US5208647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for the optical measurement of an angle between positions of components relative to each other
Assignee: Snap On Equipment GmbH
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Filing: 1991-12-09
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Granted: 1993-05-04
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Expires: 2011-12-09
Abstract
Abstract In a method and apparatus for the optical measurement of an angle between the positions of components relative to each other, such as the wheels of a motor vehicle, a light beam is directed along a first side of the angle to be measured towards the apex thereof and from there is transmitted at intervals of time which each correspond to a full 360° rotation for a first signal registration step at a first moment in time. A second light beam is directed along the second side of the angle to the apex thereof and from there is transmitted, relative to the respective first moment in time, with a time difference corresponding to the angle between the first and second light beams, for a second signal registration operation, at a second moment in time. The magnitude of the angle is calculated from the interval between the two signal registration operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Simone Longa
- 👤 Marco Castelnuovo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for optically measuring an angle between positions of components relative to one another, comprising the steps of: (a) emitting at least one first light beam along a first side of an angle to be measured, said angle having an apex, towards a rotating light transmission means disposed at said apex of said angle; (b) transmitting said first light beam at interval of time corresponding to one full rotation of said rotating light transmission means, such that said first light beam is registered at a first moment in time; (c) emitting at least one second light beam along a second side of said angle to be measured, towards said rotating light transmission means; (d) transmitting said second light beam at intervals of time corresponding to one full rotation of said rotating light transmission means, such that said second light beam is registered at a second moment in time relative to said first moment in time; and (e) calculating the magnitude of said angle based on the time interval between said first moment in time and said second moment in time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for optically measuring an angle between positions of components relative to one another, comprising the steps of: (a) emitting at least one first light beam along a first side of an angle to be measured, said angle having an apex, towards a rotating light transmission means disposed at said apex of said angle; (b) transmitting said first light beam at interval of time corresponding to one full rotation of said rotating light transmission means, such that said first light beam is registered at a first moment in time; (c) emitting at least one second light beam along a second side of said angle to be measured, towards said rotating light transmission means; (d) transmitting said second light beam at intervals of time corresponding to one full rotation of said rotating light transmission means, such that said second light beam is registered at a second moment in time relative to said first moment in time; and (e) calculating the magnitude of said angle based on the time interval between said first moment in time and said second moment in time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein said first and second light beams are transmitted and registered only at moments corresponding to said first and second moments in time, respectively, and are not registered during the remaining period of time corresponding to the remaining portion of a full rotation of said rotating light transmission means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein first and second individual beams are directed along the second side of said angle on respective sides of the line of said second side in the plane of said angle on to the apex point of said angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second light beams which are emitted along the first and second sides of said angle, respectively, are deflected at a right angle to the plane in which said angle to be measured lies, for signal registration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second light beams which are emitted along the first and second sides of said angle, respectively, are deflected along said first side of said angle to be measured, for signal registration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second light beam emitted along said second side leg of said angle is produced by reflection of the light beam emitted along the first side of said angle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for the optical measurement of an angle between positions of components relative to each other, comprising: (a) a first light beam source for emitting a first light beam along a first side of said angle, towards the apex of said angle; (b) a second light beam source for emitting a second light beam along a second side of said angle, towards said apex of said angle; (c) aperture means disposed at said apex of said angle, said aperture means adapted to rotate at least in a plane in which said angle lies, said aperture means further adapted to transmit, with a narrow transmission region, said light beams incident thereon from said first and second sources; (d) light receiving means oriented to receive said light beams having said narrow transmission region transmitted by said aperture means; (e) signal registering means connected to said light receiving means for registering output signals from said light receiving means; and (f) calculating means, connected to said signal registering means, for calculating said angle between said first and second sides of said angle from the time interval between first and second registrations of said first and second light beams.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for the optical measurement of an angle between positions of components relative to each other, comprising: (a) a first light beam source for emitting a first light beam along a first side of said angle, towards the apex of said angle; (b) a second light beam source for emitting a second light beam along a second side of said angle, towards said apex of said angle; (c) aperture means disposed at said apex of said angle, said aperture means adapted to rotate at least in a plane in which said angle lies, said aperture means further adapted to transmit, with a narrow transmission region, said light beams incident thereon from said first and second sources; (d) light receiving means oriented to receive said light beams having said narrow transmission region transmitted by said aperture means; (e) signal registering means connected to said light receiving means for registering output signals from said light receiving means; and (f) calculating means, connected to said signal registering means, for calculating said angle between said first and second sides of said angle from the time interval between first and second registrations of said first and second light beams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising means for rotating said aperture means at a constant rotational velocity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said components are wheels on a vehicle with wheels, said vehicle having forward and rearward longitudinal ends, said apparatus being operably associated with each said wheel, such that: said first light beam source is disposed on a line coincident with a rotational axis of said respective wheel such that said first light beam source emits said first light beam along said axis of said respective wheel, said axis of said respective wheel being the first side of said angle to be measured; said aperture means is disposed on a line coincident with said respective wheel axis; a first second light beam source is operable to emit a light beam forwardly with respect to the longitudinal direction of said vehicle; a second second light beam source is operable to emit a light beam rearwardly with respect to the longitudinal direction of said vehicle; and a stationary mirror disposed relative to a respective forward wheel for receiving a light beam from said forwardly-directed light beam source and relative to a respective rearward wheel to receive a light beam from said rearwardly-directed light beam source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the first light beam source is adapted to emit a single light beam, the axis of coincides with the first side of said angle and the second light beam comprises first and second light beam emitting means emitting first and second light beams which meet at the apex of said angle, the two light beams from the light beam emitting means being disposed in the plane of said angle and on respective sides of the second side of said angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the aperture means comprises a rotating reflecting surface, which rotates about an axis of rotation, on which the apex point of said angle lies and which is adapted to reflect the respective light beams incident thereon from said light sources towards the light receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said rotating reflecting surface is at an angle of 45° relative to its axis of rotation and said axis of rotation extends at a right angle relative to a plane in which the angle to be measured lies.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said rotating reflective surface extends at a 90° angle to the plane in which the angle to be measured lies and said axis of rotation lies in said reflective surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said reflective surface is on a mirror.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said light receiver lies on the axis of rotation of said rotating reflective surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the light receiver is oriented with its receiving direction parallel to the first side of said angle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the second light beam source comprises reflecting means for reflecting a light beam emitted by said first light beam source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein a line normal to the surface of said mirror is at an angle of 45° relative to the second side of the angle to be measured.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the first light beam source, the second light beam sources, the aperture means 1 and the mirror together form a structural unit adapted for mounting to a respective vehicle wheel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus a set forth in claim 19 wherein said structural unit further includes said light receiver.
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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) | 1996-05-03 | 1996-11-02 | 1997-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-03 | 2000-11-02 | 2001-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-03 | 2004-11-02 | 2005-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |