Vehicle service device and system powered by capacitive power source

• US 20070112485A1
• Filed: 11/17/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Bryan, Eric, Rogers, Steven, Brown, Adam
• Application Number:
  US11/280,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/26 for testing wheel alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A vehicle service device configured to be powered by a capacitive power source positioned in the service device.

Claims

1. A vehicle service device configured to be powered by a capacitive power storage unit positioned in the service device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle service device is an alignment head configured to attach to a wheel of a vehicle to collect wheel parameters, a device configured to download data stored in a vehicle, a device configured to load data to an on-board computer of a vehicle, a device configured to measure signals of a component of a vehicle, a device configured to download data related to vehicle services, or an optical sensor for obtaining optical data associated with at least one wheel of a vehicle, or a non-contact sensor module configured to obtain wheel parameters or vehicle body parameters in a non-contact manner.

3. The vehicle service device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive power storage unit is chargeable by a power supply external to the service device.

4. The vehicle service device of claim 3 further comprising a coupling apparatus for coupling to the power supply for receiving power.

5. The vehicle service device of claim 3, wherein the coupling apparatus is exposed to the external of the vehicle service device.

6. The vehicle service device of claim 3, wherein the capacitive power storage unit is configured to receive power from the power supply in a non-contact manner.

7. The vehicle service device of claim 1, wherein, responsive to the vehicle service device being received by a docking device, an electrical coupling is formed between the vehicle service device and the docking system, for receiving a charging current to charge the capacitive power storage unit.

8. The vehicle service device of claim 7, wherein, responsive to the vehicle service device being received in the docking device, a data channel is formed between the docking device and the vehicle service device for sending data to or receiving data from the vehicle service device via the data channel.

9. The vehicle service device of claim 8, wherein the electrical coupling is used as the data channel.

10. A wheel alignment system comprising:

a vehicle service device configured to obtain alignment parameters of a vehicle;

a capacitive power storage unit configured to power the vehicle service device; and

a data processing system configured to communicate with the service device to receive the obtained alignment parameters and determine a wheel alignment status of the vehicle based on the alignment parameters.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the service device includes an optical sensor configured to generate the alignment parameters by imaging at least one wheel of the vehicle or a target attached to at least one wheel of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the service device is attachable to a wheel of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 10 further including a power supply external to the vehicle service device for charging the capacitive power storage unit of the vehicle service device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the capacitive power storage unit is configured to receive power from the power supply in a non-contact manner.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle service device includes a coupling apparatus configured to couple to the power supply for receiving power to charge the capacitive power storage unit.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising a docking device for receiving the vehicle service device or the capacitive power storage unit, wherein the docking device is coupled to a power supply configured to charge the capacitive power storage unit responsive to the vehicle service device or the capacitive power storage unit being received in the docking device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein, in response to the vehicle service device or the capacitive power storage unit being received in the docking device, a data communication channel is established to access data stored in the vehicle service device or the capacitive power storage unit, or to send data to the vehicle service device or the capacitive power storage unit.

18. The system of claim 17 further including a docking device coupled to a power source and configured to detachably couple to the power supply, wherein the docking device establishes a charging path between the power source and the power supply in response to the power supply being coupled to the docking device.

19. A vehicle service system comprising:

sensing means for obtaining spatial parameters associated with a vehicle, wherein the sensing means is powered by a capacitive power storage means incorporated in the sensing means; and

data processing means for receiving the obtained spatial parameters from the sensing means and for determining spatial characteristics of the vehicle based on the received spatial parameters.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the determined spatial characteristics are related to a wheel alignment status or a vehicle body alignment status.