Tyre condition analysis
US10605697B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2016 |
| Grant date | Mar 31, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/188
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The condition of a tyre (5) on a wheel (2) is assessed while the wheel (2) is mounted on a vehicle (1) and while the vehicle (1) is moving. As the vehicle (1) moves, the tyre (5) rotates and moves longitudinally along a path of movement. An imaging device (3, 4) captures images of a plurality of different portions (7) of the periphery of the tyre (5), which has tread portions (10) separated by tread gaps (11), whilst the tyre (5) revolves. While the images are being captured, longitudinally spaced flash units (F1, F2, F3, F4) are activated to illuminate portions (7) of the periphery of the tyre (5). The flash units (F1, F2, F3, F4) are positioned to one side of the path of movement of the tyre (5) and direct light at an acute angle to the path of movement of the tyre (5) so that the light causes shadows to be cast in the tread gaps (11) between tread portions (10). Each flash unit (F1, F2, F3, F4) causes a series of flashes of light to be produced when the flash unit (F1, F2, F3, F4) is activated, each flash of light in the series being separated from the next flash of light in the series by an interval. For any flash units (F1, F2, F3, F4) which are activated at the same time and …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.