Abstract: A method for determining the loading of a tire (1) mounted on a vehicle (9) and running along the ground, said tire (1) being equipped with a sensor (10), comprises: acquisition, by the sensor (10), of a measurement signal representative of the change in curvature of the tire (1) during running, determination, from the measurement signal, of measurement data comprising a first parameter representative of a length of a contact patch (6) in contact with the ground (7) during a revolution of the wheel bearing the tire, and determination of the loading of the tire (1) as a function of the first parameter, of the internal pressure of the tire, and of a firmness factor representative of a condition of firmness of the ground, which is derived from measurements taken while the tire is rolling over said ground.

Abstract: A method for checking and/or monitoring the use of a tire (1) mounted on a vehicle (7), comprises the following steps: acquisition, by a microphone (10) arranged inside the tire, of an acoustic response of said tire (1) obtained under the effect of a pulsed mechanical stress thereon, and processing of said response in the frequency domain, characterized in that said processing identifies, in the response in the frequency domain, two spectrum spikes situated on either side of a reference frequency corresponding to the first cavity mode of the tire and, as a function of the frequency deviation between the two duly identified spikes, determines information relating to at least one parameter of use of the tire.

Abstract: A method for determining a road condition is carried out aboard a vehicle driving on the road and comprises the following steps: capturing the noise created by the friction between at least one tire and the road; analyzing the noise signal in the high frequency range to determine whether the road condition is dry or not; and, in case the road condition is not dry, analyzing the noise signal in the low frequency range to determine whether to road condition is wet or damp.

Abstract: A method for determining the loading of a tire (1) mounted on a vehicle (9) and running along the ground, said tire (1) being equipped with a sensor (10), comprises: acquisition, by the sensor (10), of a measurement signal representative of the change in curvature of the tire (1) during running, determination, from the measurement signal, of measurement data comprising a first parameter representative of a length of a contact patch (6) in contact with the ground (7) during a revolution of the wheel bearing the tire, and determination of the loading of the tire (1) as a function of the first parameter, of the internal pressure of the tire, and of a firmness factor representative of a condition of firmness of the ground, which is derived from measurements taken while the tire is rolling over said ground.

Abstract: A device valuates the deformation of a tire casing, the device including: a tire casing having a rotation axis, including a crown and having a radial stiffness; when said tire casing is included in a mounted assembly, the footprint of the tire casing has a dimension Ladc in the axial direction; and an electronic device comprising one bending sensor, characterized in that the bending sensor includes an active part having a main dimension of between 10% and 80% of the dimension Ladc, in that the active part of the sensor is located in line with the crown, in that the main dimension of the active part is oriented in the circumferential direction of the tire casing and in that the bending sensor has a bending stiffness that is lower than the radial stiffness of the tire casing.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the firmness of the ground on which is running a vehicle equipped with at least one mounted assembly having a radial stiffness kradial comprising a tyre casing having a crown, two sidewalls and two beads, equipped with a sensor sensitive to the circumferential curvature and positioned in line with the crown, comprises the following steps: Estimating a value of the curvature ?A of the tire casing corresponding to first steady-state conditions of the tire casing in contact with the ground; and Evaluating the relative firmness of the ground with respect to the radial stiffness kradial of the mounted assembly as being a function of the value of the curvature ?A of the tire casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for evaluating the deformation of a tyre casing which includes: a tyre casing having a rotation axis, including a crown and having a radial stiffness; when said tyre casing is included in a mounted assembly, the footprint of the tyre casing has a dimension Ladc in the axial direction; an electronic device comprising one bending sensor; characterized in that the bending sensor includes an active part having a main dimension of between 10% and 80% of the dimension Ladc, in that the active part of the sensor is located in line with the crown, in that the main dimension of the active part is oriented in the circumferential direction of the tyre casing and in that the bending sensor has a bending stiffness that is lower than the radial stiffness of the tyre casing.

Abstract: A method for mapping data relating to the conditions on a road, the method including the following steps: (a) a step for recording, in a database, information relating to the weather conditions on a road, determined by a vehicle travelling on the road, (b) a step for recording the GPS position of the vehicle corresponding to the recordings made, and (c) a step for displaying, on a map showing the route followed by the vehicle, the weather conditions as a function of the GPS position.

Abstract: A method for determining a road condition is carried out aboard a vehicle driving on the road and comprises the following steps: capturing the noise created by the friction between at least one tire and the road; analyzing the noise signal in the high frequency range to determine whether the road condition is dry or not and, in case the road condition is not dry, analyzing the noise signal in the low frequency range to determine whether to road condition is wet or damp.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the firmness of the ground on which is running a vehicle equipped with at least one mounted assembly having a radial stiffness kradial comprising a tyre casing having a crown, two sidewalls and two beads, equipped with a sensor sensitive to the circumferential curvature and positioned in line with the crown, comprises the following steps: Estimating a value of the curvature ?A of the tire casing corresponding to first steady-state conditions of the tire casing in contact with the ground; and Evaluating the relative firmness of the ground with respect to the radial stiffness kradial of the mounted assembly as being a function of the value of the curvature ?A of the tire casing.

Abstract: A method for checking and/or monitoring the use of a tire (1) mounted on a vehicle (7), comprises the following steps: acquisition, by a microphone (10) arranged inside the tire, of an acoustic response of said tire (1) obtained under the effect of a pulsed mechanical stress thereon, and processing of said response in the frequency domain, characterized in that said processing identifies, in the response in the frequency domain, two spectrum spikes situated on either side of a reference frequency corresponding to the first cavity mode of the tire and, as a function of the frequency deviation between the two duly identified spikes, determines information relating to at least one parameter of use of the tire.

Abstract: A method for determining a limit speed for driving, for a driver at a vehicle's steering wheel, includes a step of estimating a grip potential available at a given instant between a tire of the vehicle and a roadway on which a tire of the vehicle is running. The grip potential is estimated as a function of at least one of: a known influencing parameter, and a measured influencing parameter. The method also includes a step of determining a need for grip as a function of a driving situation of the vehicle and driving characteristics of the driver. The method further includes a step of determining a limit speed for driving as a function of the need for grip and the estimated grip potential. By virtue of the limit speed for driving, it is possible to prevent exceeding an estimate grip potential available.

Abstract: In a method for determining conditions of a road and a tire, a measurement of a sound signal produced by the tire running on the road during a timeframe is recorded, and a spectral density of a power of the sound signal over a frequency interval is determined. The frequency interval is segmented into frequency bands, and each frequency band is associated with a representative data element representing a mean acoustic power measured in the frequency band. The representative data elements obtained from the measurement form variables of a vector associated with the measurement. A road condition and a tire condition are determined via a discriminant analysis of the representative data elements using a learning base. Each representative data element is obtained by finding a ratio between a mean acoustic power measured in a corresponding frequency band and a total acoustic power measured over an entirety of the frequency interval.

Abstract: A method for mapping data relating to the conditions on a road, the method including the following steps: (a) a step for recording, in a database, information relating to the weather conditions on a road, determined by a vehicle travelling on the road, (b) a step for recording the GPS position of the vehicle corresponding to the recordings made, and (c) a step for displaying, on a map showing the route followed by the vehicle, the weather conditions as a function of the GPS position.

Abstract: A tire made of rubbery material comprising a sidewall and a pattern formed on this sidewall. This pattern comprises a plurality of openings and intermediate zones separating these openings. In order for the pattern to contrast with the sidewall, the openings occupy at least 60% of the pattern, these openings being distributed through the pattern at a density at least equal to five openings per square millimeter (mm2), these openings having equivalent diameters of between 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm. A mold element for making the openings and and method of making the pattern using a laser.

Abstract: A method for determining a limit speed for driving, for a driver at a vehicle's steering wheel, includes a step of estimating a grip potential available at a given instant between a tire of the vehicle and a roadway on which a tire of the vehicle is running. The grip potential is estimated as a function of at least one of: a known influencing parameter, and a measured influencing parameter. The method also includes a step of determining a need for grip as a function of a driving situation of the vehicle and driving characteristics of the driver. The method further includes a step of determining a limit speed for driving as a function of the need for grip and the estimated grip potential. By virtue of the limit speed for driving, it is possible to prevent exceeding an estimate grip potential available.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a rear bumper and a microphone. The rear bumper includes an internal cavity that is open towards a front portion of the vehicle. The microphone includes a sound pickup component arranged to acquire a sound signal generated by at least one tire of the vehicle, each of which includes at least one audible wear indicator. The sound pickup component of the microphone is attached to a wall of the rear bumper, and is positioned at a transverse level located between rear tires of the vehicle, preferably in the internal cavity.

Abstract: In a method for determining conditions of a road and a tire, a measurement of a sound signal produced by the tire running on the road during a timeframe is recorded, and a spectral density of a power of the sound signal over a frequency interval is determined. The frequency interval is segmented into frequency bands, and each frequency band is associated with a representative data element representing a mean acoustic power measured in the frequency band. The representative data elements obtained from the measurement form variables of a vector associated with the measurement. A road condition and a tire condition are determined via a discriminant analysis of the representative data elements using a learning base. Each representative data element is obtained by finding a ratio between a mean acoustic power measured in a corresponding frequency band and a total acoustic power measured over an entirety of the frequency interval.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a rear bumper and a microphone. The rear bumper includes an internal cavity that is open towards a front portion of the vehicle. The microphone includes a sound pickup component arranged to acquire a sound signal generated by at least one tyre of the vehicle, each of which includes at least one audible wear indicator. The sound pickup component of the microphone is attached to a wall of the rear bumper, and is positioned at a transverse level located between rear tyres of the vehicle, preferably in the internal cavity.

Abstract: A tire made of rubbery material comprising a sidewall and a pattern formed on this sidewall. This pattern comprises a plurality of openings and intermediate zones separating these openings. In order for the pattern to contrast with the sidewall, the openings occupy at least 60% of the pattern, these openings being distributed through the pattern at a density at least equal to five openings per square millimetre (mm2), these openings having equivalent diameters of between 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm. A mold element for making the openings and and method of making the pattern using a laser.