METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to the system for measuring the slip of a tyre with respect to a rim on which said tyre is mounted.

In particular, the system comprises a first electronic device, applied in use on the inner surface of the tyre, a second electronic device, applied in use on the rim, for example on the rim channel, as well as a processing unit (external to said electronic devices), where said system is configured to measure the slip over time of a tyre with respect to the rim, when the tyre is in use, on the basis of a variation of an angle, arranged between a first axis (passing through the center of the tyre and the point of application of the first electronic device on the tyre) and a second axis (passing through the center of the tyre and the point of application of the second electronic device on the rim), with respect to a reference angle.

Consequently, the measure of the slip is a dynamic measure.

Each electronic device is configured at least to acquire data, filter and store said data, as well as send them to said processing unit, and said processing unit is configured at least to acquire the data sent by said electronic devices and process said data to measure the slip between tyre and rim.

The expression "slip" refers to the variation of an angle arranged between a first axis, passing through the center of the tyre and a first point coinciding with the point of the internal surface of the tyre where the first electronic device is applied, and a second axis, passing through the center of the tyre and a second point coinciding with the point of the rim where the second electronic device is applied, with respect to a reference angle.

The present invention also relates to a method for measuring the slip of the tyre with respect to the rim on which said tyre is mounted. Prior art

As is known, in the motor vehicle sector, in particular in the agricultural vehicle sector, the slip of one or more tyres with respect to the respective rims (on which each tyre is mounted), can cause significant damage to the tyres and compromise the integrity of said tyres during use.

Therefore, the slip of a tyre with respect to a rim is a risk for the safety of users.

In the agricultural vehicle sector, the slip of a tyre with respect to the rim can be tolerated within certain limits, without this slip causes irreversible damages to the tyre and/or rim.

Consequently, it is necessary to monitor the slip of a tyre with respect to a rim to avoid that damages to the tyre are such that the tyre needs to be replaced.

Currently, a device for monitoring the operation of a tyre comprising a slip detection device is known.

Said detection device comprises: o an illuminator, o a colorimetric sensor, and o an annular surface consisting of a multiplicity of sectors, in which consecutive sectors have different colours and each sector has a length that subtends a predetermined angle equal to a predetermined slip angular resolution.

The colorimetric sensor is arranged inside a cavity and is able to detect the colour of a light emitted by said illuminator and reflected by one of the sectors of the annular surface.

The colorimetric sensor and the illuminator can be integral with the rim and the annular surface can be integral with the tyre or vice versa.

In any case, if there is a slip of the tyre with respect to the rim, the colorimetric sensor will detect the colour of the light reflected by a sector, measuring the extent of the slip. However, said measuring device has some disadvantages.

A first disadvantage of said detection device is due to the fact that the detection of said colorimetric sensor can be affected by any residues of dirt, dust or the presence of water that can enter said cavity.

A second disadvantage, connected with the presence of residues of dirt, dust or drops of water, is due to the fact that the characteristics of the coloured sectors can be affected.

A further disadvantage is due to the need to provide an illuminator for illuminating the inner surface of the tyre and supplying power means for supplying power to said illuminator, so that the structure of said detection device is a complex structure.

Aim of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to overcome said disadvantages, providing a system and a method for measuring the slip over time of a tyre with respect to a rim on which said tyre is mounted, when the tyre is in use, so as to avoid premature wear of the tyre, in particular in correspondence with the tyre bead (i.e. the contact area between rim and tyre).

In fact, a slip of the tyre with respect to the rim throughout the course of time causes wear of the tyre bead, and this causes damage to the tyre.

Object of the Invention

It is therefore object of the invention a system for measuring the slip between a tyre and a rim on which said tyre is mounted, where said system comprises:

- a first electronic device to be positioned, in use, in contact with the inner surface of the tyre,

- a second electronic device, to be positioned, in use, in contact with said rim,

- a processing unit, external to said electronic devices, where a first reference system x ₁ ,y ₁ ,z ₁ is associated with the first electronic device in such a way that the axis x ₁ is tangent to the rotation of a first point which is a point of said tyre in which said first electronic device is applied, e the axis z ₁ is perpendicular to said axis x ₁ , a second reference system x ₂ ,y ₂ ,z ₂ is associated to the second electronic device in such a way that the axis x ₂ is tangent to the rotation of a second point which is a point of said rim in which said second electronic device is applied, and the axis z ₂ is perpendicular to said axis x ₂ ,

The first electronic device is configured at least for sending data to said processing unit and comprises inside:

- a first inertial measurement unit comprising a first gyroscope and a first accelerometer and configured to: o acquire, through said first gyroscope, the value of at least one angular velocity around the y axis, and, through said first accelerometer, the value of at least one linear acceleration along the x axis,

- first storage means for storing data,

- a first logic control unit, connected with said first inertial measurement and to said first storage means, and configured to o receive from the first inertial measurement unit the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis, o filter by means of a first digital filter the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis to obtain at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis to obtain at least one filtered angular acceleration along the x axis, o identify each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to a predetermined value, o store in said first storage means:

^■ each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, and ^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis at each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, o send to said processing unit:

^■ the time instants in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value,

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis at said time instants.

Said second electronic device is configured at least to send data to said processing data and comprises inside:

- a second inertial measurement unit comprising a second gyroscope and a second accelerometer and configured to: o acquire, through said second gyroscope, the value of at least the angular velocity around the y axis), and, through said second accelerometer, the value of at least the linear acceleration along the x axis,

- second storage means for storing data,

- a second logic control unit, connected to said second inertial measurement unit and to said second storage means, and configured to: o receive from the second inertial measurement unit of said second electronic device, the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis, o filter by means of a second digital the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis to obtain at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis to obtain at least one filtered linear acceleration along the x axis, o identify each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, o storing in said second storing means: ^■ each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value,

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis at each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, o send to said processing unit:

^■ the further time instants in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value,

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis at said further time instants.

The processing unit is configured at least to receive data from said first electronic device and from said second electronic device and comprises inside:

- third storage means in which the value of a reference angle α _ref is stored,

- a third logic control unit, connected to said third storing means, and configured to: o receive the value of said filtered at least one angular velocity around the y axis associated with the first electronic device and each time instant in which the value of said at least one filtered linear acceleration along the x axis associated with the first electronic device is equal to said predetermined value, o receive the value of said at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis associated with the second electronic device and each further time instant in which the value of said at least one filtered linear acceleration along the x axis associated with the second electronic device is equal to said predetermined value, o calculate an angle between a first axis and a second axis, where said first axis is an axis passing through the center of the tyre and said first point and said second axis is an axis passing through the center of the tyre and said second point, according to the following formula: where

N is the number of time intervals Δt _i ,, is the mean value of the filtered angular velocities around the y axis, defined by the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis in an time instant of a respective time interval Δt _i , in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to a predetermined value, and from the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis in a further instant of time of said time interval Δt _i , in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, Δt _i is a respective time interval Δt _1, Δt ₂ ,...Δt _N defined by a time instant t _1,1 , t _{1 ,2} ,... t _1,N , in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to a respective predetermined value and a further time instant t _2,1 , t _{2, 2} ,... t _2,N , in which the filtered linear acceleration long the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, each time instant t _1,1 , t _{1 ,2} ,... t _1,N being outside a time interval Δt _D in which a portion of said tyre comes into contact with the ground and subsequently loses contact with the ground, o compare the value of the angle calculated with the value of the reference angle α _ref stored in said third storage means, o if the value of the angle is different from the value of the reference angle α _ref , calculate the difference between the value of the angle and the value of the angle α _ref to measure the slip of the tyre with respect to the rim.

Further preferred embodiments of the system are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The present invention relates also a method for measuring the slip between a tyre and a rim on which said tyre is mounted, by means of a system through the system above mentioned.

Said method comprises the following steps:

A) acquiring the value of at least one angular velocity around the y axis and the value of at least one linear acceleration along the x axis, associated with said first electronic device,

B) filtering by means of a first digital filter the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis to obtain at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis to obtain at least one filtered angular acceleration along the x axis,

C) identifying each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to a predetermined value,

D) storing:

^■ each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, and

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis at each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value,

E) acquiring the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis, associated with said second electronic device,

F) filtering by means of a second digital filter the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis to obtain at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis to obtain at least one filtered linear acceleration along the x axis,

G) identifying each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, H) storing:

^■ each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value,

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis at each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value,

I) calculating an angle (α) according to the following formula: where

N is the number of time intervals Δt _i , is the mean value of the filtered angular velocities around the y axis, defined by the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis in an time instant of a respective time interval Δt _i , in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to a predetermined value, and from the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis in a further instant of time of said time interval Δt _i , in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis is equal to said predetermined value, Δt _i is a respective time interval Δt _1, Δt ₂ ,...Δt _N defined by a time instant t _1,1 , t _{1 ,2} ,... t _1,N , in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis associated to the first electronic device is equal to a respective predetermined value and a further time instant t _2,1 , t _{2 ,2} ,... t _2,N , in which the filtered linear acceleration long the x axis associated to the second electronic device is equal to said predetermined value, each time instant t _1,1 , t _{1 ,2} ,... t _1,N being outside a time interval Δt _D in which a portion of said tyre comes into contact with the ground and subsequently loses contact with the ground, L) comparing the value of the angle calculated with the value of a reference angle α _ref ,

M) if the value of the angle is different from the value of the reference angle α _ref , calculating the difference between the value of the angle and the value of the angle α _ref to measure the slip of the tyre with respect to the rim.

Attached figure list

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, according to its embodiment, making particular reference to the enclosed figures, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the components of the system object of the invention, comprising a first electronic device, a second electronic device and a processing unit, external to said electronic devices;

Figure 2A is a schematic perspective view of a wheel comprising a tyre and a rim, on which the tyre is mounted, showing the first electronic device, arranged inside the tyre in such a way as to contact the inner surface of the tyre itself, the second device electronic, arranged on the channel of said rim, and a processing unit;

Figure 2B is a side view of the wheel of figure 2A;

Figure 2C is a partial sectional front view of the wheel of Figure 2A;

Figure 3A shows on a Cartesian plane two sinusoids representing the linear acceleration along the x axis associated with the first electronic device over time respectively before and after the application of a first IIR filter, when the first electronic device is in use, and two further sinusoids representing the linear acceleration along the x axis associated with the second electronic device over time, respectively before and after the application of a second IIR filter, when the second electronic device is in use;

Figure 3B shows in detail on a Cartesian plane the sinusoid representing the linear acceleration along the filtered x axis associated with the first electronic device and the sinusoid representing the linear acceleration along the filtered x axis associated with the second electronic device;

Figure 4A shows two portions of sinusoids representing the angular velocity around the y axis, associated with the first electronic device, in a time interval Δt ₁ , respectively before and after the application of a first IIR filter, when the first electronic device is in use;

Figure 4B shows on a Cartesian plane the sinusoid representing the angular velocity around the filtered y axis, associated with the first electronic device, in said time interval Δt ₁ ;

Figure 5A shows two portions of sinusoids representing the angular velocity around the y axis, associated with the second electronic device, in a time interval Δt ₁ , respectively before and after the application of a second IIR filter, when the second electronic device is in use;

Figure 5B shows on a Cartesian plane the sinusoid portion representing the angular velocity around the filtered y axis, associated with the second electronic device, in said time interval Δt ₁ .

Detailed description of the Invention

With reference to Figures 1,2A,2B,2C a system for measuring the slip between a tyre 10 and a rim 20, on which said tyre 10 is mounted,

Said system comprises:

- a first electronic device 1 to be positioned, in use, in contact with the inner surface 10A of the tyre 10,

- a second electronic device 2, to be positioned, in use, on the rim 20, in particular, in the embodiment being disclosed, on a channel 20A of the rim 20, and

- a processing unit 3, external to said electronic devices 1 ,2,

In the embodiment being disclosed, a first reference system x ₁ ,y ₁ ,z ₁ is associated with the first electronic device 1 in such a way that the axis x ₁ is tangent to the rotation of a first point which is the point of said tyre 10 in which said first electronic device 1 is applied, and the axis z ₁ is perpendicular to said axis x ₁ , and a second reference system x ₂ ,y ₂ ,z ₂ is associated to the second electronic device 2 in such a way that the axis x ₂ is tangent to the rotation of a second point which is the point of said rim 20 in which said second electronic device 2 is applied, and the axis z ₂ is perpendicular to said axis x ₂ .

The axis x ₁ and the axis z ₁ of the first reference system define a first plane.

The axis x ₂ and the axis z ₂ of the second reference system define a second plane.

In the embodiment being disclosed, said second plane is parallel or substantially parallel to said first plane.

However, although not shown in Figures, said first plane and said second plane can be coincident.

The slip between the tyre 10 and the rim 20 is measured by the variation of an angle a with respect to a reference angle α _ref , where the angle a is the angle present between a first axis A1 passing through the center of the tyre 10 and the first point which is the point of application of the first electronic device 1 on the inner surface 10A of the tyre 10 and a second axis A2 passing through the center of the tyre 10 and the second point which is the point of application of the second electronic device 2 on the channel 20A of rim 20.

A predetermined value is associated with the value of the reference angle α _ref when the first electronic device 1 and the second electronic device 2 are positioned respectively on the internal surface 10A of a tyre 10 and on the channel 20A of the rim 20.

The variation in the value of this angle over time represents the slip of the tyre 10 with respect to the rim 20 over time.

With reference to the first electronic device 1 , said first electronic device 1 comprises inside:

- first power supplying means 14 for supplying power to said first electronic device 1, - a first wireless transceiver module 13 for transmitting and receiving signals/data to/from said processing unit 3,

- a first inertial measurement unit 12 comprising a first gyroscope 121 and a first accelerometer 122 and configured to: o acquire, through said first gyroscope 121 , the value of at least one angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y , o acquire, through said first accelerometer 122, the value of at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x , where, in the embodiment being disclosed, the value of said linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x is a normalized value with respect to a unit value (i.e. the value of the linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x is between -1 and +1),

- first storage means 15 for storing data,

- a first logic control unit 11 , connected with said first inertial measurement 12 and to said first storage means 15, and configured to: o receive from the first inertial measurement unit 12 the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis ω1 _y and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x , o filter by means of a first digital filter the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y to obtain at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x to obtain at least one filtered angular acceleration along the x axis A _1x ', o identify each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to a predetermined value, o store in said first storage means 15:

^■ each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value, and

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' at each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value, o send to said processing unit 3:

^■ the time instants in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value,

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' at said time instants.

With reference to the first digital filter, in the embodiment being disclosed, said digital filter is a first IIR filter ( Infinite Impulse Response).

In particular, it is preferable that said first IIR filter has a frequency between 0,1 Hz e 1 Hz.

The first logic control unit 11 can be configured to send to the processing unit 3 said time instants in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value and the value of said at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' at said time instants, when the tyre 10 has completed a predetermined first number of revolutions.

Advantageously, the transmission of data to the processing unit 3 by the first electronic device 1 after a predetermined first number of revolutions allows to obtain an energy saving.

In the embodiment being described, reference will be made to a predetermined value for the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated with the first electronic device 1 equal to zero and, as mentioned below, with reference to the second electronic device 2, reference will be made to a predetermined value for the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2 equal to zero (so- called "zero-crossing technique").

However, it is possible to choose a predetermined value (both for the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated with the first electronic device 1 and for the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2) equal to a value other than zero (but between -1 and +1), without departing from the scope of the invention.

Each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is zero corresponds to the time instants in which a first filtered sinusoid S ₁ ' associated with said at least one filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' of the first electronic device 1 changes sign, (as can be seen in Figures 3A and 3B explained below).

The first sinusoid S ₁ and the first filtered sinusoid S ₁ ' show respectively how the linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x and the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ', each of which is associated with the first electronic device 1 , change over time.

Said first sinusoid S ₁ presents a discontinuity at time interval Δt _D in which a portion of the tyre 10 comes into contact with the ground and subsequently loses contact with the ground.

Similarly, the first filtered sinusoid S ₁ ' presents the discontinuity at said time interval Δt _D in a less pronounced way than the first sinusoid S ₁ (i.e. the sinusoid when the first IIR filter was not applied).

In use, the tyre 10 performs a plurality of rotations.

With reference to the first electronic device 1 , for each rotation of the tyre 10, it is possible to identify and store an instant of time t _1,1 , in which the value of the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated with the first electronic device 1 is equal to zero.

Said instant of time t _1,1 together with a further instant of time t _2,1 referred to a second filtered sinusoid S ₂ concerning the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2 (in correspondence with which the value of this filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2 is equal to zero), define a time interval Δt ₁ between said two filtered sinusoids S ₁ ', S ₂ ' (as explained below with reference Figure 3A and particular reference to Figure 3B).

In the embodiment being disclosed, said instant of time t _{1 ,1} is subsequent to said further instant of time t _2,1 .

Furthermore, in the embodiment being disclosed, said time interval Δt ₁ is different from said time interval Δt _D .

In fact, the time interval Δt _D is in a portion of the first sinusoid S ₁ , between -1 and +1 , different from the portion of the same first sinusoid, between +1 and -1 , in which the time interval of time Δt ₁ is present.

However, it is sufficient that said instant of time t _1,1 is outtside the time interval Δt _D .

In the example being disclosed, said first storage means 15 are external to the first control logic unit 11 .

However, said storage means 15 can be included in said first logic control unit 11 , without departing from the scope of the invention.

With particular reference to the second electronic device 2, as already mentioned, in the embodiment being disclosed, said second electronic device 2 is arranged on a channel 20A of the rim 20.

However, said second electronic device 2 can be arranged on the rim 20 in any position, for example on the outer surface of the rim, i.e. the surface facing outwards, or even on the disc of the rim without departing the scope of the invention.

Said second electronic device 2 comprises inside:

- second power supplying means 24 for supplying power to said second electronic device 2,

- a second wireless transceiver module 23 for transmitting and receiving signals/data to/from said processing unit 3,

- a second inertial measurement unit 22 comprising a second gyroscope 221 and a second accelerometer 222 and configured to: o acquire, through said second gyroscope 221 , the value of at least the angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y , and, o acquire, through said second accelerometer 222, the value of at least the linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x , where in the embodiment being disclosed, the value of said linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x is a normalized value respect to a unit value (i.e. the value of the linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x is between -1 and +1),

- second storage means 25 for storing data,

- a second logic control unit 21 , connected to said second inertial measurement unit 22, to said second wireless transceiver module 23 and to said second storage means 25, and configured to: o receive from the second inertial measurement unit 22 of said second electronic device 2, the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x , o filter by means of a second digital the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y to obtain at least one further angular velocity or filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x to obtain at least one further linear acceleration or filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ', o identify each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value (i.e. the predetermined value chosen for the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is associated with the first electronic device 1), o storing in said second storing means 25 each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x is equal to said predetermined value, o storing in said second storing means 25 the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' at each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value, o send to said processing unit 3:

^■ the further time instants in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A2x' is equal to said predetermined value,

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω2y' at said further time instants.

With reference to the second digital filter, in the embodiment being disclosed, said second digital filter is a second IIR filter.

In particular, it is preferable that said second IIR filter has a frequency between 0,1 Hz and 1 Hz.

The second logic control unit 21 can be configured to send to the processing unit 3 said further time instants in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value and the value of said at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' at said time instants when the tyre 10 has completed a predetermined second number of revolutions.

Advantageously, the transmission of data to the processing unit 3 by said second electronic device 2 after a predetermined second number of revolutions allows to obtain an energy saving.

In the embodiment being described, as already mentioned, reference will be made to a predetermined value for the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2 equal to zero.

The further time instants in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is zero are the time instants in which a second filtered sinusoid S ₂ associated with the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' of the second electronic device 2 changes sign (Figures 3 and 4).

The second sinusoid S ₂ and the second filtered sinusoid S ₂ ' show respectively how the linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x and the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ', each of which is associated with the second electronic device 2, change over time. As already mentioned, in use, the tyre 10 performs a plurality of rotations. Consequently, also the rim 20 performs a plurality of rotations.

With reference to the second electronic device 2, for each rotation, it is possible to identify and store a further instant of time t _2,1 in which the value of the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2 is equal to zero.

With reference to digital filters, and in particular to the IIR filters mentioned above, these IIR filters allow to remove the noise mainly due to vibrations, mechanical transmissions, and ground irregularities.

With reference to both electronic devices 1 ,2 of the system, each electronic device 1 , 2 is respectively fixed to the tyre 10 and to the rim 20 by means of a respective fixing device resistant to dust and water (not shown).

With particular reference to the processing unit 3, said processing unit 3 comprises inside:

- third power supplying means 34 for supplying power to said processing unit 3,

- a third wireless transceiver module 33 for transmitting and receiving signals/data to/from said first electronic device 1 and said second electronic device 2,

- third storage means 35 in which the value of a reference angle α _ref is stored,

- a third logic control unit 31 , connected to said third wireless transceiver module 33, to said third power supplying means 34 and to said third storage means 35, and configured to: o receive the value of said filtered at least one angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' associated with the first electronic device 1 and each time instant in which the value of said at least one filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated with the first electronic device 1 is equal to said predetermined value, o receive the value of said at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' associated with the second electronic device 2 and each further time instant in which the value of said at least one filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2 is equal to said predetermined value, o calculate an angle a between a first axis A1 and a second axis A2, where said first axis A1 is an axis passing through the center of the tyre 10 and said first point (i.e. the point of the tyre 10 in which said first electronic device 1 is applied) and said second axis A2 is an axis passing through the center of the tyre 10 and said second point (i.e. the point of the rim 20 in which said second electronic device 2 is applied), according to the following formula: where is the mean value of the filtered angular velocities around the y axis, defined by the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' associated to the first electronic device 1 in the time instant t _1,1 in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value (i.e. zero in the embodiment being disclosed) and by the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' associated to the second electronic device 2 in the further time instant t _2,1 in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value (i.e. zero in the embodiment being disclosed); Δt ₁ = t _1,1 - t _2,1 is the time interval between a time instant t _1,1 in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated to the first electronic device 1 is equal to said predetermined value (i.e. zero in the embodiment being disclosed) and a further time instant t _2,1 , in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated to the second electronic device 2 is equal to said predetermined value (i.e. zero in the embodiment being disclosed), where said time instant and said further time instant are successive time instants, o compare the value of the angle a calculated with the value of the reference angle α _ref stored in said third storage means 35, o if the value of the angle a is different from the value of the reference angle α _ref , calculate the difference between the value of the angle a and the value of the angle α _ref to measure the slip of the tyre 10 with respect to the rim 20.

In the embodiment being disclosed, a single time interval and a single pair of filtered angular velocities around the y axis have been taken into account for the calculation of the angle a, wherein said pair of filtered angular velocities around the y axis is formed by a value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' associated with the first electronic device 1 at said time instant t ₁ , ₁ and a value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' associated with the second electronic device 2 at said t _2,1 ·

However, for calculating the angle a, it is possible to select a plurality of time intervals Δt ₁ ,Δt ₂ ,... Δt _N , each of which is defined by a respective pair of time instants (i.e. a pair formed by a respective time instant in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated to the first electronic device 1 is equal to a respective predetermined value and by a respective further time instant in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated to the second electronic device 2 is equal to said predetermined value) and to take into account the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' associated to the first electronic device 1 at the respective time instant and the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axs is ω _2y ' associated to the second electronic device 2 at the respective further time instant.

Consequently, the angle a can be calculated according to the following formula: where

N is the number of time intervals Δt _i , in which each time interval Δt _i is defined by a respective time instant in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated to the first electronic device 1 is equal to a respective predetermined value and a respective further time instant in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated to the second electronic device 2 is equal to said predetermined value, is the mean value of the filtered angular velocities around the y axis defined by the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' associated to the first electronic device 1 in a time instant of a respective time interval Δt _i , in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to a predetermined value and by the value of the filtered angular velocity along the y axis ω _2y ' associated to the second electronic device 2 in a further time instant of said time interval Δt _i , in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value, Δt _i is a respective time interval defined by an time instant in which the filtered linear acceleration A _1x ' associated to the first electronic device 1 is equal to a respective predetermined value and by a further time instant, in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated to the second electronic device 2 is equal to said predetermined value.

In the case where N is equal to 1 (i.e. a single time interval has been selected), the formula for the calculation of the angle where a plurality of time intervals is mentioned will be the same as the formula for the calculation of the angle previously mentioned where an only time interval Δt ₁ .

It is preferable that said third logic control unit 31 of the processing unit 3 is configured to generate an alarm signal (which can be an acoustic and/or visual signal) when the calculated angle has a value that falls outside of a predetermined range of values centered on the value of said reference angle.

In particular, it is further preferable that said third logic control unit 31 is configured to generate said alarm signal when the calculated angle has a value that falls outside a predetermined range of values for a predetermined number of consecutive times.

Furthermore, said third logic control unit 31 can be configured to modify the value of said reference angle α _ref .

In particular, said third logic control unit 31 can be configured to modify the value of said reference angle α _ref on the basis of the mean value of the values of the calculated angles when said values fall within said predetermined range of values centered with respect to the last angle value calculated for a certain number of consecutive times. In this specific case, said third logic control unit 31 is configured to:

- verify that the values of two or more calculated angles fall within said predetermined range of values,

- calculate the mean value of said two or more calculated angles,

- modify the value of said reference angle α _ref based on said mean value, when said values fall within said predetermined range of values centered with respect to the last calculated angle value, preferably for a predetermined number of consecutive times.

Said third logic control unit 31 can be configured to modify the value of the reference angle α _ref regardless of the generation of an alarm signal.

Figure 3A shows the first sinusoid S ₁ (represented by a solid black line) associated with the linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x of the first electronic device 1 (i.e. the electronic device arranged on the inner surface of the tyre) and the same first filtered sinusoid S ₁ ' (represented by a white dashed line), as well as the second sinusoid S ₂ (represented by a further continuous black line) associated with the linear acceleration around the x axis A _2x of the second electronic device 2 (i.e. the electronic device arranged on the channel of the rim) and the same second filtered sinusoid S ₂ (represented by a further white dashed line).

As can be seen from Figure 3A, as already mentioned, the first sinusoid S ₁ (associated with the linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x of the first electronic device 1 ) has a discontinuity due to the fact that, during the rotation of a tyre 10, a portion of said tyre 10 comes into contact with the ground and subsequently loses contact with the ground (and the time interval Δt _D is the time interval in which the tyre 10 contacts the ground), while the second sinusoid S ₂ (associated with the linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x of the second electronic device 2) does not present any discontinuity.

The same discontinuity, although in a less pronounced way, is present in the first filtered sinusoid S ₁ '. The time interval Δt indicates the time interval between a time instant in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated with the first electronic device 1 is equal to a predetermined value (i.e. a null value in the embodiment being described) and a further time instant in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2 is equal to a predetermined value (i.e. a null value in the embodiment being disclosed).

Figure 3A, as already mentioned, shows how the linear acceleration along the x axis associated with the first electronic device 1 , before and after the application of a first filter IIR, and the linear acceleration along the x axis associated with second electronic device 2, before and after the application of a second IIR filter, change over time.

Each linear acceleration is represented by a respective sinusoid: S ₁ represents the first sinusoid concerning the linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x associated with the first electronic device 1 , S ₁ ’ represents the first filtered sinusoid concerning the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' associated with the first electronic device

1, S ₂ represents the second sinusoid concerning the linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x associated with the second electronic device 2, S ₂ ’ represents the second filtered sinusoid concerning the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2,

The rotational movement of the tyre 10 and the rotational movement of the rim 20 are represented respectively by the first sinusoid S ₁ and the second sinusoid S ₂ on a Cartesian plane, in which the abscissa axis is the time and the ordinate axis is the acceleration linear along the x axis when associated respectively with the first electronic device 1 and with the second electronic device 2.

Each of said sinusoids S ₁ , S ₂ is filtered by a respective IIR filter to remove the noise due to the factors (for example vibrations, mechanical transmissions, ground irregularities, etc.)

The time instant t _1,1 corresponds to the point in which the first filtered sinusoid S ₁ ' intercepts the abscissa axis of said Cartesian plane.

The time instant t _2,1 corresponds to the point in which the second filtered sinusoid S ₁ ' intercepts the abscissa axis of said Cartesian plane

As already mentioned and as can be seen from Figure 3A, the first sinusoid S ₁ and therefore also the first filtered sinusoid S ₁ ' presents a discontinuity in correspondence with a time interval Δt _D in which a portion of the tyre 10 comes into contact with the ground and subsequently loses contact with the ground.

Each time interval Δt _1, Δt ₂ ,... Δt _N falls outside the time interval Δt _D at which the discontinuity is present, and does not overlap this time interval.

Figure 3B shows in detail the first filtered sinusoid S ₁ ' and the second filtered sine wave S ₂ ' , as well as the time intervals Δt _1, Δt ₂ ,... Δt _N for greater clarity.

Figure 4A shows in the same time interval Δt ₁ the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' associated with the first electronic device 1 and the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y , i.e. the angular velocity which has not been filtered by the first filter IIR, when the first electronic device 1 is in use.

The angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y is represented by a black solid line and the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' is represented by a white solid line.

Figure 4B shows in detail the filtered angular velocity around the filtered y axis ω _1y ' associated with the first device 1 in the time interval Δt ₁ .

Figure 5A shows in the same time interval Δt ₁ the filtered angular velocity around the y axis filtered ω _2y ' associated with the second electronic device 2 and the angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y , i.e. the angular velocity which has not been filtered by the second filter IIR, when the second electronic device 2 is in use.

The filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y is represented by a black solid line and the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' is represented by a white solid line.

Figure 5B shows in detail the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' associated with the second device 2 in the time interval Δt ₁ .

Furthermore, said first electronic device 1 can be provided with a first clock source 16, connected to the first logic control unit 11 , and said second electronic device 2 can be provided with a second clock source 26, connected to the second logic unit control 21 , and said processing unit 3 can be provided with a third clock source 36, connected to the third logic control unit.

In particular, said third logic control unit 31 of the processing unit 3 is configured to:

- send a synchronism signal to said first electronic device 1 and to said second electronic device 2 to synchronize the respective clock sources to the third clock source 36 of said processing unit 3, so that all the clock sources are synchronous, on the basis of a predetermined temporal resolution, which may be required by the circumstances

It is preferable that said synchronism signal is sent periodically, for example when the tyre 10 has completed a predetermined number of revolutions.

The sending of a synchronism signal is not necessary if each of the electronic devices is configured only to send data to the processing unit 3 and the latter is configured to receive and process such data.

In the variant in which each electronic device 1 ,2 is configured only to acquire and send data (after filtering them) to the processing unit 3 and the latter is configured to receive and process such data to calculate the slip of the tyre with respect to the rim, the first wireless transceiver module (arranged in the first electronic device 1) is replaced by a first wireless transmission module, the second wireless transceiver module (arranged in the second electronic device 2) is replaced by a second wireless transmission module and the third transceiver module wireless (arranged in processing unit 3) is replaced by a wireless receiving module.

Furthermore, the logic control unit of the processing unit 3, i.e. the third logic control unit 31 , is configured to: o store the respective reception time instant in which said third logic control unit 31 receives the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' associated with the first electronic device 1 and the value of the filtered angular velocity around to the y axis ω _2y ' associated with the second electronic device 2, based on the time established by the third clock source 36, o obtain:

^■ the time instant in which the first electronic device 1 has stored the value of said further filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ', subtracting at the reception time instant a first time interval Δt _1AT referred to the time between the acquisition and the transmission of the value of said further filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' to the processing unit 3 and a second time interval Δt _1V due to the time required to said further filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' to reach said processing unit 3 (i.e. the time to pass through the transmission medium present between the first electronic device 1 and the processing unit 3), and

^■ the time instant in which the second electronic device 2 has stored the value of said further filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ', subtracting at the reception time instant a further first time interval Δt _2AT referred to the time between the acquisition and the transmission of the value of said further filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' to the processing unit 3 and a further second time interval Δt _2V due to the time necessary for said further filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' to reach said processing unit 3 (i.e. the time to travel the transmission medium present between the second electronic device 2 and the processing unit 3), o calculate the time interval between said two time instants obtained.

With reference to the time required to pass through the transmission medium present between each electronic device 1 ,2 and the processing unit 3, this time may depend on various factors, such as the respective distance between each electronic device 1 ,2 and the unit processing 3 and the type of transmission medium itself.

In this case, (i.e. if the electronic devices are designed to acquire and transmit data and the processing unit is designed to receive and process said data), an energy saving is obtained due to the fact that the electronic devices 1 , 2 receive no signals from the data processing unit 3.

As it is clear from the above, each electronic device 1 ,2 can be configured to acquire and transmit data (after filtering them) and the processing unit 3 to receive and process such data to calculate the angle and compare it with a reference angle or each electronic device can be configured to acquire and transmit data, as well as to receive one or more signals from the processing unit (such as a synchronism signal) and the processing unit can be configured to receive and process such data to calculate the angle and compare it with a reference angle, as well as to send one or more signals to each of said electronic devices (such as for example a synchronism signal).

The present invention relates to also a method for measuring the slip between a tyre 10 and a rim 20 on which said tyre 10 is mounted, by means of a system above disclosed.

Said method comprises the following steps:

A) acquiring the value of at least one angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y and the value of at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x , associated with said first electronic device 1 , B) filtering by means of a first digital filter the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y to obtain at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x to obtain at least one filtered angular acceleration along the x axis A _1x ',

C) identifying each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to a predetermined value,

D) storing:

^■ each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value, and

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' at each time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value,

E) acquiring the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x , associated with said second electronic device 2,

F) filtering by means of a second digital filter the value of said at least one angular velocity around the y axis to obtain at least one filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' and the value of said at least one linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x to obtain at least one filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ',

G) identifying each additional time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value,

H) storing:

^■ each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value,

^■ the value of said filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' at each further time instant in which the value of said filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value,

I) calculating an angle a according to one of the following formulas (on the basis of number of time intervals to be taken into account): where is the mean value of the angular velocities filtered around the y axis ω _1y ' ω _2y ', Δt ₁ = t _1,1 - t _2,1 is the time interval between a time instant t _1,1 in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value and a further instant of time t _2,1 , in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value, or where

N is the number of time intervals Δt _i , is the mean value of the filtered angular velocities around the y axis, defined by the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _1y ' in an time instant of a respective time interval Δt _i , in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to a predetermined value, and from the value of the filtered angular velocity around the y axis ω _2y ' in a further instant of time of said time interval Δt _i , in which the respective filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value, Δt _i is a respective time interval defined by a time instant in which the filtered linear acceleration along the filtered x axis A _1x ' associated with the first electronic device 1 is equal to a respective predetermined value and a further instant of time, in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' associated with the second electronic device 2 is equal to said predetermined value, Δt _{1 ,} Δt ₂ ,.. .Δt _N are time intervals between respective time instants t _1,1 , t _{1 ,2} ,... t _1,N in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _1x ' is equal to said predetermined value and respective further instants of time tt _2,1 , t _{2 ,2} ,... t _2,N in which the filtered linear acceleration along the x axis A _2x ' is equal to said predetermined value,

L) comparing the value of the angle a calculated with the value of a reference angle α _ref ,

M) if the value of the angle a is different from the value of the reference angle α _ref , calculating the difference between the value of the angle a and the value of the angle α _ref to measure the slip of the tyre 10 with respect to the rim 20.

As already said for the system, said first digital filter and said second digital filter are respectively a first IIR filter and a second IIR filter.

Furthermore, in case N is equal to 1 (i.e. a single time interval has been selected), the formula of the angle in which a plurality of time intervals is mentioned will be equal to the formula of the angle in which it has been mentioned only the time interval Δt ₁ . Advantages

Advantageously, as already mentioned, by means of the system and the method, object of the invention, it is possible to measure the slip over time of a tyre with respect to the rim on which said tyre is mounted, when the tyre is in use.

Consequently, as mentioned, the measurement of the slip between tyre and rim is a dynamic measurement

The present invention has been described for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that variations and/or modifications can be carried out by a skilled in the art, without departing from the scope thereof, as defined according to enclosed claims.