US 12,270,639 B2
Non-contact vehicle orientation and alignment sensor and method
Frank J. Bretl, Corvallis, OR (US); David L. Frederic, Lebanon, OR (US); Patrick C. Pointer, Corvallis, OR (US); Mark A. Trevisiol, Albany, OR (US); and Ben Wahlstrom, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to BPG Sales and Technology Investments, LLC, Shelby Township, MI (US)
Filed by BPG Sales and Technology Investments, LLC, Ada, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/241,653.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/016,064, filed on Apr. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0333097 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. G01B 11/27 (2006.01); G01B 11/25 (2006.01); G01B 11/275 (2006.01)
CPC G01B 11/2755 (2013.01) [G01B 11/2513 (2013.01); G01B 2210/14 (2013.01); G01B 2210/26 (2013.01); G01B 2210/286 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A non-contact sensor for determining orientation of an object, said non- contact sensor comprising:
a projector assembly, said projector assembly including a light emitter, a lens assembly and a mask, said mask including mask apertures with said light emitter configured to project light through said lens assembly and said mask apertures and onto an object with said mask apertures creating a light pattern of projected light onto the object;
an imager, said imager configured to image reflections of said light pattern from the object; and
a processor;
wherein said projector assembly and said imager are angled with respect to one another, and wherein said processor is configured to process imaged reflections of said light pattern to derive the orientation of the object;
wherein said lens assembly comprises an internal lens and an outer lens, and wherein said mask is disposed between said internal lens and said outer lens, and wherein said projector assembly comprises a projector housing having a threaded bore within which said internal lens is fixed, and wherein said outer lens comprises a focus lens having a threaded end engaged with said threaded bore.