A sensor device (100), for measuring a surface (101), includes a lighting device (103) emitting a light beam (105); an optical device (107) splitting the light beam (105) into partial light beams (109, 111), and emitting the first partial light beam (109) toward a first surface area (113) and emitting the second partial light beam (111) toward a second surface area (115). A light sensor (117) is configured to receive a first surface area reflection (109-1) of the first partial light beam (109) and a second surface area reflection (111-1) of the second partial light beam (111). A processor (119) is configured to detect a distance of the first surface area (113) and of the second surface area (115) to the sensor device (100) based on a position of the first partial light beam reflection (109-1) and the second partial light beam reflection (111-1) on the light sensor (117).

A system is provided for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls extending to a tread. The system includes a sensor unit, which includes a time of flight sensor. The sensor includes an emitter that emits a first pulse to an outer surface of the tread and a lens that captures the reflected first pulse. A processor measures a time from emission to capture of the first pulse, and calculates a tread surface distance from the time. The emitter emits a second pulse to a base of a tread groove and the lens captures the reflected second pulse. The processor measures a time from emission to capture of the second pulse, and calculates a reference distance from the time. The processor determines a depth of the tread from a difference between the tread surface distance and the reference distance.

The present invention relates to a device for the analysis and detection of geometrical features or parameters of an object, which device includes: at least one enlightening means designed to lighten a portion of an object (T); at least two cameras, each designed to detect an image of a portion of the object (T) lightened by the enlightening means; an electronic unit (EU) designed to interpolate the images (OI) of the object (T) received from the cameras.

There are provided a system and a method of automatic tire inspection, the method comprising: obtaining at least one image capturing a wheel of a vehicle; segmenting the at least one image into image segments including a tire image segment corresponding to a tire of the wheel; straightening the tire image segment from a curved shape to a straight shape, giving rise to a straight tire segment; identifying text marked on the tire from the straight tire segment, comprising: detecting locations of a plurality of text portions on the straight tire segment, and recognizing text content for each of the text portions; and analyzing the recognized text content based on one or more predefined rules indicative of association between text content of different text portions at given relative locations, giving rise to a text analysis result indicative of condition of the tire.

A vehicle measurement station utilizing at least one displacement sensor disposed on each opposite side of a sensor region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data, associated with a moving vehicle passing through the sensor region. Each displacement sensor is configured to acquire measurement data along at least three discrete and vertically spaced measurement axes. A processing system receives the acquired data for evaluation, identification of outlier data points, and for determining a measurement associated with a characteristic of the moving vehicle, such as vehicle velocity, axle alignment, wheel alignment, or dimensions.

A tyre condition monitoring system comprising a sensing unit adapted for approximation to a tyre to take a measurement of, or at least from which can be derived, tread depth, the sensing unit being adapted for deployment by manual approximation to a tyre and to store and/or transmit measurement data from one or more or all of a set of tyres on a vehicle as well as for mechanical approximation to a tyre for continuing and/or programmed measurement.

The current embodiments provide a system for determining a parameter of a tire component. The system may have a background surface, a first measurement device configured to measure a dimension with respect to the reference surface and a support surface located at least partially between the first measurement device and the reference surface, where the support surface is configured to support the tire component. The parameter may correspond to the dimension on the background surface.

A multi-function portable optoelectronic apparatus to determine the profile of a brake disk and the profile of the tread of a tyre comprising an optoelectronic assembly for emitting a laminar beam of light along an optical emission axis so as to project onto the brake disk or onto the tread a luminous line and acquire an image containing the projected luminous line, a tubular case which can be gripped by hand, which contains optoelectronic assembly and is designed to be arranged resting on the brake disk during determination of the profile of the brake disk and an angular adapter member designed to be coupled in a stable but easily removable manner to the case and shaped to be arranged resting on the tread during determination of the profile of the tread; an electronic system configured to receive the image and determine the profile of the brake disk or the profile of the tread on the basis of the luminous line contained in the image.

A method, and related apparatus, for controlling tyres in a production line, includes: predisposing a tyre to be controlled; elastically deforming a lateral wall portion of the tyre by imparting a compression force on an outer contact surface of the lateral wall portion, the compression force having axial direction and sense directed toward the middle line plane; illuminating an inner and/or outer surface of the lateral wall portion and detecting an image of the illuminated surface; generating a control signal representative of the detected image; and analyzing the control signal in order to detect the possible presence of flaws on the lateral wall portion.

An apparatus for detecting and checking defects on a tire at the end of a production process, the apparatus comprising a workstation comprising a workbench comprising a rotating table for supporting a tire; a profilometer; a high-resolution color linear camera for scanning outer surfaces of tire tread and tire shoulders; mechanical supports for the profilometer and color linear camera; a data processor for storing and processing data detected by the profilometer and the color linear camera means, for providing a three-dimensional model of a tire, and for management of a database including parameters referring to surface characteristics of defect-free tires; an interface for facilitating interaction between an operator and the apparatus; wherein the profilometer and the color linear camera are configured to operate simultaneously and perform a full scan of all the profiles of inner and outer surfaces of a tire while the tire is in rotation at a controlled speed on the rotating table; and wherein the data processor is adapted to define and classify defects detected, by comparing parameters detected by the profilometer and the color linear camera to at least one corresponding parameter of a defect-free tire of a same type as a tire being tested.