Method for controlling a measuring system and measuring system for implementing the method

• US 9,194,699 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beissbarth Automotive Testing Solutions GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Seifert, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, EILEEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/636,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20130070086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/275 for testing wheel alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/12 Method or fixture for calibrating the wheel aligner
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/143 One or more cameras on each side of a vehicle in the main embodiment

Abstract

In a method for controlling a measuring system in a chassis measuring station, the motor vehicle is detected automatically in the measuring station by at least one detection unit and its position is ascertained with respect to at least one measuring device which is controlled on the basis of a signal of the detection unit in that an operating state of the measuring device is activated. The measuring system includes at least two mutually opposite measuring devices, which respectively have one image acquisition unit and one transverse referencing unit, and at least one detection unit, which is a light barrier having at least one transmitter and receiver.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a measuring system in a motor vehicle inspection station, the measuring system having at least one measuring device and a least one detection unit for automatically detecting a motor vehicle in the inspection station, the method comprising:

ascertaining a relative position of the motor vehicle with respect to the measuring device on the basis of at least one signal of the detection unit; and

using at least one signal of the detection unit to activate at least one operating state of the measuring device;

wherein the activation of the at least one operating state of the measuring device includes activation of at least one of (i) a referencing unit of the measuring device for calibrating the measuring system and (ii) an image acquisition unit of the measuring device for acquiring an image of one of an object to be measured or the motor vehicle, and

wherein there are multiple measuring devices and multiple detection units in the measuring system;

based on at least one signal of a first detection unit located nearest to the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station, the measuring system is calibrated and the image acquisition unit in at least one measuring device is switched to a standby mode; and

based on at least one signal of a second detection unit which is further away than the first detection unit from the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station, image acquisition of the image acquisition units in at least two opposite measuring devices is started.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

multiple measuring devices and multiple detection units are provided in the measuring system;

on the basis of at least one signal of a first detection unit located nearest to the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station, the measuring system is calibrated and image acquisition of the image acquisition units in at least two opposite measuring devices is started.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the switching of the image acquisition unit into the standby mode includes a process of adjusting image acquisition parameters to ambient conditions.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein on the basis of at least one repeated signal of one of the first detection unit or the second detection unit, image acquisition of the image acquisition unit in at least one measuring device is terminated.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two successive detection units are provided in the measuring system along the direction of entry of the motor vehicle into the inspection station, and signals of the at least two successive detection units are used to ascertain at least one of a direction and speed of the motor vehicle.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the ascertained speed of the motor vehicle is used to determine a time window for activating an image acquisition unit of the measuring device.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

performing a plausibility check with the aid of at least one of the ascertained speed and the ascertained direction of the motor vehicle, wherein the plausibility check determines whether one of another object or a person is present in the inspection station.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation of the at least one operating state of the measuring device includes the activation of an image acquisition unit of the measuring device for acquiring an image of one of an object to be measured or the motor vehicle.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the activation of at least one operating state of the measuring device includes activation of the referencing unit of the measuring device for calibrating the measuring.

10. A measuring system for a motor vehicle inspection station, comprising:

at least two opposite measuring devices each having one image acquisition unit and one transverse referencing unit, wherein each measuring device is connected to an evaluation unit; and

at least one detection unit for automatically detecting a motor vehicle in the inspection station;

wherein at least a relative position of the motor vehicle with respect to the measuring devices is ascertained on the basis of a signal of the detection unit, and wherein the detection unit supplies at least one signal to the evaluation unit to activate at least one operating state of at least one measuring device, and

wherein the activation of at least one operating state of the measuring device includes activation of at least one of (i) the referencing unit of the measuring device for calibrating the measuring system and (ii) the image acquisition unit of the measuring device for acquiring an image of one of an object to be measured or the motor vehicle, and

wherein there are multiple measuring devices and multiple detection in the measuring system;

based on at least one signal of a first detection unit located nearest to the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station, the measuring system is calibrated and the image acquisition unit in at least one measuring device is switched to a standby mode; and

based on at least one signal of a second detection unit which is further away than the first detection unit from the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station, image acquisition of the image acquisition units in at least two opposite measuring devices is started.

11. The measuring system as recited in claim 10, wherein:

a referencing camera of the transverse referencing unit of a first measuring device forms a receiver of the detection unit; and

at least one LED configured as a referencing target of a second measuring device forms a transmitter of the detection unit.

12. The measuring system as recited in claim 10, wherein:

multiple detection units are provided;

a first detection unit located nearest to the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station is formed by two opposite transverse referencing units which are contained in the measuring devices having the image acquisition units for rear wheels of the motor vehicle;

a second detection unit which is further away than the first detection unit from the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station is formed by two opposite transverse referencing units which are contained in the measuring devices having the image acquisition units for front wheels of the motor vehicle.

13. The measuring system as recited in claim 10, wherein the detection unit is located nearer than the at least two opposite measuring devices to the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station, and at least one of (i) calibration of the measuring system by the referencing units of the measuring devices, and (ii) image acquisition by the image acquisition units of the measuring devices is terminated on the basis of a signal of the detection unit.

14. The measuring system as recited in claim 10, wherein the detection unit is located further away than the at least two opposite measuring devices to the entry point of the motor vehicle into the inspection station, and at least one of (i) calibration of the measuring system by the referencing units of the measuring devices, and (ii) image acquisition by the image acquisition units of the measuring devices is terminated on the basis of a signal of the detection unit.

15. The measuring system as recited in claim 10, wherein the activation of at least one operating state of the measuring device includes activation of the image acquisition unit of the measuring device for acquiring an image of one of an object to be measured or the motor vehicle.

16. The measuring system as recited in claim 10, wherein the activation of at least one operating state of the measuring device includes activation of the referencing unit of the measuring device for calibrating the measuring.