Vehicle headlight testing system
AssigneeEnvironmental Systems Products, Inc.
InventorJohn N. Rogers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A headlight testing system includes a target screen upon which an image of headlight illumination is projected. Reference indicia for intensity and positioning are also placed upon the screen. A video camera captures an electrical image of the screen, which is digitized to allow for analysis thereof. A second video camera is directed at the vehicle headlights, its generated image similarly being digitized. The digitized data are processed, reference being made to the reference indicia, to determine positioning and intensity of the headlights. An overhead monitor, viewable from the vehicle may be utilized to provide information to an operator positioned within the vehicle under test, the operator communicating with the system by a wireless link communications.
Claims17
Apparatus for testing the intensity and alignment of headlights on a vehicle, comprising
- a target screen positionable in front of the vehicle to receive an illumination pattern from the headlights to be tested;
- means for positioning said target screen in front of the vehicle in response to a target signal;
- means mounted to said target screen for providing a plurality of reference images thereon;
- a first video camera focused on said target screen to provide an image of said target screen illumination pattern and said reference images;
- a second video camera focused on the headlight portion of said vehicle to provide an image thereof;
- and
- means operatively coupled to said video cameras for receiving said target screen image and said headlight portion image and processing said images to determine the intensity and alignment of the headlights.
A method for testing the alignment and intensity of vehicle headlights, comprising the steps of:
- i. positioning the vehicle with respect to a target screen such that at least one headlight projects an image thereon and generating a location signal corresponding to the orientation of said vehicle with respect to said target screen;
- ii. generating a plurality of reference images of known position and intensity on said target screen;
- iii. producing a first video image of said target screen including said headlight and reference images;
- iv. producing a second video image of at least the headlight portion of said vehicle;
- and
- v. analyzing said location signal and said first and second video image to determine the intensity and alignment of said at least one headlight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.