METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TYRE CONDITION ANALYSIS

摘要

A system for measuring the depth of tread of a tyre (5) on a wheel (2) of a vehicle (1) whilst the wheel is rotating and moving along the ground. A camera (3) captures images whilst the tyre rotates for at least the major part of its circumference. Light sources (L1 to L4) are spaced longitudinally and are directed at an acute angle to the path of the tyre, to illuminate the tyre whilst images are captured. The images are analysed by data processing apparatus (8) and the tread depth is determined from the length of shadows (12, 13) in the gaps (11) between tread blocks (10). The light sources are activated and de-activated sequentially in accordance with signals from longitudinally spaced sensors (S1 to S4) which detect the presence of the tyre, so that when an image is captured of a portion of the tyre tread, only one light source is activated to illuminate that portion of the tyre tread.