Precision Tire Monitoring Systems and Technologies

Handheld device for quickly analyzing tire condition by capturing detailed images of the tread, sidewalls, and other tire features. The device uses cameras and sensors to create 3D models of the tire surface, measure tread depth, and detect anomalies. It provides real-time feedback and warnings for wear, damage, alignment issues, etc.

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A tire pressure detection system with separated antennas that can transmit tire pressure data to vehicle systems and personal devices like smartphones. The system uses both radio frequency (RF) and Bluetooth signals from separate antennas in the tire pressure sensors. The RF antenna transmits to the vehicle's tire-pressure monitoring system, while the Bluetooth antenna transmits to external devices like smartphones. This eliminates the need for a separate signal converter in the vehicle and allows a direct display of tire pressure on personal devices.

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Estimating tire wear using tire-mounted sensors and predictive models to provide accurate and reliable estimation of tire wear. The system uses tire sensors to generate one predictor of wear, and a lookup table or database to provide a second predictor including vehicle effects. These predictors are input into a model like an Artificial Neural Network to estimate tire wear rate.

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Automatic tire pressure monitoring system that tops up vehicle tires when they are under-inflated. It uses pressure sensors in the wheels to monitor tire pressure and a compressor to add air when needed. When a tire is below a safe level, the system activates the compressor to fill it to the proper pressure and maintain it there. The driver is warned if any tires are low.

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A retightening notification system that alerts vehicle users to retighten wheel bolts. It uses a travel distance sensor to track how far a vehicle has traveled since the wheels were last tightened. When this distance exceeds a threshold specific to the vehicle, it triggers a notification to retighten the wheel bolts. This prevents loose bolts from causing wheels to come off while driving.

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A system that predicts tire wear to enable proactive fleet management tasks like maintenance and replacements. The system uses a hierarchical data structure to aggregate historical tire tread values based on various parameters like vehicle, tire model, driver, route, etc. When current tread values are provided, the system matches them with similar historical values to predict wear rates.

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Tire-pressure monitoring system with automatic tire positioning for vehicles. The system uses phase angle differences between tire sensors and receiver antennas to accurately determine the horizontal and longitudinal positions of tires on a vehicle. This allows the tire sensors to be automatically positioned after installation without manual input or calibration.

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A tire sensor assembly combined with an internal wheel balancer for vehicle tires. The assembly includes a tire sensor like a TPMS system along with an internal wheel balancer belt containing loose balancing media like steel shot. The sensor and balancer are combined inside the tire to provide monitoring and balancing functions in one unit. The balancer belt extends around the tire circumference and includes couplers to join the ends. The interior cavity holds the balancing media.

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A method for checking vehicle tire pressure using sensors on the vehicle body to detect vibrations and oscillations when a person enters the vehicle. The vehicle body vibrations are analyzed in the frequency domain to identify natural resonant frequencies. These resonant frequencies are compared to reference values determined at the proper tire pressure. Deviations in the frequency response indicate a change in tire pressure, such as a puncture or leak, which could affect roadworthiness.

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Device for rotating and inspecting vehicle tires to prevent flat spots when parked for extended periods. The device has a housing with a ramp and depression on the upper surface. Multiple devices are arranged on the floor and a vehicle can drive onto them so the tires rest in the depressions. This lifts the tires off the ground to prevent flat spotting.

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Handheld device and method for obtaining a 3D profile of a tire surface to inspect tread depth, tire wear, alignment, and other characteristics. The device projects a pattern of light onto the tire surface, images the pattern using a camera as it rolls over the tire on guide wheels, and uses rotation encoding to build a 3D topological profile of the tire.

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A tire with an embedded RFID tag that allows long-range wireless tracking of the tire. The tire has a separate cover layer over the RFID tag that contains insulating and reinforcing fillers and has a resistance of 107 ohm-meters or higher. This cover effectively protects the RFID tag from physical and mechanical impacts while increasing the radio wave recognition distance compared to unmodified rubber.

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Assisting in fitting a tire on a wheel rim before assembly on a vehicle to avoid RFID tag interference using a tire fitting system. The system determines the location of the RFID tag on the tire and the location of the air valve on the rim. It provides alignment instructions to align the tire on the rim so the RFID tag lines up with the valve stem. This ensures consistent alignment to avoid interference when mounted.

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A system for properly pairing tire sensors and RFID tags when fitting tires to wheels to avoid confusion in noisy environments like tire fitting centers. The system receives the RFID tag ID and multiple tire sensor signals from the fitted wheels. It uses the sensor status information indicating how they were activated to determine which sensor is associated with the RFID tag. It can also check activation times to further discriminate between sensors.

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A method to detect a change in the location of vehicle wheels using existing tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that have wheel units on each tire and a central unit. The method involves emitting and recording patterns of messages from the central unit to each wheel unit when the vehicle is running. These patterns are then compared over time to see if the wheel location has changed.

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Indirect tire pressure monitoring using wheel speed sensors that estimate tire pressure changes by analyzing changes in wheel speed. This is done by determining a "decompression determination indicator" based on wheel speed changes when the tire pressure decreases. The indicator is then compensated for turning using the wheel speed information alone. This allows distinguishing tire pressure changes from turning versus actual deflation. The compensated indicator is then used to determine if the tire is deflating.

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A method and system to monitor vehicle tire conditions using acoustic analysis. The method involves analyzing the frequency spectrum of the tire's acoustic response when subjected to a mechanical stress pulse. By identifying specific spikes in the spectrum, information about tire pressure and load can be determined. The system includes a microphone inside the tire that wirelessly transmits the acoustic data to an external computer for analysis.

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A tire pressure management system for trucks and trailers that allows automatic tire inflation while driving. The system uses a central pressurized fluid source like an air tank on the vehicle to supply air to the tires. A rotary union mounted on the wheel hub allows the pressurized air to pass through to the tire without leaking. The union has bearings to enable rotation of the hub around the axle while maintaining a sealed connection.

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Monitoring system for self-inflating tires to detect and warn of tire defects rather than routine maintenance inflation. The system monitors the activity of the self-inflation system and other vehicle conditions to determine if the tire is in good condition. It warns the driver if the self-inflation system is working more than expected for a good tire.

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A pressure sensing assembly that can be easily attached to a bicycle wheel rim to quickly and easily detect and indicate the tire pressure. The assembly includes a housing that attaches to the rim and a pressure-sensing element inside the housing that measures the tire pressure. A pressure-transmitting member connects from the housing to the tire to transmit the pressure to the sensing element.

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