US3822944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orientation detection and alignment method and apparatus
Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-14
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1991-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting orientation with respect to predetermined frames of reference particularly for use in aligning vehicle headlamps relative to frames of reference such as the true horizontal and the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Orientation relative to the true horizontal is detected by comparing the electrical responses of two photocells which have a peak spectral response at a predetermined wavelength and which bracket a gas bubble provided in an upwardly curved transparent housing containing both the bubble and a fluid. The photocells are illuminated through the housing by associated light emitting diodes which have peak emissivities at wavelengths matched to the peak spectral response of the corresponding photocells. Orientation relative to a predetermined axis such as the axis of the vehicle is detected by detecting the orientation of a planar surface defining two brightness zones relative to a light beam originating at a light source as a concentrated light spot and diverging along the length of the beam. When aiming headlamps, the two orientation detecting means are mounted on a pair of headlamp aiming tools which are retained on the headlamps in a predetermined orientation relative thereto. Signals related to the detected orientation are generated by the orientation detectors and are selectively applied to a headlamp position adjusting means to modify the position of the headlamps in response to the detected orientations. The appropriate orientation signal may be selected automatically in response to the position of the adjusting means.
Inventors
- 👤 J Wedel
- 👤 Leon Hopkins Evan
- 👤 Lloyd Hopkins Evan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C9/00; G01C9/18; G01C9/24; G01C9/26; G01C9/28; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/27; G01B11/272; G01M; G01M11/00; G01M11/02; G01M11/06; G01M11/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
377 words
Apparatus for aiming vehicle headlamps comprising: first and second aiming tool means adapted to be retained in engagement with first and second headlamps, respectively, on opposite sides of the vehicle; each of said aiming tool means being retained in a predetermined orientation relative to the associated one of the headlamps; light source means carried by said first aiming tool means at a first predetermined distance from said first headlamp; said light source means producing a light beam originating at said first aiming tool means as a concentrated light spot and diverging outwardly along the length of the light beam; detector means carried by said second aiming tool means at a second predetermined distance from said second headlamp; said detector means including first and second light responsive means having electrical characteristics determined by the amount of light impinging thereon, and wall means defining first and second brightness zones; said light beam being generally directed from said first aiming tool means toward said second aiming tool means so that at least a portion of said diverging light beam from said light source means impinges upon both of said brightness zones defined by said wall means with said first and second aiming tool means retained in engagement with the respective first and second headlamps; the distance between said light source means and said detector means substantially exceeding said second predetermined distance so that said diverging light beam appears to said detector means to bear a desired predetermined orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; said wall means being disposed intermediate said light source means and said light detecting means; said first and second light responsive means being spaced from said wall means and each being at least partially disposed in one of said brightness zones defined by said wall means so that a predetermined relationship exists between the electrical characteristics of said light responsive means when said wall means is essentially at a predetermined orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and so that said electrical characteristics differ for other orientations of said wall means relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and, means for generating a first signal related to the difference between the electrical characteristics of said first and second light detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
377 words
Apparatus for aiming vehicle headlamps comprising: first and second aiming tool means adapted to be retained in engagement with first and second headlamps, respectively, on opposite sides of the vehicle; each of said aiming tool means being retained in a predetermined orientation relative to the associated one of the headlamps; light source means carried by said first aiming tool means at a first predetermined distance from said first headlamp; said light source means producing a light beam originating at said first aiming tool means as a concentrated light spot and diverging outwardly along the length of the light beam; detector means carried by said second aiming tool means at a second predetermined distance from said second headlamp; said detector means including first and second light responsive means having electrical characteristics determined by the amount of light impinging thereon, and wall means defining first and second brightness zones; said light beam being generally directed from said first aiming tool means toward said second aiming tool means so that at least a portion of said diverging light beam from said light source means impinges upon both of said brightness zones defined by said wall means with said first and second aiming tool means retained in engagement with the respective first and second headlamps; the distance between said light source means and said detector means substantially exceeding said second predetermined distance so that said diverging light beam appears to said detector means to bear a desired predetermined orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; said wall means being disposed intermediate said light source means and said light detecting means; said first and second light responsive means being spaced from said wall means and each being at least partially disposed in one of said brightness zones defined by said wall means so that a predetermined relationship exists between the electrical characteristics of said light responsive means when said wall means is essentially at a predetermined orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and so that said electrical characteristics differ for other orientations of said wall means relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and, means for generating a first signal related to the difference between the electrical characteristics of said first and second light detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including adjusting tool means responsive to said generated first signal for adjusting the position of the second headlamp to null said generated signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including: light source means carried by said second aiming tool means for producing a second light beam originating at said second aiming tool; and, detector means carried by said first aiming tool means for aiming said first headlamp in response to said second light beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second predetermined distances are substantially equal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including means carried by each of said first and second aiming tool means for generating a second signal related to the orientation of each of said aiming tool means relative to the true horizontal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including: adjusting means for adjusting the orientation of the headlamps relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the true horizontal in response to a signal applied thereto; and means for selectively applying one of said first and second signals to said adjusting means in response to the headlamp orientation being adjusted by said adjusting means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for aiming vehicle headlamps comprising the steps of: providing first and second frame means retained in a predetermined orientation relative to the vehicle headlamps on opposite sides of the vehicle; projecting a conical light beam originating as a concentrated spot at one of the frame means generally toward the other of the frame means from a position on said one of said frame means at a first predetermined distance axially outwardly from the headlamp associated therewith; providing detector means defining first and second brightness zones on said other of the frame means at a second predetermined distance axially outwardly from the headlamp associated with the other frame means; the distance between the vehicle headlamps substantially exceeding said first predetermined distance; positioning first and second light detecting means partially in said brightness zones; generating a signal related to the difference between the electrical characteristics of said first and second light detecting means; and, modifying the orientation of said other of the frame means in response to said signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for aiming vehicle headlamps comprising the steps of: providing first and second frame means retained in a predetermined orientation relative to the vehicle headlamps on opposite sides of the vehicle; projecting a conical light beam originating as a concentrated spot at one of the frame means generally toward the other of the frame means from a position on said one of said frame means at a first predetermined distance axially outwardly from the headlamp associated therewith; providing detector means defining first and second brightness zones on said other of the frame means at a second predetermined distance axially outwardly from the headlamp associated with the other frame means; the distance between the vehicle headlamps substantially exceeding said first predetermined distance; positioning first and second light detecting means partially in said brightness zones; generating a signal related to the difference between the electrical characteristics of said first and second light detecting means; and, modifying the orientation of said other of the frame means in response to said signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
280 words
Apparatus for aiming a vehicle headlamp of the type including means defining a reference surface having a predetermined orientation relative to an optical axis of the headlamp, the apparatus comprising: aiming means having an aiming axis and adapted to be retained in engagement with the reference surface defining means on the headlamp, the aiming axis of said aiming means thereby being disposed at a predetermined orientation relative to the reference surface; first means, carried by said aiming means in a predetermined orientation relative to said aiming axis, for detecting the orientation of said aiming axis relative to the true horizontal and generating a first signal related thereto; second means carried by said aiming means in a predetermined orientation relative to said aiming axis, for detecting the orientation of said aiming axis relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and generating a second signal related thereto; adjusting means responsive to a selected one of said first and second signals for modifying one of the position of the vehicle headlamp relative to the true horizontal and position of the vehicle headlamp relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and, a position responsive switch means carried by said adjusting means and comprising at least one elongated mercury switch disposed generally upright when said adjusting means is positioned to adjust the orientation of the headlamp relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said mercury switch being operative when substantially vertically disposed to select said second signal and when substantially horizontally disposed to select said first signal, whereby the one of said first and second signals is selected in response to said one of said positions being modified by said adjusting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
280 words
Apparatus for aiming a vehicle headlamp of the type including means defining a reference surface having a predetermined orientation relative to an optical axis of the headlamp, the apparatus comprising: aiming means having an aiming axis and adapted to be retained in engagement with the reference surface defining means on the headlamp, the aiming axis of said aiming means thereby being disposed at a predetermined orientation relative to the reference surface; first means, carried by said aiming means in a predetermined orientation relative to said aiming axis, for detecting the orientation of said aiming axis relative to the true horizontal and generating a first signal related thereto; second means carried by said aiming means in a predetermined orientation relative to said aiming axis, for detecting the orientation of said aiming axis relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and generating a second signal related thereto; adjusting means responsive to a selected one of said first and second signals for modifying one of the position of the vehicle headlamp relative to the true horizontal and position of the vehicle headlamp relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and, a position responsive switch means carried by said adjusting means and comprising at least one elongated mercury switch disposed generally upright when said adjusting means is positioned to adjust the orientation of the headlamp relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said mercury switch being operative when substantially vertically disposed to select said second signal and when substantially horizontally disposed to select said first signal, whereby the one of said first and second signals is selected in response to said one of said positions being modified by said adjusting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for aiming vehicle headlamps comprising: first and second aiming tools adapted to be retained in engagement with first and second headlamps, respectively, on opposite sides of the vehicle; each of said aiming tools being retained in a predetermined orientation relative to the associated one of the headlamps; a light source carried by the first aiming tool for producing a generally conical light beam originating at the one aiming tool as a concentrated light spot; detector means carried by the second aiming tool for generating an electrical signal representative of the orientation of the second aiming tool and its associated second headlamp relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and, adjusting tool means for adjusting the position of the second headlamp, carrying said detector means, relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle responsively to said electrical signal generated by said detector means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
Apparatus for aiming vehicle headlamps comprising: first and second aiming tools adapted to be retained in engagement with first and second headlamps, respectively, on opposite sides of the vehicle; each of said aiming tools being retained in a predetermined orientation relative to the associated one of the headlamps; a light source carried by the first aiming tool for producing a generally conical light beam originating at the one aiming tool as a concentrated light spot; detector means carried by the second aiming tool for generating an electrical signal representative of the orientation of the second aiming tool and its associated second headlamp relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and, adjusting tool means for adjusting the position of the second headlamp, carrying said detector means, relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle responsively to said electrical signal generated by said detector means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
315 words
Apparatus for aiming a vehicle headlamp of the type including means defining a reference surface having a predetermined orientation relative to an optical axis of the headlamp, the apparatus comprising: aiming means hAving an aiming axis and adapted to be retained in engagement with the reference surface defining means on the headlamp, the aiming axis of said aiming means thereby being disposed at a predetermined orientation relative to the reference surface; first means, carried by said aiming means in a predetermined orientation relative to said aiming axis, for detecting the orientation of said aiming axis relative to the true horizontal and generating a first electrical signal related thereto; second means carried by said aiming means in a predetermined orientation relative to said aiming axis, for detecting the orientation of said aiming axis relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and generating a second electrical signal related thereto; adjusting tool means responsive to a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for modifying one of the position of the vehicle headlamp relative to the true horizontal and the position of the vehicle headlamp relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and, first and second position responsive switch means carried by said adjusting tool means, said switch means being disposed generally upright when said adjusting tool means is within a predetermined range of positions relative to the vertical, at least one of said switches being disposed generally horizontally when said adjusting tool means is outside said predetermined range of positions, said first and second switch means being operative to select said one of said first and second signals in response to said one of the positions of the vehicle headlamp being modified, the one of said first and second signals thereby being automatically selected in response to said one of the positions of the vehicle headlamp being modified by said adjusting tool means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
315 words
Apparatus for aiming a vehicle headlamp of the type including means defining a reference surface having a predetermined orientation relative to an optical axis of the headlamp, the apparatus comprising: aiming means hAving an aiming axis and adapted to be retained in engagement with the reference surface defining means on the headlamp, the aiming axis of said aiming means thereby being disposed at a predetermined orientation relative to the reference surface; first means, carried by said aiming means in a predetermined orientation relative to said aiming axis, for detecting the orientation of said aiming axis relative to the true horizontal and generating a first electrical signal related thereto; second means carried by said aiming means in a predetermined orientation relative to said aiming axis, for detecting the orientation of said aiming axis relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and generating a second electrical signal related thereto; adjusting tool means responsive to a selected one of said first and second electrical signals for modifying one of the position of the vehicle headlamp relative to the true horizontal and the position of the vehicle headlamp relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; and, first and second position responsive switch means carried by said adjusting tool means, said switch means being disposed generally upright when said adjusting tool means is within a predetermined range of positions relative to the vertical, at least one of said switches being disposed generally horizontally when said adjusting tool means is outside said predetermined range of positions, said first and second switch means being operative to select said one of said first and second signals in response to said one of the positions of the vehicle headlamp being modified, the one of said first and second signals thereby being automatically selected in response to said one of the positions of the vehicle headlamp being modified by said adjusting tool means.
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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) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |