METHOD FOR DETECTING STRIATIONS IN A TIRE

1 - 13 . (canceled)

14 . A method for referencing types of striations in digital representations of tires, the method comprising steps of:

using a processor to determine at least one representation that includes a type of striation to be referenced;

using the processor to identify at least one segment of pixels or voxels of the at least one representation; and

recording, in a memory coupled to the processor, at least one value relating to differences between grey levels or colour levels of the pixels or voxels of the at least one segment.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein one or more of the at least one value is or are selected from:

a mean period of periods relating to the pixels or voxels of the at least one segment,

a mean of absolute values of differences between grey levels or colour levels within each pair of adjacent pairs of the pixels or voxels of the at least one segment, and

a length determined based on the mean period.

16 . A method for checking a tire to locate an area of striations in a digital representation of the tire, the method comprising steps of:

considering at least one pixel or voxel of an area of a representation; and,

for each of the at least one pixel or voxel considered:

using a processor to identify a segment of pixels or voxels centered on the pixel or voxel under consideration,

using the processor to determine at least one value relating to differences between grey levels or colour levels of pixels or voxels of the segment, and

using the processor to compare the at least one value with at least one predetermined threshold.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one value is a mean of absolute values of differences of levels within each pair of adjacent pairs of the pixels or voxels of the segment.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one value is a mean period of periods relating to the pixels or voxels of the segment.

19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one value is a number of periods relating to the pixels or voxels of the segment.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one value is a length of a period relating to the pixels or voxels of the segment.

21 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein

the processor associates a binary value of “0” or “1” with each pixel or voxel of the segment based on a level of the pixel or voxel, and

the at least one value relates to differences between levels within each pair of adjacent pairs of pixels or voxels of the segment when the processor scans the segment in one direction, with the differences being identical, and with a first pixel or voxel of each pair of adjacent pixels or voxels including a value identical to that of a pixel or voxel of the segment located at an end of the segment predetermined according to the one direction.

22 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein

the processor associates a binary value of “0” or “1” with each pixel or voxel of the segment based on a level of the pixel or voxel, and

the at least one value relates to differences between levels within each pair of adjacent pairs of pixels or voxels of the segment when the processor scans the segment in one direction, with the differences being identical, and with a first pixel or voxel of each pair of adjacent pixels or voxels including a value different from that of a pixel or voxel of the segment located at an end of the segment predetermined according to the one direction.

23 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising steps of:

the processor determining at least one dilation of a base representation that includes at least one area of striations of the tire, to obtain a dilated representation;

the processor causing at least one erosion of the base representation, to obtain an eroded representation; and

the processor determining a difference between the dilated representation and the eroded representation, to obtain a difference representation.

24 . A computer-readable storage medium storing coded instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to performs a method for checking a tire to locate an area of striations in a digital representation of the tire, wherein the method includes steps of:

evaluating at least one pixel or voxel of an area of a representation; and,

for each of the at least one pixel or voxel evaluated:

identifying a segment of pixels or voxels centered on the pixel or voxel under evaluation,

determining at least one value relating to differences between grey levels or colour levels of pixels or voxels of the segment, and

comparing the at least one value with at least one predetermined threshold.

25 . A computerized device for checking a tire to locate an area of striations in a digital representation of the tire, the computerized device comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to perform that include:

evaluating at least one pixel or voxel of an area of a representation; and,

for each of the at least one pixel or voxel evaluated:

identifying a segment of pixels or voxels centered on the pixel or voxel under evaluation,

determining at least one value relating to differences between grey levels or colour levels of pixels or voxels of the segment, and

comparing the at least one value with at least one predetermined threshold.

26 . The computerized device according to claim 25 , wherein the memory is a recording medium storing a database of values relating to striations.