Tire pressure monitor system tool with active tire pressure display
First Claim
1. A wheel alignment apparatus, comprising:
- an alignment bay configured to receive a vehicle;
an optical system located at an end of the alignment bay and configured to provide an image of wheels of the vehicle;
a camera configured to receive the image of the wheels of the vehicle;
a sensor activation system located on or adjacent to the alignment bay and configured to initiate tire pressure sensors on the vehicle when the vehicle is detected by the alignment bay, the sensor activation system being rotatably placeable near the wheels of the vehicle, the sensor activation system including a plurality of activation sensors on each side of the vehicle, the plurality of activation sensors being communicatively coupled to each other; and
a computer including a display configured to display the image of the wheels of the vehicle, the computer configured to automatically obtain information from, and information regarding a type of a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle to automatically display instantaneous tire pressure information of the wheels of the vehicle based upon the information received from the tire pressure sensors and the type of the tire pressure monitor system when the vehicle is located within a predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wheel alignment apparatus is capable of automatically obtaining tire pressure information from a plurality of tire pressure monitor systems. The wheel alignment apparatus may include an alignment bay configured to receive a vehicle and an optical system located at an end of the alignment bay and configured to provide an image of wheels of the vehicle. The wheel alignment apparatus may also include a camera configured to receive the image of the wheels of the vehicle and a computer configured to display the image of the wheels of the vehicle and automatically display tire pressure information of the wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is located within a predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.
59 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A wheel alignment apparatus, comprising:
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an alignment bay configured to receive a vehicle; an optical system located at an end of the alignment bay and configured to provide an image of wheels of the vehicle; a camera configured to receive the image of the wheels of the vehicle; a sensor activation system located on or adjacent to the alignment bay and configured to initiate tire pressure sensors on the vehicle when the vehicle is detected by the alignment bay, the sensor activation system being rotatably placeable near the wheels of the vehicle, the sensor activation system including a plurality of activation sensors on each side of the vehicle, the plurality of activation sensors being communicatively coupled to each other; and a computer including a display configured to display the image of the wheels of the vehicle, the computer configured to automatically obtain information from, and information regarding a type of a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle to automatically display instantaneous tire pressure information of the wheels of the vehicle based upon the information received from the tire pressure sensors and the type of the tire pressure monitor system when the vehicle is located within a predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for automatically obtaining tire pressure information from a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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storing vehicle data of a plurality types of vehicles in a storing module of a memory; receiving, with a processor, vehicle data based at least in part on a detection of the vehicle within a communication range of a wheel alignment apparatus; accessing, with the processor, the storing module to determine whether the received vehicle data is stored in the storing module; providing a sensor activation system rotatably placeable near wheels of the vehicle; initiating tire pressure sensors on the vehicle using the sensor activation system coupled to the processor when the vehicle is detected by the wheel alignment apparatus, the initiating being carried out using a plurality of activation sensors of the sensor activation system, said plurality of activation sensors being provided on each side of the vehicle and being communicatively coupled to each other; determining, with the processor, a procedure to automatically obtain information from, and information regarding a type of a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle that is within the communication range based at least in part on a determination that the received vehicle data is stored in the storing module; and receiving automatically, with the processor, the information from the tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle that is within the communication range based at least in part on the procedure, said information including instantaneous tire pressure determined based upon the type of the tire pressure monitor system and the information received from the tire pressure sensors; and automatically displaying, using the processor, the information received from the tire pressure monitor system on a display. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wheel alignment apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving configured to receive a vehicle; means for imaging configured to capture an image of wheels of the vehicle; means for capturing configured to receive the image of the wheels of the vehicle; means for initiating tire pressure sensors of the vehicle when the vehicle is received by the means for receiving, said means for initiating including a plurality of activation sensors on each side of the vehicle, the plurality of activation sensors being communicatively coupled to each other, said means for initiating being rotatably placeable near the wheels of the vehicle; and means for processing including a display configured to display the image of the wheels of the vehicle, said means for processing configured to automatically obtain information from, and information regarding a type of a tire pressure monitor system installed on the vehicle to automatically display instantaneous tire pressure information of the wheels of the vehicle based upon the type of the tire pressure monitor system when the vehicle is located within a predetermined proximity of the wheel alignment apparatus.
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Specification