Non-destructive inspection of tires using radar tomography

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024192359-A1
Application number	US-202318511052-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 16, 2023
Priority date	Dec 12, 2022
Publication date	Jun 13, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are examples related to non-destructive examination of tires using radar tomography. A radar signal can be used to illuminate a portion of a tire. Reflected radar signals can be received and used to generate a 3D image of at least the portion of the tire. The radar signals can illuminate a tread of the tire, an innerliner of the tire, and/or one or both sidewalls of the tire. The 3D image can include structural information of the tire that can be used to identify defects or damage in the tire. The examination can be conducted on new tires during fabrication, on existing tires during operation, and/or on used tires during refurbishment.

First claim

Therefore, the following is claimed:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit a radar signal to illuminate a portion of a tire; a receiver configured to receive reflected radar signals from the portion of the tire; and processing circuitry comprising a processor, the processing circuitry configured to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image of at least the portion of the tire, the 3D image based at least in part upon the reflected radar signals.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the 3D image comprises gauge information for layers of material in the tire.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the 3D image comprises foreign object damage information for the tire.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radar signal is transmitted via a first antenna or antenna array and the reflected radar signals are received via a second antenna or antenna array.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radar signal illuminates a portion of a tread of the tire, the radar signal extending across a width of the tread from shoulder-to-shoulder.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the tire is illuminated by the radar signal while rotating, and the receiver receives reflected radar signals during the rotation of the tire.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the tire is held in a fixed position, and the receiver receives reflected radar signals during rotation of the transmitter and receiver around the tire.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radar signal illuminates a portion of an innerliner of the tire.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a handheld apparatus configured to render the 3D image on a display.

10 . A method, comprising:
transmitting radar signals to illuminate a portion of a surface of a tire; receiving reflected radar signals from the portion of the surface of the tire; and generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of at least the portion of the tire, the 3D image based at least in part upon the reflected radar signals.

11 . The method of claim 10 , comprising identifying foreign object damage in the tire based at least in part upon the 3D image.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the 3D image comprises gauge information for an innerliner of the tire.

13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising identifying a thin spot in the innerliner based at least in part upon the 3D image.

14 . The method of claim 10 , comprising rotating the tire during transmission of the radar signals and reception of the reflected radar signals.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the portion of the surface of the tire comprises a sidewall of the tire.

16 . A system, comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit a radar signal to illuminate a portion of a tire; a receiver configured to receive reflected radar signals from the portion of the tire; at least one computing device configured to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image of at least the portion of the tire; and processing circuitry configured to communicate reflected radar data corresponding the reflected radar signals to the at least one computing device, the 3D image based at least in part upon the reflected radar data.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the transmitter, the receiver and the processing circuitry are located on a vehicle adjacent to the tire, and the processing circuitry is configured to communicate the reflected radar data to the at least one computing device via a wireless link.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one computing device is remotely located, and the wireless link is a cellular data link.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one computing device is a vehicle computing device and the vehicle computing device is configured to identify damage to the tire based at least in part upon the 3D image and provide a notification of the identified damage.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the portion of the tire comprises a sidewall of the tire.

Assignees

• Goodyear Tire & Rubber

Inventors

• Boehlefeld Robert John
• Pulford Carl Trevor Ross
• Quinn Christy Lyn
• Davis Gary Lynn

Classifications

• G01S13/89 Primary

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• G01S7/41

  using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section · CPC title

• G01S13/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title