Method and apparatus for the optical measurement of an angle between positions of components relative to each other
AssigneeHofmann Werkstat-Technik GmbH
InventorsSimone Longa, Marco Castelnuovo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method and apparatus for optically measuring an angle between the positions of components relative to each other, such as the wheels of a motor vehicle, in a vertical plane, light beams are directed along the sides of the angle to be measured. One light beam which is directed along one side of the angle is maintained in respect of its direction, while the light beam directed along the other side of the angle is deflected by the effect of the force of gravity.
Claims27
A method of optically determining an angle between positions of components relative to each other, comprising the steps of:
- emitting at least one light beam along each of first and second legs of the angle to be measured;
- maintaining the direction of said at least one beam emitted by said first leg;
- bringing said at least one beam being emitted along said second leg into conformity with the gravitational vector by moving a source of said at least one beam by the force of gravity, said light beams thereby being directed to the apex of said angle;
- monitoring the light beams at time intervals;
- and
- determining said angle from said monitored light beams.
An apparatus for optical measurement of an angle between positions of components in a vertical plane relative to one another comprising:
- a first light source for emitting a first light beam along a first leg of said angle onto the apex point of said angle;
- a second light source for emitting a second light beam along a second leg of said angle onto the apex point thereof;
- pendulum means for deflecting said second light source due to the force of gravity in accordance with said angle to be measured;
- a reflecting in member disposed at the apex of said angle and rotatable about 360.degree. at least in a plane of said angle, said reflecting member having a narrow transmission region for transmitting light from the first and second light sources;
- a light receiver disposed in a beam path of said light passing through said transmission region;
- signal registering means for registering respective output signals produced by said light receiver;
- and
- calculating means for calculating the angular spacing between said legs of said angle from registration spacing in respect to the signals registered in said signal registering means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.