Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Bernard

Bruce E. Bernard 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: 10697766
    Abstract: A vehicle inspection system configured with a processing system and at least one displacement sensor disposed on opposite sides of a vehicle inspection lane sensor region to acquire displacement measurement data associated with a moving vehicle passing through the vehicle inspection lane. The processing system is configured to receive acquired displacement measurement data to determine characteristics of the moving vehicle, such as vehicle velocity, dynamic axle alignment, dynamic wheel alignment, or dimensions. The processing system is further configured to evaluate the determined dynamic vehicle characteristics in relation to static vehicle characteristics, such as static axle alignment or static wheel alignment, through application of one or more compensation factors based on user selected parameters, default parameters, or identified vehicle features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Dorrance, Bruce E. Bernard, Aaron C. Hall, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Timothy A. Strege
  • Patent number: 10408610
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Bernard, Timothy A. Strege
  • Patent number: 10240916
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Golab, Bruce E. Bernard, Michael T. Stieff, Brian M. Cejka
  • Patent number: 9779560
    Abstract: A vehicle measurement station utilizing at least one displacement sensor systems disposed on each opposite side of a sensor region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire measurement data, associated with a vehicle passing through the sensor region. Each displacement sensor system is configured to acquire measurement data along at least three discrete and vertically spaced measurement axis in response to a trigger signal indicating the presence of a vehicle moving through the inspection lane. A processing system receives the acquired data for evaluation, identification of outlier data points, and for determining a measurement associated with a characteristic of the moving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Dorrance, Bruce E. Bernard, Aaron C. Hall, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III
  • Patent number: 9779561
    Abstract: A vehicle measurement station utilizing at least one displacement sensor disposed on each opposite side of a sensor region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data, associated with a moving vehicle passing through the sensor region. Each displacement sensor is configured to acquire measurement data along at least three discrete and vertically spaced measurement axes. A processing system receives the acquired data for evaluation, identification of outlier data points, and for determining a measurement associated with a characteristic of the moving vehicle, such as vehicle velocity, axle alignment, wheel alignment, or dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. Dorrance, Bruce E. Bernard, Aaron C. Hall, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III
  • Patent number: 9644952
    Abstract: A process for calibrating and evaluating a machine-vision vehicle wheel alignment system having front and rear imaging components associated with each of the left and right sides of a vehicle support structure. Each pair of imaging components defines a front and rear field of view, with a common overlapping region associated with each respective side of the vehicle support structure. Optical targets disposed within each of the overlapping field of view regions are observed by the imaging components to establish performance ratings for the system as a whole, for groups of components within the system, and for individual components within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Shylanski, Daniel R. Dorrance, Bruce E. Bernard, Thomas J. Golab, Michael T. Stieff, James W. McClenahan, J. Kaleb Silver, Timothy A. Strege, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III
  • Publication number: 20140111645
    Abstract: A process for calibrating and evaluating a machine-vision vehicle wheel alignment system having front and rear imaging components associated with each of the left and right sides of a vehicle support structure. Each pair of imaging components defines a front and rear field of view, with a common overlapping region associated with each respective side of the vehicle support structure. Optical targets disposed within each of the overlapping field of view regions are observed by the imaging components to establish performance ratings for the system as a whole, for groups of components within the system, and for individual components within the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: HUNTER ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark S. Shylanski, Daniel R. Dorrance, Bruce E. Bernard, Thomas J. Golab