Abstract: A device for vehicle measurement, in particular for determining the angular position of at least one wheel of a vehicle, includes at least one measuring device having at least one image recording device configured to record images. The recorded images contain the image of at least one mark which has a fixed geometric relationship to a wheel of the vehicle. The device for vehicle measurement further includes at least one evaluation unit configured to evaluate the images recorded by the at least one measuring device. The evaluation unit is further configured to evaluate the intensity of illumination of a background area surrounding the respective mark in addition to imaging the at least one mark.

Abstract: A device for vehicle measurement, in particular for determining the angular position of at least one wheel of a vehicle, includes at least one measuring device having at least one image recording device configured to record images. The recorded images contain the image of at least one mark which has a fixed geometric relationship to a wheel of the vehicle. The device for vehicle measurement further includes at least one evaluation unit configured to evaluate the images recorded by the at least one measuring device. The evaluation unit is further configured to evaluate the intensity of illumination of a background area surrounding the respective mark in addition to imaging the at least one mark.

Abstract: Automatic illuminating and image recording system for an automobile service device, combined illuminating and image recording unit and method for automatic measured value-dependent setting of the image recording and exposure for an automobile service device having contactless measuring capability. Comprises at least one camera (32, 34) having an interface to a control unit, at least one illuminating unit (62, 64) having a control input, and a control unit. This control unit is equipped with an interface to the camera(s) (32, 34), with an interface to the illuminating unit(s) (62, 64), with an image processing-and, respectively, image pre-processing-unit and with an evaluating unit that generates control parameters for the illuminating unit(s) (62, 64) and/or the camera(s) (32, 34).

Abstract: A method for the chassis measurement of a motor vehicle by a chassis measuring device, measuring in a contactless manner, having two measuring devices situated opposite to each other, includes the steps of positioning a first vehicle axle between the two measuring devices; the contactless measuring of the two wheel rims of the first vehicle axle by the two measuring devices; the positioning of a second vehicle axle between the two measuring devices; the contactless measuring of the two wheel rims of the second vehicle axle by the two measuring devices; and ascertaining the wheel position values of all the measured wheel rims by the chassis measuring device.

Abstract: A method for the relative positioning of an object to be measured with respect to a measuring device, first of all the object to be measured is detected by the measuring device and the position of the object to be measured with respect to the measuring device is ascertained. Then a return message signal is generated which indicates whether the object to be measured is located in a position that is suitable for taking the measurement or not.

Abstract: A method for locating a geometric detail of at least one wheel rim for determining its spatial position relative to a measuring instrument, includes: aiming at least one measuring camera of a measuring instrument of a chassis measuring system at a wheel rim; recording an image of a wheel rim using the at least one measuring camera; ascertaining at least one geometric detail in the image of the wheel rim; and selecting a known geometric detail for determining the spatial position of the wheel rim relative to the measuring instrument.

Abstract: A method and a unit for determining the spatial position of a wheel rim with respect to a measuring unit having at least one camera, wherein the wheel rim lies in the viewing field of the camera, including making available of a model, that describes a model body of a localizable wheel rim geometry detail as well as the spatial position of the model body with respect to the measuring unit, through model parameters, capturing of a picture of the wheel rim geometry detail of the wheel rim with the camera, fitting the image of the model body resulting from the model parameters to the picture of the wheel rim geometry detail through changing the model parameters of the model, and tracking the changes of the model parameters upon the fitting, whereby the data related to the position of the model body of the wheel rim geometry detail reflect the spatial position of the wheel rim-geometry detail and, thereby, the wheel rim itself, when the image resulting from the model parameters, of the wheel rim-geometry detail fi

Abstract: A method for locating a geometric detail of at least one wheel rim for determining its spatial position relative to a measuring instrument, includes: aiming at least one measuring camera of a measuring instrument of a chassis measuring system at a wheel rim; recording an image of a wheel rim using the at least one measuring camera; ascertaining at least one geometric detail in the image of the wheel rim; and selecting a known geometric detail for determining the spatial position of the wheel rim relative to the measuring instrument.

Abstract: A method for the chassis measurement of a motor vehicle by a chassis measuring device, measuring in a contactless manner, having two measuring devices situated opposite to each other, includes the steps of positioning a first vehicle axle between the two measuring devices; the contactless measuring of the two wheel rims of the first vehicle axle by the two measuring devices; the positioning of a second vehicle axle between the two measuring devices; the contactless measuring of the two wheel rims of the second vehicle axle by the two measuring devices; and ascertaining the wheel position values of all the measured wheel rims by the chassis measuring device.

Abstract: A method for the relative positioning of an object to be measured with respect to a measuring device, first of all the object to be measured is detected by the measuring device and the position of the object to be measured with respect to the measuring device is ascertained. Then a return message signal is generated which indicates whether the object to be measured is located in a position that is suitable for taking the measurement or not.

Abstract: Automatic illuminating and image recording system for an automobile service device, combined illuminating and image recording unit and method for automatic measured value-dependent setting of the image recording and exposure for an automobile service device having contactless measuring capability. Comprises at least one camera (32, 34) having an interface to a control unit, at least one illuminating unit (62, 64) having a control input, and a control unit. This control unit is equipped with an interface to the camera(s) (32, 34), with an interface to the illuminating unit(s) (62, 64), with an image processing- and, respectively, image pre-processing-unit and with an evaluating unit that generates control parameters for the illuminating unit(s) (62, 64) and/or the camera(s) (32, 34).

Abstract: A method and a unit for determining the spatial position of a wheel rim with respect to a measuring unit having at least one camera, wherein the wheel rim lies in the viewing field of the camera, including making available of a model, that describes a model body of a localizable wheel rim geometry detail as well as the spatial position of the model body with respect to the measuring unit, through model parameters, capturing of a picture of the wheel rim geometry detail of the wheel rim with the camera, fitting the image of the model body resulting from the model parameters to the picture of the wheel rim geometry detail through changing the model parameters of the model, and tracking the changes of the model parameters upon the fitting, whereby the data related to the position of the model body of the wheel rim geometry detail reflect the spatial position of the wheel rim-geometry detail and, thereby, the wheel rim itself, when the image resulting from the model parameters, of the wheel rim-geometry detail fi

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for balancing a wheel comprising a rim and a tire. This device comprises a unit for measuring the wheel imbalance and a unit for scanning the rim dimensions. The scanner unit and the imbalance-measuring unit are connected to a computer which determines a rim contour from the scanner unit output signals and then the optimum positions and dimensions for the balance weights from the contour determined in conjunction with values supplied by the imbalance-measuring unit.

Abstract: In the tire examination method before and after an alteration in the tire pressure a respective interferogram is produced of the tire surface using coherent radiation and the interferogram is converted into a modulo 2 .pi. image, which for its part is processed to obtain a gray value image and in the case of which from a comparison of the gray value images information concerning any defects present in the tire is obtained. For testing a tire the wheel, which bears such tire to be tested, is arranged on a driven roller set by driving the vehicle with the wheel, a test head is moved toward the tire to be at a predetermined test distance therefrom for producing such interferograms, at a first test segment of the tire examination for defects is performed, the wheel is incrementally rotated by the roller set by an amount equal to the size of a test segment and so many test segments are examined that the complete tire is tested.

Abstract: In the tire examination method before and after an alteration in the tire pressure a respective interferogram is produced of the tire surface using coherent radiation and the interferogram is converted into a modulo 2.pi. image, which for its part is processed to obtain a gray value image and in the case of which from a comparison of the gray value images information concerning any defects present in the tire is obtained. For testing a tire the wheel, which bears such tire to be tested, is arranged on a driven roller set by driving the vehicle with the wheel, a test head is moved toward the tire to be at a predetermined test distance therefrom for producing such interferograms, at a first test segment of the tire examination for defects is performed, the wheel is incrementally rotated by the roller set by an amount equal to the size of a test segment and so many test segments are examined that the complete tire is tested.

Abstract: A method for single-knob operation of a balancing machine is characterized by a program-controlled run of the balancing process which is controllable in steps via a single-knob control element. In this method, operating the single-knob control element at predetermined steps of the program triggers functions which depend on the current status of the program-controlled run. A single-knob control element is provided for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A balancing machine for balancing a wheel, wherein the wheel is rotated by a drive device for measuring the unbalance, is provided with a speed control device for controlling the speed of the drive device. The speed control device includes a computer and a frequency converter. Further drive devices can be switched by a switch-over device.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the unbalance of wheels mounted on a vehicle comprises at least one measuring rack for supporting a vehicle wheel, a sensor provided in the measuring rack for sensing vibrations caused by the unbalance and for issuing a sensor signal. A measurement/control unit generates unbalance signals from the source signals which represent the unbalance with respect to magnitude and direction. At least the unbalance magnitude is displayed at a display unit. A wireless signal transmission unit is disposed in the path between the sensor and the display unit. A central display and control unit is provided for several measuring racks, the measuring racks and the display control unit comprising a transmitter/receiver for signal transmission. Thus signals are transmitted from the measuring racks to the display control unit and control signals are transmitted from the display control unit to the measuring racks.

Abstract: A balancing apparatus comprises a shaft on which a wheel may be mounted drivably for rotation. Electrical sensors are coupled to the shaft and issue sensor output signals when forces are acting on the wheel. A computer calculates the unbalance data from the sensor output signals in combination with specific wheel data and displays the result. The wheel at rest is made vibrate and the specific wheel data are calculated from the sensor output signals issued by the sensors on vibration of the wheel, the sensor output signals being compared to sample signals being specific for each particular type of wheel and having been stored together with the specific wheel data. In case of identity of the sensor output signals with the sample signals the specific wheel data are made available for calculating the unbalance data. The sensor output signals issued when the wheel is driven, are transformed into an unbalance frequency spectrum and the unbalance data are calculated from the unbalance frequency spectrum.