| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 356139090 | Wheel alignment with photodetection | 24 |
| 20080273194 | NON CONTACT WHEEL ALIGNMENT SENSOR AND METHOD - A sensor and method of determining the orientation of an object, such as the alignment characteristics of a tire and wheel assembly mounted on a vehicle, includes projecting a plurality of light planes from a first light projector onto a tire and wheel assembly to form a plurality of generally parallel illumination lines on a tire of the tire and wheel assembly, receiving a reflected image of at least some of the illumination lines with a photo electric device reflected from the tire at an angle relative to a projecting angle of the first light projector, and determining a plane defined by spatial coordinates from a selected point located on each illumination line imaged by the photo electric device, with the plane representing the orientation of the tire and wheel assembly. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080297777 | METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING GEOMETRICAL DIMENSIONS OF A VEHICLE WHEEL - A method and an apparatus of determining geometrical dimensions of a motor vehicle wheel (rim/tyre assembly) | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090027662 | FAULT TOLERANT WHEEL ALIGNMENT HEAD AND SYSTEM - A sensing head and system utilizes fault tolerant design and self-diagnosis. Alternative operation modes are provided when one or more functional modules or components fail. Unique designs provide redundant system resources. Self-diagnoses and tests are provided to isolate and identify sources of malfunctions. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090033922 | TESTING SYSTEM FOR TESTING COLOR WHEELS - A testing system measures central angles of filter segments of a color wheel. The color wheel includes a color filter, which includes three sector-shaped filter segments and a motor for driving the filter segments to rotate. The testing system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor emits light toward the color filter and receives light reflected back by the color filter, and generates an impulse signal according to intensity changes of the light reflected back by the color filter. The impulse signal includes a plurality of boundary impulses corresponding to boundaries formed between adjacent filter segments. The processor calculates central angles of the filter segments according to relationships between the boundary impulses. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090046279 | Method for the Determination of the Axle Geometry of a Vehicle - The invention relates to a method for determining the axle geometry of a vehicle, wherein light of a given structure is projected onto a vehicle wheel, and the diffusely reflected light can be analyzed in order to determine the orientation of the plane of the vehicle wheel. Several lines of a laser light generated by means of one or several laser light sources are projected on the wheel, and one or several of these lines fades in and/or out in temporal succession. The reflected light is captured by means of one or several cameras. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090059213 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT - A mounting fixture assembly allows the attachment of a laser light emitting device—in this case a laser level—used along with a light reception board to determine thrust, toe, and camber measurements of motor vehicles. The mounting fixture provides a means of surface mounting the laser device to the rims of the wheels of motor vehicles without the need for any physical clamping or attaching devices used at the rim, wheel, or tire of a vehicle in conjunction with a laser emitting device support fixture. The mounting fixture permits the surface mounting of the laser device to wheels having camber angles within a normal range of deviance (+/−10° approximately). The fixture assembly maintains surface contact of the laser device throughout the adjustment process. The fixture allows for the radial rotation of the light emitting device facilitating the determination of measurements used in the calculation of toe angles. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090073425 | Integrated circuit image sensor for wheel alignment systems - An integrated circuit (IC), for use in an imaging module of a wheel alignment system, incorporates an image sensor as well as a number of other features. Some of the added features are implemented within the integrated circuit. The IC also incorporates interfacing for signaling or communication with other devices in the imaging module or elsewhere in the wheel alignment system. Some examples of added internal features include a temperature sensor, unique chip ID, and chip power control. The addition of analog and/or digital I/O to the integrated circuit enables control of an image module illumination function, control of an imaging module positioning function, various cooling functions, and operator interface control. A communications hub may be added to the IC, to enable operation in a networked system environment. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090279077 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR WHEEL PROFILE MEASUREMENT - Methods and systems for determining a parameter of a vehicle wheel are provided. The vehicle wheel is mounted on a shaft having an axis of rotation. The method includes projecting a pattern onto the wheel wherein the pattern includes a plurality of discrete optically detectable elements and determining a dimensional parameter of the wheel utilizing at least two of the plurality of discrete elements. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100060885 | Method and device for performing optical suspension measurement - The invention relates to a method for optically measuring an undercarriage and/or for dynamically testing undercarriage components of a motor vehicle ( | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100149526 | FAULT TOLERANT WHEEL ALIGNMENT HEAD AND SYSTEM - A sensing head and system utilizes fault tolerant design and self-diagnosis. Alternative operation modes are provided when one or more functional modules or components fail. Unique designs provide redundant system resources. Self-diagnoses and tests are provided to isolate and identify sources of malfunctions. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100165332 | Method and Apparatus For Vehicle Service System Optical Target Assembly - A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of a vehicle wheel using an optical target attached to the vehicle wheel, the optical target having a dimensionally stable shape and a plurality of target elements arranged in a known geometric and spatial configuration relative to each other. A two-dimensional image of the optical target is acquired by an imaging system to detect a plurality of target element images corresponding to the plurality of target elements arranged on the optical target. A spatial orientation of the optical target and an alignment of the vehicle wheel is then determined from the plurality of target element images and the known geometric and spatial configuration of the plurality of target elements on the optical target. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100177304 | VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY - A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targets with at least one spatial relationship sensor for sensing a relationship between the active sensing heads. One or both of the active sensing heads may include inclinometers or the like, for sensing one or more tilt angles of the respective sensing head. Data from the active sensing heads may be sent to a host computer for processing to derive one or more vehicle measurements, for example, for measurement of parameters useful in wheel alignment applications. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100321674 | DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR CHECKING AN ATTITUDE OF A VEHICLE - A device and a method for checking an attitude of a vehicle ( | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110102779 | NON CONTACT WHEEL ALIGNMENT SENSOR AND METHOD - A sensor and method of determining the orientation of an object, such as the alignment characteristics of a tire and wheel assembly mounted on a vehicle, includes projecting a plurality of light planes from a first light projector onto a tire and wheel assembly to form a plurality of generally parallel illumination lines on a tire of the tire and wheel assembly, receiving a reflected image of at least some of the illumination lines with a photo electric device reflected from the tire at an angle relative to a projecting angle of the first light projector, and determining a plane defined by spatial coordinates from a selected point located on each illumination line imaged by the photo electric device, with the plane representing the orientation of the tire and wheel assembly. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110170089 | Method and Apparatus For Vehicle Service System Optical Target Assembly - A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of a vehicle wheel using an optical target attached to the vehicle wheel, the optical target having a dimensionally stable shape and a plurality of visible features defining target elements arranged in a known geometric and spatial configuration relative to each other across at least two surfaces. A two-dimensional image of the optical target is acquired by an imaging system to detect a plurality of target element images corresponding to the plurality of target elements. A spatial orientation of the optical target and an alignment of the vehicle wheel is then determined from the plurality of target element images and the known geometric and spatial configuration of the plurality of target elements on the target surfaces. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110279814 | WHEEL ALIGNMENT MEASURING - A method for determining the alignment of a pair of vehicle wheels includes the steps of positioning a beam projecting device consecutively on each wheel, in the same angular relationship to the wheel, and projecting a beam to a receptor, which is located in a predetermined angular relationship the other wheel. The projecting device, the receptor or both is utilized to determine the angle between the beams and the angle is related to the alignment of the pair of wheels; the receptor being maintained in the same position for each beam projection. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20120092654 | NON CONTACT WHEEL ALIGNMENT SENSOR AND METHOD - A method of determining alignment characteristics of a tire and wheel assembly mounted on a vehicle comprises projecting a light plane onto the tire and wheel assembly to form a reference illumination line, receiving a reflected image of the reference illumination line with a photo electric device, and determining a reference distance from the reference illumination line to a noncontact wheel alignment sensor including the photo electric device. The method also includes projecting a plurality of light planes onto the tire and wheel assembly to form a plurality of generally parallel illumination lines, receiving a reflected image of at least some of the generally parallel illumination lines with the photo electric device, and identifying which generally parallel illumination lines are imaged at the receiving step using the reference distance, and determining the orientation of the tire and wheel assembly based on the reflected image of the generally parallel illumination lines. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120320370 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT OF VEHICLES - Method for determining wheel alignment of a vehicle, which vehicle comprises at least one wheel axle ( | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130222793 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT - A vehicle wheel alignment method and system is provided. A three-dimensional target is attached to a vehicle wheel known to be in alignment. The three-dimensional target has multiple target elements thereon, each of which has known geometric characteristics and 3D spatial relationship with one another. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130342830 | WHEEL TOE AND CAMBER MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A method for measuring wheel alignment of a test wheel rotating about a z-axis using at least one camera and a processor includes obtaining a calibration point from a calibration image of a zero-offset wheel that is the same size as the test wheel and that rotates about the z-axis, obtaining at least one test image of the test wheel with the camera and a non-structured light source, and locating a measurement point in the test image. The measurement point coincides with a radius that the calibration point is offset from the z-axis and the angular displacement of the calibration point from the vertical diameter of the zero-offset wheel. The measurement point is further located based on a change of reflectivity between other points in the test image adjacent the measurement point. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140253908 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ASSESSING WHEEL CONDITION ON A VEHICLE - A method of assessing condition of a wheel on a moving vehicle involves contactlessly determining distance of a first location on the wheel along a fixed path from a fixed point not on the wheel at a first time while the vehicle is moving and contactlessly determining distance of a second location on the wheel along the fixed path from the fixed point at a second time after the vehicle has moved. The two distances are compared to determine an offset between the first and second locations on the wheel. The offset provides an indication of slip angle of the wheel while the vehicle is moving. The method can be used to assess wheel alignment and wheel suspension. An apparatus and system for effecting the method involves the use of a displacement sensor, especially an optical displacement sensor (e.g. a laser) for making the distance determinations. The system and apparatus is completely contactless and only one stationary displacement sensor is required to make the appropriate distance measurements to the wheel on a moving vehicle. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140253909 | Method and Apparatus for Multi-Axle Vehicle Alignment with Vehicle Frame Reference - A vehicle wheel service system including a plurality of sensors positioned in proximity to a heavy-duty multi-axle vehicle, to measure angles associated with three or more axles of the vehicle without repositioning the mounting of the sensors after initiating a measurement procedure. Additional sensors, associated with a vehicle reference, such as the vehicle frame axis, are disposed to provide vehicle reference measurement data which is communicated to a processing system. The processing system is configured with software instructions to evaluate the measurement data and to determine various vehicle wheel alignment angle measurements and/or necessary vehicle adjustments for each axle relative to the vehicle reference or to a fixed axle having a determined relationship to the vehicle reference. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20150354946 | WHEEL TOE AND CAMBER MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A system for measuring wheel alignment includes at least one camera and at least one processor in communication with the camera. The camera captures an image of a test wheel. The processor processes the captured image to measure the wheel alignment. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20220136824 | DEVICE FOR CHASSIS MEASUREMENT AND METHOD FOR CHASSIS MEASUREMENT - An apparatus for chassis measurement for determining the alignment of the wheels of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a detachably fixed measurement head apparatus on the vehicle wheel to be measured, wherein the measurement markings are positioned parallel to the front and rear side of the vehicle or the vehicle stand level. After arranging the fastening apparatus and positioning the measurement markings, the laser light source is activated and a plane is projected in space, wherein the length of these laser light lines generates at least intersection points together with the measurement markings, the intersection points of which are detected as track gauge and used for computation in order to determine the fall, trailing and spread data and the virtual longitudinal travel axis of the vehicle. By a camera-assisted measurement value detection apparatus, different electromagnetic spectra for each wheel to be measured are detected and supplied for data processing. | 05-05-2022 |
