Vehicle lift reference system for movable machine-vision alignment system sensors

A method for utilizing a movable imaging sensor of a machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system, comprising:

• acquiring at least a first image of at least one visible feature on an object within a field of view of the imaging sensor;
• establishing a first reference associated with a first pose of said imaging sensor relative to said at least one visible feature;
• altering a pose of said imaging sensor and of said object associated with said at least one visible feature;
• acquiring at least one second image of said visible feature with said imaging sensor;
• establishing a second reference associated with said altered pose of said imaging sensor relative to said at least one visible feature;
• and
• establishing a relationship between said first and second references.

A method for identifying pose changes between at least two components of a vehicle lift system using a movable imaging sensor of a vehicle wheel alignment system, comprising:

• acquiring, with the movable imaging sensor, an image of at least one visible feature associated with a fixed surface;
• acquiring, with the movable imaging sensor, at least one image of a set of visible features associated with the components of said vehicle lift system in an initial pose;
• identifying a first reference measure between the initial pose of the imaging sensor and the at least one visible feature associated with the fixed surface using the acquired image thereof;
• establishing a first relationship between the components of the vehicle lift system in an initial pose using the acquired image thereof;
• altering a pose of said imaging sensor;
• altering a pose of the vehicle lift system;
• acquiring, with the movable imaging sensor at said altered pose, an altered-pose image of said at least one visible feature associated with a fixed surface;
• acquiring, with the movable imaging sensor at said altered pose, at least one altered-pose image of a set of visible features associated with the components of said vehicle lift system in said altered pose;
• identifying a second reference measure between the altered pose of the imaging sensor and the at least one visible feature associated with the fixed surface using the acquired altered-pose image thereof;
• establishing a second relationship between the components of the vehicle lift system in said altered pose using the acquired altered-pose image thereof;
• identifying a first change between said first and second reference measures;
• identifying a second change between said first and second relationships;
• utilizing said first and second changes to identify a change in a pose between said components of the vehicle lift system and said imaging sensor.

An improved vehicle wheel alignment system including a set of imaging devices configured to acquire images of visible features during a vehicle service procedure, the improvement comprising:

• a first common support structure supporting at least a first pair of imaging devices in the set of imaging devices, said common support structure displaced outward from a first lateral side of a vehicle support structure, in proximity to a lateral midline of said vehicle support structure;
• a second common support structure supporting at least a second pair of imaging devices in the set of imaging devices, said second common support structure displaced outward from a second lateral side of said vehicle support structure, in proximity to said lateral midline of said vehicle support structure;
• wherein each pair of imaging devices includes a first imaging device having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of a front vehicle wheel, and a second imaging device having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of a rear vehicle wheel;
• and
• wherein each imaging device in said pairs of imaging devices has a field of view encompassing at least a portion of said vehicle support structure.

A method for determining changes in a spatial position of an imaging sensor associated with a vehicle wheel alignment system, comprising:

• acquiring at least a first image of a visible feature with said imaging sensor;
• establishing a first measurement set associated with a first spatial position of the imaging sensor and said visible feature from said at least one acquired first image;
• altering said spatial position of the imaging sensor and of said visible feature;
• acquiring at least a second image of said visible feature with the imaging sensor;
• establishing a second measurement set associated with a second spatial position of the imaging sensor and said visible feature from said at least one acquired second image;
• and
• establishing a relationship between the first and second spatial positions of the imaging sensor utilizing said first and second measurement sets.

A method for measuring wheel alignment angles with a movable imaging sensor of a machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system operating in conjunction with a movable vehicle lift mechanism, comprising:

• acquiring at least a first image of at least one visible feature within a field of view of the imaging sensor, said at least one visible feature operatively associated with the movable vehicle lift mechanism;
• establishing a first reference associated with a current pose of the imaging sensor from said at least one acquired first image;
• altering said pose of the imaging sensor;
• altering a pose of the movable vehicle lift mechanism;
• acquiring at least a second image of said visible feature with the imaging sensor;
• establishing a second reference associated with said altered pose of the imaging sensor from said at least one acquired second image;
• and
• establishing a relationship between said first and second references utilizing an unaltered parameter associated with said visible feature.