Patents Assigned to Snap-On Incorporated
  • Patent number: 12265100
    Abstract: A device for testing a voltage level in an electrical terminal cavity including a testing body and a probe for contacting the electrical terminal cavity. The probe includes a tip portion having a first cross-sectional area, a base portion having a second cross-sectional area, and an intermediate portion extending from the tip portion to the base portion having a third cross-sectional area. The first cross-sectional area is smaller than the third cross-sectional area, the third cross-sectional area is smaller than the second cross-sectional area, and the intermediate portion is concentric with the tip portion and the base portion. An axis extends between a center of the tip portion, a center of the intermediate portion, a center of the base portion, and a center of the testing body. The device also includes a circuit operatively coupled with the probe to sense the voltage level in the electrical terminal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Gabbey
  • Patent number: 12222256
    Abstract: A calibration monitoring system is provided to automatically monitor the calibration status of tools and other inventory items, such as upon the items being issued from or returned to the automated calibration monitoring system. The system identifies an inventory item, for example a calibrated torque wrench or other calibrated tool identified based on a unique identifying tag attached thereto. The system retrieves a calibration parameter value for the item from a calibration database, and completes a calibration measurement of the item based on the calibration parameter value. In the example, a torque measurement of the calibrated torque wrench can thus be automatically completed. In turn, the system determines a current calibration status of the item based on the calibration measurement, and selectively enables or disables issuance of the inventory item from the system according to the item's status as being in calibration or out of calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: David C. Fly, Matthew J. Lipsey, Preston C. Phillips, Jason D. Newport, Andrew R. Lobo, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers, Sean W. Ryan, Thomas L Kassouf
  • Patent number: 12145802
    Abstract: The present application describes an automated inventory control system that comprises a storage device, a sensing system, a data storage, and one or more processors. The storage device includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects. The sensing system is configured to associate the storage device with a first location and with a second location. The data storage is configured to store configurable data of the storage device. The one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the first location to the storage device in response to receiving information associating the storage device with the first location from the sensing system. In response to receiving information associating the storage device with the second location from the sensing system, the one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the second location to the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: David C. Fly, Matthew J. Lipsey, Preston C. Phillips, Jason Newport, Andrew R. Lobo, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers, Sean W. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20240270281
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for calibrating and aligning automotive sensors, such as advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) sensors. Embodiments include a system having an image sensor mounted on a fixture in a known pose relative to the fixture. The image sensor is for viewing a target disposed on a vehicle and having a known pose relative to the vehicle, and for capturing image data of the target. A data processor is provided for performing the steps of calculating, using the image data, a pose of the target; calculating a pose of the image sensor relative to the vehicle using the calculated pose of the target; and generating instructions for positioning the fixture at a predetermined pose relative to the vehicle using the calculated pose of the image sensor relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. ROGERS, David A. JACKSON, Eric R. SELLERS, Ronald D. SWAYNE, James Rodney HARRELL, Chance ROBINSON, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO
  • Publication number: 20240219173
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. ROGERS, David A. JACKSON, Bradley LEWIS, Adam C. BROWN, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO, Eric R. SELLERS
  • Patent number: 11993282
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for calibrating and aligning automotive sensors, such as advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) sensors. Embodiments include a system having an image sensor mounted on a fixture in a known pose relative to the fixture. The image sensor is for viewing a target disposed on a vehicle and having a known pose relative to the vehicle, and for capturing image data of the target. A data processor is provided for performing the steps of calculating, using the image data, a pose of the target; calculating a pose of the image sensor relative to the vehicle using the calculated pose of the target; and generating instructions for positioning the fixture at a predetermined pose relative to the vehicle using the calculated pose of the image sensor relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Eric R. Sellers, Ronald D. Swayne, James Rodney Harrell, Chance Robinson, Robert J. D'Agostino
  • Patent number: 11933606
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Bradley Lewis, Adam C. Brown, Robert J. D'Agostino, Eric R. Sellers
  • Patent number: 11867559
    Abstract: A thermal imager device, where the thermal imager device includes a thermal imager housing. The thermal imager housing includes a display and user controls. The thermal imager device also includes a removable detector housing including a thermal detector. The thermal imager device also includes a flexible connector configured to detachably couple the removable detector to the thermal imager housing, the flexible connector including a first end, a second end, and a body between the first end and the second end, where the flexible connector is configured to detachably couple to the thermal imager housing at the first end, and where the flexible connector is configured to detachably couple to the removable detector housing at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Ottoleo Kuter-Arnebeck, Nicholas A. Gabbey
  • Patent number: 11741427
    Abstract: An inventory control system is described that includes a tool storage device including a drawer or a tray providing a pallet, wherein the pallet includes storage locations for objects; a sensing device configured to form an image of the storage locations; and a data processor configured to determine presence or absence of the pallet and presence or absence of objects within the storage locations of the pallet using the information from the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Preston Phillips, David C. Fly, Matthew J. Lipsey, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers
  • Patent number: 11709099
    Abstract: A method includes capturing and scaling VLC and an IAS outputs to generate a scaled VLC output and a scaled thermal output (STO), aligning the scaled VLC output to the STO to generate an aligned image based on the scaled VLC output and the STO, determining alignment value(s) based on the aligned image, a laser pointer outputting a light beam to produce a laser dot on a target, and capturing a further output of the VLC. The method includes displaying the further output of the VLC (including a representation of the laser dot (RLD)), and an alignment marker, shifting the alignment marker and/or the RLD to a common position; determining coordinate(s) of the output of the IAS based on coordinate(s) of the further output of the VLC where the alignment marker and the RLD are shown at the common position; and storing the coordinate(s) of the output of the IAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy G. Ruther, Gary F. Stefanik, Robert Hoevenaar
  • Patent number: 11698250
    Abstract: Vehicle alignment systems and methods are disclosed which operate based on a calculation of “drive direction,” or the direction in which a vehicle is moving. Since a vehicle can be assumed to be a rigid body, each wheel has the same drive direction. Consequently, an alignment parameter of one wheel can be compared to the same parameter of another wheel by equating their drive direction, eliminating the need for the aligner to “see” both sides of the vehicle at the same time. Embodiments include a system having one or more cameras on a fixture carrying a calibration element for an ADAS system, and one or more targets placed on the vehicle to measure the drive direction of the vehicle. The drive direction is assumed to be parallel to the vehicle thrust line and can be used as the line for orientation of the fixture to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Eric R. Sellers, Ronald D. Swayne, James Rodney Harrell, Chance Robinson, Robert J. D'Agostino, Adam C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20230213333
    Abstract: Vehicle alignment systems and methods are disclosed which operate based on a calculation of “drive direction,” or the direction in which a vehicle is moving. Since a vehicle can be assumed to be a rigid body, each wheel has the same drive direction. Consequently, an alignment parameter of one wheel can be compared to the same parameter of another wheel by equating their drive direction, eliminating the need for the aligner to “see” both sides of the vehicle at the same time. Embodiments include a system having one or more cameras on a fixture carrying a calibration element for an ADAS system, and one or more targets placed on the vehicle to measure the drive direction of the vehicle. The drive direction is assumed to be parallel to the vehicle thrust line and can be used as the line for orientation of the fixture to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. ROGERS, David A. JACKSON, Eric R. SELLERS, Ronald D. SWAYNE, James Rodney HARRELL, Chance ROBINSON, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO, Adam C. BROWN
  • Patent number: 11686635
    Abstract: A calibration monitoring system is provided to automatically monitor the calibration status of tools and other inventory items, such as upon the items being issued from or returned to the automated calibration monitoring system. The system identifies an inventory item, for example a calibrated torque wrench or other calibrated tool identified based on a unique identifying tag attached thereto. The system retrieves a calibration parameter value for the item from a calibration database, and completes a calibration measurement of the item based on the calibration parameter value. In the example, a torque measurement of the calibrated torque wrench can thus be automatically completed. In turn, the system determines a current calibration status of the item based on the calibration measurement, and selectively enables or disables issuance of the inventory item from the system according to the item's status as being in calibration or out of calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: David C. Fly, Matthew J. Lipsey, Preston C. Phillips, Jason D. Newport, Andrew R. Lobo, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers, Sean W. Ryan, Thomas L. Kassouf
  • Patent number: 11655102
    Abstract: The present application describes an automated inventory control system that comprises a storage device, a sensing system, a data storage, and one or more processors. The storage device includes a plurality of storage locations for storing objects. The sensing system is configured to associate the storage device with a first location and with a second location. The data storage is configured to store configurable data of the storage device. The one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the first location to the storage device in response to receiving information associating the storage device with the first location from the sensing system. In response to receiving information associating the storage device with the second location from the sensing system, the one or more processors are configured to send configurable data corresponding to the second location to the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: David C. Fly, Matthew J. Lipsey, Preston C. Phillips, Jason Newport, Andrew R. Lobo, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers, Sean W. Ryan
  • Patent number: 11650049
    Abstract: Methods and systems measure a vehicle body parameter; e.g., a wheel alignment parameter such as ride height. Embodiments include a system having a target attachable to a vehicle body, and an image sensor for viewing the target and capturing image data thereof. A processor processes the image data, determines an initial spatial position of the target based on the processed image data, compares the initial spatial position of the target with a reference position, and prompts a user to align the target to an adjusted spatial position when the initial spatial position differs from the reference position more than a threshold amount. The vehicle body parameter value is determined based on the target's adjusted spatial position. In certain embodiments, the adjusted spatial position differs from the reference position by a position error value, and the processor mathematically corrects the vehicle body parameter value based on the position error value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Bryan C. Minor, James Rodney Harrell, David A. Jackson, George M. Gill, Brian K. Gray
  • Patent number: 11562566
    Abstract: An inventory control system comprises an object storage device, a display device, and one or more processors. The object storage device includes a plurality of compartments, in which each compartment has a plurality of storage locations for storing objects. The display device is configured to display information about the object storage device. The one or more processors are configured to establish a description database of objects configured for storage in the inventory control system. The one or more processors retrieve object keywords corresponding to objects stored in the plurality of storage locations of one of the plurality of compartments. The one or more processors also generate a text block based on the retrieved object keywords. On the display device, the one or more processors display a representation of the plurality of compartments of the object storage device with the text block applied to the one of the plurality of compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew J. Lipsey, David C. Fly, Preston C. Phillips, Jason Newport, Cody L. Houston, Joseph Chwan, Frederick J. Rogers, Sean W. Ryan
  • Patent number: 11520303
    Abstract: A method includes determining a test drive script (TDS) to perform while a tool monitors an electronic system in a mobile machine during a test drive of the mobile machine. The TDS includes an ordered sequence of drive cycle procedures (DCPs). The ordered sequence of DCPs begins with an initial DCP and ends with a final DCP. Each DCP is indicative of a respective mobile machine state. The TDS includes a first particular DCP associated with both a first particular mobile machine state and a first condition pertaining to the first particular mobile machine state. The method also includes outputting a representation of at least a portion of the TDS. Additionally, the method includes determining and outputting one or more of: status information corresponding to achieving the first particular mobile machine state or status information corresponding to achieving the first condition pertaining to the first particular mobile machine state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Roy S. Brozovich, Jacob G. Foreman, Kahlil H. Cacabelos, Joseph R. Grammatico, Brett A. Kelley, Joshua C. Covington
  • Publication number: 20220381557
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. ROGERS, David A. JACKSON, Bradley LEWIS, Adam C. BROWN, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO, Eric R. SELLERS
  • Patent number: 11481737
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that are related to generating repair orders, including vehicular repair orders. A computing device can receive repair-related information associated with a repair order. The repair-related information can include information about a first repair attribute of one or more repair attributes. The computing device can determine a first ontology related to the first repair attribute. The first ontology can be further related to a first template. The computing device can determine modified repair-related information by at least utilizing the first template to modify at least a first portion of the repair-related information that includes the information about the first repair attribute. The computing device can generate an output related to the repair order that includes the modified repair-related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Bradley R. Lewis, Brett Kelley
  • Patent number: 11408732
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Bradley Lewis, Adam C. Brown, Robert J. D'Agostino, Eric R. Sellers