US3709609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for optoelectronic axle measurement of motor vehicles
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
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Filing: 1970-08-26
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1990-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for the measurement of camber and toe-in of motor vehicles by reflecting a cross-hair pattern from a screen mounted to the vehicle wheel onto a viewing screen so that the cross-hair pattern intersects an orthogonal set of sensors mounted to the viewing screen. A digital read-out of the displacement of the cross-hair pattern from a reference position designates camber and toe-in on a respective axis of the sensors. A continuity of the read-out is assured by ensuring that the width of the cross-hair pattern on the viewing screen overlaps two adjacent sensors and logic circuitry establishes a nonambiguous read-out by selecting the signal from the more remote sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 E Spengler
- 👤 H Boning
- 👤 H Requardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/27; G01B11/275
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for the measurement of the alignment of a wheel, comprising: means mounted to the wheel for reflecting an image; means for projecting an image of a coordinate pair of orthogonal axes to said means for reflecting, said image being reflected therefrom; means for receiving the reflected image, said receiving means including an orthogonal arrangement of optoelectronic transducer elements mounted with respect to a fixed reference point for digital measurement of displacements of the axes of the reflected image from said fixed reference point, each of said optoelectronic transducer elements providing an output signal indicative of a specific displacement from said fixed reference point when intersected by an axis of said reflected image and the axes of the reflected image having a width at least as wide as the maximum distance between any two adjoining optoelectronic transducer elements; and digital processing means connected to said optoelectronic transducer elements for generating a digital output indicative of the displacement of said wheel in each of two orthogonal directions in accordance with the image received by said means for receiving.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for the measurement of the alignment of a wheel, comprising: means mounted to the wheel for reflecting an image; means for projecting an image of a coordinate pair of orthogonal axes to said means for reflecting, said image being reflected therefrom; means for receiving the reflected image, said receiving means including an orthogonal arrangement of optoelectronic transducer elements mounted with respect to a fixed reference point for digital measurement of displacements of the axes of the reflected image from said fixed reference point, each of said optoelectronic transducer elements providing an output signal indicative of a specific displacement from said fixed reference point when intersected by an axis of said reflected image and the axes of the reflected image having a width at least as wide as the maximum distance between any two adjoining optoelectronic transducer elements; and digital processing means connected to said optoelectronic transducer elements for generating a digital output indicative of the displacement of said wheel in each of two orthogonal directions in accordance with the image received by said means for receiving.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein with two of said adjoining optoelectronic transducer elements receiving said reflected image, said digital processing means for providing a digital output signal including means for selecting a response from only one of said optoelectronic transducer elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving is a screen, said means for projecting comprises a projector mounted at the center of said screen, and said arrangement of optoelectronic transducer elements consists of a column and row of said elements mounted along intersecting edges of said screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the projected pair of orthogonal axes is a light image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the projected pair of orthogonal axes is a dark image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3197643A
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US3363504A
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US3614238A
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US3533699A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |