Invisible target illuminators for 3D camera-based alignment systems
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional camera based position determination system, comprising:
- an optically scannable target device fixedly attached to a target object;
at least one camera and light subsystem, each subsystem having;
an image sensing device configured to view the optically scannable target device and to generate image information indicative of geometric characteristics of the target device; and
at least one invisible light emitting diode operatively coupled to a strobe circuit, the at least one diode and circuit being configured to emit strobed invisible light thereby illuminating the optically scannable target such that the light is retro-reflected to the image sensing device and the image sensing device detects and forms an image of the target;
a data processing device operatively coupled to the image sensing device, the data processing device being configured to determine the orientation of the target object based on the generated target image, and a visible indicator that indicates whether the at least one invisible light emitting diode is operative.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A three-dimensional camera based system for determining the position and/or alignment of objects such as motor vehicle wheels. The system includes a strobed infrared lighting subsystem, a visible indicator that the subsystem is working properly, and targets for attachment to the objects. The system also includes at least one camera for viewing the targets, and a data processor connected to the camera for processing data relating to images of the targets to determine position and/or alignment information, and a display that displays the position and/or alignment information. The system includes directional indicators for indicating that the vehicle should be repositioned by moving it backward, forward, or steered left or right. The system also includes wheel indicators tied in with software on the data processing device. These wheel indicators indicate the state of target acquisition by the data processing device based on the image from the camera.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional camera based position determination system, comprising:
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an optically scannable target device fixedly attached to a target object;
at least one camera and light subsystem, each subsystem having;
an image sensing device configured to view the optically scannable target device and to generate image information indicative of geometric characteristics of the target device; and
at least one invisible light emitting diode operatively coupled to a strobe circuit, the at least one diode and circuit being configured to emit strobed invisible light thereby illuminating the optically scannable target such that the light is retro-reflected to the image sensing device and the image sensing device detects and forms an image of the target;
a data processing device operatively coupled to the image sensing device, the data processing device being configured to determine the orientation of the target object based on the generated target image, and a visible indicator that indicates whether the at least one invisible light emitting diode is operative. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. (Cancelled)
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13. A three-dimensional camera based position determination system, comprising:
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an optically scannable target device fixedly attached to a target object;
at least one camera and light subsystem, each subsystem having;
an image sensing device configured to view the optically scannable target device and to generate image information indicative of geometric characteristics of the target device; and
at least one light emitting diode operatively coupled to a strobe circuit, the at least one diode and circuit being configured to emit strobed light thereby illuminating the optically scannable target such that the light is retro-reflected to the image sensing device and the image sensing device detects and forms an image of the target;
a data processing device operatively coupled to the image sensing device, the data processing device being configured to determine the orientation of the target object based on the generated target image; and
a target object indicator that displays the status of target acquisition by the data processing device, wherein the status of target acquisition indicates whether an obtained image of the scannable target device is acceptable. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 28)
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17. A three-dimensional camera based position determination system, comprising:
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sensing means for sensing an image of a target device, and generating image information indicative of geometric characteristics of the target device; and
emission means for emitting strobed invisible light that illuminates the optically scannable target such that the light is retro-reflected to the image sensing device and the image sensing device detects and forms an image of the target;
data processing means for determining the orientation of the target object based on the generated target image; and
visible indicator means for visibly indicating whether the emission means is operative. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An image-based position determination system for optically scanning a target device related to an object, the system comprising:
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at least one camera and light subsystem, each subsystem having;
an image sensing device configured to view the target device and to generate image information indicative of geometric characteristics of the target device;
at least one light emitting diode operatively coupled to a strobe circuit, the at least one diode and circuit being configured to emit strobed light thereby illuminating the target device such that the light is retro-reflected to the image sensing device and the image sensing device detects and forms an image of the target; and
a visual indicator for indicating a direction by which the object should be moved relative to the image sensing device; and
a data processing device configured to couple to the visual indicator and the image sensing device to determine the orientation of the object based on the generated target image.
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27. An image-based position determination system for optically scanning a target device related to an object, the system comprising:
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image sensing means for viewing the target device and for generating image information indicative of geometric characteristics of the target device;
light emitting means for emitting strobed light thereby illuminating the target device such that the light is retro-reflected to the image sensing means and the image sensing means detects and forms an image of the target; and
visual indicator means for indicating a direction by which the object should be moved relative to the image sensing means; and
a data processing device configured to couple to the visual indicator means and the image sensing means to determine the orientation of the object based on the generated target image.
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Specification