Integrated circuit image sensor for wheel alignment systems
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit for use in a wheel alignment system, the integrated circuit comprising:
- a programmable controller;
an image sensor controlled by the programmable controller, for imaging a field of view encompassing a target subject of a wheel alignment measurement by the system and generating representative image data;
a data communication interface configured for transmitting information based on the representative image data to a host computer of the wheel alignment system; and
an input/output interface, for control signaling with at least one other element of the system, to enable the controller to control an operation of the at least one other element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit (IC), for use in an imaging module of a wheel alignment system, incorporates an image sensor as well as a number of other features. Some of the added features are implemented within the integrated circuit. The IC also incorporates interfacing for signaling or communication with other devices in the imaging module or elsewhere in the wheel alignment system. Some examples of added internal features include a temperature sensor, unique chip ID, and chip power control. The addition of analog and/or digital I/O to the integrated circuit enables control of an image module illumination function, control of an imaging module positioning function, various cooling functions, and operator interface control. A communications hub may be added to the IC, to enable operation in a networked system environment.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit for use in a wheel alignment system, the integrated circuit comprising:
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a programmable controller; an image sensor controlled by the programmable controller, for imaging a field of view encompassing a target subject of a wheel alignment measurement by the system and generating representative image data; a data communication interface configured for transmitting information based on the representative image data to a host computer of the wheel alignment system; and an input/output interface, for control signaling with at least one other element of the system, to enable the controller to control an operation of the at least one other element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a wheel alignment system, the wheel alignment system having an imaging module, a host computer responsive to the imaging module for outputting a vehicle wheel alignment parameter to a user, the improvement comprising:
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an integrated circuit in the imaging module, the integrated circuit comprising; an image sensor, for imaging a field of view encompassing an optical target related to a wheel of a subject vehicle and generating representative image data; a programmable controller coupled to the image sensor and programmed to pre-process the representative image data and to control at least one other operation of the wheel alignment system; a data communication interface configured for transmitting the pre-processed data from the controller to the host computer; and an input/output interface, for signaling with at least one other element of the system, to enable the controller to receive external sensor data from or to send a control signal to the at least one other element of the wheel alignment system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification