Abstract: An apparatus for determining the position and/or alignment of objects such as motor vehicle wheels, and including targets for attachment to the objects, a pair of optical sensing means such as television cameras for viewing the targets, an electronic processing means connected to the optical sensing means for processing data relating to images of the targets to determine position and/or alignment information, and a display means for displaying the position and/or alignment information. The optical sensing means view a target located on each object and form an image of each target. Electronic signals corresponding to each of the images are transferred to the electronic processing means which correlates the image signals of each of the targets with the true shape of each target.

Abstract: A programmable cable adaptor in accordance with the present invention includes a housing containing an internal circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces, an input connector with multiple pins or pin-receiving sockets, and an output connector with multiple pins or pin-receiving sockets. On the circuit board, there is a card edge receptacle with key-contacting pins electrically connected to the conductive traces which in turn electrically couple the receptacle pins to the input connector and/or the output connector. The key-contacting pins of the card edge receptacle are arrayed along at least one side of an elongated aperture adapted to receive an adaptor programming key generally referred to as a card edge key The "key" is typically a small printed circuit board with conductive tabs on at least one side thereof with each tab being electrically connected to at least one other tab on the key with conductive traces.

Abstract: An improved claw for use in a wheel alignment rim clamp is disclosed. The claw as a curved bladelike tip which allows it to grip the rim of wheels including mag type wheels even when there is minimal clearance between the rim and its associated tire. The claw has a tip with a curved inner surface preferably of gradually increasing radii of curvature, and a beveled portion opposite the inner surface. The claw is shaped such that when its associated clamp is tightened, the bladelike tip tends to engage the rim more securely and the claw orients itself to grip the rim of a wheel firmly without damage thereto.