초록 ▼

A system is disclosed for determining the positions of a set of points on a body and comparing those points to a set of reference points. The system includes a data acquisition apparatus comprised of emitters, receivers, and microprocessor controls. The emitters are mounted at various predetermined

A system is disclosed for determining the positions of a set of points on a body and comparing those points to a set of reference points. The system includes a data acquisition apparatus comprised of emitters, receivers, and microprocessor controls. The emitters are mounted at various predetermined positions on the body, for example a vehicle body or frame, and are triggered in an optimal fashion by the microprocessors. Triggering generates a single acoustic burst signal from an emitter. An array of microphones acts as the receiver. After generation of the signal, the microprocessor initializes an external clock which measures the travel time of the signal from the emitter to the receivers. By repeating this process a number of times, data is acquired which yields the three-dimensional coordinates of a given point when processed by a microprocessor. Microprocessors further convert this data into a form that can be used by the overall system to determine the positions of all points measured on the vehicle body or frame. The data is transmitted to an operator display unit where it is plotted graphically. Reference data is inputted into the operator display unit via an optical decoder. This data and a comparision of the two sets of data is displayed. Based on the data comparison, the operator can then determine whether and to what extent repair work or further maintenance work on the automobile body, frame or wheels is necessary.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for determining the spatial position of an infinite number of points on, in and adjacent to a body and comparing one or more of the measured points with corresponding reference points, said system comprising: (a) data acquisition means designed to measure the three dimensional positions of

A system for determining the spatial position of an infinite number of points on, in and adjacent to a body and comparing one or more of the measured points with corresponding reference points, said system comprising: (a) data acquisition means designed to measure the three dimensional positions of an infinite number of points on, in and adjacent to a body, said data acquisition means including, (1) at least one emitter means mounted to the body, said emitter means having a plurality of energy signal generators in known spatial relation to one another and the body, to locate an infinite number of points, thereby permitting measurement of positions on, in and adjacent to the body, (2) at least three receiver means in optical, electrical and acoustical communication with said generators and spaced apart from the body, said receiver means being in noncollinear relation to one another and further being able to detect the energy signals generated by said emitter means, (3) control means designed to cause energy signals to be sent by said emitter means, (4) timing means linking said receiver means and said control means and designed to generate a time measurement of the time elapsed from the time the signal is generated by said emitter means until the signal is detected by said receiver means, (5) processing means designed to receive the time measurements of said timing means and further designed to convert the time measurements into three dimensional coordinates of the point to be measured, and (b) an operator display unit in communication with said data acquisition means designed to compare the measured position with the reference position.