Context sensitive vehicle alignment and inspection system
First Claim
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1. A vehicle alignment system comprising:
- sensors for obtaining vehicle alignment data from a vehicle under test;
a controller operatively connected to the sensors for determining measured vehicle alignment angles from the vehicle alignment data;
a display for visually displaying representations of the measured vehicle alignment angles to an operator, said display being operatively connected to the controller so that the controller causes the display of representations of a plurality of different measured vehicle alignment angles at one time;
an input device operable by the operator to select the representation of a desired one of the plurality of different measured vehicle alignment angles being displayed;
a memory having stored therein, for each selectable vehicle alignment angle, a set of choices of a plurality of different operations associated with that particular selectable vehicle alignment angle;
said controller being operatively connected to the input device and to the memory such that upon selection of a selectable vehicle alignment angle by the operator, the controller retrieves the set of choices of different operations associated with the selected vehicle alignment angle and causes the display of said set of choices on the display.
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Abstract
A vehicle alignment and inspection system is provided which uses context sensitive information from several sources to enable the user/operator to achieve a more efficient alignment or inspection than previous systems. Features include digital photographs responsive to point-and-click operations by the operator, drop-down menus allowing direct access to specific operations, a database of tools and parts required for the job, and a "smart" alignment procedure.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A vehicle alignment system comprising:
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sensors for obtaining vehicle alignment data from a vehicle under test; a controller operatively connected to the sensors for determining measured vehicle alignment angles from the vehicle alignment data; a display for visually displaying representations of the measured vehicle alignment angles to an operator, said display being operatively connected to the controller so that the controller causes the display of representations of a plurality of different measured vehicle alignment angles at one time; an input device operable by the operator to select the representation of a desired one of the plurality of different measured vehicle alignment angles being displayed; a memory having stored therein, for each selectable vehicle alignment angle, a set of choices of a plurality of different operations associated with that particular selectable vehicle alignment angle; said controller being operatively connected to the input device and to the memory such that upon selection of a selectable vehicle alignment angle by the operator, the controller retrieves the set of choices of different operations associated with the selected vehicle alignment angle and causes the display of said set of choices on the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle alignment system comprising:
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sensors for obtaining vehicle alignment data from a vehicle under test; a controller operatively connected to the sensors for determining measured vehicle alignment angles from the vehicle alignment data; a display for visually displaying to an operator representations of the measured vehicle alignment angles and for selectively displaying choices of alignment assisting operations associated with a measured vehicle alignment angle, said display being operatively connected to the controller so that the controller causes the display of at least some of the representations; a manually operable input device for requesting direct access to a displayed alignment assisting operation associated with a selected alignment angle representation, said controller being responsive to a request for direct access to a particular operation to directly initiate said requested operation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle inspection system comprising:
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a storage device for storing a plurality of separate images, at least some of the separate images illustrating a plurality of vehicle parts; a display screen for visually displaying said images to an operator; a manually operable input device for signalling the selection of a desired portion of a displayed image; a controller operatively connected to the manually operable input device and responsive to the locations of particular vehicle parts on the displayed image to visually identify on the display screen a vehicle part corresponding to the selected portion of the displayed image; a memory having a set of inspection and repair guidelines stored therein, said controller being responsive to the selection of a particular vehicle part on a displayed image and a guideline request signal to cause the display of at least one inspection and repair guideline corresponding to the selected vehicle part, said guideline request signal being initiated by a operator of the inspection system; wherein a video corresponding to a displayed guideline is selectable by the operator when said guideline is displayed, said controller being responsive to selection of said video to display said video corresponding to the guideline being displayed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A vehicle inspection system comprising:
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a storage device for storing a plurality of separate images, at least some of the separate images illustrating a plurality of vehicle parts; a display screen for visually displaying said images to an operator; a manually operable input device for signalling the selection of a desired portion of a displayed image; a controller operatively connected to the manually operable input device and responsive to the locations of particular vehicle parts on the displayed image to visually identify on the display screen a vehicle part corresponding to the selected portion of the displayed image; wherein the storage device further has stored therein, for each of a plurality of separate images of vehicle parts, a video illustrating inspection of that part, wherein the video clip corresponding to a selected part is selectable by the operator for display.
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27. A system for facilitating vehicle alignment comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for acquiring vehicle alignment measurements; a memory for storing vehicle alignment angle specifications for a plurality of vehicle makes and models; an input device operable by a operator to provide an input signal identifying the vehicle make and model under test; a controller operatively connected to the sensors for determining vehicle alignment angles for the vehicle under test from the vehicle alignment measurements and for comparing the vehicle alignment angles with the stored specifications for said vehicle under test; a display device operatively connected to the controller and responsive thereto for displaying a visual indication of all the alignment angles for the vehicle under test which fall outside the stored specifications, a visual indication of the status of all the adjustable alignment angles for the vehicle which fall within the stored specifications, and an indication of the procedures required to correct all the alignment angles falling outside the stored specifications; wherein the controller controls the display device to display graphical representations of the measured alignment angle referenced to the corresponding specification for each of a plurality of alignment angles, said controller omitting the display of said graphical representations for each alignment angle which is within specifications and whose measurement is unaffected by changes in the alignment angles which are initially out of specification for the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for facilitating vehicle alignment comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for acquiring vehicle alignment measurements; a memory for storing vehicle alignment angle specifications for a plurality of vehicle makes and models; an input device operable by a operator to provide an input signal identifying the vehicle make and model under test; a controller operatively connected to the sensors for determining vehicle alignment angles for the vehicle under test from the vehicle alignment measurements and for comparing the vehicle alignment angles with the stored specifications for said vehicle under test; a display device operatively connected to the controller and responsive thereto for displaying a visual indication of all the alignment angles for the vehicle under test which fall outside the stored specifications, a visual indication of the status of all the adjustable alignment angles for the vehicle which fall within the stored specifications, and an indication of the procedures required to correct all the alignment angles falling outside the stored specifications; wherein the memory has stored therein a list of tools necessary for each of a plurality of alignment procedures, said controller being responsive to the initial alignment status of the vehicle to cause the display of identifying information for only those tools required to perform the procedures needed to adjust the alignment angles that are not within the corresponding specifications. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A system for facilitating vehicle alignment comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for acquiring vehicle alignment measurements; a memory for storing vehicle alignment angle specifications and identifying information concerning required tools and parts for adjusting alignment angles to specifications for a plurality of vehicle makes and models; an input device operable by a operator to provide an input signal identifying the vehicle make and model under test; a controller operatively connected to the sensors for determining vehicle alignment angles for the vehicle under test from the vehicle alignment measurements and for comparing the vehicle alignment angles with the stored specifications for said vehicle under test; a display device operatively connected to the controller and responsive thereto for displaying to the operator a visual indication of the tools and parts required to adjust a predetermined alignment angle for the vehicle under test. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A system for facilitating vehicle alignment comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for acquiring vehicle alignment measurements; a memory for storing vehicle alignment angle specifications and a plurality of training video clips, each training video clip being associated with a corresponding alignment operation; an input device operable by a operator to provide an input signal identifying the vehicle make and model under test; a controller operatively connected to the sensors for determining vehicle alignment angles for the vehicle under test from the vehicle alignment measurements and for comparing the vehicle alignment angles with the stored specifications for said vehicle under test; a display device operatively connected to the controller and responsive thereto for displaying to the operator, upon request, selected video training clips to assist in aligning the vehicle under test. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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Specification