Patent Description:
In vehicles today, in particular heavy-duty vehicles such as semi-trailer vehicles or trucks for cargo transport, one or more central electronic control units, ECUs, may be implemented on-board the vehicle in order to read and collect sensor readings from various different types of wireless wheel sensors on-board the vehicle. In some cases, tire sensors may be located in or on the tires or rims on the wheels of the vehicle. The sensor data transmitted from these tire sensors may comprise, for example, tire pressures, tire temperatures, tire deformations, the identities of the sensors, etc. These types of systems are conventionally referred to as Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, TPMS, or Tire Health Systems, THS. These systems also normally employ radio frequency transmissions for transmitting its sensor data to, e.g. the ECU or external sensor data receivers. In additional to such TPMS/THS systems, each tire and/or rim of a wheel may also have one or more integrated or mounted Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, sensors, i.e. RFID tags, for enabling identification of the specific tire and/or specific rim of a wheel, which also employs radio frequency transmissions.

Hence, for each wheel, there may be a plurality of different wireless tire sensors and RFID sensors transmitting different sensor data. This, in combination with the fact that a vehicle, such as e.g. a heavy-duty vehicle plus trailer, may comprise up to <NUM> wheels or more, may lead to problems with interfering radio frequency transmissions when attempting to wirelessly read data from the wheel sensors, such as, tire sensors and RFID tags, in a non-ambiguous manner. Hence, there is a need to alleviate this intra-sensor interference.

<CIT>describes an automotive vehicle service system incorporating an RFID interrogator to exchange data with one or more RFID transponders or tags associated with a vehicle undergoing service, or with a component of a vehicle undergoing service.

<CIT> describes a method of managing data between a RFID marker carried by a tyre and a sensor carried by a rim.

<CIT>describes a method and apparatus are provided for writing tire information to a tire pressure monitoring sensor.

<CIT>describes an RFID transmitter for tires and method of manufacture the same.

<CIT>describes a RFID-tag, a TPMS device, a tire, a receiver device and a method for providing information related to identification of a tire.

<CIT> describes a tire internal pressure sensor unit for a tire managing system that transmits a question sending signal to a transponder, receives tire intrinsic information including tire self-identification information, and transmits the information including the input tire intrinsic information to the central tire managing system provided at a vehicle body side at predetermined timing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tire fitting system and method therein, along with computer program products and carriers, for assisting in fitting a tire on a rim of a wheel prior to assembly of the wheel on a vehicle that seeks to mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate all or at least some of the above-discussed drawbacks of presently known solutions.

According to a first aspect of the invention herein, the object is achieved by a method performed by a tire fitting system for assisting in fitting a tire on a rim of a wheel prior to assembly of the wheel on a vehicle. The method comprises determining a location of a Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, tag on the tire of the wheel. The method also comprise determining a location for an air valve on the rim of the wheel. The method further comprise the distance between the location of the RFID tag and the location for the air valve on the rim. Further, the method comprise providing instructions for aligning the tire on the rim based on the determined distance between the location of the RFID tag and the location for the air valve.

By determining the location of the RFID tag on the tire and the air valve location on the rim and aligning the tire on the rim based on the distance therein between, it may be ensured that tire and rim of the wheel are fitted such that the RFID tag of the tire is always located within a short distance from the air valve location on the rim. This is particularly advantageous when assembling two wheels close to each other on the same axle of the vehicle (also known as a twin axle or twin wheel assembly); this, because the two wheels of a twin wheel assembly are naturally assembled on the same axle such that the air valves of the two wheels are shifted about <NUM> degrees from each other in order to facilitate easy access to the air valves when inflating or pressurizing the tires. This means that the RFID tags of the tires of the wheels inherently also will have about <NUM> degrees separation. By ensuring a maximum distance, or at least close thereto, between the two RFID tags of the different tires in a twin wheel assembly, any inference or ambiguous sensor reading previously caused by close proximity of the RFID tags may be eliminated. Hence, an easier sensor reading of the RFID tags of the tires is enabled.

In some embodiments, the instructions may be provided to an automation system arranged to physically fit the tire on the rim of the wheel. This means, for example, that one or more robotic arms or mechanisms controlling the fitting of a tire on a rim of a wheel may receive control signals ensuring that they will always operate in a manner that aligns the RFID tag of the tire with the air valve location on the rim upon fitting a tire on a rim of a wheel.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method may comprise displaying the instructions for aligning the tire on the rim of the wheel on a display. This means, for example, that a person fitting a tire on a rim, such as, e.g. an operator of the tire fitting system, may be guided in how to fit the tire on the rim in a manner that aligns the RFID tag of the tire with the air valve location on the rim during the fitting of the tire on the rim of the wheel. In this case, according to some embodiments, the method may comprise displaying the instructions for aligning the tire on the rim of the wheel on the display until the distance between the location of the RFID tag and the location for the air valve is at or below a determined threshold level. In this way, the person may advantageously be continuously guided until a correct alignment of the tire and the rim is achieved. Further, in some embodiments, the method may comprise displaying information indicating that the alignment of the tire on the rim of the wheel is complete on the display when the distance between the location of the RFID tag and the location for the air valve is at or below the determined threshold level. This will provide an advantageous confirmation to the person fitting the tire on the rim that a correct alignment of the tire and the rim has been achieved.

According to some embodiments, the method may further comprise determining the location of the RFID tag on the tire of the wheel by performing image processing on images of the tire from the optical camera or by using an RFID scanning apparatus. The first option may be advantageous in cases when there is a visible imprint or print on the tire indicating the location of the RFID tag in the tire, while the latter option may be advantageous in cases where no visible imprint or print on the tire exist indicating the location for the RFID tag on the tire. Optionally, according to some embodiments, the method may further comprise determining the location for an air valve on the rim of the wheel by performing image processing on images of the rim from an optical camera or by using a tire sensor receiver. The first option may be advantageous in cases when there is no existing information regarding the location for an air valve on the rim of the wheel, while the latter option may be advantageous in cases when it is defined that a tire sensor is always located at the location for an air valve on the rim of the wheel.

According to a second aspect of the invention herein, the object is achieved by a tire fitting system for fitting a tire on a rim of a wheel prior to assembly of the wheel on a vehicle. The tire fitting system comprise a processing circuitry configured determine a location of a RFID tag on the tire of the wheel. The processing circuitry is also configured to determine a location for an air valve on the rim of the wheel. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine the distance between the RFID tag and the location for the air valve on the rim. Furthermore, the processing circuitry is configured to provide instructions for aligning the tire on the rim based on the determined distance between the RFID tag and the location for the air valve on the rim.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry may further be configured to provide the instructions to an automation system arranged to physically fit the tire on the rim of the wheel. Optionally, in some embodiments, the processing circuitry may further be configured to display the instructions for aligning the tire on the rim on a display. In this case, according to some embodiments, the processing circuitry may further be configured to display the instructions for aligning the tire on the rim of the wheel on the display until the distance between the location of the RFID tag and the location for the air valve is at or below a determined threshold level. Further, in some embodiments, the processing circuitry may be configured to display information indicating that the alignment of the tire on the rim of the wheel is complete on the display when the distance between the location of the RFID tag and the location for the air valve is at or below the determined threshold level.

According to some embodiments, the processing circuitry may be further configured to determine the location of the RFID tag on the tire of the wheel by performing image processing on images of the tire from the optical camera or by using an RFID scanning apparatus or by using a tire sensor receiver. Optionally, according to some embodiments, the processing circuitry may be further configured to determine the location for an air valve on the rim of the wheel by performing image processing on images of the rim from an optical camera or by using a tire sensor receiver.

According to a third aspect of the invention herein, the object is achieved by a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed in a processing circuitry, cause the tire fitting system to carry out the methods described above. According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a carrier containing any of the computer program products described above, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer-readable storage medium.

Features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art by the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a vehicle <NUM>. In this case, the vehicle <NUM> is exemplified as a heavy-duty vehicle combination for cargo transport. The vehicle <NUM> in <FIG> comprises a truck or towing vehicle <NUM> configured to tow a trailer unit <NUM> in a known manner, e.g., by a fifth wheel connection. The vehicle <NUM> comprises wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Herein, a heavy-duty vehicle is taken to be a vehicle designed for the handling and transport of heavier objects or large quantities of cargo. As an example, a heavy-duty vehicle could be a semi-trailer vehicle, or a truck as described above. As another example, a heavy-duty vehicle could be a vehicle designed for use in construction, mining operations, and the like. It is appreciated that the techniques and devices disclosed herein can be applied together with a wide variety of electrically powered vehicle units, not just those exemplified in <FIG>. Thus, the techniques disclosed herein are also applicable to, e.g., rigid trucks and also multi-trailer electric heavy-duty vehicles comprising one or more dolly vehicle units. Thus, even though the embodiments herein are described mainly with respect to heavy-duty vehicles, such as, e.g. semi-trailer vehicles or trucks for cargo transport, the embodiments herein should not be considered restricted to this particular type of vehicle but may also be used in other types of vehicles.

<FIG> illustrates a first top-side view of the vehicle <NUM> and wheel positions A-L thereon. In this example, the wheel position A is the front left wheel position of the truck or towing vehicle <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>, while the wheel position L is the front right wheel position of the truck or towing vehicle <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. Furthermore, the wheel positions of the trailer unit <NUM> ranges around the trailer unit <NUM> from the wheel position B for the front left wheel of the trailer unit <NUM> to the wheel position K of the front right wheel of the trailer unit <NUM>. In some cases, certain wheel positions may comprise a set of twin wheels as illustrated for the wheel positions C, D, I, and J. In this case, the outermost wheel position of the set of twin wheels is referred to as C, D, I, and J, respectively, while the innermost wheel position of the set of twin wheels is referred to as C', D', I', and J'. It should also be noted that the notation of the wheel positions is merely made for sake of illustrative purposes to provide a clear and concise references to different wheel positions; in other words, this notation should not be construed as limiting to the embodiments herein.

<FIG> illustrates a second top-side view of the vehicle <NUM> having wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> comprising tire sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> at each tire position A-L on the vehicle <NUM> as described above in <FIG>. The vehicle <NUM> further comprise an electronic control unit, ECU <NUM>.

In this example, the wheel <NUM> at the wheel position A of the truck or towing vehicle <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> comprise at least one tire sensor <NUM>, while the wheel <NUM> at the wheel position L of the truck or towing vehicle <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> comprise at least one tire sensor <NUM>. Similarly, each wheel 120a, 120b, 120c at the two front left wheel positions B, C, C' of the trailer unit <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> comprise each at least one tire sensor 121a, 121b, 121c, respectively. Also, each wheel 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d at the three back left wheel positions D, D', E, F of the trailer unit <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> comprise each at least one tire sensor 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d, respectively. Furthermore, each wheel 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d at the three back right wheel positions I, I', H, G of the trailer unit <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> comprise each at least one tire sensor 141a, 141b, 141c. Lastly, each wheel 150a, 150b, 150c at the two front right wheel positions K, J, J' of the trailer unit <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> comprise each at least one tire sensor 151a, 151b, 151c.

The ECU <NUM> and each of the one or more tire sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> on the vehicle <NUM> may be part of an on-board Tire Pressure Monitor System/Tire Health System, TPMS/THS. In other words, the one or more tire sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> on the vehicle <NUM> may be TPMS/THS sensors, and the ECU <NUM> may be a TPMS/THS sensor reader. The one or more tire sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> on the vehicle <NUM> may also be referred to as TPMS/THS transponders.

Furthermore, each tire and/or rim of each of the wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may also have one or more integrated or mounted Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, sensor, i.e. RFID tag. The RFID tags (not shown) enable identification of the specific tire and/or specific rim of each of the wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> using radio frequency transmissions.

As part of the developing of the embodiments described herein, it has been realized that there may be instances where it will be difficult to perform a wireless reading of an RFID tag in a tire of a wheel due to close proximity to another RFID tag in a tire of another wheel. One example of such an instance is illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a so-called twin axle or twin wheel assembly on the vehicle <NUM>. This means that two wheels, e.g. wheels 120b, 120c of vehicle <NUM>, are assembled next to one another on the same side of the vehicle <NUM> and on the same axle <NUM> in the wheel housing <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. After assembly of the wheels 120b, 120c on the axle <NUM>, an RFID tag 122b in the tire 123b of the outer wheel 120b may unfortunately happen to be located within close proximity of an RFID tag 122c in the tire 123c of the inner wheel 120c. This means that the distance d<NUM> between the RFID tags 122b, 123b is below a certain distance such that an RFID scanner <NUM> may experience interference from the RFID tag 122b in the tire 123b upon attempting to read the RFID tag 122c in the tire 123c. Hence, it may be difficult for the RFID scanner <NUM> to clearly and unambiguous determine which of the RFID tags 122b, 123b belong to which tire 123b, 123c. Even if the RFID scanner <NUM> comprise multiple different RFID receivers or antennas and/or is located below the tires 123b, 123c, the distance d1 may still be too short for the RFID scanner <NUM> to be able to determine which of the RFID tags 122b, 123b belong to which tire 123b, 123c. However, by utilizing the fact that twin wheels are naturally assembled on the same axle such that the air valves of the two wheels are shifted about <NUM> degrees from each other, which is performed in order to facilitate easy access to the air valves when inflating or pressurizing the tires of the wheels once assembled on the vehicle, a tire fitting system and method therein is provided according to the embodiments described herein which utilizes this fact and addresses this issue.

<FIG> shows a cross-section (left) and side view (right) of a wheel 120b. The wheel 120b comprise a tire 123b that has been fitted on a rim 124b. The rim 124b comprise an opening 125a for an air valve <NUM> for use when inflating or pressurizing the tire 123b on the rim 124b. This opening 125a may serve as and be identified as a location for the air valve <NUM>. Normally, after fitting the tire 123b on a rim 124b, the RFID tag 122b of the tire 123b may be located anywhere on the wheel 120b in relation to the opening 125a for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b. The RFID tag 122b is integrated or mounted in the tire 123b prior to the fitting on the rim 124b. The tire 123b may also comprise a visual marker or indicator on the outside of the tire 123b indicating the location of the RFID tag 122b in the tire 123b.

<FIG> shows a schematic illustration of a tire fitting system <NUM> for assisting in fitting a tire 123b on a rim 124b of a wheel 120b prior to assembly of the wheel 120b on a vehicle <NUM> according to some embodiments. It should be noted that, although not shown in <FIG>, known conventional features of the tire fitting system <NUM>, such as, for example, a power source, e.g. a battery or main connection, may be assumed to be comprised in the tire fitting system <NUM>.

According to the embodiments shown in <FIG>, the tire fitting system <NUM> may comprise, be arranged to be connected to, or be configured to communicate with an optical camera <NUM>. The optical camera <NUM> is preferably arranged so that its field of view 601a is able to capture images of the tire 123b and the rim 124b during the fitting of the tire 123b onto the rim 124b. While the images may, for example, capture a side-view of the tire 123b and the rim 124b as shown in <FIG> or similar, one important is that the field of view 601a of the optical camera <NUM> also capture the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b, e.g. the opening 125a. Also, in case the tire 123b comprise a visual marker or indicator on the outside of the tire 123b indicating the location of the RFID tag 122b in the tire 123b, it is also preferable if the field of view 601a of the optical camera <NUM> further capture this visual marker or indicator on the tire 123b. According to the embodiments shown in <FIG>, the tire fitting system <NUM> may comprise, be arranged to be connected to, or be configured to communicate with a tire sensor receiver <NUM>. The tire sensor receiver <NUM> may be configured to receive or read tire sensor signals transmitted from tire sensors in a tire of a wheel, such as, e.g. from the tire sensor 121b. The tire sensor receiver <NUM> may be a TPMS/THS system receiver in case the tire sensor 121b is a TPMS/THS sensor. The tire sensor receiver <NUM> may comprise an antenna 606a for receiving a tire sensor signal from tire sensor 121b. As shown in <FIG>, this case is advantageous in case the tire sensor 121b is located at the same location as the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b, e.g. the opening 125a. This may be a default setting for the wheel 120b. In this case, the air valve <NUM> may screwed into, or together with, the tire sensor <NUM>. In this case, this information may thus be used to determine the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b. Here, it should also be noted that the tire signal from the tire sensor 121b may be sent when the tire 123b is inflated on the rim 124b and thus activated, or when the tire sensor 121b is activated by low-frequency actuator (not shown).

Optionally, the tire fitting system <NUM> may also comprise, be arranged to be connected to, or be configured to communicate with an RFID scanner <NUM>, i.e. a RFID scanning apparatus. The RFID scanner <NUM> may be configured to scan for RFID tags, such as, the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b. The RFID scanner <NUM> may comprise an antenna <NUM> for transmitting an RFID signal, e.g. an RFID interrogation signal, towards the RFID tag 122b. As the RFID tag 122b receives the RFID signal from the RFID scanner <NUM>, the RFID tag 122b will respond with a signal comprising the identity of the RFID tag. The RFID scanner <NUM> may thus receive a response signal from the RFID tag 122b receiving its transmitted RFID signal. According to some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> may also comprise, be arranged to be connected to, or be configured to communicate with an automation system <NUM> and/or a display <NUM>.

The tire fitting system <NUM> comprise a processing circuitry <NUM> and a memory <NUM>. It should also be noted that some or all of the functionality described in the embodiments herein as being performed by the tire fitting system <NUM> may be provided by the processing circuitry <NUM> executing instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, such as, the memory <NUM> shown in <FIG>. For example, the processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the optical camera <NUM> and receive and process images of the tire 123b and the rim 124b of the wheel 120b from the optical camera <NUM>. The processing circuitry <NUM> may also be configured to be communicate with the RFID scanner <NUM> and receive and process information indicating the location of the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b. The processing circuitry <NUM> may further be arranged to communicate with the automation system <NUM> and/or display <NUM>. Furthermore, the processing circuitry <NUM> may further comprise additional components, such as, for example, a determining module <NUM> and a providing module <NUM>, each responsible for providing its functionality to support the embodiments described herein.

The tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> is configured to, or may comprise the determining module <NUM> configured to, determine a location of an Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, tag 122b on the tire 123b of the wheel 120b. Also, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> is configured to, or may comprise the determining module <NUM> configured to, determine a location for an air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b. Further, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> is configured to, or may comprise the determining module <NUM> configured to, determine the distance between the location of the RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b. Moreover, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> is configured to, or may comprise the providing module <NUM> configured to, provide instructions for aligning the tire 123b on the rim 124b based on the determined distance between the location of the RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b.

In some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to, or may comprise the providing module <NUM> configured to, provide the instructions to an automation system arranged to physically fit the tire 123b on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b.

In some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to, or may comprise the providing module <NUM> configured to, display the instructions for aligning the tire 123b on the rim 124b on a display <NUM>. In this case, according to some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to, or may comprise the providing module <NUM> configured to, display the instructions for aligning the tire 123b on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b on the display <NUM> until the distance between the location of the RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> is at or below a determined threshold level. Further, according to some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to, or may comprise the providing module <NUM> configured to, display information indicating that the alignment of the tire 123b on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b is complete on the display <NUM> when the distance between the location of the RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> is at or below the determined threshold level.

In some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to, or may comprise the determining module <NUM> configured to, determine the location of the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b of the wheel 120b by performing image processing on images of the tire 123b from the optical camera <NUM> or by using an RFID scanning apparatus <NUM>. Optionally, in some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> or processing circuitry <NUM> may be configured to, or may comprise the determining module <NUM> configured to, determine the location for an air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b by performing image processing on images of the rim 124b from an optical camera <NUM> or by using a tire sensor receiver <NUM>.

Furthermore, the embodiments for for assisting in fitting a tire 123b on a rim 124b of a wheel 120b prior to assembly of the wheel 120b on a vehicle <NUM> described above may be at least partly implemented through one or more processors, such as, the processing circuitry <NUM> in the tire fitting system <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code or code means for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the processing circuitry <NUM> in the tire fitting system <NUM>. The data carrier, or computer readable medium, may be one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal or computer-readable storage medium. The computer program code may e.g. be provided as pure program code in the tire fitting system <NUM> or on a server and downloaded to the tire fitting system <NUM>. Thus, it should be noted that the tire fitting system <NUM> may in some embodiments be implemented as computer programs stored in memory <NUM> in <FIG>, e.g. the computer readable storage unit/module, for execution by processors or processing modules, e.g. the processing circuitry <NUM> in the tire fitting system <NUM> in <FIG>.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry <NUM> and the memory <NUM> described above may refer to a combination of analog and digital circuits, and/or one or more processors configured with software and/or firmware, e.g. stored in a computer readable storage unit/module, that when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry <NUM> perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a system-on-a-chip (SoC).

Examples of embodiments of a method performed by a tire fitting system <NUM> for assisting in fitting a tire 123b on a rim 124b of a wheel 120b prior to assembly of the wheel <NUM> on a vehicle <NUM>, will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in <FIG> is an illustrated example of actions, steps or operations which may be performed a tire fitting system <NUM> described below with reference to <FIG>. The method may comprise the following actions, steps or operations.

Action <NUM>. The tire fitting system <NUM> determines a location of a Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, tag 122b in the tire 123b of the wheel 120b. This may, for example, be performed by the tire fitting system <NUM> as the tire 123b is to be fitted onto the rim 124b of the wheel 120b. According to one example, the tire fitting system <NUM> may determine the location of the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b of the wheel 120b by performing image processing on images of the tire 123b from an optical camera <NUM>. This means that as the tire 123b to be fitted onto the rim 124b of the wheel 120b appears in the field of view 601a of the optical camera <NUM>, the tire fitting system <NUM> may, based on images of the tire 123b from the optical camera <NUM>, determine the location of the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b of the wheel 120b. This may be advantageous in cases when the tire 123b comprise a visual marker or indicator on the outside of the tire 123b indicating the location of the RFID tag 122b in the tire 123b.

According to another example, the tire fitting system <NUM> may determine the location of the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b of the wheel 120b by using an RFID scanning apparatus <NUM>. This means that the tire fitting system <NUM> may use the RFID scanning apparatus or scanner <NUM> in order to scan the tire 123b for the RFID tag 122b. As the RFID scanner <NUM> scans an area on the tire 123b comprising the RFID tag 122b, the RFID tag 122b will respond with a RFID transmission comprising the identity of the RFID tag 122b which may be read by the RFID scanner <NUM>. Thus, based on RFID transmission of the RFID tag 122b, the tire fitting system <NUM> may determine the location of the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b. The tire fitting system <NUM> may, for example, use sequential scanning of areas of the tire 123b to determine the location of the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b. Optionally, the tire fitting system <NUM> may use the receiving direction and/or signal strength of the RFID transmission to determine the location of the RFID tag 122b on the tire 123b.

Action <NUM>. The tire fitting system <NUM> determines a location for an air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b. According to one example, the tire fitting system <NUM> may determine the location for an air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b by performing image processing on images of the rim 124b from an optical camera <NUM>. This means that as the rim 124b onto which the tire 123b is to be fitted appears in the field of view 601a of the optical camera <NUM>, the tire fitting system <NUM> may, based on images of the rim 124b from the optical camera <NUM>, determine the location for an air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b. The location for an air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b may, for example, be the opening 125a on the rim 124b illustrated in <FIG>. Here, it should be noted that image object identification in digital camera images is known in the prior art and commonly implemented for various different implementations. Therefore, this subject is not discussed in more detail herein. According to one example, the tire fitting system <NUM> may determine the location for an air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b by using a tire sensor receiver <NUM>. This means that in case in case a tire sensor 121b is located at the same location as the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b, this information may thus be used to determine the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b.

Action <NUM>. As the location of the RFID tag 122b in the tire 123b and the location for an air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b has been determined in Actions <NUM>-<NUM>, the tire fitting system <NUM> determines the distance between the location of RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b. This means that the tire fitting system <NUM> may determine if, and may also how, the tire 123b or the rim 124b should be repositioned relative to each other in order to ensure an advantageous location of the RFID tag 122b. For example, in case the determined distance between the location of RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b is at or above a determined threshold value, the tire fitting system <NUM> may determine that the tire 123b or the rim 124b should be repositioned or aligned relative to each other and how this should be performed, e.g. by rotating the tire 123b and/or the rim 124b such that the distance between the location of RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b is reduced to or below the determined threshold value. If the determined distance between the location of RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b is at or below the determined threshold value from the start, the tire fitting system <NUM> may also determine that no repositioning or alignment of the tire 123b or rim 124b is necessary.

Action <NUM>. After determining the distance in Action <NUM>, the tire fitting system <NUM> provides instructions for aligning the tire 123b on the rim 124b based on the determined distance between the RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b. In other words, the tire fitting system <NUM> may determine and provide instructions on how the tire 123b and/or the rim 124b should be repositioned or aligned relative to each other in order to ensure a favorable distance between the RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b, i.e. a distance that is shorter than a determined threshold value.

According to some embodiments, the instructions may be provided to an automation system <NUM> arranged to physically fit the tire 123b on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b. For example, the tire fitting system <NUM> may transmit control signals to the automation system <NUM> comprising the instructions for aligning the tire 123b on the rim 124b. The automation system <NUM> may then, for example, control one or more robotic arms or mechanisms that controls the position of the tire 123b relative to the rim 124b in accordance with the receive control signals and instructions. In this way, the tire fitting system <NUM> may ensure that the tire 123b will always fitted on the rim 124b operate in a manner that aligns the RFID tag122b of the tire 123b with the location for the air valve <NUM> on the rim 124b.

Optionally, according to some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> may provide the instructions by displaying the instructions for aligning the tire 123b on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b on a display <NUM>. This means that the tire fitting system <NUM> may control information being displayed on the display <NUM> such that the information indicates how the tire 123b and/or the rim 124b should be aligned in regards to each other, e.g. to an operator of the tire fitting system <NUM>. In some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> may display the instructions for aligning the tire 123b on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b on the display <NUM> until the distance between the location of the RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> is at or below a determined threshold level. This means that the tire fitting system <NUM> may control information being displayed on the display <NUM> such that the information persistently indicates how the tire 123b and/or the rim 124b should be aligned in regards to each other during the alignment or repositioning of the tire 123b and/or the rim 124b. This is exemplified by the display <NUM> in <FIG> (left). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the tire fitting system <NUM> may display information indicating that the alignment of the tire 123b on the rim 124b of the wheel 120b is complete on the display <NUM> when the distance between the location of the RFID tag 122b and the location for the air valve <NUM> is at or below the determined threshold level. This means that the tire fitting system <NUM> may control information being displayed on the display <NUM> such that the information indicates when a proper alignment of the tire 123b and the rim 124b has been achieved. This is exemplified by the display <NUM> in <FIG> (right).

The description of the example embodiments provided herein have been presented for purposes of illustration. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit example embodiments to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various alternatives to the provided embodiments. The examples discussed herein were chosen and described in order to explain the principles and the nature of various example embodiments and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the example embodiments in various manners and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The features of the embodiments described herein may be combined in all possible combinations of methods, apparatuses, modules, systems, and computer program products. It should be appreciated that the example embodiments presented herein may be practiced in any combination with each other.

Claim 1:
A method performed by a tire fitting system (<NUM>) for assisting in fitting a tire (123b) on a rim (124b) of a wheel (120b) prior to assembly of the wheel (120b) on a vehicle (<NUM>), wherein the method comprises:
determining (<NUM>) a location of a Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, tag (122b) on the tire (123b) of the wheel (120b);
determining (<NUM>) a location for an air valve (<NUM>) on the rim (124b) of the wheel (120b);
determining (<NUM>) the distance between the location of the RFID tag (122b) and the location for the air valve (<NUM>) on the rim (124b); and
providing (<NUM>) instructions for aligning the tire (123b) on the rim (124b) based on the determined distance between the location of the RFID tag (122b) and the location for the air valve (<NUM>) on the rim (124b).