System and method for aligning a sensor assembly
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsPeter Houk, Matthew Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a system and method of aligning a sensor assembly for a vehicle. The sensor assembly is disposed along a vehicle body and has a sensory face from which a measurement signal is transmitted. The sensor alignment system includes an alignment gauge that measures a datum angle of the sensor assembly, a sensor adjustment tool that adjusts a position of the sensor assembly relative to the vehicle body, and a controller that is in communication with the alignment gauge and the sensor adjustment tool. The controller further operates the sensor adjustment tool to control the datum angle of the sensor assembly to within a tolerance range.
Claims20
A sensor alignment system for aligning a sensor assembly that is disposed along a vehicle body, the sensor assembly having a sensory face from which a measurement signal is transmitted, the sensor alignment system comprising:
- an alignment gauge operable to measure a datum angle of the sensor assembly, the alignment gauge having a datum surface that contacts the sensory face of the sensor assembly to measure the datum angle;
- a sensor adjustment tool operable to adjust a position of the sensor assembly relative to the vehicle body;
- and
- a controller communicably coupled to the alignment gauge and the sensor adjustment tool, wherein the controller is configured to operate the sensor adjustment tool to control the datum angle of the sensor assembly to within a tolerance range based on the datum angle measured by the alignment gauge and offset information that includes one or more recognized offsets that influence an angular position of the sensor assembly.
A method for aligning a sensor assembly disposed along a vehicle body, the method comprising:
- measuring, by an alignment gauge, a datum angle of the sensor assembly, wherein the alignment gauge has a datum surface and is attached to the sensor assembly such that the datum surface interfaces with a sensory face of the sensor assembly from which a measurement signal from the sensor assembly is emitted;
- calculating, by a controller, a calibrated datum angle based on the measured datum angle and offset information, wherein the offset information is stored by the controller and includes one or more recognized offsets that influence an angular position of the sensor assembly;
- and
- adjusting a position of the sensor assembly with a sensor adjustment tool operable by the controller in response to the calibrated datum angle being outside an angular threshold range.
A method for aligning a vehicular radar assembly, the method comprising:
- measuring, by an alignment gauge, a datum angle of the radar assembly;
- transmitting, by the alignment gauge, the datum angle to a controller;
- and
- adjusting, with a sensor adjustment tool operable by the controller, a position of the radar assembly based on the measured datum angle and offset information, such that the datum angle is within an angular threshold range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.