Systems and methods for detecting wear of brake pads
First Claim
1. A system for indicating wear of a brake pad attached to a vehicle, comprising:
- a brake housing;
a brake pad mechanically coupled to the brake housing, the brake pad having electrically conductive material dispersed within an internal portion of the brake pad, wherein the internal portion is at least partially conductive to electrical current and has a measurable electrical resistivity;
at least two electrodes at least partially contacting the internal portion of the brake pad, wherein the at least two electrodes measure the electrical resistivity of the internal portion, wherein the electrical resistivity indicates a thickness of the internal portion of the brake pad after the internal portion has been eroded by a rotating portion of a wheel, and wherein the electrical resistivity is proportional to the thickness; and
an on-board electronic module electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes and mechanically coupled to the vehicle, wherein the on-board electronic module is configured to receive data associated with the thickness.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system can be used to indicate wear of a brake pad. The system can include a brake housing, a brake pad mechanically coupled to the brake housing, and a sensor mechanically coupled to the brake pad. The sensor can determine when the brake pad has been worn to a predetermined location by a rotating portion of a wheel. The system can also include an electronic module electrically coupled to the sensor and mechanically coupled to the brake housing. The electronic module can include a radio frequency antenna configured to wirelessly receive radio frequency energy from an external radio frequency transmitter, and an energy converter electrically coupled to the radio frequency antenna. The electronic module can include an internal transmitter electrically coupled to the energy converter and the radio frequency antenna.
26 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A system for indicating wear of a brake pad attached to a vehicle, comprising:
-
a brake housing; a brake pad mechanically coupled to the brake housing, the brake pad having electrically conductive material dispersed within an internal portion of the brake pad, wherein the internal portion is at least partially conductive to electrical current and has a measurable electrical resistivity; at least two electrodes at least partially contacting the internal portion of the brake pad, wherein the at least two electrodes measure the electrical resistivity of the internal portion, wherein the electrical resistivity indicates a thickness of the internal portion of the brake pad after the internal portion has been eroded by a rotating portion of a wheel, and wherein the electrical resistivity is proportional to the thickness; and an on-board electronic module electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes and mechanically coupled to the vehicle, wherein the on-board electronic module is configured to receive data associated with the thickness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system for indicating wear of a brake pad attached to a vehicle, comprising:
-
a brake pad having electrically conductive material dispersed within an internal portion of the brake pad, wherein the internal portion is at least partially conductive to electrical current and has a measurable electrical resistivity; and at least two electrodes at least partially contacting the internal portion of the brake pad, wherein the at least two electrodes measure the electrical resistivity of the internal portion of the brake pad, wherein the electrical resistivity indicates a thickness of the internal portion of the brake pad after the internal portion has been eroded by a rotating portion of a wheel, and wherein the electrical resistivity is proportional to a thickness of the internal portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification