Method and device for detecting damaged parts

• US 20040117081A1
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Mori, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,082,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02213 Receivers arranged in a network for determining the position of a transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location

Abstract

A method for identifying damaged parts of a vehicle, including those inside the body, in a prompt and accurate manner. The method measures the position of a transmitter attached at a predetermined point of a vehicle under test, by processing a transmitter signal received by a plurality of receivers (step S1). The displacement of the transmitter is then calculated by comparing the measured position of the transmitter with its corresponding reference position (step S2). Here, the reference position refers to the ideal position at which the transmitter is supposed to be when it is assumed that the vehicle is in normal state. The method then identifies damaged parts around the transmitter, based on the displacement (step S3).

Claims

1. A method for detecting damaged parts, comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a position of a transmitter by processing a transmitter signal received by a plurality of receivers, the transmitter being attached at a predetermined point of a vehicle;

(b) calculating displacement of the transmitter by comparing the measured position with a reference position of the transmitter, the reference position being a position at which thee transmitter is supposed to be when the vehicle is in normal state; and

(c) identifying damaged parts around the transmitter, based on the displacement of the transmitter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said measuring step (a), determines the position of the transmitter based on reception times of the transmitter signal at the plurality of receivers.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said identifying step (c) identifies the damaged components, consulting a database that stores predetermined influence ranges associated with different amounts of displacement and lists of components that fall within each of the influence ranges.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter signal delivers an identification code of the transmitter.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter signal passes through outer parts of the vehicle.

6. The method according to claims 5, wherein the transmitter produces electromagnetic waves as the transmitter signal.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of correcting the measured position of the transmitter to cancel a position offset of the vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

searching a database for part numbers of spare parts that are required for replacement of the damaged parts; and

sending ordering information for the spare parts to a parts order server over a network.

9. A device for detecting damaged parts, comprising:

a plurality of receivers that receives a transmitter signal sent from a transmitter attached at a predetermined point of a vehicle;

a transmitter locator that measures a position of the transmitter by processing the transmitter signal received by the receivers;

a displacement calculator that calculates displacement of the transmitter by comparing the measured position with a reference position of the transmitter, the reference position being a position at which the transmitter is supposed to be when the vehicle is in normal state; and

a damaged part detector that identifies damaged parts around the transmitter, based on the displacement of the transmitter.

10. A program product for detecting damaged parts, the program product causing a computer system to execute a process comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a position of a transmitter by processing a transmitter signal received by a plurality of receivers, the transmitter being attached at a predetermined point of a vehicle;

(b) calculating displacement of the transmitter by comparing the measured position with a reference position of the transmitter, the reference position being a position at which the transmitter is supposed to be when the vehicle is in normal state; and

(c) identifying damaged parts around the transmitter, based on the displacement of the transmitter.

11. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for detecting damaged parts, the program causing a computer system to execute a process comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a position of a transmitter by processing a transmitter signal received by a plurality of receivers, the transmitter being attached at a predetermined point of a vehicle;

(b) calculating displacement of the transmitter by comparing the measured position with a reference position of the transmitter, the reference position being a position at which the transmitter is supposed to be when the vehicle is in normal state; and

(c) identifying damaged parts around the transmitter, based on the displacement of the transmitter.