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 from the vehicle and which is within the field of view 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: 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 from the vehicle and which is within the field of view 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: 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: 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 machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system configured with at least one cameras for acquiring images of the wheels of a vehicle, and an associated light projectors configured to project a pattern image onto the surfaces of vehicle components such as vehicle wheel assemblies. Images of the projected patterns acquired by the camera, are processed by the vehicle wheel alignment system to facilitate a determination of the relative orientation and position of the surfaces such as wheel assemblies in three dimensional space, from which vehicle parameters such as wheel alignment measurements can be subsequently determined.

Abstract: Communication system for vehicle wheel alignment apparatus includes transceivers for each wheel sensor and a plurality of transceivers disposed at a control console or control remote unit. Communication is accomplished with any particular sensor transceiver by switching among the control transceivers as follows: (1) If the sensor transceiver does not respond, switch the transmitter portions of the control transceivers sequentially until the sensor transceiver does respond, and (2) if the signal from the sensor transceiver is garbled, switch the receiver portions of the control transceivers sequentially until the message is ungarbled. The transmitter and receiver portions of the control transceivers are controlled independently, so that for a particular message transmission may use a first control transceiver and reception may use a second control transceiver.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system includes a battery powered wheel alignment sensor assembly and a a storage station for the sensor assembly. The storage station is designed to hold the sensor assembly by the wheel adapter in a predetermined position with respect to the storage station. It also includes a power source for charging the sensor assembly battery. An interlock arrangement automatically interconnects the sensor assembly battery and the power source to charge the sensor assembly battery when the sensor assembly is disposed in the predetermined position. A display is operatively connected to the wheel alignment sensor assembly for displaying measured alignment information. A battery level measuring circuit measures the state of discharge of the sensor assembly battery by examining the battery voltage and generates a signal proportional to the measured battery voltage.