Method and apparatus for determining the position and alignment of wheels
First Claim
1. An on board sensor for determining the relative position of linkage members in an automobile linkage which connects a wheel to an automobile body comprising:
- a trackable object which is configured to be physically coupled to a first linkage member;
a tracking device suitable for association with a second linkage member and configured to be magnetically coupled to the trackable object so that the movements of the trackable object are substantially tracked by the tracking device as a result of the magnetic coupling between the trackable object and the tracking device; and
a detector configured to determine the position of the tracking device;
whereby the determined position of the tracking device associated with the second linkage member determines the position of the first linkage member which is physically coupled to the trackable object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for providing an on board sensor for determining the relative position of linkage members in an automobile linkage which connects a wheel to an automobile body. The sensor includes a trackable object which is configured to be physically coupled to a first linkage member. A tracking device that is suitable for association with a second linkage member is configured to be magnetically coupled to the trackable object so that the movements of the trackable object are tracked by the tracking device as a result of the magnetic coupling between the trackable object and the tracking device. A detector is configured to determine the position of the tracking device so that the determined position of the tracking device associated with the second linkage member determines the position of the first linkage member which is physically coupled to the trackable object.
51 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An on board sensor for determining the relative position of linkage members in an automobile linkage which connects a wheel to an automobile body comprising:
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a trackable object which is configured to be physically coupled to a first linkage member; a tracking device suitable for association with a second linkage member and configured to be magnetically coupled to the trackable object so that the movements of the trackable object are substantially tracked by the tracking device as a result of the magnetic coupling between the trackable object and the tracking device; and a detector configured to determine the position of the tracking device; whereby the determined position of the tracking device associated with the second linkage member determines the position of the first linkage member which is physically coupled to the trackable object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In automotive linkage for connecting wheels to a frame, a method of determining the state of alignment of wheels having toe angles comprising:
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defining an alignment condition when a first wheel having a first toe angle and a second wheel having a second toe angle are substantially aligned with each other, including, determining a first aligned toe angle of the first wheel relative to a first reference point, determining a second aligned toe angle of the second wheel relative to a second reference point, using the aligned angular difference between the first aligned toe angle of the first wheel and the second aligned toe angle of the second wheel to define an alignment range of differences between the first toe angle of the first wheel and the second toe angle of the second wheel, the differences within the alignment range of differences substantially corresponding to the wheels being substantially aligned; testing the alignment state of the wheels, including, determining a first test toe angle of the first wheel relative to a first toe angle reference point; determining a second test toe angle of the second wheel relative to a second toe angle reference point; using the tested angular difference between the first test toe angle and the second test toe angle to determine whether the tested angular difference is within the alignment range; whereby, it is determined whether the two wheels are aligned. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification