Integrated circuit image sensor for wheel alignment systems

• US 6,744,497 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Inventors: Burns, Leigh R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US10/260,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20030025901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 356/139.09, 332/031.8, 332/88
• US Class Current: 356/139.09
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2755 using photoelectric detection means

Abstract

An improved image sensor for computer systems that use images to calculate vehicle wheel alignments which includes an integrated circuit having a detector array for receiving an image containing vehicle wheel alignment information, an image sensor controller for operating the detector array and directing input/output for external communications outside the circuit, and an internal bus for communications within the integrated circuit. The sensor communicates wheel alignment information contained in the image with the computer system across an interface bus.

Claims

1. In a wheel alignment system, the wheel alignment system having an image sensor, a system processor having logic and memory for calculating a vehicle wheel alignment, and a console, the image sensor receiving images and operably communicating the images to the system processor to calculate vehicle wheel alignments and the console displaying the wheel alignment information to a user, the wheel alignment system having an improvement in the image sensor wherein the improvement comprises:

an integrated circuit having a detector array for receiving the images containing vehicle wheel alignment information, an image sensor control circuitry for operating the detector array and providing input/output for external transfer outside the integrated circuit, and an internal connection for communications within the integrated circuit.

2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit is a CMOS integrated circuit.

3. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit further comprises an analog to digital converter, the converter communicating with the image sensor control circuitry.

4. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the detector array farther comprises a region of interest.

5. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit further comprises sub-array scanning of the detector array.

6. A user operated vehicle wheel alignment apparatus for calculating wheel alignment angles, comprising:

an integrated circuit image sensor having a detector array for receiving an image containing vehicle wheel alignment information, an image sensor control circuitry for operating the detector array and providing input/output for external data transfer outside the circuit, and an internal connection for communications within the integrated circuit;

a computer system for interfacing with the user of the wheel alignment apparatus;

means for calculating vehicle wheel alignment angles from the image containing vehicle wheel alignment information; and

an interface bus between the integrated circuit image sensor and the computer system for communications therebetween, wheel alignment information contained in the image being transferred from the integrated circuit to the computer system over the interface bus.

7. The user operated vehicle wheel alignment apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the integrated circuit is a CMOS integrated circuit.

8. The user operated vehicle wheel alignment apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the integrated circuit further comprises an analog to digital converter, the converter communicating with the image sensor control circuitry.

9. The user operated vehicle wheel alignment apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the detector array further comprises a region of interest.

10. The user operated vehicle wheel alignment apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the integrated circuit further comprises sub-array scanning of the detector array.

11. The user operated vehicle wheel alignment apparatus as set faith in claim 6 wherein the means for calculating the vehicle wheel alignment comprises logic and memory in a processor on the integrated circuit.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said interface bus is a USB bus.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said interface bus is a IEEE 1394 bus.