초록 ▼

A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targets with at least one spatial rela

A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targets with at least one spatial relationship sensor for sensing a relationship between the active sensing heads. One or both of the active sensing heads may include inclinometers or the like, for sensing one or more tilt angles of the respective sensing head. Data from the active sensing heads may be sent to a host computer for processing to derive one or more vehicle measurements, for example, for measurement of parameters useful in wheel alignment applications.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A wheel alignment system, comprising: a pair of passive heads, each comprising a target, for mounting in association with a first pair of wheels of a vehicle that is to be measured by operation of the wheel alignment system; a pair of active sensing heads for mounting in asso

What is claimed is: 1. A wheel alignment system, comprising: a pair of passive heads, each comprising a target, for mounting in association with a first pair of wheels of a vehicle that is to be measured by operation of the wheel alignment system; a pair of active sensing heads for mounting in association with a second pair of wheels of the vehicle, each respective one of the active sensing heads comprising an image sensor for producing image data including a representation of an image of one of the targets during operation of the wheel alignment system; at least one sensor module associated with one of the active sensing heads for determining a spatial relationship between the active sensing heads, when the active sensing heads are mounted on wheels of the vehicle; and a processor, for processing image data relating to observation of the targets and relationship data from the at least one sensor module, to compute at least one measurement of the vehicle by operation of the wheel alignment system. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein a first one of the active sensing heads is configured to include the processor and to communicate with a second one of the active sensing heads. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first active sensing head is configured to communicate the at least one measurement of the vehicle to a user device for producing an output. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first active sensing head is configured to serve the at least one measurement of the vehicle to the user device as a web page for output via a browser implemented on the user device. 5. The wheel alignment system of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the active sensing heads further comprises at least one tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle of the one active sensing head when the one active sensing head is mounted on a wheel of the vehicle; and the processor is configured to compute the at least one measurement of the vehicle, in response to the sensed tilt angle. 6. The wheel alignment system of claim 1, wherein the target comprises one or more passive target elements. 7. The wheel alignment system of claim 1, wherein the target comprises one or more active elements for emitting detectable energy. 8. The wheel alignment system of claim 1, further comprising an additional target for imaging by the image sensor of at least one of the active sensing heads, mounted at a location not on the vehicle. 9. The wheel alignment system of claim 8, wherein the additional target is mounted at a fixed reference location. 10. The wheel alignment system of claim 8, wherein the additional target is mounted for rotation with a turntable configured to support a wheel of the vehicle during a wheel alignment measurement procedure. 11. The wheel alignment system of claim 1, further comprising an additional target for imaging by the image sensor of at least one of the active sensing heads, configured as a pointer for contacting an index location on the vehicle. 12. A sensing head for use in a wheel alignment system, comprising: a housing for mounting on a first wheel of a vehicle to be measured by operation of the wheel alignment system; an image sensor mounted to the housing for producing image data including a representation of a two-dimensional image of a target associated with a second wheel of the vehicle adjacent the first wheel; a tilt sensor mounted to the housing for sensing a tilt angle of the sensing head, when the sensing head is mounted on the first wheel of the vehicle; a processor responsive to the image data and the sensed tilt angle and responsive to a relationship of the sensing head to another head mounted on another wheel of the vehicle; and a communication interface coupled to the processor for transmitting data for a wheel alignment measurement, from the sensing head to a user device of the wheel alignment system. 13. The sensing head of claim 12, wherein the transmitted data is related to image data, the tilt angle and the sensed relationship, for use in computing at least one wheel alignment measurement of the vehicle. 14. The sensing head of claim 12, wherein: the processor is configured to compute at least one wheel alignment measurement of the vehicle responsive to the image data, the tilt angle and the relationship of the sensing head to the another head; and the transmitted data includes the computed at least one wheel alignment measurement. 15. The sensing head of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to serve the at least one measurement of the vehicle to the user device as a web page for output via a browser implemented on the user device. 16. The sensing head of claim 12, further comprising at least one sensor module, coupled to the processor, for sensing a parameter representing the relationship between the sensing head and the other head, when the heads are mounted on wheels of the vehicle. 17. The sensing head of claim 12, wherein the sensing head receives data representing the relationship between the sensing head and the other head for use by the processor. 18. A method of taking at least one measurement of a vehicle, comprising steps of: capturing an image of a target associated with a first wheel of the vehicle, with an image sensor of a first head mounted in association with a second wheel of the vehicle to produce first image data; capturing an image of a target associated with a third wheel of the vehicle, with an image sensor of a second head mounted in association with a fourth wheel of the vehicle to produce second image data; measuring relationships of the first and second heads relative to at least one reference; and processing the first and second image data and the reference relationship measurements, to compute at least one measurement parameter related to one or more of the wheels of the vehicle. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of measuring relationships of the first and second heads to at least one reference comprises measuring angular relationships of the first and second heads with respect to a gravity vector reference. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of measuring relationships of the first and second heads to at least one reference comprises: capturing images of a reference target viewable by the image sensor in the first head and the image sensor in the second head; computing position and orientation of the reference target relative to the first head based on the image of the reference target captured by the image sensor in the first head; and computing position and orientation of the reference target relative to the second head based on the image of the reference target captured by the image sensor in the second head. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of measuring relationships of the first and second heads to at least one reference comprises: capturing an image of a first reference target using the image sensor in the first head and capturing an image of a second reference target using the image sensor in the second head, wherein position and orientation of the first reference target relative to the second reference target are known; computing position and orientation of the first reference target relative to the first head based on the image of the first reference target captured by the image sensor in the first head; and computing position and orientation of the second reference target relative to the second head based on the image of the second reference target captured by the image sensor in the second head.