초록 ▼

A sensor method and apparatus for an optical wheel alignment machine utilizes one or more light sources, such as lasers, to project a laser line or other shaped light onto various locations about the sidewall of a tire undergoing measurement. The sensor includes a video camera or other light respons

A sensor method and apparatus for an optical wheel alignment machine utilizes one or more light sources, such as lasers, to project a laser line or other shaped light onto various locations about the sidewall of a tire undergoing measurement. The sensor includes a video camera or other light responsive receiver and a optical system that combines the reflected laser lines into a single image that is received by the camera. The optical system also rotates one or more of the reflected laser lines so that all of the reflected portions have the same general orientation upon entering the camera. The camera outputs a video data stream that is indicative of the image. The sensor has an electronic circuit that analyzes this video data stream in real time to determine the location in the image of a preselected feature of each of the laser lines. The circuit then outputs coordinate data indicative of the location of this feature.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] In a sensor for use in a wheel alignment machine to measure the orientation of a tire on a vehicle, said sensor being of the type having at least one light source oriented to project shaped light onto a sidewall of the tire at a plurality of spaced locations and a light responsive

[ We claim:] [1.] In a sensor for use in a wheel alignment machine to measure the orientation of a tire on a vehicle, said sensor being of the type having at least one light source oriented to project shaped light onto a sidewall of the tire at a plurality of spaced locations and a light responsive receiver oriented to receive a portion of the shaped light that is reflected off the tire at a perspective angle relative to said light source, with said light responsive receiver being operable to generate electrical signals indicative of the reflected portion of the shaped light, wherein the improvement comprises:a system of optical elements oriented relative to said light responsive receiver to provide said light responsive receiver with an optical view that includes the plurality of spaced locations of the tire, whereby portions of the shaped light that are reflected off the tire at each of the plurality of spaced locations are received by said light responsive receiver as a single image; andan electronic circuit responsive to said electrical signals to determine the location within the image of a preselected feature of each of the reflected portions of shaped light, said circuit further being operable to generate output data representative of the locations of the preselected features.