Patents by Inventor Volker Uffenkamp

Volker Uffenkamp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7761252
    Abstract: Optical chassis measurement of motor vehicles is carried out by a measuring arrangement equipped with at least one measuring device, in which one or more image capturing devices associated with one another in terms of their position and location record the surface geometry of a vehicle or measurement points arranged on the vehicle, carry out a referencing and/or orientation of the at least one measuring device in relation to the measuring station with reference features that are arranged at particular measuring station coordinates in the measuring station and, based on orientation data and/or association data obtained and based on measurement data obtained during execution of the axle measurement, an evaluation is carried out in an evaluation unit in order to ascertain chassis data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Nobis, Volker Uffenkamp
  • Patent number: 7535558
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optically measuring a chassis at a testing station. According to said method, radiation that is reflected by a surface structure of a vehicle, comprising at least one wheel (5) and a surrounding bodywork section, is detected by a measuring device with the aid of appropriate sensors, and at least the wheel plane and the wheel center point are determined by an evaluation of the positional data obtained by means of the detected radiation. To achieve a reliable, precise measurement of the chassis in a simple operation, the surface structure of at least the vehicle bodywork section and at least the wheel is scanned, over its entire surface or at least by any two lines that record both the wheel and the bodywork, using a laser beam (12) that is emitted by the measuring device (10), and at least two surface profiles are obtained from the scanned surface structure as characteristic structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Uffenkamp, Guenter Nobis
  • Publication number: 20080319706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the wheel geometry and/or axle geometry of motor vehicles by means of an optical measuring apparatus. According to said method, at least two recording points are assigned to each other and are referenced in relation to the measuring space with the aid of an image recording system, optionally taking into account reference characteristics and vehicle body characteristics, an object segment (6) comprising the wheel (5) that is to be measured is detected from different perspectives, and the position of wheel characteristics in the measuring space is evaluated during the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Volker Uffenkamp, Guenter Nobis
  • Publication number: 20080250842
    Abstract: For optical chassis measurement of motor vehicles at a testing site that has at least one measuring unit having at least two imaging devices associated with one another in position and location, the measuring units are oriented with respect to the testing site with reference characteristics located fixedly at the testing site, evaluation in an evaluation device is effected on a basis orientation data and associated data obtained, for determining chassis data of a motor vehicle, in addition to the reference characteristics located fixedly at the testing site, at least one reference device is positioned which is usable in mobile fashion at the testing site with reference characteristics, and with a totality of reference characteristics in the evaluation device, the orientation data and the association data of the measuring units are obtained, and thus a common measuring station coordinate system is defined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Guenter Nobis, Volker Uffenkamp
  • Publication number: 20080186514
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optically measuring a chassis at a testing station. According to said method, radiation that is reflected by several optically distinguishable characteristic structures on a vehicle, comprising at least one wheel and a surrounding bodywork section, is detected by a measuring device with the aid of an image capture unit and at least the wheel plane and the wheel centre point are determined by an evaluation of the positional data obtained by means of the detected radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Uffenkamp, Guenter Nobis
  • Publication number: 20080174789
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optically measuring a chassis at a testing station. According to said method, radiation that is reflected by a surface structure of a vehicle, comprising at least one wheel (5) and a surrounding bodywork section, is detected by a measuring device with the aid of appropriate sensors, and at least the wheel plane and the wheel centre point are determined by an evaluation of the positional data obtained by means of the detected radiation. To achieve a reliable, precise measurement of the chassis in a simple operation, the surface structure of at least the vehicle bodywork section and at least the wheel is scanned, over its entire surface or at least by any two lines that record both the wheel and the bodywork, using a laser beam (12) that is emitted by the measuring device (10), and at least two surface profiles are obtained from the scanned surface structure as characteristic structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Volker Uffenkamp, Guenter Nobis
  • Publication number: 20080140333
    Abstract: Optical chassis measurement of motor vehicles is carried out by a measuring arrangement equipped with at least one measuring device, in which one or more image capturing devices associated with one another in terms of their position and location record the surface geometry of a vehicle or measurement points arranged on the vehicle, carry out a referencing and/or orientation of the at least one measuring device in relation to the measuring station with reference features that are arranged at particular measuring station coordinates in the measuring station and, based on orientation data and/or association data obtained and based on measurement data obtained during execution of the axle measurement, an evaluation is carried out in an evaluation unit in order to ascertain chassis data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Guenter Nobis, Volker Uffenkamp
  • Publication number: 20070292124
    Abstract: A camera in particular for a motor vehicle having at least one image converting element. The image converting element includes at least one image sensor and is connected to at least one additional element of the camera, e.g., the housing of the camera, by at least one interlock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Frank Gottwald, Werner Knee, Volker Uffenkamp, Jens Schick
  • Patent number: 6915228
    Abstract: A method and a device for calibrating at least one image sensor system, which is located at (on and/or in and/or on top of) a motor vehicle, by the use of at least one calibrating object, for the calibration, and for determining the alignment of the at least one image sensor system with respect to the geometric travel axis of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Uffenkamp, Steffen Abraham, Andreas Schmack, Omar Alaa El-Din
  • Publication number: 20040133376
    Abstract: A method and a device for calibrating at least one image sensor system, which is located at (on and/or in and/or on top of) a motor vehicle, by the use of at least one calibrating object, for the calibration, and for determining the alignment of the at least one image sensor system with respect to the geometric travel axis of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Volker Uffenkamp, Steffen Abraham, Andreas Schmack, Omar Alaa El-Din
  • Patent number: 6404486
    Abstract: A device for determining the wheel and axle geometry of motor vehicles in an inspection room using an optical measuring device having at least one optical image pick-up device from at least two different perspectives, having a marking device, which includes a measuring feature arrangement existing or arranged on the wheel, and having an evaluation device. The determining the geometrical wheel and axle data is simplified in that the marking device has at least one reference feature arrangement including at least three reference features per image recording position; that the inspection room is defined between the reference feature arrangement(s) and the base plane of the measuring station; that the position of the reference features in the inspection room is known in the evaluation device; and that the measuring feature arrangement includes at least three measuring features per wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Nobis, Volker Uffenkamp
  • Patent number: 6397164
    Abstract: A device for determining the wheel and/or axle geometry of motor vehicles in an inspection room using an optical measuring device having at least two image pick-up devices, which, from at least two different perspectives, record images from a marking device (or optical target), inclusive of at least one wheel feature arranged on each wheel, and including an evaluation device. The marking device further includes an automobile body feature and a reference feature arrangement, including at least three reference features for use in obtaining geometrical wheel and axle data. The inspection room is defined between the reference feature arrangement and the driving surface plane. The position of the reference features in the inspection room is known or stored in the evaluation device. The marking device is detected while the motor vehicle is being driven past.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Nobis, Volker Uffenkamp