US5978077A — Non-contact method and apparatus for determining …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 170 words

In a non-contact wheel alignment machine for use in determining one or more wheel alignment characteristics of a vehicle, said wheel alignment machine having a computer and a plurality of non-contact measurement sensors electrically connected to said computer, wherein at least one of said measurement sensors includes: first and second toe light sources that project shaped light onto a sidewall of a tire of one of the vehicle's wheels at respective first and second locations; a third light source that projects shaped light onto the sidewall of the tire at a third location; and an optical sensor system having one or more fields of view that includes said first, second, and third locations; and wherein said computer is operable under control of a program and in response to data from said optical sensor system to determine a toe angle and a camber angle associated with the tire; wherein the improvement comprises: said computer being operable under control of said program to utilize said toe angle in determining said camber angle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 170 words

In a non-contact wheel alignment machine for use in determining one or more wheel alignment characteristics of a vehicle, said wheel alignment machine having a computer and a plurality of non-contact measurement sensors electrically connected to said computer, wherein at least one of said measurement sensors includes: first and second toe light sources that project shaped light onto a sidewall of a tire of one of the vehicle's wheels at respective first and second locations; a third light source that projects shaped light onto the sidewall of the tire at a third location; and an optical sensor system having one or more fields of view that includes said first, second, and third locations; and wherein said computer is operable under control of a program and in response to data from said optical sensor system to determine a toe angle and a camber angle associated with the tire; wherein the improvement comprises: said computer being operable under control of said program to utilize said toe angle in determining said camber angle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said computer is operable under control of said program to use said toe angle to determine a horizontal displacement within a vertical measurement plane that extends through the center of the wheel perpendicular to the wheel's rotational plane.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two of said light sources utilize a single laser to generate said shaped light.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaped light comprises a plane of light that illuminates a line on said wheel.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 59 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical sensor system comprises a single electronic camera having a field of view that includes said first, second, and third locations, whereby portions of the shaped light that are reflected off the tire at each of said locations are received by said camera as a single image.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 36 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said optical sensor system further comprises a system of optical elements oriented relative to said camera to provide said camera with said field of view.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 40 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical sensor system comprises a plurality of electronic cameras, each positioned to have a field of view that includes at least one of said locations on said wheel.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said light sources and said optical system together comprise three sensor modules, wherein each of said sensor modules has a laser and electronic camera.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 223 words

In a non-contact wheel alignment machine for use in determining one or more wheel alignment characteristics of a vehicle, said wheel alignment machine having a computer and a plurality of non-contact measurement sensors electrically connected to said computer, wherein at least one of said measurement sensors includes: first and second toe light sources that project shaped light onto a sidewall of a tire of one of the vehicle's wheels at respective first and second locations; a third light source that projects shaped light onto the sidewall of the tire at a third location; and an optical sensor system having one or more fields of view that includes said first, second, and third locations; and wherein said computer is operable under control of a program and in response to data from said optical sensor system to determine a toe angle and a camber angle associated with the tire; wherein the improvement comprises: said third location being offset from a vertical measurement plane that extends through the center of the wheel perpendicular to the wheel's rotational plane, said computer being operable under control of said program to determine an offset distance relating to the distance between said third location and the center of the wheel; and said computer being operable under control of said program to utilize said offset distance in determining said camber angle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 223 words

In a non-contact wheel alignment machine for use in determining one or more wheel alignment characteristics of a vehicle, said wheel alignment machine having a computer and a plurality of non-contact measurement sensors electrically connected to said computer, wherein at least one of said measurement sensors includes: first and second toe light sources that project shaped light onto a sidewall of a tire of one of the vehicle's wheels at respective first and second locations; a third light source that projects shaped light onto the sidewall of the tire at a third location; and an optical sensor system having one or more fields of view that includes said first, second, and third locations; and wherein said computer is operable under control of a program and in response to data from said optical sensor system to determine a toe angle and a camber angle associated with the tire; wherein the improvement comprises: said third location being offset from a vertical measurement plane that extends through the center of the wheel perpendicular to the wheel's rotational plane, said computer being operable under control of said program to determine an offset distance relating to the distance between said third location and the center of the wheel; and said computer being operable under control of said program to utilize said offset distance in determining said camber angle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 54 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 9, wherein said measurement sensor has a longitudinal reference axis extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and wherein said offset distance is equal to the distance along the longitudinal reference axis between said third location and the center of the wheel.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 9, wherein said computer is operable under control of said program to utilize said offset distance and said toe angle in determining said camber angle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 9, wherein said computer is operable under control of said program to use said toe angle to determine a horizontal displacement within said vertical measurement plane.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 52 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 9, wherein said computer is operable under control of said program to determine one or more distances relative to a vertical reference plane of said measurement sensor, and wherein said third location is spaced from said vertical reference plane by a preselected distance.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 47 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 13, wherein said computer is operable under control of said program to determine a displacement between the tire center and said vertical reference plane and to utilize said preselected distance and said displacement to determine said offset distance.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 13, wherein said preselected distance is between three-quarters of an inch and one and one quarter of an inch.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 15, wherein said preselected distance is approximately one inch.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 45 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 13, wherein said third location is on one side of said vertical reference plane and, wherein shaped light reflected from said offset location and sensed by said optical sensor system passes through said vertical reference plane.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 47 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 13, further comprising a fourth light source that projects shaped light onto said wheel at a fourth location that is offset from said vertical measurement plane, wherein said vertical measurement plane extends between said third and fourth locations.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 100 words

A non-contact measurement sensor for use in determining one or more wheel alignment characteristics of a tire on a vehicle, comprising: first and second toe light sources that project shaped light onto a sidewall of the tire at respective fore and aft locations; a third light source that projects shaped light onto said wheel at an upper location; a fourth light source that projects shaped light onto said wheel at an offset location that is adjacent said upper location; and an optical sensor system having one or more fields of view that includes said fore, aft, upper, and offset locations.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 100 words

A non-contact measurement sensor for use in determining one or more wheel alignment characteristics of a tire on a vehicle, comprising: first and second toe light sources that project shaped light onto a sidewall of the tire at respective fore and aft locations; a third light source that projects shaped light onto said wheel at an upper location; a fourth light source that projects shaped light onto said wheel at an offset location that is adjacent said upper location; and an optical sensor system having one or more fields of view that includes said fore, aft, upper, and offset locations.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 72 words

A non-contact measurement sensor as defined in claim 19: wherein said third and fourth light sources are operable in first and second modes; wherein said upper location is illuminated by said shaped light and said offset location is unilluminated by shaped light when in said first mode; and wherein said offset location is illuminated by said shaped light and said upper location is unilluminated by shaped light when in said second mode.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 77 words

A non-contact measurement sensor as defined in claim 19: wherein said sensor has first and second operating modes; wherein said camera is operable to generate data representing the shaped light reflected from said fore, aft, and upper locations when said measurement sensor is in said first mode, and wherein said camera is operable to generate data representing the shaped light reflected from said fore, aft, and offset locations when said measurement sensor is in said second mode.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 85 words

A non-contact measurement sensor as defined in claim 19, wherein said third and fourth light sources each comprises a separate laser having a supply power input for receiving operating power for said laser; wherein said measurement sensor further comprises a circuit coupled to said supply power inputs, said circuit being operable in a first mode to supply operating power only to one of said power inputs and being operable in a second mode to supply operating power to only the other of said power inputs.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 171 words

A method of calculating the camber angle of a wheel of a vehicle using a measurement sensor that includes an optical sensor having a field of view and one or more light sources for projecting shaped light onto the wheel, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating a measurement point on the wheel using shaped light projected onto the wheel at a first location that is offset to one side of a vertical measurement plane that extends through the center of the wheel and generally perpendicular to the rotational plane of the wheel, sensing a portion of the shaped light reflected from the first location and generating data representative of the location of the measurement point, obtaining a toe angle for the wheel, determining the position of a camber reference point in at least one dimension, using the toe angle to determine the horizontal displacement within the vertical measurement plane of the measurement point from the camber reference point, and calculating the camber angle of the wheel using the horizontal displacement.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 171 words

A method of calculating the camber angle of a wheel of a vehicle using a measurement sensor that includes an optical sensor having a field of view and one or more light sources for projecting shaped light onto the wheel, the method comprising the steps of: illuminating a measurement point on the wheel using shaped light projected onto the wheel at a first location that is offset to one side of a vertical measurement plane that extends through the center of the wheel and generally perpendicular to the rotational plane of the wheel, sensing a portion of the shaped light reflected from the first location and generating data representative of the location of the measurement point, obtaining a toe angle for the wheel, determining the position of a camber reference point in at least one dimension, using the toe angle to determine the horizontal displacement within the vertical measurement plane of the measurement point from the camber reference point, and calculating the camber angle of the wheel using the horizontal displacement.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 23, wherein the camber reference point is the center of the wheel.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of determining one or more alignment characteristics of a wheel of a vehicle using a measurement sensor that includes an optical sensor and one or more light sources for projecting shaped light onto the wheel, the method comprising the steps of (a) illuminating a portion of the wheel using shaped light projected onto the wheel at an upper location that is offset to one side of a vertical measurement plane which extends through the center of the wheel, (b) sensing a portion of the shaped light reflected from the upper location and generating position data that corresponds to an offset measurement point located at the upper location, (c) obtaining a toe angle for the wheel, and (d) determining a camber angle for the wheel using the position data and toe angle.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 133 words

A method of determining one or more alignment characteristics of a wheel of a vehicle using a measurement sensor that includes an optical sensor and one or more light sources for projecting shaped light onto the wheel, the method comprising the steps of (a) illuminating a portion of the wheel using shaped light projected onto the wheel at an upper location that is offset to one side of a vertical measurement plane which extends through the center of the wheel, (b) sensing a portion of the shaped light reflected from the upper location and generating position data that corresponds to an offset measurement point located at the upper location, (c) obtaining a toe angle for the wheel, and (d) determining a camber angle for the wheel using the position data and toe angle.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 25, wherein step (d) further comprises: determining a displacement value using the position data, wherein the displacement value is related to the displacement of the offset measurement point from a reference point, correcting the displacement value to account for influence of the toe angle on the displacement value, and calculating the camber angle of the wheel using the corrected displacement value.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 26, wherein the step of determining the displacement value comprises determining The displacement of the offset measurement point from the reference point along a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 26, wherein the correcting step further comprises determining a toe correction value in accordance with the toe angle and an offset value.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 28, wherein The offset value is related to the displacement along the vehicle's longitudinal axis of the offset measurement point from a vertical reference plane that corresponds to a measured toe angle of zero degrees when the rotational plane of the wheel is perpendicular to the vertical reference plane.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 29, wherein the offset value is the displacement along the longitudinal axis of the offset measurement point from a vertical plane extending through the center of the wheel perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 25, wherein step (b) further comprises sensing the shaped light along an axis that passes through the vertical measurement plane.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method of claim 25, wherein step (c) further comprises: (c1) projecting shaped light onto the sidewall of the wheel at fore and aft locations, (c2) sensing a portion of the shaped light reflected from the wheel at the fore and aft locations, (c3) generating fore and aft position data representative of the positions of respective fore and aft measurement points, (c4) determining the toe angle using the fore and aft position data.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of iteratively repeating steps (c3) and (c4), wherein the fore and aft measurement points comprise fore and aft crown points, respectively, and wherein step (c3) further comprises using the toe angle determined from a previous iteration to determine the position of the fore and aft crown points.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 25, further comprising: (e) determining camber using steps (a) through (d) at each of two steered toe angles, and (f) determining a caster, angle of the wheel using the camber angles determined in step (e).

Claim 40

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of determining the camber angle of a wheel of a vehicle using a measurement sensor that includes an optical sensor and one or more light sources for projecting shaped light onto the wheel, the method comprising the steps of: projecting shaped light onto a sidewall of the wheel at an upper location along an axis that is parallel to and offset from a vertical reference plane, wherein said vertical reference plane corresponds to a measured toe angle of zero degrees when the rotational plane of the tire is perpendicular to said vertical reference plane, sensing a portion of the shaped light reflected from the upper location and generating position data for an offset measurement point located at the upper location, and determining a camber angle for the wheel using the position data.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of determining the camber angle of a wheel of a vehicle using a measurement sensor that includes an optical sensor and one or more light sources for projecting shaped light onto the wheel, the method comprising the steps of: projecting shaped light onto a sidewall of the wheel at an upper location along an axis that is parallel to and offset from a vertical reference plane, wherein said vertical reference plane corresponds to a measured toe angle of zero degrees when the rotational plane of the tire is perpendicular to said vertical reference plane, sensing a portion of the shaped light reflected from the upper location and generating position data for an offset measurement point located at the upper location, and determining a camber angle for the wheel using the position data.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 35, wherein said projecting step further comprises: projecting shaped light onto the sidewall along an axis that is offset from said vertical reference plane by a predetermined distance, and determining the camber angle using the position data and the predetermined distance.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of determining a toe angle for the wheel, wherein said step of determining the camber angle further comprises determining the camber angle using the position data, the predetermined distance and the toe angle.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of determining a toe angle for the wheel, wherein said step of determining the camber angle further comprises determining the camber angle using the position data and the toe angle.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 201 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine for use in determining one or more wheel alignment characteristics of a vehicle, comprising: a circuit having a microprocessor and memory accessible by said microprocessor, said memory having an executable computer program stored therein; one or more non-contact measurement sensors electrically connected to said circuit, wherein at least one of said measurement sensors includes: one or more light sources that projects shaped light onto a sidewall of the tire at fore, aft and upper locations, with said shaped light being projected onto the sidewall at said upper location along an axis that is parallel to and offset from a vertical reference plane, wherein said vertical reference plane corresponds to a measured toe angle of zero degrees when the rotational plane of the tire is perpendicular to said vertical reference plane; and an optical sensor system having one or more fields of view that includes said fore, aft, and upper locations, said optical sensor system being operable to provide data related to images contained within said fields of view; wherein said microprocessor is operable under control of said program to determine a camber angle associated with the tire using the data received from said optical sensor system.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 201 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine for use in determining one or more wheel alignment characteristics of a vehicle, comprising: a circuit having a microprocessor and memory accessible by said microprocessor, said memory having an executable computer program stored therein; one or more non-contact measurement sensors electrically connected to said circuit, wherein at least one of said measurement sensors includes: one or more light sources that projects shaped light onto a sidewall of the tire at fore, aft and upper locations, with said shaped light being projected onto the sidewall at said upper location along an axis that is parallel to and offset from a vertical reference plane, wherein said vertical reference plane corresponds to a measured toe angle of zero degrees when the rotational plane of the tire is perpendicular to said vertical reference plane; and an optical sensor system having one or more fields of view that includes said fore, aft, and upper locations, said optical sensor system being operable to provide data related to images contained within said fields of view; wherein said microprocessor is operable under control of said program to determine a camber angle associated with the tire using the data received from said optical sensor system.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 44 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 39, wherein said microprocessor is operable under control of said program to determine a toe angle associated with the tire and to use said toe angle in determining a camber angle associated with the tire.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 52 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 39, wherein said axis is offset from said vertical reference plane by a light source offset distance and wherein said microprocessor is operable under control of said program to utilize said light source offset distance in determining the camber angle of the tire.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 50 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 41, wherein said microprocessor is operable under control of said program to determine a toe angle associated with the tire and to use said toe angle and said light source offset distance in determining a camber angle associated with the tire.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 49 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 41, wherein said microprocessor is operable under control of said program to use said light source offset distance to determine a camber offset distance and to then use said camber offset distance in determining the camber angle of the tire.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 61 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 43, wherein the camber offset distance is different than said light source offset distance and wherein said microprocessor is operable under control of said program to determine said camber offset distance using said light source offset distance and the perpendicular distance between the center of the tire and said vertical reference plane.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 37 words

A non-contact wheel alignment machine as defined in claim 39, wherein said one or more light sources comprises three light sources, each of which projects light onto a different one of said fore, aft, and upper locations.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-11-01	2003-05-03	2003-11-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-11-01	2007-05-03	2007-11-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-11-01	2011-05-03	2011-11-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Non-contact method and apparatus for determining camber and caster of a vehicle wheel

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