METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING VEHICLE WHEEL ALIGNMENT

• US 20080170222A1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Inventors: Strege, Timothy A., Colarelli, Nicholas J.
• Application Number:
  US11/623,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170222A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/139.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2755 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/14 One or more cameras or other optical devices capable of acquiring a two-dimensional image
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/143 One or more cameras on each side of a vehicle in the main embodiment
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/24 Specially developed for using with trucks or other heavy-duty vehicles

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining an alignment of the wheels of a vehicle are provided. The method includes determining values of wheel alignment parameters of a first wheel using images of a first optical target associated with the first wheel wherein the images are received by a first imager having a first field of view, and determining values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel using images of the first optical target received by a second imager having a second field of view when the first optical target is outside the first field of view.

Claims

1. A method of determining an alignment of the wheels of a vehicle, said method comprising:

determining values of wheel alignment parameters of a first wheel using images of a first optical target associated with the first wheel, said images received by a first imager having a first field of view; and

determining values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel using images of the first optical target received by a second imager having a second field of view when the first optical target is outside the first field of view.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining values of wheel alignment parameters of a second wheel using images of a second optical target associated with the second wheel received by the second imager.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising elevating the vehicle from a first position to a second position wherein in the first position the first optical target is within the first field of view and outside the second field of view.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein in the second position the first optical target is outside the first field of view and within the second field of view.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising determining a wheel run-out compensation of at least one wheel using a plurality of imagers having overlapping fields of view

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 further comprising determining a wheel run-out compensation of at least one wheel using a plurality of imagers wherein the imagers are spaced horizontally along a side of the vehicle.

7. A method of facilitating alignment of the wheels of a vehicle, said method comprising:

receiving images of a first optical target associated with a first wheel of the vehicle using at least a first imager having a first field of view; and

determining values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel using images of said first optical target received by a second imager having a second field of view when said first optical target is outside the first field of view.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising receiving images of a second optical target associated with a second wheel of the vehicle using at least the second imager.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising determining values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel using images of said first optical target received by the first imager when said first optical target is within the first field of view.

10. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising determining a wheel run-out compensation of at least one of the first and second wheel using images of a respective optical target associated with the at least one of first and second wheel wherein said images are received from a first imager when the optical target is in the first field of view and from a second imager when the optical target is in the second field of view.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said images are received from at least one of the first imager and the second imager when the optical target is in an overlap of the first and the second fields of view.

12. A wheel alignment apparatus for facilitating determining the alignment of the wheels of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a set of optical targets associated with first and second wheels of a vehicle, wherein said set of optical targets comprises at least one of a target mounted on a respective wheel and a feature of at least one of a respective wheel and tire;

at least a first imager positioned to receive images of ones of said optical targets associated with a first wheel of the vehicle;

at least a second imager positioned to receive images of ones said optical targets associated with a second wheel of the vehicle, said second wheel being disposed on the same side of the vehicle as said first wheel, each of said imagers having a field of view, the first imager having its field of view directed at the optical target associated with said first wheel of the vehicle and the second imager having its field of view directed at the optical target associated with said second wheel of the vehicle; and

a processor communicatively coupled to said first and second imagers, said processor configured to determine values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel using images of said optical target associated with the first wheel received by the second imager.

13. A wheel alignment apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said processor is further configured to determine values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel using the second imager when the first wheel is positioned outside the field of view of the first imager.

14. A method of determining an alignment of the wheels of a vehicle, said method comprising:

determining values of wheel alignment parameters with the vehicle in a first position using a first optical target associated with a first wheel of the vehicle and a first imager aimed toward the first optical target wherein in the first position the first optical target is within a first field of view of the first imager and outside a second field of view of a second imager aimed at a second optical target associated with a second wheel of the vehicle;

positioning the vehicle in a second position wherein in the second position the first optical target is outside the first field of view and within the second field of view; and

determining values of wheel alignment parameters with the vehicle in the second position using the first optical target and the second imager.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first optical target comprises at least a portion of the first wheel.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said second optical target comprises at least a portion of the second wheel.

17. A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising determining values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel using the second imager when the first wheel is positioned outside the field of view of the first imager.

18. A wheel alignment apparatus for facilitating determining the alignment of the wheels of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a first optical target associated with a first wheel of the vehicle, said first optical target associated with at least a first imager having a first field of view directed toward said first optical target;

a second optical target associated with a second wheel of the vehicle, the second wheel being disposed on the same side of the vehicle as the first wheel, said second optical target associated with at least a second imager having a second field of view directed toward the second optical target; and

a processor communicatively coupled to said first and second imagers, said processor configured to;

determine values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel with the vehicle in a first position using images of said first optical target received by the first imager; and

determine values of wheel alignment parameters of the first wheel with the vehicle in a second position using images of said first optical target received by the second imager.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein the second position is elevated with respect to the first position.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein in the second position said first optical target is outside the first field of view.