Laser measurement system
First Claim
1. A vehicle frame measurement system for determining the difference between the actual three-dimensional configuration of a vehicle frame requiring repair and the normal three-dimensional configuration of the vehicle frame as defined by the manufacturer to determine the extent of deformation of the vehicle frame and the necessary repairs required to the vehicle frame, the system comprising:
- a rotating laser scanner having a pair of substantially parallel laser beams separated by a known distance and rotating in unison at a known speed of rotation around an axis of rotation and synchronization pulse light emitters for broadcasting a synchronization pulse when the pair of substantially parallel laser beams are at a known reference angle;
a plurality of active targets each for attachment to the vehicle frame at a give reference point having a corresponding normal reference point value as defined by the manufacturer, each active target detecting position data comprising the synchronization pulse, the time of detection of the laser beams relative to one another and the synchronization pulse, a vertical position of the laser beams on the active target and including storage means storing the position data;
positioning means for positioning each active target within view of the scanning laser beams and the synchronization pulse emitted by the laser scanner and at a known vertical distance from the associated reference point which is communicated to the associated active target and stored by the storage means with the position data;
a host computer for receiving position data from the active targets to determine an actual position of each reference point relative to a normal position of the reference point as determined by the manufacturer'"'"'s specifications and for displaying the frame and the differences between the actual and the normal positions of the reference points of the frame to illustrate the degree of deformation of the actual configuration of the frame and to visually indicate the repairs needed to restore the frame to its normal configuration; and
a communication link by which the host computer at least receives position information from the plurality of active targets communicate with one another.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laser measurement system indicates the difference between an actual position of a vehicle frame reference point on a vehicle frame and a normal position employing a rotating laser scanner; an electro-optical detector and a host computer. A positioning arrangement is also provided for positioning the electro-optical detector at a known distance from the reference point. In operation, the host computer queries the scanner and detector via a communication link, calculates the actual position of the reference point, and displays the difference between the position of the vehicle reference point on the vehicle frame and the normal position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle frame measurement system for determining the difference between the actual three-dimensional configuration of a vehicle frame requiring repair and the normal three-dimensional configuration of the vehicle frame as defined by the manufacturer to determine the extent of deformation of the vehicle frame and the necessary repairs required to the vehicle frame, the system comprising:
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a rotating laser scanner having a pair of substantially parallel laser beams separated by a known distance and rotating in unison at a known speed of rotation around an axis of rotation and synchronization pulse light emitters for broadcasting a synchronization pulse when the pair of substantially parallel laser beams are at a known reference angle; a plurality of active targets each for attachment to the vehicle frame at a give reference point having a corresponding normal reference point value as defined by the manufacturer, each active target detecting position data comprising the synchronization pulse, the time of detection of the laser beams relative to one another and the synchronization pulse, a vertical position of the laser beams on the active target and including storage means storing the position data; positioning means for positioning each active target within view of the scanning laser beams and the synchronization pulse emitted by the laser scanner and at a known vertical distance from the associated reference point which is communicated to the associated active target and stored by the storage means with the position data; a host computer for receiving position data from the active targets to determine an actual position of each reference point relative to a normal position of the reference point as determined by the manufacturer'"'"'s specifications and for displaying the frame and the differences between the actual and the normal positions of the reference points of the frame to illustrate the degree of deformation of the actual configuration of the frame and to visually indicate the repairs needed to restore the frame to its normal configuration; and a communication link by which the host computer at least receives position information from the plurality of active targets communicate with one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A laser measurement system for indicating the differences between an actual position of a vehicle frame reference points on a vehicle frame and normal positions thereof, the system comprising:
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a rotating laser scanner having an axis of rotation positioned at a scanner reference point, the scanner having;
1) means for generating a pair of substantially parallel, scanning laser beams separated by a known distance and rotating at a constant speed of rotation around the scanner reference point and,
2) an array of light emitters for broadcasting a synchronization pulse when the pair of substantially parallel laser beams are at a known reference angle;active targets for attachment to vehicle frame reference points, each active target having;
1) detection means for detecting the synchronization pulse, an arrival of the laser beams at the detector and a vertical position of the laser beams on the detector,
2) processing and storage means for time stamping and for storing the detection times of the laser beams relative to one another and the synchronization pulse and the vertical position of the laser beams on the detector;positioning means, having a known length, for attaching each active target at a known vertical distance from a reference point and for communicating the known vertical distance to the associated active target for storage; a host computer, capable of communicating with at least the active targets, the host computer including;
a) storage means for storing the normal positions of the reference points;
b) calculating means for calculating the actual positions of each of the vehicle reference points based on data received from active targets;
c) comparison means for comparing the actual positions of the each of the vehicle reference points with the normal positions thereof to determine a difference there between;
d) display means for illustrating the difference between the actual position of each of the vehicle reference points on the vehicle frame and their normal positions, anda communication link by which the host computer communicates with each active target. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification