Method And Apparatus For Contactless Data Acquisition In A Vehicle Service System
First Claim
1. A vehicle service system having a processing system configured with vehicle service software for carrying out at least one vehicle diagnostic or service procedure, comprising:
- at least one machine vision sensor coupled to said processing system and configured to produce spatial or topographical image data, the machine vision sensor includinga projection system configured to project at least one optical pattern of discrete points onto surfaces of objects within a field of view,an associated imaging sensor which is configured to acquire images of said projected pattern on said surfaces, andan image processor configured with software instructions to identify elements of said optical pattern within said acquired images to generate said spatial or topographical image data representative of observed objects within said field of view for communication to said processing system; and
wherein said processing system is configured with software instructions to utilize said generated spatial or topographical image data representative of observed objects during said vehicle diagnostic or service procedure to determine at least one spatial parameter associated with said surfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved vehicle service system having at least one pattern-projecting, machine-vision sensor for acquiring images of objects and surface during a vehicle service or inspection procedure, and which is configured to process acquired images to identify measurements and/or relative three-dimensional locations associated with the vehicle undergoing service or inspection, vehicle components, surface, or objects in the environment surrounding the vehicle. The improved vehicle service system is further configured to utilized the identified measurements and/or relative three-dimensional locations during a vehicle service or inspection procedure.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vehicle service system having a processing system configured with vehicle service software for carrying out at least one vehicle diagnostic or service procedure, comprising:
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at least one machine vision sensor coupled to said processing system and configured to produce spatial or topographical image data, the machine vision sensor including a projection system configured to project at least one optical pattern of discrete points onto surfaces of objects within a field of view, an associated imaging sensor which is configured to acquire images of said projected pattern on said surfaces, and an image processor configured with software instructions to identify elements of said optical pattern within said acquired images to generate said spatial or topographical image data representative of observed objects within said field of view for communication to said processing system; and wherein said processing system is configured with software instructions to utilize said generated spatial or topographical image data representative of observed objects during said vehicle diagnostic or service procedure to determine at least one spatial parameter associated with said surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for measuring alignment of a wheel assembly on a vehicle, comprising:
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disposing the vehicle such that at least one wheel assembly is within a field of view of a range imaging machine vision sensor; projecting, from said range imaging machine vision sensor, a pattern of illuminated points onto the surfaces of the vehicle, said surfaces including said at least one wheel assembly; acquiring an image of said projected pattern from a single sensor secured in a fixed position and orientation relative to a source of said projected pattern; processing said acquired image to identify topographical data associated with at least said wheel assembly; and utilizing said identified topographical data to determine one or more alignment angles for said at least one wheel assembly.
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20. A method for measuring a surface profile for at least a portion of a wheel rim of a wheel assembly, comprising:
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disposing the wheel assembly such that at least a portion of the wheel rim surface is within a field of view of a range imaging machine vision sensor; projecting, from said range imaging machine vision sensor, a pattern of illuminated points onto the portion of the wheel rim surface; acquiring an image of said projected pattern from a single sensor secured in a fixed position and orientation relative to a source of said projected pattern; processing said acquired image to identify topographical data associated with said portion of the wheel rim surface; and utilizing said identified topographical data to map a contour or surface profile of the observed portion of the wheel rim surface.
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21. A vehicle service system for use by an operator to carry out one or more service procedures associated with a vehicle, having an operator interface and a processing system configured to interact with the operator through the operator interface and to carry out said one or more service procedures, comprising:
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at least one machine vision sensor operatively coupled to the processing system, the machine vision sensor having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of a vehicle service area to obtain one or more images there of; a means for processing images obtained by said at least one machine vision sensor to identify one or more human features with said field of view; and wherein said processing system is further configured to utilize said identified human features within said field of view in association with said one or more service procedures. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification