Headlamp alignment detection using a network of independent sensor units
First Claim
1. A system for detecting the aim of vehicle headlamps comprising:
- a plurality of sensor units, each sensor unit comprising;
a microcontroller;
a plurality of photosensors arranged in a substantially linear array;
a memory storing program code, wherein execution of said program code by said microcontroller provides for the processing of data representing illumination of said plurality of photosensors;
a network interface, wherein each of said plurality of sensor units are coupled to a network through said network interface; and
wherein, each of said sensor units operate substantially independently from each other in said processing of said data.
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Abstract
Headlamp alignment is detected using a collection of intelligent, independent sensor units, each of which incorporates a vertical array of sensing elements capable of detecting headlamp illumination. The sensor units are networked together and can be coupled to a host controller. The host controller can provide a user interface via a touch screen and a Web server, and can further communicate with a plant network for interfacing with manufacturing databases. The network of sensor units can accommodate four or more sensors, which allows multiple vehicles and multiple headlamp types to be audited without physical movement of the sensor units. The sensor units are low in power consumption and can receive power over the same cable providing network communication. Incorporation of non-volatile memory within the sensor units allows factory data to be recorded within each sensor unit and permits convenient replacement of units in the field.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for detecting the aim of vehicle headlamps comprising:
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a plurality of sensor units, each sensor unit comprising; a microcontroller; a plurality of photosensors arranged in a substantially linear array; a memory storing program code, wherein execution of said program code by said microcontroller provides for the processing of data representing illumination of said plurality of photosensors; a network interface, wherein each of said plurality of sensor units are coupled to a network through said network interface; and wherein, each of said sensor units operate substantially independently from each other in said processing of said data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for detecting the aim of vehicle headlamps comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of sensor units, each sensor unit comprising; a microcontroller; a plurality of photosensors arranged in a substantially linear array; a memory storing program code, wherein execution of said program code by said microcontroller provides for the processing of data representing illumination of said plurality of photosensors; a network interface, wherein each of said plurality of sensor units are coupled to a network through said network interface; and wherein, each of said sensor units operate substantially independently from each other in said processing of said data; positioning a vehicle a predetermined distance from said plurality of sensor units; energizing a headlamp of said vehicle such that at least one of said plurality of sensor units is illuminated by said headlamp; measuring an illumination level at each of said photosensors on said at least one of said sensor units. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification