Vehicle straightener measuring unit, measuring apparatus reliant on reflected beams, and source, targets and method

• US 4,997,283 A
• Filed: 05/31/1989
• Issued: 03/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chief Automotive Technologies, Inc. (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Glen C. Danielson, Thomas M. Westhoff
• Inventors: Danielson, Glen C., Westhoff, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenberger, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US07/359,921
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 356/4, 356/152, 356/20, 356/21, 356/375, 356/400, 72/705, 33/288
• US Class Current: 356/622
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 1/14 Straightening frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0025 Measuring of vehicle parts G01B5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for determining the deformation of a vehicle body comprising coded target including coded reflective surfaces positioned in predetermined locations relative to the vehicle body for indicating deformation of the body by determining the spatial position of the targets, a laser generating unit positioned for sweeping a laser beam across the reflective surfaces of the targets, a receiver for receiving the reflected beam, and computer-based, electronic equipment and logic responsive to the receiver for indicating the spatial position of the target means relative to a predetermined normal position with respect to the vehicle body. Apparatus also for determining two and three dimensional spatial coordinates of objects from each other and from a base, utilizing the foregoing components. Additional apparatus comprising portions of the foregoing.

Claims

1. Apparatus for indicating deformation of a vehicle body or the like, said vehicle body having at least one reference point and a normal position thereof, said apparatus comprising:

at least one target means including a reflective portion, positioned in a predetermined location relative to the reference point on the vehicle body for indicating deformation of the body by the position of the target means relative to said normal position thereof;

means for sweeping a beam of radiation across the reflective portion of the target means, said reflective portion reflecting said beam;

said beam sweeping means comprising two laser beams and a rotating mirror associated with each beam for receiving the beam therefrom respectively, whereby each laser beam sweeps a 360°

arc;

means for receiving radiation reflected from the target means; and

means for interpreting the radiation reflected from the target means and for indicating at least the two-dimensional spatial position of the target means relative to normal position.

2. A combination radiation source and receiving means for use with reflective targets for determining the spatial coordinates of points associated with the targets, the radiation source and receiving means comprising:

radiation means for producing a beam;

rotatable means for directing the beam toward the targets and sweeping it across the targets;

means mounting the radiation means and the rotatable reflective means with respect to each other such that the beam reflects from a fixed origin on the reflective means;

receiver means for receiving reflected radiation from the target;

means responsive to the receiver means for interpreting the radiation reflected from the target and determining at least the two-dimensional spatial coordinates of the points associated with the targets; and

,

a beam splitter for splitting the beam into two beams of equal intensity;

the rotatable reflective means being comprised of two rotating mirrors, the two mirrors being mounted and the beams being directed onto the rotating mirrors such that the reflected beams are co-planar.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the receiver means comprises switch means for switching between two states depending on the presence or absence of radiation and further including counter means for counting a number of time interval counts of equal duration over a radiation sweep.

4. The combination of claim 3 further including:

computing means for identifying those counts during which reflected radiation is received by the receiving means and during which reflected radiation is not received.

5. Apparatus for indicating deformation of a vehicle body or the like, comprising:

a set of reflectively coded targets for attachment to a body in predetermined locations;

a radiation source and receiving means adapted for placement under the body and constructed and arranged to sweep two beams of radiation through a 360°

circle, parallel to the surface on which the radiation source and receiving means is placed such that the coded targets are swept by the beams;

counter means for counting a number of time interval counts of equal duration over a 360°

radiation sweep;

computing means for identifying those counts during which reflected radiation is received by the receiving means and during which it is not, to thereby determine the three dimensional spatial coordinates of a point associated with the target and for determining the normal position of said point, and

program means for operating said apparatus including reference data of the normal location, with respect to a reference plane, of said predetermined locations on the vehicle, said program means being stored in a RAM memory and constructed and arranged to control the operation of said apparatus so as to;

gather the following input from an operator;

(a) the type of vehicle,

(b) the placement of three coded reference targets which form a reference plane,

(c) a start signal from the operator to start the measurement process;

initialize the counter means to zero;

retrieve the counter means information after a complete 360°

sweep;

calculate the (X,Y,Z) coordinates of each coded target;

rotate the (X,Y,Z) coordinates into the reference plane formed by the three reference targets, and

graphically display the placement of the coded targets on a vehicle of the type input by the operator, showing the relative displacement of the actual spatial coordinates and the normal spatial coordinates.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the program means is further constructed and arranged so as to:

verify that the correct amount of data is received from the counter means;

verify that the two beams are rotating at the correct speed; and

store the graphical display on a non-volatile memory at the user'"'"'s request.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the program means is further constructed and arranged so as to:

access stored information concerning a particular type of vehicle based on the Vehicle Identification Number.

8. Apparatus for measuring accidental deformation of a vehicle comprising:

a laser source and measuring unit, adapted for placement under the vehicle;

a plurality of coded reflective targets adapted to be positioned with respect to predetermined locations on the vehicle;

computer means including reference data of the normal location, with respect to a reference plane, of said predetermined locations on the vehicle; and

a processing program for accepting output from the source and measuring unit representing the deformed position of said points as computed based on reflections from the coded targets and for processing the output and comparing it to the reference data whereby the amount of deformation may be indicated;

said laser source and measuring unit providing two laser beams and a rotating mirror associated with each beam for receiving radiation therefrom respectively, whereby each laser beam sweeps an entire 360°

arc.

9. Apparatus for measuring accidental deformation of a vehicle comprising:

a laser source and measuring unit, adapted to be placed under the vehicle, the laser source and measuring unit being comprised of source means for two laser beams and a pair of rotating mirrors for receiving each of the laser beams respectively, whereby each laser beam sweeps an entire 360°

arc;

a plurality of coded reflective targets adapted to be positioned with respect to predetermined locations on the vehicle, each coded reflective target comprising at least two reflective areas separated by a non-reflective area, wherein the width of each of the two reflective areas at which the beam sweeps across the surface of the coded target is indicative of a Z coordinate of the target, and the total width of the target is indicative of X,Y coordinates of the target;

counter means for counting a number of time interval counts of equal duration over a 360°

radiation sweep;

computing means for identifying those counts during which reflected radiation is received by the receiving means and during which it is not, to thereby determine the three dimensional spatial coordinates of a point associated with the target and including reference data of the normal location, with respect to a reference plane, of said predetermined locations on the vehicle, and

program means for operating said apparatus, said program means being stored in a RAM memory and constructed and arranged to control the operation of said apparatus so as to;

gather the following input from an operator;

(a) the type of vehicle,

(b) the placement of three coded reference targets which form a reference plane,

(c) a start signal from the operator to start the measurement process;

initialize the counter means to zero;

retrieve the counter means information after a complete 360°

sweep;

calculate the X,Y,Z coordinates of each coded target;

rotate the X,Y,Z coordinates into the reference plane formed by the three reference targets, and

graphically display the placement of the coded targets on a vehicle of the type input by the operator, showing the relative displacement of the actual spatial position and the normal spatial position whereby the amount of deformation may be indicated.

10. An electronic vehicular frame/structure analyzer comprising:

a laser beam unit having a laser beam generator which directs a laser beam at a beam splitter which splits the laser beam into two beams of equal intensity, each of which is reflected off of a rotating mirror;

a beam sensor connected to the laser beam unit;

a counter connected to the beam sensor;

a plurality of manually located targets coded with vertically-skewed, target unique reflective and non-reflective strips, the reflective strips constructed such that a laser beam that strikes it is reflected back to the beam sensor, and

electronic means including;

a computer;

programming means incorporating vehicle frame/structure manufacturing specifications and screen displays;

a computer screen connected to the computer;

whereby the computer, programming means, screens and printer process information from the counter and the beam sensor to;

calculate three dimensional (X,Y,Z) coordinates of the targets;

select three targets as reference points;

calculate a reference plane including the reference points;

translate the (X,Y,Z) coordinates of the non-selected targets into the coordinate system of the reference plane;

display and print translated (X,Y,Z) coordinates of all the targets, and manufacturing specifications, and

revise the translated coordinates repeatedly on command.