US 12,467,747 B2
Wheel aligner with improved accuracy and no-stop positioning using a drive direction calculation
Steven W. Rogers, Conway, AR (US); David A. Jackson, Point Roberts, WA (US); Eric R. Sellers, Conway, AR (US); Ronald D. Swayne, Sherwood, AR (US); James Rodney Harrell, Greenbrier, AR (US); Chance Robinson, North Little Rock, AR (US); Robert J. D'Agostino, Conway, AR (US); and Adam C. Brown, Maumelle, AR (US)
Assigned to Snap-On Incorporated, Kenosha, WI (US)
Filed by Snap-On Incorporated, Kenosha, WI (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/184,338.
Application 18/184,338 is a division of application No. 16/570,583, filed on Sep. 13, 2019, granted, now 11,698,250.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/730,727, filed on Sep. 13, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0213333 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. G01B 11/27 (2006.01); B60W 40/10 (2012.01); G01B 11/275 (2006.01); G06T 7/60 (2017.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); B60W 40/13 (2012.01)
CPC G01B 11/2755 (2013.01) [B60W 40/10 (2013.01); G06T 7/60 (2013.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); B60W 40/13 (2013.01); G01B 2210/12 (2013.01); G01B 2210/143 (2013.01); G01B 2210/16 (2013.01); G01B 2210/303 (2013.01); G06T 2200/24 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30252 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for aligning a fixture relative to a vehicle, the fixture being separate from the vehicle, the system comprising:
an image sensor for viewing a target disposed on the vehicle, and for capturing image data of the target as the vehicle is rolled, the image sensor being mounted on the fixture in a known location and orientation relative to a centerline of the fixture; and
a data processor for performing the steps of:
calculating, using the image data, a plural number of poses of the target as the vehicle is rolled;
calculating a drive direction of the vehicle which is a direction in which the vehicle is moving in a coordinate system of the image sensor using the calculated poses of the target; and
guiding a user to orient the centerline of the fixture to the vehicle drive direction using a user interface.