Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B11/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
  • G01B11/26—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
  • G01B11/275—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes for testing wheel alignment
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B2210/00—Aspects not specifically covered by any group under G01B, e.g. of wheel alignment, caliper-like sensors
  • G01B2210/10—Wheel alignment
  • G01B2210/14—One or more cameras or other optical devices capable of acquiring a two-dimensional image
  • G01B2210/143—One or more cameras on each side of a vehicle in the main embodiment
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B2210/00—Aspects not specifically covered by any group under G01B, e.g. of wheel alignment, caliper-like sensors
  • G01B2210/10—Wheel alignment
  • G01B2210/30—Reference markings, reflector, scale or other passive device

Definitions

• one or more cameras are used to develop signals from targets that connect to the vehicle See U S Patent No 5,724,743, entitled Method and Apparatus for Determining the Alignment of Motor Vehicle Wheels
• the position of the alignment cameras must remain substantially constant throughout a wheel alignment test Therefore, the cameras and the horizontal beam upon or within which the cameras are mounted (hereinafter "camera bar") remain in a fixed position at a fixed height at most times Movement of the camera bar is avoided
• the camera bar is secured to a stationary object Routine camera bar height adjustments have heretofore been impractical Nevertheless, to perform a wheel alignment test, the images on the wheel targets must be fully within the view of the alignment cameras
• the height of a vehicle lift is adjusted through a control panel for a hydraulic or other mechanical system until the images on the wheel targets appear to be fully within view of the wheel alignment cameras
• Another object of this invention is to provide a display of an image in the view of an alignment camera so that a mechanic can l eadily detei mine whether the line of sight from the camera to the image is sufficiently cleai
• Fig 1 is an illustration of a prior art wheel alignment system with a vehicle and vehicle lift
• Fig 2 is an illustration of a wheel alignment system that includes the camera lift system of the present invention
• Figs 3a-c are illustrations of various displays pi ovided by the camera lift system of the present invention
• Fig 4 is an illustration of a vehicle lift and camera lift control console of the present invention
• Fig 5 is an illustration of an elevating camera support system of the present invention in a first position
• Fig 6 is an illustration of an elevating camera support system of the present invenion in a second position
• Fig 7 is an illustration of an elevating camera support of the present invention
• Fig 8 is similar to Fig 7, illustrating the components of the elevating camera support
• Fig 9 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 An optical wheel alignment system 10 of the prior art is illustrated in Fig 1 A vehicle 1 rests upon a vehicle lift 14
• Right side wheel targets 16 and 17 are attached to the right front and rear wheels, respectively, of vehicle 12
• Camera bar assembly 18 includes a right camera 22 for viewing the wheel targets 16 and 17 on the wheels on the right side of vehicle 10 and a left camera 20 for viewing the wheel targets on the left side, not shown, of vehicle 10
• Cameras 20 and 22 optically view images of or on the wheel targets and provide optical signals in response thereto
• An electronic processor such as a computer 24 receives the optical signals from cameras 20 and 22, processes the signals, calculates alignment parameters and provides alignment data display signals for display on display 26
• the displays are preferably orientated so that the mechanic can view the alignment parameters as adjustments are made to the vehicle U S
• An elevating camera support system 30 includes a camera bar 18 which is shown as extending horizontally in this embodiment but which could be oriented in any direction, provided the camera or cameras are able to view both sides of the vehicle The vertical position of camera bar 18 is adjustable with respect to the elevating camera support system 30
• a vehicle lift 14 supports a vehicle 12 having wheel targets, not shown, attached thereto Wheel targets are shown in Fig 1 1 of USPN 5,724,743
• Control system 32 provides means to manually adjust the height of vehicle lift 14 and camera bar 18
• a processor system 34 receives signals from camera bar 1 8 and provides display signals for display on display 36
• Display 36 may be a CRT d ⁇ spla ⁇ an LCD a video display, or any other visual displav Piocessoi svstem 14 ma ⁇ be independent of ⁇ i , alternatively, associated with the pi ocessor disclosed in U S Patent No 5.675,5 15
• an elevating camei a support system 30 that includes elevating camera supports 48 and 50 is show n Camei a bai 18 includes right and left alignment cameras 22 and 20, respectivel ⁇ Elevating camera support 50 is shown in Figs 7 and 8 Vertical movement of camei a bai 18 is actuated bv an elect ⁇ cal motoi or other device 56 attached to a chain or other mechanism such as a sci ew oi spring, not shown
• the chain is attached to a mounting assembly 58 comprised of a slider 64 and mount 66 Slider 64 is vertically moveable within vertical apertures 60 and 62 formed in vertical support 54
• Camera bai 18 is secured to mount 66
• Electrical motor 56 is attached to the top of vertical suppoi t ⁇ and is activated manually by conti ol system
• only one elevating camera support supports camera bar 18
• the center of camera bar 18 is attached to mount 66
• control system 32 includes vehicle lift control console 44 and camera height control console 46
• camera height control console 46 is attached to the side of v ehicle lift contiol console 44
• Camera height control console 46 is comprised of a camera height control switch 68, a camera height high button 70 and a camera height low button 72
• activation of camera height high button 70 moves camera bar 18 to a height of about 8 feet above ground level
• Activation of camera height low button 72 moves the camera bar 18 to a height of about 2 feet above ground level
• Camera height control switch 68 can be manually activated to move the camera bar to any height from the absolute high position of Fig 5 to the absolute low position of Fig.
• Vehicle 12 is driven onto vehicle lift assembly 14
• Wheel targets are attached to each wheel of the vehicle
• the mechanic manually activates vehicle lift control 44 to move vehicle 12 to a desired height
• the mechanic decides whether to monitor the field of view of camera 20, camera 22, or both and inputs his selection to computer 34
• the mechanic then activates camera height control switch 68 and camera bar 18 moves in the vertical direction while the mechanic monitors the display on display 36
• display 36 provides a view of the field of view of both right camera 20 and left camera 22
• the images on the wheel targets will begin to appear on display 36
• the mechanic can determine whether a target is within the field of view of the camera
• the mechanic continues to adjust the camera height so that the target images are completely within the field of view of the camera and do not overlap If the mechanic believes that further raising or lowering of the vehicle may be required, the target image may be positioned low (or high) in
• the mechanic may receive alignment data that he may believe to be in error Further, the mechanic may not know the reason for the error
• the mechanic may check the integrity of the wheel targets and camera by viewing display 36
• the display allows the mechanic to identify blockages m the camera optical path and detect dirt accumulation on the surfaces of the targets
• a display that does not show a complete and clear image of the targets may indicate that the camera height is incorrect, as shown in Figs 3(b) and 3(c), or that there is a problem with the camera assembly or a wheel target
• a displav showing taiget images within the field of view of the cameras is illustrated in Fig 3(a)
• one set of controls is used to operate the vehicle lift and the cameia lift, as shown in Fig 10
• a display is not needed because the height of the cameia bar assembly with respect to the vehicle targets remains fixed
• Ho evei a displav may be provided to initially verify that the vehicle targets are within the field of view of the cameras
• a limited numbei of preferred heights for the vehicle lift are initially designated and marked
• the field of view display is used to designate corresponding camera lift heights, ⁇ Inch ai e also mat ked Thereafter, the vehicle lift and camei a lift aie raised directlv to the pi efen ed heights using the vehicle lift control and cameia lift contiol
• aftei the vehicle and camera lift heights have been marked, the mechanic does not have to i ely upon the display to ensure that the target images are within the field of view of the cameras Rather, the vehicle and camera lifts are raised to discrete, predetermined positions
• the cameia lift has a plurality of opto-electric emitters/sensors, 74, 76, and 78, attached thereto, as shown in Fig 1 1
• Vehicle lift 14 has a mirror 80 attach thereto
• Each opto-electi IC emitter emits a light beam in the horizontal direction
• Mnror 80 reflects at most one opt ⁇ -electnc light beam back to the camera lift to a coi responding opto-electnc sensoi I he opto-elect ⁇ c sensor that receives the light beam sends a signal to camera lift conti ol dev ice 82
• Camera lift control device 82 may be a microcomputer or may operate undei hai dwai e conti ol As illustrated in Fig 12, if opto-electric sensor 76 receives a light beam, control device 82 does not adjust the height of the camera bar.
• control device 82 If opto-electric sensor 74 receives a light beam, control device 82 provides a signal to the camera lift assembly 30 to raise the height of the camera bar. If opto-electric sensor 78 receives a light beam, control device 82 provides a signal to the camera lift assembly 30 to lower the height of the camera bar.
• An alternative to the previous embodiment includes a pair of linear transducers 84 and 86, as shown in Fig. 1 .
• Linear transducer 86 provides to control device 82 a signal corresponding to the vertical position of vehicle lift 14 and linear transducer 84 provides to control device 82 a signal corresponding to the vertical position of the camera bar 18.
• An predetermined offset distance between the vehicle lift and the camera bar is input into control device 82.
• linear transducer provides a corresponding signal to control device 82.
• Control device 82 activates camera lift assembly 30 to lower or raise camera bar 1 8 accordingly.
• Linear transducer 84 provides a signal corresponding to the adjusted position of the camera bar 18 to the control device 82.
• Control device 82 deactivates camera lift assembly 30 when the vertical distance between the vehicle lift and camera bar reaches the predetermined offset distance.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Closed-Circuit Television Systems (AREA)
• Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Cameras Adapted For Combination With Other Photographic Or Optical Apparatuses (AREA)
• Accessories Of Cameras (AREA)
• Accommodation For Nursing Or Treatment Tables (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=21975977

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (11)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1998
  • 1998-07-10 JP JP2000502445A patent/JP2001509606A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-07-10 BR BR9810997-9A patent/BR9810997A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-07-10 KR KR1019997012632A patent/KR20010014438A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-07-10 CA CA002294871A patent/CA2294871A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-07-10 EP EP98934534A patent/EP0996868A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-07-10 WO PCT/US1998/014568 patent/WO1999003018A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-07-10 AU AU84031/98A patent/AU8403198A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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