Wireless Vehicle Test Equipment

• US 20100114425A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benjamin P. Knapp, Emilo B. Fabregat, Joshua P. Knapp
• Original Assignee: Benjamin P. Knapp, Emilo B. Fabregat, Joshua P. Knapp
• Inventors: Knapp, Benjamin P., Knapp, Joshua P., Fabregat, Emilo B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/06 Steering behaviour; Rolling behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A system using a number of portable or wrist-worn remote controller units that communicate with a number of sensor units or sensor head sets for vehicle or automotive testing. An optional central communications controller can coordinate communications between the wrist-worn units and the sensor sets. A particular remote unit can associate with particular sensors or a particular sensor set and thus receive and transmit data only with that sensor set. Mechanics or technicians can run tests and take data completely from the remote units. The remote units generally contain a display screen that can show all parts and results of any vehicle test procedure. Various wireless communications techniques can be used to establish this communication.

Claims

1. A vehicle test system comprising:

a plurality of remote test units, each of said test units containing a processor, a memory, a battery, a display and a wireless transceiver;

a plurality of vehicle test sensors or test sensor sets, each of said test sensors or test sensor sets containing at least a wireless transceiver;

wherein said remote units communicate wirelessly with said sensors or sensor groups causing said sensors or sensor groups to perform vehicle tests and wherein said remote test units display data from said sensors or sensor groups.

2. The vehicle test system of claim 1 further comprising a central communications server coordinating communications between said remote test units and said test sensors or sensor sets.

3. The vehicle test system of claim 1 wherein said remote units are wrist-worn.

4. The vehicle test system of claim 1 wherein said test system is a wheel alignment system.

5. The vehicle test system of claim 3 wherein said test sensor sets are alignment heads.

6. The vehicle test system of claim 1 wherein said communication is by radio.

7. The vehicle test system of claim 1 wherein a particular remote test unit is constrained to communicate only with a particular group of sensors or sensor sets.

8. The vehicle test system of claim 1 wherein a particular remote test unit can choose to communicate only with a particular group of sensors or a particular sensor set.

9. The vehicle test system of claim 8 wherein said particular remote test unit displays a particular message or icon when said particular group of sensors or particular sensor set is in use or unavailable.

10. The vehicle test system of claim 1 wherein a particular remote test unit can choose to associate only with a particular group of sensors or sensor sets and can release said association upon completion of a testing session.

11. A wireless wheel alignment system comprising:

a plurality of wrist-worn test units, each of said test units containing a processor, memory, display, battery and wireless communication module;

a plurality of sensor sets, each of said sensor sets including a wireless communication module;

a central communication server in capable of wireless communication with said plurality of wrist-worn test units and with said plurality of sensor sets wherein said central communication server coordinates wireless communication between particular wrist-worn test units and particular sensor sets.

12. The wireless wheel alignment system of claim 11 wherein said display in each of said wrist-worn test units displays test data from a particular sensor set.

13. The wireless wheel alignment system of claim 11 wherein a particular wrist-worn test unit can select to communicate only with a particular sensor set.

14. The wireless wheel alignment system of claim 13 wherein said wrist-worn test unit will display a unique message or icon if said particular sensor set is in use or unavailable.

15. The wireless wheel alignment system of claim 11 wherein said wireless communication is by radio.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising storing state information of said plurality of portable wireless remote control units, wherein a second remote control unit can continue a particular test if a first remote control unit becomes unavailable.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said state information is distributed among said plurality of portable wireless remote control units.

16. A method of providing vehicle test equipment comprising:

providing a plurality of portable wireless remote control units, each capable of wireless communication;

providing a plurality of sensors or sensor sets, each sensor or sensor set capable of wireless communication;

providing a central communication control server capable of wireless communication with each of said wireless remote control units and each of said sensors or sensor sets;

wherein, said central communication control server coordinates communication between said remote control units and said sensors or sensor sets, such that messages from particular sensors or sensor sets are directed to a particular remote control unit.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein a particular remote control unit can request said server to allow communications between it and only one particular sensor or sensor set.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said particular remote control unit can request said server to allow communications with a different sensor or sensor set.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said communications is by radio.