# US 8,539,684 B2 · Vehicle wheel alignment system and methodology

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,539,684 B2
- Document ID: US8539684B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/078,472
- Filed: 2011-04-01
- Published: 2011-07-28
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2006-07-18
- Assignees: Snap-on Incorporated
- Applicants: Steven W. Rogers
- Inventors: Steven W. Rogers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539684B2

## CPC

- G01B 11/275: for testing wheel alignment
- G01B 11/2755: {using photoelectric detection means}
- G06V 20/56: exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
- H04N 7/181: {for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources}
- H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source}
- G01B 2210/14: One or more cameras or other optical devices capable of acquiring a two-dimensional image
- G01B 2210/28: Beam projector and related sensors, camera, inclinometer or other active sensing or projecting device
- G01B 2210/30: Reference markings, reflector, scale or other passive device
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A hybrid wheel alignment system and methodology use passive targets for a first pair of wheels (e.g. front wheels) and active sensing heads for another pair of wheels (e.g. rear wheels). The active sensing heads combine image sensors for capturing images of the targets with at least one spatial relationship sensor for sensing a relationship between the active sensing heads. One or both of the active sensing heads may include inclinometers or the like, for sensing one or more tilt angles of the respective sensing head. Data from the active sensing heads may be sent to a host computer for processing to derive one or more vehicle measurements, for example, for measurement of parameters useful in wheel alignment applications.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wheel alignment system, comprising:
a pair of passive heads, each comprising a target, for mounting on a first pair of wheels of a vehicle that is to be measured by operation of the wheel alignment system;
a plurality of active sensing heads, each respective one of the active sensing heads comprising a two dimensional image sensor for producing image data including a representation of a perspective image of one of the targets;
wherein one of the active sensing heads has a processor configured to receive data from another of the active sensing heads, calculate alignment values using the data, and generate a user interface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processor acts as a web server to serve web pages that implement the user interface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one of the active sensing heads comprises a data communications interface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the data communications interface comprises Wifi.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the data communications interface comprises Bluetooth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the data communications interface comprises ZigBee.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the data communications interface comprises a broadband interface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one of the active sensing heads communicates via a network.