

6. The intelligent tire system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a wireless transmitting unit receiving information on the sensed pattern from the sensor;

a wireless receiving unit receiving the information on the pattern input through the sensor from the wireless transmitting unit; and

an intelligent tire Engine Control Unit (ECU) receiving the information on the sensed pattern from the wireless receiving unit and determining variation of the information on the pattern varied according to variation of the tire.

7. The intelligent tire system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first magnetic substance installed in the sensor module; and

a second magnetic substance installed on a car body positioned over the first magnetic substance and limiting a rotation of the first magnetic substance by magnetic force therebetween.

8. The intelligent tire system according to claim 7, wherein the first magnetic substance and the second magnetic substance are a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

9. The intelligent tire system according to claim 7, wherein the car body having the second magnetic substance installed thereon is a brake dust cover.