Wheel alignment system

An automotive vehicle wheel alignment system for aligning wheels of an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

• measurement means for providing wheel alignment angle measurement outputs;
• and
• a hand held module operably coupled to the measurement means for obtaining wheel alignment measurements and providing alignment information to an operator, the hand held module comprising:
• communications means operably coupled to the measurement means for receiving angle measurements and providing an output;
• a removable non-volatile memory cartridge for storing automotive vehicle wheel alignment specifications;
• input means for receiving an input from the operator;
• a controller coupled to the communications means, the input means, and the removable non-volatile memory cartridge for processing the output from the communications means based upon the input from the operator and based upon the automotive vehicle wheel alignment specifications in the non-volatile memory cartridge and providing a display data output related to an angular relationship of the wheels of the automotive vehicle;
• and
• display means coupled to the controller for forming an image based upon the display data output from the controller.

An automotive vehicle wheel alignment system for aligning wheels of an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

• measurement means for providing wheel alignment angle measurement outputs;
• and
• a hand held module operably coupled to the measurement means for obtaining wheel alignment measurements and providing alignment information to an operator, the hand held module comprising:
• communications means operably coupled to the measurement means for receiving angle measurements and providing an output;
• memory means for storing information;
• input means for receiving an input from the operator;
• a controller coupled to the communications means, the memory means and the input means for processing the output from the communications means based upon the input from the operator and providing a display data output related to an angular relationship of the wheels of the automotive vehicle;
• power down interrupt means for providing an interrupt to the controller upon detection of a loss of power to the module whereby information related to wheel alignment is stored in the memory means by the controller;
• and
• display means coupled to the controller for forming an image based upon the display data output from the controller.

An automotive vehicle wheel alignment system for aligning wheels of an automotive vehicle, the system comprising:

• a left front head unit for coupling to a left front wheel of the automotive vehicle and providing an angle measurement output;
• a right front head unit for coupling to a right front wheel of the automotive vehicle and providing an angle measurement output;
• a left rear head unit for coupling to a left rear wheel of the automotive vehicle and providing an angle measurement output;
• a right rear head unit for coupling to a right rear wheel of the automotive vehicle and providing an angle measurement output;
• and
• a hand held module operably coupled to the left front head unit, the right front head unit, the left rear head unit, and the right rear head unit for obtaining wheel alignment measurements and providing alignment information to an operator, the hand held module comprising:
• communications means operably coupled to the head units for receiving angle measurements and providing an output;
• memory means for storing computer program instructions;
• input means for receiving an input from the operator;
• display means for receiving information and producing display outputs dependent on the received information;
• processor means for processing the output from the communications means based upon the input from the operator and upon computer program instructions in the memory means;
• storage means for storing icons representative of operator steps to perform an alignment test;
• means for receiving information from the input means related to an alignment test selected by the operator;
• means for retrieving from the storage means icons which are related to a series of operator steps to perform the alignment test selected by the operator;
• and
• output means for providing retrieved icons to the display means, thereby directing the operator through the series of operator steps to perform the selected alignment test.

An automotive vehicle wheel alignment system for aligning the four wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

• a left front head unit for coupling to a left front wheel of the automotive vehicle and providing an angle measurement output;
• a right front head unit for coupling to a right front wheel of the automotive vehicle and providing an angle measurement output;
• a left rear head unit for coupling to a left rear wheel of the automotive vehicle and providing an angle measurement output;
• and
• a right rear head unit for coupling to a right rear wheel of the automotive vehicle and providing an angle measurement output;
• a hand held module adapted to be held by an operator, the hand held module including:
• angle input means for receiving the angle measurement outputs from the left front head unit, the right front head unit, the left rear head unit and the right rear head unit;
• operator input means for receiving information input by the operator;
• memory means for storing program instructions;
• controller means for calculating alignment angles for the wheels of the automotive vehicle based upon the angle measurement outputs, stored program instructions and information input by the operator, and for providing an alignment angle output;
• and
• display means for displaying alignment angles for the wheels of the automotive vehicle based upon the alignment angle output.

A method of aligning wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

• mounting head units to wheels of the automotive vehicle;
• obtaining wheel angle measurements from the head units;
• providing wheel angle measurements to a portable hand held module;
• receiving information input by an operator at the hand held module related to a selected alignment test to be performed on the automotive vehicle;
• calculating alignment angles of the vehicle at the hand held module based upon wheel angle measurements and the selected alignment test;
• and
• prompting the operator through a series of steps for the selected alignment test based upon the calculated alignment angles by displaying information on a display carried in the hand held module to guide alignment of wheels of the automotive vehicle by the operator based upon prompts displayed on the display of the hand held module.

A method of aligning wheels of an automotive vehicle, comprising:

• mounting head units to wheels of the automotive vehicle;
• obtaining wheel angle measurements from the head units;
• providing wheel angle measurements to a portable hand held module;
• receiving information input into the hand held module by an operator related to a make and model of automotive vehicle;
• receiving information input into the hand held module by the operator related to a selected alignment test to be performed on the automotive vehicle;
• calculating alignment angles of the vehicle at the hand held module based upon wheel angle measurements and the selected alignment test;
• retrieving alignment specifications for the make and model of automotive vehicle which are stored in the hand held module;
• generating prompt information based upon the selected test and the calculated alignment angles with prompts stored in the hand held module to prompt the operator through a series of steps to align wheels of the automotive vehicle;
• displaying the prompt information on a display carried in the hand held module;
• and
• positioning the hand held module at a desired location to facilitate aligning wheels of the automotive vehicle to guide alignment of wheels of the automotive vehicle by the operator based upon prompts displayed on the display of the hand held module.