Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B5/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
  • G01B5/24—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
  • G01B5/25—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes for testing the alignment of axes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
  • B60R11/04—Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
  • G01B5/00—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
  • G01B5/24—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
  • G01B5/245—Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes for testing perpendicularity
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C1/00—Measuring angles
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
  • G06T7/00—Image analysis
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
  • B60R2011/0001—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position
  • B60R2011/0003—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position inside the vehicle
  • B60R2011/0026—Windows, e.g. windscreen
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
  • B60R2011/0042—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by mounting means
  • B60R2011/0049—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by mounting means for non integrated articles
  • B60R2011/005—Connection with the vehicle part
  • B60R2011/0056—Connection with the vehicle part using suction cups

Definitions

• Measuring system for measurement of one or more distances perpendicular to a planar surface
• the present invention relates to a measuring system according to the preamble of the independent claim.
• the invention relates in particular to a measuring system suited to being used in the context of adjusting the position of a camera situated in front of the windscreen of a vehicle.
• LDW lane departure warning
• the 25 object of the present invention is therefore to propose such a device.
• the present invention thus relates to a measuring system which may for example be used in the context of trimming a safety system, e.g. a lane departure warning system, for a vehicle.
• a safety system e.g. a lane departure warning system
• the invention is based on basic geometrical relationships whereby fixed measurements and measuring points are used in relation to the required alignment.
• the measuring system according to the present invention may be used for simple and reliable measurement of one or more distances perpendicular to a planar surface.
• FIG. 1 is a simple illustration used to explain the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the present invention.
• Figure 3 is a side view schematically illustrating the present invention.
• Figure 4 depicts a measuring means according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 5 is a view from above schematically depicting an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 6 is a view from above schematically depicting an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 1 depicts an isosceles triangle with a base of length 2L and two sides each of length d.
• the geometrical relationships in an isosceles triangle are such that the apex is situated directly above the midpoint of the base. It follows that a line (a broken line in the diagram) which runs through the apex and the midpoint C of the base will be perpendicular to the base.
• the present invention uses this relationship in order to be able in a simple way, from knowing the length d of the sides and the length 2L of the base, to determine a direction to a point which is at a distance X from the base.
• the measuring system 2 is intended to determine an alignment to an object, preferably a target board 24.
• the system comprises a fastening arrangement 4 and a measuring means 6.
• the target board is preferably placed vertically and has an elongate extent in the vertical direction. Its front side faces towards, for example, the vehicle and is provided with various field markings intended to be used in adjusting the camera. In these adjustments it is important that the target board be placed centrally in front of the camera.
• the fastening arrangement 4 comprises an elongate non-elastic fitting element 8 with a predetermined length 2L which has a marking C at length L.
• the fitting element 8 is flexible and may for example take the form of a flexible tape or the like.
• the fitting element 8 may take the form of a rod which is made of plastic or metal, e.g. aluminium, and is preferably of low weight.
• the marking at C has to clearly indicate the midpoint of the fitting element and may for example take the form of a colour marking.
• the fastening arrangement 4 further comprises two ends 10 each provided with a fastening device 12 adapted to fastening the fastening arrangement to a planar surface 14, e.g. the front window of a vehicle. If the fitting element 8 is flexible, the fastening arrangement 12 has to be fastened to the surface in such a way that the fitting element is extended to its length.
• the measuring means 6 is elongate and non-elastic and has a length 2d which is greater than 2L. It is adapted to having its ends 16 fastened to the fastening arrangement 4 at two fastening points 18 at the end-points of the predetermined length 2L. In one embodiment the measuring means takes the form of a flexible tape or cord.
• the measuring means may have a rigid structure and be made of plastic or metal.
• the measuring means 6 has at least one measurement marking M1 which is placed at the position for d (see Figure 4).
• Measurement involves the fastening arrangement being fitted by the fastening devices 12 being fastened to a planar surface 14 which preferably runs substantially vertically, so that the marking C on the fitting element 8 corresponds to a given position. It is from this position that the alignment is to be determined to a position which is a predetermined distance perpendicularly ahead of the fastening arrangement's marking C, and thus also of the given position.
• each of the fastening devices 12 is provided with at least one suction cup device suited to being fastened to the planar surface by negative pressure.
• a suitable type of suction cup device might be that used by glaziers for lifting sheets of glass.
• the fastening device may be fastened to the surface by a suitable adhesive, by magnets or by a mechanical fastening device.
• the measuring means 6 is fastened to the fastening arrangement 4 and protrudes, and the position sought then corresponds to the position of the measurement marking M1 .
• the measuring means preferably protrudes in a substantially horizontal direction which is substantially perpendicular relative to the plane of the surface. This is illustrated both in the perspective view in Figure 2 and in the side view in Figure 3.
• the measuring means 6 is provided with at least one fastener 20 situated at said at least one marking M1 and adapted to fastening the measuring means to the target board 24.
• the fastener may for example take the form of a simple hook which can be fastened in a loop in the target board.
• the measuring means 6 is provided, in one embodiment, with two measurement markings M1 , M2 adapted to determining the positions for two different predetermined distances perpendicularly ahead of the fastening arrangement's marking C.
• Figure 4 illustrates the measuring means according to this embodiment, which takes here the form of a flexible tape or measuring cord.
• the measurement marking M1 is used for alignment when the target board is placed furthest away, as illustrated in Figure 5.
• the measurement markings M2 are used when the target board is placed instead at a position nearer to the planar surface, as in Figure 6.
• the measuring means will then be shorter and have a length 2d'.
• the measurement markings M2 are held or connected together in a suitable way, e.g. they may be fastened in the target board by fasteners situated at each of them.
• Other parts in Figure 6 correspond to the above description relating to Figure 5.
• the measuring means 6 comprises two measuring portions each having a fastening end adapted to being fastened to the fastening arrangement at said fastening devices. These two measuring portions are each of length d and have at the non-fastened end a measurement marking M1 . A further measurement marking M2 may of course also be provided on each measuring portion for measurement when the target board is placed nearer to the planar surface.
• the present invention is in particular suited to being used in the context of adjusting a direction straight ahead of the camera's lens in cases where the camera 25 is situated on the inside of a vehicle's front window and the fastening arrangement 4 is suited to being situated on the outside of the front window.
• the camera 25 is for example used in various safety systems for the vehicle, e.g. lane departure warning system and emergency brake system.
• the present invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiments described above. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. The above embodiments are therefore not to be regarded as limiting the invention's protective scope which is defined by the attached claims.

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2013
  • 2013-02-28 SE SE1350230A patent/SE538340C2/sv unknown
• 2014
  • 2014-02-18 DE DE112014001048.0T patent/DE112014001048B4/de active Active
  • 2014-02-18 WO PCT/SE2014/050195 patent/WO2014163551A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (7)

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