Patents by Inventor Ronald D. Swayne
Ronald D. Swayne 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).
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Patent number: 11698250Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 13, 2019Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Eric R. Sellers, Ronald D. Swayne, James Rodney Harrell, Chance Robinson, Robert J. D'Agostino, Adam C. Brown
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Publication number: 20230213333Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Steven W. ROGERS, David A. JACKSON, Eric R. SELLERS, Ronald D. SWAYNE, James Rodney HARRELL, Chance ROBINSON, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO, Adam C. BROWN
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Publication number: 20210387637Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Applicant: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Steven W. ROGERS, David A. JACKSON, Eric R. SELLERS, Ronald D. SWAYNE, James Rodney HARRELL, Chance ROBINSON, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO
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Publication number: 20210319586Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system includes a pair of wheel mounted targets, a pair of reference targets mounted to a stationary reference, a pair of gravity sensors, and a pair of vehicle-mounted active heads mounted on first and second sides of the vehicle. The active heads each have an image sensor for producing image data of one of the reference targets and one of the wheel mounted targets. The gravity sensors are disposed on each side of the vehicle in a known relationship to either the respective reference targets or the image sensors. A data processor calculates, using the image data, a plurality of poses of the wheel mounted targets as the vehicle wheels rotate; calculates a vehicle drive direction using the target poses and a measured orientation relative to gravity from the gravity sensors; and calculates a wheel alignment measurement using the vehicle drive direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Steven W. ROGERS, David A. JACKSON, Eric R. SELLERS, Ronald D. SWAYNE, James Rodney HARRELL, Chance ROBINSON, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO
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Patent number: 11073381Abstract: A portable vehicle alignment system has a vertical central column with a carriage movable along its length, and a pair of camera arms pivotably attached to the carriage, each with a camera pod. The camera pods each have a camera for capturing image data of a respective vehicle-mounted target. One pod also has a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to its camera, and the other pod has a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to its camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The camera arms pivot between an extended position where the cameras are disposed to capture image data of the vehicle targets and the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and a folded position where the aligner has a width smaller than the width between the camera pods.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Adam C. Brown, Ronald D. Swayne, Brian K. Gray, Bryan C. Minor, James Rodney Harrell
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Publication number: 20200320739Abstract: A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Joel A. KUNERT, Darwin Y. CHEN, George M. GILL, Brian K. GRAY, Steven W. ROGERS, Ronald D. SWAYNE, David A. JACKSON, Rodney HARRELL, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO, Bryan C. MINOR, Eric R. SELLERS, Sean P. LECRONE, Larry D. KLOTZ, Jonathan A. SPERRY
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Patent number: 10692241Abstract: A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATEDInventors: Joel A. Kunert, Darwin Y. Chen, George M. Gill, Brian K. Gray, Steven W. Rogers, Ronald D. Swayne, David A. Jackson, Rodney Harrell, Robert J. D'Agostino, Bryan C. Minor, Eric R. Sellers, Sean P. Lecrone, Larry D. Klotz, Jonathan A. Sperry
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Publication number: 20200088515Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Eric R. Sellers, Ronald D. Swayne, James Rodney Harrell, Chance Robinson, Robert J. D'Agostino, Adam C. Brown
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Publication number: 20200041266Abstract: A portable vehicle alignment system has a vertical central column with a carriage movable along its length, and a pair of camera arms pivotably attached to the carriage, each with a camera pod. The camera pods each have a camera for capturing image data of a respective vehicle-mounted target. One pod also has a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to its camera, and the other pod has a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to its camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The camera arms pivot between an extended position where the cameras are disposed to capture image data of the vehicle targets and the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and a folded position where the aligner has a width smaller than the width between the camera pods.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Adam C. Brown, Ronald D. Swayne, Brian K. Gray, Bryan C. Minor, James Rodney Harrell
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Patent number: 10473458Abstract: A portable vehicle alignment system has a vertical central column with a carriage movable along its length, and a pair of camera arms pivotably attached to the carriage, each with a camera pod. The camera pods each have a camera for capturing image data of a respective vehicle-mounted target. One pod also has a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to its camera, and the other pod has a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to its camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The camera arms pivot between an extended position where the cameras are disposed to capture image data of the vehicle targets and the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and a folded position where the aligner has a width smaller than the width between the camera pods.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATEDInventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Adam C. Brown, Ronald D. Swayne, Brian K. Gray, Bryan C. Minor, Rodney Harrell
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Publication number: 20190279396Abstract: A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Joel A. Kunert, Darwin Y. Chen, George M. Gill, Brian K. Gray, Steven W. Rogers, Ronald D. Swayne, David A. Jackson, Rodney Harrell, Robert J. D'Agostino, Bryan C. Minor, Eric R. Sellers, Sean P. Lecrone, Larry D. Klotz, Jonathan A. Sperry
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Publication number: 20190279395Abstract: A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Joel A. KUNERT, Darwin Y. CHEN, George M. GILL, Brian K. GRAY, Steven W. ROGERS, Ronald D. SWAYNE, David A. JACKSON, Rodney HARRELL, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO, Bryan C. MINOR, Eric R. SELLERS, Sean P. LECRONE, Larry D. KLOTZ, Jonathan A. SPERRY
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Publication number: 20190222723Abstract: A portable vehicle alignment system is provided having two base tower assemblies, each having a pedestal, a columnar tower removably attachable to the top of the pedestal, and a camera pod movable along a length of the tower; and a data processor with a wireless communication device for processing image data from the camera pods. Each camera pod includes a camera for capturing image data of a target mounted on a vehicle, and a communication device for wirelessly communicating with the data processor. One pod has a calibration target and the other pod has a calibration camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The pedestals each have a manually-operated clamp for removably fixedly attaching the tower to the pedestal in one of a plurality of positions such that the orientation of the camera pod to the pedestal is angularly adjustable, allowing horizontal rotation of the camera pod.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: James Rodney Harrell, Brian K. Gray, David A. Jackson, Ronald D. Swayne, Darwin Y. Chen, Bryan C. Minor
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Patent number: 10347006Abstract: A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATEDInventors: Joel A. Kunert, Darwin Y. Chen, George M. Gill, Brian K. Gray, Steven W. Rogers, Ronald D. Swayne, David A. Jackson, Rodney Harrell, Robert J. D'Agostino, Bryan C. Minor, Eric R. Sellers, Sean P. Lecrone, Larry D. Klotz, Jonathan A. Sperry
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Patent number: 10298814Abstract: A portable vehicle alignment system is provided having two base tower assemblies, each having a pedestal, a columnar tower removably attachable to the top of the pedestal, and a camera pod movable along a length of the tower; and a data processor with a wireless communication device for processing image data from the camera pods. Each camera pod includes a camera for capturing image data of a target mounted on a vehicle, and a communication device for wirelessly communicating with the data processor. One pod has a calibration target and the other pod has a calibration camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The pedestals each have a manually-operated clamp for removably fixedly attaching the tower to the pedestal in one of a plurality of positions such that the orientation of the camera pod to the pedestal is angularly adjustable, allowing horizontal rotation of the camera pod.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: SNAP-ON IncorporatedInventors: Rodney Harrell, Brian K. Gray, David A. Jackson, Ronald D. Swayne, Darwin Y. Chen, Bryan C. Minor
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Publication number: 20180053320Abstract: A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Joel A. KUNERT, Darwin Y. CHEN, George M. GILL, Brian K. GRAY, Steven W. ROGERS, Ronald D. SWAYNE, David A. JACKSON, Rodney HARRELL, Robert J. D'AGOSTINO, Bryan C. MINOR, Eric R. SELLERS, Sean P. LECRONE, Larry D. KLOTZ, Jonathan A. SPERRY
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Publication number: 20170097230Abstract: A portable vehicle alignment system has a vertical central column with a carriage movable along its length, and a pair of camera arms pivotably attached to the carriage, each with a camera pod. The camera pods each have a camera for capturing image data of a respective vehicle-mounted target. One pod also has a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to its camera, and the other pod has a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to its camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The camera arms pivot between an extended position where the cameras are disposed to capture image data of the vehicle targets and the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and a folded position where the aligner has a width smaller than the width between the camera pods.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Steven W. ROGERS, David A. Jackson, Adam C. Brown, Ronald D. Swayne, Brian K. Gray, Bryan C. Minor, Rodney Harrell
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Patent number: D781727Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATEDInventors: David A. Jackson, Adam C. Brown, Ronald D. Swayne, Brian K. Gray, Bryan C. Minor, Rodney Harrell
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Patent number: D824448Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATEDInventors: David A. Jackson, Adam C. Brown, Ronald D. Swayne, Brian K. Gray, Bryan C. Minor, Rodney Harrell
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Patent number: D837036Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATEDInventors: David A. Jackson, Adam C. Brown, Ronald D. Swayne, Brian K. Gray, Bryan C. Minor, Rodney Harrell