Method for estimating road surface condition

1. A method for estimating a road surface condition, comprising the steps of:

(a) dividing a time-series waveform of tire vibrations in a circumferential direction or in an axial direction during vehicular travel detected by an acceleration sensor installed within the tire into a pre-leading-edge region R 1 , which precedes a leading-edge peak appearing at the leading edge of contact patch, a leading-edge region R 2 , which is the region constituting the leading-edge peak, a pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , which falls between the leading-edge peak and a trailing-edge peak appearing at the trailing edge, a trailing-edge region R 4 , which is the region constituting the trailing-edge peak, and a post-trailing-edge region R 5 , which follows the trailing-edge peak;

(b) obtaining from the time-series waveform:

a band value P 11 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 8 kHz of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , a band value P 12 selected from a band of 0.5 kHz to 1.5 kHz of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , a band value P 21 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 3 kHz of the leading-edge region R 2 , and a band value P 51 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 ; and

(c) estimating whether the road surface during vehicular travel is a snowy road or not, based on the magnitude of the band values P 11 , P 12 , P 21 , and P 51 ,

wherein, in the step (c), the road surface during vehicular travel is estimated to be a snowy road when f1≧0 and also f2 <0, where f1 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 11 and P 12 in a predetermined discriminant function F1=w 11·P 11 +w 12 ·P 12 −K1 and f2 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 21 and P 51 in a predetermined discriminant function F2=w 21 ·P 21 +w 22 ·P 51 −K2.

2. A method for estimating a road surface condition, comprising the steps of:

(a) dividing a time-series waveform of tire vibrations in a circumferential direction or in an axial direction during vehicular travel detected by an acceleration sensor installed within the tire into a pre-leading-edge region R 1 , which precedes a leading-edge peak appearing at the leading edge of contact patch, a leading-edge region R 2 , which is the region constituting the leading-edge peak, a pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , which falls between the leading-edge peak and a trailing-edge peak appearing at the trailing edge, a trailing-edge region R 4 , which is the region constituting the trailing-edge peak, and a post-trailing-edge region R 5 , which follows the trailing-edge peak;

(d) obtaining from the time-series waveform:

a band value P 52 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 and a band value P 345 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the region R 345 covering the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , the trailing-edge region R 4 , and the post-trailing-edge region R 5 or obtaining from the time-series waveform:

a band value P 52 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 , a band value P 31 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , a band value P 41 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the trailing-edge region R 4 , and a band value P 53 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 ; and

(e) estimating whether the road surface during vehicular travel is a sherbet-like snowy road or not, based on the magnitude of the band values P 52 and P 345 or the magnitude of P 52 , P 31 , P 41 , and P 53 ,

wherein, in the step (e), the road surface during vehicular travel is estimated to be a sherbet-like snowy road when f3 <0, where f3 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 52 and P 345 in a predetermined discriminant function F3=w 31 ·P 52 +w 32 ·P 345 −K3, or when f′3 <0, where f′3 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 52 , P 31 , P 41 , and P 53 in a predetermined discriminant function F′3=w′ 31 ·P 52 +W′ 32 ·P 31 +w′ 33 ·P 41 +w′ 34 ·P 53 −K′3.

3. A method for estimating a road surface condition, comprising the steps of:

(a) dividing a time-series waveform of tire vibrations in a circumferential direction or in an axial direction during vehicular travel detected by an acceleration sensor installed within the tire into a pre-leading-edge region R 1 , which precedes a leading-edge peak appearing at the leading edge of contact patch, a leading-edge region R 2 , which is the region constituting the leading-edge peak, a pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , which falls between the leading-edge peak and a trailing-edge peak appearing at the trailing edge, a trailing-edge region R 4 , which is the region constituting the trailing-edge peak, and a post-trailing-edge region R 5 , which follows the trailing-edge peak;

(f) obtaining from the time-series waveform:

a band value P 450 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the region R 450 covering the trailing-edge region R 4 and the post-trailing-edge region R 5 or obtaining from the time-series waveform:

a band value P 42 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the trailing-edge region R 4 and a band value P 51 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 ; and

(g) estimating whether the road surface during vehicular travel is an icy road or not, based on or the magnitude of the band value P 450 or the magnitude of the band values P 42 and P 51 ,

wherein, in the step (g), the road surface during vehicular travel is estimated to be an icy road when f4 <0, where f4 is a function value found by substituting the band value P 450 in a predetermined discriminant function F4=w 41 ·P 450 −K4, or when f′4 <0, where f′4 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 42 and P 51 in a predetermined discriminant function F′4=w′ 41 ·P 42 +w′ 42 ·P 51 −K′4.

4. A method for estimating a condition of road surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) dividing a time-series waveform of tire vibrations in a circumferential direction or in an axial direction during vehicular travel detected by an acceleration sensor installed within the tire into a pre-leading-edge region R 1 , which precedes a leading-edge peak appearing at the leading edge of contact patch, a leading-edge region R 2 , which is the region constituting the leading-edge peak, a pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , which falls between the leading-edge peak and a trailing-edge peak appearing at the trailing edge, a trailing-edge region R 4 , which is the region constituting the trailing-edge peak, and a post-trailing-edge region R 5 , which follows the trailing-edge peak;

(h) obtaining from the time-series waveform:

a band value P 11 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 8 kHz of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , a band value P 13 selected from a band of 1 kHz or below of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , a band value P 22 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the leading-edge region R 2 , a band value P 23 selected from a band of 4 kHz to 10 kHz of the leading-edge region R 2 , a band value P 32 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , a band value P 33 selected from a band of 4 kHz to 10 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , a band value P 42 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the trailing-edge region R 4 , and a band value P 51 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 ; and

(i) estimating whether the road surface during vehicular travel is a compacted snowy road or not, based on the magnitude of the band values P 11 , P 13 , P 22 , P 23 , P 32 , P 33 , P 42 , and P 51 ,

wherein, in the step (i), the road surface during vehicular travel is estimated to be a compacted snowy road when f′7 <0 and also f8 <0, where f′7 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 11 , P 13 , P 22 , P 23 , P 32 , P 33 , P 42 , and P 51 in a predetermined discriminant function F′7=w′ 71 ·P 11 +w′ 72 ·P 13 +w′ 73 ·P 22 +w′ 74 ·P 23 +w′ 75 ·P 32 +w′ 76 ·P 33 +w′ 77 ·P 42 +w′ 78 ·P 51 −K′7 and f8 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 11 , P 13 , P 22 , P 23 , P 32 , P 33 , P 42 , and P 51 in a predetermined discriminant function F8=w 81 ·P 11 +w 82 ·P 13 +w 83 ·P 22 +w 84 ·P 23 +w 85 ·P 32 +w 86 ·P 33 +w 87 ·P 42 +w 88 ·P 51 −K8.

5. A method for estimating a road surface condition, comprising the steps of:

(A) dividing a time-series waveform of tire vibrations in a circumferential direction or in an axial direction during vehicular travel detected by an acceleration sensor installed within the tire into a pre-leading-edge region R 1 , which precedes a leading-edge peak appearing at the leading edge of contact patch, a leading-edge region R 2 , which is the region constituting the leading-edge peak, a pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , which falls between the leading-edge peak and a trailing-edge peak appearing at the trailing edge, a trailing-edge region R 4 , which is the region constituting the trailing-edge peak, and a post-trailing-edge region R 5 , which follows the trailing-edge peak;

(B) obtaining from the time-series waveform a band value P 11 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 8 kHz of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 and a band value P 12 selected from a band of 0.5 kHz to 1.5 kHz of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , and determining whether f1, which is a function value found by substituting the band values P 11 and P 12 in a predetermined discriminant function F1=w 11 ·P 11 +w 12 ·P 12 −K1, satisfies f1≧0 or not;

(C) when f1≧0 in step (B), obtaining a band value P 21 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 3 kHz of the leading-edge region R 2 and a band value P 51 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 , determining whether f2, which is a function value found by substituting the band values P 21 and P 51 in a predetermined discriminant function F2=w 21 ·P 21 +w 22 ·P 51 −K2, satisfies f2<0 or not, and estimating the road surface during vehicular travel to be a snowy road when f2<0;

(D) when f2≧0 in step (C), obtaining a band value P 52 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 and a band value P 345 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the region R 345 covering the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , the trailing-edge region R 4 , and the post-trailing-edge region R 5 or obtaining a band value P 52 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 , a band value P 31 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , a band value P 41 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10kHz of the trailing-edge region R 4 , and a band value P 53 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 , determining whether f3, which is a function value found by substituting the band values P 52 and P 345 in a predetermined discriminant function F3=w 31 ·P 52 +w 32 ·P 345 −K3, satisfies f3 <0 or not, or whether f′3, which is a function value found by substituting the band values P 52 , P 31 , P 41 , and P 53 in a predetermined discriminant function F′3=w′ 31 ·P 52 +w′ 32 ·P 31 +w′ 33 ·P 41 +w′ 34 ·P 53 −K′3, satisfies f′3 <0 or not, and estimating the road surface during vehicular travel to be a sherbet-like snowy road when f3<0 or f′3<0 or estimating the road surface to be a wet road when f3≧0 or f′3≧0;

(E) when f1<0 in step (B), obtaining a band value P 450 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the region R 450 covering the trailing-edge region R 4 and the post-trailing-edge region R 5 or obtaining a band value P 42 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the trailing-edge region R 4 and a band value P 51 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 , and estimating the road surface to be an icy road when f4<0, where f4 is a function value found by substituting the band value P 450 in a predetermined discriminant function F4=w 41 ·P 450 −K4, or when f′4<0, where f′4 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 42 and P 51 in a predetermined discriminant function F′4=w′ 41 ·P 42 +w′ 42 ·P 51 −K′4;

(F) when f4≧0 or f′4≧0 in step (E), obtaining a band value P 11 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 8 kHz of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , a band value P 13 selected from a band of 1kHz or below of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , a band value P 22 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the leading-edge region R 2 , a band value P 23 selected from a band of 4 kHz to 10kHz of the leading-edge region R 2 , a band value P 32 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , a band value P 33 selected from a band of 4 kHz to 10 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , and a band value P 450 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the region R 450 covering the trailing-edge region R 4 and the post-trailing-edge region R 5 or obtaining a band value P 11 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 8 kHz of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , a band value P 13 selected from a band of 1 kHz or below of the pre-leading-edge region R 1 , a band value P 22 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the leading-edge region R 2 , a band value P 23 selected from a band of 4 kHz to 10 kHz of the leading-edge region R 2 , a band value P 32 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , a band value P 33 selected from a band of 4 kHz to 10 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , a band value P 42 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the trailing-edge region R 4 , and a band value P 51 selected from a band of 1 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 , and estimating the road surface during vehicular travel to be a smooth dry road when f7≧0, where f7 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 11 , P 13 , P 22 , P 23 , P 32 , P 33 , and P 450 in a predetermined discriminant function F7=w 71 ·P 11 +w 72 ·P 13 +w 73 ·P 22 +w 74 ·P 23 +w 75 ·P 32 +w 76 ·P 33 +w 77 ·P 450 −K7 or when f′7≧0, where f′7 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 11 , P 13 , P 22 , P 23 , P 32 , P 33 , P 42 , and P 51 in a predetermined discriminant function F′7=w′ 71 ·P 11 +w′ 72 ·P 13 +w′ 73 ·P 22 +w′ 74 ·P 23 +w′ 75 ·P 32 +w′ 76 ·P 33 +w′ 77 ·P 42 +w′ 78 ·P 51 −K′7; and

(G) when f7 <0 or f′7 <0 in step (F), estimating the road surface during vehicular travel to be a compacted snowy road if f8 <0 or estimating the road surface during vehicular travel to be a rough dry road surface if f8≧0, where f8 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 11 , P 13 , P 22 , P 23 , P 32 , P 33 , P 42 , and P 51 in a predetermined discriminant function F8=w 81 ·P 11 +w 82 ·P 13 +w 83 ·P 22 +w 84 ·P 23 +w 85 ·P 32 +w 86 ·P 33 +w 87 ·P 42 +w 88 ·P 51 −K8.

6. The method for estimating a road surface condition according to claim 5 , further comprising, between the steps of (E) and (F), the steps of:

(H) detecting road surface temperature and tire-generated sound during vehicular travel;

(I) obtaining a band power value P A in a low-frequency band and a band power value P B in a high-frequency band calculated from an octave distribution waveform of 10 Hz to 10 kHz of the tire-generated sound; and

(J) determining whether or not there is any covering on the road surface from the road surface temperature and the band power values P A and P B ;

wherein, in the step (I), it is determined that there is no covering on the road surface if the road surface temperature is lower than a predetermined reference temperature or if the sound pressure level ratio Q, which is the ratio of the band power value P B in a high-frequency band to the band power value P A in a low-frequency band (P B /P A ), is less than 1, and the procedure goes on to step (F), or

if it is determined that there is a covering on the road surface in the step (I), a band value P 52 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 and a band value P 345 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the region R 345 covering the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , the trailing-edge region R 4 , and the post-trailing-edge region R 5 are obtained or a band value P 52 selected from a band of 2 kHz to 4 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 , a band value P 31 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the pre-trailing-edge region R 3 , a band value P 41 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the trailing-edge region R 4 , and a band value P 53 selected from a band of 7 kHz to 10 kHz of the post-trailing-edge region R 5 are obtained,

then it is determined whether f3≧0 or f′3≧0, where f3 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 52 and P 345 in a predetermined discriminant function F3=w 31 ·P 52 +w 32 ·P 345 −K3 and f′3 is a function value found by substituting the band values P 52 , P 31 , P 41 , and P 53 in a predetermined discriminant function F′3=w′ 31 ·P 52 +w′ 32 ·P 31 +w′ 33 ·P 41 +w′ 34 ·P 53 −K′3, and

the road surface during vehicular travel is estimated to be a shallowly sherbet-like snowy road when f3 <0 or f′3 <0 or the road surface is estimated to be a shallowly wet road when f3≧0 or f′3≧0.

7. The method for estimating a road surface condition according to claim 1 , wherein a monitoring acceleration sensor is installed on the suspension of the vehicle, and the estimation of a road surface condition is discontinued when the value of acceleration detected by the monitoring acceleration sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. The method for estimating a road surface condition according to claim 1 , wherein images of road surface conditions are captured, the images captured of road surface conditions are displayed on a display screen, and estimated road surface conditions are also displayed on the display screen.