Abstract: A vehicle position detection and guidance system for use with an automotive service lift having a pair of runways onto which a vehicle is driven in order to be elevated. The system consists of a LiDAR sensor disposed to provide a field of view encompassing a volume of space extending upward from the upper surface of each lift runway, as well as the intervening region between the runways. The LiDAR sensor to observes at least the leading tread surfaces of two or more wheels on a vehicle approaching the service lift, and a volume of space below the vehicle. Output from the LiDAR sensor is conveyed to a processing system, which monitors the wheel positions relative to the runway surfaces, and provides output indicating steering corrections, obstructions, and a vehicle stopping point as the vehicle is driven onto the runways and/or the lift elevation changes.

Abstract: A wheel balancer incorporates tire bead manipulating tools under control of a processing system to apply a clamping pressure to tire sidewall surfaces of a wheel assembly secured to a spindle shaft, facilitating the proper seating of tire beads to the wheel rim. The spindle shaft is operatively coupled to a drive motor and transmission system under control of the processing system, capable of operating in both a high speed, low torque regime and a low speed, high torque regime to rotate the wheel assembly during either an imbalance measurement procedure or a tire bead adjustment procedure. A load roller assembly, under control of the processing system, is disposed to selectively apply a radial force at a tire circumferential tread surface as the wheel assembly is rotated about the spindle axis, further facilitating the proper seating of the tire beads.

Abstract: A vehicle inspection or measurement method and system configured to utilize non-contact optical sensors to acquire images and measurement data associated with at least one vehicle wheel assembly as a vehicle moves through a field of view, and to evaluate the acquired image and/or measurement data to determine at least one dimension associated with an observed feature of the vehicle wheel assembly.

Abstract: An on-car brake lathe is provided with a runout compensation system configured to monitor the rotational position of a pair of slant discs within an aligning joint of the on-car brake lathe. The system monitors the amount of runout present between the rotating components of the on-car brake lathe and the wheel hub to which the on-car brake lathe is secured. The system calculates the appropriate rotational position for each slant disc within the aligning joint required to impart a necessary adjustment in the wheel coupling rotational axis in order to align the on-car brake lathe with the rotational axis of the wheel hub. Finally, an adjustment mechanism is activated to rotationally drive each slant disc directly to the calculated rotational position with a minimum amount of rotational movement based on the current rotational position of each slant disc and the required calculated rotational positions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning, calibrating, or inspecting an onboard vehicle sensor having an external field of view by providing a calibration component on a support structure for positioning at a short calibration distance of said sensor. The calibration component is configured to appear to the sensor as if it was positioned at a predetermined linear calibration distance from the vehicle which is greater than the actual short calibration distance.

Abstract: A method for detecting the occurrence of deviations from level, straight-line rolling movement of a wheel assembly across a supporting surface during a rolling compensation procedure associated with a vehicle wheel alignment measurement or inspection system by identifying changes in measurements or calculated parameters associated with the wheel assembly which would be unchanged during an ideal level and straight-line rolling movement. Identified changes in the measurements or calculated parameters are evaluated to either warn an operator of the occurrence of a deviation, or to generate a correction factor to account for at least a portion of an effect which the deviations introduce into compensation calculations or subsequent wheel alignment measurements or service procedures.

Abstract: A vehicle measurement station utilizing an array of displacement sensors disposed on each opposite side of a sensing region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data and surface characteristic data, associated with the surfaces of a vehicle passing through the sensing region, from which vehicle components such as body panels, tire, and wheels can be identified, and from which vehicle parameters such as velocity, wheel assembly dimensions, and wheel assembly spatial orientations can be determined.

Abstract: A method for transforming track representations associated with a spatial position and movement of objects or features observed in an external environment surrounding a vehicle from a vehicle-centric spatial frame of reference, such as associated with a vehicle body or centerline, into a common vehicle movement spatial frame of reference such as may be associated with a vehicle thrust line or vehicle thrust angle.

Abstract: A vehicle service system configured to modify an ongoing vehicle service procedure in response to changes in vehicle wheel alignment angles which alter the vehicle tracking, thrust line, or thrust angle, in a manner which will affect the operation of an onboard vehicle safety system sensor which is aligned or calibrated relative to a selected characteristic of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle service system configured to acquire images of a three-dimensional region of a vehicle wheel assembly tire tread surface. The vehicle service system is configured to process the acquired images to produce a collection of data points corresponding to the spatial position of surface points in the region from which tire tread wear characteristics are identified. The acquired images are further utilized to provide both a graphical and a numerical display to an operator, with the numerical display linked to specifically annotated or indexed points or windows within the graphical display, thereby enabling an operator to quickly identify specific focus points or regions on the tire surface which have been measured at the numerically identified tread depths.

Abstract: A set of light-weight adaptor assemblies suitable for use with optical targets, angle sensors, or other instrumentation. A first configuration of adapter assembly within the set is easily secured against the outboard surfaces a large-diameter vehicle wheel assembly having a highly convex raised central hub region, without concern for precise axial alignment or centering, while a second configuration of adapter assembly within the set is easily secured against the outboard surfaces of a large-diameter vehicle wheel assembly having a highly concave recessed central hub region, without concern for precise axial alignment or centering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating laser displacement sensors within a vehicle inspection system. A calibration target structure is positioned within an operative field of view for the laser displacement sensor, providing one or more optical targets onto which illuminating laser beams from the laser displacement sensor are projected. Displacement measurements are acquired with the optical targets disposed at a plurality of positions within the field of view. The resulting displacement measurements, together with known position information for the optical targets, are utilized to calibrate an associated imaging sensor such that the displacement measurements associated with each illuminating laser beam and known positional information agree to within a desired tolerance throughout the operative field of view for the laser displacement sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle measurement station utilizing one or more displacement sensors disposed on each opposite side of an inspection region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data along associated measurement axes. At least a portion of the displacement measurement data is associated with the outermost wheel assemblies on an axle of a moving vehicle passing through the inspection region, and utilized to determine one or more vehicle characteristics, such as an axle total toe condition.

Abstract: A vehicle measurement station utilizing one or more displacement sensors disposed on each opposite side of an inspection region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data along associated measurement axes. At least a portion of the displacement measurement data is associated with the outermost wheel assemblies on an axle of a moving vehicle passing through the inspection region, and utilized to determine one or more vehicle characteristics, such as an axle total toe condition.

Abstract: A procedure for evaluating tire tread depth measurement data points acquired from a tread region on the surface of a tire in order to generate a representation of the tire tread region having an appearance of having been worn over time, so as to convey to a recipient a visual indication of potential tire tread wear at a point in time subsequent to the acquisition of the tire tread depth measurements.