System and method for monitoring wear of a vehicle component

A system for monitoring a wear pattern of a tread pattern of a vehicle tire, said tread pattern having a plurality of tread elements spaced across a width of the tread pattern, said system comprising:

• a plurality of transponders positioned within the structure of respective ones of the tread elements at a predetermined position in the tread elements;
• a transmitter for providing an interrogation signal that acts on said transponders, said transponders resonating to transmit radio frequency signals when acted on by said interrogation signal;
• a receiver for receiving said radio frequency signals, said receiver being associated with a known tire position of the tire on the vehicle;
• and
• means for determining a wear pattern of the tread pattern, said means for determining a wear pattern being operatively connected to said receiver, said receiver providing said radio frequency signal to said means for determining a wear pattern,
• said transponders undergoing physical damage when respective tread elements wear down to said predetermined position, the physical damage causing said transponders to cease transmitting said radio frequency signal when acted on by said interrogation signal, said means for determining a wear pattern determining that a tread element has worn down to said predetermined position when the transponder embedded in the tread element ceases transmitting said radio frequency signal.

A method for monitoring wear of a vehicle component, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning means for providing a radio frequency signal at least partially within the structure of the vehicle component, said means for providing a radio frequency signal undergoing physical damage when said component undergoes a predetermined amount of wear, said physical damage causing said means for providing a radio frequency signal to cease providing said signal;
• monitoring said radio frequency signal to determine when said means for providing said radio frequency signal ceases providing said radio frequency signal;
• and
• determining that said vehicle component has undergone a predetermined amount of wear when said means for providing said radio frequency signal ceases providing said radio frequency signal.

A method for monitoring wear of a vehicle tire having a tread pattern including tread elements spaced across a width of the tread pattern, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning at least one transponder at least partially within the structure of at least one tread element at a predetermined position in the at least one tread element;
• providing an interrogation signal that acts on said at least one transponder, said at least one transponder transmitting a radio frequency signal when acted on by said interrogation signal, said transponder ceasing to provide said radio frequency signal when the at least one tread element wears down to said predetermined position;
• monitoring said radio frequency signal to determine when said at least one transponder ceases providing said radio frequency signal;
• and
• determining that the at least one tread element has worn down to said predetermined position when said at least one transponder ceases providing said radio frequency signal.

A method for monitoring a wear pattern of a vehicle tire having a tread pattern including tread elements spaced across a width of the tread pattern, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a plurality of transponders at least partially within structure of respective tread elements at a predetermined position in the respective tread elements, said transponders thereby being spaced across the width of the tread pattern;
• providing an interrogation signal that acts on said transponders, each of said transponders transmitting a unique radio frequency signal when acted on by said interrogation signal, said transponders ceasing to provide said radio frequency signal when the respective tread elements wear down to said predetermined position;
• monitoring said radio frequency signals to determine when said transponders cease providing said radio frequency signal;
• and
• determining which of the respective tread elements have worn down to said predetermined position by determining when said transponders cease providing said radio frequency signal.