Tire defect tester having a fault indicator circuit

Abstract

A tire defect tester and a method of operation are disclosed. In one aspect, the tire defect tester includes a first electrode arranged to direct energy toward a tire, and a second electrode arranged on an opposite side of the tire from the first electrode to receive energy passing through the tire from the first electrode. The tire defect tester further includes an energy sensor electrically connected to the second electrode and a fault indicator circuit responsive to the energy sensor and configured to indicate the presence of a flaw upon energy above a threshold level being sensed at the second electrode.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of testing tires for defects, the method comprising:
 directing an energy signal toward a first location on a surface of a tire;   detecting an attenuated energy signal on a surface of the tire opposite the first surface; and   comparing the attenuated energy signal to a predetermined energy signal value to determine the presence of a flaw in a tire at the first location.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined energy signal value includes a threshold energy signal value. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the threshold energy signal value is a signal value selected by a user. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined energy signal value includes a previously-observed energy signal value. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 rotating the tire;   directing a second energy signal toward a second location on the surface of the tire;   detecting a second attenuated energy signal on the surface of the tire opposite the first surface; and   comparing the second attenuated energy signal to the predetermined energy signal value to determine the presence of a flaw in a tire at the second location.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising rotating the tire. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising, upon determining the presence of a flaw in the tire, halting rotation of the tire to indicate the location of the flaw. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising periodically generating energy signals to be directed toward a surface of the tire by an energy source. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising storing a record of the flaw in a memory. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising performing statistical analysis of flaws detected by the tire tester. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, upon detection of a flaw in the tire, activating a tire flaw indicator. 
     
     
         30 . A tire tester comprising:
 means for directing an energy signal toward a first location on a surface of a tire;   means for detecting an attenuated energy signal on a surface of the tire opposite the first surface; and   means for comparing the attenuated energy signal to a predetermined energy signal value to determine the presence of a flaw in a tire at the first location.   
     
     
         31 . The tire tester of  claim 30 , wherein the means for directing an energy signal toward a first location on a surface of a tire includes an energy source. 
     
     
         32 . The tire tester of  claim 31 , wherein the energy source includes a high voltage probe. 
     
     
         33 . The tire tester of  claim 30 , wherein the means for detecting an attenuated energy signal on a surface of the tire opposite the first surface includes an energy sensor. 
     
     
         34 . The tire tester of  claim 33 , wherein the energy sensor includes a current sensor. 
     
     
         35 . The tire tester of  claim 30 , wherein the means for comparing the attenuated energy signal to a predetermined energy signal value includes a peak detector. 
     
     
         36 . A control circuit for a tire defect tester having first and second electrodes on opposite sides of a tire, the control circuit comprising:
 a pulse generator arranged to trigger a voltage pulse at a circuit output, the circuit output electrically connectable to a first electrode;   an energy sensor arranged to receive energy from a circuit input, the circuit input electrically connectable to a second electrode; and   a fault indicator circuit responsive to the energy sensor and configured to indicate the presence of a flaw upon energy above a threshold level being sensed at the circuit input.   
     
     
         37 . (canceled)