Remote sensing digital angle gauge

• US 7,684,028 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Willcock, Kevin, Banar, Michael F., Shevela, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): LAUCHMAN, LAYLA G
• Application Number:
  US11/638,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 356/213, 356/218, 356/139.09, 356/153, 356/155, 332/88, 332/86, 332/031.8, 335/01
• US Class Current: 356/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/26 for testing wheel alignment

Abstract

A remote sensing angle gauge includes a sensor responding to physical stimulus and transmitting a resulting impulse for measuring an angle, and a user interface separate and remote from said sensor and in communication with said sensor unit. The user interface receives a signal from the resulting impulse of said sensor unit, and determines the angle measurement according to the received signal from said sensor unit and inputted data from said interface unit. The inputted data by a user includes an offset and orientation of the sensor. The gauge can be zeroed before initiating the measurement. The sensor can be connected to the user interface through a detachable electrical connection. The sensor can include an adaptor accommodating a detachable and adjustable connection to an area being measured. The results of the measurement on the user interface can be remotely monitored, while measuring the angle with the sensor.

Claims

1. A remote sensing angle gauge, comprising:

a sensor unit including a sensor responding to a physical stimulus and transmitting a resulting impulse for measuring an angle;

an interface unit separate and remote from said sensor unit and in communication with said sensor unit, said interface unit receiving a signal from the resulting impulse of said sensor unit, said interface unit determining the angle measurement according to the received signal from said sensor unit and inputted data from said interface unit;

a display unit displaying determined angle measurements;

a plurality of indicators displaying certain options of the inputted data being selected; and

an input unit to select certain options in determining the angle measurement, wherein one of said options being a selection on said input unit zeroing said angle gauge with respect to an area being measured and activating at least one of said plurality of indicators displaying the zeroing.

2. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connection between said interface unit and said sensor unit.

3. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 2, wherein the electrical connection allows for positioning of said sensor unit in a measured area and remote use of a certain distance to allow the angle measurement to be displayed on said angle gauge the certain distance from said sensor unit.

4. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, further comprising a processor in said interface unit that determines the angle measurement according to the signal received from said sensor, input received from said input unit including an offset value and orientation of said sensor.

5. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, further comprising a computer readable media including computer executable instruction comprising:

a first module zeroing said angle gauge with respect to the area being measured and activating at least one of said plurality of indicators displaying the zeroing when selected through said input unit;

a second module receiving an offset value from said input unit and storing the offset value in said memory unit for determining of the angle measurement;

a third module receiving through said input unit a selection of a negative or positive angle according to an orientation of said sensor unit and activating at least one of said plurality of indicators displaying a selection of the orientation of said sensor; and

a fourth module determining the angle measurement according to a signal from said sensor and input received from said input unit, the input received from said input unit including offset value and orientation of said sensor.

6. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, further comprising an adaptor connected to said sensor unit to allow a connection to the area being measured, said adaptor being detachable and adjustable on said sensor unit.

7. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, further comprising a securing unit on said interface unit for securing said interface unit to an object.

8. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, wherein said angle is a caster angle.

9. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, wherein said sensor being an accelerometer, to sense change in movement of an enclosure of said sensor unit, the change in movement being displayed on said display unit as an angle measured in degrees.

10. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, further comprising of a wireless connection between said sensor unit and said interface unit.

11. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 1, further comprising an adaptor including pins positioned on an outer surface of said sensor unit according to the location of said sensor in said sensor unit, the adaptor being detachable and adjustable on said sensor unit according to a groove on said outer surface of said sensor unit, said pins of adapter being connected to holes in the area being measured for the angle.

12. The remote sensing angle gauge of claim 2, further comprising the electrical connection being a detachable and retractable wire.

13. A method of remotely sensing an angle, comprising:

setting a zero point with respect to an area being measured on a user interface;

receiving an offset value from an input unit on said user interface and storing the offset value in a memory unit;

receiving through said input unit, a selection of an orientation of a sensor, said sensor being separate from said user interface; and

determining the angle measurement with a processor according to the data received from said sensor, input received for the offset value, and orientation of said sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising of activating at least one of a plurality of indicators displaying the zeroing when selected through said input unit.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising of activating at least one of said plurality of indicators displaying a selection of the orientation of said sensor.

16. An apparatus for angle measurement, comprising:

a processor;

a means for sensing and converting mechanical motion into an electrical signal proportional to the acceleration value of the motion, accommodating an angle measurement according to said processor;

a means for interfacing with a user including inputting instructions and displaying determined angle measurements, displaying the determined angle measurement according to the received electrical signal from said sensing means and the inputted instructions of said interfacing means, the determining and displaying of said angle measurements being controlled by said processor, said means for interfacing being separate from said means for sensing;

a plurality of indicators displaying certain options of the inputted instructions being selected that accommodate the angle measurement;

a displaying means displaying the determined angle measurements; and

an inputting means selecting the certain options in determining the angle measurement, wherein the inputted instructions includes an offset value and orientation of said means for sensing.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

an electrical connection between said interfacing means and said sensing means, the electrical connection accommodating positioning said sensing means in a measured area and remote use of a certain distance accommodating a monitoring of the angle measurement displayed on the apparatus the certain distance from said sensing means;

a fastening means on a housing of said interfacing means for attachment to an area of an object remote from the area being measured; and

an adaptor means detachably and adjustably placed on an outside housing of said sensing means for fastening said sensor unit to the area of the object being measured.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

one of said options being a selection on said inputting means zeroing said apparatus with respect to an area being measured and activating at least one of said plurality of indicators displaying the zeroing;

a second of said options being a selection through said means for interfacing receiving an offset value from said inputting means and storing the offset value in a memory unit for determining of the angle measurement; and

a third of said options being said inputting means selecting an orientation of said sensing means and activating at least one of said plurality of indicators displaying a selection of the orientation of said sensor means.

19. A remote sensing angle gauge, comprising:

a sensor unit including a sensor responding to a physical stimulus and transmitting a resulting impulse for measuring an angle;

an interface unit separate and remote from said sensor unit and in communication with said sensor unit, said interface unit receiving a signal from the resulting impulse of said sensor unit, said interface unit determining the angle measurement according to the received signal from said sensor unit and inputted data from said interface unit;

a display unit displaying determined angle measurements;

a plurality of indicators displaying certain options of the inputted data being selected; and

an input unit to select certain options in determining the angle measurement, wherein one of said options being a selection through said interface unit to receive an offset value from said input unit and storing the offset value in a memory unit for determining of the angle measurement.

20. A remote sensing angle gauge, comprising:

a sensor unit including a sensor responding to a physical stimulus and transmitting a resulting impulse for measuring an angle;

an interface unit separate and remote from said sensor unit and in communication with said sensor unit, said interface unit receiving a signal from the resulting impulse of said sensor unit, said interface unit determining the angle measurement according to the received signal from said sensor unit and inputted data from said interface unit;

a display unit displaying determined angle measurements;

a plurality of indicators displaying certain options of the inputted data being selected; and

an input unit to select certain options in determining the angle measurement, wherein one of said options being said input unit selecting an orientation of said sensor unit and activating at least one of said plurality of indicators displaying a selection of the orientation of said sensor unit.