Abstract: An imaging sensor observes a field of view through which a vehicle passes, at an orientation and position suitable for acquisition of license plate data from a surface of the vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle position, at least one image of a surface of the vehicle including a license plate is acquired and evaluated to extract license plate data. The position of the vehicle for acquisition of the image is established by a trigger in a fixed relationship with the imaging sensor.

Abstract: An imaging sensor observes a field of view through which a vehicle passes, at an orientation and position suitable for acquisition of license plate data from a surface of the vehicle. Responsive to the vehicle position, at least one image of a surface of the vehicle including a license plate is acquired and evaluated to extract license plate data. The position of the vehicle for acquisition of the image is established by a trigger in a fixed relationship with the imaging sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment sensor unit is configured with an absolute rotational position sensor to provide an absolute rotational position of a mounting shaft relative to the vehicle wheel alignment sensor unit enabling resumption of operation and recall of stored runout data subsequent to an operational disruption such as a system power loss. An internal power source maintains the integrity of the sensor memory for a definite span of time during momentary system power losses such as battery changes or during overnight shutdowns, permitting the mounting shaft runout compensation values to be maintained and utilized upon the restoration of system power.

Abstract: A photo-interruptive sensor and an associated interrupter disk are configured to operate in conjunction with a relative rotational position sensor to provide an absolute rotational position of a mounting shaft relative to a vehicle wheel alignment sensor unit. The interrupter disk is secured relative to the mounting shaft of the vehicle wheel alignment sensor, and the photo-interruptive sensor is secured in operative relationship to the interrupter disk. The interrupter disk is configured with a raised peripheral lip having multiple teeth and gaps, each of a unique arcuate length. Signals from the photo-interruptive sensor, together with relative rotational position signals from the relative rotational position sensor in operative relationship to the mounting shaft, are conveyed to a sensor processor and utilized to store, in a sensor memory area, one or more absolute mounting shaft rotational positions.

Abstract: A photo-interruptive sensor and an associated interrupter disk are configured to operate in conjunction with a relative rotational position sensor to provide an absolute rotational position of a mounting shaft relative to a vehicle wheel alignment sensor unit. The interrupter disk is secured relative to the mounting shaft of the vehicle wheel alignment sensor, and the photo-interruptive sensor is secured in operative relationship to the interrupter disk. The interrupter disk is configured with a raised peripheral lip having multiple teeth and gaps, each of a unique arcuate length. Signals from the photo-interruptive sensor, together with relative rotational position signals from the relative rotational position sensor in operative relationship to the mounting shaft, are conveyed to a sensor processor and utilized to store, in a sensor memory area, one or more absolute mounting shaft rotational positions.

Abstract: An automotive powertrain assembly testing system comprising an interface module adapted to interconnect between an electronic control module of an automotive vehicle and an on-site computer system capable of accessing a remote database and data interpretation system. The interface module includes a four channel signal input capable of sampling data at a rate of 500,000 samples per second, in the range of zero to 250 volts. The interface module further includes a sample buffer capable of storing 32,768 samples per input channel. Electronic samples received by the interface module are transferred via an electronic connection to the on-site computer system, for real-time display to a system operator, and for transfer via a standard phone line or high-speed data connection to a remote database and data interpretation system. The data interpretation system receives the sampled data, compares it with acceptable data values for the vehicle undergoing diagnosis, and generates a component evaluation report.