Patents by Inventor Ted Combs

Ted Combs 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).

  • Vehicle wheel alignment by rotating vision sensor
    Patent number: 7065462
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for measuring vehicle wheel alignment characteristics. According to one embodiment, during a first measurement cycle, spatial coordinates of multiple points on the wheel are obtained by positioning a vision sensor at various angular offsets relative to the wheel, the multiple points representative of samples from each of the various angular offsets. After the first measurement cycle and before the second measurement cycle, the wheel is rotated at least a partial revolution. During the second measurement cycle, spatial coordinates of multiple points on the wheel are obtained by positioning the vision sensor at various angular offsets relative to the wheel, the multiple points representative of samples from each of the various angular offsets. Finally, one or more characteristics of the wheel are determined based upon the spatial coordinates collected during the first measurement cycle and the spatial coordinates collected during the second measurement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Merilab, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Stanley Merrill, Ted Combs, Richard Sutton
  • Vehicle wheel alignment by rotating vision sensor
    Publication number: 20040039544
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for measuring vehicle wheel alignment characteristics. According to one embodiment, during a first measurement cycle, spatial coordinates of multiple points on the wheel are obtained by positioning a vision sensor at various angular offsets relative to the wheel, the multiple points representative of samples from each of the various angular offsets. After the first measurement cycle and before the second measurement cycle, the wheel is rotated at least a partial revolution. During the second measurement cycle, spatial coordinates of multiple points on the wheel are obtained by positioning the vision sensor at various angular offsets relative to the wheel, the multiple points representative of samples from each of the various angular offsets. Finally, one or more characteristics of the wheel are determined based upon the spatial coordinates collected during the first measurement cycle and the spatial coordinates collected during the second measurement cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: M. Stanley Merrill, Ted Combs, Richard Sutton